Artist: False Heads
EP: Gutter Press
Release: 10th March 2017

Marcus Halsey

In just over a year since their debut single the East London based three piece have made quite a stir; having received praise and support from the likes of Clash and Q magazines to Kerrang radio and Iggy pop.

Earlier this week we interviewed the front-man Luke Griffiths for the second time, which you can find further down this page.

2017 sees False Heads return with two new tracks and some old favourites on their EP ‘Gutter Press’ due for release 10th March 2017.

Opening track ‘Twenty Nothing’ is the first of the two new tracks on the EP. It has topical lyrics about the ‘Gutter Press’ misrepresenting and sensationalising the truth and although to me the intro is reminiscent of Blur’s ‘Song 2’ the track is far from that pop-rock offering. Having more in common with the likes of The Buzzcocks, this is most definitely a punk track hailing back to the roots of the genre. The band have just released a video to accompany the track which can be seen here. With shower scenes and live performance clips what more could you ask for.

2: ‘Thick Skin’ is another quintessential punk track. A raucous mix of gritty riffs, heavy hitting drums and repetitive lyrics that will have you coming back ‘again and again’.

3: ‘Weigh In’ was previously released in October 2016 and was reviewed by Teri last year. You can read her review here. I have to say it is probably one of my favourite tracks on the EP.
Review: False Heads – Weigh In (October 2016)

4: ‘Slew’ having Iggy Pop comment that this was his favourite track by the band is high praise indeed. Having listened to this track I can fully understand his reasoning. Heavy hitting riffs with some imaginative lyrics. ‘Break bread with cannibals’ is up there with ‘That’s like hypnotizing chickens’ in my opinion. I can imagine the band and crowd going crazy when this is played live.

5: ‘Comfort Consumption’ The second of the new tracks is a completely different beast to the rest of the EP. Although a slower more poignant piece with flanged guitar and relaxed percussion. The second half of the song is just fantastic. Taking on a rougher distorted feel with some excellent guitar work it retains some semblance of defiance you expect from a punk band.

You could say that that False Heads are retro punk for the millennial generation, but I feel that their appeal expands beyond it. Either way you can expect great things from the trio this year.

False Heads are:
Luke Griffiths (vocals/guitar)
Jake Elliott (bass)
Barney Nash (drums)

Teri Morris

Even with very short notice, Luke Griffiths kindly took some time out of his busy schedule to be interviewed by me. Here it is;

You have been playing lots of gigs lately. What was it like touring in the north again?

It was great. We got a great response and was surprised people came out to actually see a band that isn’t from the North is always cool. Always cool to visit other cities and it’s wicked when you get a good response from different cities. Dive NQ was my favourite.

Haha, I told you that no other venues would suite you better than Dive! (*Because he loves diving into the crowd during their shows)
Your debut EP “Gutter Press” is going to be released very soon. How do you feel about that?

Yeah really good. It’s got probably my favourite collection of tunes on it we’ve got at the minute. Songs have been recorded and knocking about for a while so it’s good to finally get it out. Probably not bad timing either considering the decline of the media and the rise of fucking clickbait from news sources that used to be credible.

Awesome! Previously you released one single and two double singles, I believe. “Gutter Press” includes 3 of these singles along the new tracks. What is the reason for you making this EP?

It’s a collection of songs we feel best represent all of the elements of our music. The punk aspect, the riff aspects, the melodic aspects and the melancholy side to it as well. We felt like it’s a collection of songs that sort of cover the bases. From ‘Weigh In’ to ‘Comfort Consumption’. We aren’t a band that does the same song over and over again and we wanted an EP that showed that.

I think I can see that. Do you normally write about what’s in your mind relating to something happening around you and from your own experiences?

That’s all I write about really. I don’t get the point of writing about anything else. Fucking useless cunts like Little Mix, Sam Smith and lots more writing mundane lyrics about exes over and over and over and over again in a really boring, obvious way. Same old boring shit that’s so forced. But that’s the problem when you have 3 song writers for one shit pop song. I write a lot and lyrics can take me ages to finish, because lyrics have always been really important to me. The sound of the words melodically and how they resonate with you.

I get your point! Tell us about your new single “Twenty Nothing”? 

It’s the lead single of the EP. It’s the song where the lyric ‘Gutter Press’ comes from, so we thought it was apt for the lead single. It combines all the elements I was talking about earlier. It’s got heavy guitars, then chilled out verses and a pop hook over a riff so again I thought it was right for the lead single. We’re all ‘Twentynothings’ now as well I guess haha shit is pretty bleak at the minute really.

Okay. Also can you describe another new song “Comfort Consumption”?

Erm, the verses about being utterly miserable and not being able to relate with most people at some shit fucking club in Bognor Regis called Sheiks, and the ending ‘I don’t want peace…’ was sort of a mantra of like, don’t accept all that shit you’re meant to just fall into in life, take a risk and try something you’ll probably fail at. And, also it’s not good to surround yourself that just sort of sleepwalk through life.

It must have been when you were a student away from home and found yourself!
Well, you have a big show coming up in London to support the EP release. Anymore shows coming up?

Nottingham at Southbank Bar on March 9th. March 11th is the London show at Nambucca. March 17th in Brighton at Bleach, and we’ve got some more to announce soon as well as some festivals.

Great! See you at the show!
Last words?

Not just yet! I’ve got a few years left haha

Haha, didn’t mean that! Thank you for your time. Good luck!

Thank you Teri. See you soon.

To find out more about False Heads, visit their sites using the links below;

Official Website: http://www.falseheads.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FalseHeads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/falseheads
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/false-heads/id901483155
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/falseheads
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tZaXwpCHEhoVEBQuRI4vu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FalseHeads
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FalseHeads/videos