Battle

London indie rock outfit Battle first formed in the mid-'90s after founders Jason Bavanadan (vocals/guitar) and Jamie Ellis (guitar) began experimenting with their instruments during secondary school. Drawing from Nirvana, Echo & the Bunnymen, Britpop, and Motown, the pair enrolled at Kent University in 2000, where they encountered Tim Scudder (bass) and Oliver Davies (drums). Over the following two years the quartet refined a quirky, energetic approach, initially performing under the name Killing Moon until its link to the Echo & the Bunnymen track created confusion and prompted the 2005 adoption of Battle. Fierce Panda released their debut single, “Isabelle/Feel the Same,” in April 2005. Transgressive issued the follow-up, “Demons,” that September, with all 1,500 copies selling out within a single day. After sharing bills with the Rakes, the Subways, and Bloc Party, Battle made their U.S. live debut at New York City’s Mercury Lounge in March 2006, an engagement that overlapped with an appearance at South by Southwest and the simultaneous release of their third single, “Tendency.” The Back to Earth EP arrived the following October.