Bands do not get fresher than Winchester, a brand new alt-rock trio who recently released their stunning debut LP Life Begins At These Dead Ends.
Although young, Winchester are a band with a promising array of sounds. The eclectic alt-rockers tastefully mix elements of technical rock/metal, metalcore, alt-rock and melodic rock. Influenced by the likes of Fightstar, Funeral for a Friend, Deftones and Biffy Clyro, Winchester utilise powerful riffs, versatile rhythms and emotional lyrics.
Life Begins… establishes the band as a group to keep eyes on. The threepiece’s first effort has been produced by Dan Weller (SikTh, Enter Shikari), and mastered by Dick Beetham. Supported already by the likes of BBC Radio Wales, Impericon Mag, the future looks bright for Winchester, full of potential.
Winchester’s 2018 plans, beyond releasing their LP, will see them play their first shows and tours further into the year. Check out the album below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talk about the release of their debut album and more!
So how has the response been to your music video ‘Diamond’?
The response has been amazing! We are extremely grateful for all the support people have shown so far. We have moved pretty swiftly towards getting the next set of videos from the album done. Something to keep your eyes and ears out for.
Can you tell us something about the track nobody knows?
This was one of the first tracks that we wrote together and was actually written on acoustic guitar. We wrote a lot of the album in our heads as we were insufficiently translating them into existence with whatever gear we had.
What’s your favourite track on the album?
It changes constantly – I think every track has been my favourite and also my least favourite at some point. Right now ‘Line Up’ gets this accolade. It is the next track to be getting the music video treatment and one of the tracks that goes down best live. It’s a lot of fun to play that’s for sure!
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
It would be amazing to get to work on a track with Architects, in honour of Tom and the things he stood for. We got a lot of help and learnt from them and it would be great to write a protest track on behalf of him. We love what they have brought to heavy music. Headlining Alexandra Palace was an achievement and a spectacle we will never forget as a band or as individuals.
Are you looking forward to your upcoming gigs?
Absolutely! We can’t wait to share the stage with some of our great friends in Holding Absence, Loathe and Phoxjaw. We all have some special treats in our sets so it is bound to be great! We have a lot of energy we need to let out and a lot of friends we need to make.
What was the first gig you ever attended?
Red Holt Chilli Peppers in Hyde Park. That show melted my mind and definitely is part of the reason I picked up a guitar in the first place, with John in the band at the time. We all have a lot of respect for them because of the way they smashed rock, punk, funk and rap into the face of the general population. Quite a unique achievement.
Are there any festivals or gigs planned for 2018?
We have a few things that are being prepared right now for the whole year, but I can’t say too much right now. More will be revealed soon!
Check out some tour dates announced below!
23.02: The Dolls House, Abertillery
28.02: Thekla, Bristol (with Holding Absence, Loathe, Phoxjaw)
01.03: Subside, Birmingham (with Echoic)
03.03: Phoenix Bar, High Wycombe (with The City Is Ours)