Looking to kick out the Jams, local post-hardcore act Manors have developed a stellar reputation for something close to performance art. Playing with a level of intensity difficult to fake; their live shows have started to gain traction as being a visual demonstration of their stance as a band- what they stand for is so fixed that it can’t help but come out in the way they play their instruments and attack their songs.
The recently released video supporting new single ‘Happy families’ proves that this is a band who’s songs aren’t just important to them; the way they play them is just as important. “We had fun shooting that video” confirms guitarist/producer Jake Grimes “we’d done a sold out show at the Head of Steam and wanted to try to capture as much of that energy and intensity into our video. So whilst we’re not playing live in the video we took as much of our production as long as we could and tried to have a blast – I think the video works really well”.
Indeed it does. One of four tracks on their forthcoming EP, ‘Happy families’ kicks off hard, pushing electro sounds into a post hardcore/metalcore edge and assault. It’s a rollocking way to kick of an EP.
“What we’ve done with the EP is to try and mix some of our sounds into a sort of ‘best of’ collection where we’ve deliberately tried to collect different sounds and textures. The EP gives a good impression of where we are as a band, what we’re interested in, and where we might go in the future. We’re really proud of it”.
Taking the electro assaults of ‘Happy families’ and ‘Addicted’ through to the drum n bass influenced ‘Crushed’ and mixing it with the all-out-banger of ‘Cyclical’ (sounding like something from Chinese democracy) there’s something on the EP for anyone interested in intense, in your face, soundtracks to anger and frustration.
“There are some themes on the EP for sure” confirms Jake “some songs are quiet direct and obvious with what we’re singing about, others are a little more subtle and hidden, but I think what stirs our collective anger and frustration is just how bad the political situation is and how little the government seem to care about the challenges of ordinary people trying to live their lives. I think that frustration and annoyance is in all of the songs on the EP and it’s something we think about a lot as people. It’s getting so hard for normal people”.
Taking the EP onto the live scene is the next steps for the Manor’s – an EP launch at the Cluny the next ‘date’ on their collective diary. “We’re playing the Cluny on the 29th June and we can’t wait. We were really happy with the Head of Steam show and we can’t believe we’ll be playing the Cluny. We’re really keen to make this the best show we’ve ever done and to really play the EP as well as we can”.
Post show there’s already plans for new music and events, but one thing at a time; “we want to get the EP out, play the Cluny show, then use of the momentum to work on new ideas. We’re in a great place as a band and now it’s up to us to push our sound and show even further”.
Manors- the band that keeps pushing themselves, and us, into new places.