By day, Jeremy Mackay installs fire alarms and sprinkler systems in Dunedin buildings.
By night, the 27-year-old drummer and his Mirikachinist band-mates set some of them alight with their heavy metal music.
The band has been performing in Dunedin for two years and is now hoping to hit the big time after being selected for the national final of the Battle of the Bands championship in Auckland this weekend.
Mr Mackay said the band's guitarist/vocalist John Sears (28) and bassist Joe Horrell (30) also had "day jobs", and the trio spent every waking spare moment rehearsing at the former Burnside freezing works.
"It's a slightly unusual place to rehearse.
"But it's warm and quiet - until we get going. It's a nice place to rehearse and the noise doesn't bother the neighbours."
Mr Mackay said the band was excited about the competition.
The event, held every year since 1992, provides a platform for up-and-coming bands to play at some of New Zealand's best music venues and attracts attention from fans and music industry watchers.
Mirikachinist will be one of 14 bands in the national final, performing a mixed array of musical styles.
"It's tough competition because there's such a big variety of styles. But we feel our sound is a bit fresher and different. Hopefully, the judges will pick it up and go for it."
Mr Mackay said the band would have 15 minutes to prove its worth and would do that by performing two of its own arrangements, titled Blackout Stage and Fire-eater.
The winning band will record a single at York Street Studios and also receive top-of-the-line musical equipment.
Mr Mackay said whether the band won or not, the members planned to record an EP at their rehearsal studio at Burnside later this year.
