Stemming from the west of Ireland, Four piece hard rock outfit XIII Doors have just released their debut album Into The Unknown, an 8-track exploration of hope, power and taking a deep breath before embracing the road ahead.

Consisting of DJ Sullivan (Vocals,, guitar), Flash Murphy (Guitar), Pat "Pablo" Byrne (Bass), and Cian "Whoasley" O'Sullivan; XIII Doors first stemmed from an idea DJ had almost ten years ago. Having spent his teenage and early adult year travelling the world as a roadie and eventually band member for a number of rock bands and theatre production companies, in 2015  DJ decided to set up Facebook and Twitter pages for what he thought would be his new band XIII Doors. "It was on the long finger for a very long time" he smiles, as he chats to Goldenplec from the US, "they were just left to rot, pushed aside for seven or eight years until 2023 we just realised there was never going to be a perfect time to start releasing stuff so we got everyone together and got the ball rolling".

In a conversation with GP, DJ discusses recording their debut album, translating their sound into the live setting, his early life on the road, and the importance of always believing in yourself.

Q: How long did the recording process for Into take?

“We started recording mid January, so all of the songs were done demo wise, so we went to the studio to drum and bass together in a week, took a couple of weeks of a break, then back in to record rhythm guitar, another break, and then went in and finished the lead guitar and vocals. Then we let it lie for a little while and then listened back and made minor tweaks, added a few extra tiny bits before we sent it off for mixing, so overall it only took a couple of months and then a while mixing it then and releasing singles."

Q: Lyrically, what’s the message of the album?

“The main thing for me is, because a lot of metal music I find can be quite negative and quite heavy lyrically, so we wanted to keep it more positive and inspire people to be the best person they could be and make them realise that whatever they want to do they can do. It might not be the easiest thing in the world, but anything you want you can strive and achieve, apart from the obvious really. I can’t turn around and become the president of the United States! People have the power to do most of what they want to do in the world, and if people realise that and work hard and are kind to themselves anything is possible.”

Q: What’s it been like translating this album into a live setting?

“The album launch tour went brilliantly, we were shocked at how well it did. It sold out in Limerick and Cork, and it was only our second time in Limerick and our first in Cork so that was mad. We had great crowds then in Galway and Derry too, and yeah, it was great having to figure out how to play the songs live. A lot of the guitar riffs are grand to perform, but when I have to sing along on top of it it can get a bit tricky.”

Q: When you were putting these songs together, heavy metal maybe a little more than perhaps other genres, is very much focused on live performances, was that always to the fore when you were recording?

“Absolutely, playing these songs live was always the focus. It was going to be a band, tour it, do as much gigging as possible, and really just, to be honest with you, to spread the message of positivity as far and as wide as it can be spread. If we can make one person’s day better at a gig it’s mission accomplished.”

Q: Reading a little bit about your own life, you’ve had a remarkable career. You’ve been all over the world touring with different band, across continents even, how did that all come about?

“It started out when I was a teenager really, I started roading with a local band and ended up joining the band a few years later. I was doing everything, sound checks, learning how to set up the rig, learning how to fix lights, everything and yeah, it was amazing. I really enjoyed travelling around with the lads. From there, I joined a couple of theatre tribute bands, which again toured Ireland the UK and it’s just one of those things. The earlier you start and the more effort and work you put into it, the more doors open for you.”

Q: With Into The Unknown out and the launch tour wrapped up, what’s next for XIII Doors?

“There’s little bits and pieces of ideas for album two, just little things that didn’t make the first album; not because it wasn’t good enough but because it didn’t fit the overall theme of the record, so there’s two or three songs there. We’re heading over to the UK in June, playing a few festivals, back then for a few gigs in the UK in September so we’re just working on getting a few more things recorded.”

Into The Unknown is out now. XIII Doors support Michael Schenker in Opium on 9th May. Tickets on sale now.