In Conversation With #203 - HIMALAYAS
Cardiff rock band HIMALAYAS have just released the new album 'Bad Stars' - an impressive explosion of sound, and not one to miss.
Their second album BAD STAR finds HIMALAYAS expanding far beyond the indie-rock of their first works From Hell To Here in 2023, with BAD STAR now seeing the band taking in influence from Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, Royal Blood and Foo Fighters. Working with producer Pete Hutchings (Royal Blood, Nothing But Thieves, Skindred) the result on BAD STAR is 10 tracks that finds the band ooze with confidence, with a sharp skill in inventive but catchy riffs, slinking rhythms, and an ever-present sense of vastness of both sound and vision.
The band took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Himalayas, how are you? So your album is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
We’re good thank you! It feels great to have our second album out and ready for people to listen to.
It is called ‘Bad Star’ – what is the meaning behind that?
The title ‘BAD STAR’ comes from the original Latin origin of the word Disaster. The idea of Disaster was a key theme when writing the album and it’s something we feel runs through every part of life.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
We recorded the album with Pete Hutchings in Hereford. Pete has worked with artists that we really love, including Royal Blood, Nothing But Thieves and Gang of Youths.
We had a great time recording the album and we ate so well during our time recording, both having Brisket that the studio owner Rusty cooked for us, also Beefy Boys in Hereford.
What are the key influences behind the album?
We have so many influences when it comes to writing and there are always key band favourites that include Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Nothing But Thieves, Ghost, Nick Cave, Jack White, St Vincent. But we also have individual favourites that range from ABBA to Knocked Loose.
If the album could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
Maybe something car or bike related. Something like ‘The Bike-riders’ or maybe something like ‘Legend’, essentially any Tom Hardy film!
Do you have a favourite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
Most probably:
“Everything forgotten
Comes with infinite cost
Holding on for tomorrow
Your future in the hands of A Brand New God”
Which is from the final track on the album called ‘A Brand New God’. It’s the last lyric on the album and really drives home some of the key themes across the album.
Now the album is out there – what next for you?
We’ll be touring and playing shows as much as possible, playing in places and cities we’ve never played before and then working on new music as well.
