Maelstrom hail from The South Wales Valleys and are heading out to make a statement this year.
With their recent Promo released last summer and their EP Justice Deserved back in 2024, they are pushing the limits with their next release which will be coming this year. With tracks from the promo, most notably ‘Powermove’ most likely to make it on to the new record.
With bursts of aggression and a great stage presence, it’s no wonder they have a packed out start to the year. With shows in Bristol, Middlesbrough, and Birmingham coming up in the next couple of weeks, it’s the kickstart they were after, and who knows where they will go next.
I spoke to vocalist Scott about their beginnings, interests and what they hope to do in the upcoming year.
FIRST OF ALL WHERE ARE YOU GUYS BASED & HOW DID YOU ALL MEET?
We’re based in the South Wales Valleys, we all met at different periods of time that the band was formed. Charlie and Tommy are brothers so are the original members of the band with Evan joining shortly after on Drums in and around 2022.
Scott joined the band back in 2024 when the original vocalist of the band decided to move on to new ventures and Alex joined the band at the start of the Summer of 2025 after our long standing bassist also made the decision to commit to other ventures in life.
WHAT WAS THE SCENE LIKE WHERE YOU WERE GROWING UP IN SOUTH WALES & HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN IT?
The scene in South Wales has always been renowned for great shows, we had some fantastic venues growing up with Newport being predominately the place to go for shows. Venues such as TJs and Le Pub being the stand out venues where I think most of us have seen all our favourite bands.
Scott got involved in Hardcore from an early age, started putting on shows himself to encourage more local bands to pop up and also bring bands he wished to see in his local area. With us all being different ages, we all got into Hardcore at different times.
Both Scott and Alex have done projects together in the past through meeting in the scene. Charlie has also been involved with the local scene for a number of years going to the same shows.
THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A DUMBASS QUESTION BUT HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME MAELSTROM?
Charlie saw it in a book and again in a game and was like ‘what a crazy word that is’ so we used it.
It was as simple as that.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEBODY WHO HASN’T HEARD YOU BEFORE?
Straight up, no bullshit, and something to mosh your friends out too!
WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE BEEN FACED WITH?
We’ve been hindered with band member changes in the recent years, but all for good intentions.
We realise making music, travelling, committing to a project outside of real life and family could be a struggle so we’re constantly having to be mindful of that and to ensure we are doing it because we want to and we’re having fun with it. That’s the most important thing.
We’re not out here to become the next Malevolence or Hatebreed, we just want to make hard music, watch everyone go off for it and pick up a record or a tee if they dig it.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE ARTISTS?
Hatebreed are the goats of Hardcore but bands we grew up listening to were Bitter End, Trapped Under Ice, Knuckledust, No Warning, Death Threat, Incendiary, Backtrack, Pantera, Obituary, Machine Head just to name a few.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SHOWS YOU’VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF & DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE?
We love any show we get offered to play. A stand out for us this year has to be our record release show in The Cab in Newport earlier this year.
The energy in The Cab albeit a local venue to us is second to none and you can always guarantee a good show. What Joe (the Owner) has built there has solidified the SWHC scene again.
Nottingham has also welcomed us well and has a really strong scene where the pit is just as active.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM TOUR TO GET MAELSTROM ON?
Collectively as a band, we can’t pin down a dream tour right now but playing the likes of FYA, TIHC or Outbreak Fest would be a breakthrough for us to push our name out there in the scenes we want to be involved in.
WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE CRAZIEST EXPERIENCES YOU’VE HAD TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS?
It sounds cliche but travelling to shows we’re playing with no real intention of expecting anyone to have heard or known us yet, singing all the words to some of our songs was wild. Witnessing Evan carrying his drum gear everywhere is usually a crazy experience too.
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE SCENE CHANGE IN RECENT YEARS?
The scene is far more inclusive across a number of genres now. There are less ‘cliques’ and more diversity.
We end up seeing loads of different heads at shows you wouldn’t have seen 10+ years ago now which is a real positive change. You won’t ever break away from the stigma certain Hardcore scenes carry, but it’s getting far less like it was.
WHO HAS BEEN SOME OF THE LARGEST INFLUENCES IN YOUR SOUND?
Trapped Under Ice and Incendiary have been bands we’ve always been compared with. Especially the older material. We’re still finding our sound and as we mature we’re adapting to a style of Hardcore-Metal we can write better as a collective.
WE CAN’T ALL BE MUSICIANS 24/7 SO WHAT JOBS/CAREERS DO YOU GUYS HAVE?
Charlie and Tommy are both tutors in a local College, Scott’s a Marketing Manager for a local Business, Alex has recently qualified in Biomedical Science and Evan is currently in Bristol University studying Popular Music Performance.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY HOBBIES/INTERESTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE?
Scott and Alex are avid running enthusiasts outside of the band so tend to spend most of their time (and money) outside of work and family life doing that.
Charlie spends most of his time buying records and loves Warhammer, Tommy is a big Gamer and Evan is a music production fiend as he plays in another band as well.
YOU RELEASED YOUR PROMO THIS SUMMER. WHAT WERE YOUR INFLUENCES FOR THESE TRACKS AND HOW HAPPY WERE YOU WITH HOW THEY CAME OUT?
The promo was something we felt we needed to get out there to keep pushing the band. We have an LP we’re underway writing where 2 of those songs will likely make the LP when it comes out.
We recorded with a long time friend of Scott’s – Reece Hayden of Bay 10 Studios in Walsall/Wolverhampton. We recorded the Justice EP with him as well so we gravitated towards Reece again as we knew he’d get it the way we wanted it.
A personal collective favourite on that promo is ‘Powermove’.
Influences varied on this as we have gone more Metallic in our sound and taking a lot of influence from various genres, but stand out influences to name a few are Gods Hate, Merauder, Sunami, Guilt Trip and Machine Head.
WHAT SHOWS HAVE YOU GOT COMING UP THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING?
Our 2026 plans will be fairly quiet whilst we put our heads together to write more material for the LP but our January-February run of shows will be cool. Playing Bristol again is always a good thing, and doing a run of shows with Human Deceit at the end of January will be sick as we’re away in new places, new scenes and meeting new faces.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU GUYS HEADING INTO 2026?
The new LP is our crucial part of 2026. Titled ‘The Age Of The Wicked’ and shows in Bristol, Middlesbrough and Birmingham are all to come at the start of the year and of course there will be new Merch we are always stoked to release to go with it.
FINALLY, HAVE YOU GOT ANY OTHER ARTISTS/FRIENDS YOU THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT?
Bands that I believe are falling too far under the radar but need a mention are Human Deceit, Chained Existence, Peruvian Necktie and Positive Reaction. All good friends of ours but equally very sick bands.
We appreciate the time doing this so thank you, Pit Call. Much love!
If you liked what you’ve read make sure you give Maelstrom a listen via the link below and support them. The new album The Age Of The Wicked will be released in 2026!
Upcoming shows for Maelstrom include Ark at This x Foefest show at Moor Beer Company in Bristol on the 24th Jan and Rhapsody Records show at PLAY Middlesbrough supporting Lifesick on the 31st Jan. Links to these shows can be found below.
BRISTOL
https://hdfst.uk/e138233
Until next time I’ll catch you in the pit!
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