Contek: An Oxfordshire force to be reckoned with

Catchy songs, the determination to go far and a sound unique to them, 2016 is set to be a big year for the Contek boys.

Meet 'Contek'; easy going, talented, dedicated and with an enthusiasm for everything metal, they’ve got a lot going for them right now and with each member bringing something unique to the sound and a creative process that allows everyone to contribute they’re something different in a sea of oversaturated metalcore.

Formed in 2013 but now with a completely new line up of members, the group consists of vocalist Preston, Bassist Toby, drummer Will and guitarists Chris, Connor and Dan (Who also adds some funky synth to the mix) aged between 18-22 and often cramped on a stage together, this is what combines to create the bouncy metal group who know how to get crowd going.

Hailing mainly from Oxfordshire with the exception of frontman Preston, who makes a 2 hour round journey for practice every week (now that’s dedication) the six came together through mutual friendships, a musical talent and a love of metal/hardcore/metalcore. Looking at them though you would probably wouldn’t be able to guess they were in a band together…

“We’re all very different people”

This is made obvious by looking around the room at outfit choices, I see a collection of checked shirts, tye dye, stretchers, tattoos, denim vests and even leggings, Contek are a group of people you just wouldn’t put together if you saw them on the street. But they have thrown themselves head first into the throws of becoming a successful band and it’s that dedication that shines thorough.

“ That’s what makes the band great, we all mesh on a musical level while still having different interesting ideas”

It’s a colourful meshing of different personalities, talents and likes that really works.

So what have they got planned for this year?

“We’ve got 3 gigs scheduled for May alone”

And with one of those being their first festival, as well as the fact they’ll be playing alongside signed bands like ‘Ingested’ the pressure is on. However with many a gig under their belt from last year’s circuit and constant practice sessions surely there’s no room for nerves anymore?

“There not as bad as they used to be” laughs guitarist Connor,

“They’re more manageable now and I think they stem from wanting to put on a good show rather than being worried about something going wrong”.

When I asked what the best part of being in a band was I didn’t expect the first answer to escape Toby’s mouth to be ‘The gash’ (which was subsequently followed by a roar of laughter from Preston)

Connor decided to answer it a little more sensibly:

“But seriously being in a band with dedicated people who care about the same thing, being metal”

The boys are currently in the process of recording their second EP, the first to be released from the current line-up of band members and with their current style, they’re hopeful that it will be finished and released before the end of the year along with a 1 or 2 new singles and some merch. And Music wise just what can you expect to hear from them on the EP? Well (in their own words) a mixture of ‘Energetic, melodic, filthy, djent’ meaning those who enjoy anything along the lines of Volumes, monuments or even TesseracT will be very pleased. Contek are going to be something of a force to be reckoned with in the metal core scene.

The band are certainly not afraid to bring something new to the table and it’s the ‘everyone’s opinion matters’ stance that seems to enable to create the fun tracks they do. As well as the range of influences from the members favourite bands like Rings of Saturn, After the Burial, Volumes, Promethee and Crossfaith.

The boys have gone from strength to strength since their 2013 formation, not only have the 6 piece spent the last 12 months reforming, rejigging members and writing new material but they’ve also ensured they’ve always got something on their plate by undertaking a pretty heavy work load of regular practices, gigs and it shows. And it’s paying off with everything finally feeling right for the band:

‘We've seen a fair few members who have brought different things to the table but it's this past year and a half that's really seen us settled on a sound we're happy with”

It’s hard to believe that the has only existed in its current line up since last year it still remains one of their proudest moments.

“We played our first gig as a new unit back in July last year, we had 5 weeks with new members on a headlining gig and we absolutely smashed it!”

The first thing you notice about the boys is an Aura of chilled-ness, down to earth and up for a laugh and it’s this that fuels the bands personality and it’s sound, But as soon as they get up on stage the personalities come out; jolly northern vocalist Preston will be the first to jump into the crowd and start banter with the audience, as he calls it, often picking a random member to scream the line ‘What are those’

“I like to have fun with the crowd, I’m a vocalist and front man and the last thing I wanna do is stand around while the rest of these guys are working their arses off behind me”

Next comes bassist Toby who enjoys playing alongside Preston in the crowd, often engaging with the audience mid song

“I love it, it’s madness but it eggs me on to have people around me and to be able to move”

Dan’s personality comes out when there’s a break in between songs and he gets to go crazy with the synth, often playing 80’s dance tunes on the keyboard after just finishing a song with a disgusting breakdown, it’s definitely one of the bands differentiating qualities.

“It always makes people laugh, they’re not expecting it and it gives the guys the chance to gather themselves again”

Chris, Connor and Will are less flamboyant on stage.

Chris pegs it down to space problems “We usually play smallish stages and with six of us if they’re off stage there’s usually nowhere else to go”

While Connor thinks it’s more of a concentration issue…

“I’m usually way too into what I’m doing to notice everyone else is going crazy, I like to concentrate on what I’m doing and mine and Chris’ guitars have wires everywhere which is a pain in the arse”

It comes as no surprise that guys don’t think it’s necessary to live a certain way to be classed as ‘metal’:

“The way our style of metal is… the way we are… it requires a lot of effort so I guess I'd say you'd have to be dedicated and be able to properly throw yourself in, but personally we're all easy going guys, we try not to be fixed in a certain 'category', so many bands aim to portray being metal as being rock stars and not caring, we just wanna play our music and not be something we’re not”

When asked about their hopes and dreams for the future of Contek (realistic or not) the initial response from the boys is laughter followed by the pretty unrealistic response of

“(laughing) Working 1 day a week and gigging the rest”

But at the end of the day Contek are a band with a goal and it seems they’ve got their sights set on big things in the future

“But seriously we'd all love to play the "big" festivals if we could, something like Download or even Reading”

Drummer Will smiles and looks up at this point,

“Yeah that would be the goal, being on stage in front of thousands of people, definitely”

And with all things considered that dream could become a reality one day for the determined Oxfordshire metal band.

If you’d like to check out the guys music or find a tour date near you head over to their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ContekUK/

#djent #metalcore #progressive #music