SLEEPING GIANT interview

• Hi! Can you tell me about SLEEPING GIANT and your previous musical experiences?

Sleeping Giant is a six-piece stoner/doom/sludge/thrash metal outfit hailing from Reykjavík, Iceland. Members are six; Oddur (vocals), Finnbogi (lead guitar, backing vocals), Guðmundur (lead guitar), Árni (rhythm guitar), Darri (bass) and Ásmundur (drums). The band was initially active between 2006 and 2012 before (ironically) hibernating until 2024. The slumber seems to have been invigorating and the past two years have seen the band at their most proactive.

Members’ influences and background definitely influences the fact that Sleeping Giant has a hard time sticking to one genre. The Venn-diagram of members' previous experience is vastly overlapping quite a few genres, from pop-punk and electro to thrash metal, grindcore and black metal. Notably, Finnbogi and Guðmundur are also known for being in Plastic Gods, local stoner/doom legends while Ásmundur featured in Perla, a 70s-style prog/rock band. To name-drop other bands we can mention; Terminal Wreckage, Voreastral, Disintegrate, Stálregn, Nocturnal Glacier, Kingkiller. Bassist Darri is currently a member of old-school Death Metal band Afturganga as well.

• Why did you choose your band name, how did you form?

Finnbogi, Oddur and Árni initially formed Sleeping Giant early in 2006, wanting to make a stoner/doom metal project amid a rising interest in the genre. This initial three-piece (drums, vocals, guitar) was admittedly somewhat lacking in quality, but still enough to get the ball rolling. Other members soon joined and the current lineup has been steady since 2009/10.

The name is derived from a lyric in Megadeth’s “Blackmail the Universe” („Awaken those sleeping giants in the dust of the ground"). Fittingly a reference to nuclear warheads.

• Can you tell us about The Beauty of Obliteration?

Entering Studíó Paradís in the summer of 2024, we recorded the album in a short period of time and aimed to capture the live-feeling of the band as best we could - tight and groovy, with minimal parlor tricks. What we love to deliver is the fact that if you like the album, you won't be disappointed seeing Sleeping Giant live. The six tracks on the album are varied in theme but center around destruction, apocalypse and human decay. The album is mixed and mastered by Jóhann Ásmundsson with artwork by Ari Arnaldsson (AriArt).

• What kind of feedback are you hoping to receive for your album?

We feel quite proud of what we’ve put out and it’s very invigorating to see quite positive feedback from fans and critics alike.

•  Do you plan to embark on a world tour in the future? Do you think touring the world is an option available to every band, or what does a band need to do to achieve this opportunity?

As much as it’s probably every musicians’ dream to tour the world, in our case we’d be taking on smaller ventures - mini tours, one-off gigs - for the time being. We’ve already made plans for England later in the year and are in active discussions about other options abroad for later.

Drawing from our very limited experience on the subject, the options are usually there but rely on a lot of concentrated effort (logistics, funding etc.) to make it work.

• Do you believe in a heavy music scene without money?

Yes and no - those into this kind of music are, at large, very passionate about their craft and are into performing no matter the reimbursement (or lack of). Most fans also know the work that goes into making an album, planning a show etc. and the eco-system of the scene is very entangled like that.

•  What are your thoughts on online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free, and if so, why?

Some form of free-sharing has always existed among fans (tape-trading, burning CDs etc) and by and large we support it. Ultimately, we just want fans to listen and (hopefully) like it.

•  Who are your musical influences? Did you ever imagine your band could become as famous as your favorites?

Members’ musical influences vary vastly in range - Genesis, Rush, Cardiacs, YOB, Church of Misery, Megadeth, Testament and NOLA-stoner/sludge bands to name a few. Being famous really hasn’t crossed our minds.

• Have you received formal music education? Do you think it's an important factor?

Of the five of us who play instruments, all of them have had some form of education on the matter, Oddur is a self-taught growler (and a natural talent). The difference in how far our musical education is hasn’t been an issue thus far.

• How do you balance your music with other obligations such as family, job, etc.?

It takes effort, hard work and hefty sleep deprivation, haha! But a more real answer is that it can be strenuous but our employers and partners are supportive and understanding. Individually, we all understand that some things must have priorities over the band too.

•  How do you deal with mistakes during a performance? Do you get nervous before a performance or competition?

It’s a non-factor usually for us, we’re prepared and know we know what we’re doing.

• What's next for your band? Thank you!

Few live dates are planned where you can see us - our “The Beauty of Obliteration” release concert on the 1st of May alongside Afturganga, Völva and Slor. We’re doing Norðanpaunk festival in July/August and playing Demonhound Doomfest in Norwich, next October - hopefully looking at a few more dates in England following that one! Other than that we’re working hard on perfecting new material for the coming gigs and who knows we’ll hit up the studio once that’s finished?

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