Interview by Kris Peters
Taylor Roberts started Riding With Killers long before joining Taproot as guitarist, but his newer band - for some reason - seems to get all of the attention.
For now.
While featuring solely as guitarist with Taproot, Roberts (formerly of Cathercist/Wild Fire) also lends his vocal chops to Riding With Killers (RWK), drenching the rock-infused music with a venomous swagger that oozes charisma.
Since the release of their debut EP Get In, RWK have followed a steady trajectory through the ranks of emerging bands in search of that next level of success, and, based on the quality alone of last December's debut album Full Circle, should see that rise propelled much quicker.
Also featuring ex-taproot drummer Dave Coughlin, RWK are a rock machine cut from the dirtiest cloth and with enough talent and experience within the ranks to satisfy even the most hardened critic. The fact the band are still releasing singles - the most recent being Hostility - nearly six months after the album came out is a testament to the quality of the material in itself.
Roberts joined HEAVY from his holiday accommodation to tell us more.
"Dude, it's been pretty good," he enthused about the reception afforded Full Circle. "I don't feel like we've truly dug in yet, but with the things that we're doing, we are seeing an incredible response. Hostility is at Rock Radio right now, and I'm not a rich guy, I don't have a record label, I don't have rich parents, I don't have rich friends that just throw money at me, but I essentially threw a pebble at Rock Radio with that song and the response we're seeing is letting us know that we definitely have something real here. Funny enough, another song we had talked about doing as a single, Don't Fade Away - and even the company I am working with, they suggested that song too - we've started to see that song rise recently. We went from 6000 plays to 20000 plays within a matter of a couple of days. People are finally starting to hear the music. I feel like it's starting to get out and make the rounds and I think it's turning people's heads. I feel like we're starting to finally get recognised. It's paving a good path for us to start getting on the road and hitting these places that are showing us some love and really digging the material."
In the full interview, Taylor discusses how you measure the success of a release in the modern age of music, the musical content of Full Circle, the diversity of the tracks on it, how Full Circle differs musically to Get In, the early days of the band and where they fit in, the transition from guitarist to guitarist and vocalist, future plans for the band, upcoming shows and more.