Astroid Boys

Astroid Boys are a Welsh rap rock band from Cardiff, whose music has been called a mix of hardcore punk and grime music.[3][4]

Astroid Boys
Astroid Boys performing at Impericon Festival 2017 [Oberhausen]
Background information
OriginCardiff, Wales
Genres
Years active2012–2019 (hiatus)[1]
LabelsMusic for Nations
MembersBenjamin 'Benji Wild' Kendell[2]
Past membersPhillip 'Traxx' Davies[2]
Elliot 'Dellux' Brussalis[2]
Ricardo "DJ Comfort" Banks[2]
Harry ‘Big H’ Williams[2] Kyle Deek

Career

2012–2015

Started in 2012 by co-frontman Traxx, the intention was to create something that merged his past as a punk kid with his transition into grime in his late teens. Calling upon an old friend in DJ Comfort, Traxx was able to get the project off the ground with small hip-hop shows around Cardiff. DJ Dellux was already making a name for himself in Cardiff, having his own youth centre radio show at the age of 14, producing beats, and agreed to join Astroid Boys after hearing about the band's direction and goals. Their hardcore hustling lead to them playing raves around Cardiff, where they frequently performed alongside ‘rival’ MC Benji. It became apparent that Traxx and Benji worked well together, creating their trademark co-frontman set-up. Long-time friend – and metal fan - Harry was recruited to provide live drums, and since then the gang has had an ever-extending crew, both live and in the studio. In its early days the band was supported by the Cardiff youth project Grassroots, which also helped to launch the careers of Cerys Matthews, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals and the Manic Street Preachers, amongst others.[5]

In August 2012, NME announced that Astroid Boys would be playing at London's Freeze Festival in October that year on a bill which would include Mark Ronson, Grandmaster Flash and Zane Lowe.[6]

In April 2015, Astroid Boys were featured on Kerrang!'s shortlist of "ten killer new bands" competing for a stage slot at that year's Slam Dunk Festival.[7] In November that same year, the band was amongst 35 successful Welsh musical applicants to receive financial support from BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales via the Launchpad fund created as part of the organisations' joint Horizons scheme.[8] A month later, they were winners in the online Cardiff Music Awards,[9] taking the prizes in four categories: Best band, Best live act, Best music video (for "Posted") and Best single/EP (for "CF10").[10]

2016

In January 2016, Wales Online's David Owens included Astroid Boys in his article "Sound of Wales 2016: 12 acts who deserve your attention over the coming year".[11]

Astroid Boys have built a reputation for impressive festival performances, at Reading and Leeds Festivals, Download Festival and T in the Park, as well as festivals in mainland Europe, including Block Party Festival (Germany) and With Full Force Festival (Germany). In 2016 they joined Music for Nations, the first band to be signed by the label in over ten years,[12] and chosen to be the flagship band for the label's re-launch which includes a re-release of ‘Bacon Dream’ and ‘CF10’ on clear vinyl, with their debut full-length album following in Spring 2017. The band will also be releasing live footage from their performance on the Radio 1Xtra Stage at Reading Festival 2016, which NME blogger Jordan Bassett called an "exciting, uncompromising show".[13]

In December 2016, their track "Dusted" was chosen as the official theme song for the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament, which took place early the following year.[14] The track has gone on to become the official theme song of the WWE UK brand.[15]

2017

In January 2017, Astroid Boys were the subject of BBC Radio 4's documentary Generation Grime which followed them on their most recent UK tour.[16] Astroid Boys joined Enter Shikari on their arena tour of the UK and Europe tour in November and December 2017.

2018–2019

Astroid Boys have toured with Hollywood Undead as well as embarking on their most successful headline tour to date. They have also supported Ice-T's band Body Count in that summer. In mid 2018, it was announced that Traxx would part ways with the band to pursue other projects.

By the end of 2018, Benji was the only founding member in the band, bringing in a new lineup for the last remaining shows. Benji has since put out a (now deleted) tweet stating that now all original members have left, Astroid Boys will disband as to focus on his solo career and family. On 10 December, it was announced that Astroid Boys will be on the line-up for an upcoming show in support of Welsh Independence. The concert will take place on the 15th of February 2019 and will include acts such as Charlotte Church, Gruff Rhys and Boy Azooga.[17]

On 6 January 2019, Benji announced that after finishing the next tour the project will go on "indefinite" hiatus.[1]

Discography

Albums
Title Details
Broke[18]
  • Released: 29 September 2017
  • Labels: Music for Nations
  • Formats: DD

Extended plays
Title Details Notes
Bacon Dream[19]
  • Released: 5 September 2013
  • Labels: Pinky Swear Records
  • Formats: 12-inch, CD, DD
 Reissued on 11 November 2016 by Music for Nations[20]
CF10[21]
  • Released: 23 April 2015
  • Label: Pinky Swear Records
  • Formats: 12-inch, CD, DD
 Reissued on 11 November 2016 by Music for Nations[22]

References
  1. Elizabeth Aubrey (January 7, 2019). "Astroid Boys to go on an indefinite "hiatus" after their current tour ends". NME. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  2. "Credits adapted from TIDAL. Search "Astroid Boys", click Bacon Dream - EP and look for the track info on the song "Bintro" for performer credits, which show names". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  3. "A Look Inside Cardiff's Rap and Grime Scene". 4 July 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  4. "Combining hardcore punk with grime might sound dangerously close to nu metal, but Cardiff five-piece Astroid Boys are looking ahead, not back". NME. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  5. Wightwick, Abbie (7 May 2015). "Cardiff council cuts threaten youth project that helped launch stars like Cerys Matthews and Stereophonics". Walesonline. Media Wales. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  6. Goodwyn, Tom (30 August 2012). "Public Enemy and DJ Shadow to headline London's Freeze Festival – ticket details". NME. London. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. Emily (23 April 2015). "Slam Dunk Fresh Blood Competition – Introducing: Astroid Boys". Kerrang!. London. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  8. Owens, David (4 November 2015). "35 Welsh musicians receive financial boost with announcement of Launchpad funding". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  9. Owens, David (23 January 2017). "New awards aims to celebrate the Cardiff music scene". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  10. Brown, Francis (28 December 2015). "Cardiff Music Awards 2015 Announced". www.newsoundwales.com. Newsoundwales. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  11. Owens, David (15 January 2016). "Sound of Wales 2016: 12 acts who deserve your attention over the coming year". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  12. Munro, Scott (3 November 2016). "Music For Nations sign first artist since 2004". TeamRock.com. Metal Hammer. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  13. Bassett, Jordan (28 August 2016). "Astroid Boys Introduced Reading Festival To The World Of Welsh Grime Punk". www.nme.com/blogs. NME. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  14. Owens, David (21 December 2016). "Cardiff band's track chosen as the official theme song for the WWE UK Championship". Wales Online. Media Wales. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  15. UK, WWE (2018-10-17). "The official theme song of #NXTUK: "Dusted" by @AstroidBoyspic.twitter.com/mxG43vGHMj". @wweuk. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  16. "Generation Grime". BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  17. Owens, David (2018-12-10). "Top music stars to perform at Welsh independence concert". walesonline. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  18. "Broke by Astroid Boys on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  19. "Astroid Boys - Bacon Dream". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  20. "Astroid Boys - Bacon Dream". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  21. "Astroid Boys - CF10". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  22. "Astroid Boys - CF10". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
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