I have a circle of music nerds in my life (shoutout to Sloan if you're reading) who have coined the term "shoegaze metal" as a subgenre. It's a somewhat useful genre tag if we want to divide the more pop/indie-influenced acts of the 90s from My Bloody Valentine and Lush, and the other heavy acts from this era, such as Spiritbox, Thornhill and Holding Absence, who all have some influences of post-rock along with some taste of nu-metal and metalcore. Loathe takes a little bit of everything from what i've mentioned so far to make something quite unique to them: a live show packed with everything from early hardcore Deftones-esque jams to ambient soundscapes. The band is for anyone familiar with and for fans of bands such as The Devil Wears Prada, Code Orange, Deftones, Static Dress, Slipknot, and Holding Absence, as well as video game soundtracks and experimental ambient music.
Starting in 2014, Loathe was formed in Liverpool, England by members Kadeem France (vocals), Erik Bickerstaffe (guitar/vocals/keyboards), Connor Sweeney (guitar/vocals), Shayne Smith (bass/vocals) and Sean Radcliffe (drums). They released their first EP in 2015 and a full-length album in 2017, both released on Sharptone/Nuclear Blast. Shayne and Connor would leave the band in 2018 and 2021 respectively; Shayne would be replaced by Feisal El-Khazragi (of Holding Absence).
This Is As One, their second EP, was released in 2018 and their 2nd studio album, 'I Let It In And It Took Everything', often referred to as their best work was released in February 2020 on Sharptone. The album employs influences of metalcore, post-metal/shoegaze and even certain industrial metal elements, and is on basis, a concept album that is extremely well done. This will certainly be an album that artists draw influence from for years to come. In 2021 they would drop the follow-up (or rather the extension) to this album, The Things That They Believe, which was completely made up of ambient tracks. As of recent, the band has participated in Download Fest, is playing Sick New World Fest later this year and has toured or is touring with Underoath, Periphery, Holding Absence and Oceans ate Alaska, among many others.
Loathe is one of the best bands to come out of the heavy scene in the past decade, and have leagues of talent in their lineup. If you're a fan of any modern heavy music and still haven't checked out I Let It In And Took Everything, it's not one to be slept on.
Photo Credit: Pulse Media Photography
Below are some links you can use to support the band.
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