Arrows of Love

Having already become renowned for their chaotic live shows, Arrows Of Love have recently revealed the psychedelic music video for new song Pretend Friends. One of the band’s most melodic single recordings, thus far, clocking in at just over two-minutes, Pretend Friends provides a cacophony of jagged, over-driven guitars and a sincerely sinister vocal delivery. - Q Magazine

As debut album statements go, Arrows Of Love labeling their first full length 'Everything's Fucked' is as direct and uncompromising as it's possible to get.

Seeming to really nail the atmosphere of the times, the band's profile has since rocketed. Playing a triple showcase at SXSW, the group have now returned to the UK to focus on their next album.

Set to be produced by produced by Jim Sclavunos, the record will be preceded by new single 'Pretend Friends'.

Due to be released on June 8th, it's a feral, inspiring return - check it out below. - Clash Magazine

Long term Joyzine faves Arrows of Love release one final cut from their 2014 album of the year contender Everything’s Fucked as they set to work on it’s successor. ‘Pretend Friends’ is comprised of jagged shards of guitar and equally pointed lyrics that leave its titular sycophant in absolutely no doubt of their feelings towards them. The video, directed by Skogr and Aviya and produced by Transcodea is described by frontman Nima as “The first video we’ve done I actually like.” - Joyzine

How does a band lauded as one of London’s most exciting live acts record their debut album? Not in concert, no, but perhaps the next best thing - by self-recording it almost entirely in their lead guitarist and vocalists basement.

It seems like the underground locale was the best way to imbue flamboyant garage-punk types Arrows Of Love with the same thrashing, flailing and kinetic energy seen at their live shows. The result is a calculated collection of cranked up, schizophrenic tunes that will cast a veritable DIY rocker spell over your very being.

Everything’s Fucked undulates between heavy, frenetic, deafening guitar and drum tracks and a bittersweet, subdued side that demonstrates the Arrows of Love reference points of Fugazi, McClusky, Jesus and Mary Chain, Truman’s Rockers and Sonic Youth.

First single “Honey” is whirlwind of fast-paced drums, while “Suck” has a bit of a shoegaze, J&MC tinge to it. Clamorous guitars, syncopated rhythms and heavy bass lines rifle through “Prescription”, “Conspiracy Podcast” and “Illusionist”, while elsewhere the order of the day is slower, almost stoner rock – yet lyrically very sharp – tracks, such as the “The Knife” (where lead vocalist Nima Teranchi harmonises beautifully with fellow guitarist Lyndsey Crtichley), “Addict” and “Ships”, which add a touch of softness through divine, phantasmagoria inducing reverb guitars.

Located in the new stream of alt-rock bands emerging out of London’s underbelly (read: East End bars) like Bo Ningen, Vuvuvultures, Zoetrope and Puffer, Arrows of Love’s Everything’s Fucked stands tall with the best of them. Its eleven tracks could quickly become your soundtrack to morning, noon, and night. - Line Of Best Fit

If ever an album title encapsulated disaffected nihilism, surely this is it. Arrows of Love aren’t going to sugar-coat it: everything is fucked. And they don’t give a fuck. Well, they do, they’re burning with angst as they rail against it all, but they don’t give a fuck what you think, whether or not you like them or their record. Because, simply, fuck you. That’s what this album says.

Forming in 2011, Arrows of Love didn’t so much appear as explode onto the music scene with the raw, visceral second single ‘Honey’ and some truly riotous live shows. At times, it wasn’t sure of they’d make it to the end of the song, let alone the set, or last long enough to release an album. Of course, being dangerously volatile and unpredictable is what makes them such an exciting band in a world of safe-playing careerists.

‘Everything’s Fucked’ is spectacularly raw, edgy, teeters on a knife edge between glorious vitriol and messy collapse. ‘Honey’ makes for a searing opener, a sinewy grunge blast that raises tweo fingers amidst a squall of feedback, a thunderous bass and duelling male / female vocals yelled by Nima Teranchi and Lyndsey Critchley.

Packing 11 tracks into 35 minutes means there’s not much breathing space, no meandering instrumental passages, so smoochy ballads, and no filler. ‘Suck’ slams in hard with scratchy, stuttering guitars, and listening to Mike Frank’s drumming you have to wonder how many drum sticks the guy gets through. ‘Prescriptions’ is a shouty blur of guitar and cymbal-heavy racket that comes on like a three-way collision between Nirvana, Pavement and the Fall.

Single cut ‘The Knife’ comes closest to offering some respite, Nima and Lyndsey picking the scabs of a screwed relationship and declaring ‘you look look good / and I feel shit’ before a tsunami of maxed-out guitar tears through everything with annihilative force. The sonic definition of catharsis, it’s a killer track.

‘Real Friends’ and ‘Pretend Friends’ are both jolting, jarring bolts of anger, and ‘Conspiracy Podcast’ locks into a grinding bass groove as Nima again steps into Mark E Smith spoken word mode before cutting loose sand ranting manic over more guitar salvoes by way of a chorus. Yes, for all the racket, the discord and hell-for-leather frenzy, Arrows of Love have a knack for a chorus, and have an instinctive handle on the quiet / loud dynamic. ‘Profiteer’ sounds like a lost track by The Damned, Nima affecting a sleazy baritone croon.

The placing of downbeat and brooding goth-tinged slow-burner ‘Addict’ means ‘Illusionist’ hits with even more impact and the closer, ‘Ships’ limps, ravaged and drained for the exit while revealing a very different and altogether more introverted, reflective side to the band.

In a year that’s proving to be quite exceptional for album releases, ‘Everything’s Fucked’ is a strong contender for the end of year lists, while cementing Arrows of Love’s place in the league of first-rate bands that really matter right now. Grunge most certainly isn’t dead, and ‘Everything’s Fucked’ is essential listening for anyone with an interest in noisy guitar music. - WhisperinandHollerin

Kids in oversized sweaters and loafers, Mop-tops, and flop-sided in-your-face punk rock…... Can you pick the odd one out?

Far from pretentious, Arrows of Love celebrate the release of their latest single in an archaic mien by releasing the track on Cassette. Taking on the ever stagnant hipsters of Dalston, the post punk quintet dominate the attention of the congregation by injecting the sweet aroma of chaos into the musty air.

“Prescriptions” see the five-piece London band let all inhibitions loose, with lead vocalist Nima prancing about like a moth convulsing around a frail light. “Real Friends” catapults a nebula of aphotic grooves into the crowd, metamorphosing into a boomerang, bouncing off the walls of the jam-packed Shacklewell Arms, flinging it straight back at themselves.

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Photo by Neil Anderson


New single “Honey”, releases a whirlwind of fast-paced bass drum kicks and deafening guitar riffs into the still very much subdued room. The crowd continuously eye the band with marvel and suspicion, making it hard to distinguish if the stillness of the room is down to the necromantic energy being circulated via the vibrations of a bass riff so deep, it rings through your bones, or if the crowd are wondering if they’ve wandered into the wrong gig. Despite the ever motion-less audience, the band continue to impress with bittersweet harmonies paired with clamorous guitars and a frenzy of schizophrenic drumming, accompanied by blinding lights which create an energy so dark and audacious they render a state of phantasmagoria.

As the band close up the set and thank the crowd for coming out, overheard are the songs of praise being orchestrated by members audience, confirming the half-an-hour trance cast upon the crowd was down to utter bewitchment. - ARTROCKER MAGAZINE