Seething Akira [Interview]

Seething Akira are more than a badass name. They’ve spent the last couple of years pushing themselves in all directions, snapping up support slots with the likes of Hacktivist, Heart Of A Coward, Don Broco, Subsource, Sonic Boom Six, Skindred, and The Algorithm while working on a slowly growing set of winning recorded releases. Their latest, Airstrike, is out now, and reviewed on TMMP here. With the band swept up in a high-pressure post-release whirlwind, TMMP got them talking about their origin story, intimate tattoos, flying carpets, and Kanye West…

Your new single Airstrike is out now. How excited are you?


Our exciteometer is close to maximum! It’s been far too long since we’ve released new material, so we’re hyped to get it out there!

How would you describe your sound to an inebriated stranger?


Sweat-dance-core.

What’s Seething Akira’s origin story?


Charlie was producing hip-hop for artists around the world for a couple of years, but then decided he wanted to hit the stage and also create a hybrid style. After finding Kit as the vocalist on the Isle of Wight, they basically Read more…

Posted on 01 August 2015

Hacktivist [Interview]

In the final instalment of TMMP’s 2000 Trees interview series, Hacktivist talk Korn cameos, influential gigs, and the foundations of political change…

You’re set to lay waste to 2000 Trees 2015. Do you have anything special planned for your set?

I think as a band, we treat each show the same no matter where we are or who is watching. We believe every H show is special! So yeah, we do have something special: a Hacktivist set!

What’s the craziest occurrence that’s ever taken place during a Hacktivist set?

When we toured with Korn, the fans started screaming so fucking loud out of nowhere. I was on stage waving my arms side to side with the crowd, and realised Fieldy was right next to me doing the same with his bass! Considering I’ve been listening to them since I was like 11, that was definitely a crazy moment in my life.

Hacktivist lyrics tend toward the political. What life experiences first sparked your political passions?

Like any kids, initially we were oblivious to so much that was going on in the world around us. It’s so easy to get so trapped in the cycle of the system that you don’t see anything other than Read more…

Posted on 08 July 2015

Cleft [Interview]

Cleft are fucking nuts. Some bands just grab your attention through sheer force of intent – and this instrumental turbo-prog duo is definitely one of them. TMMP got talking to guitarist Dan about their upcoming set at 2000 Trees – and this is what came out…

You’re due to hit 2000 Trees 2015. How’re you feeling?

We’ve had a hectic and challenging few months due to illness so it feels like it’s come out of the blue to me actually. We’ve been burrowed away writing loads of new material for our next album, so we’ve not had much time to think about gigs and festivals. It’s only now that it’s so close that I’m realising we’re actually doing this festival, playing with so many amazing bands. It’s going to be an excellent weekend!

Musically, you’re pretty out there. If an inebriated stranger were to ask what you sound like, what would you say in response?

I’d describe ourselves (to an enormously drunk and unmusical stranger) like a cross between Yes, Slayer, and Mr Blobby. But to a normal human person, we’ve been categorising ourselves as “turbo-prog,” which seems to have stuck now.

We play riff-based progressive music that we’ve condensed down to the length of an average to short pop tune due to our very short attention spans. We’re exactly the same as the Beatles – if the Beatles were an instrumental, gear-obsessed drum/guitar duo with a penchant for filthy riffs and odd groovy rhythms…

What made you decide to stick with the guitar-drums duo format? Would you consider expanding the lineup?

I think we just both thrive on the challenge of Read more…

Posted on 02 July 2015