WELSH heavy metal band Skindred have toured extensively over the last 16 years. But now the four-piece will embark on their latest tour which will stop off in Carlisle next month. LAUREN PAGE spoke to drummer Arya Goggin about what 2017 holds for the rock group.

Widely acknowledged as one of the most devastating and enthralling live bands on the planet, the Newport destroyers have been a perennial force for musical invention and remorseless positivity since emerging from the ashes of frontman Benji Webbe’s former band Dub War back in 1998.

Since the start the band have created six albums and achieved world wide success. The group are set to visit The Brickyard in Carlisle on Sunday February 5 alongside Carlisle based band Triverse Massacre and Corby based metal band Raging Speedhorn.

Skindred's drummer Arya is no stranger to these bands. "Raging Speedhorn are very good friends of ours, they always keep us on our toes - they're party animals!"

"We've heard that Triverse Massacre are a really interactive band which we like - we always like to see the crowd hyped up before a gig."

Skindred are known for their road miles, having toured throughout the summer until Chritsmas, the band have already begun their latest tour.

"The most mental night so far was most definitely in Europe. We brought Zebrahead to Europe as our support band, they were the best we've seen when it comes to getting the crowd going. They had rubber dinghy's and a bar on stage. But we know Raging Speedhorn know how to get a crowd going - they get the audience in a circle pits, it's savage!"

The bands upcoming date in Carlisle won't be the first time the lads have visited the county.

"We remember Carlisle clearly, in The Brickyard you have the bar on the right hand side and it's the one venue where you can see the whites of the audiences eyes.

"I can't believe Carlisle has sold out, that really means a lot. We've always felt the love in Cumbria so I'll pass on that it's sold out."

Skindred have conjured up a unique sound over the years. Associated with the likes of heavy metal, alternative rock and reggae, the band are known for being something quite different than your usual metal sound.

"I guess we're just a rock band of four people who can't make their mind up. We're greedy and we take bits from all our music preferences.

"We're a rock band at heart but there's other influences such as reggae, dub and dance hall bits. I guess we're all really greedy!"

Arya admitted however that despite the musical differences in the band, there's always that one surprising member.

"If you looked on my iPod today, you would see 80's pop but then there's classics like Led Zeppplin, Metallica and Queen.

"When we were younger you felt like you had to fit in with your music taste, but I was a rock dude and I loved my heavy metal."

16 years later, Skindred continue to go from strength to strength with their fresh and current sound and work.

"It's great that even now in 2017 we're still doing the same thing, and still selling out!

"The future is looking bright, I say we're only getting going now. We've got loads of new things up our sleeve for 2017 and 2018. We've got some really cool new music ideas and we've written a few new songs and collaborations. After February we're going to get into a room and write some more.

"We've got some great festivals coming up including Bloodstock and headlining Steelhouse festival, Hellfest, Rock and Ring in Germany and then back to America.

"It honestly means so much that our fans help us sell out venues and that we can continue doing what we do - I'm so thankful to our Cumbrian fans that continue to love us."

Skindred, Raging Speedhorn and Triverse Massacre will be at The Brickyard on Sunday February 5