East Yorkshire, UK-based punks Bug Facer can trace their origins back to when founding duo James Cooper (bass, guitar, vocals) and Will Longton (drums, vocals) let psychedelic prog rock band Woodlouse, wanting to explore darker tones and delve deeper into primal rhythms. The band then expanded into a quartet with the addition of Tom Steel (bass, guitar, vocals) and Josh Burdett (bass, guitar), who also helped to bring extra layers of grit and warmth to their already huge sound. Cooper has since left the band to pursue other creative avenues — but still continues to contribute to the band’s output.
The band quickly established a unique, extremely loud, scratchy sound that draws from doom metal and drone that seems to be born from some ancient primordial power that’s dwelled in a darkened tomb for millennia and when unleashed, harnesses the raw power of the elements. Songs emerge from long rehearsal and jam sessions, where the band patiently wait for ideas to emerge with the song guiding them to their conclusion.
The band has began to make a name for themselves across Yorkshire, making a run of the local festival circuit with sets at Humber Street Sesh and Freedom Festival, as well as playing numerous opening slots. And across the UK, their previously released tracks “Fiery Demon Attacks Old Man On Bridge” and “Horsefly” have received attention from Soundsphere Magazine, Aural Aggravation and others, as well as airplay from Radio X’s John Kennedy and BBC Introducing’s Jericho Keys.
The British outfit follow up last year’s Man Killed By Train EP with the Adam Patrick-produced double-sided single “Nuclear Bounty Hunter”/'”Beggar’s Last Words.” “Nuclear Bounty Hunter” was one of the first songs written with the band’s original lineup — and it’s a primal bruiser of a song that’s a blend of punk and doom metal, delivered with a sneering menace.
“Nuclear Bounty Hunter”/”Beggar’s Last Words” is a concept double single about the Earth’s apocalyptic future and the extermination and extinction of mankind. “Nuclear Bounty Hunter” in particular follows a mercenary, who’s been hired to kill the last human, “The Beggar.” The song’s lyrics show the titular Nuclear Bounty Hunter’s disposition: he only thinks of death and its inference.
The band say of the release: “We had a great time recording these songs, it’s the perfect goodbye to what we consider to be our old style (we’re about to turn the corner with a new sound that we plan to get out there later this year) but are pleased to share this conceptual release with the world.”
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