Interviews: Scratch One Grub

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Groove Metal/Progressive Metal/Death Metal band, Scratch One Grub, from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? You planned it, or did it just come out like that?

The idea came from the video game franchise “Gears of War.” Sometimes, upon defeating an enemy, your character will utter the phrase “Scratch one grub.” 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It’s quite hard for all of us to summarise why, as the love of metal goes very deep. I guess it’s because we love angry-sounding music and the musical complexities it offers, haha

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

The five of us have known each other for over a decade, connecting through school, college, and university. Over the years, we’ve all played in different bands together except for Evan. When we were on the hunt for a lead guitarist, Evan was recommended. He joined our band in 2024, and we couldn’t be happier to have him with us!

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Alex: “Architects, purely because their riffs are a lot of fun to play on guitar.”

The Grub Man: “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Aled: “Slipknot because they were the first heavy band I got into.”

Evan: “The Doors. I love a lot of 60’s music, and their first 2 albums and LA Woman are solid 10/10’s”

Lewis: “Mine is also Slipknot, but since Aled has already picked them, I will say Gojira. Mario Duplantier motivates me like no other, and their sound is huge and unique.”

Zac: “Black Sabbath for their monumental riffs, and they are the creators of all that is metal!”

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

The love of creating something for self-fulfilment and hoping that it can evoke strong emotions in others. Basically, it’s art for the sake of art. That might come across as pretentious, but it’s the truth, haha

6. Where was your last gig?

Our most recent show was at The Green Rooms in Treforest, supporting Confessions of a Traitor. It was an awesome night! The guys in that band are super cool and put on an incredible performance.

7. Where would you like to play?

Bloodstock! With us competing in Metal to the Masses 2026, that dream might just become a reality sooner than we think. And even if we don’t win, we know our time will come, one way or another!

8. Who would you like to support?

You might expect us to say the biggest metal bands of all time, but honestly, we love opening for bands on the grassroots scene. It’s all about building connections and supporting each other. We’re all in the same boat, embracing the relentless grind that is music.

9. Who not?

As long as the band or artist is a good person, then we will support them. Heck, we’d even open for Taylor Swift if we had the opportunity. Imagine how funny that would be!

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Lewis: “It happens from time to time, and honestly, I love it. The reason is that when I walk on stage to count in the first song of the set, all the nerves and anxiety transform into pure adrenaline. Nothing exists outside of that moment; it’s why I’m alive, it’s my purpose.”

Zac: “Confidence in mine and the band's capabilities is what gets me through it. I know we are more than capable, and as soon as the performance starts, the stage fright goes away, and it's nothing but fun.”

Alex: “I’ve never had full-on stage fright. Nerves during gigs usually clear up during the first song. Once that part is over with, there is nothing to worry about.” 

The Grub Man: “The best way to deal with it is to get lost in the moment and have fun. Seeing the crowd go crazy or relaxing while watching us makes all the nerves go away.”

Aled: “I constantly have stage fright. I deal with it by letting go on stage. The worst that can happen is for equipment to malfunction, but the audience still cheers, and we use that positive energy to remember to have a good time. Not every gig is perfect, but we can still enjoy the moment. That is what gigs are about, the good and bad.”

Evan: “I often get stage fright, and the best way to deal with it is to trust myself and the band and let go to live in the moment. The moment I start performing, I can feel the energy in the music and the room in general, and all fear fades into excitement and adrenaline”

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

One of the most unanimous answers would be Slipknot. Not necessarily for their sound, but for their attitude in the early stages of their career. Their rise to success is genuinely inspiring; they were relentless in their hunger, and that attitude is embedded throughout their first two albums.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Lewis: “We’ve signed a couple of autographs, but we haven’t really encountered strange requests from fans just yet. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll be able to answer a question like this with some fond or disturbing tales, haha! During a gap in our set, the guitarists switch guitars (not with each other) and make sure they’re in tune. During this time, I like to solve a Rubik’s Cube as a way to race them and entertain the audience. The first time I did this, someone in the crowd asked me to throw the cube to them—which I did. I miss that cube. I guess that’s the best answer I can give for that question at this moment, haha!”

13. What do you think of your fans?

Their support truly means the world to us in ways we can hardly put into words. Seeing new people connect with us in real time during live performances is an incredible feeling. Strangers who have never spoken to us before going crazy for our music makes us feel alive and reassures us that we’re doing something right with both our music and our performance.

14. What do you think of our site?

We really love what Breathing The Core does. It’s such a supportive platform for underground and emerging bands, and you can tell they genuinely care about promoting new talent. The mix of fresh releases, interviews, reviews, and band features gives bands like ours real visibility, and as musicians grinding through the scene, that kind of support means so much. We’re truly honoured and grateful to be a part of it!

15. Something to add?

Stream us so we can quit our jobs, sell out as fast as possible, so that we can neglect our old material and create pop music! Joking, of course! However, we do hope that people check us out and catch us live! If you’re reading this and you live in the UK, know that we are doing are absolute best to perform all over the country, which hopefully includes a venue near you! Thank you so much to Breathing The Core for taking the time to feature us, and to any who reads and loves metal!