Samoans

Cardiff/Camberley

Since forming in 2008, Samoans have established themselves as one of Wales' up and coming talents, creating a collection of intricate, yet melodic songs, drawing influence from a range of different genres to carve out their own distinctive musical direction. They have worked relentlessly, touring the UK several times, gradually building up a dedicated following in their very own niche of progressive rock. The band’s live shows are notorious for their energy, fretboard mastery and exhaustive drumming. ‘Rescue’ was written and conceived after Dan broke his back in December 2012. The band were unable to play together for a number of months but found the situation gave them impetus to explore a new direction and write an album. The isolation of writing and recording demos in the confinement of his flat helped Dan to test a new vocal approach which has given the album a more melodic and considered feel, leaving behind the math-laden sound that tended to prevail in the band’s earlier works and making way for a more expansive sound. Influences come from far and wide, as the band were listening to a lot of Oceansize, Nine Inch Nails, Dinosaur Jr, Mogwai and Reuben whilst writing and recording ‘Rescue’. The album was recorded in just five days by Todd Campbell of Straight Lines (the band’s first ever drummer) at Stompbox Studios in Pontyclun. In September 2017, the band released their long-awaited sophomore album entitled Laika with Kerrang magazine hailing it as "a gentle, charming concept that keep's the band's angular rock on the rightside of interesting KKKK" and The Independent declaring "Laika is a deeply rich and rewarding record". ------------------------------------------ “They manage to instil the same icy, fragile beauty that Chino Moreno and company are famous for throughout.” – Metal Hammer (8/10) “It’s exciting, it’s promising and it’s tireless in its execution.” – Rock Sound (8/10) “This brains-and-brawn quartet create the sort of expansive rock music that made the early 2000’s a great time to be a devotee of loud, immersive music, with I Am Your Density arriving in a stoned haze of Oceansize-sized riffs and Mogwai-echoing introspection.” – Q “Cardiff quartet take My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails and Oceansize and smoosh ‘em together into this, a gorgeous post-rock epic “ – Classic Rock