Name: In Blood
Brand: Hey Colossus

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

WSR050LP

Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-05-03

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5056688800048

Total Cap

Red LP

WSR050CD

Housed in Gatefold Sleeve

5056688800031

Artist

Hey Colossus

Genre GB

Metal

Label GB

Wrong Speed Records

Hey Colossus is an English rock band formed in London in 2003. The band, founded by Joe Thompson and Robert Davis, has experienced numerous lineup changes over the years. Known for their heavy sound, DIY ethic, and prolific output, Hey Colossus has become a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Their stylistic experimentation sets them apart from other bands, making each of their albums a unique listening experience.

With roots firmly planted in the rock genre, Hey Colossus pushes boundaries and explores new sonic territories. Their music is characterized by its raw power and intensity, leaving listeners captivated by their infectious energy. From blistering guitar riffs to thunderous drums, every element of their sound is carefully crafted to create an immersive musical journey.

Since their formation, Hey Colossus has released a multitude of albums that showcase their evolution as artists. Their commitment to creating authentic and honest music resonates with fans around the world. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to their music, Hey Colossus offers something for everyone who appreciates innovative rock music that challenges conventions.

In Blood is the group’s 14th album and the follow-up to 2020’s critically acclaimed Dances/Curses.

It was typical of a band so well-known for stellar live performances to release their most successful album at a time when they were unable to back it up on the road. As was the case for many, lockdown changed the band’s lives in unexpected ways. Some felt a form of cabin fever at not being able to continue to make music (diverting their energies elsewhere - founding Wrong Speed Records for starters) whereas others relished the peace and quiet, perhaps questioning whether they wanted to return to the life they had before. Gigs (so long the lifeblood of the band) were booked, postponed, and cancelled. Things began to unravel and perhaps for the first time since the band formed in 2003 it was hard to see how it could continue.

A plan was hatched to attempt to re-energise and reassemble the band: they would begin work on a new album. They would approach this as though a Somerset version of The Desert Sessions – members old and new and guests would contribute as and when time and restrictions allowed.

Lyrically, British folk and ghost mythology provided the starting position for the song themes ranging from mutated stories of grief and loss written in the 14th Century (Perle), spiritual reawakening by ancient apparitions (Avalon) to the growth of nature after devastation (Can’t Feel Around Us, Over Cedar Limb), a metaphor also for spirit and body renewal and rebirth after trauma.

The results sound free of any genre shackles and it suits Hey Colossus. They have taken the expansive anything-goes approach that made Dances/Curses so successful and fine-tuned and shaped it into an 8-song single album that never treads water or fills time. The prominent vocals steer the listener through the music, defining it as opposed to punctuating it (or being buried by it).

The album is a calling card for the band in their 20th anniversary year. As odd and challenging as long-term fans would expect or hope for, but somehow more accessible and to the point than ever before. It is the closest the group have ever come to a pop record, radiating positivity through the murk like a small ray of light in some very dark and very weird times. Music can never entirely negate these feelings but, like the natural world referenced in the lyrics and sleeve, it invisibly bonds people together, lifting us up if we choose to let it.

In Blood

Music GB