Tim Hughes talks to a Reading band making waves with incendiary rock and soaring vocals

Mods and rockers, punks and emos, goths and ravers...

Remember the days when youth culture was defined by tribes? Well, Reading rock band Amazons are bringing it back – and they are starting with their own band.

“Our name comes from the Arthur Ransome novel Swallows and Amazons and the mythical tribe of female warriors,” says frontman Matt Thomson, who describes his role as “singing, screaming and strumming the guitar”.

“I gravitated towards it because I like the inclusion of a tribe but also the exclusivity.

“It feels like pop culture tribes like mods and rockers or punks have kinda died out. My generation feels a bit directionless and diluted, so the idea of starting our own gang and giving it that name felt cool.”

One of 2015’s most exciting buzz bands, the Berkshire four-piece have had a scorching summer, their melodic, yet explosive, rock and incendiary live shows going down a storm at gigs and festivals across the land – including their own local bash, Reading.

Now the band, who started the year supporting The Kooks in Germany, are releasing new single Junk Food Forever – the follow up to their acclaimed Something in the Water.

Bristling with catchy riffs, and boasting more hooks than a pirate convention, the record shows the self-styled tribe of Matt, drummer Joe Emmet, bassist Elliot Briggs and guitarist Chris Alderton at their punchiest and most confidently anthemic.

So where does that swagger come from? “I think it’s just something that comes naturally when we make music in a room together,” says Matt. “We experimented with loads of different styles over the years, but just kept on coming back to turning it up to 11 and rocking out. It’s what we find interesting and fun I guess.”

Next Friday the lads bring their grunge-inspired tribal antics to the Bullingdon on Cowley Road.

For Chris in particular, it promises to be a homecoming. The guitarist went to Oxford Brookes to study music technology; skills picked up having a major influence on the band’s sound.

“We love Oxford,” says Matt. “It has so much character and history, something Reading can’t boast on any similar level. Chris had a great time, I believe.

“Oxford could definitely be a future destination to lay some roots down. And there are awesome venues in the city.”

A defining aspect of the band’s sound is Matt’s acrobatic vocals. Where, I ask does that voice come from?

“My parents probably have to take a bit of credit, with the whole ‘giving me life thing’,” he laughs. “I’ve always sung so it’s not something I think about at all. I think I’d still sing if I shattered windows and ruptured ear drums. It’s just what I love to do.”

He goes on: “We take a fairly old school attitude to writing. I’ll spawn some skeleton of a song on my own before I take it to the band and we’ll thrash it out. I usually have parts for each member but they thankfully completely ignore my ideas and do their own thing.

“I very rarely sit down with a preconceived idea of a subject I’m going to write about. I just let it come out. It’s only when there’s a significant amount of lyrics that I’ll work out what was really on my mind.” What comes first, the lyrics or melodies?

“It always slightly differs,” he answers, “But really it’s the melodies that come about more often than not.

“I’ll sing in total gobbledygook and use whatever words spill out of my mouth to base the lyric around.”

The Oxford date is followed by the release, next month, of their debut EP Don’t You Wanna? and a full UK tour.

“We’re super excited,” Matt says. “The best thing about being in a band is playing shows, being on tour and not crawling up the walls at home. Also meeting new people and seeing new places. They are all clichés, but all very true.”

And tucking into junk food – as referenced in the new single?

Matt laughs again. “Me and Elliot recently stopped eating meat, so that’s limited our junk food habits for sure. Our bodies are fairly happy now though.

“A good curry usually goes down well, though, and Elliot accidentally ordered three huge pizzas for himself while on tour in Dresden, bless him. He’s not quite fluent in German yet!”

And what can we expect from the Oxford show? “A lot of hair, sweat and blood!” he smiles. “We try to put on as exciting show as possible. We love bands with presence and energy so that’s what we try to achieve.”

SEE IT
Amazons play the Bullingdon, Cowley Road, on Friday, September 25.
Details from facebook.com/theamazonsforever