Andy Howells chats to Owen from Cardiff band Joanna Gruesome

That's quite a name! How did you come by it?

Our friend/ now manager came up with it and we kind of ran with it due to lack of ability to think of a real band name.

You're Cardiff-based so how did you come together?

We met in an anger management group. But we kind of knew each other from around Cardiff anyway, would see each other at shows etc etc Tell us about your new album? Is it right it was written in a seedy hotel in Brighton and what inspired it?

Yup was written in this weird unofficial hotel called "The Hell House". Sonically it was inspired by a lot of dissonant music like Jandek and Converge as well as pop music/indiepop stuff like The Softies and screechier stuff like The Frumpies. Lyrically it's just a mess of stuff I'm interested in like zombies, films, books, etc.

Your album will be released in the USA too have you been there yet or planning to visit there soon?

We're hoping to get over to CMJ in New York in October and play some shows around then.

You've got a reputation as a great live band - what's been your best gig experience so far?

We played this all-dayer in a giant abandoned swimming pool organised by our bassist's label Reeks of Effort. It was a pretty incredible environment to play a show in although our performance itself sucked. Will you be touring with the new album and if so where can we catch you live?

We're touring from the 14th-19th of September. We'll be starting the tour in Cardiff on the 14th, playing at Jacobs Market, which should be great.

REVIEW: Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister

This is a great record. Full of fuzz, harmonic vocals and sounding like a slightly punked up My Bloody Valentine it is hard to believe that this is also a debut release.

'Sugarcrush' in particular sounds like a lost Yo La Tengo track and every single song brings a blend of upbeat pop sounds balanced perfectly with fuzzy, shoegazey punk.

This is easily one of the best records of the year and is a record that sounds like it will be even better live. As a first try we can expect to see great things from Joanna Gruesome.

Dan Barnes