Southampton mosh metallers Realm of Torment may not take themselves too seriously but the truth is they should be considered right up there with the likes of Renounced, xRepentancex and more recently, Cauldron and Killing Me Softly, as one of the very best (real) metalcore bands the UK has produced over the past decade or so.
They’ve got three outstanding full-lengths to their name, the first of which marked its 10th anniversary this year, and have just recently added to their catalogue with the vicious Endless Tragedy EP which delivers on all the limb-spinning violence one has come to expect from the band while pulling in a few new influences to keep things fresh and evolving.
Guitarist Jonny had lots to say about the new record, as well as some thoughtful reflections on the journey and legacy of the band so far, and how the UKHC scene has and hasn’t changed in the 15+ years he’s been involved in it.
Could you tell me a bit about how the new EP came together? What was the writing process like and was there anything you especially wanted to do differently?
Bringing it together was pretty long-winded and during a difficult time. I live in a different city to the rest now, so initial writing was done over a bunch of home recorded video/audio, before a lot of trips to and from London to record. At the start of 2024, Andy (drums) sent us a minute-long drum track idea he made, which we expanded on (“21:53 Till 01:27”).
I also then came up with two other new song ideas simultaneously to this. From here I would send what I got to Jorba (guitar), where we made a few updates with his riffs/comparing different versions. In fact for “Same Skin” me and Jorba spoke before any riffs were made saying ‘let’s do a song with a bit of a Suffokate – “Slaughter Your Enemies” feel.
The second half of the year Andy became seriously ill for some months, meaning we couldn’t move on to doing any of this stuff in person together in a practice room for literally 4/5 months. We didn’t want to wallow in this shit time though and wanted to focus on something positive, so decided to go forward coming up with the idea for the EP.
We took the songs to Monolith Studios in London to iron them out with the GOAT Charlie Wilson [Graven Image, Bun Dem Out, TRC] before recording.
Style-wise we wanted it to be in the parameters of our typical sound, but took a lot of influence from Bury Your Dead – You Had Me At Hello/Cover Your Tracks with some of their type of top string groove riffs and simpler more ignorant song structures. Tried to inject that similar in your face raw Eighteen Visions – Until the Ink Runs Out feel in the way riffs/songs were written as well, listening to that a lot at the time.
Then we had the idea for Beat ‘Em Down of what if we tried a set with three guitars as he had more time to learn songs we’ve done since he left. I knew it would be good but we were surprised at how good it sounded in that room. We had a chat in the car driving home and everyone was down straight away basically. So here we are. Last weekend we discovered on a small stage though it absolutely sucks there is no room now [laughs].
What was it like playing with a band as legendary and influential as Undying last year?
This was the only show we played during Andy being ill last year and one of the few things that would’ve made us play without him during that time. To be on a flyer with them is crazy cool, they have always been a big influence on some of our riff writing/style.
So even if Luke Negative Frame didn’t complete all his drum homework to fill-in, it was sick for Theo [of Real Life Presents] to have us on. On the other hand, it also sucked, playing a show like this when we all had our minds on the other stuff going on behind the scenes.
Do you ever think about how you guys have become influential in your own right, especially on younger UK metalcore bands?
As much as we can both ironically and un-ironically be full of ourselves, I don’t think we feel like we have influenced much, to be honest, in terms of "let’s do a band like Realm/sound like Realm," for example.
However, I would like to hope moving towards 13 years as a band (plus doing Rage Records) has hopefully provided enough presence of metalcore around UKHC that young people don’t give a shit that people who rinse Youth of Today or only whatever hardcore trend is cool right now, feel like they can make whatever they want. Never trust someone who doesn’t listen to punk? Don’t trust someone who says "panic chords" in 2025.
How do you feel about the current state of UKHC? Does it feel much different now to when you started?
I’ve been going to hardcore shows and involved since like 2009, so 16 years. Was listening and paying attention from the internet a couple years before while too young to get to much. In the ever-revolving door of hardcore I’ve seen untraceable numbers of people drop out, drop in, drop out, pretend they’re about it when it’s Outbreak time, but I would say for the most part actual hardcore shows still feel how I remember, so the real feeling at the heart of it is still there in person.
The biggest change is probably the Instagram/TikTokification of hc. Even though we had MySpace, Facebook and whatever else over the years, what’s going on online feels like it has way bigger influence on things. The positivity of getting to share music/shows to large numbers and connections being made across the world is insanely helpful.
However, it also attracts people who don’t have a clue but will comment on everything like they have a clue, or people who are overly-invested in things that will never actually affect them because they aren’t actually involved in the real life UK hardcore scene and don’t go to real shows. If you want a say in something, you need to be there. Then after that don’t live your whole hc experience through Insta stories.
Musically UKHC is in a cool place with people starting all sorts of diverse bands, with people who came from hardcore getting success making other music. Not quite to the same volume as the MySpace days, but there being a presence of various metalcore all over the country is really cool personally - fuck it we all know it is Realm’s doing.
Despite this there is also definitely clear divides between certain "sub-genres" of hardcore or styles or "scenes," where some people don’t want anything to do with this band or this group of people cos of X or X genre is cringe or whatever pointless reason.
Realm has played shows [with everyone] from Youth of Today, to I Set My Friends On Fire, to All Out War next week and everything in between everywhere with everyone. Bands stop taking yourself so seriously and be about it all.
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How gassed are you for the Asia tour later this year?
We're currently getting our bits organised to look at booking flights soon, unbelievable really. Only 3 months out now, it felt so long ago when we were first put in contact with people. Even hearing that people have known us in some places since TOHAD is mad. Personally, Thailand is my favourite place on earth, a few of the others have also always had our North Star set that Realm has to play in Japan. The ultimate dreams.
I’m sure it’s gonna eventually come around and go in the flick of an eye, but I’d think for us all it’s going to be a life highlight, that this band of all bands is going to do what we’re going to do. Worked our asses off for something like this, to be honest. If you’re in a band that doesn’t have the whole scene up in arms, here’s your proof that it can be done.
Do you have any other hopes or plans for the future of the band?
Now that we are back up and running the current chat is early 2026 give or take to maybe do a short split, 1-2 songs. We also actually had a band practice the other week where talks/disagreements of what a Realm album #4 would/should/needs to sound like at this point.
If anyone actually cares send us a DM and tell us. Apart from that we just keep on trucking and doing what we can in between what real life allows/evolving adult responsibilities. I’d also like one other push to a lifelong goal of Australia, we will see.
Thanks for the interview. Shoutout UYC, TCS, BBMA, MMW, Stop Crying, Brigad3, Third Impact, Loudmouth, Monolith Studios. Go see Emancipation, Life’s Forbidden Sin and Fractured at a show.
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Endless Tragedy is available now via The Coming Strife/Rage Records (UK), Bound By Modern Age Records (EU), Third Impact Records (USA), Stop Crying Records/Loudmouth Records (AUS), and Brigad3 Records (SEA).
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