Nine Necks
Photo Credit 📷 : @woefoto
Your favorite Chicago band from Los Angeles has returned after nearly five years with a re branding of sorts. Nine Necks are back and setting out for a wild 2025. Currently taking influence from veteran acts like Jeromes Dream, Botch, Converge and Every Time I Die while not sounding like a copy of any of them. Their eclectic new blend of melodies and hefty rhythms accompany the absolute vocal assault and battery they deliver and it reaches every corner. Far beyond a handful of influences and a few band name drops, their style allows their sound to fit flawlessly across many genre fanbases. From post hardcore to screamo and metalcore lovers, Nine Necks have a neck for anyone who likes heavy music.
Emerging with their new vocalist Dan Rees to debut a new song “No Heart” coming off of their upcoming EP Ritual & Demise which is due to be released this spring under the bands label imprint “Be Human”. Nine Necks are also currently looking for other labels to partner up with for a wider physical release. We had a chat with their "drummer / band secretary” Patrick about their line up change, writing and recording process, the new single, their upcoming EP and the plans and goals they’ve set to take on in this new year.
WITH A RECENT LINE UP CHANGE I’M CURIOUS HOW THE WRITING PROCESS FOR THIS EP WENT?
“The writing process for this EP was a long one. We started writing these songs during the lockdown after we decided to move forward as a three piece following the departure of founding member and vocalist Joel. The search for a new vocalist was taking longer than we wanted so we decided to take up the vocal duties amongst ourselves. That’s when Joe, our guitarist, discovered that he could sing a little, then Dan eventually came knocking on our door.
Dan brought in a crazy deathcore pedigree with him so we decided to eschew our melodic hardcore past in favor of something heavier and more pummeling. After Dan came into the fold we re-tuned the songs that we had written and began writing new songs along with Dan. The songs on the EP reflect that growth as a band.”
HOW WAS THE RECORDING PROCESS FOR THE NEW MATERIAL?
“The recording process for this EP was also a long process. We demoed these songs twice before finally laying down tracks with Alex Estrada at The Pale Moon Ranch. The time at the ranch was a great time. It’s in a pretty remote spot in Juniper Hills, CA. It felt a lot like going to band camp except you get a record at the end.”
WHERE WAS RITUAL AND DEMISE MIXED / MASTERED?
“We decided to keep the mix in house with Alex Estrada at The Pale Moon Ranch. Alex is multi-talented and mixing is just another of his super powers. It was great to mix there as we were all able to get our ears in the same room for the final mixes. We had a few options for mastering but Alex suggested that we should go with Chris Common from These Arms Are Snakes.
He thought Chris would be a great fit for what we do and he was right. He did an amazing job shaping the overall tone.”
“THESE SINGLES AND THE EP AS A WHOLE ARE A BIT OF A RELAUNCH FOR THIS BAND. IT’S OUR FIRST RELEASE OF ANY NEW MATERIAL IN NEARLY FIVE YEARS AND IT’S THE FIRST WITH OUR NEW SINGER DAN AS WELL SO IT DOCUMENTS THIS TRANSITORY PERIOD IN THE BAND.“
- PATRICK @NINENECKS
SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR NINE NECKS NOW?
“The goal is to start building around this. We’re planning to play more shows in support of the releases but we’ve also been writing so we’re going to be back in the studio again this year. We’re currently planning to ramp up shows in support of the upcoming releases. We’re playing next week (1/18/25 @The Redwoods in DTLA w/Some Gifts). We’re also planning for more local touring around LA with possible midwest dates as well as that is where we are all originally from.”
ANY CLOSING WORDS?
“We just want to give a shoutout to all of our friends and family both in Los Angeles and Chicago (fun fact, all of our members are originally from Chicago). Another shoutout and some love to all of the bands we’ve played with and the venues who have hosted us (You know who you are. I’m not gonna list because someone always feels slighted).
One specific shout out though to our ridiculously talented friend Brian Skipworth who painstakingly engineered and mixed the original demos for the EP in the crucible like summer heat of our practice spot, he is the unsung hero for us in all of this.”
Posted below we’re hyped to debuting their new single “No Heart” which will be available on all streaming platforms this week on January 10th. Check it out below, follow them on their bandcamp link listed there as well and hit ‘em up if you’re a a label that may be interested in partnering up to help release Ritual and Demise. If this is any indication of what our new year will entail for Nine Necks upcoming releases and for the heavy music scene in general then we’re all in for an absolutely magical 2025!
Do not quote me on 2025 being “magical” for anything except new music releases.
