Sound of Guns

After Andrew Metcalfe and Simon Finley's band split up in the summer of 2007, the pair set up a small studio in a disused social club in Liverpool and spent the next few months writing and recording some new material. At the end of 2007 they were introduced to Nathan Crowley, whose previous band had recently ended too. By the start of 2008, the three had begun writing and recording songs together, some of which would eventually end up on Sound of Gun's debut album 'What Came From Fire'. In need of other musicians to complete the line-up, Crowley played the new recordings for Lee Glynn, a guitarist with whom he had played previously. Glynn had made plans to return home to his family in Perth, Western Australia, but on hearing the recordings, decided to stay and join Sound of Guns on guitar.

After a few months of writing and rehearsing as a four piece, the band booked their first shows. After several unsuccessful auditions for a bass player, they decided to go ahead with the shows, and have the bass parts recorded to a backing track until they found the right bass player. It was at their first hometown show at the Barfly in Liverpool that the Sound of Guns line-up was completed. John Coley, a friend of Nathan Crowley, was in the crowd that night, and was so impressed with the raw energy and powerful performance from Sound of Guns that he joined the band there and then.

Over the next few months, the band gigged endlessly around the country and carried on recording new material as a five piece. By the end of 2008 they self-released their debut single "Alcatraz", which was recorded and produced by the band, and gained a fair amount of major radio airplay, including on XFM and Radio 1.

After more writing and touring, the band soon found themselves at the centre of some serious interest from major and independent record companies. During this time, Distiller Records offered to release their next single. The band took up this offer, and "Architects" was released in June 2009 as a limited edition 7" vinyl, again gaining radio airplay. The band then headed out on tour in support of this release, and played numerous shows which included four gigs at Glastonbury Festival, opening the main stage at Latitude Festival and BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.[4] The band were invited by BBC Radio 1 to perform four songs at the Maida Vale Studios.[5]

After signing a record contract with Distiller Records the band set about writing towards their debut release. On 26 October 2009 Sound of Guns released their first EP, Elementary of Youth, through Distiller Records. It was available on a 7" gatefold single, which included a CD, the band's own fanzine Retail Rodeo and digital download. It consisted of four tracks, "Elementary of Youth", "Lightspeed" (both mixed by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers/Idlewild)), "Dead Sea Scrolls" and "Gallantry". The lead track "Elementary of Youth" was quickly picked up by BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe and given the title of 'Hottest Record in the World'[6] as well as XFM's 'Single of the Week' by Steve Harris.

In late 2010 the band announced they would release the "Breakwater"[10] single and accompanying EP via the band's website. In support of this they also announced a UK tour with The View. The EP Was released in 2011.