The Decibel Decoder is delighted to be hosting a stage at The Official Unofficial in Rotterdam as part of Left of the Dial.
Friday 23 October 12noon – 3.45pm will see the venue V11, a moored boat, shake to bands from Scotland alongside our friends from across the North Sea in Norway.
To learn more about each band, here is a brief introduction. Fog Bandits are a Glasgow-based four-piece who mix nu-metal, punk, and 90s alternative rock to blistering effect. Releasing their debut EP This Coven last year, produced by Dead Pony‘s Blair Crichton, they draw inspiration from bands such as My Chemical Romance, Bring Me the Horizon and Muse creating their own blend of gothic nu-metal and punk.
It is live that they come into their own with exhilarating performances, exuding a raw, raucous live energy that turns small underground venues into chaotic, sweat-soaked mosh pits. With a sold out show at Glasgow’s King Tuts already under their belt, they have also played Stag and Dagger, Tenement Trail and Houseguest Fest as well as notable support slots including My Chemical Romance guitarist LS Dunes, plus local heroes VUKOVI and Dead Pony.
Please provide 5 words to describe Fog Bandits?
loud, cathartic, exciting, dramatic, sweaty
For those that don’t know Fog Bandits, what song should they start with?
I would say start with either ‘VILE’ or ‘DEVOUR’. Both represent where this band is at sonically right now very well. ‘VILE’ is very much a sceney punky rager with ‘DEVOUR’ leaning more into dark synth sounds and more metal adjacent guitars. Our sound is at its best towing line between dramatic punk energy and metal anthems.
A surprising fact about Fog Bandits please.
This band used to be much more adjacent to something like indie punk. We had songs that sounded closer to early Arctic Monkeys and IDLES. If you saw us now those comparisons would be a little hard to believe but we have had some journey in sound.
What are you looking forward to at The Official Unofficial?
The Official Unofficial at the V11 is our first international show, our first show out of Scotland too. It has been a moment I never thought we would reach but we cannot be more excited for this to be our first experience away from home! Also playing on a boat is just a fun concept, looking forward to what Rotterdam brings us!
Looking forward what’s on the horizon for Fog Bandits?
We played so many amazing show this year, on the live front we will be taking a backseat till 2027 with the exception of one really exciting show that I am not allowed to spoil just yet….
In that time we are putting all our work into creating what we feel will be something special in the studio. 2027 will see us at our first shows in England as well as take on bigger headlines and release music that we are all dying to just blast out in the sweatiest rooms imaginable. We have built up a good momentum this year and that is something we hope to hammer down on 10 fold into next year.
If I looked in your fridge right now what would I find?
bacon and a dream.
For more information on Fog Bandits please check their facebook and instagram.