Videos

Britain’s Best Up & Coming Rock Bands

• 19th Sep 2012

Britain is currently thriving with brilliant rock bands ready to make their breakthrough. However, it is so hard in today’s environment, as Pop and R ‘n’ B seem to be far more mainstream, and usually only bigger, more radio friendly rock bands seem to get a shot at the big time.

So why not sell your CDs and spend that money on listening to these next five brilliant up and coming British rock bands, while helping the seemingly dying-out British rock bands prove that they can challenge with some of the biggest artists in the world.

5) Kids In Glass Houses

Kids In Glass Houses are one of the two Welsh bands featured in this list, and what a way to start too! Continuously praised by fellow Welsh rock band, the brilliant Lostprophets, KIGH instantly made an impression right from their early days, playing alongside not only Lostprophets, but world-famous iconic bands such as 30 Seconds To Mars and Manic Street Preachers in 2006/2007, before even releasing an EP. In 2008, ‘Smart Casual’ was released, with one of their biggest hits to date ‘Give Me What I Want’. That year also saw them supporting American pop-punk giants Paramore, New Found Glory and then Fall Out Boy in 2009. Over the next two years they released two consecutive albums, ‘Dirt’ (2010) and ‘In Gold Blood’ (2011), producing more top 100 chart songs, in ‘Matters At All’ and the ridiculously catchy ‘Undercover Lover’, featuring Frankie Sandford from The Saturdays, a very diverse but well-fitting mix.

4) The Blackout

The Blackout are the second Welsh band to be featured in this list. The six-piece band are favourites with big music magazine Kerrang! and understandably why. The interesting mix between the two front men, one a singer, and the other a screamer, produces really in-your-face music. From their first release in 2007 – ‘We Are The Dynamite!’ – through to ‘The Best In Town’ (2009) and their most recent release, 2011’s ‘Hope’, they have continued to produce better and better songs, especially from 2009 onwards, with hits such as ‘Children Of The Night’, ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘Higher & Higher’. They have also created interesting collaborations, with Josh Franceschi from You Me At Six appearing in ‘I Don’t Care’ and Texan rock-rapper Hyro Da Hero on ‘Higher & Higher’,and supported some of the biggest bands including My Chemical Romance and Blink-182.

3) Lower Than Atlantis

Of all the list, Lower Than Atlantis are probably the least well known band, having only released their first full album in 2010, entitled ‘Far Q’. The Watford based band seem to be gaining much momentum though, especially after playing several festivals in 2011-2012. They will be at Reading and Leeds festival too and they show no signs of stopping to get themselves heard and push their music out to a wider audience. They are rapidly increasing their following on social media sites such as Twitter, and that helped promote their upcoming album ‘Changing Tune’. On 16th July 2012, Zane Lowe premiered their fantastic single ‘Love Someone Else’ from their upcoming album, and played it not just once, but twice due to demand. It was dubbed as ‘the hottest record in the world right now’. They were also asked to play the final 3 intimate shows in Blink-182’s UK tour. Lead singer Mike Duce clearly made his feelings heard, as when he admitted live at one of the shows that Blink-182 were “the reason I picked up a guitar and the reason we even started this band”.

2) Twin Atlantic

The only Scottish inclusion in this list are Twin Atlantic, who were relatively unheard of before 2011. It was 2011’s ‘Free’ that propelled them a much higher status, even managing to come 12th in the UK charts, which is incredibly hard for a very unknown. Hits from the ‘Free’ include ‘Make A Beast Of Myself’, ‘Free’ and ‘Time For You To Stand Up’. They gained (a much to their surprise) amazing ovation when supporting Blink-182 and The All-American Rejects. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before they reach the same status as fellow countrymen Biffy Clyro.

1) You Me At Six

Last but not least are the incredible You Me At Six. Some may not think of You Me At Six as a small band, however they are still growing, and still very young, and they could very possibly be the next stand out British rock band. 2008’s ‘Take Off Your Colours’ was an instant hit, despite the members having being as young as 15 when writing the album. It is now a certified Gold album, as was their follow up in 2010, in ‘Hold Me Down’, which produced hits such as ‘Underdog’. Hold Me Down got them to a prime slot on the Reading and Leeds festival main-stage and Hayley Williams from Paramore even came out to sing with them. In 2011 however the band reached new heights, with ‘Sinners Never Sleep’, which peaked at 3rd in the UK album charts and is certified Silver, set to become Gold too and this showed the band in a slightly heavier tone and diversity of songs such as ‘Bite My Tongue’ through to ‘Loverboy’ through to ‘Crash’, proclaiming themselves as the best up and coming British rock band.

Listen to the video to see for yourself!