Interview: Every Hell @ ArcTanGent
Every Hell by Joe Singh
Every Hell is a powerful new quartet from Brighton that is rapidly making a name for themselves in the UK music scene with their raw, unfiltered approach to rock. Made up of Will, Toby, Andrew, and Mark—seasoned musicians from bands like Black Peaks, Broker, and Memory Of Elephants—Every Hell blends doom, punk, and experimental elements to craft a sound that's as intense as it is unpredictable.
Their debut EP, Vertebrate, set to drop on October 31st, captures this unique energy with its live-to-tape recording style, showcasing the band's commitment to authenticity and raw power. Following energetic performances at 2000trees and ArcTanGent, they've stirred up excitement with their latest single, "Bad Cop." In this interview, Andrew and Mark discuss their journey, the decision to record without edits, and what's next for Every Hell.
Tell us about Every Hell. You guys come from different bands with a lot of experience. What's the vibe with this new project?
Andrew: It's fun. There's no real conscious direction. We've just come together and said, "This is what it sounds like with us." We're still exploring, it's early days, but we're having fun, and that's the main thing. We're not putting too much pressure on what happens or where it goes, just enjoying the time together. The goal is to keep it as relaxed as possible but with enough pressure to get us together and play.
Mark: Yeah, it's a pretty new band. We've all been friends for ages. Will and I played together in Black Peaks, and Toby plays with Will in Skin Failure. It all started with Will and me jamming, then Gos (Andrew Gosden) joined in, who hadn't played for a while. The three of us—initially with sax, bass, and drums—are also dads, so our time is precious. None of us are under any illusions about a big career or anything; it's more about smashing our influences together and seeing what happens.
Andrew: We'll just see where it goes.
Mark: Exactly, but it's not the be-all and end-all like it was for some of us in the past.
Andrew: We're very aware of the time commitment it takes to really do this. Finding the time is tricky, and as I said, the time we have is precious now. So, it's going to be hard for us to just say, "Let's go on tour for three months," like we might have a few years ago. It's a lot harder for us to do that now. And obviously, we're not like Slipknot or Taylor Swift, where you can just take everyone with you.
Every Hell by Joe Singh
Sounds like you're enjoying the freedom to experiment without the usual pressures. Any lessons from your previous bands that you're applying here?
Andrew: Oh, we've learned so much. As you get older, you realize some things just aren't as important. I mean, we're not old, but we're definitely older and maybe a bit wiser. We've been around the block with touring and playing music, so we don't need to discuss every little detail. Each of us knows our own role well—Mark doesn't have to worry about me setting up my amps, and I don't need to worry about Toby or Will. Because we've known each other for so long, there's this unspoken understanding, a kind of language between us. A simple nod, and we know everything is fine. This comes with experience and having been through tough situations together, like when things go wrong, and you learn how to handle it. So now, there's less stress. If something breaks or an issue comes up, we just deal with it. There's no more obsessing over looking perfect or worrying about how people perceive us. I used to worry about that a lot in my old band, Black Peaks, especially at festivals. We'd play after some incredibly technical bands, and I'd think, "I'm not that good." But now, I don't care about that as much. I think that's something we all feel.
Mark: Exactly, you just have to find your people. You do your thing, and if you like it, then some other people will like it too—maybe not everyone, but that's okay. For you guys, it's been more of a breath of fresh air, with less pressure. I've been in DIY bands where getting everyone to care was a challenge—not in a bad way, just different. Now, we've found a balance where everyone is on the same page, and that's really great.
Andrew: And especially at this stage, it's still very new, and we're still finding our footing. We're figuring out what we like and what works for us. There's a bit of a sonic theme developing, which is exciting, but we're still at the beginning. So, there's not as much pressure. We have time on our side, and we're not rushing to follow up a previous release or stick to a strict timeline. With all the pressures from social media and expectations, we're just doing what we can, when we can, and enjoying ourselves. That's what really matters, and hopefully, people enjoy it too.
That makes sense. It shows in your live performances—you look like you're having a blast up there.
Andrew: We are serious about it, of course, but the most important thing is just having a great time. Our past experience has helped us let go of a lot of worries, and now we're just enjoying ourselves. As parents, the time we have is precious, like Mark said, and we really cherish the time we get to spend together as friends. We're friends having fun, and we understand the sacrifices involved—like having to drive five hours home after a show or immediately pick up our kids. We're all very aware of the commitment it takes, even if what we're doing now isn't as much as some other bands. It means a lot to us to be together, and we're definitely aware of that.
Your new single, "Bad Cop," was recorded live to tape with no edits. Why did you decide to take that approach?
Andrew: Everything we've done so far has been live to tape, no edits. It's been stressful.
Mark: Stressful for you.
Andrew: Mark's actually good at his instrument, so it's fine for him. We're not purists about analogue, but we do enjoy that approach. Big valve amps and all that. Technology in a way scares me a bit.
Mark: It also fits our limited time. We did our last EP in a day and a bit. There's something special about the spontaneity of recording live to tape and then immediately hearing it in the control room. For the last four tracks we did, Will performed most of the vocals live. There might have been a few spots where we tidied things up, but overall, it was a real performance. There are mistakes in there—some parts might make us cringe a little—but if everyone agrees that the vibe is right, then that's what matters.
It's a bit reactionary to what some of us have done in the past, where you could spend hours, even days, on one song to make it perfect. There's a lot of very polished, clinical music out there now, and it's fun to step away from that, turn off the computer, and embrace the pressure and excitement of recording live. It's a bit like playing a gig—there’s that adrenaline rush of, "Alright, let's do it. Don't mess it up." There's no thinking, "The engineer will fix it later," or recording parts separately with a click track.
It’s also about honesty. This is what we sound like—take it or leave it. We hope people like it, but it’s about being honest about where we are right now. That's the best performance we can give today, and today is recording day, so that's what you get.
You know, it's about knowing your stuff, showing up, recording it, and getting out. I love that approach.
Mark: Exactly. It's really rewarding when you can get into that mindset and just let go. If everyone else thinks it’s cool, even if you're not sure about a part, you just roll with it. Like with our first single from that batch of songs, "Revery," we recorded it on the first day. I was unsure about it initially, but everyone else said it was fine. Then, you listen to it the next day and think, "Yeah, it’s fine." As long as I don’t mess up on the drums and the vibe is there, that’s what matters.
Every Hell by Joe Singh
It comes back to letting go of the expectation of perfection, right? Accepting that things don’t have to be flawless.
Andrew: Absolutely. It’s easy to sit here and say, "I’ve learned so many life lessons, and now I’m perfect," but that noise of self-doubt is still there. However, it's really rewarding to embrace this process. I’m proud of what we’ve done. I don’t want to knock modern recording techniques—they make everything sound so polished, and I love a lot of records that are perfect to the grid. But letting go and just doing it live was affirming. It’s like, "Okay, I can actually do this." I’m not claiming to be the best, but it’s about the experience.
Mark: Yeah, it’s a bit of a cliché, but if you correct everything to make it perfect, you might lose something in the process. That human element, the feeling of people actually playing together, is so important.
Andrew: There’s something special about that—like the natural push and pull, the tempo changes. In the past, we’d use a click track, but it actually flows better without one. It feels more real, you know? You naturally speed up in the choruses or slow down in the breakdowns.
Mark: And nowadays, people end up engineering that kind of spontaneity back in. Like, "Let’s speed up the click in the chorus," which can take all day. It's easier to just do it live.
Andrew: Exactly, it feels very freeing. There are still moments in the tracks where I think, "Oh, I slid into that note," but that was part of the performance on the day. That was the best we could do right then, and we stand by it. It really exposes the band in an honest way. It is what it is, and I hope that comes across. As my wife always says, "It is what it is."
For those who haven't heard you yet, how would you describe your sound?
Andrew: Our sound? It's a lot punkier than I initially expected. We kind of coined this term "doom pop" to describe it. At the time, it felt like the easiest way to explain our music. There are vocal hooks, but there are also heavy riffs.
Mark: I think our sound is eclectic, but not to the point where it's jarring. That's intentional. We want everything to mesh together and make sense. It's like any great band—it's not about being a better version of another band. If anything, we're trying to carve out our own space. We're not saying we're going to change the world, but any artist who stands out doesn’t really sound like anyone else.
It’s often those who push the boundaries a bit who stand out. They might fit into a scene, but they bring a unique twist to it. I think that relates back to our analogue recording approach. It's all about just going for it. We might write a bunch of songs, and some of them might not work, with too many ideas thrown together. But most of the time, it naturally turns into something cohesive because of who we are as a band.
What are you listening to when you're not making music?
Andrew: I'm completely obsessed with a band called Greyhaven. Yeah, that's it, really. It's sort of a throwback to my childhood. I grew up listening to a lot of bands like Converge and that kind of stuff. I'll still dig out a Norma Jean record I bought 20 years ago. It's all that early 2000s stuff—I guess I'm still stuck there. I even listened to Limp Bizkit on the way up here. Still enjoying it, still enjoying it. Maybe "stuck" isn't the right word, though.
Trying to squeeze all the joy out of it?
Andrew: Yeah, exactly. My immediate choices are pretty narrow. But then, on the other hand, I've got Taylor Swift. My wife loves pop music, and she educates me on it daily, and I actually love it.
Mark: I produce a lot, so I'm often listening to the bands I'm recording, which is great because I get to hear loads of cool stuff. I'm trying to think of something recent and relevant.
Andrew: Though it's hard to keep track of all the band names you've worked with!
Every Hell by Joe Singh
Mark: True! One band I've worked with recently is LLNN they're really up-to-date, and they are heavy as hell. They're fantastic.
Andrew: Yeah, that's the kind of stuff that's quite refreshing.
Is there anyone else you've been working with that people should be listening to?
Mark: Delta Sleep who are playing today. We've just finished a record with them this year.
Andrew: And Vower—they're playing tomorrow.
Mark: Also, Alpha Male Tea Party who I’m doing a record with at the moment. They're like ArcTanGent royalty. Yeah, lots of that kind of stuff. It’s a privilege to hear it all and get to work on it.
Is there anything I haven't asked that you'd like to mention?
Mark: No, you covered most of it. The EP Vertebrate is out on October 31st.
Andrew: And we’ve got more festivals and shows lined up. We’ll be at Castlefest on September 27th and Misery Loves Company on September 28th. Our EP release show is on Halloween, so we might dress up for that one. After that, our singer is taking some time off, so things might quiet down a bit towards the end of the year, but we’ll see how it goes.
Every Hell’s debut EP, Vertebrate, drops on 31 October. Catch them live at Castlefest and Misery Loves Company later this month, and don't miss their Halloween release show.
