Blade of Thorns

Heavy atmospheric rock out of North West London built on emotion, honesty and individuality

Drawing influence from the intensity of industrial music, the soul of grunge, and the immersive energy of electronic soundscapes, Blade of Thorns create music entirely on their own terms.

Based - London

Formed - 2019

Genres - Hard Rock ~ Post Grunge Rock ~ Metal

For Fans Of - Tool, Incubus, Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam

Start Listening With - Salvation

The Story Behind Blade of Thorns

Founded in 2019 in North West London, Blade of Thorns was created from a simple desire: to make original music with complete creative freedom.

The lyrics for songs are written by either Agnieszka, Nick or Mosh, each bringing their own unique style and influence to the music. Mosh writes and produces all of the music. Agnieszka works on the arrangements of the songs and Nick composes the vocal melodies. The bass lines are created by Adrian and the drum arrangements are carefully crafted to compliment and enhance the overall feel and structure of each song.

Those foundations remain at the core of everything the band does today. Their music blends heavy guitars, atmospheric textures, powerful vocal melodies, and deeply personal themes to create songs that feel immersive and emotionally charged.

From First Gig to Bigger Stages

The band's first proper show remains one of their most memorable moments.

What began with nerves quickly transformed into something special when the audience connected with the music. By the end of the night, fans were joining the band on stage and singing along to their song Alone — a moment that reinforced why they started this journey in the first place.

Another milestone came when Blade of Thorns played the O2 Academy Islington, a show that made everything feel a little more real and strengthened the belief that this project could reach far beyond rehearsal rooms and local venues.

Emotional. Atmospheric. Heavy.

Blade of Thorns aren't a traditional guitar-led rock band.

Growing up, Mosh was influenced as much by trance and electronic music as he was by rock and metal. Artists such as Paul Oakenfold helped shape an appreciation for atmosphere and emotional immersion, while the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s provided the intensity and raw energy that would later become central to the band's sound.

The result is music that feels cinematic and expansive, combining layers of atmosphere with crushing riffs, powerful melodies, and lyrics that resonate long after the song ends.

Built on Emotion

At the heart of Blade of Thorns is emotion.

The band's songwriting is driven by real experiences, real struggles, and real human connection. Music serves as an outlet for everything from pain and frustration to hope and resilience. Rather than chasing perfection, Blade of Thorns focus on creating songs that genuinely make people feel something.

That emotional focus is what gives their music its identity: atmospheric, immersive, and unapologetically heavy.

Nick

Nick

Vocals

Mosh

Mosh

Guitar

Adrian

Adrian

Bass

Anoop

Anoop

Drums

🎛️ Despite being a heavy rock band, Mosh grew up listening to trance and electronic music, especially Paul Oakenfold's Goa Trance mixes. That atmospheric influence still shapes Blade of Thorns today.

🎸 Mosh's guitar teacher once said he was the only student who wasn't influenced by "guitar music."

🎥 Many of the band's videos are managed and created by Mosh's wife, who developed her photography and videography skills to help bring the band's vision to life

🎤 At one of their first major gigs, fans ended up joining the band on stage and singing along to Alone.

🏛️ Playing the O2 Academy Islington was one of the moments that made the band realise this project could become something much bigger.

🧠 Supporting mental health and wellbeing is one of the causes closest to the band's heart.

🎬 If Blade of Thorns were a film, they'd be Pulp Fiction — unpredictable, intense, and impossible to forget.

🌙 The band's sound combines the emotional atmosphere of electronic music with the weight and power of hard rock and metal, creating something that's uniquely their own.

The Serious Bit (briefly)

VALUES

For Blade of Thorns, music is about more than entertainment.

The band care deeply about mental health, wellbeing, and the importance of emotional expression. Their songs encourage listeners to embrace individuality, process life's challenges, and find meaning through creativity.

Growth currently sits at the centre of the band's ambitions. As a relatively young project, they're focused on building momentum, expanding their audience, and taking their music to bigger stages. But growth never comes at the expense of authenticity.

Their interpretation of "progress over perfection" perfectly reflects that mindset:

"We play from emotion, honesty, and instinct. If the music makes us feel something and the audience feels it too, then that's what truly matters."

Blade of Thorns x Above Average

Blade of Thorns represent many of the same values that sit at the heart of Above Average Clothing.

Authenticity over image. Growth over perfection. Creating something meaningful rather than following the crowd.

Like many independent artists, they're building something from the ground up through hard work, creativity, and belief in their vision. That's exactly the type of band culture Above Average exists to support.

Not Perfect. Above Average.

Congrats - You've made it this far

You made it this far — which probably means you should listen to the music.

Or wear the merch.

Preferably both.