RXPTRS have blasted onto the scene in recent years with their unique blend of metal, hardcore, punk, and almost certainly a few others. Since forming back in 2018, they've had runs of headline shows, high-profile support slots with the likes of Escape the Fate and As It Is, and filled out tents at major festivals like Download. Already with an incredible catalogue behind them, they're gearing up for the release of their next EP, Tales of Ill Repute.
We caught up with Simon Roach and Ian Chadderton to discuss everything from dinosaurs to the magic behind their performance style and what to expect from them next. Let's get into it!
MSM: Tell us a bit about the band - where did the name RXPTRS come from?
Simon: It was probably longer trying to decide the name than writing the songs. We were trying to be clever, coming up with cultural references and pop culture references, and then we just went, ‘everyone likes dinosaurs!'
Ian: There was kind of a hype at the time around bands spelling their names wrong. It actually helps because it’s easier to Google us!
You mentioned that you started by playing house shows - how was that?
Simon: Yeah, our first show was in my house, in my housemate's bedroom. We put out a little private event, and in the back of our heads we were going "this is going to leak…" and OH it leaked.
Ian: If you wanna see the aftermath of that, we recorded our first music video for the first song we ever released.
Simon: It set the tone for what our shows have always been. It doesn’t matter how big they are, like at Download, it [felt like] the biggest house party. The feeling we always want to create is a homey, safe, unhinged environment - everywhere is a house party if you’re brave enough!
Check out the video here:
Would you say you carry the house party, community vibes through to your recording process?
Simon: No, we’re weirdly almost the opposite. We write for stadiums. We always think the biggest, especially the new record we’ve got. Every song was designed for mainstage Download, mainstage Bloodstock... It’s that big sound but with feral energy.
Ian: I think we do bring the ethos of the house party into it, which is just mayhem. The fun part: I want it to be fun to play, and that energy needs to be part of it.
You've spoken about how in your upcoming EP, Tales of Ill Repute, you used a fictional narrative, but the songs are based on real events. Can you go into a bit of detail about that?
Simon: That came from me being very unable to fully vocalise my own feelings, and the overarching theme was getting over grief, and the stages that that goes through. Writing this EP drove me slightly bonkers, because every single song has a dual meaning. Something that’s very literal and then something thats very visceral.
Ian: Very therapeutic as well. Going through some shared trauma together really gave us the opportunity to truly put our hearts on our sleeves. It’s about dealing with grief, and not overcoming it, but continuing with your life after a traumatic event.
Simon: Especially in songs, I don’t think many people talk about the other side of [grief]. It’s something I’ve very much tried to put into this EP. Life does go on. Some of it is written in a very raw way, with some very dark moments. But the message is that there is hope, and you do move through it. You never forget, and you never forget the people that you’ve lost, but they become part of you. It’s definitely not a kind of doom and gloom, but instead embracing it and moving through it. These sad songs that we have are laced with hope, strength in community, and moving through it. But it’s still a bit of a party album.
What is your favourite song from your upcoming EP?
Simon: I think Stray from the Sociopath is a party banger. We played that at Download and that one went OFF. It was the greatest of roadtesting!
Ian: I think Right Back Down is the more fun and silly side.
Simon: [Right Back Down] is about the horrible feeling the day after drinking, but still, every time I play it, it makes me want to drink.
Sum up Tales of Ill Repute in one sentence!
Simon: It’s all about riffs and feels; it’s the full spectrum of a party.
Ian: Deep, meaningful chats in the kitchen. That’s it.
What direction do you see RXTPRS heading overall?
Simon: We’re going in every direction, throwing all of the shit at the wall.
Ian: It’s the way we’ve always been, though. It’s a blessing and a curse in many ways. We’re either the heaviest band on the lineup, or the lightest band on the lineup, but we hold our own regardless.
Simon: We’re writing mainly for ourselves, and hopefully there are people that feel the same.
Tales of Ill Repute will be released on November 20th. Give RXPTRS a listen now:
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