In the three years since they formed, Swerve have already come a long way. From hosting garage shows and playing until the neighbours threatened to ruin their street cred, through to supporting the likes of The Magic Gang, Flesh, God Damn, Milk Teeth and Birdskulls, the Birmingham quartet have had no trouble earning themselves favour and fans.
And it's not just their performance that's evolved. Initially born from the ashes of a hardcore band, Swerve's sound is miles apart from the rough demos they'd hand out at shows in 2013. Always pushing their capabilities to the maximum, the band have progressed from making rock at it's rawest to something entirely more multi-faceted, picking up praise from NME and BBC Introducing amongst others along the way.
Recorded with Theo Verney at Church Road Studios in Brighton last August, Swerve's debut EP has been a long time coming. The self-titled record will be released on 12" vinyl this February, and will be the first release on the band's own Modern Needs Records on 26th February.
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'Latest track Stratosphere is a self proclaimed 'celestial rock opera' that opens with skygazing chords before Oasis melodies and a face-melting solo complete the British homage.' (NME, 01/10/14)
'"Daydream" recalls Alex G's pulsier moments as it hurtles through the air, but the lo-fi melodies mix with grunge-infused howls and punchy percussion for something refreshingly loud.' (Line of Best Fit, 25/01/16)
'Birmingham natives Swerve let loose a cavalcade of gruelling axe sludge and gullet-scratched howls. The guitars plod with grunge-y lethargy at some points, at others the band channel classic rawk sounds, and at others the desert/stoner chug of six-stringer looms. What remains constant throughout their sound is a penchant for hazy, woozy, smoky odes to sex, drugs and, erm, “spiritual enlightenment.”' (Bearded, 09/11/13)