Created entirely in quarantine Kent based hardcore-grunge outfit, FLOODS IN JAPAN, are due to release their debut EP, DEMO, on Beth Shalom Records on July 24th. Today, we’re stoked to give you its first full listen, along with the band’s commentary on Black Lives Matter and top 5 bands that inspired their work!
Floods in Japan was formed in 2020 by Stuart Palmer and El Tyler of Kent band, Hounding, whilst traveling home from an itoldyouiwouldeatyou show. With this being the 3rd band to have formed from this partnership, the pair endeavoured to create a space separate from their other projects to explore a genre of which they are heavily influenced by. Drawing influence from the likes of pageninetynine., Orchid, and Rites of Spring they invited friends and frequent collaborators, Ewan Bennett and Laurence Crow on board to finalise the line up.
“We recorded this Demo EP remotely through quarantine. El wrote the songs in a sitting or two and sent them over to Ewan to lay some drums on. We expected these to just serve as demos for when we eventually are able to meet up and play together – unavailable at the time due to quarantine – but once the rest of the band got hold of the tracks and added parts to them, we felt we wanted to release them to the world. The entire ethos of this release is DIY. We recorded and produced the tracks ourselves as well as the accompanying videography for them. We wanted to create something that we felt encapsulated the frustration of feeling like a powerless part of a society rigged against us, the people.”
Asked about the lyrical content behind this release, the band replied: “The Demo tracks were written to be abrasive and trashy and to come out of the gates screaming “we are floods in japan”. I think what I personally like about these songs is they completely speak for themselves, there’s no hidden message, no secret narrative; it’s just three songs about being angry and frustrated.”
On Black Lives Matter:
“The Black Lives Matter movement is incredibly important. There are still so many people who are ignorant to the issues surrounding race equality and it’s saddening. It’s far too easy for people to lose interest when it doesn’t affect them and that is a massive issue. Our Government seems disinterested; intent on bastardising protestors. It’s sickening. The whole world watched as a man knelt on another man’s neck for 9 minutes and his life disappeared in an act of meaningless violence. There needs to be dras_c change. For a while, it felt like change was going to come, the air reeked of it. We need to keep up the momentum. We need jus_ce for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain… we need jus_ce for far too many people who have needless died at the hands of oppression.”
5 bands that inspired the sound of Floods in Japan
1. Nirvana
Especially Bleach, the trashy, fuzzy vibes of that album heavily inspired the wri_ng of our demo. El even used a jaguar into a DS-1 to record the guitars to emulate Cobain’s guitar tone. Nirvana has definitely been a staple in our listening habits for a long _me and has influenced a lot of our work over the years.
2. Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats have been a big inspiraton, not just from a sonic perspective, but also in the way in which they approach the community they’ve built – they have never had an ego about what they do, despite having such a strong fan base, to this day you’ll always catch their singer on the merch desk, and they always have time to chat to their fans. That’s the kind of ethics we love to see and want to push forward ourselves.
3. Real Life Goblin
“RLG are a new Kent based band who released their first EP this year. When I heard this for the first _me it was really like a punch in the face of “I need to step up my writing”. I was completely taken aback by the quality of this release, this being their first band too. Unbelievable stuff and en_rely produced by the band themselves. Honestly, one of the few new releases that have had a profound effect on me in the past few years.” – El
4. pageninetynine
“Punk rock should mean freedom, liking and accep_ng anything that you like. Playing whatever you want. As sloppy as you want. As long as it’s good and it has passion.”
5. IDLES
Idles have a way with words that really inspires us. The manage to tackle societal issues without it sounding contrived and they aren’t afraid to stand for what they believe in. Instrumentally, their stuff is incredible too. The way they use bass-only sections to create dynamic shits is super cool. Their live performance is truly something to look up to too.
Other bands worth a check & Spotify Playlist for your listening and discovering new bands pleasure:
Kent: Real Life Goblin, The Nightmares, Fieves, Den., Hounding, Blunderpuss, Highgarden.
