Since Mugshot released their Cold Will EP last month, the band have been creating waves with their incendiary sound and explosive live show, and the UK finally got to experience some of that magic when they blazed a trail across the land with The Amity Affliction. The Midlands Rocks took the opportunity took the opportunity to catch up with drummer Conor, guitarist Michael and vocalist Ringo for an exclusive chat.

Firstly, welcome to the UK. This is your first time here, so what are your feelings about your debut UK show, and the tour in general?

Conor: We try to go into it having no expectations at all. We’re not the type of band who expects this or that, we’ll just try to play our best and hope that people enjoy it. We came into this tour with no expectations and the first three nights in Germany were just incredible. It was the biggest response we’ve ever got…

Michael: …each night being the biggest show we’ve ever played. Our goal on this tour is just to put our best foot forward. The other bands on this tour are established bands in our eyes, so we want to make the best impression we can.

This is an old school tour with not many days off. What’s your survival plan?

Ringo: Get a lot of sleep! Eat and stay hydrated.

Michael: I will say that this is the most easiest tour we’ve done in terms of travelling. All we have to do is take care of ourselves, because the promoting aspect is taken care of, which is less stressful that the DIY stuff which we’re used to, and we’re so grateful.

Ringo: When we usually tour we’re lucky to get four or five hours sleep a night.

Michael: When we tour the States we all take turns driving, there’s not usually a green room, we’re hanging out in the venue all day, you can’t shower after the show, we’re all used to that. So now, the fact that we can hang out in a green room and not worry too much is a genuine privilege.

On the flip side, there’s a lot of time to kill for a touring band. How do you fill yours?

Conor: We tend to explore the environment, walk to restaurants and get a feeling to where we’re at. If not, we tend to hang out with the other bands and play video games.

Michael: We’re all chillers. I think it’s fortunate that we’re all best friends, so we don’t feel the need to do something, we’re happy to just sit in a room and talk.

As we mentioned earlier, you’re on tour with three really strong bands. Does it feel overwhelming, or has it made you up your game?

Ringo: I think going into it you get a bit nervous, but our main thing is to see how the other bands act. Luckily, we’ve always had a great time with other bands, they’ve always been super nice, they’re aware that we’re not as established as they are, and so they’re really nice to us and give us tips. This is our first time ever in Europe and all of these bands have done it many times over, so they’re telling us what to expect so we’re not panicking.

Michael: It’s a privilege to be with bands like that on our first run out, especially when going to other countries because it can be a culture shock, but this is the best case scenario.

Conor: It’s hard because you don’t want to look like the band who doesn’t know what they’re doing and not prepared, especially with such big bands, but we’ve been really fortunate; there’s never been a time when we’ve had a question or need something and they’re not there to help. This package is incredible.

You’re gaining a reputation as an explosive live band. Yet offstage you all seem chilled and Zen. How do you psych yourselves up for a show?

Ringo: Jumping jacks on the side of the stage to get the blood pumping…and plenty of Red Bull! I don’t expect to just stand and stare at the crowd and not give any energy and then expect the crowd to pop off. We feel that to get them involved, we have to be involved.

Conor: When I sit behind the kit I kind of black out and then when the set finishes I know it feels good but I don’t quite know what happened, the adrenaline just kicks in.

Michael: We always try to put our best foot forward. When we’re playing these shows, even if the crowd don’t know us, we are thankful that they’re there to see the first band, which is us, and we’re grateful for that. Every show so far has been filled out and really high energy, so for us it’s all about making an impression.

Is that the same in the States. Do people turn out for the support acts?

Conor: It depends. It’s different when you do the smaller hardcore tours, people generally get there early, especially if there’s local bands, but on a bigger tour I think it’s generally less likely. There’s been lines outside the doors here everyday, and that’s kind of normal in the States, but so far, judging by the Germany shows, they make a point to be in the venue.

Michael: That impressed us, every single night they made a point to watch the whole show, every single band, and even though that does happen in the States that’s not the norm, you expect it to fill out by the second or third band.

You’re signed to Pure Noise Records, which is one of those labels which releases consistently good music. Their logo is like a seal of quality, so is there a level of expectation being on such a renowned label?

Conor: Every conversation we’ve had with Pure Noise has been like “We’ve seen what you’ve been doing, and we want more of it”. So they’ve really let us do our thing, and label or not, we want to do the best job we possibly can. But I think it does add a bit pressure, we don’t want to let the label down.

Michael: More than expectation, it’s motivation. We’re not intimidated by it, if anything we’re enthusiastic. Like you said, it’s a seal of quality.

Ringo: It adds a lot of pride to what we do. If this is going to say Pure Noise Records on it, then we want it to be great.

Michael: Definitely, it’s a label we all grew up on.

I recently saw an interview with Ringo where he said you are influenced a lot by nu-metal. I don’t really hear that in your sound (apart from the Slipknot cover!), I have you more down as a hardcore band. So how do you take your influences and turn them into something new?

Michael: We always think live aspect first, I think all of us are open to any influence, no matter where it comes from. But it’s always live energy first. I think it’s because we all come from that hardcore background where you have to impress the crowd and insert sections that make them move. Being rooted in that, even if it’s not clear there’s a nu-metal influence, it’s because we’re starting with that structure, but the energy we’re trying to provide is inspired by that. I listen to a lot of grindcore, I wouldn’t say we’re anything like that but I try to capture that lightning-in-a-bottle type energy and translate that into our music.

Ringo: When we write songs we don’t set out to write a nu-metal section, but when you listen to nu-metal and hear the fast paced vocals or the real headbanging sections that makes people bounce, we want that shown in our music, and that’s where it’s influence rather than replication.

Michael: Inspiration above imitation, I think all of us try to live by that.

Now your EP has been out in the world for a month, anything you’d like to go back and change?

Conor: I think we feel pretty good about it. We’ve managed to play four of the five songs live and I think that’s the real test, and I don’t think we’ve had any bad reactions.

Ringo: It’s very humbling to be in a country where we’ve never been before and we can see people singing the words to a song that’s only been out a month, it’s times like that when I feel proud of those songs.

What was your reasoning for putting out an EP as opposed to a full album?

Michael: First and foremost it was easy for people to digest, but this is the first release where Ringo is performing vocals for us, he stepped up as a singer, so rather than overwhelming people with a whole release, let’s just present it as how we sound right now: this is the direction which we’re heading. I’m really happy we did that because when we do a full-length we can cross both styles, to us one of our EP’s was a little more metalcore, the other a little more hardcore, and now we’re mentally unlocked and we can do whatever we want. I feel we can pull off any sound now.

Ringo: I think it’s really nice, especially being signed to a new label, people might not have known us and discovered us through that label, this EP is more like a sampler for them. When we read the comments about the album, a lot of people wish it was an album, so it builds the hype for the full-length we do end up dropping.

Ringo, what has it been like singing the old songs. Are you able to put you mark on them?

Ringo: Definitely. I didn’t go into it wanting to replicate the sound of the previous EP, I wanted to perform it how I would perform it, and I think it adds a lot to it.

And how has it been working with Ringo? Has his vocal style opened up new avenues for you?

Michael: Yes, we’re all really like-minded songwriting-wise, and I think that’s the most helpful thing. All of us are on the same page creatively, even if we’re pulling from different influences and that just makes everything easier.

Conor: Anything industrial we do, with the really fuzzy synths and big drum parts, that influence definitely came from Ringo. I produce all the music, so I have the challenge to pull that all together, which is very cool for me and I think it helped elevate the band a little bit.

What are your plans for 2024? Will we see you at any of the festivals? Would you like to travel deeper into Europe?

Michael: Given the opportunity, absolutely.

Conor: We have a couple of tours planned for the new year in the States, so we actually had to turn down a tour that was offered to us, but my hope is that we’ll be back again. And we also have to write a full-length that’ll be out late next year or the beginning of 2025.

If I had a magic wand and could make any dream come true for Mugshot, what’d it be?

Ringo: A Sprinter van!

Conor: We’ve had the worst luck with vans.

Michael: I think that’s it. If we have anything handed to us, it’s got to be a van!