Ones To Watch in 2015

Now we're deep set in January and the gloom is starting to take hold, I thought it'd be a good idea to put a bit of sparkle into the most depressing month of the year by showcasing 5 up and coming bands that look set to explode over the next 12 months. So give your ears a little treat and listen to what are the best new bands in Britain.

1. Bloody Knees

Cambridge's Bloody Knees have been making quite a racket throughout 2014 and 2015 looks set to be the year they finally explode. Consisting of Sam Conway, Brad Griffiths, Christian Wilkes and Tom Wilkes they're every bit as gruesome as their name suggests with lyrics such as "I'm covered in blood / but at least I'm having fun" from the title track of their brilliant Stitches EP, seeming to embody the band. They have a distinct post-punk sound as they're driven by Brad's spiky, gritty vocals that bleed into crunching, skater punk type riffs and pounding drums, you can see just why they have a notorious reputation for crazy live shows (see reviews of their latest gig at The Old Blue Last if you need proof). 2015 is there for Bloody Knees to conquer and make their own, that's if they manage to avoid any further injuries along the way.

2. Pretty Vicious 

If you're looking for a hit of straight up bratty rock 'n' roll for the year to come then look no further than Pretty Vicious. The Merthyr Tydfil quartet have every music label in the country vying for their signature despite only currently having one song online and all being aged between 16 and 18. But don't let their age define them; they're already fully fledged rockstars. They're the perfect blend of the most successful British rock bands in recent times with nods to Arctic Monkeys and Oasis but their youthfulness breathes new life into their traditional indie-rock sound that sets them apart from the rest of the bands following the formula. Pretty Vicious currently have the world at their feet and they have the looks, the confidence and, most importantly, the tunes to fire themselves into 2015 head first. There's no question about it; they're gonna be massive.

3. Best Friends 

Having recently signed to Fat Cat Records, Sheffield DIY favourites Best Friends are certainly in for an eventful year in 2015. Lewis Sharman, Ed Crisp, Tom Roper and Jack Collister are a band that are typically at home when the sun is out and summer is in full swing with their uplifting lyrics that tumble over fuzzy riffs but they suit anytime of year as their surf-pop charm infectious. You simply can't help but want to dance about like a lunatic no matter where you are and that is part of their appeal; they just make you want to have fun. They spent the latter end of 2014 in the studio recording their debut LP which looks set to be released this coming year, it's safe to say that in 2015 Best Friends will finally get the recognition they've deserved for so long.

4. Slaves 

Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent hail from Kent and combine to make garage punk duo Slaves and they are possibly the most smartly dressed band on this list but don't let their dapper appearance fool you; they produce some of the best in your face punk to come out of Britain in recent years. Their brutal riffs, thunderous drums and Isaac's distinct shout that seems as if he's having it forcibly removed from his mouth through gritted against his will; it instantly makes you sit up and take notice. Having already finished recording their debut LP and scored the illustrious opening slot on the NME awards tour, Slaves are set to take 2015 by storm.

5. The Magic Gang

Being made up of members of several bands such as Abattoir Blues, YRRS and Home School works in The Magic Gang's favour as it has created a whole new low-fi movement that is slowly starting to seep out from it's Brighton roots across the UK. Channeling early Weezer, their distorted, nostalgia ridden slacker sound has already built them a core following that shout back every lyric of every song at their already notorious live shows. This is mainly due to their songs being so catchy and possessing huge, skyscraper choruses that get indented into your brain. They're already adding to their back catalogue that currently stands at 2 songs that are available to listen to online as they've recently been in the studio and have already showcased new material at recent gigs, it looks as if The Magic Gang's steady rise is about to take off in 2015.