Leeds band Ultimate Thunder have released the buzzing ‘I’ve Got No Bees In Your House’ from their forthcoming second album, ‘A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh’, set for release on the 10th May, 2024. Following on from 2022’s renowned, self-titled debut; the band are once again collaborating with producer/musician James Mabbett (Napoleon IIIrd) and will be releasing the album via Easy Listening Records.
Aptly described by Mabbet as ‘The Fall meets Hawkwind’, the creative collective have earned a reputation for offsetting their spiralling grooves with a snarling, noise-rock edge. On lead single ‘I’ve Got No Bees In Your House’, frontman Matthew Watson’s surreal lyrics and captivating, stream-of-consciousness vocal delivery are the perfect accompaniment to the song’s disco inferno drums, driving bassline and cacophony of synth sonics.
First coming together in 2013 with the help of Leeds charity ‘People In Action’, the eclectic collective began writing, performing and gigging across Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford before beginning work with Leeds arts charity Pyramid in 2017, offering band members the support they need for the band to continue to thrive.
The current line up of Matthew Watson (vocals), Scott Anderson (drums), Alex Sykes (keyboard), John Densley (percussion), Kenneth Stainburn (bass) and the band’s mentor, guide and guitarist James Heselwood made their live debut at Leeds’ revered DIY space Wharf Chambers in 2019 before joining up with Leeds musician and producer Napoleon IIIrd for their debut album.
The band’s second album ‘A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh’ is as vivid and psychedelic as the title suggests, with the outfit combining writing skills honed online with the ineffable chaos of face-to-face improv interaction. Channelling Mark E. Smith at his most withering through an FM radio stuck somewhere between afrobeat and musique concrète, ‘I’ve Got No Bees In Your House’ showcases a band in their element and serves as a fitting reminder to embrace all the noisy joy that comes with unbridled creativity.
However, in February, with the album finally finished, the band received news that their supporting charity would no longer be able to support Ultimate Thunder financially. Unbeknownst to the band, Ultimate Thunder made their final live appearance to date on Feb 3rd, 2023 at The Brudenell Social Club. With their album complete, Ultimate Thunder face the prospect of the record being released without having seen each other in months.
To allow them to continue operating, Ultimate Thunder are raising money via a crowdfunding campaign, with all funds going to support the band’s continued existence. Practising, recording and performing are all particularly costly for Ultimate Thunder as all but one of the band’s members have a learning disability and complex needs that require dedicated additional support.
The crowdfunding campaign, set up by Mabbett, has already led to the band appearing on ITV News, BBC Breakfast, BBC Look North and BBC Radio Leeds whilst attracting vocal support for their cause from the likes of fellow post-punk outfit Yard Act, beloved Leeds venue The Brudenell Social Club and Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) who has also invited the band to perform at this year’s Kendal Calling festival.
Ultimate Thunder will release ‘A Spider Will Come To Eat Your Flesh’ in May 2024 with support from Arts Council England, Pyramid Arts and Leeds Inspired.
