Lotus Eater
Lotus Eater (formerly As Daylight Fades) were a Scottish heavy metal band from Glasgow. Playing a style that puts a heavy emphasis on rhythm and downtuning, they have been cited by publications such as NME and Metal Hammer as helping to lead the new wave of heavy music in Britain alongside groups like Loathe and Holding Absence.[1][2]
History edit
On 17 February 2015, they opened for Incite at their Glasgow headline show.[3] On 22 January 2016, they released their single "Novaturient", which was accompanied by a music video.[4] On 27 May 2016, they released their debut EP Love // Loss.[5] From 24 June to 11 August, they toured the UK in support of the EP.[6]
Jamie McLees' entrance into the band in late 2016 led to a distinctive musical shift into a sound much darker and heavier. Partly because of this, As Daylight Fades changed their name and rebranded into Lotus Eater.[7] On 26 February 2017, they released the single "Dead to Me".[8] 24 March 2017, they released their self-titled debut EP.[9] In July 2018, they signed to Hopeless Records, making them the first UK band to be signed to the label. The announcement was accompanied by the release of the single "Break It" and its music video.[10] On 19 July 2018, they released the singles "Branded" and "Crooked".[7][9] On 31 October 2018, they opened for Neck Deep at their Halloween, sold-out, headline show in Manchester alongside Parting Gift and Strains.[11] In March 2019, they opened for Blood Youth on their UK headline tour, alongside Palm Reader.[12] The band opened for Make Them Suffer on their May 2019 UK tour.[13] From 2–9 June 2019, they toured the UK alongside Modern Error.[14]
On 10 August 2019, they performed at Bloodstock Festival.[15] From 7–17 October 2019, they opened for Issues on their European headline tour.[16] On 29 October 2019, they released the single "Freaks" featuring rapper Freddie Sunshine.[17] In August 2020, founding guitarist Alan Ross left the band after their show at Bloodstock. In the meantime, Jack Dutton (Ex Parting Gift) joined the band as replacement. On 20 November 2019, they released the single "Second to None".[18] The band were featured on Bring Me the Horizon's 24 minutes song "Underground Big {HEADFULOFHYENA}", as a part of their Music to Listen To... album, which was released on 27 December 2019.[19][20][21]
On 12 March 2020, they released the song "Narco", which was accompanied by a music video.[22] During this time, Park and Dutton departed from the band, reforming with a new line-up containing Paul Collins and Aidan Cooper formerly of MTXS. Shortly after this, McCulloch and McLees also left the band for unrelated reasons.
On 26 March 2021, they released a music video for the single "Vermin", which was accompanied by the announcement of a new line-up. In this line-up, Humphrey was the only member that remained, with Collins becoming the band's vocalist and Cooper becoming the guitarist.[23] On 24 June 2021, they released the single "Obliterate", which features Bring Me the Horizon vocalist Oliver Sykes,[24][25] and announced their debut album, Where the Body Goes would be released on 23 July.
On 9 July 2021, two weeks before the release of their debut album, Lotus Eater announced that they were disbanding, following three women's accusations of sexual and physical abuse from Collins being posted in social media. Collins responded by describing the allegations as untrue and defamatory, and stating that he intended to take legal action.[26][27] After splitting up the band pulled the release of the album with Humphrey stating that it "will never see the light of day".
In October of that year, Humphrey announced his new project Love Is Noise in which he is on vocals. Following this, guitarist Aidan Cooper was announced as the new vocalist for the nu-core band, Sunfall.
Musical style and influences edit
The band's music has been categorised by critics as metalcore,[28] technical metal[7] and nu metal,[29] often incorporating elements of technical death metal, grindcore and avant-garde music.[30] They often self-describe their music as simply "gloom".[7] They have cited influences including Meshuggah, Linkin Park and Korn.[30]
Lotus Eater makes heavy use of percussive, groove-driven instrumentation on all instruments. Lyrically, their songs often discuss painful life experiences and mental health issues.[7] Guitars are generally down-tuned.[18] A 2020 article by Kerrang!, described their music as a "cocktail of anger, aggression, despair, violence and feral rage", which Park explained by saying "Being from Glasgow, there’s always that underlying aggression and angst... when you come from here you need to be streetwise and aware of yourself. You need to know who you are and who you’re talking to. It’s a city with one of the highest crime rates proportional to population".[30] Metal Hammer described it as an "amalgam of death core, tech-metal and just outright, unfiltered naked aggression".[31]
As Daylight Fades was described by critics as metalcore[32] and post-rock[7] It made use of elements of technical metal and hardcore punk and was often melodic and emotional.[33] Metal Hammer described them as "powerful, emotive and pure"[32]
Members edit
- Former
- Jordan Barr – vocals, drums (2014–2016)
- Matty Clarke – vocals (2016–2017)
- Roland Walet – bass (2016–2017)
- Cameron Humphrey – drums, backing vocals (2016–2021)
- Jamie McLees – vocals (2017–2020)
- Douglas Park – guitar (2014–2020), bass (2014–2016, 2017–2018)
- Alan Ross – guitar (2014–2019), bass (2014–2016, 2017–2018)
- Craig McCulloch - bass (2018-2020)
- Jack Dutton - guitar (2019-2020, formerly of Parting Gift)
- Paul Collins – vocals (2020–2021, formerly of MTXS)
- Aidan Cooper – guitar, bass (2020–2021, formerly of MTXS)
- Touring
- Adam Jones - bass (2021), of Gutter, formerly of Cutting Teeth)
Timeline edit
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Where the Body Goes |
|
Extended plays edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Love // Loss (as As Daylight Fades) |
|
| Lotus Eater |
|
| Social Hazard |
|
Singles edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Novaturient" | 2016 | Love // Loss |
| "Crooked" | Lotus Eater | |
| "Dead to Me" | 2017 | |
| "Branded" | 2018 | Non-album single |
| "Break It" | ||
| "The Fear" | Social Hazard | |
| "Mother" | 2019 | |
| "Freaks" (featuring Freddie Sunshine) | Non-album single | |
| "Second to None" | ||
| "Narco" | 2020 | Where the Body Goes |
| "Vermin" | 2021 | |
| "Obliterate" (featuring Oliver Sykes) |
As featured artist edit
| Title | Artist | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "Underground Big {HEADFULOFHYENA}" | Bring Me the Horizon featuring Bexey and Lotus Eater | 2019 |
References edit
- ^ Shutler, Ali (19 July 2019). "Lotus Eater: five reasons to love Oli Sykes' favourite new heavy band". NME. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Mills, Matt (4 June 2020). "Loathe: the future of British metal has arrived". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Fox, Lisa (3 March 2015). "INCITE – Live at the Garage Attic in Glasgow, 17th February". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ Shrum, Tony (4 May 2016). "Behind The Scenes of As Daylight Fades "Novaturient" Music Video". Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Shrum, Tony (26 May 2016). "Studio Feature: As Daylight Fades – 'Love // Loss'". Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "As Daylight Fades Come To Terms With 'Love//Loss'". Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Leivers, Dannii (20 August 2018). "New Band Of The Week: Lotus Eater". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Redrup, Zach. "VIDEO: Lotus Eater – Dead To Me". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ a b "REVIEW: Lotus Eater – Self Titled (EP)". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ JAMIESON, BRII. "HOPELESS RECORDS ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF LOTUS EATER, RELEASE NEW SINGLE". RockSound. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Fair, Anna (October 2018). "NECK DEEP ANNOUNCE SLIPKNOT COVER BAND HALLOWEEN SHOW AND OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED TODAY". Alternative Press. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ SAYCE, ROB. "WATCH BLOOD YOUTH'S DARK NEW VIDEO". RockSound. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Redrup, Zach. "NEWS: Make Them Suffer confirm UK tour for May 2019!". Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ SAYCE, ROB. "MODERN ERROR AND LOTUS EATER HAVE ANNOUNCED A TOUR". RockSound. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "The Final Bands Have Been Announced For Bloodstock 2019". Kerrang!. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Issues Release New Single, Announce Album And UK/U.S. Tour Dates". Kerrang!. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Vigil, Dom (29 October 2019). "Lotus Eater Drops New Song "Freaks" with Freddie Sunshine". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ a b Vigil, Dom (20 November 2019). "Lotus Eater Share New Single, "Second To None"". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ Shutler, Ali (6 January 2020). "Bring Me The Horizon – 'Music To Listen To…' EP review: a bold experiment from a unique band". NME. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "BRING ME THE HORIZON SURPRISE-RELEASE NEW ALBUM FEATURING HALSEY, LOTUS EATER, MORE". Revolver. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Bring Me The Horizon Release Surprise EP Featuring Halsey, YONAKA And More". Kerrang!. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ SAYCE, ROB. "WATCH: LOTUS EATER'S DARK NEW VIDEO". RockSound. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ ROGERS, JACK. "LOTUS EATER HAVE RELEASED A DEBAUCHED NEW TRACK 'VERMIN'". RockSound. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Clarke, Patrick (22 June 2021). "Lotus Eater announce new single 'Obliterate' featuring Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes". NME. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ Scarlett, Elizabeth (23 June 2021). "Lotus Eater to drop hellish new single Obliterate featuring Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "Lotus Eater split after allegations against frontman Paul Collins". NME. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Lotus Eater split following allegations against frontman Paul Collins". Kerrang!. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ Matulaityte, Giedre (10 August 2020). "HERE ARE THE 15 BEST METALCORE BREAKDOWNS OF 2020 SO FAR". Alternative Press. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Williams, Martin. "Top 100 Tunes from Scotland in 2019 Part 2 (75-51)". The Herald. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Law, Sam. "Lotus Eater: "People Say I Look Like I Want To Kill Somebody"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Bloodstock Open Air 2019: The Ultimate Review". Metal Hammer. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ a b Pearlman, Mischa (30 May 2016). "New Band Of The Week: As Daylight Fades". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "As Daylight Fades stream new EP Love//Loss". 20 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2021.