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UK alt-rock outfit The Bitter Pills are set to release their self-titled debut album on Friday 25th September, delivering a hard-hitting collection fuelled by heavy riffs, raw intensity and relentless energy. The band continue to showcase the record with When We’re Gone, a brooding and emotionally charged single accompanied by an official video, out now. Discover The Bitter Pills – Chris on drums and Nico on guitar and vocals – below.
What are the origins of The Bitter Pills? How long have you been playing together?
We’ve been playing together since our early teens in several different bands, but around 2024 we really started to find our way more and more as The Bitter Pills.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe The Bitter Pills?
Energy and chaos from start to finish — and lots of loud noises!
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?
I believe our first gig together was in Eastbourne. Chris Cooper stepped in to help because our previous drummer was unavailable, so kudos to him for learning all the songs so quickly!
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
Well, we have our self-titled debut album, The Bitter Pills, coming out on 25th September! It’s been a long time in the making, so we’re incredibly excited to finally get the whole thing out there.
You can pre-order the album now via our website: www.thebitterpills.com
Regarding a similar audience, which band at the minute do you feel you would be best suited to open for?
Unpeople would be great, but I think they’re about to become HUGE, as they’re currently on tour with Don Broco and Royal Blood, haha.
Tigercub would be amazing too. We’re big fans.
Excluding yourselves, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
There are a few we’d like to mention, actually:
Snake Eyes
Bangkitan
Reverse Cowboys
It’s April Again
White Lupara
Cartoon Cartel
What frustrates you about the music business?
Where do we start?!
I’d say, in short, quantity over quality is a big issue in the music industry now — and attention-seeking rather than focusing on making genuinely good music.
What are your first musical memories? And what lightbulb moment made you say, “I want to do that”?
Nico: For this band, I had just come out of another sort of band where I’d been doing similar stuff previously, and I wanted to break away from the rockabilly sound I’d been doing. Then I heard Reignwolf and instantly knew the sort of sound I wanted.
For music in general, hearing bands like The Living End and Tiger Army, along with lots of 1950s artists, really paved the way for my musical journey.
Chris: I had also just come out of another band, and Nico hounded me for ages to come and play, so I was like, “Oh, go on then!”
I think seeing Travis Barker playing the drums upside down was my lightbulb moment.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Nico: Beartooth at the O2. It was very good.
Chris: Can’t remember, to be honest!
What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
With our latest single, “When We’re Gone,” we really wanted to raise awareness around men’s mental health and encourage people to be more open and vocal about it.
The song is a little different from some of our other material, but it shows another side of the band and some of the diversity we have in our sound.
The album in your collection or Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
Parallel Lines by Blondie on vinyl.
Everybody is a fan of something. Who or what are you a fan of?
Hell of a question!
Gym, football, caffeine, loud music, and being a dad. I’m a bit of a nerd too, so I’m into lots of comics, films, etc., etc.
What new music have you enjoyed so far this year?
Tigercub — Nets to Catch the Wind is probably my favourite album of the year.
What does the rest of 2026 hold for you?
We’ll actually be touring around the UK later this year in support of the album.
That’s exclusive news, so 😮
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We’re on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, and we’re very active on all of them, so be sure to come and check out all of our stuff.
We also have our website: www.thebitterpills.com
Photo credit: Lee London
