Young Knives Tickets

Get the album Barbarians here

Originally named Simple Pastoral Existence and then Ponyclub, Young Knives began to take shape in the late ’90s. Led by Leicestershire brothers Henry and Thomas (aka The House Of Lords) Dartnall, they initially played covers of Ned’s Atomic Dustbin songs locally but started to develop a loyal following for their own music after moving to Oxford in 1999.

Young Knives’ first release, a mini album called …Are Dead, came out in 2002. Their debut track The Decision was released in 2005, with Here Comes The Rumour Mill recorded with Andy Gill (Gang Of Four) arriving in 2006 and reaching No.36 on the UK singles chart.

These all paved the way for their debut album, Voices Of Animals And Men, which was nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2007 and turned the Dartnalls into cult sensations. Their sophomore album Superabundance, was released in 2008 and spawned the singles Terra Firma, Up All Night and Turn Tail.

By this time, Young Knives had earned a reputation for astute self-awareness as well as examining the worst aspects of humanity and turning them into really entertaining, though-provoking music.

Ornaments From The Silver Arcade and Sick Octave came out in 2011 and 2013, respectively – and Young Knives toured both albums extensively across the UK.

However, it would be seven long years before the Dartnall siblings would release a new record. In September 2020, they unveiled Barbarians, which explores the depths of human darkness. Inspired by philosopher John Gray’s bleak book Straw Dogs, this collection of songs – ranging from the title track to Swarm and Sheep Tick – is ripe with sonic and thematic experimentation.

“We broke down all the barriers to creativity and made the most cathartic and noisy album of our career,” said Henry.

In February 2021, Young Knives announced a special show at Stereo in Glasgow on 20 November 2021 to support Barbarians.