Formed in Brighton, RAD came onto the scene back in 2024 with their take on the crossover thrash style that has been sweeping through the scene in recent years.
Their debut EP Toxic Slime, which was produced by Chris Sanderson (Sandy) from one of the UK’s most prolific crossover bands, Grove Street hosts their signature style and is nothing short of fun.
Taking influences from skateboarding and being known as ‘Skate Thrash’, they blend that classic 80’s thrash with modern metalcore and hardcore beats.
From Brighton to London to Skate Park shows across the country, these guys know how to show you a whale of a time all whilst have fun doing it!
I caught up with RAD vocalist Andy Mansell to find out the background behind the band and where they see the project going in the future.
FIRST OF ALL WHERE ARE YOU GUYS BASED & HOW DID YOU ALL MEET?
RAD was formed in Brighton at the end of 2023 by our guitarist, Ben, who basically recruited everyone else. None of us knew each other before, but we were all super stoked to be in a band called Rad. I joined on vocals at the start of 2024 and we hit the ground running.
WHAT WAS THE SCENE LIKE WHERE YOU WERE GROWING UP & HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN IT?
I grew up just outside Brighton and it has a well earned reputation as a creative hotspot. I’m gonna sound like a fucking boomer and say that I miss when physical media was culturally relevant, because magazines like Kerrang did a lot to promote new UK bands.
If a band got a mention, their show would be packed, which helped the scene and also put the ladder down for local support bands. Architects, The Ghost of a Thousand, Centurion and Johnny Truant are some of the new local bands from when I first started going to shows.
THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A DUMBASS QUESTION BUT HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME RAD?
We want the band to encapsulate the awesome feeling of going skating with your homies or pulling up at the local show and knowing you’re about to have a sick time.
We can’t describe it in any way other than…RAD!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEBODY WHO HASN’T HEARD YOU BEFORE?
We’re a Crossover Skate-Thrash band called Rad with tons of dive-bombs. We’re heavy music for people who aren’t afraid to smile and have a good time.
WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE BEEN FACED WITH?
The first challenge is finding a band of dudes who all subscribe to a shared vision, have the chops to play it, and are willing to put in the grind.
Second challenge is that there are fucking millions of bands all competing for the same thing, so we had find a way to cut through the noise and to get anyone to hear what we’re doing.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE ARTISTS?
Suicidal Tendencies.
No one else has blended genres so effectively and come up with such cool packaging.
They’re more than a band.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SHOWS YOU’VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF & DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE?
It’s probably no surprise to hear that the skate park shows are usually the most memorable.
We played Blondies Brewery with Tempers Fray. It was the premier of a skate film called Blokes II (go watch it!) And the crowd was full of rowdy skaters fulling wilding out.
We also played Riffs n’ Ramps in Glasgow with a lot of pals bands on the bill, which was another crazy crowd of younger kids going mental.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM TOUR TO GET RAD ON?
Everyone wants to support their favourite band in a huge venue.
For me, I’d love to get Rad overseas as I’ve never played a show outside the UK before.
That would be a real tick off the bucket list.
WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE CRAZIEST EXPERIENCES YOU’VE HAD TOGETHER?
We had some trouble loading in to our Edinburgh show, the police had closed the road because they were transporting a group of prisoners.
The copper told us in her thick Scottish accent, “we’re just moving a van-load of pedos…”
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE HARDCORE SCENE CHANGE IN RECENT YEARS?
Sadly, due to the cost of running a small or mid-sized venue, most of the places I went to shows as a youth have either gone under or focused on more commercial music.
Venues are continuing to face pressure from all sides, it’s such a bummer.
However, more kids are seeing hardcore on Instagram and tiktok and putting on DIY shows, which is great.
WHO HAS BEEN SOME OF THE LARGEST INFLUENCES IN YOUR SOUND?
It’s hard to argue that Power Trip are mostly responsible for the current wave of Crossover, but we’ve also gotta give props to bands like Dead Heat and Enforced, as well as UK bands Inhuman Nature and Overpower.
WE CAN’T ALL BE MUSICIANS 24/7 SO WHAT JOBS/CAREERS DO YOU GUYS HAVE?
A lot of our day jobs do actually help run the band, such as graphic design, social media and photography.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY HOBBIES/INTERESTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE?
We’re all big fans of 80s and 90s action and sci-fi movies and video games, which we draw on in some of our themes and artwork.
BEING SKATE HEADS HERE’S ONE FOR YOU, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE SKATE BRANDS?
We like to support UK skate brands. Funeral French did some artwork for Witchcraft which was awesome.
He does a lot of work for Dungeon Gateway, which is another super cool uk brand.
YOU RELEASED YOUR LATEST EP ‘TOXIC SLIME’ BACK IN APRIL LAST YEAR, WHAT WERE YOUR INFLUENCES FOR THESE TRACKS AND HOW HAPPY WERE YOU WITH HOW THEY CAME OUT?
It was great working with Sandy, his writing in Grove Street really makes him an influential figure in our genre, so of course we took the opportunity to get his input on our tracks, which was so valuable. And obviously just the sound of the record really is what we were hoping it would be.
My favourite track is ‘Gaslighter‘, I think it’s the most evil sounding old school thrash song we’ve done yet, the mosh parts hit hard and it’s always a highlight when we play it live.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY SHOWS COMING UP THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING?
Back in January we returned to Blondies Brewery for the Winter Skate Jam, we we’re stoked to play with False Reality and Headstone.
We’re jumping on the bill for FOEFEST this year in Bristol which is taking place at Shredenhams! So as you can expect we’re so stoked to play it!
I can’t tell you too much more at this point, but let’s just say the South West is getting something RAD as hell.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU GUYS IN 2026?
Our priority right now is to get cracking on the follow up to ‘Toxic Slime’, so we’ll be hitting the studio and releasing new music, as well as playing some new places and returning to some we’ve already played.
FINALLY, HAVE YOU GOT ANY OTHER ARTISTS/FRIENDS YOU THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT?
Check out our bassists band, Lavinia Whateley, and my other project, Barriers.
Our mates King Abyss, who we did our Scotland weekender with.
The best band in Essex, Power Failure.
And another band pushing skate culture, Shreds.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Thank you Pit Call for all you’re doing for the bands and fans!
Thank you to everyone who has supported Rad so far, we ain’t slowing down.
See you in the fuckin’ pit!
If you’ve enjoyed reading this interview with RAD, head over to streaming platforms and give their EP Toxic Slime a spin! Remember to always support grassroot bands and venues so if you’re interested check out their merch over on their webstore, it’s Rad as hell as the boys would say!
You can catch RAD at this years FOEFEST at Shredenhams in Bristol on the 6th June joining the likes of Grove Street, Overpower, Tempers Fray, Perp Walk and so many more!
Tickets are available in advance and as critical as it is ever for DIY shows and festivals I can’t stress how helpful it is to get tickets in advance for these guys! Also the lads putting it on are such lovelty dudes!
Until next time, I’ll catch you in the pit!
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