Phoxjaw

Oddball British indie rockers Phoxjaw produce a raw, grimy, driving, and intense yet melodic sound strongly influenced by grunge and early 21st century U.K. post-hardcore. Formed in 2016 in Bristol, England, the band rose from the ashes of defunct acts Day of a Thousand and Black Elephant and comprised vocalist/bassist Danny Garland, guitarists Glenn Hawkins and Josh Gallop (also a studio engineer who produced and recorded all the band's releases), and Josh's brother Kieran on drums. The band introduced themselves in 2017 with the single "Victorian Dolls," which had a grunge/noise rock sound with impassioned vocals. Soon they added keyboardist Huw Allen to bolster their sound, as well as second guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Alexander Share. In late 2018, they released their debut EP Goodbye Dinosaur. They toured extensively, and with each new release added more elements to their music, moving toward an alt-metal/post-hardcore sound with experimental flourishes. Their surreal, self-deprecating sense of humor and bizarre pronouncements made them press favorites and added to their mystique. Hawkins and eventually Allen departed from the band. In 2019 they signed to Hassle Records, which released their second EP A Playground for Sad Adults (both EPs were then packaged together as a two-disc bundle). In 2020, Phoxjaw released their debut album, Royal Swan, which was recorded in a claustrophobic cabin in Wales with input from producer Lewis Johns. Their second album notverynicecream appeared in 2023. ~ John D. Buchanan