London-based punk rock outfit Drones revealed their second full-length studio album Our Hell Is Right Here via Lockjaw Records and Thousand Islands. Following an extensive promotional campaign that started back in October with the release of first single ‘Josephine‘, and saw the rising band drop four more in subsequent months, the album is finally out today. Embracing their musical influences and spinning them with fiery charge, Drones deliver an angry, politically-charged, punk-driven album that is not afraid to use restless hardcore riffs and passionate melodic parts without sounding forced or trendy.
Upon the long-anticipated release, the band shared a post to thank everyone involved in their ambitious project, and turned to their loyal followers: “Most importantly, thanks to all of YOU who have pre-ordered the album, streamed the singles and supported us! We hope to be able to get out on tour and play these songs as soon as possible, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy listening to the record.”
Concise and straight to the point, Our Hell Is Right Here lasts just over 40 minutes and features a total of 13 tracks that aims to bring engaging punk rock back from the shadows. The record includes the previously released singles ‘Josephine‘, title ‘Our Hell Is Right Here’, ‘Epitaph‘, ‘Learn‘ and most recent ‘Live & Let Live‘. The rest of the tracks add a much needed depth and variety quite often lacking in records of that genre, ranging from the gentle acoustic ‘Learn‘ through the monumental atmosphere in ‘VOID‘ all the way to the blistering ‘Lost In Translation‘.
Talking about tackling their second album tackling the sour state of the world while being fuelled by personal issues, talented singer Lois McDougall says: “I’m learning that personal care and self-worth is not something to be diminished. There are songs on this album that I had to write for my own therapy. Whilst writing this record, I went through a divorce, lost a family member and was battling with my own mental health. At the same time, it felt like the world was falling apart. ‘Our Hell Is Right Here’ is the product of my experiences over the past few months. There’s a lot of sadness on this record, but I can now look back and celebrate who I have become in spite of it all.”
A true DIY story, Our Hell Is Right Here is entirely self-produced, mastered, mixed and engineered by Drones’ guitarist Tim Kramer at Signal House Studios. Other professionals involved in making the record come true include the teams of Lockjaw Records and Thousand Islands, Major Press and Earshot Media, Merit-Based Booking Management, as well as Tim Deal, Kazz Stanley and Ren Aldridge from Petrol Girls, featuring on the intense title single.
Kramer reflects on the turbulent recording process: “We finished writing the record in January, but it’s been an usually long process due to all the twists and turns that 2020 has thrown at us! We’ve been spread apart all over the country, but there’s also been a national lockdown and we lost a guitarist at the tail-end of the process. There were never more than two of us in a room at any given stage of making this album but it doesn’t feel disjointed at all – in fact, in the face of adversity, it’s our fullest sounding record yet.” Order Drones’ ambitious debut Our Hell Is Right Here from their official Bandcamp or via Lockjaw Records.
