Black Foxxes

Black Foxxes are an English indie rock band from Exeter, England. Formed in 2013, the band released a first EP, Pines, in 2014, before signing with Spinefarm Records/Search And Destroy Records the following year. In 2016 they released their debut album I’m Not Well, followed by Reiði in 2018.

Black Foxxes
Black Foxxes as photographed by Connor Laws in 2020
Background information
OriginExeter, England
Genres
Years active2013–present
LabelsSpinefarm Records/Search And Destroy Records
Websitewww.blackfoxxes.com
Members
  • Mark Holley
  • Finn McClean
  • Jack Henley
Past members
  • Tristan Jane
  • Anthony (Ant) Thornton

Their sound has been described as "a mix of '90s grunge and indie rock with early-2000s emo and alt-country elements."[1]

In 2017, Black Foxxes received two nominations at Heavy Music Awards, one for Best Breakthrough Band and one for Best Album Artwork with I’m Not Well.[2]

History

Formation and Pines (2013–2015)

Mark Holley, Tristan Jane and Anthony (Ant) Thornton grew up in Exeter, England, and after being part of various bands of the local music scene, they decided to form Black Foxxes in 2013. Holley recalls: “I’d always known Ant (Thornton – drums) in the scene down here and he had just parted ways with Brotherhood Of The Lake, so I gave him a call and we clicked straight away. He got it, invited Tris (Jane – bass) in for a jam and he played so outrageously loud we had to say yes. Here we are now.”[3]

On 24 November 2014, Black Foxxes released their first EP, Pines. It was recorded in a scout hut near Plymouth and released independently. It is a very personal record, where Holley puts into music his feelings and experiences, mainly focusing on mental health issues and his struggle with Crohn's disease.[4]

The EP caught the interest of different labels and music critics, that praised Black Foxxes as "one of the most exciting bands on the UK rock circuit".[5] Among their fans, BBC Radio 1's host Daniel P. Carter, who was also head of A&R for Search And Destroy Records. He played their songs on BBC Radio 1 all the time and he approached the trio on Twitter, showing interest in signing them.[6]

In January 2015, Black Foxxes performed at the BBC Introducing session in Devon, popular show aimed at the discovery of unsigned new talents.[7]

In July 2015 the band officially joined Search And Destroy Records, in partnership with Spinefarm Records and Universal Music. During the summer, Black Foxxes debuted on stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals, before heading on tour with Deerhunter and Turbowolf.[8]

Black Foxxes continued touring until the end of 2015: in October they played at the Warped Tour festival in London, and in December they joined Lower Than Atlantis, As It Is, and Moose Blood for some shows in the UK.[9]

I'm Not Well (2016–2017)

At the beginning of 2016, the band started working on new music. Bassist Tristan Jane declared: "We hid ourselves away in a rad little studio in the heart of Devon in the middle of nowhere and just got stuck in really. Log fires, artisanal coffee, nothing but fields as far as the eye can see. It was the ideal setting really. And the studio itself was amazing, so that paired with Adrian Bushby our producer extraordinaire was a dream come true for us."[10]

In spring 2016, they joined Milk Teeth and Eat Me for a tour across the UK,[11] and on 29 May 2016 they performed at the BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend festival in Exeter.[12]

On 19 August 2016, they released their first studio album, I'm Not Well, featuring the singles "Whatever Lets You Cope", "How We Rust", "Husk" and the title track "I'm Not Well". The record received positive reviews: in particular, it was acclaimed for its maturity and authenticity, with Holley's lyrics being a powerful tool to deal with emotions and anxiety.[4]

During summer 2016, the band performed at Download Festival and for the second time at Reading and Leeds,[13] before embarking on their first headlining tours in the US and the UK.

On 16 December 2016, Black Foxxes released the EP Headsick Sessions (Live), consisting of two covers - "Wrecking Ball" by Ryan Adams and "Molten Light" by Chad VanGaalen - and one original track, "Neige (acoustic)", already available as bonus track on I'm Not Well.[14]

The band spent most of 2017 on tour: in February, they supported Taking Back Sunday in Glasgow and London,[15] before joining Vant in March and You Me At Six in April for some shows across the UK.[16] At the end of May, the played at Slam Dunk Festival with Milk Teeth, Enter Shikari, Don Broco, Against Me! and many other bands.[17] In November, they toured in the UK along with Deaf Havana and Decade.[18]

Reiði (2018–2019)

On 16 March 2018, Black Foxxes released their second album, Reiði. The title is an Icelandic word that means "rage", and it's pronounced "ray-dee". Mark Holley wrote most of the record in Iceland. "My mental health was so bad the first time I went to Iceland,” he explained. “But I was starting to see progress every time I went. It was a big step for me to go to a place that is barren, with no-one there and insane weather conditions, and do it all by myself. It felt like there was a mutual relationship between me and that place because I overcame a lot out there. I wrote plenty of music when I went to Iceland the second time, and our new record reflects that."[19]

The album was preceded by hit single "Manic In Me", shot in Iceland in January.[20] Other singles include "Sæla", "Joy" and "Breathe".

Reiði was featured by Kerrang! as Album Of The Week,[21] and the press defined it as "raw, fearlessly emotional, honest, like a breath of fresh air",[22] containing "more shiver-inducing, goosebump-raising thrills than most bands manage in an entire career."[23]

In spring 2018, the band toured across Europe and the UK,[24] and they spent the summer performing at festivals. In September and October 2018, Mark Holley played some acoustic shows in six different cities in the UK.[25]

On 17 August 2018, Black Foxxes revealed a cover of The Cure's hit "Lovesong", along with an accompanying video.[26]

On 21 September 2018, they released a second track, an acoustic version of "Oh, It Had To Be You", taken from Reiði.[27]

Black Foxxes (2020–Present)

On March 2 2020 Thornton announced both his and Jane's departure from the band via social media.[28] On July 17 2020 the band released a new track titled "Badlands" as well as the replacement of Thornton and Jane with new drummer Finn Mclean and bassist Jack Henley.[29] On August 14 2020, the band announced details of their third, self-titled studio album released October 30 2020 on Search And Destroy Records / [[Spinefarm Records[].[30] The announcement came with the 2nd single titled "Swim".

Members

Current members

  • Mark Holley - vocals, guitar
  • Finn McClean - drums
  • Jack Henley - bass guitar

Past members

  • Tristan Jane - bass guitar
  • Anthony (Ant) Thornton - drums

Discography

Studio albums

EPs
  • Pines (2014)
  • Headsick Sessions (Live) (2016)

Awards
Nominated work Year Award Result
Black Foxxes 2017 Heavy Music Awards Best Breakthrough Band[2] Nominated
I'm Not Well Heavy Music Awards Best Album Artwork[2] Nominated
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References
  1. "Black Foxxes | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  2. "Heavy Music Awards 2017 Finalists Announced – Heavy Music Awards". Heavy Music Awards. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  3. "First play of the new Black Foxxes EP". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  4. "Black Foxxes stream their debut album exclusively with The Independent". The Independent. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  5. "Interview: Black Foxxes | Interviews". Music Crowns. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  6. "Interview: Black Foxxes". Already Heard. 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  7. "Watch Black Foxxes perform for BBC Introducing". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  8. "| BLACK FOXXES SIGN TO SEARCH & DESTROY / SPINEFARM RECORDS". www.spinefarmrecords.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  9. Mach ©, Neil (2015-09-17). "BLACK FOXXES Will Guest With LOWER THAN ATLANTIS on December UK Tour". Raw Ramp Magazine. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  10. "Interview: Black Foxxes | Mystic Sons". mysticsons.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  11. "Milk Teeth announce UK tour with Black Foxxes and Eat Me". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  12. Garvan, Sinead (2016-05-27). "Meet Black Foxxes, BBC Introducing act at Radio 1's Big Weekend". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  13. Ewart, Alan (2016-10-23). "Black Foxxes: Power Rock Played Loud!". Louder Than War. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  14. "Black Foxxes cover Ryan Adams on new 'Headsick Sessions' EP". Upset. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  15. "Support announced for Taking Back Sunday's 2017 UK tour". Stitched Sound. 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  16. Marco (2017-01-24). "Black Foxxes to tour with VANTS and You Me At Six". Indie + Tonic. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  17. "Black Foxxes, Milk Teeth and more join Slam Dunk 2017". Dork. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  18. "Deaf Havana, Black Foxxes and Decade are teaming up for a killer UK tour this November". Upset. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  19. "Black Foxxes: "Those demons will always be there"". Upset. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  20. "Black Foxxes have shared a new video for 'Manic In Me'". Dork. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  21. "Album Of The Week: Black Foxxes' Reiði". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  22. "Album Review: Black Foxxes - Reiði". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  23. "Album Review: Black Foxxes - Reiði". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  24. "NEWS: Black Foxxes announce UK tour for March/April 2018! | DEAD PRESS! | It's more than "just music" to us". www.deadpress.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  25. "Black Foxxes – Mark Holley Acoustic". Birmingham Promoters | Gigs & Events in Birmingham. 2018-09-29. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  26. "Black Foxxes have dropped a cover of The Cure's 'Lovesong'". Upset. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  27. "Black Foxxes release VADA studios version of 'Oh, It Had to Be You'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
  28. Thornton, Ant. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PaA_UF9s7/. Retrieved 7 July 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. "Watch BLACK FOXXES RETURN WITH 'BADLANDS'". DIY. DIY Magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  30. Redrup, Zach. "NEWS: Black Foxxes announce self-titled third album!". Dead Press. Dead Press. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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