Harker

To disect Harker, it's important to look at their influences. Growing up on a healthy diet of New Jersey and Chicago punk rock bands, Harker, like many their age, spent their formative years learning the lyrics to albums like ‘Goddamnit’ and ‘Hopeless Romantic’ front to back. This style of high-energy ‘cards on the table’ punk rock served them well and laid important foundations for the group, however was something they always wanted to “improve upon,” rather than just “settle” with and led them down a path towards the "guitar orientated" work of artists like Buffalo Tom and Dinosaur Jr.

Initially beginning as an acoustic project back in 2014, Mark recruited the current formation of Harker across the span of three EP’s – Hours (2014), Gasping For Air (2014) and A Lifetime Apart (2015), the latter picked up by Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello’s Paper + Plastick imprint for release in the United States. Joined by Tony Ware (Guitar), Phoebe Saunders (Bass/Vocals) and Matt Claxton (Drums), the band began to incorporate more sophisticated influences into their songs, embracing the fuzz-laden frenzy of artists like The Replacements, The Wedding Present and Husker Du.

“We’re not really the same band anymore,” explains guitarist, Tony. “Anyone who saw us in the early days would probably remember us a really acoustic-orientated band. We love those songs but we wanted to make everything fuzzier, poppier and LOUDER, which is why we switched to two electrics”.

Entering the studio with producer Tim Greaves at Southsea Sound, the band began work on their debut album - No Discordance with plans to create a “huge sounding record”:

“When I listen to early Jimmy Eat World, or an album like ‘Seamonsters’ by the Wedding Present, I’m always astounded how they managed to capture all the carnage and noise – it’s like lightning in a bottle. If we could even emulate half of that then we’d have accomplished what we set out to do” explains Tony.

Building on the success of their early success Harker quickly earned a solid reputation on the UK punk and indie rock circuits. Plying their trade across the UK and mainland Europe, the band has already shared the stage with the likes of Creeper, Boston Manor, Moose Blood, Red City Radio & Off With Their Heads and have no plans on slowing down anytime soon, with a tour with Miss Vincent about to begin and 2018 tour dates to be announced in due course.

‘No Discordance’ is out Friday, February 9th on and Wiretap Records (USA), Disconnect, Disconnect (UK), Fond of Life (EU), Shield Recordings (EU), and Fixing A Hole (JP).

Harker are:
Mark Boniface– guitar & vocals
Phoebe Saunders - bass & vocals
Tony Ware - guitar
Matt Claxton - drums

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