Employed to Serve: Journey to Wacken, Metal Partnerships, and Breaking Genre Boundaries

The conversation focused on the journey of Employed to Serve, a metal band from the UK, detailing their path to performing at the legendary Wacken Festival, their unique musical partnership, and the core influences behind their style. Several points were raised, including stories about blending musical genres, reflections on the metal scene’s inclusivity, amusing tales of cross-cultural misunderstandings, and the challenges of touring internationally. The discussion explored the band's creative process, personal stories from the road, and their aspirations to perform in the United States.Main Topics CoveredThe journey and motivation behind playing at Wacken FestivalOrigins and evolution of the partnership between band membersMusical influences and blending of genresThe importance of authenticity and passion in creating musicGender inclusivity in metal and spotlighting women in the genreHumorous anecdotes on regional UK identities and accentsTouring challenges, especially regarding US visas and travelNotable new singles and where to find Employed to Serve’s music and merchKey Discussions & StoriesThe Road to Wacken FestivalOne concept discussed was the creation of the song “Now Thy Kingdom Come,” specifically written for live circle pits at Wacken Festival. The band shared their excitement upon seeing the song fulfill its purpose during their set 02:01.Partnership and Band EvolutionA key theme that emerged was the long-standing relationship between two band members, having started dating at age 16 and forming the band after five years together. They celebrated their 18th anniversary while on tour, coinciding with a van breakdown, marking both a literal and metaphorical journey 02:22.The discussion explored their differing musical backgrounds—one coming from punk/hardcore into metal, the other from traditional heavy metal—with mutual appreciation for blending genres and creating music they genuinely enjoy playing live 03:29.Genre-Blending and AuthenticitySeveral points were raised, including the need to avoid formulaic approaches in metal, instead favoring a mix of genres to remain unique and true to their own tastes 04:42.The importance of creating music they love, rather than conforming to outside expectations or commercial demands, was emphasized 05:06.Metal Scene InclusivityThe conversation acknowledged the rise of women in metal, advocating for more prominent female representation and critiquing previous generational gatekeeping practices 05:55.Lemmy Kilmister was cited as a pioneer in embracing diversity in the scene 06:09.Humorous Tales & AccentsA lively story about guessing the British hometown of a former spouse, focusing on UK regional stereotypes and the infamous Geordie accent, provided comic relief and a light exploration of cultural nuances 08:28.Experiences with understanding UK accents (such as in Birmingham and Scotland) were shared, tying back to international touring and communication hurdles 09:02.Touring and Access ChallengesIntricacies and costs involved with touring in the US as a British band were discussed, including visa expenses and aspirations to perform at major US festivals like those organized by Danny Wimmer Presents 11:09.Mutual stories of challenging border crossings, both for visitors to the US and UK, highlighted the bureaucratic ironies both countries face 12:16.Notable Quotes“We wrote that song entirely for circle pits at Wacken Festival. That was kind of like our mission statement.” 02:01“We only set the milestone of wanting to put a release on record and do a show... ever since then we just sort of kept aiming higher and higher.” 02:53“In terms of our musical tastes, we’re very much into metal, but I came from a more punk and hardcore background... he’s a bit more Trad heavy metal.” 03:59“You don’t want to just keep spinning your wheels, right? You want to create something ideally new.” 04:45“We want to go to the States so bad. It’s just so damn expensive for British people to get visas.” 11:17“We have two new singles out, A Moment Gone Too Soon and Dead Reckoning. If you haven’t listened to us before, check those out as a starting point because they're pretty fun.” 13:23Resources & Links MentionedOfficial Band Website & Merch:www.employedtoserve.com – Find tour dates, merchandise, and news 10:59New Singles:“A Moment Gone Too Soon”“Dead Reckoning” 13:18Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-adventures-of-pipeman--941822/support.Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at www.linktr.ee/pipemanradioStream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV. Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.