Photo Credit: Harvey Wallbanger
Alternative rock/metal trio Them Bloody Kids release their politically charged debut album Radical Animals this week, blending elements of stoner/doom rock and nu-metal with world music influences. We caught up with the band ahead of the release to discuss their formation, influences, ambitions and more.
Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your band. How did the band form and how long have you been together?
Seb & Darren: Darren was actually my boss at the time at the O2 Forum Kentish Town and to cut a long story short, we basically got talking about System Of A Down and found out we loved the same music. We both wanted to find a band to work with and write stuff we loved, so we formed Them Bloody Kids – and here we are three years later!
Vein: I met Seb at ICMP while we were both university students. A friend told me there was a very cool band looking for a bass player so I decided to give it a try. I have to admit I was amazed by their music and after playing together during an audition, Seb told me I was the perfect candidate to join the band. In a matter of a few days I felt immediately part of this family, and the rest is history.
Can you remember the first time you realised you wanted to make music?
D: I used to hit the pots and pans non-stop when I was a child, pretty much from then.
S: My parents have always been massively into music and wanted me to play music from a young age, so I was always surrounded by music and instruments and performing in general. So yeah, I’d say from a very young age I knew music was the life for me. I guess when I got my first guitar and started writing, that was it, I was hooked.
V: I was always surrounded by Classical music, but I identify my baptism into rock music the moment I found, abandoned in the streets in front of my school, a CD booklet with In Utero from Nirvana. I literally consumed that CD, listening and playing those songs over and over again on my guitar.
Who and what are the band’s main influences?
Well we came together through our love of System Of A Down, we also have added influences from bands like Black Sabbath and Deftones.
What do you aim to achieve as a band?
We would love to play across the world, headline Download – the sky is the limit!
For those who are yet to see you live, what can they expect from a Them Bloody Kids show?
Energy, dancing, moshing, chanting, singing along – an altogether great time, get yourselves to the next one near you!
What’s next for Them Bloody Kids?
Touring extensively to get these songs out and making sure everyone gets a chance to see these songs played live. Also we are now in the process of writing the next album, which is exciting for us as it’s a chance to write with Vein.
Them Bloody Kids‘ debut album Radical Animals is due for release on 23rd April 2021, available to pre-order HERE.
