Interview: No Relief

Photo by Zoe Smith

Coming out of Brighton, UK, No Relief brings a potent blend of metallic hardcore, ignited by powerful riffs and infectious groove. Their latest EP, “Destroy Your World,” just hit the airwaves via Rest Assured Records. Featuring five tracks of raw intensity, the album delves into personal experiences that accompany everyday existence.

We sat down with the band and spoke about their latest EP, the inspiration behind the songs, their sound, and other fun stuff. Enjoy!

The new EP, “Destroy Your World,” explores personal experiences and mental struggles. How did these themes influence the songwriting process for this release?

Ethan and Jonny write stuff on notes on their phones when they come up with stuff, they then work on vocal hooks together and themes of the songs. 

“Throne Of Lies” kicks off the EP with a powerful punch. Can you share the inspiration behind this track and how it sets the tone for the rest of the album?

“Ritual Oppressor” opened with arguably our most well received track “No Relief”, we wanted a track in the same vein that would open DYW in the same manor. As soon as the song was written instrumentally, we knew it was in the race for opening the EP.

The band has described its sound as “metallic hardcore fueled by moshy riffs and immanent groove.” How do you think this combination of elements contributes to the overall sonic identity of No Relief?

NR’s songs celebrate the best bits of hc. The heavy sections, groovy two steps, fast sections and catchy-on the nose vocals. These are elements that we enjoy in hc from our fave bands. We strive to make every track packed with these bits without any filler

Destroy Your World was recorded at Tidalwave and mixed/mastered by Pieter Rietkerk. How did working with these individuals impact the sound and production of the EP?

Tidal have recorded everything NR have done and are close homies of ours. They get involved in the creative process and have amazing input. They are also very calming heads when there’s a disagreement. Pieter again, has mixed and mastered all NR stuff to date. He’s a homie that our guitarist, Jonny has been mates with since college and know ls exactly how to bring our tracks alive. Since going to Pieter and Tidal, more people are using them for their project which is what it’s all about! 

From your previous EP, Ritual Oppressor, to Destroy Your World, how do you see No Relief’s sound evolving, and what aspects of your musical identity do you feel have remained constant?

As much as we love and respect ritual oppressor, we feel that we now have a direction for our sound. RO was has been great in putting our name out there and did better than we thought it would ever do. However DYW is a more true reflection on how we would like our sound to go in the future. We are already in the works writing new tracks and DYW has helped establish this vision.

No Relief has already shared the stage with notable bands like Terror, Madball, Knuckledust, etc. How have these experiences influenced the band’s performance style and approach to live shows?

Playing with household hc names has been surreal. Seeing these bands that have been in the game for a long time still spreading the hc ethic is inspiring. We have Learned a lot from these bands in relation to their live presence but also the vibe that their sets give off. There’s nothing like it When an entire room is captivated by an energetic set.

The EP features five intense and angsty songs. Is there a particular track that holds special meaning for the band or one that you’re especially excited for fans to experience?

The track Day By Day is probably collectively the bands favourite tracks from DYW. This track was worked on instrumentally by Oscar and Jonny. Proper to DYW instrumentally it was all Jonny. Oscar joined the band halfway through the writing process of this ep and has helped with arrangements/ideas. Same with our new drummer, Marley. This track embodies this creative shift in the band and is something that we are eager to discover further. Having a fresh perspective has elevated these tracks to what they are on record.

Brighton has a vibrant music scene. How has being part of this community influenced No Relief’s growth and sound?

We wouldn’t be anywhere if it wasn’t for the support the scene in Brighton shows us. The local promoters such as burning water, BN1 Collective and Stray for life have been working their assess off since way before we existed and have created the scene we know today. The fact that we get to support bands like madball, terror and knuckle dust on our doorstep is a privilege and is all because of their hard work. Brighton is also the home to a whole host of hc bands from the whole spectrum. All of these bands have had an impact on NRs sound. There’s usually at least a show every week, naturally you get an influence from this.

The EP’s title, “Destroy Your World,” suggests a sense of confrontation. Can you elaborate on the message or statement you hope listeners take away from the record?

Destroy your world reflects the current social and economical affairs happening and continue to happen. It can also be interpreted as anger towards a singular person which is also covered in the EP. We felt that this title all encompasses the lyrical content of the ep and is also relatable.

No Relief has a distinctive blend of hardcore and metal influences. Are there specific bands or artists that have been particularly influential in shaping the band’s sound?

Instrumentally the band pays homage to bands such as soul search, king nine, Bitter end, Terror and Madball. These bands collectively were gateway bands for us and write some of the best shit. This is where NR get their blend of snappy vocal hooks along with fast guitar sections, groovy beats and heavy parts. 

The EP addresses day-to-day struggles, adding a personal touch to the lyrics. How does the band balance conveying personal experiences while also making the music relatable to a broader audience?

The lyrics touch on the monotonous routine of most of the week and trying to find an escape with this. It also touches on personal struggles and loss. All of which are relatable. If the lyrics aren’t directly relatable to the listener, they can be interpreted another way.

“Living Hell” closes the EP on a powerful note. What emotions or themes do you want listeners to carry with them after experiencing this track and the entire record?

Living hell is again related to the previous Q, it touches on the mundane aspects of life while living somewhere so picturesque as Brighton and the south coast. It’s a city that comes with a very visible class division and other economical issues. We also wanted to end the ep on the heaviest note possible, we feel this was achieved sonically and lyrically

The EP is released via Rest Assured Records. How did the partnership with the label come about, and how has it influenced the trajectory of No Relief?

We met Brad from RA at 3 swords fest in 2022. After we played our set he came to us and mentioned that he wanted to put our next release out. Brad has been the one who has worked hard sorting all the physicals and release admin out. He’s given us an opportunity we didn’t even comprehend when we started. Big up Brad RAR! 

As you embark on the UK tour in March, what are the band’s goals and expectations for connecting with fans and leaving a lasting impression on the audience?

Just doing what we did last year but reaching new audiences is our aim. Playing shows is what we all look forward to so we’re looking forward doing more of this in 2024. We’re excited to play the new tracks and see the reaction. 

Source: thoughtswordsaction.com