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Rising from the UK underground, York-based duo GARROW HILL (formed by lifelong friends Stewart King and P.G. Branton) return with a new release that builds on everything they’ve been developing over the years: heavy, dark, and firmly on their own terms. The band have just dropped their engulfing new single and video, Eaten by Crows, which will be followed by their five-track stunning EP, IX, out on Friday, 31st July. Get to know the band, below:
What are the origins of the band? How long have you been playing together?
PG: Garrow Hill grew out of another band we’d previously been involved in and began life as a collaboration between myself (Drums/Vocals) and Stew (Lead Vocals/Guitar). We later expanded to a four-piece so we could take the songs out live, which led to a successful run of shows in the early days.
After that, we made the decision to return to being a duo. The direction of the band as a four-piece wasn’t quite aligning with the vision we had for it, and we wanted to create something more focused and authentic to us.
As for myself and Stew, we’ve actually been writing music together since our early teens. We met at school in the 90s and have been collaborating in one form or another ever since.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Garrow Hill?
PG: Heavy riffs, melody, atmosphere, and songs that hopefully stay with you long after they’ve finished.
We’re not the easiest band to pigeonhole, and we quite like that. We’re not interested in chasing trends. We love music that creates a sense of place and identity, whether that’s Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ghost, Metallica, Nirvana, or Alice In Chains.
Garrow Hill sits somewhere between dark/hard rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock, with one foot in everyday life and the other in something a little stranger.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
PG: Our first Garrow Hill gig was quite a while ago now, but as musicians we’ve got a lot of live experience behind us, from sweaty local venues in the 90s through to some much larger stages over the years.
There are always nerves somewhere in the background, but they tend to disappear the moment the first song starts. There’s a huge difference between hearing songs in a rehearsal room and seeing them connect with an audience. That’s when they really come alive.
Stew: As Garrow Hill, it was pretty cool. We’d had plenty of live experience by that point, and there was a lot of support from local friends and music fans, so it was mostly about enjoying the moment.
Our first gig together, though… that’s a different story. Let’s just say it involved a Spider-Man mask, a setlist that barely stretched to three songs, and the kind of chaotic energy you only get when you’re starting out. Absolute carnage, but the good kind.
What are you working on at the moment that people can check out?
Stew: Our debut single, Eaten By Crows, is out now and has been picking up some great support, including airplay from BBC Introducing, Total Rock, and Amazing Radio.
At the same time, we’re continuing work on our upcoming EP, IX, while building towards live performances later in the year.
We’re also creating artwork, visual pieces, and stories around the music because we’ve always loved bands that build an identity around their songs rather than simply releasing tracks into the void.
Regarding a similar audience, which band do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
PG: We could see ourselves fitting comfortably alongside bands like This House We Built or Glamour of the Kill. There’s a strong melodic thread running through what they do that would probably resonate with our audience as well.
Being based in York, we sometimes find ourselves looking slightly further afield for opportunities. The local scene is healthy, but tends to lean more towards tribute acts, acoustic performers, and singer-songwriters, so cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, and Manchester offer a broader range of venues for the kind of music we play.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Stew: Pupil Slicer are doing something really interesting right now. They’ve got that fearless, boundary-pushing energy where every track feels like it’s trying to tear the walls down. It’s heavy and chaotic, but there’s real artistry behind it. We’d love to see them reach an even bigger audience.
What frustrates you about the music business?
PG: Probably the expectation that musicians now need to be creators, marketers, videographers, editors, and social media managers before anyone even hears the music.
We understand why those things matter, but it’s easy for artists to spend more time feeding platforms than creating the work those platforms are supposed to promote.
The challenge is finding a balance without losing sight of why you started making music in the first place.
What are your first musical memories? And what lightbulb moment made you say, “I want to do that”?
PG: I don’t know if it was a lightbulb moment exactly, but I remember being fascinated by drums before I was truly obsessed with music. Rhythm always seemed to grab my attention. I eventually discovered Iron Maiden after hearing one of their songs on a compilation tape, and when I listened to Powerslave, particularly Nicko McBrain’s drumming, everything suddenly clicked into place.
It felt less like a lightbulb moment and more like an epiphany!
Stew: I remember being about eleven years old and handing over the money from my paper round to my mum so she could pick up a different Iron Maiden album for me each week on her lunch break.
Every Friday felt like Christmas. One week it would be The Number of the Beast, the next Piece of Mind, then 7th Son. Experiencing those albums for the first time was pretty special.
That’s probably what transformed me from someone who messed around on a guitar into someone who genuinely wanted to start a band.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
PG: The last major event we attended together was Download Festival. Seeing Limp Bizkit and Avenged Sevenfold on the same bill was certainly memorable and made for a fantastic weekend.
Outside of the bigger events, we also try to support as many local bands as possible around York and North Yorkshire whenever we get the chance.
Stew: More recently, I went down to London Stadium to catch Iron Maiden. They’re one of those bands that never really leave your life, and it was great seeing them still performing at such a high level.
What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
PG: We’re probably more concerned with attention than politics.
Everyone is competing for attention now – musicians, writers, filmmakers, businesses, social media platforms, even friends and family. It can sometimes feel like we’re all being encouraged to consume more and experience less.
The challenge is finding space to slow down and connect with things properly. The albums, books, and films that meant the most to us were never things we consumed in thirty seconds and forgot about ten minutes later.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
PG: I don’t have many guilty pleasures, really. My tastes range from classic rock and metal through to much heavier stuff, from Kiss and Guns N’ Roses all the way to Napalm Death and Entombed.
That said, people are sometimes surprised to hear that I’ve got a soft spot for Fleetwood Mac and Mike Oldfield.
Stew: I’m actually a pretty big Dire Straits fan, which isn’t especially metal, but Mark Knopfler is a phenomenal guitarist, so I don’t feel the need to apologise for it!
Everybody is a fan of something. Who or what are you a fan of?
PG: I’m probably more of a film and book person than a television person. Atmosphere plays a huge role in what we do, so I’ve always been drawn to stories that create a strong sense of place and mood.
I’m a big fan of classic literature, Gothic fiction (Bronte, Poe, Stoker, Wilde, Greene), and films that aren’t afraid to take their time and immerse you in a world. Those influences probably find their way into the music more often than people realise.
Stew: I’ve always had a soft spot for Hong Kong cinema. Recently, I’ve been revisiting a lot of the classic heroic bloodshed films with Chow Yun-fat.
There’s just something iconic about those films and the way they were made. By all accounts, he’s a genuinely good guy in real life, too, which only makes me appreciate them more.
What new music have you enjoyed so far this year?
Stew: It was great hearing Anthrax back with new material. Their latest single has been getting plenty of plays, and it’s definitely got me looking forward to what’s next.
I’ve also spent time revisiting Alter Bridge. Whether it’s new material (self-titled album earlier this year) or older records, they’re one of those bands I always find myself coming back to. Those early albums especially still hit just as hard as they did the first time around.
What does the rest of 2026 hold for Garrow Hill?
PG: More music, more live shows, and continuing to push Garrow Hill forward one piece at a time.
We’re working towards the release of IX, developing new material, and preparing to take the songs out in front of audiences. Ultimately, we want to keep growing steadily, connect with more listeners, and continue creating something that feels authentic to us.
How active are you on social media, and where can people connect with you?
PG: We’re fairly active across social media and enjoy sharing everything from rehearsal footage and new music to artwork, stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the band.
You can find us here:
● Website: garrowhill.com
● Instagram: @garrowhillband
● Facebook: GarrowHill
● YouTube: GarrowHillBand
If you’d like to follow the journey a little more closely, you can also join The Klique through our mailing list at garrowhill.com.
