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The Larches continue their climb with the release of their biting new single and video, Raxidermy, out now. The band will also unveil their much-anticipated new EP, Nihilistic Majesties, on Friday, 24th July. Connect with the band below:
What are the origins of the band? How long have you been playing together?
We are from Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England, George and Alfie have known each other for years, and it started with them both in a shed around 6 years ago, jamming indie songs. We now sound absolutely nothing like this and never think about it, as it was more of a stepping stone to where we are today. They have both known Sonny for some time through the local scene. We all met up a few years ago at Gig School, which took place during the school holidays at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
The band consists of George Moss (drums), Alfie Murphy (bass), Noah Annandale (vocals), Joel Hardwick (rhythm guitar), and Sonny Evans (lead guitar). We have carved out a distinctive take on sludge—blending blues-infused riffs, intricate song structures, dissonant harmonies, and punishing breakdowns into a sound that we feel is both raw and deliberate. Since forming in 2023, we have evolved rapidly, shifting from our indie rock roots into a heavier, more abrasive territory we now occupy.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe The Larches?
Sludge/ Alt Metal from the Depths of the Tees, no two songs of ours sound the same; however, new listeners should expect erratic punkier sections akin to Soilent Green, Pig Destroyer, and Converge, accompanied by sludgy low-tuned riffs from the same page as Acid Bath and Eyehategod. Not to forget our strenuous use of time signatures, more notably in newer unreleased tracks, which you can hear live.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?
With the first gig of our current lineup, we really felt something click into place, and that gave us a platform to develop our current sound and find our identity.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
We are busy promoting Raxidermy, which is our first single from the EP and was released on June 5th, which is part of our new 5 Track EP Nihilistic Majesties that will be released in the summer. Playing live is always on our agenda, and we have a big EP launch show coming up too on the 24th of July at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre. We are currently working on expanding our catalogue of songs through writing and taking newer influences, so all songs feel unique. We are recording demos, which will be on our Bandcamp in the coming months.
Regarding a similar audience, which band at the minute do you feel that you would be best suited to open for?
Solient Green
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Silenceme are a great upcoming band in the hardcore scene who are good friends of ours, and we can see them going far.
What frustrates you about the music business?
A lot of music popularity is based on optics on social media and trend hopping, as opposed to finding new music for the sake of music.
What are your first musical memories? And what lightbulb moment made you say “I want to do that”?
Sonny- I grew up around music in the house, parents and grandparents all played, and the house was full of guitars and things that made a noise, so to a kid it was all there for me to make a racket that then turned into a racket with melody.
Joel- My Dad listening to Pixies and Led Zep on the nursery runs; he played guitar, and that became my hobby growing up. I now play his Les Paul at gigs.
George- Hearing the Beatles at my grandparents’ house when I was a kid made me want to play instruments, so it just went from there.
Alfie- Learning to play my first stringed instrument when I was like 12, my grandad had an old Mandolin.
Noah- Going to a Panto at Christmas as a child got me into music. I was enchanted by the different components and vocal techniques used. From an early age, I have been involved in shows and plays, expanding my love for music. It’s crazy how my musical scope has changed over the years to what it is now.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Crowbar at Newcastle Students Union
What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
The abuse of corrupt governments, in particular the current U.S administration and the disgusting cover-up of the Epstein Files, illegal wars, and multiple genocides currently being committed. Whilst our music does not inherently reflect a political stance, we are anti-establishment and just want peace amongst all civilisations, and are very passionate about this.
What album do you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
George has a Pig Destroyer/Orchid 7″ split EP where only a few hundred copies were made. They are two of the most influential hardcore bands ever.
Everybody is a fan of something. Who or what are you a fan of?
Beer, Bud & Metal
What new music have you enjoyed so far this year?
Two releases that have impressed us this year are Hum of Hurt by hardcore legends Converge, who have seemed to morph their songwriting once again, and Absence of Love by the aforementioned Silenceme, a phenomenal debut EP for metalcore lovers.
What does the rest of 2026 hold for The Larches?
We have just released our latest single, Raxidermy, and look forward to releasing our newest EP, Nihilistic Majesties, on the 24th of July. We’re not done there, though – as previously mentioned, we are already recording newer material which we cannot wait to release as it shows us further morphing into a sound distinctly our own, sometime later this year.
How active are you on social media, and where can people connect with you?
We are always active, and you can find us on Facebook and Instagram. You can also check out our website www.larchesband.com, We are on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, YouTube, and the usual streaming platforms.
The Larches Promo Shot By Katy Gettings.
