Final Coil Biography
Leicester-based progressive rockers Final Coil began their musical life amidst howls of feedback and squalling noise. A raging entity that tore up the stages of endless small clubs as they slowly found their direction, under the guiding hand of founding member Phil Stiles the line-up shifted to reflect the band’s evolving style, with a brace of independently released EPs eventually reaching the ear of Italian record label WormHoleDeath, who immediately signed the band.
Throughout 2016 Final Coil worked on their debut full length album, Persistence of Memory. Recorded in Italy, at Real Sound Studio, it showcased a combination of musicianship, song craft, and emotion, with the album receiving considerable acclaim in consequence; not least from Zero Tolerance Magazine, who described it as possessing “too much awesomeness to mention”.
In the late summer of 2018, Final Coil set off for Italy once again to record their second full-length album for WormHoleDeath. Released on April 12th, 2019, The World We Left Behind for Others was a huge progression for the band. The sheer breadth of sound, the depth of the emotions captured, and the free-flowing creativity made it utterly captivating, the press once again hailing the band’s heavy, yet progressive song writing.
2019 also saw Final Coil play a series of exciting live shows, beginning with an ecstatically received appearance at HRH Metal III: Metal Meltdown, where the band played alongside the likes of Decapitated and Devilment. Next, the band earned a place on the bill of Fusion Festival 2019, which featured prog legends like Focus and IO Earth, with Final Coil performing the new album in its entirety. Hot on the heels of these major shows came two prestigious London dates, firstly with Japanese punk royalty Shonen Knife at the Underworld and then with the legendary Marky Ramone at The Garage.
While Covid-19 did its best to derail Final Coil in 2020, the band found new ways to progress. They were invited to take part in Fusion’s On-Line Christmas Cracker event in November 2020, along with bands like Galahad and Pallas. In typical style, rather than submit a standard set, Final Coil were inspired to create something really special. They completely reimagined songs from their back catalogue, taking them into realms of sound that transformed each track – an endeavour very much in keeping with the festival’s progressive outlook. Such was the success of the project that Final Coil decided to expand upon it and create an entire album of old songs in the same style. The album, Somnambulant II was released via WormholeDeath on December 10th and was immediately hailed by The Razor’s Edge as “something a bit special”.
When the lockdowns finally eased, Final Coil returned to the studio for their third album, The World We Inherited. Recorded at Parlour Studios with world-renowned producer Russ Russell (Amorphis, The Wildhearts, Napalm Death etc), who, such was his enthusiasm for the project, also mixed and mastered the album; The World We Inherited is a monumental release that has received astounding levels of critical acclaim from music press around the world. Prog Magazine interviewed the band and named album track ‘Wires’ one of their Tracks of The Week (alongside Ihsahn and Chelsea Wolfe), while Powerplay Rock & Metal Magazine awarded the album, and its accompanying London launch show, 9/10 reviews – hailing the “devastating majesty” of the album and the “burning energy and edge of danger” of the live show.
Following the exhilarating launch show, Final Coil began a year of great headline sets, with a mini tour of mainland Europe including a sold-out show at the Supersonic Club in Paris. A memorable appearance at the Bloodstock Open Air festival was a highlight of the summer, while live shows in support of The World We Inherited continued into early 2025, with the band making their second appearance at Fusion Festival, where they appeared alongside Amplifier and Godsticks. With a return to The Black Heart providing a fitting bookend to the most successful period in Final Coil’s history to date, the band are pleased to present The World We Inherited on vinyl in a special, limited edition, just as they begin work on album four.
“…too much awesomeness to mention.”
– ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
Genre: Post Rock /Progressive Metal / Alternative Rock
For fans of: Kings X | Alice In Chains | Soundgarden | Tool
Band Members:
Phil Stiles: Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Synths and Programming
Richard Awdry: Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals and Programming
Jola Stiles: Bass Guitar and Flute
Former Members
Dan Brown: Drums (2020 – 2023)
Barry French: Drums (2018 – 2020)
Tony ‘Chez’ Hughes: Drums (2014-2018)
Tom Malin: Drums (2011 – 2014)
Discography
For more information see the Discography page
2011: Live with Doubt EP – Self Released
2014: Somnambulant EP – Self Released
2015: Closed to the Light EP – Self Released
2017: Persistence of Memory – WormHoleDeath (WHD118)
2019: The World We Left Behind For others – WormHoleDeath (WHD)
2020: Convicted Of The Right EP – WormHoleDeath (WHD)
2021: Somnambulant I (2021 Remix & Remaster) – Self Released
2021: Somnambulant II – WormHoleDeath (WHD)
2024: The World We Inherited – Sliptrick Records