After witnessing a live set by rock & roll revivalists the Darkness, English brothers Ollie, Will, and Tim Walter decided as teenagers to launch a band that also featured guitarist Tom Johnson. The siblings taught themselves their instruments and gradually built a set list of rock covers while beginning to sketch out original songs. Based in Bath, the group first called themselves Rock Pirates, later adopted the name Dark Horse, and issued a self-released EP in 2010 that drew from the hard-rock styles of AC/DC and Kiss. When Johnson departed, the remaining trio carried on in 2011 as the Family Rain. Their debut single, “Trust Me… I’m a Genius,” surfaced in 2012 and introduced a blues-rock direction reminiscent of the White Stripes and the Black Keys’ raw, riff-driven approach. A deal with Virgin EMI followed, and in 2013 the band tracked material at Berlin’s historic Hansa Studios alongside producer Jim Abbiss, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian. Extensive touring included dates alongside the Courteeners, Miles Kane, and Jake Bugg, as well as an opening slot for the Rolling Stones at their 2013 Hyde Park concerts. Spring brought the EP Pushing It, and a headline U.K. run closed out a demanding year. Early 2014 saw the arrival of the full-length Under the Volcano. After leaving Virgin EMI, the band issued its second EP, Hunger Sauce, independently that summer. In 2015 the group returned to the studio at Rockfield Studios in Wales, once again working with Tom Dalgety, whose credits include Royal Blood and Subhumans, to capture its sophomore album.
