Emerging from the concrete paradise of Birmingham, Victories at Sea fuse a vivacious combination of brutalist electronic hooks, soaring post-punk guitars and dolorous wordplay. After recently being championed by the likes of the NME, The Guardian, Clash Magazine and XFM’s John Kennedy, November 2015 saw the band release their debut album ‘Everything Forever’.
Written over the last two years at an abandoned steel works in Digbeth, and recorded in the damp basement of an old whistle factory in the depths of the city’s industrial Northern quarter, embracing the darker sounds and subjects was inevitable. But with lyrics that often touch on matters of love, loss, and loneliness, this is a record born from a cathartic affection of hope and escapism. It is also a thrillingly taut and danceable journey, the band have toured their disco-noir extensively in the UK and Europe (with the likes of EDITORS and Savages), earning the respect of their fans and contemporaries alike. Their debut EP ‘In Memory Of’ gained the band the attention it deserved, particularly via 6music, and in turn built the perfect foundation for the anticipated album to follow.
They’ve influences that range from Mogwai to Factory Floor, Slowdive, through to The Chameleons, but Victories at Sea are far more than just the sum of their parts, with original, exciting songwriting that never loses its pop sensibilities.
Stand out tracks such as ‘Up’ and ‘Poles Apart’ showcase the band at their most danceable, with big chorus hooks and machine beats that timelessly devour and yet are impossible to forget. As the album builds ten tracks towards it’s crescendo, ‘Sirens’ and ‘Future Gold’ both see Victories at Sea explore more intricate musicianship and atmospheric soundscapes that build through layers of impressive electronics and heavily effected guitars, intent to sonically enthral and make you dance in equal measure this is a record with true multiplicity, depth and heart.
On 21st February 2020 Victories at Sea released their second studio album Everybody’s Lost and All I Want Is to Leave’. This album was conceived and realised as a statement. A permanent marker of the pinnacle of the trio’s possible creation, an honest and direct expression of the collective power of the three band members. It is more than a collection of songs, it stands as a collective of artistic work designed at every point to demonstrate a belief in the power of the album, the power of music, the power of words. Something beautiful that would remain forever. You can order it on limited edition gatefold vinyl, CD and digital download.