Yorkshire – Skin Back Alley

Interview: introducing UK rock band Vermillion Tides

23/02/201624/02/2016 by skinbackalley, posted in Interviews

Photo (C) Rhian Melvin

If all you know about Halifax in West Yorkshire is what you’ve learned from Sarah Lancashire on the BBC, or some high-profile TV ads for the banking sector featuring some bloke called Howard, then be prepared to have your eyes – and ears – educated.

Vermillion Tides are an up-and-coming rock band based in the town, playing a vintage-tinged, energised strain of psychedelic rock n’ roll. Having worked with a host of solo artists and bands with some serious pedigree, Vermillion Tides’ guitarist and chief songwriter Blair Murray decided to branch out on his own in an entirely new direction.

Blair himself picks up the story as the band catch up with Skin Back Alley ahead of their debut live show this coming weekend. Also present, vocalist Natalie Cooper-Bates, bassist Andrew Tarling and drummer James Newsome.

Skin Back Alley: Give us an introduction to Vermillion Tides. Who are you all and how did the group come together?

Blair Murray [Guitar/Songwriter]: Well Vermillion Tides has come about from when I split from Twisted Wheel and decided I wanted to form my own band, but something that was completely different.

Natalie Cooper-Bates [Vocals]: And that’s where I come in. Blair wanted a female singer, we had been dating for a while and he had seen me perform with an old band of mine, so it kind of made sense really.

James Newsome [Drums]: I had been mates with Blair for a long time, I even used to teach him drums. He wanted to focus on writing and playing guitar, so he asked me to join and work on some songs before we decided to recruit our other troops.

Andrew Tarling [Bass Guitar]: Me and Blair had worked together before doing some work for Tom Hingley [solo, Inspiral Carpets]. We had always kept in touch. He had sent me some demos of the new music he was doing and when he mentioned he needed a bassist I was well up for it.

Forming in 2015, the band itself may be relatively new, but you’ve all had experience playing with other artists and bands, I understand?

Natalie: Yeah that’s right, the lads have worked with some top artists. I myself had only previously played in a low key Leeds band a few years back and before that hadn’t ever even stepped in front of a mic. Actually, tell a lie, I sang with a mic at my school leavers assembly when I was 11 if that counts? I knew I could hold a note or two but just kept it to myself and that was that really.

Blair: I have been playing in bands since I was young and then from that I played drums for Tom Hingley on his solo album. It was Andrew actually that put my name forward for that, so cheers Andy. After that I was gigging round Manchester, and from that I was seen by Twisted Wheel’s management who asked me to join. This gave me some good opportunities. One of my favourite artists I worked with was Laura Cantrell, a country singer which was so far from what I was doing.

Your new single is “Atom Bomb” backed up with “Fortune Cookie” on the B side. Can you tell us about the stories behind the tracks and what they mean to you?

Blair: “Atom Bomb” is a hard one to put in to so many words as each line stands for different things, like everyone has a breaking point, frustration towards those who have power such as the “government.” But when each line of the lyrics is broken down it still comes together as one strong message. I would say it is mostly about people who have addictive personalities and the way those in power say what’s good and bad for you. The chorus is saying that we can all be like a bomb and in time we can blow up. Whilst writing the second verse Robin Williams had recently died, so the story of Adrian Cronauer who Williams plays in “Good Morning Vietnam” was added as condolence to him. There is so much more to this song, but lets just leave it there for now.

“Fortune Cookie” was written in a psychedelic way for the listener to struggle to work out what the story is about, as the meanings behind the song are quite personal. BUT I guess we can give some of it away now. The story can be dedicated to any one who has been disappointed, used and betrayed by the lies people live. The chorus line ‘here comes the rain’ I guess can be seen as a simile to here come the tears, which I’m sure most of us have been told whilst growing up.

The songs have a distinct psychedelic rock vibe to them, and that’s a theme that continues in your aesthetic such as in your logo and cover art. Presumably as a band you always knew you were aiming for that style and sound?

Natalie: The theme if you will is, yeah, that 70’s psychedelic style, but that has a lot to do with our general interest in that era for the clothing etc. Our sound is such a mixture, it’s so hard to say what genre you are and sometimes it’s just easier to put yourself in a category. Although to be honest if you come watch us and hear the rest of our stuff, our sound is all sorts, so you could say we were alternative but that word is so cliché and used way too often. We’re not too bothered what people want to say we sound like, it just matters if they like it or not and get a buzz for it like we do.

Are there specific bands or artists from that oeuvre that you look up to or draw inspiration from?

Blair: What actually set this idea off for me was when I watched the film “Dig!” [a 2004 documentary, directed by Ondi Timoner, about the careers of The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre], so yeah I suppose I have had inspiration from BJM. I like all sorts of bands from the psych scene like Spaceman3 and The Jesus And Mary Chain, which I suppose influences the sound of the music. But in terms of the lyrics it would be more artists like Tom Waits, Dylan and poets such as Oscar Wilde that I have taken an interest in.

Natalie: I wouldn’t say I actually really draw inspiration from anyone as such, I just like to do my own thing. With me in terms of inspiration it comes mainly from the way artists act or style themselves. I mean I can spend ages online just looking through pictures and footage of artists such as Grace Slick, and Cher (don’t judge, she had amazing presence when she first started!)

Where did you record the tracks and who did you work with to record and produce them?

James: We recorded “Atom Bomb” and “Fortune Cookie” with producer Yves Atlanta, who has worked with Peter Hook [Joy Division, New Order], DeStijl, Julie Gordon [Happy Mondays] and Mark Burgess [The Chameleons, I Am Kloot]. We then mastered the songs at Homespun Studios with Andy McKerlie who was the guitarist and piano/organ player on the Folks album “I See Cathedrals” and bass player for Marion.

And what has the response been like to the songs from audiences?

Andrew: It’s been great. Couldn’t really ask for a more positive feedback. It’s interesting to see people choosing which is their favourite song from what we have released so far. Everyone who has listened to “Atom Bomb”, whether it’s their style of music or not, has said they can definitely see it going down well live at gigs. It’s got so much energy. We recently got a quote from a Manchester magazine saying “Vermillion Tides are one to keep an eye out for if their following releases are as good as this first one.”

Can we expect a full album in time? Is that the next goal?

Blair: The next goal would be to release another single and then to bring out an E.P or a small album on vinyl. We are always writing new songs, and for our first album we want it to be the best it can be. I had written the songs before anyone had joined and now that Natalie has now been writing lyrics it feels right to wait until we have a collaboration of songs which has both our input.

Have you got any live shows coming up? Where can we see Vermillion Tides in the future?

James: Yes, we have our debut show coming up at Hebden Bridge, Trades Club on the 27th of February supporting Deadcuts. Their lead singer is Mark Keds from a band called Senseless Things [and he was also very briefly in The Wildhearts – Ed]. It will be such a good night.

Natalie: We love this venue, it’s so intimate and has had some great acts play there over the years. After this we will be playing The Lanes in Bristol on March 19th, which is another cracking venue; a bowling alley, a vintage shop and a gig venue. What more could you want? Another gig we can’t wait to do is in Manchester at The Castle Hotel on March 27th, where we have two great supports and a DJ set. Oh, and it’s on Easter Sunday, so no work the next day which is always a bonus.

Well the future for Vermillion Tides is obviously going to be massive! No, seriously, we have some great support already and can only hope for bigger things. The next step really is getting on some great festivals and keep building our fan base.

Finally, big up Halifax for us. “Happy Valley” has got us thinking it’s full of sociopaths and policemen and women with a dramatically troubled past.

Natalie: Ha, “Happy Valley” is actually a favourite of mine. Bloody loved the first series. Cant beat Sarah Lancashire, she’s great. But anyway, YES to putting Halifax on the map and making people see it’s not a ‘troubled town,’ We’re really proud of being from Yorkshire.

Connect with Vermillion Tides at:
Facebook: facebook.com/vermilliontides
Bandcamp: vermilliontides.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify: open.spotify.com
iTunes: itunes.apple.com

Photo (C) Rhian Melvin

Watch! Black Moth release live video for song “Tumbleweave”

02/09/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Black Moth have released a live video for their song “Tumbleweave”. The track is lifted from their forthcoming album, Condemned To Hope.

The clip was filmed at the band’s recent gig at London’s Barfly, and comes ahead of the new album’s release on the 15th of September via New Heavy Sounds.

Condemned To Hope is available to pre-order here, and Black Moth head out on the road later this month with labelmates Limb confirmed as support.

You can watch the live clip for “Tumbleweave” below:

Black Moth will play:

Sep 26th: Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Sep 27th: Liverpool Kazimier
Sep 28th: York Dutchess
Oct 01st: London Underworld
Oct 02nd: Birmingham Asylum 2
Oct 03rd: Manchester Roadhouse
Oct 05th: Glasgow The Attic
Oct 06th: Sheffield Corporation

UK metal band Evile reveal name of new guitarist

12/08/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

UK thrash metal crew Evile have announced their new guitarist, reports Metal Hammer.

Former Fallen Fate member Piers Donno-Fuller will replace Ol Drake who left the Yorkshire band in 2013.

Speaking to Team Rock Radio’s Metal Hammer Magazine Show, bass player Joel Graham said the band opted from someone local, as well as very talented: “We had to step back and ask what do we do from this point. We thought it would be a shame to stop it right now. We had to find the right guy, that’s taken time. I appreciate people have been waiting for news but we’ve got to spend time with this guy, get on with him, travel with him and he’s got big shoes to fill.

“We’re still good friends with Ol, we can’t not be, he’s Matt’s brother. He made his decision and we respect that. We kind of realised that the last four years have been manic for us and we decided to take some time off. Then we put it out there if anyone wants to send in an audition tape. Being a northern band we wanted someone on our doorstep.”

New guitarist Piers said of his joining the band: “We’ve had passing chats and had been talking for a while. But I got in touch when Ol left and it went from there. It was time to get on to something else and expand out and Evile was the perfect opportunity. I’m massively grateful to these guys for letting me come on board. I’m learning all the tracks. Ol’s a fantastic guitar player so it’s not easy trying to work out his solos. We’ve got something in the pipeline for March.”

For an example of just the kind of guitar work that Donno-Fuller is going to have to figure out, check out the video for Evile’s track, “Thrasher”, below:

Album Review: SERVERS | Leave With Us

07/08/201410/08/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in Album Reviews

Our Verdict: 5/5
Release date: Out now
Find it at: Undergroove Records
Find out more: Serversband.co.uk

“Both future vision AND past nightmare, ‘Leave With Us’ is a stunning debut album, and in this time of crisis creation, SERVERS are surely the UK’s finest new rock and metal hope.”

Contrary to the thoughts of many a record label marketing exec, it always feels to me as though music is on to something good when it can’t easily be summed up in a few short words. When an album challenges you creatively, it forces you to dig deeper within the music, and within yourself. In other words, the music has substance; it’s sucking you in and demanding closer attention.

It’s a good omen because the music is moving you. It’s a good omen because it means you’re building up a relationship with it. It’s a good omen because it means that the album is something special, and therefore unforgettable.

And so it is with South Yorkshire’s self-styled kings of cult, SERVERS.

With Lee Storrar, former frontman of GU Medicine and Sunlounger, at the helm, you might expect SERVERS to make the righteous sound of a seasoned band. But to deliver such a fully formed and complete package for their debut album? It’s a rare thing indeed. And yet here it is.

The band’s unsettling hooded image is perfectly in line with the music that they make. Coming on like an angst-ridden, post-millenial sect, SERVERS are at once the harbingers of a bleak, apocalyptic future, and yet seemingly born from a murky, feudal past; a place where fear and dark magick once ruled the hearts and minds of the populous, only now to be replaced by big brother government and rampant, poorly understood technology.

SERVERS’ sound is similarly drawn from a distinctly rebellious and anti-authoritarian heritage, whilst pointing towards a perilous, restless and uneasy road ahead. Storrar’s voice is a subtle instrument all of it’s own, shifting from a clean-cut but quietly dangerous croon, to an expansive, throat-burning, fiery roar as the music demands. His guitar work is insidious and deadly, an electrifying sonic thread that builds a sense of impending doom. And all of this is tightly underpinned by the blitzkrieg of Lee Wilde’s rumbling bass and Ant Nettleship’s hammering drums; accomplished musicians all.

The album’s two singles to date, “Universes and Supernovas (The Ride)” and “Claustrophobia”, are solid examples of just two strands of the complex and finely woven SERVERS tapestry. On the face of it, “Universes…” is a straight-forward blast of alternative rock, it’s explosive opening salvo of conjoined guitar and drums giving way to an up-tempo and strident punk-tinged hurricane. But dig beneath the surface and it’s immediately clear that there is more going on. Multiple layers of guitar snake around each other, spitting and hissing as they go, slithering over the top of a pointed and poignant lyric concerning itself with the separation of us from ourselves. And all of this neatly houses a weapons-grade amount of anthemic, fist-pumping melody.

“Claustrophobia” is far more sinister in it’s sound, evoking it’s title with a picked guitar line to the fore, and a sustained, eerie wail stalking the shadows behind. They’re both combined with what could be Storrar’s strongest vocal performance of the record. “I see no reason to change. You take me out of my comfort zone,” he sings. And you ours, Lee, in a way that’s both intoxicating and terrifying. The song is redolent of Cornell, Thayil and Co., and their massive crossover hit, “Black Hole Sun.” With a following wind, it’s not inconceivable that “Claustrophobia” could be the contemporary equivalent for SERVERS. Goodness knows the song is just as accomplished; a masterclass in how to build tension and atmosphere without histrionics or distracting bluster.

But even then, there is an astonishing eye in this rock n’ roll storm, worthy of the end of days and towering above all that has gone before. If SERVERS didn’t seem quite so suspicious of it as a source, you could almost say it was Biblical in it’s scope, scale and power.

“Dangerous Devotion” is, to these ears, SERVERS first and epic masterpiece.

The song initially lodges itself in the synapses via a swarming electric drone, segueing in to a feedback loop, before a doom laden riff with the density of a black hole almost causes the universe to collapse in on itself. It’s a feeling echoed in the metallic clang of Ant Nettleship’s liberal use of his cymbal bell to ride the rhythm of the song, accompanied by Lee Wilde’s churning bass groove.

The track steams ahead on a blackened, industrial Sabbath-esque riff, Storror’s granite sharp voice spitting angry and paranoid lyrics about “turning tables”, knowledge, power, questions, doubt and, yes, devotion. The gloom of the descending chord progression in the verse paves the way for a beguiling shift come the chorus, where a total reversal delivers an ascending series of notes and delivers an expansive, jaw-dropping slab of musicality.

A fuzzed up and frenzied solo slices the whole thing in two at three minutes in, developing into a dual lead attack that wouldn’t sound out of place in one of Josh Homme’s dusty desert projects. The arrangement then thrillingly pulls everything back to it’s bare minimum, the tune picked out on guitar and, what’s this? A string section? The choppy, staccato rhythms ratchet up the tension as the the notes progress north, and in the albums most spine-tingling moment, the song launches into the stratosphere, that mammoth chorus returning once again, but this time on a sea of ebullient, string-laden bravado.

Stunning.

But for all it’s heroic centrepiece, there are still gems aplenty elsewhere on Leave With Us. “Mega High” is a dirty blues strut that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Jack White record had he grown up listening to more metal fare. “Do Gooders” navigates the realms of a thumping industrial stomp, the likes of which Marilyn Manson might once have been proud of. Opening track “Save Me From Myself” injects liberal doses of black metal blast beats, and “King Things” swings and swaggers with the heavy menace of prime-period post-metal insurgents, ISIS.

For a band who project an image that is both literally and figuratively cultish, it seems to be something of a paradox that SERVERS’ debut album could leave them poised to cross over into a bigger, more high profile realm. And yet somehow it is not surprising at all that, in this modern world of technological espionage, all-seeing governments that don’t think twice about crossing physical or metaphorical boundaries, and fear-mongers growing their seats of power by creating and then preying on the concerns of citizens, SERVERS should be the band to make that move into the wider public consciousness. Their album certainly deserves and demands it.

“Leave With Us”? SERVERS, we’re already on board.

You can watch the visually impressive video for SERVERS’ track “Claustrophobia” below. The clip was directed by renowned lensman, Mark Latham.

SERVERS will play The Fleece, Bristol on the 21st of August, supporting My Ruin on their The Sacred Mood UK tour.

The band will release a new 4 track EP on the 15th of September via Undergroove records, featuring a cover version of the Madness song “Lovestruck”, recorded in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The cover will also appear on the Madness Charity Tribute Album ‘Specialized 3 – Mad Not Cancer’ as part of the Specialized project.

You can find out more about SERVERS and sign up to serve at the band’s official website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Yorkshire’s Marmozets to release debut album in September

05/08/201405/08/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Here at Skin Back Alley, we like nothing more than to let you know about awesome homegrown musical talent. For SBA, that means it’s great to hear fantastic UK based bands. Even better when they’re Yorkshire born and bred.

So then, without further ado, slightly mad Yorkshire punks Marmozets have announced details of their forthcoming debut full length album.

The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets will be released on the 29th of September via Roadrunner Records, with a full tracklist as follows:

1. “Born Young And Free”
2. “Why Do You Hate Me?”
3. “Captivate You”
4. “Is It Horrible”
5. “Cover Up”
6. “Particle”
7. “Cry”
8. “Weird And Wonderful”
9. “Vibetech”
10. “Love You Good”
11. “Hit The Wave”
12. “Move, Shake, Hide”
13. “Back To You”

You can watch the teaser trailer for the album below:

Sounds bloody marvellous to us! And says Marmozets guitarist, Sam: “The only way you’re going to go up is to keep training yourselves, both individually and as a band. We haven’t come from out of nowhere, we’re not messing about: this is our lives.”

Marmozets will tour with Lonely The Brave and fellow Yorkshiremen Allusondrugs during October, with scheduled dates as follows:

Oct 1st: Manchester Deaf Institute
Oct 2nd: Glasgow King Tuts
Oct 3rd: Liverpool O2 Academy 2
Oct 4th: 4 Cardiff CF10
Oct 6th: Brighton Komedia
Oct 8th: Tunbridge Wells Forum
Oct 9th: Southampton Talking Heads
Oct 10th: London Kings Cross Scala
Oct 11th: Nottingham Rock City Basement
Oct 13th: Sheffield Corporation
Oct 14th: Newcastle O2 Academy 2
Oct 15th: Birmingham O2 Academy 3
Oct 16th: Norwich Open

The band will also be playing in support of Taking Back Sunday at the following gigs in December:

Dec 7th: Portsmouth Pyramids
Dec 8th: Bristol O2 Academy
Dec 9th: London Camden Roundhouse
Dec 11th: Birmingham Institute
Dec 12th: Manchester Ritz
Dec 13th: Glasgow O2 ABC
Dec 14th: Oxford O2 Academy

You can pre-order your copy of The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets at iTunes here.