More Than Life (band)

More Than Life
Also known asBasics
OriginBath, Somerset, UK
Genres
Years active2006–2016
Labels
SpinoffsSvalbard[1]
Past members
  • James Matthews
  • Joel Peets
  • Joey Bayes
  • Tony Klein
  • Bobby Daniels

More Than Life (originally Basics) were an English hardcore punk band formed in Bath, Somerset. Formed in 2006 by James Matthews (vocals), Joel Peets (guitar), Joey Bayes (guitar), Bobby Daniels (bass) and Tony Klein (drums), they self-released their debut EP Prelude the following year. In 2008, its followup Brave Enough to Fail was released through Day Records and Anchors Aweigh Records. They released their debut album, Love Let Me Go in 2011. They release were widely influential, helping to establish a major wave of melodic hardcore in Britain in the 2010s. In 2011, they announced they would disband the following year, however by October 2012 had decided to continue as a band. On their second album What's Left Of Me (2014), they shifted their sound towards post-rock. They disbanded in 2016.

History

Originally named Basics,[2] More Than Life was founded in 2006, consisting of singer James Matthews, the two guitarists Joel Peets and Joey Bayes, bassist Bobby Daniels and drummer Tony Klein.[3] The name More Than Life was taken from the song "Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together" by Morrissey.[4] In 2007, the Prelude EP was released on CD and cassette. This was self-financed. The following year, the musicians released their second EP Brave Enough to Fail via Day by Day Records and Anchors Aweigh Records.[5] In April and May 2009, More Than Life toured continentally for the first time, opening for Your Demise and Deez Nuts.[6]

Their debut album, Love Let Me Go, was released on CD and vinyl in 2010 via Purgatory Records.[7] A European tour with Break Even was postponed from October 2011 to April 2012 as both groups struggled with line-up changes. They announced they Mor would disband after this tour.[8][9] However, on 11 October 2012, they released a statement calling the disbandment claims "dumb shit we said in past statuses", and discussed their intentions to continue touring and writing music.[10]

On 21 January 2013, they announced they would be entering the studio to record their second album.[11] From November 21, 2013, to October 5, 2013, More Than Life toured Europe as a headliner. Performances took place in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and in Czech Republic. The group was accompanied by Departures and Swan Dive.[12] On September 21, 2013, the first date in Cologne, Being as an Ocean, Capsize and the Elijah also performed.[13] In January 2014, the group played a concert tour of the United Kingdom, together with Landscapes, Goodtime Boys and Caspian.[14] On April 14, 2014, the second album What's Left Of Me was released via Holy Roar Records.[15] That month, they supported Architects on their tour of mainland Europe.[16] Between 24 October and 9 November 2014, they headlined a tour of Australia and south-east Asia.[17] On the Australian leg, they were supported by Perspectives.[18]

Musical style and legacy

Critic have categorised their music as melodic hardcore,[19][20][21] emotional hardcore,[22][23][24] progressive hardcore[25] and post-rock.[26][27] What’s Left Of Me (2014) saw the band shift to a sound more like the bands involved in the wave,[22] using mostly clean guitar tones and incorporating spoken word, progressive music elements.[28][29]

They cited influences including Got It Alone, Ruiner, Another Breath, Turning Point, Stay Gold, AFI, Farside, Hole, Tegan and Sara and Placebo.[30]

More Than Life were of the most prominent bands in hardcore punk in the United Kingdom[26][31] and international melodic hardcore of their time,[32][33] helping to establish what Noizze called "a golden period of melodic hardcore".[34] The band were widely influential,[35] with a 2014 OX magazine article calling them "one of the most influential European hardcore bands of the last decade".[36] They laid the foundational for what would become dreamcore music,[37] and have been cited as an influence by Capsize.[38]

Discography

Album

  • Love Let Me Go (2010)
  • What’s Left Of Me (2014)

EPs

  • Prelude (2007)
  • Brave Enough to Fail (2008)

Members

  • James Matthews – vocals
  • Joel Peets – guitar
  • Joey Bayes – guitar
  • Bobby Daniels – bass
  • Tony Klein – drums

References

  1. ^ Henderson, Colin (26 March 2013). "Album Review: Svalbard - Gone Tomorrow". Already Heard. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  2. ^ Shaun Milton (16 March 2016). Ian Hates Music Episode #12 (Landscapes). Ian Hates Music (Podcast). Event occurs at 9m15. Retrieved 14 February 2026. A band called More Than Life had just formed, they used to be in, another band called Basics, and it was, like, pretty much the same members, and More Than Life were going out on their first tour through Europe and that was with, Killing the Dream and and, the Carrier from Boston.
  3. ^ "More Than Life". www.ukfestivalguides.com. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  4. ^ Doyle, Tomas (9 April 2014). "More Than Life - What's Left Of Me". DIY. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  5. ^ "MORE THAN LIFE - 'Brave enough to fail' CD". Trust (134): 58. February–March 2008.
  6. ^ Torben: Allschools Network: YOUR DEMISE, DEEZ NUTS, MORE THAN LIFE Eurotour
  7. ^ "More Than Life". Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  8. ^ Patrick Siegmann: Stageload: More Than Life – Auflösung und letzte Eurotour mit Break Even
  9. ^ Partyausfall: MORE THAN LIFE - Tour mit BREAK EVEN verschoben
  10. ^ "More Than Life Don't Disband". Legends Arising. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  11. ^ "MORE THAN LIFE announce new album! - IDIOTEQ.com". 21 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  12. ^ Heartbeat Media: More Than Life European Tour 2013
  13. ^ Marcel M.: Allschools Network: 21.09.2013: Being As An Ocean, More Than Life, The Elijah, Swan Dive, Capsize - Essigfabrik, Köln
  14. ^ Brian Kraus: Alternative Press: Defeater announce European/UK tour with Caspian, Landscapes, More Than Life, Goodtime Boys
  15. ^ Marcel M: Allschools Network: More Than Life - What´s Left Of Me Kritik
  16. ^ Pertola, Petteri (9 January 2013). "More Than Life added to Architects tour". Rockfreaks.net. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  17. ^ Kamiński, Karol (2 October 2014). "MORE THAN LIFE Australian / South East Asian tour dates - IDIOTEQ.com". Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  18. ^ "More Than Life To Tour Australia This Year". The Music. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  19. ^ Stewart, Ethan (19 February 2025). "Melodic Hardcore's Stunning Mid-2020s Resurgence » PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  20. ^ Edwards, Joe (2 May 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: HEAVYHEX - True To You". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  21. ^ WATSON, NATTY GRAY. "5 Albums to Introduce You to Japanese Hardcore". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  22. ^ a b Bezer, Terry (31 March 2014). "More Than Life: What's Left Of Me". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  23. ^ Asia, Unite (19 February 2016). "CHECK OUT: Emotional hardcore band Disdain from Indonesia (FFO: More Than Life)". Unite Asia. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  24. ^ "German modern hardcore band ACHES tackle youth struggles on their new powerful EP "Dead Youth" - IDIOTEQ.com". 7 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  25. ^ Keal, James (30 September 2018). "Singles Only V5.0 • Hardbeat - Unleashing The Underground". Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  26. ^ a b Manchester, Guy (1 May 2014). "Hit The Deck: Various Venues, Bristol - festival review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  27. ^ Pertola, Aleksi. "ARCHITECTS 20.03.2014". Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  28. ^ Baines, Huw. "More Than Life - What's Left Of Me (Album Review) - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  29. ^ "Album Review: More Than Life - 'What's Left Of Me'". The Music. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  30. ^ "MORE THAN LIFE - LOVE LET ME GO AVAILABLE NOW! | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Archived from the original on 8 March 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  31. ^ "More Than Life – What's Left Of Me". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  32. ^ Edwards, Joe (26 June 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: Love Letter - Everyone Wants Something Beautiful". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  33. ^ Morton, Luke (25 April 2016). "Why Holy Roar Records still fight for the underground". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  34. ^ Hillier, Dan (14 October 2018). "One Album Wonders - 10 Great Releases By Bands Who Only Released One Album (Part 2)". Noizze UK. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  35. ^ "The Departed – 'Steal The Crown'". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  36. ^ "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  37. ^ Lensch, Julius Lensch. "SOLACE. I'll Be Fine". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  38. ^ "Meet: Capsize interview". Backseat Mafia. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
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