Sometimes it takes decades to finish what you started.
Following Seas traces its roots to the 1990s, when vocalist Vince Slatton and guitarist Keith O’Neal played together in Birmingham hardcore band A Common Thread. After Slatton moved to Texas to teach and start a family, the two stayed in contact.
A trip to Furnace Fest in 2023 brought the two back together musically. "I decided to attend Furnace Fest to check out our long-time musical loves Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, and Judge," Slatton tells No Echo. "Keith and I began talking about reworking some of the old songs from our band for fun with no intention of releasing anything."
Back in Texas, Slatton and his neighbor, audio engineer Chris Nelson, built a vocal booth in a barn. Slatton and O'Neal started trading recordings between Texas and Alabama. The project soon moved beyond nostalgia. "It did not take long before Keith asked if I wanted to work on some new material, and I was so stoked and said, 'Absolutely.'"
The lineup expanded to include guitarist Nick Brunson (Haste), bassist Tommy Whitley (Long Day Coming), and drummer Carter Wilson (Coliseum, Null, Fake Tyrants). All three have deep roots in Birmingham's underground scene. Following Seas, though, is focused on moving forward.
The band draws on the melodic hardcore that first inspired them. "Our initial push was to create music rooted in fast, melodic hardcore," Slatton says. "Our music comes from the heart with heartfelt lyrics and vocals. The songs vary from fast to mid-tempo with fun grooves that Tommy and Carter bring to the band."
While Slatton points to influences like Dag Nasty, Turning Point, 411, Gorilla Biscuits, and 7 Seconds, he says the goal was never to sound like any one band. "This band reflects the music that made us fall in love with hardcore music."
That passion comes through on Following Seas' self-titled debut EP, which features seven original songs alongside a cover of Samiam's "Speed." The record was tracked and mixed by Brad Timko at Portside Sound in Sheffield, Alabama, before being mastered by James Sego.
Lyrically, the songs come from musicians who have seen both sides of life but still hold onto the values that brought them to hardcore. "We are older now and have experienced life's ups and downs. We've had pain, loss, and joy," Slatton says. "The message of the music is still the same. We should encourage each other."
Slatton also credits Birmingham's longstanding punk and hardcore community for helping shape Following Seas. Slatton credits Birmingham's punk and hardcore community with shaping Following Seas. He recalls a scene where punks, straight edge kids, and metalheads shared the same venues. That sense of inclusivity still defines the city, he recalls. "We all supported each other regardless of the genre of the band or who was on the bill that evening."
He points to Birmingham acts like Null, Droves, My Reply, Commodity, Crush the Serpent, Hexxus, Hocky, Coward God, Bulging, and Refuse to Thrive. He also mentions new connections with Norway's Capital Scars and Memphis' Turn the Tide.
Following Seas will support the self-titled EP with hometown shows and short runs in the Southeast through 2026 and 2027. The band is already writing new songs and plans to return to the studio with Timko later this year.
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Following Seas on social media: Instagram
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