Band: Lights Out
From: Glasgow, UK
Their formation story:
(Ross, guitar): “The band came out of a desire to actively contribute to the Glasgow hardcore scene and to do things in a DIY way that meant something to us. Growing up going to shows and seeing bands like By My Hands in tiny rooms had a huge influence on that.
“Scott (drums) and I first met at a show in Glasgow in 2024 and started talking about forming a hardcore band we could build from the ground up. We met Harry (guitar) by seeing him at a few local shows and striking up a conversation, and we connected with Rhys (bass) the same way and through his other band Bloodsport. Nathan (vocals) reached out to Rhys about joining, so we invited him to our next rehearsal. As soon as we got in the room together, it felt natural, and he joined on the spot.
“The best thing about the lineup is that it happened organically, just by being in the same rooms, going to local shows, and supporting other bands in the scene. Once everything was locked in, the band finally felt real. For us, it’s about being part of a community, having fun playing the music we love, and doing it in rooms full of people we hold close.”
Their sound in their own words:
(Rhys, bass): “Everyone in the band brings their own influences and writing style to the table, but we’d describe ourselves as metallic hardcore. We draw inspiration from the GHC scene and Rucktion Records—bands like Broken Oath, Divide, Knuckledust, and Special Move—as well as NYHC, both old and new, such as Merauder and Backtrack.
“We’re more interested in grooves that make a room move over anything flashy or overly technical. We try to keep things simple, heavy, and honest, and we hope that comes through in the music.”
Latest release info:
(Nathan, vocals): “This EP is a collection of the first tracks we wrote together as a band. It came together naturally as we found our feet and learned how to play to each other’s strengths. We’re really proud of it as a debut - it feels like a true snapshot of where we’re at right now.
“Recording wise, our friend Chris Horne tracked the drums, Harry recorded guitars and bass, and Rhys handled the vocals. It was mixed and mastered in Oxnard, California by Vince Amador (Dead Heat, Room Eleven) who we were able to get in touch with through mutual friends that we made playing with Torena last March - we couldn’t be happier with the result.
“Lyrically, each track is different, but they all reflect how things feel right now, both personally and in the wider world. The EP touches on how fucked things are politically and socially, being stuck in systems that don’t care about you, and also the strange feeling of things improving after being so used to everything going wrong. There are themes of cutting off people who drag you down, breaking free from bad cycles, and, most importantly, holding onto real friendships and trying to be the best versions of ourselves. It all comes from a place of wanting to survive, grow, and not let a messed up world—or toxic people—define who you become.”
Future plans:
(Scott, drums): “We’ve got a lot of shows booked outside of Scotland this year, some announced and some still under wraps. We played the EHHC Foodbank Fundraiser on January 10th, which was an incredible example of what hardcore can do for the wider community. At the end of January we’ll be in Belfast with Grandslam and Lost to Life, then in Stoke in March with Bathed In Sin and Prozpekt.
“Beyond that, we’ve got more shows lined up that we can’t talk about just yet, but we’re hyped for them to be announced. We’re also planning to keep writing as much as possible and spending time together as a band, hanging out and going to shows. All being well, we’ll be releasing more music later this year.”
What other bands from their region should we check out?
(Harry, guitar): “There are too many to mention! Bloodsport, Shot Down In May, Grandslam, Mind Invasion, Test of Patience, Heads on Pikes, Bathed In Sin, No Known Weakness, Righteous Mob, Allmylife, Exile and Harm who are a new band out of Edinburgh, all the members are younger than 18. The youth is in safe hands.
“Special shoutouts to Prozpekt from Middlesbrough in the North East of England and Combat Evolved from the Wirral - please check them out if you can and go see them if they play near you.”
Lights Out on social media: Instagram
