High Vis

Birthed in 2016 from a cross-section of beloved UK punk groups, London’s High Vis have steadily become legends by virtue of their passionate performances and evolving discography of poetic, progressive hardcore. Comprised of singer Graham Sayle, drummer Edward “Ski” Harper, bassist Jack Muncaster, and guitarists Martin Macnamara and Rob Hammaren, the band fuse the fury of English street punk with touches of Brit pop melody, neo-psychedelia swirl, wiry post-punk rhythm, and even bits of Madchester groove. To Sayle, such melting pot energy points the way forward: “For years hardcore had pretty clear boundaries – other scenes were separate worlds. Now things are getting more blended, drawing from different places.” With origins from various corners across the United Kingdom, the group of musicians that make up High Vis represent the heart of DIY, boot-strapping UK punk and hardcore. Formed by members from the bands Dirty Money, Tremors, City Dweller, Reflect, Shame, and more, High Vis fuses together the ethos of the broader hardcore community while bringing various musical influences and inspirations into the fold, allowing them to touch new folks who may not have listened to past projects while simultaneously tipping their hat to longtime fans. In 2019, High Vis released their debut full-length No Sense No Feeling, which put them on the map and opened the viewfinder for what the band could do beyond the parameters of any genre or scene. Painted with post-punk inspired textures and moods, No Sense No Feeling laid a sonically adventurous foundation to which High Vis has expanded on throughout their career. In 2020, High Vis released the Society Exists EP laced with vocal FX and synth lines further showcasing the band was not easy to pigeonhole or restrain. With 2022’s breakout Blending, High Vis expanded upon their self-described “post-industrial Britain misery punk” with an anthemic rock sound combined with baggy grooves. Lyrically, the album was a leap forward for High Vis as frontman Sayle took a more principle role in writing the lyrics and melodies. Sayle’s took focus on social consciousness addressing the downtrodden and discarded communities across Britain while also looking at himself and his own emotional landscape. The process created something that feels universal and ultimately relays a message of hope. The band’s third and latest full-length, Guided Tour, refines their lyricism and chemistry to its most potent nexus yet. Full of swagger and sneers, hooks and hope, revolt and righteous anger, the album’s 10 tracks hit like anthems for a new England. And while the songs’ specifics often speak to their native country in particular, the themes addressed are universal. Theirs is a camaraderie born of sweat and experience, years in the trenches of ripping shows and shit jobs, still fighting back, still fighting for something better. High Vis are proving themselves protectors of the flame, and avatars of the best hardcore has to offer.