East Anglia & EAHC has been growing extremely fast in the past couple of years and today we’re speaking to the great guys in 2nd Location. Based out of the city of Norwich, 2nd Location are on top of where the growth in the EAHC scene is.
The DIY hardcore scene is growing in Norwich and it’s something I’ve been watching closely and from what I can see it’s made from pure love. I’m glad I can call a lot of these guys homies. They’re building something great and it’s only going to get larger, so make sure you get to a show out there!
I’ve recently been chatting to Harry vocalist of 2nd Location to learn more about the band and their beginnings, their challenges and more. We also chatted about how sick he is with a tech deck and how 90’s/00’s WWE got us both into metal in our early teen years.
We also recently caught each other for a few drinks and a chin wag and all I can say is, what a lovely dude!
Whats next to come for 2nd Location?
FIRST OF ALL WHERE ARE YOU GUYS BASED & HOW DID YOU ALL MEET?
I (Barker ((vocals)) have known Clayton (bass) for years, I used to sneak into the shows he would put on in King’s Lynn because I was too young, and he would years later, 2018 I think, introduce me to Lieu who has produced my rap stuff ever since. Him and Luke (drums) have been in a few bands together over the years (Dispossession & Homelands) and loosely kept in touch with Aidan (guitar) since their old bands played shows together.
I think that after Sunfall called it a day, Aidan wanted a no pressure project of people relatively on his doorstep. When we started out we had agreed that this would never be anyone’s main project because Aidan also has Dormant, I rap as Sleep’s Cousin, Clayton has two young children and Luke has a very demanding day job.
But the more we did it the more it meant to us all and the more fun we’ve had, so now we’re at a point where we’re here to stay and happy about it.
WHAT WAS THE SCENE LIKE WHERE YOU WERE GROWING UP & HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN IT?
For me, it was the shows Clayton was putting on in Lynn. I was young and didn’t have a clue what hardcore was, just that there were bands playing the next town over.
Turns out I would’ve most likely seen TRC, Caster City & PCP-era LOATHE without having a clue who they were. I grew up, like most young millennials and old zoomers, with THPS soundtracks and WWE walk out music.
Then was at high school during the girly voice emo twink era of metalcore (A Skylit Drive, Pierce the Veil etc). I think I found Malevolence around 2017 and followed the rabbit hole into hardcore from there.
THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A DUMBASS QUESTION BUT HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME 2ND LOCATION?
I was watching that Abducted In Plain Sight documentary and they say about how the chance of survival drops to like 5% once the abductee is moved to the 2nd Location & I just thought it sounded hard.
I find it funny how most bands and projects are named after bad shit, like, of course that’s what your bands called. Like, sometimes you hear one and you’re like yeah that’s such a band name, if that makes any sense. Found Dead Hanging is a good example.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEBODY WHO HASN’T HEARD YOU BEFORE?
East coast scream rock! We set out to be an on-the-nose hardcore band, a lot of TUI and Backtrack in there. Aidan and I love Locked Shut as well so that often sneaks in.
I learned to scream to be in this band, I kinda feel like my voice just happened to me over the course of recording Blood & It’s Absence. And since realising I have a naturally higher scream I’ve been listening to loads of Walls of Jericho & Pressure Cracks to try hone that in further.
WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE BEEN FACED WITH?
Picking a style we’re going for and sticking to it.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE ARTISTS?
Terror (best hardcore band of all time), Disembodied, Incendiary, Locked Shut, Aesop Rock, Gucci Mane, Tommy Wright III, Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson, Cult of the Damned, Tom Waits, ZZ Top, Touché Amouré, Arms Length, Sewerperson. I’m all over the shop with my taste and probably forgetting some really important ones.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SHOWS YOU’VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF & DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE?
Playing Kaset skatepark (The Shed, for those that know ball) in King’s Lynn was nuts. The stage was the mini ramp I broke my leg on in 2019.
We just opened for Annotations Of An Autopsy too, I squealed when we got the offer. That band was a massive part of my teen years, 13 year old me would be so proud.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM TOUR TO GET 2ND LOCATION ON?
I wanna play Florida Swampfest so badly, and Gathering of the Juggalos
WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES YOU’VE HAD TOGETHER?
All being together for Aidan’s wedding was special. The band had not long formed when Aidan told us he was going to propose while him and Lizzy were on holiday.
I’d known Clayton for years but other than that didn’t know the guys when the band formed, and that milestone really reflected how close we’ve all become and how much of our lives have intertwined through being in this band together.
Mates first, band second.
HOW IMPORTANT IS REPRESENTATION IN THE HARDCORE COMMUNITY?
Representation is everything. A united and safe scene is the only way to have a strong scene.
Since our first show we’ve always had a very girl-heavy pit, which is sick, and largely due to my missus and her mates coming to our shows.
Seeing tough guys get banged out by girls warms my heart. We worked with Juno (@carabiner.pansy) for the HATE x AGGRESSION artwork, with the money for the commission going towards his top surgery.
Also, make sure you get down to Trans Rights Fest at Deadwax, Norwich. Biggup sipthesystem every time.
WE MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS SCENE. DO YOU HAVE A GREAT CONNECTION WITH ANYONE IN PARTICULAR AND WOULD RECOMMEND WORKING WITH?
Ryan Wood (UK king of ping) Oli WJ (Wolf Money Visuals) and James Titcomb (Arken Guitars), Pitchy at YellowTape Promotions & No., Ben Gillard, all the guys at Mean Street Tattoo, Juno / Carabiner Pansy, Stevie / Sabaka Promo, Demi Hopkins, Toby Moore, George from 111 Studios, Mr EAHC himself Kev Snelling.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT EAHC?
When I first started coming to Norwich it was Final Nail, Bastard & Hour of Reprisal flying the flag.
I feel like there’s so many more bands popping up and shows happening now, but that could be the difference of me living here now and being more available to attend more shows. Stevie / Sabaka Promo is the one riding for EAHC the hardest right now, the attention he’s brought to the area with the shows he’s putting on is incredible.
I can’t speak for anyone else but it’s the most exciting time to be in EAHC I’ve been aware or a part of and a huge amount of that is because of Stevie.
WHO HAS BEEN SOME OF THE LARGEST INFLUENCES IN YOUR SOUND?
Aidan wrote the instrumentals for our first EP ‘Blood & It’s Absence’ before all the members were confirmed. At the time he was listening to a lot of Backtrack, Locked Shut, Drain & Speed.
We’ve tried some different things and experienced with other influences since writing more collaboratively, but that kinda sound will always be at our core. HA.
WE CAN’T ALL BE MUSICIANS 24/7 SO WHAT JOBS/CAREERS DO YOU GUYS HAVE?
I’m a senior recovery worker, having senior in my title is a trip. Basically, I work for a housing charity focusing on people in recovery getting back on their feet.
Aidan is a support worker for refugee kids.
Clayton is a labourer by day (he’s made it clear he’s a bricklayer but you know a labourer), aspiring tattoo artist by night.
Luke is some kind of engineer or maybe a scientist, he’s tried to explain it to me and I don’t get it.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY HOBBIES/INTERESTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE?
I’m NICE with a tech deck bro. I invite anyone to check me at a show, I’ll have one in my bag ready to shred. I dunno if screen printing counts as a hobby, but I spend an awful lot of my time doing it because I print all our merch.
I’ve recently gotten into cycling and being a laptop coffee shop wanker too.
YOU RELEASED YOUR DEBUT EP ‘BLOOD & IT’S ABSENCE’ LAST SUMMER. WHAT WERE YOUR INFLUENCES FOR THESE TRACKS AND HOW HAPPY WERE YOU WITH HOW IT CAME TOGETHER?
This is the EP that Aidan wrote the music for solo, but lyrically I was drawing from all over the shop. Coming from rap I really felt I had to prove myself as a writer. My main objective is always to make lyrics as tangible as possible.
We did it all completely independently, recorded in Aidans studio (Triple M Productions) and put it out ourselves. Ben Gillard did the artwork.
Spiked collar will always be special to me because the first draft of that song was essentially my tryouts for the band.
But my favourite lyric is in broken bones “I am tired, I am scared, I am blood, I am flesh, I am scabs that heal as scars, broken bones you can’t reset”
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU GUYS FOR THE REST OF 2026?
We’ve just been on a run of shows with Bind & Victims of Life and we’ve had our first ever headline show at The Holloway in Norwich.
A few more EA shows through the summer. Then some further afield stuff in September, namely Castlefest & Feral Fest.
We’re aiming to have another EP out before the years up too!
FINALLY, HAVE YOU GOT ANY OTHER ARTISTS/FRIENDS YOU THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT?
Bind, Victims of Life, Mountain Peaks, Nerve Peel, Lease on Life, Living Spite, Oi Nah, Break Them, Dispute, Toil, Berenice, Heel Turn, Birdwitch, Mincer, Hour Of Reprisal, Spineless, Indifferent Engine, New Town, Our Old Life, Dormant, Lfay, Harry Ixer, Ricky Lix, Kasumu, Bertinho, Chrome, Buckers The Realist, PARA OTF, Grotty White, Simiyun, Dotz, Booda French, PleasureINC, Sunny Place For Shady People, Kemastry, Just Guy
2nd Location have a few shows including fests coming up this autumn that are looking hella sick including one local for me Castlefest and one I’ll be joining the line up on at Blondies in London, Feral Fest!
Keep supporting local bands and promoters and of course DIY UKHC.
You can listen to 2nd Location on all major streaming services now!
So go and give it a listen.
For further show information keep an eye out on their socials @2ndlocationeahc
Until next time, I’ll catch you in the pit!
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