From the ashes of Holyhead shoegaze rockers The Lizzies, Holy Coves first began to blossom in spring 2009. The remaining duet of Scott Marsden and Jimmy Eggleton were intent on bringing fresh and innovative ideas to the new project. Both held similar influences, though the subtle differences between would soon help bring depth and originality to their sound.

Several months passed, with hour upon
hour spent in their purposely-adapted barn, thrashing out new sounds, structures and compositions. Soon there was more clarity, and a more focused direction to the music. Now they knew where they wanted to go, how they wanted to sound and how they wanted Holy Coves to be perceived. So all that remained was finding the missing pieces to the puzzle.

Enter drummer Ash Garden, closely followed by former Wendykurk guitarist Ben Lee. Suddenly something was different, as if catalyst and chemicals had begun some great reaction. The music became darker, held more of a groove, and had a life and soul of its own. With electrifying atmosphere and a silent vibe emanating from the band, the music had energy and raw power. Everyone knew something had clicked.

Now truly born, Holy Coves continued to develop, creating a fusion of driven amps and heavy distortion, welded with a psychedelic, pitch-shifting tremolo. Complimented by articulate song writing and meticulous structures, a blend of psych rock and sexy, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll emerged. And with it a sound well received as they toured some of the finest, most prestigious venues on British unsigned circuit.

So ask the band what they’re all about and the answer is always the same. “Reality”. Far from false, manufactured or cynical, Holy Coves are about real musicians playing real music for real people. Four regular guy’s all sharing the same vision, and the same belief in what they’re doing, driven by the same determination and will to succeed. Just like singer-songwriter Scott Marsden says: “If you really want something, if you have the drive to carry on where others fail, and if you have the ability to see clearly in a world of deceit, then anything is possible…” 

Exit Calm's Upcoming Gigs
Sat 20 Dec, 14 
The Underground, Barnsley , United Kingdom

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If the past is a foreign country, then Exit Calm have a past worth exploring.  

After only two months together and one raw, visceral demo, the band were playing Tokyo’s Liquid Rooms;  a gig that gave Stone Roses bassist Mani, cause to label them “proper fuckin' music”.  The band haven’t looked back since. 

Incendiary live show followed incendiary live show as the band brought their uplifting, ethereal sound across the UK and into Europe. Sold out dates throughout the country have seen the band share the stage with groups as diverse as The Charlatans, Modest Mouse, Echo & The Bunnymen and Soulsavers, along the way developing a loyal fan base, which play their own part in making Exit Calm gigs an epic experience.

With soaring, widescreen guitar layers, deep heady grooves and front-man Nicky Smith's primal delivery, echoes of musical heroes such as Elbow, Doves, Unkle, The Verve and Spiritualized are undeniable, yet Exit Calm's output is incomparably unique and in a class of its own. This is a band that once seen, leave no doubt in belief, coming alive on stage and evoking an atmosphere of epic proportions.
 
After three sold out vinyl singles, the release of their self-titled LP in 2010 was the culmination of three years hard work.  Aggressive but not confrontational, focused but not myopic and melodic rather than pop, Exit Calm was an album that had to be made. The majestic beauty of ‘Don’t look down’, the massive attack-drive of ‘Forgiveness’ and the soaring call to arms of ‘Hearts and Minds’ all invoke the spirit of the band's influences, at the same time standing alone as a unique statement of intent. 

The album has garnered much praise. Upon hearing it, Todd Eckhart (producer, 'Control') said: “Pure Genius – the assembly of iron and wood because temples must be made. And the avoidance of all that whiny, sexless bullshit passing for rebellion at the moment." And his is not alone. Huw Stephens (Radio 1) said the band is “Truly Epic”, Guitarist Magazine described the album as “A sonic and soulful masterpiece.”, Inspiral Carpets/XFM’s Clint Boon declared: “file under the greatest rock bands of all time”. Both Radio 1 (Zane Lowe) and Radio 2 (Janice Long) have supported the band's releases, and the band performed on the Janice Long live session in 2012.

But it’s not all about the past with Exit Calm. Recent live shows have seen the debut of the modern- baggy-meets-grunge anthem blow out of ‘The Rapture’; the breakbeat-tinged fury of ‘Albion’ and the melodic, Bunnymen guitars and groove of ‘Fiction’. In the current era of disposable heroes, Exit Calm tread a different path. From a band who simply list their influences as three legendary record labels, their output invokes the same classic approach to music as Creation Records. They bring the euphoria and hedonism of Factory to the progressive, with the forward thinking ideals of Mo Wax, producing music with heart, style and integrity.


(ep)ilogue out now.
Farewell Tour on sale now.
Come see us one last time.

“A visceral punch to the soul, from a velvet gloved fist”…

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