In his first-ever in-depth interview, the anonymous mastermind behind the mysterious masked metal band President has revealed the deeply personal and painful origins of the project, explaining that it was born from an existential crisis following his departure from a religious upbringing. Speaking with Metal Hammer, the enigmatic singer detailed how the emotional intensity of the band’s explosive debut at the UK’s Download Festival this summer ultimately moved him to tears.
Since emerging earlier this year with a cryptic teaser and a surprise booking at the UK’s biggest rock festival, President has been the subject of intense speculation, drawing immediate comparisons to fellow masked enigmas Ghost and Sleep Token. However, the frontman insists the masks are not a gimmick, but a necessary tool for a deeply personal, “therapeutic” journey.
“When you’re institutionalised 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?’” he explained of his post-religious crisis. “President is the perfect way for me to explore these feelings and not have it feel like ‘me’ who has the spotlight on them.”
That exploration culminated in the band’s “trial by fire” debut at Download Festival on June 15. The hype surrounding the band had reached a fever pitch, resulting in a massively overflowing crowd for their very first show. “That’s the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life,” the frontman admitted. The emotional weight of the moment hit him when the massive crowd began singing the words to their debut single, “In The Name Of The Father,” back to him.
“They were singing it like they’d known it for 20 years,” he marveled. “I started crying when I came off-stage. It f**king broke me! I’d written that song before I’d really figured out how this was all going to fit together… It was a note to myself, where I was and what I was going through.”
The band’s upcoming debut EP, King Of Terrors (due out September 26), will continue to explore these deeply personal themes. The title, he explained, is a “biblical metaphor for death,” inspired by the passing of his uncle, which forced him to confront mortality outside of a religious framework. He was quick to clarify, however, that the project is “not anti-religion,” but about “baring the soul of the search for higher meaning.”
With their first headlining show having sold out in minutes and a massive European arena tour supporting Architects scheduled for early next year, President‘s ascent has been meteoric. While speculation about their identities will surely continue—a topic the frontman says they will “never acknowledge”—the project’s true purpose has been made clear. It is not about the past, but a deeply personal and forward-looking “journey of discovery,” perfectly encapsulated by their initial mission statement: “Only the mission ahead.”
King Of Terrors Tracklist:
- “In The Name Of The Father“
- “Fearless“
- “Rage“
- “Destroy Me“
- “Dionysus“
- “Conclave“
President – Upcoming Live Shows:
DECEMBER 2025
- Dec 3: Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY
- Dec 8: The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
- Dec 11: Festival Hall Melbourne, West Melbourne, Australia
- Dec 13: Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, Australia
- Dec 14: Riverstage Brisbane, Brisbane, Australia
JANUARY 2026
- Jan 9: Les Étoiles, Paris, France
- Jan 10: Bitterzoet, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Jan 11: Luxor, Köln, Germany
- Jan 13: Swiss Life Hall, Hannover, Germany
- Jan 15: KB Hallen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Jan 16: Annexet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Jan 18: Helsinki Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland
- Jan 20: Partille arena, Partille, Sweden
- Jan 22: UFO Berlin – Konzerthalle, Berlin, Germany
- Jan 23: Arena Gliwice, Gliwice, Poland
- Jan 25: Gasometer, Wien, Austria
- Jan 26: O2 Universum, Hlavní Město Praha, Czechia
- Jan 27: Papp László Budapest Sportaréna, Budapest, Hungary
- Jan 29: Fabrique, Milan, Italy
- Jan 30: EXIL, Zurich, Switzerland
FEBRUARY 2026
- Feb 1: La Nau Locales de Ensayo, Barcelona, Spain
- Feb 2: Nazca Club, Madrid, Spain
APRIL 2026
- Apr 11: Limelight, Belfast, United Kingdom
- Apr 12: The Academy, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Ireland
- Apr 14: O2 Ritz Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Apr 15: Galvanizers Yard, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Apr 17: Project House, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Apr 18: Electric Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Apr 20: UEA LCR Norwich, Norwich, United Kingdom
- Apr 21: O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom
Ogorthul: Immersed in the bone-shattering world of death metal and beyond. I’m here to excavate the latest news, reviews, and interviews from the extreme metal scene for you.
