Battle (British band)

Last updated

Battle
Origin Battle, England
Genres Indie rock
Post-punk revival
Years active2005–2007
Labels Transgressive Records
MembersJason Bavanandan
Oliver Davies
James Ellis
Timothy Scudder
Past membersSteve Boyle
Website Thisisbattle.com

Battle were a UK indie rock band. They came to some prominence with a sound consisting largely of post-punk, spacious guitar hooks and dance-orientated beats, and have been compared to The Cure, and New Order/Joy Division. Later recordings have grown increasingly organic and atmospheric and reveal a kinship with The Smiths, Remain in Light era Talking Heads and Arcade Fire. The name Battle can be seen as an incitement for the individual to fight for their passions. Many of the band's lyrics revolve around this central theme. The band broke up around October 2007.

Contents

History

Formation

Singer Jason Bavanandan and guitarist Jamie Ellis met at school in Lewisham, South East London in the mid-nineties. Having completed school, they both enrolled at the University of Kent at Canterbury, with the intention of forming a band. [1] The resulting band was Casper Jack. The music of Casper Jack was heavily informed by artists such as Oasis and the Small Faces. When the group's original bassist left, Ellis was introduced to Tim Scudder, at which point the band's sound began to change. Influences such as The Strokes, Joy Division and Pixies began to inform the songwriting process. During this period, the band's keyboardist was dismissed, and the drummer left. The next academic year saw drummer, Oliver Davies join the band. The band changed their name first to Morphic Fields, and later to Killing Moon.

Early singles

Their first single, "Isabelle" was released on 24 April 2005 on Fierce Panda Records. Their next single, "Demons", was released on 26 September 2005 by their permanent label, Transgressive Records and sold out its 1,500 copies in a day. After the free-download "Wicked Owl", the chart eligible "Tendency", reached No. 37 in the UK Singles Chart. Next single "Children", was championed by Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, and was 'hottest record in the world today' on his show.

Back to Earth - Mini-album

On 23 October 2006, Battle released the seven-track mini-album, Back to Earth , which featured new versions of "Wicked Owl" and "Tendency". The mini-album was critically acclaimed but not commercially successful. Several of the tracks were produced by Gareth Jones and originally intended for the band's full debut album. "I Never Stopped" and "Easy to Listen to" were produced by the band and Jeff Knowler in June 2006. "Beautiful Dynasty" was released as a vinyl-only single in conjunction with Back to Earth.

Break the Banks

In June 2006, copies of the Gareth Jones sessions were leaked in plain black cases under the title Break the Banks. This was reputedly originally intended to be the band's debut album. The album was never released, though several tracks were included on Back to Earth. The band put the absence of a full-debut down to a marked improvement and prolificness in their song-writing. A new album, also titled Break the Banks was released on 3 September 2007, preceded by a single, "The Longest Time", released on 2 July 2007. Another single, "Paper Street", was released on 13 September 2007. [2] The majority of the album was reputedly written in the six months preceding its recording.

Band members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Artwork

The cover art for Battle's first four singles and full-length album was painted by Bavanandan's younger sister, Melissa.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stereophonics</span> Welsh rock band

Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in the Cynon Valley, Wales. The band consists of Kelly Jones, Richard Jones, Adam Zindani, Jamie Morrison and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards). The group previously included Stuart Cable (1992–2003) and then Javier Weyler (2004–2012) on drums. Stereophonics have released twelve studio albums, including eight UK number one albums. A successful compilation album, Decade in the Sun, was released in November 2008 and charted at number two on the UK Album Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iced Earth</span> American heavy metal band

Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and currently based in Columbus, Indiana. They were formed in 1984 under the name the Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer and original drummer Greg Seymour. Iced Earth released their debut album in 1990 and have since released twelve studio albums, four EPs, three compilations, three box sets, three live albums and eleven music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Schaffer</span> American heavy metal musician

Jon Ryan Schaffer is an American heavy metal musician. He is the rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter of the Indiana-based heavy metal band Iced Earth, which he formed in 1985 under the name Purgatory. He is also the lead singer in his political side project Sons of Liberty and, until 2021, played guitar for Demons & Wizards, his collaboration with Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kürsch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babyshambles</span> English rock band

Babyshambles were an English rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from the Libertines. As of 2013 the band includes Mick Whitnall, Drew McConnell and Adam Ficek. Babyshambles have released three albums—Down in Albion (2005), Shotter's Nation (2007) and Sequel to the Prequel (2013)—three EPs and a number of singles.

<i>Demon Days</i> 2005 studio album by Gorillaz

Demon Days is the second studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz. It was first released on 11 May 2005 in Japan and on 23 May 2005 in the United Kingdom by Parlophone and in the United States by Virgin Records. Produced by the band, Danger Mouse, Jason Cox, and James Dring, the album features contributions from De La Soul, Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Roots Manuva, MF Doom, Ike Turner, Bootie Brown of the Pharcyde, Shaun Ryder, and Dennis Hopper. As with the band's eponymous 2001 debut, the release of Demon Days and its respective live performances were both accompanied by various multimedia, including interactive features on the Gorillaz website, a total of four animated music videos, and animatics for select videos. Almost all visuals associated with the album were designed by Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett, under his design company Zombie Flesh Eaters.

The Blood are an English, London-based punk rock band, formed in 1982. Led by Cardinal Jesus Hate and JJ Bedsore, the band formed in the early 1980s under the name "Coming Blood". Their music is a blend of hardcore punk, Oi!, heavy metal, football chants and shock rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Down in a Hole</span> 1993 single by Alice in Chains

"Down in a Hole" is a power ballad by Alice in Chains, and the fifth and last single from their album Dirt (1992). It is the twelfth song on most pressings of the album and fourth or eleventh on others. The song was written by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell for his then-girlfriend, Courtney Clarke. The single spent 21 weeks on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks and peaked at No. 10. The song was included on the compilation albums Nothing Safe: Best of the Box (1999) and Music Bank (1999). An acoustic version performed on Alice in Chains' MTV Unplugged in 1996 was released in a live album and DVD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.K. Subs</span> English punk rock band

U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first hardcore punk bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raging Speedhorn</span> British heavy metal band

Raging Speedhorn are a British heavy metal band, founded in Corby, Northamptonshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant Drag</span> American indie rock band

Giant Drag is an American indie rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2003 by singer and guitarist Annie Hardy and drummer and keyboardist Micah Calabrese. After releasing their debut EP, Lemona in 2004, the band released their debut studio album, Hearts and Unicorns (2005) through Kickball Records, a subsidiary of Interscope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noodle (character)</span> Fictional Japanese guitarist for the virtual band Gorillaz

Noodle is a fictional Japanese musician, singer, and member of the British virtual band Gorillaz. She provides the lead guitar and keyboards, as well as some occasional lead and backing vocals for the band. Like all other band members of Gorillaz, she was created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. Noodle has been voiced by Haruka Kuroda, Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto, and Haruka Abe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Feeling</span> English rock band

The Feeling are an English rock band from Horsham, Sussex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Mañana (song)</span> 2006 single by Gorillaz

"El Mañana" is a song by British alternative rock band Gorillaz. It was released on 10 April 2006 in the United Kingdom as a double A-side, and the fourth and final singles from their album Demon Days. "El Mañana", along with its other A-side "Kids with Guns", reached number 27 upon its release in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Catley</span> English singer and musician

Robert Adrian Catley is an English singer and musician, best known by his stage name as Bob Catley. He is the lead singer of the British rock band Magnum. He is also a solo artist.

<i>Break the Banks</i> 2007 studio album by Battle

Break the Banks is the first and only LP from London-based indie rock band Battle. It was released on September 3, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Campesinos!</span> Welsh indie pop band

Los Campesinos! are a seven-piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. Though the band formed in Wales, none of the members are Welsh. The band has gone through several lineup changes during their career, with their current lineup consisting of Gareth Paisey, Neil Turner (guitar), Tom Bromley (guitar), Rob Taylor, Kim Paisey, Matt Fidler (bass) and Jason Adelinia (drums); the members replace their surnames with "Campesinos!" as stage names. Gareth Paisey, Turner and Bromley are the only remaining original members still in the band.

<i>Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1</i> 2007 studio album by Iced Earth

Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 is the eighth studio album from Iced Earth, released on September 11, 2007. It is part one of two concept albums based on a trilogy of songs from Iced Earth's fifth studio album, Something Wicked This Way Comes. The saga, aptly titled the Something Wicked Saga, tells the fictional history of mankind, from its creation to its destruction. It is the second and final album with vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens. This is also the first album that Schaffer become more involved in playing lead guitars parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben's Brother</span> English band

Ben's Brother are a five-piece English band, headed by founder Jamie Hartman. The band was named after Jamie's big brother Ben, whose shadow he lived in as a teenager. Their album Beta Male Fairytales reached number 14 on the UK album charts and their single Let Me Out was nominated for an Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2007 - the other nominee was Love Is Losing Game, by Amy Winehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TTNG</span> British rock band

TTNG are a British rock band from Oxford, formed in 2004, and currently signed to the American label Sargent House Records. Following numerous departures, the band went from being a four-piece to a trio, featuring Henry Tremain on bass and lead vocals, Tim Collis on guitar and his brother Chris Collis on drums. Their debut full-length album, Animals, was released in the UK via Big Scary Monsters Recording Company in October of 2008 and shortly after in the US via Sargent House Records. They have released four studio albums, as well as numerous EPs and singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolf Alice</span> British alternative rock band

Wolf Alice are an English rock band from London, England. Formed in 2010 as an acoustic duo comprising singer Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie, Wolf Alice have also featured bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey since 2012.

References

  1. Official site, "thisisbattle.com", Team > Who are Battle?. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
  2. Borthwick, Jamie (8 September 2007). "Battle – Paper Street". The Skinny . Radge Media. Retrieved 8 April 2010.