Nuclear Blast Internship Diary - Day 8

Thursday 5 November 2015

The usual workload greeted me as I arrived which didn’t take too long to tackle.

What stood out most, work wise, was Lisa asking me to update the label’s Pinterest page. I’d never used that site before, but have been aware of it for a long time. It seemed quite self-explanatory and I eventually started updating the band page with newly signed artists.

Then at lunchtime, the hard rock band Crobot arrived at the office. They were here to play several shows across the country. Their vocalist, Brandon told me he loved sci-fi and we chatted about Douglas Adams.

Lisa then showed the group the Jagermeister machine in the back office which is endorsed by Slayer. It’s the only one of its kind and they offered me a shot. I then sat down for a while with Crobot and they chatted about all kinds of things from the new Kadavar album to airport security and the uselessness of the TSP.

Once again these guys were some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. Americans always come across as nice, well-mannered and don’t use as much bravado and make stupid thuggish sounds like most Brits. Another band I’ll listen to as I now regard them as good people.

They certainly knew how to have fun – one of them has Happy Birthday tattooed on his backside, which one of the others photographed as a well wishing for one of their friends back home.

We kept supplying them with free beer as someone had left a crate full of Fosters in the kitchen. They were quite surprised when I told them it isn’t Australian.

In the afternoon, Lisa introduced me to how the label’s Facebook page is run and said she’d go over more social media things in the coming days. From what we discussed, she and Mark the boss used to work for Roadrunner Records and they both signed over to Nuclear Blast when the UK office was founded because working for major labels didn’t feel like a worthwhile job. Apparently at places like Warner, you’re quite likely to find people getting drunk in the office around 4pm on a Friday. Somewhere where working in the music business has been consumed by the rock n roll lifestyle. Not the kind of thing I could ever do.

Next week is my last at the label and I know I’ll certainly miss this place once I’m gone. But for now it’s time to head on up to the North of England for the Damnation Festival. Another weekend of metal, friends and adventure.

Nuclear Blast Internship Dairy - Day 7

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Another start with plenty to do. I got in a little later because of train delays so I had more than enough spreadsheets and Tumblr posts to see me through the early hours.

The repetition of the job is what I was expecting, and it means you're getting the job done, no matter how often you see the same thing and have to post about the same few stories over and over again.

The news I found most interesting that day was of Discharge signing to NB. They were excellent the time I'd seen them with The Exploited, so I do hope their new album has all the anger, politics and brutality of the old days.

Lisa, the head of marketing was backing from Transilvanaia. She told me she'd go over some more online things in the coming days and then said my travel costs had been paid, which made me really happy and relieved. It wasn't the exact amount I'd paid in full, but it was a very good amount. I'd been a little worried about how much I'd get back, but this made me pleased to know I've worked for a company who are true to their word.

In the past I've felt quite ripped off by unpaid internships or ones who claim they'll pay your travel costs but then exploit some loophole saying they can't pay because you commuted in from outside the city. But NB never struck me as that sort of company. And I still would have come and worked for them if they didn't cover my costs as this is an experience I've been wanting for a very long time.

I then heard a few mates were going to Damnation Festival at the weekend, which made very excited to be covering it for Independent Voice, for no festival is complete without good company. Strangely, every festival I've gone to this year, I've got into for free due to press coverage.

Unfortunately, I found I'm not interviewing At The Gates, but that's no big deal. I did ask for Primordial but that doesn't look like it'll happen either, but I'm satisfied if I only interview Vreid, the only ones confirmed at this moment.

Looks like a long and action packed weekend is on the horizon.

Nuclear Blast Internship Diary - Day 6

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Today began with much to do.

I'd left some TV airplay spreadsheets unfinished so got straight down to them. Then as it drew closer to lunch, Mark the boss gave me the task of packaging some new singles by some solo artist. That's the most I've spoken to him in all the time I've been here - for he's been shut away in his office the whole time and has only emailed me things to do.

He must be a very busy man, handling all the figures and organising of bands, events and new releases on the label. I guess it's not as much work as for the bosses in Germany, but he must have one heck of a busy schedule. Making music requires a lot of paperwork and logistics.

Then in the afternoon I posted more news on social media. Particularly about the new Lamb of God tour and which Jethro Tull songs are enjoyed most by Accept.

It's things like the Jethro Tull appreciation that reminds me how important non metal music is to both fans and musicians. Even though metal prides itself as an alternative to the mainstream - and is the sole reason I'm involved in it because I want people to know there's an alternative when things get boring - the popular things can have positive effects.

People always assume metalheads, punks, skins, goths, rastas, grungers, skaters and mods only listen to their culture's music. But if you get to know anyone from said cultures, you realise they are just like you and have their fare share of music that is played on the radio 24/7.

Not everyone in this office is as keen a fan of extreme genres like me, nor do they strike me as elitists. They are people who just love music, and want to make a living out of giving the world new music, no matter what sort it is. Makes me feel more at home knowing people the average joe would deem 'normal' are contributing as much to society as the next person you pass in the streets.

Nuclear Blast Internship Diary - Day 5

Monday 2 November 2015

So far today, it's been slow.

I knew there were going to be days like this - as there is in every job, no matter how much you love it.

This last week has immersed me in the world of music journalism and PR, and I felt I went right to the heart of the UK alternative scene at the wekeend. I spent it over my friend Jo's apartment, she's the editor of the Metal-Rules.com UK site and the Independent Voice Ezine - she's the lady who got me involved in everything I do and I pretty much owe her my career.

I can't think of anyone more important to my professional life. Being a very experienced member of the metal and Gothic world, I felt I learnt a lot about how said worlds have changed in my lifetime, and where music might go in the future.

And today, all can see that the music industry is still alive and well, employing many good people. But the face of it is certaon;y changing.

One job I had to do, was look up proices of albums on iTunes. This was the first time I'd used that place in nearly 10 years. And I found most albums there were a lot cheaper than in places like HMV, which I can understand whn people say they download everything. I've always appreciated the physical side of music and would rather give money to the band/artist, so if I do buy anything physical these days I buy it straight through the bands' websites.

Mind you, because of people like Jo, I haven't bought any new music in the last two years. The perks of being a music journalist.

The other guys went into their weekly meeting in the afternoon so I listened to some In Solitude, Jo's favourite band. I'd seen them once at the Underworld but can't say I've properly sat down with one of their LPs. And I have to say their second album The World. The Flesh. The Devil. is excellent. A truly amazing piece of occult themed traditonal metal.

Imagine Jess and the Ancient Ones collaborating with Saxon.

I then stacked up several copies of the new Bury Tomorrow single, packaged then posted them on the way to the station.

It's been a rather slow day but one of the best weekends in a very long time.

Nuclear Blast Internship Diary - Day 4

Thursday 29 October 2015

Had plenty to get on with when I came in this morning. Plenty more filing away of the latest Alexei Laiho and Tom Araya interviews and more social media links to put up.

It was as I watched others in the office go about their work and talk about the ups and downs of organising big things like the Deathcrusher Fest, that I realised the music business can be as interesting and frustrating to work in as any other place. That’s because it’s a business.

When I was younger, I had the naive idea that working for a record label meant hanging out with bands and receiving free music and getting into gigs and festivals for free. Now most of that is true, but I never considered all the admin things that come with working in a multi billion pound business.

For anyone reading this who’s considering doing something like this, always be aware that no matter how much you love something and want to keep it alive, there are always going to be the ups and downs of you job.

The road is long, but always think of the end result. In my first week here, I can tell my colleagues love their jobs and the music they are getting out to the world, but I know there are times when lots of boring and hard work comes in and it must be done so we metalheads can have our fun.

Once again, lets here it for all the people who earn a decent living out of helping you enjoy the things you love.

I also found a rather badly written and researched article claiming Folk Metal is racist – which I shared with friends and caused an interesting discussion on the way metal is perceived by most of society. It also led to me introducing a friend to Astarte, the Greek all female Black Metal group. So I’m pleased with that.

I know there have and always will be idiots in any music culture who will give it a bad name, but I do intend to do some research into metal in the near future to show how it is changing. I guess whoever wrote that article had no genuine interest in the music and just couldn’t understand the appeal of Folk Metal.

Ironically it made me want to listen to Ensiferum and Korpiklaani afterwards. And I do sometimes wonder if anyone has written such an article attacking other harmless genres like Power Metal.

Just before I left, the band Devil You Know and their tour crew turned up. They were on their way through the country on their way to Sweden. They all seemed very friendly and talked to everyone about which band was doing what or where the next big gig or event was happening. That’s the closest I’ve come to my impression of a record label being a place to socialise with bands. Even though Devil You Know aren’t the kind of band I usually listen to.