Why Harrogate is a metal capital of rock music - and it's not all Blood Youth

Harrogate may be a place of tea rooms and flower beds but, surprisingly, it’s always had a healthy metal and punk rock scene, usually embracing the spirit of independence and DIY culture.
New release - The cover of Harrogate bands Fastixs new EP.New release - The cover of Harrogate bands Fastixs new EP.
New release - The cover of Harrogate bands Fastixs new EP.

Ever since Acid Reign emerged from the town in the late 1980s to make waves, across Britain, the town has produced independent music nights devoted to metal and punk on a regular basis, from Bottom of the Bottle to North Yorkshire Hardcore.

Original bands have emerged from the Harrogate district, too, often with politically-charged subject matter.

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And they usually record in the town, utilising small local studios.

The latest is called Fastix who are aiming to follow in the footsteps of Blood Youth, Kerrang! favourites who now sell out venues across the UK.

In fact, lead vocalist Ethan Treasons says this young band were inspired, partly by fellow Harrogate act, Blood Youth.

Ethan said: “Blood Youth were really the first local band I’d discovered that were making legitimate waves, back around when their Closure EP came out.

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“Knowing a band from Harrogate could tour all over the country, play Download Festival and everything else they’ve achieved, gave me and all my friends at the time so much faith that we could also do that. And any time I’ve met any of them they’re all incredibly down to earth and cool guys.

“It’s really something to strive for.”

Fastix’s line-up currently includes Ethan Treason, vocals (18); James Brooke, bass (19); and Richard Preenson, guitar (18).

They are currently what is sometimes called ‘between drummers’.

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The band formed in early 2019 and released their debut self-titled EP in April last year.

Their new EP called No Future 2020 has just been and been released on the DIY record label set up recently in Leeds called Disuse Records.

Ethan said: “Musically, we’re influenced by ‘80s American punk bands like Minor Threat, Inside Out and Gorilla Biscuits, in addition to Rage Against the Machine.

“Lyrically, we’re generally politically driven by things such as climate change.”