Cardiff quartet Himalayas are building up quite an impressive CV. Last year’s debut full-length, ‘From Hell to Here’, was a boisterous, hefty collection thriving in its fuzz-laden indie rock skin. Having received critical acclaim, noteable radio spots, and millions of Spotify streams, the former school friends look to maintain the momentum in the coming months. For starters, their new single, ‘V.O.V’. sees them collaborating with a rock legend – AC/DC’s Brian Johnson. Amplified by huge riffs, Himalayas stride forward with an anthemic slab of gritty rock.
While their ‘From Hell to Here’ considerably saw the four-piece lean heavy into their influences, ‘V.O.V.’ is executed with confidence, carving out an identity of their own in the process. Aided by the impressive production work of the much-sought after Dan Lancaster (Blink-182, Muse, Bring Me The Horizon), Himalayas provide a bold and impressionable return, executed with urgency. Ultimately, it captures the lyrical intensity of ‘V.O.V’.
“It’s a song of resistance and struggle against violence and suffering,” Himalayas explained. “We wanted to talk of contrasting worlds and how the cracks between them are so readily paved over.”
The collaboration with Johnson was the result of a mutual friend of the AC/DC frontman and Himalayas. Having been impressed with the band’s music, Johnson gifted the lyrics to the Welsh group. “When I was played their recordings, I immediately thought they were the perfect band for the song; the attack they bring to V.O.V is musical violence,” Johnson was quoted saying.
On the live front, Himalayas have ticked off many achievements including playng at the Reading & Leeds Festival twice, alongside numbers UK and European festivals. They’ve also shared the stage with influential Welsh bands Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonices. This summer they’ll add Foo Fighters to the list of bands Himalayas have been fortunate enough to support. Furthermore, it’ll take place in their hometown at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
However, before then there’s the small matter of two shows supporting Taking Back Sunday later this month, along with a yet to be announced UK headline tour in June.
March (supporting Taking Back Sunday)
27th o2 Kentish Town Forum, London
28th University Great Hall, Cardiff
June
25th Principality Stadium, Cardiff (supporting Foo Fighters)
Find Himalayas on: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | Linktr.ee | Website
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