Birdskulls

Birdskulls
OriginBrighton, East Sussex, UK
Genres
Years active2012–2018
LabelArt Is Hard
Past members
  • Jack Pulman
  • Rory Marshall
  • Nick Hoyes
  • Luke Ellis
  • Nick Wells
  • Sam Hrachovec

Birdskulls were an English rock band from Brighton. Formed in 2012 as a solo-project by vocalist/guitarist Jack Pulman, the band quickly expanded into a three piece that included bassist Rory Marshall and various drummers. In 2014, they released a split EP with Bloody Knees, followed by their debut album Trickle in 2015. Birdskulls' fusion of emo and grunge led them to become a forefront band in the British DIY music scene of the 2010s, helping to establish the Brighton soft grunge scene and progress the ongoing grunge revival. They released their self-titled EP in 2018, and disbanded soon after.

History

Birdskulls originated in 2012, when Jack Pulman began to record music at home on his laptop. Quickly, he hired additional musicians from his local Brighton music scene. The first lineup of Birdskulls was Pulman on guitar and vocals, Rory Marshall on bass and New Years Evil drummer Nick Hoyes. When Hoyes departed, his role was filled by Muncie Girls drummer Luke Ellis. Following Ellis' departure, the band hired the New Tusk drummer Nick Wells.[1] On 19 November 2012, they released the single "Mispresume", premiered through Neu. They announced the single would be a part of their upcoming EP Mispresume/Rolling Tongue, released by Art Is Hard Records on 17 December.[2] On 24 February 2014, they released a split EP with Bloody Knees.[3] Around this time, Wells departed from the band. His role was filled by Sam Hrachovec.[1]

The band entered Strongroom Music Studio in March 2015 to record their debut full-length.[4] On 13 May 2015, they released the single "Good Enough", premiered by Vice Media.[5] At the same time, they announced it would be a part of their debut full-length album Trickle, to be released through Dog Knights Productions.[6] On 26 August 2015, they released the single "Ghost World", premiered by DIY.[7] On 26 February 2016, they played Broadbay's EP release show, alongside Muskets and Beachtape.[8] Between 10 and 22 March 2016, they toured the United Kingdom with Pipedream.[9]

On 12 July 2017, they released the single "Over It", premiered by Upset. At the same time, they announced it would be a part of their upcoming self-titled EP, recorded by Theo Verney,[10] and released through Art Is Hard Records.[11] Between 12 and 16 July, they toured England with support from the New Tusk.[12] They had a brief tour of southern England during August 2017 with Pinact.[13] Between 30 October and 2 November, they headlined a tour of England, supporting Slowcoaches.[14] On 24 January 2018, they released the single "Promises", confirming that their self-titled EP would be released on 3 March.[15]

Following their 2018 disbandment, nembers of Birdskulls went on to form Abattoir Blues,[16] Icehead[17] and Public Body.[18]

Musical style

Critics categorised Birdskulls' music as soft grunge,[19] emo[20][21] and grunge.[22][5] Their earliest work was slacker rock,[19] largly influenced by Dinosaur Jr.. On Trickle (2015), they began to also take influence from Title Fight, Basement, Cloud Nothings, the Marked Men and Far.[1] During this time, they were a part of the grunge revival, with DIY writer Samuel Cornforth calling them one of the bands in the movement most similar to the original grunge sound.[2]

The band incorporated slow sludge metal-influenced guitar riffs,[23] amplifier feedback,[24] bouncy hooks and raspy vocals.[25] They made use of effects units, in a 2015 interview, ack Pulman listed his pedals as including Boss Turbo Distortion Russian Electro Harmonix Big Muff and Boss Super Chorus.[1] Their early work made heavy use of fuzz.[26]

Legacy

Birdskulls were a forefront band in the British DIY music scene of the 2010s, alongside Bloody Knees and Nai Harvest,[23] and headed a wave of British bands reviving an interest in guitar-based music alongside Joanna Gruesome, Flamingods and Bloody Knees.[27] They helped to establish a sector of the Brighton punk scene typified by the fusion of the grunge and emo, alongside Muskets, Water Canvas, Broadbay and the New Tusk.[21] In a 2019 article, The Line of Best Fit writer Ben Lynch called Birdskulls "heroes" of the Brighton scene, alongside the New Tusk and Broadbay.[28] Their scene thrived between 2013 and 2017.[29]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Trickle (2015)
EPs

Members

  • Jack Pulman – vocals, guitar
  • Rory Marshall – bass
  • Nick Hoyes – drums
  • Luke Ellis – drums
  • Nick Wells – drums
  • Sam Hrachovec – drums

References

  1. ^ a b c d "INTERVIEW: Jack Pulman ( Birdskulls )". Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Cornforth, Samuel (19 November 2012). "Birdskulls". DIY. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ Jones, Ross (21 July 2014). "LISTEN: BLOODY KNEES - DAYDREAM". Wax Music. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  4. ^ Jamieson, Sarah (25 January 2016). "Birdskulls: "There's been a really good atmosphere"". DIY. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b Garland, Emma (13 May 2015). "Premiere: BIRDSKULLS - "Good Enough"". Vice Media. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  6. ^ Marshman, Chris. "Birdskulls post video for 'Good Enough'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Birdskulls unleash the spirits with 'Ghost World'". DIY. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  8. ^ Tipple, Ben. "Broadbay urge you to let yourself go in their 'Part Of Me' video". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ "In Case You Missed It (14/02/2016)". Already Heard. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ Shutler, Ali. "Birdskulls are back and they're far from Over It". Upset. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Birdskulls announce new self-titled EP". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  12. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Birdskulls announce UK shows with The New Tusk". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  13. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Pinact stream new album, 'The Part That No One Knows'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  14. ^ Lohan, Aaron. "Slowcoaches reveal Misfits cover". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  15. ^ "BIRDSKULLS ANNOUNCE NEW 12" EP WITH 'PROMISES' VIDEO". DIY. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Abattoir Blues". NME: 26. 15 March 2014. This self-acclaimed "semisupergroup" of Brighton bands, featuring members of The Magic Gang, Bayy and Birdskulls
  17. ^ "Hear the brilliant, sprightly emo of Icehead's 'Out The Door', ft Harry Waugh of Abattoir Blues". DIY. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  18. ^ Murray, Robin (15 February 2019). "Public Body Share New Single 'Talking Show'". Clash. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  19. ^ a b Stewart, Ethan (18 March 2026). "Bloody Knees Shapeshift on 'What Else' » PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  20. ^ Bhandari, Ashwin. "LIVE: Bloody Knees / Abattoir Blues / Birdskulls / Broadbay @ Sebright Arms, London". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  21. ^ a b "Muskets share "Chewing Gum" • Punk Rock Theory". Punk Rock Theory. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  22. ^ "Birdskulls – Trickle". Brightonsfinest. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  23. ^ a b Daly, Rhian (18 May 2015). "MIA, Mac DeMarco, Lana Del Rey And More: This Week's 20 Most Essential New Tracks". NME. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Birdskulls and Johnny Foreigner get boisturous for curtain call". DIY (49). March 2016. Birdskulls burst onto the stage with a hit of glorious feedback
  25. ^ Hall, Alex. "LIVE: Muncie Girls / Birdskulls / Skeleton Frames @ Cavern, Exeter". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  26. ^ Stevens, Tom (30 October 2015). "Live Review: Birdskulls + support (Brighton, 10/10/15)". Seeing Your Scene. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Britain's DIY Underground Has Never Been Stronger". Clash. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  28. ^ Lynch, Ben. "Public Body are Brighton's latest intriguing post-punk prospect". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  29. ^ Milton, Jamie (23 March 2018). "The Magic Gang Did It Their Way". Vice Media. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
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