Rocker (feedbot)
Gold Member
- Messages
- 4,543
- Reaction score
- 32
- Points
- 16
Ten years after their formation, HIMALAYAS’ success has been more of a slow-burn, but in the last couple of years, their well-deserved success has started to materialise. The Welsh rock outfit, comprising of members Joe Williams (lead vocals/guitar), Mike Griffiths (lead guitar/backing vocals), Louis Heaps (bass) and James Goulbourn (drums) has been described as having influences from garage rock, indie rock, grunge and blues, but Williams reckons with ‘BAD STAR’ they’re an ‘actual rock band’ and it’s ‘obvious that’s what [they] want to do’. He’s right. This is an album that takes it back to basics in terms of genre. They don’t hide behind the pretence of intricate synth keys or eight different layers of vocals (there is definitely a place and a time for that kind of thing, but it’s not this album). It’s just rock music. And it works.
Since ‘From Hell To Here’ in 2023, HIMALAYAS have gone from strength to strength. They’ve supported the Foos in their hometown of Cardiff, collaborated with Brian Johnson of AC/DC fame, and made some major festival appearances among the likes of SXSW, In It Together and Reading & Leeds. They don’t seem to be slowing down, either – their schedule is packed this summer, with more festivals including 2000Trees and a UK tour on the horizon. They also featured in Kerrang’s Sounds of 2025, and were named as one of the Sunday Mirror’s Rising Stars. Despite all this, though, this is a band that still feels criminally underrated. ‘BAD STAR’ is here to change that.
Straight out of the gate, ‘Beneath The Barrel’ sets the tone for this album. It’s one hell of an opener. Captivating, engaging, and the riff that fully emerges through the smoke of the introduction at the halfway point is nothing short of brilliant. It provides a turning point that allows the song to strut through the rest of its playtime. ‘Hung Up’ follows. This was the lead single from ‘BAD STAR’, and lead single material, it is. Its snarling guitar riffs and swaggering rhythm section instantly sets the tone for the album’s dark, energetic edge. It’s a statement of purpose; tight, riff-driven, and dripping with urgency, showcasing HIMALAYAS’ propensity for writing stadium-ready hooks without sacrificing grit.
This is a record that categorically refuses to tread the same path more than once, with the screeching riffs of ‘Cave Paintings’ setting the tone for an anthemic chorus. The album’s most recent single, ’What If…?’, follows, a thunderous alt-rock anthem that channels modern anxieties into a relentless, hook-heavy wall of sound.
‘Heavy Weather’ trades high-octane riffs for a slow-burning tension that feels dark and pensive. Haunting, brooding, and almost eerie, it’s a track that simmers with emotional weight without ever boiling over. The same cannot be said for ‘Surrender’, another one of ‘BAD STAR’’s four singles. The intro is so atmospheric that it could easily have been lifted straight from a DOOM soundtrack. Mick Gordon is kicking himself and adding it to his hypothetical ‘Songs I Wish I Wrote’ playlist.
The exploration of the struggle to find authenticity and solace in a landscape that is so fast-paced and unrelenting seems to be one of the main underlying themes on this record. ‘Nothing Higher’ kicks off with a restless, chaotic energy that steadily gives way to a sense of clarity and calm by its end. The last single on this album, ‘Afterlife’, addresses the existential contemplation of the promise of something better just beyond reach. The lyrics explore the idea that perhaps there won’t be something better than what we currently have – maybe it’d be better to just embrace the present. The first few bass notes pull you under immediately, building a foundation for a track that oozes passion and energy, complemented by an explosive apocalyptic video, complete with meteor shower. It definitely deserved that budget, too – it’s a standout.
There is not one single track on ‘BAD STAR’ that feels like filler. ’Twisted Reflections’ is more of a grower – it’s more controlled and restrained than the other tracks, and its impact may only register after a couple of listens, but it’s still a crucial part of the record. That restraint is quickly forgotten with ‘A Brand New God’, bringing the album to a searing, relentless conclusion, capturing the chaos and hope of rebirth.
This is a no-skip album, without a shadow of a doubt. With a 10-track length, the longest of which being 4 minutes and 58 seconds, it’s not massively long, and it doesn’t need to be. HIMALAYAS have said what they came to say. They may have formed 10 years ago, but this really feels like the beginning of something huge for them. Like it or not, ‘BAD STAR’ is going to put them on the map.
KATHRYN EDWARDS
Since ‘From Hell To Here’ in 2023, HIMALAYAS have gone from strength to strength. They’ve supported the Foos in their hometown of Cardiff, collaborated with Brian Johnson of AC/DC fame, and made some major festival appearances among the likes of SXSW, In It Together and Reading & Leeds. They don’t seem to be slowing down, either – their schedule is packed this summer, with more festivals including 2000Trees and a UK tour on the horizon. They also featured in Kerrang’s Sounds of 2025, and were named as one of the Sunday Mirror’s Rising Stars. Despite all this, though, this is a band that still feels criminally underrated. ‘BAD STAR’ is here to change that.
Straight out of the gate, ‘Beneath The Barrel’ sets the tone for this album. It’s one hell of an opener. Captivating, engaging, and the riff that fully emerges through the smoke of the introduction at the halfway point is nothing short of brilliant. It provides a turning point that allows the song to strut through the rest of its playtime. ‘Hung Up’ follows. This was the lead single from ‘BAD STAR’, and lead single material, it is. Its snarling guitar riffs and swaggering rhythm section instantly sets the tone for the album’s dark, energetic edge. It’s a statement of purpose; tight, riff-driven, and dripping with urgency, showcasing HIMALAYAS’ propensity for writing stadium-ready hooks without sacrificing grit.
This is a record that categorically refuses to tread the same path more than once, with the screeching riffs of ‘Cave Paintings’ setting the tone for an anthemic chorus. The album’s most recent single, ’What If…?’, follows, a thunderous alt-rock anthem that channels modern anxieties into a relentless, hook-heavy wall of sound.
‘Heavy Weather’ trades high-octane riffs for a slow-burning tension that feels dark and pensive. Haunting, brooding, and almost eerie, it’s a track that simmers with emotional weight without ever boiling over. The same cannot be said for ‘Surrender’, another one of ‘BAD STAR’’s four singles. The intro is so atmospheric that it could easily have been lifted straight from a DOOM soundtrack. Mick Gordon is kicking himself and adding it to his hypothetical ‘Songs I Wish I Wrote’ playlist.
The exploration of the struggle to find authenticity and solace in a landscape that is so fast-paced and unrelenting seems to be one of the main underlying themes on this record. ‘Nothing Higher’ kicks off with a restless, chaotic energy that steadily gives way to a sense of clarity and calm by its end. The last single on this album, ‘Afterlife’, addresses the existential contemplation of the promise of something better just beyond reach. The lyrics explore the idea that perhaps there won’t be something better than what we currently have – maybe it’d be better to just embrace the present. The first few bass notes pull you under immediately, building a foundation for a track that oozes passion and energy, complemented by an explosive apocalyptic video, complete with meteor shower. It definitely deserved that budget, too – it’s a standout.
There is not one single track on ‘BAD STAR’ that feels like filler. ’Twisted Reflections’ is more of a grower – it’s more controlled and restrained than the other tracks, and its impact may only register after a couple of listens, but it’s still a crucial part of the record. That restraint is quickly forgotten with ‘A Brand New God’, bringing the album to a searing, relentless conclusion, capturing the chaos and hope of rebirth.
This is a no-skip album, without a shadow of a doubt. With a 10-track length, the longest of which being 4 minutes and 58 seconds, it’s not massively long, and it doesn’t need to be. HIMALAYAS have said what they came to say. They may have formed 10 years ago, but this really feels like the beginning of something huge for them. Like it or not, ‘BAD STAR’ is going to put them on the map.
KATHRYN EDWARDS