Blistering Liverpool thrashers The Institution have had a magnificent start to the year. Their tight crushing metal sound won them a coveted support slot for Testament in February, giving them the much deserved opportunity to showcase their technically brilliant sound to a larger audience. With a lot more to come in 2009, here’s what they had to say when we grabbed a few words.

You played with Testament earlier this year. What was the whole experience like?

Chow (bass): Me and Joe went to see them play in the O2 arena in June 2008 and it was awesome! It’s mad to be sharing a stage with a band of that magnitude and power.

Sal (guitar): It’s good to play with a band that’s older and so well established. It’s cool to play with someone so oldschool it lets you know where your roots lie. Also for me, playing with Alex Skolnick was something I’d never thought I’d get to do.

Matt (guitar): He certainly has some serious chops, he took us to school.

Chris (drums): And we got LOTS of free beer.

How did the Testament gig opportunity come about?

Sal: I got a call from the O2 Academy asking if we would be interested in playing a gig with Testament and obviously we agreed and braced ourselves for a massive night of metal and brutality. We felt privileged because Testament’s management picked us and the Zuprowski Connection to play, based on the music on our myspace page.

What else is going on for The Institution in 2009?

Joe (vocals): Following the success of our first album (Into the Chaos) we had the opportunity to take the time to write some new material and develop our musical style. We’re working on the new album and are looking to tour this summer.

Chris: We’re really looking forward to a Powerhouse headline show in Liverpool on Easter Monday, we’re really excited to play with Multi Purpose Chemical again. We had a blast last time we played Powerhouse and hope to put the pedal to the metal again!

Liverpool is better known for ‘Merseybeat’ and in recent years

a lot of ‘Indie’ acts. What’s the scene like for Thrash?

Matt: In all honesty, it’s not great.  There are diehard metal fans here, and a lot of touring bands that we respect end up in Manchester and not Liverpool even with a massive metal heritage with bands such as Anathema and Carcass, and with new bands such as SSS.

Sal: I think there needs to be more metal shows put on in Liverpool for the metalheads to go to as the Indie scene seems to take precedence.

Is it an easy place to play?

Matt: Playing to 4 bored teenagers isn’t an easy gig, but by putting in the same amount of energy regardless of the size of the gig we try to win over as many new fans as possible. We’re grateful for the number of venues and promoters in Liverpool that are willing to give a bunch of ugly metalheads like us a chance!

Sal: We’ve been gigging here since we were 13, we’re used to it!

What do you think of the UK Thrash scene as a whole at the moment?

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