WE ARE LEATHERNECK - a hard rock southern groove quintet hailing from Castleford, UK - formed in 2013.
Fusing the sounds of bands like Black Stone Cherry, Down and Monster Truck - Leatherneck offer monster riffs, catchy vocal hooks, head banging rhythm section and a signature sound that should only be played LOUD!
Leatherneck are fronted by Nic Johnson on vocals, riffs are provided by Joe Dobson and Aron Armitage, big Swifto brings the driving bass and Andy Watson on the sticks.
We released our first EP titled ‘Dust and Memories’ in January 2014 which consisted of 3 tracks. Later that year in July, we released our second EP ‘Medusa’ - recorded at Pro Two Studios in Castleford. We quickly set out to promote these records playing live shows, which included competing in Bloodstocks ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ battle of the bands at The Riverside in Selby.Leathernecks' signature sound and energetic live show saw us going all the way through the competition to steal that coveted place on the Bloodstock Open Air 2014 New Blood Stage.
2015 saw us release our 3rd EP - titled simply MMXV, which serves to demonstrate the evolution of our sound, delivering those catchy vocal hooks, and signature riffs that fans have come to expect from Leatherneck. Our slight change in direction has been met with a greater interest from local radio, with BBC Introducing showcasing our music on multiple occasions across their many regional unsigned shows.
In 2016 we are looking to build upon this success, and hit more venues than ever before.
Come see a Leatherneck show for guaranteed heavy groove that bursts with energy, fun and adventure.No two Leatherneck shows are ever the same and we are sure that our music will keep your head bouncing and make you want to throw yourself into the pit.
See you at the front!
REVIEWS
"Leatherneck are a no nonsense, balls to the wall groove metal 5 piece from Castleford in the UK. These gentlemen deal exclusively in chunky riffs, colossal vocal lines, and grooves that could stop a charging Rhinoceros in it’s tracks!
The band was formed in early 2011 and big things have quickly happened for them. Following their debut EP “Dust & Memories”, the band went on to win the 2014 Yorkshire area heat of the prestigious Metal 2 The Masses battle of the bands, and with it a place at Bloodstock Open Air 2014 alongside the likes of Down, Emperor and Megadeth! Just before gracing the stage at Bloodstock, Leatherneck put out their second EP, entitled “Medusa”, and to be blunt, it’s absolutely monstrous!
The tone is set straight from the off as opening track “World Of Fire” smacks the listener in the face like a freight train with a twin rhythm guitar attack and a thunderous drum beat. Riffs, riffs and more riffs are the order of the day. Plenty of beefy, chugging riffs that progress seamlessly. The bread and butter feel Leatherneck go for is always maintained, but the raw, edgy vocals of Nic Johnson keep things fresh and the fat, thundering drums maintain such infectious grooves that it never even hints at becoming repetitive.
The pace drops a touch to start second track “Drink” as the guitars throw in some tasty harmony work before normal service is resumed by way of fist pumping riffage which is beautifully complimented by a doom/stoner feel during the chorus. The riff at the start of title track “Medusa” lets you know something huge is coming, and the song doesn’t disappoint! Probably the most infectious and catchy song on the EP, look out for a colossal chorus that you could quite easily picture tens of thousands of people chanting along with whilst punching the air!
The EP is brought to a close by the uncompromisingly rifftastic “Coyote”, which has a distinct feel of Down to it. The Down, Clutch and Alice In Chains influence is fairly evident throughout in truth, but these lads definitely do things their own way. Leatherneck takes the meat and potatoes from the bare foundations of metal, and puts an energetic twist to it, whilst turning the volume up from 11 to 11 and a half! If riffs, grooves and good time metal are your thing, you absolutely have to check out Leatherneck. A tremendous EP and I expect big things from these lads in the future. You heard it here first!"
Tom’s pick of the album: Medusa www.themetalreview.com
"This EP (Dust and Memories) by Leatherneck is a 3-track album that would be called rock at its softest moments. The UK-formed band surprised me to be honest. I didn’t think I would get something like this in an EP. The guitars are so good it’ll be able to attract all types of rock fans (and at least some metal bands) to the sound of the guitars mixed with the drums and the singer’s lyrics that carry a certain weight to them. Though some people might listen to them and say, “Well their last track isn’t appealing to me. That’s a bunch of bullshit what you said a minute ago,” the last track, “Tombstone”, is one of those tracks that I think every great rock or even metal album needs: a song that starts off fairly soft but then escalates into something more heavy and fast-paced. Bands have been able to do that and pull it off easily for years (excellent example: Killswitch Engage). Leatherneck has pulled that off in my opinion, and they pulled it off very well. When they release a full album, whenever that may be, you bet your ass I’ll be covering that. It’ll be worth almost any amount of money they ask me to pay if they keep on this course with their work." HEAD-BANGER REVIEWS