John

South London duo JOHN produce a volatile strain of indie noise rock reminiscent of Mclusky, their performances perpetually teetering on the edge of collapse. The pair first attracted attention with the 2017 release of their debut album God Speed in the National Limit. Vocalist and drummer John Newton and guitarist John Healy established the group in 2013 after crossing paths at university, where a mutual appreciation for Mclusky, Rocket from the Crypt, and Metz had already cemented their friendship. They took the band name directly from their shared forenames, occasionally rendering it JOHN (TWOTIMES), and rapidly built a reputation through explosive shows across the local circuit. A self-titled EP appeared in 2014, followed by two additional singles ahead of the full-length God Speed in the National Limit. Support slots alongside IDLES, Pulled Apart by Horses, and Part Chimp expanded their profile, further aided by endorsements from BBC DJ Steve Lamacq and Seattle’s KEXP.

While developing fresh songs on the road, the duo entered Bear Bites Horse studios in London with Wayne Adams during 2019 to track their second album. Ahead of its release, they issued the singles “Future Thinker” and “High Digger,” enlisting Chrome Hoof’s Chloe Harrington and vocalist Rosanna Dean for the sessions. Out Here on the Fringes emerged late that year, prompting an extensive European tour that the 2020 pandemic abruptly halted. The unexpected downtime prompted work on a third record, again with Adams and now joined by mastering engineer Sarah Register, whose credits include Protomartyr and Future Islands. The resulting Nocturnal Manoeuvres arrived in 2021, preserving the raw intensity of their celebrated stage shows.