GET TO KNOW: Loathe (Ahead of A Stranger To You)

If you’re finding yourself wondering, “Who are LOATHE?” then let us give you the rundown of one of the most exciting modern bands of the moment. Fusing mainly metalcore and nu metal, whilst also sprinkling other genres into their repertoire, their sound makes a very present, volatile experience for their listeners. Their live shows are a sight to behold, as they whip between full-blown metalcore madness and soul-wrenching drawn-back magic that will have you headbanging one minute and uncontrollably sobbing the next.

As the band stands today, the members consists of vocalist Kadeem France, guitarist and vocalist Erik Bikkerstaffe, bassist Feisal El Khazragi and drummer Sean Radcliffe. Raised from the underground scene in Liverpool, the band set out from the get-go to do something new and different. In 2015, their first EP, Prepare Consume Proceed, was self-released initially until the following year, when it was reissued after the band was picked up by SharpTone Records. Not only was the EP their first label release as a band, but it was also the first release for the label.

 Very early on in their career, the band donned masks to keep their identity and to create a ‘hive mind' entity and a bit of a buzz around what they were doing. The masks didn’t last long, though, as they felt too gimmicky and were criticised for being too close to the masks worn by the likes of SLIPKNOT. The masks also overshadowed the unique sound they were brewing, and losing them meant that their walls were down physically and artistically. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JefYd7TBck

The Cold Sun was released in 2017, their first full album. It was hard-hitting, raw metalcore, with the start of their exploratory toned back segments really starting to take shape. Babylon… in particular was a standout track; the sensitivity and vulnerability are powerful, even when it comes to that breakdown, you can feel the emotion emanating from it. In 2018, they released a split EP with HOLDING ABSENCE, who at the time were also under the SharpTone Records label. Knowing what we know now, this was a great collaboration of two of the fastest-rising bands of the past few years. 

Released just before the pandemic, LOATHE’s second album, I Let It In, and It Took Everything, really changed everything for the band. It was heavy, it was shoegaze, it was gut-punching, it was melancholic. Despite its comparison to Deftones, it was a very highly regarded album, with album of the year reviews coming left, right and centre. There was no publication that didn’t have this album in its top ten. LOATHE had so perfectly honed their sound. Tracks such as Screaming and Two-Way Mirror really solidified their place as one of the best new bands. Even with the rerecording of Is This Really You? with SLEEP TOKEN a while later brought a new audience to the band and allowed them to keep evolving.

Following the success of I Let It In And It Took Everything, they released a twelve-track ambient album almost exactly a year later, The Things They Believe. The complete opposite of what you would expect for a band at their height. Described as a soundscape and reflection of the lockdown period that works as a companion of sorts to I Let It In, And It Took Everything, the album is dark in atmosphere, but the atmosphere it creates is what makes it worth listening to. It’s an important listen to truly understand LOATHE’s lore. Although it’s not what the fans expected, the band’s decision to release it put a new perspective on their most celebrated album (so far).

The long-awaited fourth album, A Stranger To You, is currently set for release in July. It will feature their track Gifted Every Strength that came out last year, alongside the new single Revenant. At their core, LOATHE are a metalcore and nu metal band, but there’s much more to them than that. Their ability to defy genres and mash together things that many would rather be left alone, they do it anyway, and create a fresh, nuanced sound that sets them apart from other bands of their standing.

Words: Danielle Henderson

Photos: Izzy Sheldon