First to set the scene is City of Ashes. Whilst they put in a very solid effort, they don’t seem to fly tonight. Their punchy riffs fall flat and the crowd aren’t enthusiastic; attempts to get them involved fail to deliver, and the vocalist struggles to provide a powerful performance.

Never Found, on the other hand, really get the crowd fired up. They’re a rush of adrenaline and start as they mean to go on; tracks such as ‘Take Me Away’ are full of raw potential, complete with gritty riffs and steamy guitar licks. With lyrics such as “Welcome to a hell I like to call my life”, they get the room singing back every word with gusto and enthusiasm. By the time this quartet leave the stage, everyone in the room is foaming at the mouth in anticipation for the rest of the night.

Bristol outfit Ashestoangels are no strangers to touring with Aiden, and are old favourites within this room and with this crowd. Crilly’s a born frontman; he holds a devastating power within, and it’s astonishing to see just how readily and easily the crowd will obey his every command to sing, jump, and scream along to their rough and raw tracks. The vocals aren’t as strong as they could be, but this could be down to the fact that Crilly takes any and every opportunity to interact with the crowd. Their dark riffs reverberate around the tiny room, and is a sign of what’s to come for this talented group.

In a way, most of the room do and don’t want the support acts to end. They do, because it’ll mean Aiden will be closer to stepping on that stage. They don’t, because it’ll mean Aiden will be closer to stepping on that stage for the final time. But when they do finally take to the stage, it’s glorious. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Aiden have done a lot of the goth-rock scene over the years; they’ve given an outlet and a voice for those who felt isolated, given a refuge to those who ever felt alone. During tracks such as ‘We Sleep Forever’, Wil Francis needn’t even open his mouth – everyone in the room takes over and sings the lyrics from a place so deep within, they struggle to give them life. Riffs are a burning slab of blistering energy, fraught with dark and brooding tension, creating sing-along anthems in the form of ‘Genetic Design for Dying’ and ‘It’s Cold Tonight’.

Throughout their set, frontman Wil prowls the stage, spitting along to the ever-furious ‘The Last Sunrise’, the inspiration behind the name of their tour, and it’s obvious that Wil is still as dark and dangerous as the day they first started out, despite his jovial and charming outbursts. Behind him, the band provide the perfect backdrop for a successful show; their riffs are as razor sharp, their drum work just as demonic as they race through a fantastic, yet savage, set of ‘Nightmare Anatomy’ in its entirety.

For some, tonight is emotional. Anthems that gave some form of hope and refuge for misunderstood teenagers have been sung for the last time tonight. The room has given their all, singing back every word with desperation, as though they believe that, by doing so, Aiden will stick around for a bit longer. But, as the final chords of ‘World By Storm’ fade out, it’s time for Aiden to give up their thrones. The sun has now set on their reign.

The tour will see Aiden play their debut ‘Nightmare Anatomy’ LP in full, taking in 10 shows from the 16th in Manchester to the 29th in London.

Tickets are available now.

JANUARY 2016
16 MANCHESTER Sound Control
17 NEWCASTLE ThinkTank
18 GLASGOW Cat House
20 LEEDS Key Club
21 BIRMINGHAM Rainbow
23 SHEFFIELD Corporation
24 BRISTOL Tunnels
25 PLYMOUTH The Hub
27 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
29 LONDON Underworld

Paul: Before I start the reader-submitted questions which will make up the bulk of the interview, can you please give me a brief run-down of how Aiden started and how you came to be
the band we all know now.
Jake: JakeW, jakeD, and Angel started the band in 2003. jakeW sang and played guitar and Angel played bass and JakeD played drums. We recorded a little
demo and handed them out, let’s just say I hope no one ever hears it. But
then Will started to jam with us playing bass and angel started playing guitar. soon after he joined the band we stole nick from another local band and there you go.

Paul: You have just released a new album which had your best first week sales yet – did you expect to chart as high as you did, both in the UK and the US?
Jake: No of course not, we didn’t expect it at all. We were blown away and very
happy. Unbelievable.

Paul: You’ve stated your appreciation for bands such as AFI and The Misfits but in a recent interview claimed you were sick of being asked about them and compared to them by interviewers. So, if there was any one band you would want to be compared to or asked about, who you haven’t been, who would it be and why?
Jake: We are not sick of talking about those bands at all. We were saying we don’t like it when people say we are trying to be those bands. ‘Cause we respect the hell out of those bands we just dont want to be those bands.

Paul: In another magazine interview you claimed Camden was a home from home – what is it about the place that makes you feel so comfortable?
Jake: Nick and Will love to shop. The rest of us are like ah whatever about it
haha. We like walking around people watching. Crazy people there.

Paul: With such a young fanbase, do you feel older interviews where you spoke very openly about drug abuse and various japes you found yourselves in when you were younger may adversely affect your fans and actually encourage them to partake in illegal substances?
Wil: It’s called educating. How the hell would that encourage people to partake in illegal substances?

Paul: And on to the reader submitted q’s! Why did you ditch the makeup and faux-goth punk sound? Credibility or artistry?
Jake: We wrote what came out. We didn’t ditch the makeup all together we just don’t wear as much as we used to. The sound changed naturally, it wasn’t on
purpose or anything. At least it means less make-up remover haha…

Paul: Why did you name your band after a character from The Ring? Are you in
fact the only people in the world who thought that flick was actually good?
Jake: Hahaha we just like the name. It had nothing to do with the movie. We just heard the name and there you go.

Paul: Victory Records are often heavily criticised, and were recently the subject of a lengthy article posted online, for failing to adequately supply bands with their royalties. Does this worry you at all?
Jake: Not at all. We just want to play music and travel the world.

Paul: How much of your early success do you contribute to your use of myspace? Replying to all messages and comments etc and building something of a rapport/relationship with your fans?
Jake: Myspace is a wonderful tool, it has helped out so many bands and continues to. We have always been about responding to our fans and meeting our fans at shows. Myspace is def an important tool.

Paul: Does the critiscm by a bunch of kids on a message board hurt, or are you quite content making money and living the dream?
Jake: Kids on the internet talking trash is just that. They are jealous or Something… who knows. There will always be people that do that. You can’t let it get to you. They have nothing better to do. If they took the energy they spent on trashing people on the internet and put it towards something productive like starting a band or buisness they would probably do well. If they know so much about music and what’s cool, why don’t they do that? Can’t let it get you down. Everyone has critics.

Paul: Why doesnt wiL spell his name properly?
Jake: It is spelled Will people just started spelling it with one L and no one ever changed it so… it’s Will. There. I changed it haha.

Paul: Do you enjoy pissing security off at gigs?
Jake: Hahaha of course. We just like them to earn there money. It’s fun and usually they love it as well.

Paul: Did the 4 people who got on stage at Leeds Festival get their backstage passes?
Jake: They got 10 pounds as they were promised. 🙂

Paul: Who would win in a fight over three rounds between a bear and a giant squid? The rules are: Round 1 would be in the water, round 2 in a forest and round 3 on the MIR station in space.
Jake: Bear. And who really asks something like that. Wow. Do you live in Camden? haha

Paul: Before I start the reader-submitted questions which will make up the bulk of the interview, can you please give me a brief run-down of how Aiden started and how you came to be
the band we all know now.
Jake: JakeW, jakeD, and Angel started the band in 2003. jakeW sang and played guitar and Angel played bass and JakeD played drums. We recorded a little
demo and handed them out, let’s just say I hope no one ever hears it. But
then Will started to jam with us playing bass and angel started playing guitar. soon after he joined the band we stole nick from another local band and there you go.

Paul: You have just released a new album which had your best first week sales yet – did you expect to chart as high as you did, both in the UK and the US?
Jake: No of course not, we didn’t expect it at all. We were blown away and very
happy. Unbelievable.

Paul: You’ve stated your appreciation for bands such as AFI and The Misfits but in a recent interview claimed you were sick of being asked about them and compared to them by interviewers. So, if there was any one band you would want to be compared to or asked about, who you haven’t been, who would it be and why?
Jake: We are not sick of talking about those bands at all. We were saying we don’t like it when people say we are trying to be those bands. ‘Cause we respect the hell out of those bands we just dont want to be those bands.

Paul: In another magazine interview you claimed Camden was a home from home – what is it about the place that makes you feel so comfortable?
Jake: Nick and Will love to shop. The rest of us are like ah whatever about it
haha. We like walking around people watching. Crazy people there.

Paul: With such a young fanbase, do you feel older interviews where you spoke very openly about drug abuse and various japes you found yourselves in when you were younger may adversely affect your fans and actually encourage them to partake in illegal substances?
Wil: It’s called educating. How the hell would that encourage people to partake in illegal substances?

Paul: And on to the reader submitted q’s! Why did you ditch the makeup and faux-goth punk sound? Credibility or artistry?
Jake: We wrote what came out. We didn’t ditch the makeup all together we just don’t wear as much as we used to. The sound changed naturally, it wasn’t on
purpose or anything. At least it means less make-up remover haha…

Paul: Why did you name your band after a character from The Ring? Are you in
fact the only people in the world who thought that flick was actually good?
Jake: Hahaha we just like the name. It had nothing to do with the movie. We just heard the name and there you go.

Paul: Victory Records are often heavily criticised, and were recently the subject of a lengthy article posted online, for failing to adequately supply bands with their royalties. Does this worry you at all?
Jake: Not at all. We just want to play music and travel the world.

Paul: How much of your early success do you contribute to your use of myspace? Replying to all messages and comments etc and building something of a rapport/relationship with your fans?
Jake: Myspace is a wonderful tool, it has helped out so many bands and continues to. We have always been about responding to our fans and meeting our fans at shows. Myspace is def an important tool.

Paul: Does the critiscm by a bunch of kids on a message board hurt, or are you quite content making money and living the dream?
Jake: Kids on the internet talking trash is just that. They are jealous or Something… who knows. There will always be people that do that. You can’t let it get to you. They have nothing better to do. If they took the energy they spent on trashing people on the internet and put it towards something productive like starting a band or buisness they would probably do well. If they know so much about music and what’s cool, why don’t they do that? Can’t let it get you down. Everyone has critics.

Paul: Why doesnt wiL spell his name properly?
Jake: It is spelled Will people just started spelling it with one L and no one ever changed it so… it’s Will. There. I changed it haha.

Paul: Do you enjoy pissing security off at gigs?
Jake: Hahaha of course. We just like them to earn there money. It’s fun and usually they love it as well.

Paul: Did the 4 people who got on stage at Leeds Festival get their backstage passes?
Jake: They got 10 pounds as they were promised. 🙂

Paul: Who would win in a fight over three rounds between a bear and a giant squid? The rules are: Round 1 would be in the water, round 2 in a forest and round 3 on the MIR station in space.
Jake: Bear. And who really asks something like that. Wow. Do you live in Camden? haha