In our latest new band spotlight, we chat to Attacker TV about their genre-defying heavy sound! We chat to band members, Max Taylor, Felix Hird, and Josh Venters.
S] Hi guys, how are you today?
F] I’m good thanks!
M] Not too bad thank you!
S] I saw you at a Battle of The Bands at Fulford in York as a judge and was impressed by the sound, how was that experience for you?
M] Really glad you enjoyed it! It might be the most fun I’ve had in the band so far, despite all the technical mishaps.
S] How did the band form?
F] Max and I had already played together in jazz bands and had a lot of shared interests musically, and when Max started showing me some of the riffs he had been writing in his own time, it quickly became apparent we shared a creative ethos and worldview. We ended up jamming as a duo and not too long after we added Josh to the band.
M] I had played with Josh in two other bands before, so it was a no brainer when he said he could join.
S] What are your top five core influences, musically?
F] Our influences range pretty wide, but a lot of it derives from the underground rock scenes of the 90s, so a lot of stuff in post-hardcore, noise rock, post-rock, and early emo. If I were to name any bands in particular, it would be Slint and Drive Like Jehu. Personally, I also draw a lot of inspiration from some of the weirder side of extreme and black metal, bands like Ved Buens Ende, Portal, and Gorguts.
M] The aim is to eventually make stuff that is abrasive but also catchy and addictive to listen to. I particularly love the vocal and instrumental melodies of old jazz ballads, but I’m not sure how much of that seeps into our sound at the moment.
S] What about personally – the York scene, family/friends, for example?
F] We worship the tone gods TELEOST.
J] Collectively we’ve played in bands that cover a lot of different genres in York including Indie, Metal and Jazz and I think we all want to try and create something weirder.
M] My parents wanted me to stick with jazz to be fair…
S] Your sound blends prog, metal, and hardcore, elements like Tool meets Fugazi, or something – was this always your intention, on a sonic level, to insert those vast dynamic changes?
F] I wouldn’t say it’s a conscious choice, but rather something that inevitably arises from our influences in songwriting.
M] The prog comparisons usually surprise me as I don’t tend to look towards prog for songwriting inspiration. I try to make sure our songs have some level of angularity or rhythmic bite to them, which I feel is often an underappreciated aspect of rock songwriting.
S] What would you say your mission statement is as a band?
F] Not really thought about it much to be honest, but I think ultimately we just enjoy making music and we strive to have a unique sound and make something authentic. Also attacking TVs.
M] There was a point where we were going to make the band represent a long-winded critique of media consumption in contemporary society, hence the name “Attacker TV”, but we are already pretentious enough as it is.
S] Is there anything you’d like to add before we finish up today?
F] I’ll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda.
M] Shout out to Heavy Bloom for saving us in the BOTB heat. Also follow us on @atkrtv
S] Thanks for your time!
M] Thank you!
For more information and gig tickets visit:
https://www.instagram.com/atkrtv/
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/micklegigs-dim-imagery-attackertv-and-pannik-tickets-717717039987
