Greymarch interview 20/02/23
MM: Can you tell us about your Band and whos your biggest influences
CH: Greymarch is essentially my (Cody Hess) solo project, inspired by bands like
Wage War, Fit For A King, and I Prevail. It started when the pandemic hit and
touring ceased, so I was finally able to pursue the kind of accessible metalcore
music I’d been wanting to do for a long time.
MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from
CH: Much of what I write about is the wrongs I see in the world - prejudice, apathy,
narcissism, and suicide are all topics I breach in this first selection of songs. A lot
of the time, the ideas come to me when I’m woodworking. I’ll be thinking of riffs
and lyrics while I’m building something, and then it turns into a song!
MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?
CH: If I had to choose, I’d probably pick “The Prison We Make It”. It’s such a
musical journey, with interesting and dynamic riffs that are fun to play, along with a
bridge section that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it
MM: Plans tour and festival wise for 2022
CH: No plans whatsoever. I’ve done the whole “living on the road” way of life
before, and it has its benefits for getting music in front of new people, but at this
stage as a husband and new father, I don’t want to be apart from my family.
MM: What can we expect from Greymarch live
Very little haha. As I said, this is a solo project for me, with the focus being on
writing, releasing, and promoting the kind of music I believe in. If at some point the
demand for a live show reaches a tipping point, I would definitely put a great deal
of work into production and stage presence to make it a memorable experience.
MM: What do you like best and worst abt touring
The best aspect of touring, I’d say, is the daily face-to-face interaction with fans;
you can kind of use that as a benchmark for the impact the music is making in the
world. The worst aspect is hands down being away from your loved ones.
MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies
I’ve maintained for a long time that touring with Sevendust would be fantastic.
They have such a remarkable reputation for being the nicest guys, having
excellent music, and putting on an incredible live show. In addition, I’d enjoy
touring with Atreyu again. When I was out with them before, they were so
inspiring, fun, and helpful to a small band rising in the scene. Lastly, I’d definitely
choose to tour with August Burns Red. They are such a unique band with a
legendary catalog of fantastic music and, judging by social media, are a genuinely
fun group of guys.
MM: What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own)
and why
CH: My very first concert was Metallica and Godsmack back in 2003, and I was a tiny little 13-
year old right up front on the rail being crushed by the sweaty crowd around me, and it was
amazing.
MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far with
Greymarch
CH: Greymarch was featured on the Ex-Man Podcast (hosted by Doc Coyle of
Bad Wolves, God Forbid), the episode featured one of my all-time idols Nick Hipa.
That was pretty cool!
MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time
CH: First, “Page Avenue” by Story of the Year. It showed me the dynamics and
emotion that can be put into music, with such well-crafted lyricism. They just
release an incredible new EP, I encourage everyone to check it out. Secondly, “In
Waves” by Trivium. It’s such a beautifully aggressive musical journey from start to
finish.
MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have
people watching you?
CH: It was invigorating for sure, but it really inspired me to improve as much as
possible. Learning over time how much really goes into a live show and
developing stage presence really opened my eyes.
MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.
CH: Breaking Benjamin, Yellowcard, Story of the Year, Metallica (of course), and
at one point I think I even had a Nickelback poster.
MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other
person
CH: I think it’s a safe bet to say without Ozzy, the music world would be wildly
different today. From Black Sabbath pioneering the Metal sound, to his solo
albums, to Ozzfest giving a spotlight to up-and-coming metal acts of the early
2000’s... it would be difficult to name someone who’s had a larger impact.
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
The highest priority, I’d say, is writing and releasing music that is aggressive,
engaging, and highly accessible. Greymarch is on a path to release a new song
every month or so.
MM:If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?
CH: In terms of difficulty, I’d kill to be able to cover “Awaken the Dreamers” by All
Shall Perish. But, since I’m sure I’ll never be that proficient, I’m gonna settle for a
parody version of “Riot” by Bullet For My Valentine. TBA
MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band
Greymarch deserves a listen because the music is painstakingly crafted with
meaningful messages that I believe very strongly in, from suicide awareness to
eliminating prejudice in the world.
MM: Four words to describe Greymarch
CH: Metalcore for gamer nerds?
Final Words for your fans and our readers
CH: Thanks for your time! I’d just like to announce the new Greymarch single “Bite
the Bullet” coming out March 10th! Find it on our socials for the pre-save link!
