South Wales Black Metal outfit Ofnus are not exactly known for their cheerful outlook on life. Their second album, Valediction, took listeners on an intense journey through grief and loss, while their appearances at Bloodstock have helped establish them as a formidable live act.
Bassist Richard Rees has been part of that journey, from helping pack out the New Blood Stage in 2023 to fulfilling a childhood dream of playing the Sophie Lancaster Stage, not once, but twice.
For this week’s MetalTalk Lowdown, Richard recalls meeting Lemmy, a disastrous gig involving attempted equipment theft and a promoter who never showed up. There’s also an alarming quantity of tiramisu.
What’s the most Metal thing you’ve ever done off stage?
I got to meet Lemmy and watch the road crew set up before a Motörhead show in my hometown. Anything with Lemmy is the most Metal thing you’ve ever done.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played, and why?
For the sake of professionalism, I’m going to forego the venue name and band name here. But I played a gig a long time ago in a previous band, in a venue where the locals tried to steal our gear because there was nowhere to keep it. The promoter never turned up, so the venue owner had to pay us, and he turned up with a bloody nose because he had been jumped for our gig money. Enough said, really.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played, and why?
With Ofnus, there’s been so many to choose from. But my personal highlight has to be realising a young me’s dream twice over and playing the Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock Festival. That’s not to talk down the other amazing gigs we’ve had, though. Hard to choose.
Would you choose a platinum record or one perfect, legendary live show?
For the sake of everyone getting to listen to it, I would take the platinum record. Got to make the masses sad, after all.
What’s your greatest fear?
Interviews. Also wasps, and interviews with wasps.
What’s the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My awful imposter syndrome. No matter how good I play, I always assume I can do better, and when I don’t play as well as I would like, I feel like I’ve failed the fans.
What’s the trait you most deplore in other musicians?
Not turning up on time / having equipment / being generally unpleasant and unprofessional. Luckily, it has been a rare trait for me to encounter.
Describe yourself in three words.
Angry Cousin Itt.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Tiramisu, ideally enough to kill a large mammal.
What does a great riff feel like to write?
For me, it’s less about writing the riff and more about when you listen back to it recorded and think, ‘Yeah, that’s something to be proud of.’ Easily one of the Top 10 feelings.
What’s the worst thing a fan has ever said to you?
We’ve been very fortunate with Ofnus that we do not tend to have bad interactions with fans. So I’ll have to pull on an experience with a previous band who said “I loved the show, but you sounded like shit.” I am not sure what his goal was with that one.
What’s the worst thing a critic has ever said to you?
There was a reviewer who bizarrely compared us to different Italian foods mixed together in a bowl, with each separate element being great but together sounding awful. It’s strangely one of my favourite reviews too, in regard to how strange it was.
If you were not in music, what would you be doing?
Probably would have gone into computer engineering, as that was my other option for university other than music. I definitely didn’t follow the money on that decision.
What’s one album outside your genre you secretly love?
I’m not sure how secret this is, but the album Cures What Ails Ya by The Longest Johns has some genuine bangers on it if you like anything folk.
When did you last cry, and why?
Sadly, I have a friend suffering from motor neurone disease. I’ve known him since college, and he is easily one of the biggest fans of the band too. He was a very accomplished singer and musician, and now he’s in a wheelchair and still performing. I’ve been to every one of his benefit concerts that I can, and it was the last one I went to.
What keeps you awake at night?
Caffeine dependency and loud neighbours.
Riffs, royalties or recognition, if you had to choose?
Riffs. No debate.
How do you want to be remembered?
By my friends as a nice guy, by my close friends as an arsehole, and by my peers as an equal.
What’s the most important lesson the road has taught you?
24-hour McDonald’s is not always 24 hours. That and how to pack down my gear in less than 10 minutes.
What happens when the music stops?
I live in the solace that the music never stops. If it’s not my music, it’s another great band. If I were not playing music anymore, however, I would try to go into an adjacent role in live gigs. Promotion or band management, something along those lines.
You can catch Ofnus in York, Edinburgh and Shrewsbury over three consecutive nights in March 2027. Find out more at ofnus.bandcamp.com.
Enjoyed this Lowdown? There’s plenty more where that came from. From Rock legends to rising stars, The MetalTalk Lowdown has featured Toby Jepson, Phil Soussan, Vanessa Warwick, James Kennedy, Arya Goggin, BEX, Krusher Joule and many more.
Same questions. Very different people. Explore more MetalTalk Lowdowns here.
