Band: Scaleraker
From: Kingston Upon Hull, UK
Their formation story:
(Chris Marsay, guitar): "We started out in June 2023. All of us were/are in other bands in the Hull music scene. For years I'd been wanting to start a heavy side project and I had a stockpile of riffs and ideas that weren't suitable for other bands that I was in.
"I heard from a friend that Dan (a local drummer veteran) was looking to join/start a hardcore band. So I got I touch and we discussed ideas. Vocalist Phil, I've known since college. He fronts a legendary UK sludge stoner metal band called Battalions. I'd seen he'd posted online that he wanted to start a hardcore side-project, so I gave him a shout and he was up for it! Our lineup was complete when we recruited our bassist and local hardcore show promoter Casey, who plays also guitar in alt.rock band, Bedsit.
"We recorded our first 2 tracks in April, released our debut single Mind Prisoners in May and before we knew it, we were booked to play our first show, opening for our mates Couture (local hardcore band), and amazingly, Long Knife (Portland, Oregon) and World Peace (California) who were in the UK. This show was a really big deal for Hull.
"Scaleraker was only supposed to be a bit of fun, as we're all super busy and playing in other bands. The plan was supposed to be Practise>record>play some shows>split up. But we've been pleasantly surprised at the reception and great feedback we've received, so it feels like this could really go somewhere."
Their sound in their own words:
"For me personally, I worship Will Haven and Deftones. I love the enormity of their guitar sound. I also love metallic '90s New York chugga chugga hardcore. Recently I've been listening to a lot of alternative rap and hip hop as well. So I wanted to somehow channel all of those influences into a doomy hardcore band with a metallic edge, in the vein of- I think it was Pantera who once said something like, 'what if every part of the song was a mosh part?' The other guys in the band all bring a bunch of influences to the table too. Everything from black metal, sludge, post-metal, shoegaze, punk rock, etc.
"Scaleraker has had a lot of Jane Doe-era Converge comparisons, as well as Cursed. I'd like to think there are elements of Disembodied in our sound, but maybe I just want to hear that as I love that band! Dan and I love Gulch so there's some of that in there too.
"For me, it's all about the hugeness and enormity of the sound. Hopefully that will start to come across more as we evolve. If I could describe Scaleraker's sound it's: tempo changes, chugs, grooves, drop B, chaotic, and not being afraid of using a few guitar pedals in the process."
Latest release info:
"We have put out 2 tracks this year, both recorded in May, and mastered by Joe Clayton of No Studio. 'Mind Prisoners' was put on Bandcamp in May. Frontman Phil writes all of our lyrics and 'Mind Prisoners' is a release of thoughts that we can all get caught up in, a cathartic shout into the void of mental illness and how crippling it can be at those lowest moments.
"Then there's 'Disunited' which we put on Bandcamp in August. Disunited is probably our most 'melodic' work, and the only that follows the traditional verse-bridge-chorus structure (well, for the first half at least!) Lyrically, 'Disunited' is a call out of a broken society, the broken and the lost being unseen and unwanted and how culture wars and division are stoked to divide the country. The United Kingdom - This kingdom is disunited."
Future plans:
"Depends when this is being published but at the time of writing we have 2 more shows booked, one being at a hardcore all-dayer I'm Hull that our bassist Casey is putting on, through his label, Forever Underdogs. We're also going back into the studio (tomorrow) to record some more tracks, so keep an eye on our socials/Spotify/Bandcamp for announcements.
"We will carry on writing as our sound evolves, continue to play locally and out-of-town, and we want to get some Scaleraker merch out there. If anybody wants us to play a show, please get in touch!"
What other bands from their region should we check out?
"Obviously, I need to mention the other bands we're in: Battalions (fronted by our vocalist Phil)- stoner/sludge metal, Casey is in alt.rock band Bedsit, and I play guitar in RUNT, which is kind of noisey post-hardcore/alt rock. In Hull there are lots of hardcore/hardcore-adjacent bands to check out... Couture, Black Orchid, Marx, Still, Mastiff, On Tag.
"Heavy music in Hull has often been overshadowed by the indie-rock/post-punk scene. However, over the last year, a new hardcore scene seems to be emerging, with at least 2 well-attended hardcore shows a month (which is a lot for this part of the world!). We recently had Born from Pain play a show in Hull, which unfortunately I missed, but wtf were they doing in Hull?! Amazing!"
Scaleraker on social media: Instagram
Tagged: scaleraker
