The mystery surrounding masked newcomers President is starting to peel away, at least a little. In a new conversation with Metal Hammer, the band finally revealed the stage names of its members, offering fans their first real glimpse behind the veil.
Frontman President leads the charge, joined by guitarist Heist, bassist Protest, and drummer Vice. That’s as far as the curtain gets pulled back, though. “We’re never going to discuss or acknowledge our identities,” the vocalist confirmed, cementing the group’s commitment to anonymity.
President’s rise has been rapid. Their debut single ‘In the Name of the Father’ (below) dropped earlier this year, followed by ‘Fearless’ and ‘Rage.’ A ferocious live debut at Download Festival quickly fueled speculation about who might be under the masks, with wild guesses ranging from Chino Moreno (Deftones) to Charlie Simpson (Fightstar). The band isn’t entertaining any of it.
The masks aren’t just aesthetic. For President, they symbolise breaking away from a strict religious upbringing and confronting questions of belief and identity. “When you’re institutionalized into something and you eventually get out of it, you end up wondering, ‘How much of this is what I think, and how much is what I was told to think?’” the frontman explained. “President is the perfect way for me to explore these feelings and not have it feel like ‘me’ who has the spotlight on them.”
While drenched in religious imagery, the project isn’t about tearing faith down. Instead, the upcoming EP King of Terrors – out September 26, is described as an exploration of higher meaning. “My uncle passed away a few years ago, and that was the first time I’d had someone die who was close to me when I wasn’t part of this religious thinking. It hit me really hard. So King of Terrors sums up the journey I’ve been on.”
With their first EP looming and a U.S. tour set for December, President’s momentum is only climbing. Whether you buy into the mystery or not, it’s clear the band’s story is only just beginning.
PRESIDENT U.S. Tour Dates
Dec 3 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
Dec 8 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre
Further details/tickets: https://www.presidentband.com/
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