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Brigade

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Album:
Released: Nov 21, 2011
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Alternative / Indie / Rock

    Location London, Un

    Profile Views: 602483

    Last Login: 10/19/2011

    Member Since 3/16/2005

    Website BRIGADEOFFICIAL.COM

    Record Label Mighty Atom (UK), Roadrunner (Japan)

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    If there was ever a band to capture the essence of powerful dynamics, emotional sincerity and perfectly crafted songwriting, then Brigade are that band. Residing in London but with roots in Suffolk, Japan and Bristol, they are a shining example of a band that fall outside the remit of genre classification. Here's a band that write enormous songs; songs that wrap themselves around you like a grappling, hugging bear and won't let go! In battle there is no law, in the music industry only the strong survive. Bands and trends come and go, but only bands of a truly special calibre will leave their mark in musical history. Brigade are set to do just that.

  • Members

    Will Simpson (Vocals/Guitar), James Plant (Guitar/Vocals), Andrew Kearton( Drums)

  • Influences

    info at brigadeofficial.com

  • Sounds Like

    Rock Music

Camouflet Video

Stunning Video

Sink Sink Swim Video

Pilot Video

Guillotine Video

Meet Me At My Funeral Video

Magneto Video

Comments

Post a comment...
  • Aly Harrizon

    the new ep is really nice:) support from hong kong ^^

    2 years ago
  • Ben

    cannot wait for the album!   

    2 years ago
  • Senileandinsane

    The new ep is brilliant guys  .. loving it ... Cheers .. can't wait for the album now  :)

    2 years ago
  • Guitarbitz .Com

    Guitarbitz Guitar Shop says Hi.

    We are giving 5% Off all orders to all our myspace friends, no matter if it's a guitar, a set of strings or even plectrums. All with free postage to the UK.

    Just add the code BLOGBITZ in the basket page and get 5% discount on your whole order.

    If you prefer, you can call us on 0845 2222 603 or visit us in our shop in Frome, Somerset.

    See you soon.

    Guitarbitz



    5% off all orders at guitarbitz guitar shop

    2 years ago
  • UpperField

    Nice sound! Thanks for add

    2 years ago
  • Rollo Allen

    Hey guys!  Thanks for the mega email update....great to hear some news!  Times are harsh but as soon as I can I will pledge some dolla towards the new album, sounds like a wicked idea and the more that are involved the better for everyone.  Didn't think it was possible to love you any more than I already do...until I saw you're giving away your new EP with a mag I love - THANK YOU SO MUCH! x

    2 years ago
  • Senileandinsane

    Woo hoo .. time to party .. Hope to see ya at Brum and London :) .. BRING IT ON!!!!!

    2 years ago
  • Rabbit Years

    Hey there!

    We have a new demo called "Lines" up and it would be great if you could have a listen and leave a message or comment :)

    Love Love

    2 years ago
  • REIna CArbaugh

    Enjoying your music.

    2 years ago
  • Hold Your Horse Is

    Click poster for facebook event.
    Click above for facebook event. x

    2 years ago
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Biography

London-based quartet Brigade rank as one of the most criminally overlooked bands in British rock music. Unbridled by the latest ‘scene’ or fashion, they’ve always teetered on the brink of the ‘big-time’, picking up plenty of critical plaudits along the way for their impeccable ability to write huge, timeless rock songs that are built on intricate structures and eschew clichés.

With third album, ‘Will Be Will Be’, though, they’ve outdone themselves. Eight years into their career, the 11-tracker finds the band in irresistible form. Carrying on from the impressive salvo that was last year’s ‘Love Is A Duel’ EP, the record caps a triumphant fight-back for the band, who almost never got round to making another album following 08’s ‘Come Morning We Fight’, owing to singer Will Simpson suffering vocal problems that threatened Brigade’s future.

“At one point, I did think, ‘I’m never going to get my voice back, it’s over. I think maybe it’s time to accept defeat and give up’,” he says.

‘Will Be Will Be’ is the band’s first self-produced effort, recorded over 16 days across January and February at Camp Kuru (Essex band The Kuru Smile’s self-constructed studio) in Colchester. This maintained the four-piece’s penchant for recording in weird and wonderful rural destinations.

“It’s literally an old chicken shed – one of those long huts that you see – in the middle of nowhere in the countryside,” explains Will.

This leant itself to a creative atmosphere in which the band – completed by guitarist/vocalist James Plant, bassist Naoto Hori, and drummer Andrew Kearton – could allow their perfectionist nature to flourish.

“One of the things that we pride ourselves on is that we spend a lot of time on arrangements and we’re constantly re-assessing and re-editing the songs,” explains the singer. “We’re not four guys who will just say, ’That’ll do’. We really push hard to the extent where, it’s not like we want to kill it by over-production, but we want it to sound like it should at its best.”

Not that the first-time producers didn’t make the odd mistake; when Mark Williams (Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party) came to mix the final results, he joked he couldn’t believe some of the schoolboy errors the lads made – and subsequently rectified – along the way, including initially missing an entire guitar track which was recorded through the wrong amp.

“But no, he was really impressed with what we’d managed to achieve in two weeks,” laughs Will.

Williams had good reason for such admiration, because ‘Will Be Will Be’ is the most ambitious thing Brigade – a band who have never shied from expansive rock songs or massive melodies – have ever done, and they’ve pulled it off with aplomb. For the first time, the band used electronic programming, percussion and strings, and in ‘Find Your Own Way Home’ included gang vocals contributed by PledgeMusic pledgers – fans who got involved by donating to the record’s funding. Will admits the experience of reaching out to the band’s fan base to financially support the album’s creation was nerve-racking.

“We’d been gone for two years and we weren’t sure people knew what we were doing or were interested anymore. That was scariest part – if we’d have done it back in 2008 when we were on MTV and the radio a bit I’d have been more confident,” says the singer.

He needn’t have worried, because the consistent class Brigade have shown throughout their career is matched by a loyal and dedicated fanbase who were delighted to donate towards ‘Will Be Will Be’. Digital versions of the album went straight out to pledgers upon its completion in March, followed by full, artworked CD versions in May. Now, though, the band are setting about a full commercial release through Swansea-based label Mighty Atom, where they began their career with first album ‘Lights’ back in 2006.

Remastered, the full-length comes with a bonus DVD made up of live footage from three back-to-back shows in which they played each of their albums in their entirety at London’s Hope & Anchor, interspersed with music videos and interview footage to create a documentary of the Brigade story. Sadly, though, that story is now entering a chapter that is unlikely to see much in the way of action from the Brigade camp. Following their UK November tour to promote the album, the boys plan to go into semi-retirement.

“The joke is that we’ll only do weddings and bar mitzvahs,” laughs Will.
“We just want to get back to that magic of four guys jamming in a room together. It’s impossible to maintain two full-time jobs at the same time,” adds the singer, who by day works for a TV production company. “We’ll record and play the odd show here and there, but in terms of being a full-time touring band, we’ll be winding it down.”

It’ in no way overstating the sonic scope and musical vision of Brigade to say that this is a band comparable to British rock powerhouses such as Muse and Biffy Clyro, and that they haven’t been able to reach similar levels of commercial success is in no way a reflection of their quality. ‘Will Be Will Be’ is the ultimate way to close this part of the band’s rich history, and is undoubtedly one of the finest UK rock records of 2011. If they never make another album, it will leave a fitting legacy.

Reviews

"...a band who now deal in ascendant tunes of rare quality. And while they"ve long been lauded by those few in the know, this is an album that deserves to take them to everyone else."
KERRANG! 4Ks



"...athere will be no "difficult second album worries for Brigade. It"s just the kind of subtle evolution that makes them a British talent truly capable of a long and exciting career."
ROCK SOUND 8/10



"...a towering beast of a rock band!"
NME 8/10



"...they"re sure to accomplish truly great things. This is guitar music at its most pure and vital...If we had more bands like Brigade to reinforce the strength of our homegrown music scene, who knows what heights it could reach."
ROCK SOUND 8/10



"Brigade may become what has been needed for so long, a British band that appreciate, create, and are loyal to rock music in it"s purest form."
TUNED 9/10



"...Brigade have the confidence and ability to strike out in pretty much any direction they choose...They could mature into one of the UK's most important bands."
KERRANG!

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