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. For guitarist and primary songwriter Mosh, the goal was never to follow trends or fit neatly into a commercial box. Instead, the band was built around authenticity, emotion, and creating music with its own identity.

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

🎤 Best gig was a rock festival at Butlin’s — massive stage, backstage access, huge crowd… and hearing the audience sing the lyrics back louder than expected.

💀 Worst gig disaster involved our guitarist’s ex as the sound engineer… and let’s just say there were serious “technical issues.” We walked off mid-set.


🥁 An old drummer snapped two sticks over his knee mid-rant and launched them across the room. Impressive… but also the beginning of the end.


🧠 Proud of the work and detail that goes into melody, lyrics, and dynamics beneath the heavy sound.

🎶 Song we wish we wrote (ballad) “Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” — Aerosmith nailed emotion and scale perfectly.

⚡ Song we wish we wrote (upbeat) “Back in Black” — AC/DC. Simple, iconic, unstoppable.

🎧 Band tour playlist includes classic rock, modern hard rock, and the occasional wildcard that somehow still fits.

🎬 If the band was a film it would be Almost Famous — passion, chaos, and everything in between.

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.