Asking Alexandria take aim at metal elitists

Asking Alexandria guitarist Ben Bruce has taken aim at so-called metal elitists who dismiss his band because of their sound.

And he says the fact their material can be seen as more commercial is a good thing as it’s introducing people to the metal genre.

Bruce tells Metal Wani: “You can sit and complain as much as you want but the fact of the matter is we’re flying the flag for metal whether you like us or not.

“The fact that we are maybe a little bit more commercially acceptable and a bit more palatable means we’re getting radio play which is just helping open people’s eyes to being introduced to more metal bands.”

He continues: “If you’re going to sit in your bedroom and be a bitch and just argue and moan about the fact you don’t like our band, no one is going to discover metal and eventually we’re all going to die and there’s going to be those elitists sat in their room going, ‘Why are there no new metal bands for me to listen to?’ It’s because you’re a fucking asshole and ruined it you fucking idiot.”

The band will release The Black, their first album featuring vocalist Denis Stoff, on March 25. They’ll begin a world tour on April 3 in support of the new record, including a run of North American dates with Bullet For My Valentine.

Last week, Asking Alexandria bassist Sam Bettley was involved in a van crash but walked away unhurt.

Asking Alexandria The Black tracklist

  1. Let It Sleep
  2. The Black
  3. I Won’t Give In
  4. Sometimes It Ends
  5. The Lost Souls
  6. Just A Slave To Rock N Roll
  7. Send Me Home
  8. We’ll Be Okay
  9. Here I Am
  10. Gone
  11. Undivided
  12. Circled By The Wolves

Asking Alexandria 2016 tour dates

Apr 03: Bangkok Ztudio Live Hall, Thailand
Apr 05: Auckland Powerstation, New Zealand
Apr 07: Melbourne 170 Russell, Australia
Apr 08: Melbourne 170 Russell, Australia
Apr 09: Brisbane The Met, Australia
Apr 10: Adelaide HQ Complex, Australia
Apr 13: Mt Lawley Astor Theatre, Australia
Apr 15: Kensington UNSW Roundhouse, Australia
Apr 17: Jakarta Hammersonic, Indonesia
Apr 19: Hong Kong Eastern Hang Out, Hong Kong
Apr 20: Taipei Legacy, Taiwan
Apr 30: Jacksonville Welcome To Rockville, FL
May 01: Fort Myers Fort Rock, FL
May 03: Atlanta The Tabernacle, GA
May 05: Richmond The National, VA
May 06: Chattanooga Track 29, TN
May 08: Concord Carolina Rebellion, NC
May 10: Sayreville Starland Ballroom, NJ
May 11: Huntington The Paramount, NY
May 13: South Bend Club Fever, IN
May 14: Somerset Northern Invasion, WI
May 17: Louisville Mercury Ballroom, KY
May 20: Columbus Rock On The Range, OH
May 21: Fort Wayne Piere’s, IN
May 23: New Orleans House Of Blues, LA
May 24: Memphis New Daisy Theatre, TN
May 25: Nashville War Memorial Auditorium, TN
Jul 14: Oshkosh Rock USA, WI
Jul 17: Bridgeview Chicago Open Air, IL
Aug 15: Southampton Engine Rooms, UK
Aug 16: London Koko, UK
Aug 18: Dinkelsbuhl Summer Breeze Open Air, Germany
Aug 20: Hamburg Elbriot Festival, Germany
Aug 21: Cologne Gloria, Germany
Aug 24: Reading Festival, UK
Aug 27: Leeds Festival, UK

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.