After the rapturous response to their much-loved EP 'EAT LIES' at the end of last year, fast-rising outfit Bloodhounds are back once again for 2023 with their explosive new single 'RELICS'.
Describing their sound as "hyper grunge", which blends elements of hard rock with an electronic edge, 'RELICS' makes for another cacophonous entry into their vibrant repertoire to date. With its bold and euphoric textures and stellar riffs throughout, they are cementing themselves as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has inspired them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Joe: - I went through grades on Clarinet, Saxophone and Trumpet but the moment I started learning guitar was when my eyes were opened properly. I met Jack in Secondary school at the age of 11 and I remember he taught me Back in Black (quite the stereotypical first song I know) but then we had lessons together and the rest is history.
Jack: Guitar, It was the first thing I remember being really passionate about from age 12, I had tried different hobbies like football and karate around that age but nothing ever really stuck but as soon as my dad brought home a little cheap guitar and started getting lessons, I was hooked.
Kai: I was given a guitar from a very early age but funnily enough never fully got on with stringed instruments until I was older. Started drums when I was 10 at a rock school type place but I got through the books too quickly so for a good while I was just playing my favourite songs. I soon then fell in love with Dom Howard from Muse and their HAARP dvd, and would watch him play every chance I could get.
Tom: Electric guitar, very much down to Jimi Hendrix, Slash and Pete Townshend.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Joe: I grew up on Musical Theatre and 90's Hip Hop but Classic Rock is what really made me fall in love with music I think, learning all of The Who's and Led Zeppelin's songs religiously helped me understand how even seemingly simple songs can be the most complex.
Jack: Any type of rock music really, from a young age I was really into bands like the prodigy, green day and Jimi Hendrix.
Kai:The good thing about my upbringing is that my family all have a large collective of different music tastes and my dad was a DJ for most of his life. But I was definitely connected to the classics of the 00s such as Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Bullet for My Valentine, Avenged Sevenfold etc etc.
Tom: Well I was raised on the Who, the Jam and the stranglers, that kind of era. Then as i hit teenage years it was a lot of Metallica, Rage against the Machine and Linkin Park.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Joe: Jack and my old school friend David (vocalist of Realm of Torment) had given me the "Crobar Vol.One" compilation album and that changed music for me. The CD was played so many times it was scratched and skipping all over but if anyone can still find this CD then I will sell you my soul for it!
Jack: The first album I bought and remember owning was origin of symmetry by muse.
Kai:I believe the first album I owned myself was either Take Off Your Colours - You Me At Six or Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park. Both Huge albums.
Tom: I can remember going to hmv with my pocket money, and getting The Who - Who's next, and the first Busted album!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Joe: The one song I wish I could have written myself is "Slow Motion Countdown" by "Graveyard". It's so beautifully written and sounds like it could be a James Bond song.
Jack: September by earth wind and fire, it's an all time classic and I love everything about it.
Kai: Anything Rage Against the Machine if I'm honest.
Tom: probably little wing by Jimi
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
All: Not exactly, we have a few different ways we write songs, a lot of the time Jack will come to rehearsal with a riff and we'll expand on it together, then Joey will go away and write lyrics. Since Kais been in the band he's been able to make demos throughout the songwriting process which allows us to talk about a song and change stuff outside of the rehearsal room which has really streamlined the process.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Joe: My favourite bands which I always go back to include Alterbridge, Pearl Jam and Foo's but recently I've been playing Akala on repeat, his lyricism is poignant yet still so hard. His cadence too just gets me every time.
Jack: I'm currently listening to a lot of Saint Agnes, kid kapichi and superlove, there's plenty of great bands out there but those are the main ones I'm currently listening too.
Kai: I can't stop listening to Superlove, Turnstile and Paramore at the moment. They're all in constant rotation.
Tom: at the moment I'm listening to a lot of Kid Kapichi, Idles and Snayx, and always listening to Taylor Swift.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Joe: Guns n Roses or Alter Bridge.
Jack: S Club 7
Kai: Right now in my life I think we'd be perfect openers for an Enter Shikari tour, but realistically my answer is always going to be rage against the machine.
Tom: Well if it was a show from any point in time, maybe Audioslave as they were a big influence on us starting the band. In terms of bands that are in their prime though.... The Turnstile would be epic!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
ALL: Nothing beats a really energetic crowd! Mosh pits, cheering and singing along! It's the best feeling in the world.
And what is the most frustrating part?
ALL: It can be a bit frustrating that this isn't our full time jobs yet, but we're not done yet, we're still really motivated to keep pushing for it.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
ALL: Just remember to have Fun! If you're having fun then the audience will find it infectious, and we spend too much time and money for it not to be fun!
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Bloodhounds' new single 'RELICS' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.