Since forming in 2007 Hand Of Mercy have been slowly chipping away to the point that they are now set to headline their first tour. They have toured both locally and abroad with the likes of Parkway Drive, The Amity Affliction and A Day To Remember. The local Sydney boys are now considered mainstays of the Australian hardcore scene.
The band has extensive touring experience having played in Australia three times, Europe twice and being a part of the Warped tour in the US over that last couple of years. With the upcoming tour being 23 shows the boys feel they are well prepared. “In Europe we played 22 shows in 22 days which was really gruelling but was great practice and a good habit to get into,” says guitarist Dawson Michaels. “We think with our schedule over the past few years we’ve put ourselves in really good stead for the upcoming shows.”
This tour will be in support of their new album Resolve which was recorded in Boston and is also the first to feature vocals from new frontman Nick Bellringer. The transition from former vocalist Scott Bird to Bellringer was relatively smooth albeit rushed due to a pending deadline for the new record.
“We were really conscious of not only getting a good singer but someone we could have a good time with,” Michaels explains. “Our biggest hurdle introducing Nick was time because we’d already delayed the album six months. So he had to record his vocals as soon as possible or the record wouldn’t have been out until next year.”
Recording the record in Boston with its long heritage in the hardcore scene was also something that appealed heavily to the band. “Being there and the history of the state was cool. Then to add to that we got to meet and work with all of these really cool people like Mat from Bury Your Dead and Mark from Emmure,” he continues.
Hardcore shows tend to have a reputation or stigma attached to them of being aggressive but Michaels assures fans that is not the case with their shows.
“It’s not scary or intimidating so people shouldn’t be worried about that if they’re just getting into heavy music. We’re all really nice people and we just like to have fun and encourage the crowd to get into it, enjoy it and have as much fun as we do playing.” (JA)
Nov 21, Bald Faced Stag, 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt, $18.90, oztix.com.au
