Loathe are an English metal band formed in Liverpool in 2014, known for their distinctive blend of metalcore, nu metal, shoegaze, industrial music and atmospheric experimentation. Combining crushing, down-tuned guitar riffs with haunting melodies, electronic textures and dramatic shifts in intensity, the band have developed a sound that frequently moves beyond the traditional boundaries of heavy music.
Fronted by vocalist Kadeem France, alongside guitarist and vocalist Erik Bickerstaffe, Loathe emerged from Liverpool's underground metal scene with their early EP Prepare Consume Proceed, originally released in 2015. Their approach to songwriting was already noticeably different from many of their contemporaries, incorporating cinematic soundscapes, abrasive heaviness and unsettling atmospheres into a style that would become increasingly recognisable with each subsequent release.
Their debut studio album, The Cold Sun (2017), established Loathe as one of the more adventurous emerging names in British metalcore. A dark, concept-driven record, it combined aggressive vocals, complex guitar work and electronic elements with an almost dystopian atmosphere. The album helped build their reputation, leading to wider recognition and a nomination for Best New Band at the 2018 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.
Loathe took a significant creative step forward with their second studio album, I Let It In and It Took Everything (2020). Widely regarded as a defining release in their catalogue, the record pushed their sound into more experimental territory, contrasting devastatingly heavy passages with shimmering shoegaze guitars, ambient electronics and emotionally charged clean vocals. Songs including Two-Way Mirror, Is It Really You? and New Faces in the Dark demonstrated their ability to combine seemingly opposing musical styles into something remarkably cohesive.
The following year saw the release of The Things They Believe (2021), an instrumental, ambient-focused album that explored the atmospheric side of the band's identity. Moving away from conventional metal structures, it further demonstrated Loathe's willingness to experiment with sound and texture.
After an extended period between full-length releases, Loathe returned in July 2026 with A Stranger to You, their most expansive and stylistically varied album to date. Building on the foundations of their earlier work, the record incorporates industrial influences, electronic experimentation, shoegaze, alternative rock and moments of unexpected melodic restraint. The album marked another stage in the band's evolution and became their first release to enter the UK Official Albums Chart Top 75.
Throughout their career, Loathe have earned a reputation for refusing to remain within the confines of a single genre. Their ability to move between extreme heaviness and delicate, immersive soundscapes has established them as a distinctive presence in contemporary British metal, appealing to listeners across metalcore, alternative metal, post-metal and shoegaze.
