Howling Bells

Howling Bells originated as a coed ensemble in Sydney during 2005 before the members eventually shifted their base to London. There they fused shoegaze, Americana, and pop textures to shape a self-titled debut album. Ken Nelson, already widely recognized for his extensive work with Coldplay, produced the 2006 sessions and gave the tracks a dark, dirty sheen. Juanita Stein (vocals, guitar), Joel Stein (guitars), Brendan Picchio (bass), and Glenn Moule (drums) received strong critical acclaim for the record, with most of the praise coming from British listeners. Support tours with Coldplay, the Futureheads, Placebo, the Killers, and Snow Patrol broadened the group’s international following, leading to the release of a more polished second album, Radio Wars, in 2009.