Garnering acclaim on both sides of the pond, this three-piece are creating a style of garage punk that’s both explosive and thought provoking. With the release of their latest single, ‘Drink’, we caught up with Alexia Roditis, Violet Mayugba and Narsai Malik to talk about the inspiration for the track.

Metric – ‘Combat Baby’

Mayugba: Emily Haines’ vocal style is simultaneously soft and driving, which is something I love. The “fight” chorus at the end is super hooky, too!

Interpol – ‘Rest My Chemistry’

Roditis: This song is one of the only songs that resonates with me that has to do with addiction. I feel like it displays the resignation that comes with struggling with difficult personal issues. ‘Drink’ echoes ‘Rest My Chemistry’ through the sort of indifferent but melancholy sounding tone and lyrics. I like the repetition of the song and the slight changes in the lyrics as well.

Foo Fighters – ‘Hey, Johnny Park!’

Malik: When Vi was showing me the riffs she wrote for this song, whether it was on purpose or not I feel like I modeled the chorus drums after how they are in this song in terms of heavily accenting all the notes from the chorus riff. It’s really important to me as a drummer to bring out the most in the melodic parts that my bandmates show me by emphasizing the guitars and/or vocals and to never over play.

Husker Du – ‘Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely’

Mayugba: The sneaky minor chords in this song make it really special, which is something I tried to emulate in the guitar in ‘Drink’.

Turnstile – ‘Stress’

Malik: We were listening to this band a ton when we were recording and seemed to seep into everyone’s collective headspace. The change of pace that seems to be in most of their songs and the aggression that always comes with prettier melodies, either from the vocals or guitar, was all really inspiring to us while we were in the studio. This particular track reminds me of the bridge of ‘Drink’ whenever I hear it now because of the half time heavy kick part that happens throughout the song.

Oingo Boingo – ‘Controller’

Mayugba: Oingo Boingo are one of my favorite bands. I like the theatrics and the urgency of the guitar riffs. It’s something I’ve been able to recreate in my own style. Oingo Boingo’s music tends to have a horror movie element to it, which I love.

Nirvana – ‘On A Plain’

Roditis: I discovered Nirvana in 2020. I listened to ‘Nevermind’ in my car nearly every day before I went to work, and eventually got my hands on ‘In Utero’ too. I love Nirvana. Something I love about them are the lyrics. Honest and fun to yell. I have really strayed from repetitive lyrics in the past, but I have come to appreciate them since listening to Nirvana, and even though the lyrics change in the chorus, the repetitiveness I think really works and was fun to try out.

Arctic Monkeys – ‘If You Were There, Beware’

Malik: Arctic Monkeys have had their fair share of influence on our band, but this song in particular influenced the drums for ‘Drink’. I really liked the drums and the crazed energy they bring to the song, and I wanted to emulate them in this song.

The Smiths – ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’

Roditis: Listen listen I disagree with Morrissey as much as the next person, but I listen to the ‘Hatful of Hollow’ CD in my car at least once a week. I love Morrissey’s crooning vocals, and his moaning style influenced the verses for sure. Lyrically, I feel like the Smith’s lyrics sort of fall out and don’t have much editing to them, like just saying whatever comes to mind can fit a song perfectly. I tried not to overthink this song and just sing what felt right.

Bugsy – ‘Talk To You’

Roditis: I actually heard this song months after we’d written the bulk of ‘Drink’, but I feel like it really captures everything I like about a song, and what I was trying to accomplish with the rhythm guitar. All parts of the song have room to breathe and have their moments. When I wrote the sparkly guitar part I wanted it to fill the space to support the song til the next part, which came to me really easily and worked. I love the melancholy of the song but it’s still driving and active.

With the announcement of their debut album, ‘A Funeral For Youth’, due to be released in September, Miss Vincent break down their inspirations for ‘Gravity’.

The Shirelles – ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?’

Old songs are going to be a bit of a theme, because Gravity is drenched in vintage influences. I love The Shirelles – that whole ‘girl group’ movement (a very out of date term, I know) brought out so many great songs with the most beautiful melodies, and harmonies that bring the songs to life. Shirley Alston has the most effortless, distinctive voice, and I get so much inspiration from listening to her. I read recently that this song was the first no.1 by a black female group, which makes it feel all the more significant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4955hA_hcB4

Bruce Springsteen – ‘No Surrender’

I’ve always liked Springsteen, but these past few years I just can’t get enough of his entire back catalogue. This song is such a great driving stomper of a rock song, which immediately comes to mind as an influence for Gravity. “No retreat baby, no surrender” is a killer hook to have in the chorus, and I love the way that each half of the chorus has different harmonies. I love straight up rock songs that don’t mess around and have an instantly memorable chorus, and this ticks all the boxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD3DdskaPhs

Sister Rosetta Tharpe – ‘This Train’

This one is less about a direct influence on the sound, and more about how it led me to approach writing certain parts. Sister Rosetta is one of the founding fathers of rock’n’roll, and her voice is one of the most soulful, natural sounds in the world. I honestly feel like I could listen to her sing the phone book and still love it. After all, a lot of her music is pretty religious, and I’m not religious at all – but even so it’s hard not to be reeled in by her voice. The way that she changes melodies halfway through a line, and occasionally adds an almost spoken word element to it is incredible. Whenever I’m struggling with vocal parts, I put some Sister Rosetta on, because she’ll get me right back on track.

Green Day – ’21st Century Breakdown’

This is a really underrated Green Day album in my opinion, and I love this track as an album opener. They’re the masters of the rock opera, which we all knew from American Idiot, but when this album came out I actively disliked for some reason. Then, when I went to see them on that tour (2009 I think?), something clicked and it all made sense. I’ve always wanted to write a song with very distinct sections that are totally different, but fit well together. ‘Gravity’ has a lot of that, and I can definitely hear the Green Day influence. We never want to be a pastiche of anything, but at the same time, sometimes influences shine through a bit clearer, which is definitely the case with this song.

Against Me! – ‘Bitter Divisions’

This is a song off the deluxe version of White Crosses, which is one of my favourite albums ever. Until recently I’d only ever heard the original album, so listening to the extra songs on the deluxe version was mind-blowing, I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long to hear them. This song really stuck out to me as a bit different from the rest of the album, but it still made total sense – and it had one of my favourite choruses that they’ve ever written. Lyrically it was a little brash but somehow still constructive, and I found it weirdly positive. It’s definitely informed my approach to writing lyrics.

Connie Francis – ‘Who’s Sorry Now’

I first heard ‘Lipstick on your Collar’ and that really got me into her music. Then when I heard this, it felt like a beautiful ballad, but with a rock’n’roll undertone. It’s short and sharp, and both her vocals, the harmonies and the backing vocals all come together so cohesively. I really channeled this song in the bridge of ‘Gravity’. When we were recording the album, I was going to hard on the vibrato because I wanted to sound like her, and the guys had to get me to rein it in. She’s definitely got some of the best vibrato I’ve ever heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9QEAtcz3o8

My Chemical Romance – ‘The Only Hope For Me Is You’ 

This is a weird one, because I don’t really like this album that much, but this song in particular has always stood out to me. It’s a huge stomping rock song and has one of the biggest choruses they’ve ever written, and if there’s one thing I love above all else, it’s big choruses. It also stuck out to me that it’s actually quite a plodding song, which I’ve always struggled to write. I generally gravitate towards fast songs, but with ‘Gravity’ I really wanted to rein that in and find a way of writing a massive chorus that was a bit slower. I remember seeing this live at Reading in 2011 (I think?), and it just sounded massive. That always stuck in my mind.

Ramones – ‘Danny Says’

It’s no secret that I’m a complete Ramones obsessive. I’ve been to the museum in Berlin a whole bunch, and I even met Arturo Vega by chance in NYC years ago before he passed away. They’re the greatest band of all time in my opinion. This song is on ‘End of the Century’, which is often seen as a misstep in their career, mostly I think because they worked with Phil Spector. But there are some really high points on this album and this song is one of them – I love the way it builds and Joey’s vocal performance is one of my favourites. There’s an undeniable romance in so many of their songs, and they channel all of the ’50s doo wop and bubblegum bands that I love. They were a catalyst for me falling in love with that era of music, and everything I’ve ever written, or ever will write, will be influenced by them in some way.

Danny and the Juniors – ‘Sometimes’

This one was a toss up between this song and ‘A Thousand Miles Away’, because they’re two of Danny and the Juniors’ best ballads in my opinion. The harmonies in this one are just the best, though. Back in the golden days of rock’n’roll, if you wanted to make a song bigger and fuller, adding harmonies was one of your only options, because recording was still so rudimentary. Harmonies are such a bit part of the Miss Vincent sound, so when I hear good harmonies it really makes a song stand out for me. There’s a beautiful, melancholy romance to this song, and lyrically I think it had an impact on ‘Gravity’ – especially in the bridge.

The Gaslight Anthem – ‘1,000 Years’

I’m in a minority of Gaslight fans because I unashamedly love this album to death. It’s raw, understated and incredibly vulnerable. When I first heard this song, it got to the line, “I heard about a woman once, who did everything ever asked of her. She died last week and her last words were ‘it wasn’t worth it’” and all of the hairs on my body stood up. The chorus is so uplifting, yet somehow so melancholy. Brian Fallon’s way with words is inimitable, but it’s certainly had an impact on me.

Miss Vincent’s debut album, ‘A Funeral For Youth’, is out September 17th via Silent Cult and available for pre-order here.

At the Drive-In – ‘Arcarsenal’ (Relationship of Command)

This track is just pure excitement caught on tape. That pounding floor-tom drum intro building and building makes you feel like you’re being dragged up on a rollercoaster, before lulling you for just a few seconds and launching you into a shredding full-band attack. It’s the perfect introduction to possibly the greatest post-hardcore record of all time. Ace.

Mclusky – ‘Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues’ (Do Dallas)

All that needs to be said about this song is this: from 1:30 to the end of the track is the greatest 21 seconds of music ever recorded, fact.

Big Black – ‘The Power of Independent Trucking’ (Songs About Fucking)

This song not only introduces ‘Songs About Fucking’ in brilliantly chaotic fashion, but it was also the first song I ever heard by Big Black. So, I class it as the song that introduced me to the band that made the underground punk scene of the late ’80s/early ’90s what it was. Without their rejection of mainstream rock culture of the time we might not have ever seen grunge as we know it. Steve Albini proving all you really need is guitar, bass and a Roland TR-606 Drum Machine.

QOTSA – ‘Millionaire’ (Songs for the Deaf)

It’s the perfect use of the “album starting quiet and lo-fi to accentuate and enormous kick-in” cliché. Which is not only a cliché that is probably going to show up a few times in this list, but also definitely one that we’ve been guilty of starting an album with in the past. Fuck it, it’s awesome. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it – this song is mint and so is ‘Songs for the Deaf’. Extra points if you start with your speakers turned down and then ramp up the volume as it kicks.

Hendrix – ‘Foxey Lady’ (Are You Experienced)

This song came out in 1967, which is unbelievable in itself. I’m pretty sure the sound of it would have blown minds back then, because even if it was just being released now in 2021 it would still absolutely floor people. The first track from the first Hendrix album, magic.

Barkmarket – ‘Visible Cow’ (L Ron)

The aforementioned cliché with a twist… it does it twice! And oh my goodness is that second kick in just the best sounding riff you’ve ever heard? (and they beat Queens to the punch by a good 6 years…) I think it works so well because the drums coming in over the lo-fi intro is already satisfying enough, which tricks you into believing this is the ride for the duration – then the second kick absolutely dominates. There’s also no wonder it sounds so great, as vocalist/guitarist Dave Sardy produced the album and then later dissolved the band to focus on his career as a producer, working with the likes of System of a Down, Death From Above 1979, Rage Against the Machine, Incubus and A Perfect Circle to name a few.

Refused – ‘Worms of the Senses/Faculties of the Skull’ (The Shape of Punk to Come)

They 100% called it with the title; arrogant? Perhaps, but completely justified. The album is a pitch-perfect tour-de-force from start to end with ‘Worms of the Senses…’ ringing in the new era on explosive form. It twists and turns throughout and never quite goes where you expect it to, proving that Refused could both be on the absolute cutting edge of hardcore and progressive music with the click of their vocalist Dennis’ fingers. The irony that Refused would disband soon after its release and wouldn’t meet the recognition they deserved for some 14 years afterward, reforming in 2012 is devastating.

Hawk Eyes – ‘Witch Hunt’ (Ideas)

Watch out! It’s the good old “loud/quiet” again, but this time served up by the most criminally underrated band of all time; all hail Hawk Eyes! I remember hearing the twisting & turning intro riff to this track for the first time, it melted my brain; I just couldn’t figure out where it would go next. The whole song rips and it effortlessly guides you into an absolutely flawless rock album. If you don’t know them already, get to know Hawk Eyes!

Metallica – ‘Fuel’ (Re-load)

Okay so the album that this track prefaces isn’t exactly the best, or really that good at all depending on who you ask… but it’s my list and I defy you to tell me this isn’t how you want all albums to start deep within your soul, right? “Gimme Fuel, Gimme Fire, Gimme jabbaddabbadaa!”

Biffy Clyro – ‘Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies’ (Puzzle)

For a little while, Biffy Clyro were the undisputed kings of the album-opener, it would have been criminal not to include at least one song of theirs here. There were probably two-or-three I could have picked but the epic opener to Puzzle nabs it. Swirling strings into an intro that try as you might, you can’t not try to drum along to (and fail). All leading into an opus of operatic backing vocals and so many layers of strings blending with brutal backing screams and the angular guitar riffs that make Biffy, Biffy. What a song!

Led Zeppelin – ‘Achilles Last Stand’ (Presence)

I’ve chosen a lot of songs for this list based on their instantaneity – they tend to be short sharp blasts that truly knock you off your feet and warn you that you’re in for one hell of a ride. This track however IS the ride. A true epic that builds and keeps your heart in your mouth throughout. Still, somehow, when you reach its epic climax completely breathless, all you want to do is listen to more Zeppelin – and lucky you, 6 more amazing tracks follow.

Fightstar – Grand Unification Pt. 1

Tobias: Fightstar have arguably been one the most important bands to me as a songwriter and therefore in turn, an integral influence on our band. I could easily have chosen any track from their back catalogue as all four of their full length albums are fantastically written and showcase a wide range of influences that have been perfectly executed throughout, however I’ve chosen Grand Unification Part 1 because I remember being totally in awe of the song when I first heard it. It whole heartedly blew me away and changed my perspective on songwriting from the moment I heard it.

Funeral For A Friend – All The Rage

Connor: I remember being really excited for this album to drop back when I was like, 13? I picked it up with my pocket money that week from a Woolworth’s (RIP) and although every single track is incredibly nostalgic to me, when I listen to it nowadays, I had to pick the opening track for this list as so many memories of messing around with my friends after school, trying to skateboard and just generally being a kid trying to figure life out, instantly coming flooding straight back.

Killswitch Engage – When Darkness Falls

Tobias: I’d been aware of Killswitch Engage for a while, but this was the first song they released with Howard Jones as their new vocalist, and it blew everything else I was listening to at the time out of the water. Both compositionally and sonically it felt like such a drastic leap forward from their first album that I must have listened to it every day until ‘End Of Heartache’ dropped.

Underoath – You’re Ever So Inviting

Connor: Underoath were one of my first big obsessions when I started discovering Post-Hardcore and Metal in general. I remember a friend showing me the ‘Define The Great Line’ record in secondary school and it really resonated with me at that time. I absolutely adore everything about this album and this track in particular still gives me goosebumps when I listen to it.

Thrice – Deadbolt

Tobias: This is the song that made me want to learn guitar. I remember a friend of mine showing me the music video for this song on a computer in the school library, and having played bass for a few years prior to that, all I wanted to do when I got home that day was try and learn that intro riff. Again, this is another band that means an awful lot to me, and having to choose just one song was really difficult!

Bullet For My Valentine – Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do)

Connor: I could easily have chosen any track from ‘The Poison’ because this album was extremely influential to me when I was growing up. I think it’s probably one of the first heavy albums that I really connected with, and I’d definitely say it’s influence contributed heavily towards me getting into Modern Metal and Metalcore. It was 100% a mainstay on my Walkman and then later my MP3 player in my early teens.

Papa Roach – Between Angels & Insects

Tobias: This is my favourite single of the first ever CD I owned. I used to listen to this album everyday on the bus to school, and Papa Roach were the band that really got me into music.

A Day To Remember – Welcome To The Family

Connor: This is definitely my favourite song from the “Homesick” record. It’s just the perfect blend of heavy and light that ADTR just do so well. I remember hearing it for the first time on MySpace, and being ecstatic because they were definitely my absolute favourite band at that point in time. I was completely hooked after I’d heard “For Those Who Have Heart’, and their contrasting, innovative sound massively helped me figure out what kind of band I wanted to be a part of.

Linkin Park – What I’ve Done

Tobias: I’ve picked this (controversially) as ‘Minutes to Midnight’ is my favourite Linkin Park record. As much as I absolutely adore ‘Hybrid Theory’ (probably the third album I ever owned) for me, this song especially touched a different nerve, and I personally found it invigorating from a songwriter’s point of view to see a band I cherished so dearly switch things up almost entirely and still create some amazing music.

The Amity Affliction- Chasing Ghosts

Connor: I probably wouldn’t have met Tobias and started playing in bands with him if it wasn’t for The Amity Affliction. When I went to audition for a band that would later become OHOH, I remember Tobias telling me that the sound he wanted to aim for was like Amity’s sound, ‘just with more riffs’ and I was sold instantly. This song is so lyrically poignant, musically infectious and just the right level of heavy. It’s one of my favourite tracks by a band that has truly inspired me to continue pursuing a career in music.

Charly Bliss – Black Hole

Hannah: This was the first song I heard by Charly Bliss and they quickly became my favourite band afterwards. I remember hearing this for the first time and thinking wow, I could do this, it’s like pop rock?? But the songs are like??? Complex and intricate??? But it’s pop music still??? And they have a woman singing. I just thought they were the coolest band in the world and I loved how the super fuzzy guitars complemented Eva’s sugary sweet vocals soooo well. Yeah I think that’s when I released that was how I wanted to write music.

Biffy Clyro – Bubbles

Alannagh: This is one of the first songs I heard by Biffy when I was younger when I used to watch Scuzz every day after school. It was quite refreshing to hear a band so close to home with such major melodies that sounded very distinct from the rest of what I’d listen to at the time. They definitely played a big factor in what influenced me as a musician.

Bryan Adams – ‘Can’t Stop This Thing We Started’

Arguably the greatest song of all time. My [Adam’s] dad is a massive Bryan Adams fan and after growing up hearing every banger he ever made, I’ve become a massive fan too. This song is probably more of an under-the-hood influence to the As Everything Unfolds sound but the way the song is so tasteful with every section, with all the instruments singing in harmony is something I strive for every track.

Periphery – ‘Icarus Lives’

It’s no secret we love Periphery, but I think ‘Icarus Lives’’ groove really shines its influence on us front and centre. The way the riff is bouncy yet nasty, playful whilst snarly – it’s everything a great As Everything Unfolds riff wishes it could be.

Pale Waves – ‘Easy’

This is actually a song we all fell in love with post-recording the album; so whilst we can’t attribute its genius to part of our sound, we’re absolutely in love with the quality of the song writing. It checks every single box for being a stone-cold banger, then on top of that Heather’s amazing voice delivers the best chorus we’ve heard for a while.

Intervals – ‘Epiphany’

I’m a massive Intervals fan. Aaron Marshall is a huge influence for me as a guitarist and this track always gives me chills. The opening solo is so honest and clean, I’ve spent forever playing it, but I feel like I’ll never capture the magic of the original performance. This song for me is everything I could ever hope to accomplish as a guitarist, to play eternally tastefully and honest, expressing the song as it needs to be without ever needing to resort to trashy flashy boring shred.

DevilDriver – ‘Clouds Over California’

Clouds Over California will always hold a special place in my heart; it was the first song I ever learned (or at least attempted to). It’s aggressive, beautiful and it knows exactly how to build itself up and get you hyped for every section. The variation in the riffs compliment each other so nicely and the half time hits exactly as you want it to; definitely something that we’re huge fans of, and use when we feel the time is right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ySpk3ErFd0

 My Chemical Romance – ‘Helena’

My Chem have been a constant inspiration for me [Charlie] since 2005 when I first heard them at 10 years old. They’ve been my favourite band through the years and their album Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, which this song is on, has been a great influence to me during our debut album process, including inspiration for certain visual aspects.

Avril Lavigne – ‘Complicated’

One of the first female artists I got into was Avril when I was about 8/9, she had so much attitude and I loved it. I grew up around boys and I really related to her tomboy image and rebellious streak, this song has so much nostalgia for me and I have a huge amount to thank this song and whole album for!

Rolo Tomassi – ‘Party Wounds’

This was probably one of the first bands I heard with a female screaming majority of the song. I was shown Rolo by an old bandmate of mine back in 2010/2011 and I have followed them ever since. Eva has always been such a strong vocalist and Rolo are just such a fun and creative band. If I had never heard this song maybe I’d have never given screaming a go? I was feeling angsty and wanted to prove everyone I could do something unique and different at the time (being at that age) and it pushed me into trying it.

System Of A Down – ‘Chop Suey’

I can’t explain to you why, but I love this song to the ends of the earth. I think when I first heard it, it was so creative and unlike anything I listened to at the time, but Serj’s vocals were incredible and every time this song comes up on my playlists, I cannot skip it, it’s like a personal rule of mine. 

Slipknot – ‘Duality’

I think most people will agree with me, Slipknot are just one of those bands you can’t not be inspired by growing up as a musician in the last 20 years. They’ve been around for as long as I remember and have always been a staple in my life. This song though especially falls into that category of ‘cannot skip if it comes on a playlist’.

Box Car Racer – ‘I Feel So’

Nico: This band, and especially Tom Delonge’s way of composing, has influenced my personal writing so much. This Box Car Racer album is really special to me, it has so much power and I love the dark / emo / punk vibes of this one.

The Distillers – ‘Drain the Blood’

Nico: I remember being 14 years old, playing guitar in my bedroom and wanting to be in a punk band. If I had to choose a punk band to be in, it would be this one for sure!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFuP9FXLF8Q

The Police – ‘So Lonely’

Paul: I think The Police were the first “rock” band I listened to as a kid. I remember my parents always rocking their albums on the stereo and ‘So Lonely’ has always been at the top of my list. It almost had a pop-punk vibe more than a decade before pop-punk was even a thing. Stewart Copeland’s drum parts were out of this world, so far ahead of its time!

Blink-182 – ‘Story Of A Lonely Guy’

Paul: This is the first song I learned on guitar and that changed everything for me. I’ve always been a massive Blink fan since the Dude Ranch era, but this one holds a special place in my heart. 12 years later, I was touring with them in Australia and watched them play this song side-stage and cried ahah, Blink 4 life!

Linkin Park – ‘Somewhere I Belong’

Kevin: I think it was the first Linkin Park song I heard! It was on the TV and after that I became a big fan of this band! The next Christmas, I received my first hi-fi system and ‘Linkin Park – Live in Texas’ – I know every single line from this DVD!

Blink 182 – ‘All The Small Things’

Kevin: First song I ever played at a show! It was for my music school’s end of year show and I played this song with two guys from my school. Now, 15 years later, I am still a huge fan of Travis Barker! It’s a big inspiration for me.

Metallica – ‘Fade To Black’

Flo: I remember listening to the album ‘Ride the Lightning’ in my dad’s car on the way to school and being completely hypnotised when this song came on. I just wanted to go home and listen to it again. That’s when my love for Metallica started and that’s what made me really want to learn to play guitar.

Stick To Your Guns – ‘This Is More’

Flo: Stick To Your Guns are a band that helped me shape my vocal style, and also made me believe that punk/hardcore and modern metal could be mixed in a good way, ‘cause that’s what I wanted to do with LANDMVRKS

Slipknot – ‘People = Shit’

Rudy: In my early teens I listened to American rap. I didn’t know metal. When I got tired of American rap, I asked my mother to find me something else. A co-worker of hers gave her an album for me: it was Iowa. All that rage. It was such a revelation, a catharsis, as if I were a barrel and Shawn Crahan was hitting me with a baseball bat! Thanks mom, without you I would have known metal way too late.

Three Days Grace – ‘Animal I Have Become’

Rudy: First song I learned on bass, with a cheap bass and a second-hand guitar amp. That was with my very first band in college. This intro is crazy, but I didn’t know at the time that you needed bigger strings to play it, even a 5-string bass! I finally learned the classic ‘Come As You Are’ long after…

Soilwork – Distance

Fella: When I first listened to this song in 2006 everything about it made me think: Modern Metal. It was the first time I heard a “metal vocalist” deliver something that didn’t really resemble the classic ‘scream’ but added so much more style to every word. Since that moment I wanted my type of rock/metal to sound like it was a modern music genre, especially with vocal styles.

Immortal Technique – Harlem Streets

Fella: I can’t state enough how this song is important for me. “Revolutionary – Volume 2” was one of my first underground rap records and to this day is still one of my favourites. The beat in this song is so special and always gets me thinking. The vocal tone of Immortal Technique is so unique, his delivery: flawless, and there are tons of stylish choices all over the song.

In Flames – Take This Life

Fella: There’s everything on this song. Chaos, fast pace, melody, deep lyrics, fat sound.

In Flames is the band that changed Melodeath forever and took it to the next level. Modern sound and awesome riffs. Once again the vocals aren’t the standard ‘metal style screams’; Anders delivers an incredible emotional tone and techniques keep changing throughout all the songs.

Linkin Park – By Myself

Fella: Hybrid Theory was the first rock record I bought with my money back in 2000, I was 10 years old. That music stuck with me forever and it’s all thanks to my sister’s suggestion who always introduced me to amazing and different music when I was a kid (LP, Limp Bizkit, Blink 182, Eminem & D12, Eiffel65 and many more…)

Darkest Hour – With A Thousand Words To Say But One

Fella: One of my main lyrical inspirations as a kid. The band and album that acted as a bridge from punk to metal for me. Still one of my favourite metal bands today. Always changing and always relevant.

Children of Bodom – Downfall

Fella: This band is my first real metal love. The whole reason Dreamshade exists. We started the band after watching CoB live back on the new year’s eve of 2005. Unforgettable moment. Alexi Laiho was a total legend and a really inspiring artist for me and Dreamshade.

Don Broco – Priorities

Fella: One of my favourite modern rock bands. Incredible discovery for me back in 2011. Their first EP ‘Big Fat Smile’ is not available on streaming services unfortunately but it still is something very special for me. Really mixing cool riffs with interesting vocal patterns, melodies and lyrics.

Boston – More Than A Feeling

Kevin: I have great memories of this song. One of the rock anthems of all time in my opinion. I remember when I was a child my brother had a tape in his stereo with this song and I fell in love with it from the first listen. The chord series that launch the chorus are magical and the vocals are epic. I remember always getting excited while listening and always wanting to bang my head. 

Placebo – Every Me and Every You

Kevin: I remember when I discovered Placebo I was a kid. It was the moment where I was opening my horizons on a musical level. Until that moment I was used to listening to metal and hardrock and then I started to open up to more ‘alternative’ musical genres and different from those I was used to. This song sparked something in me and made me see a new way of approaching music.

Dub Inc. – Tout ce qu’ils veulent

Kevin: What an incredible band! Unique style and one of the most impactful live shows I’ve ever seen. If I remember correctly Fella, introduced them to me many years ago with the album ‘Hors Control’. WOW! I was immediately fascinated by their reggae/dub sound but with this rock attitude that I had never seen in any other artist or band of this genre. Incredible and powerful sound and the voices of the two singers, however different from each other, blend in a single style that only they can offer!

Dreamshade’s new album ‘A Pale Blue Dot’ is out now. Check out their video for Stone Cold Digital ft. Rose Villain below

“Here are ten songs that you could pop into a blender and the result would be a Cheap Meat song. Goes without saying you’d need a blender capable of such things. These are songs that inspired us, songs that we’ve ripped off, songs that we love and songs that you should listen to. Hell, after you’ve listened to this playlist maybe you’ll reach the starry heights of being able to write a Cheap Meat song of your own, or better still, have some commercial success! Dream big reader! Dream big!”

Light Up The Sky – Van Halen

It’s no secret that Van Halen is one of my (Ross) favourite bands. I love them; I have a podcast about them. We wrote a song on the album about them (Eddie & Valerie). If you don’t get goosebumps going from the breakdown into the guitar solo on this, apologies, but you might be a robot.

Alex Chilton – The Replacements

The book ‘Trouble Boys’ by Bob Mehr is the best book I’ve read about a band ever. Equal parts heartbreaking as it is punk. I could have picked a million different Replacements songs, but nothing kicks off a playlist quite like Alex Chilton. Also, it’s about Alex Chilton, of Big Star. Listen to them too!

Everything is Alright – Motion City Soundtrack

A blend of power-pop hooks and dark, off-beat lyrical snark is at the heart of MCS, and also happens to be at the heart of Cheap Meat. If our bands both had dating profiles, we’d probably be a ninetieth percentile match.

Simple – The Beta Band

As a Scot, I’m legally obliged to put in at least one band from home on this playlist. Lucky for you, The Beta Band are brilliant. Steve Mason here with one of my favourite lyrics and some sage advice for anyone in a band. “The trouble with your own thing is you end up on your own.”

11:11 – Dinosaur Pile-Up

Both us and DPU live(d) in North London, practised at the same rehearsal space (shout out to Storm), played the same festivals and have similar influences. But we’ve never met them and doubt they know we exist! However, we think they’re great and seeing them succeed always gives us hope. Plus their music slaps. Hard.

Dumpweed – Blink-182

Simple, poppy, hooky, irreverent. We may not play as fast, but we certainly play as loose as Blink. Music should always be fun and never take itself too seriously and Blink helped shape our philosophy in that regard. We actually used to have the same booking agent as Blink (for all the good it did us…!), and I think our proudest moment (OK, Matt’s proudest moment) was when he told us that our stage banter was like Blink’s.

Fall Together – Weezer

There was a three-year gap between Maladroit and Make Believe. I was DEEP into my obsession with Weezer and Rivers Cuomo at the time, so I spent a lot of time with this being the last album they released. The lore around Maladroit is worth its own post alone, but this is one of my favourite Weezer songs. Two minutes long, big riff, guitar solo and an excellent chorus. Thank you very much.

Tact is Dead – Tellison

Right at the beginning of things going well for Cheap Meat, we supported Tellison. A lovely group of gentlemen. They had just released this single and, well, it’s a banger. I love their lyrics. And in a move of real fandom, I reference them on a track on the album. I love it when bands mention other bands on record. Anyway, I once cajoled Stephen to go for a drink with me, which ended up in a strange therapy session (For us both? Certainly, me). My favourite part when he told me “In hindsight, being influenced by commercially unsuccessful bands wasn’t necessarily
the best idea.” Amen, brother!

C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan

Matt and Pete are massive hip-hop heads (rhythm section, go figure…). In a very real sense, we have nothing in common with the Wu; in a more interpretative sense we were definitely inspired by the DIY, self-produced, give no-fucks hustle of their seminal debut album. That, and Matt is really into martial arts.

Return of the Jedi – Reuben

Just the most perfectly jaded and honest song about the bullshittery of the music industry and 100% sums up how we felt when we decided to create our label and go it alone. Plus, our first EP
was produced by the original drummer and producer of Reuben’s first album, Jason Wilson. Matt once met Jamie Lenman backstage at 2000trees and found him to be every bit the gentleman he dresses up as.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6p-gpkibPw

“This is a collection of tracks that at some point I’ve been addicted to soaking in for one abstract reason or another. A lyric, a blown out drum sound, a statement of brazen honesty, a mood, or just extreme noise. It’s all over the place genre wise. But I will not be policed by nuance truants and neither should you. Soak it in! Bathe in the sounds and words. Become Empathy Machines!”

Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit

I feel like watching footage of Billie Holiday sing this song should be on every school curriculum. So much sorrow. You can hear a life of struggle, oppression and abuse in every word. The brutal depiction of young innocent bodies hanging lifeless from the trees like fruit rotting on the trees destroys my faith in humanity for days every time. Absolutely essential listening but brutal.

Gesaffelstein – Pursuit

The synths in this track are so aggressive and hedonistic. Both myself and Vibes were addicted to the moment of quiet just before the kick slaps you round the face. This is true dystopian party music. There aren’t many tracks that make me want to flail with true nihilistic abandon until the end of everything. Ha ha! Good times!

Unkle – Burn My Shadow

This was produced by a dear friend at one of my favourite places on earth ‘Rancho De la Luna’. A true home from home. The drum sound and beat gives the track such a frenetic yet motoric forward motion. Ian Astbury almost croons over the top. ‘I’ll burn my shadow away’, what a great line. We all feel like that sometimes. That feeling of wanting to run away from yourself. Love to Davey, Goss, Bingo, BOC and all the Mojave Lords family.

M.I.A – Born Free

This track is great for so many reasons. Distorted and blasted out. That sample of suicide churning menacingly under some kind of Art Blakey Jazz drumming. Then M.I.A ranting over the top about existentialist freedom. Painting the brutal killings of Tamils in an absurdist video to show how senseless and brutal the killings are. What a vital piece of art. We dig M.I.A.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNoquxEXlpg

Do Nothing – Lebron James

I was sent a demo of this song by the bands manager asking if I’d produce the band and I was hooked straight away. The lyrics are so perfectly sardonic, wry and funny. The bass line is so addictive. I totally jumped at the chance of working with guys and is one of the few songs I still like to listen to after the obsession and overexposure that happens in the studio.

Antipop Consortium – Ping Pong

I have no idea what this track is about and I love that. It’s completely surrealistic, dark and wonky. Also so into the pingpong sample panning through the beat. Such a pleasing sound. Totally underrated pioneers in leftfield hip hop.

Battles – My Machines

This track is such a mad mashup. Pummeling drum track with the best crunchy room sound, Gary Numan’s future croon, Beatles-esque mellotron strings psyching out over math madness. I am so in love with this track. It takes me to infinite parallel realities when I listen to it. I guess there is a reason my nickname is SPACE! Ha ha.

How To Destroy Angels – How Long

What can I say… I am a sucker for some Trent. For me, it’s all about the lush vocal on the lyric ‘How long can we keep holding on’. It’s almost too perfect for the lyric which adds an odd hyper pop sensibility to the track.

Peggy Seeger – I’m Going To Be An Engineer

This is an epic, darkly funny and profound tale of the life of a woman that wanted to be an engineer and was pushed back by the bastard patriarchal system of norms crushing her. What a great subversive piece of art. Folking greet!

Charles Bradley – Changes

The way he sings this song brings so much heft and sorrow to the words. It brushes me with that sickly sweet melancholy that feels so good and is hard to pull yourself out of. All I need to do is remember that this song was written by Ozzy and it pulls me straight out. What a bizarre world. RIP Charles.

Full Of Hell – Burning Myrrh

Full of Hell are my go to when I need to exorcise demons. It helps me manifest my anger in constructive ways. I stick this on my headphones, go outside and whittle a bit of old wood whilst meditating on my rage. Good times! Ha ha! So heavy.

Rival Consoles – Vibrations on a String

I have been addicted to this record recently. I love sound machines that can evoke a soulful sound with a little help from distortion and reverb. It’s like an ear massage that makes you want to run away to some cold mountainous part of the world and read books. You can also whittle sticks whilst listening to Full of Hell here. I grew up in Norway and the middle of nowhere in the Northeast of Scotland so I am extremely fond of those landscapes and music that can conjure it in my mind for some ridiculous reason.

P.O.S – Bumper

P.O.S features on the very first song we wrote. At the time I was really diggin on his flow and the production on this record. Go and check him out and all of his different projects. He’s from Minneapolis and is involved in loads of great acts from the scene there. Marijuana Death Squad, Doomtree Collective…get involved.