FVK (band)
Origin Beccles, England
Genres Rock, alternative rock, pop punk, post-hardcore, horror punk, emo
FVK (Fearless Vampire Killers) were a five-piece English theatrical alternative rock band formed in Beccles in 2008. Their line-up consisted of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Laurence Beveridge, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kier Kemp, bassist Drew Woolnough, lead guitarist Cyrus Barrone (Shane Sumner) and drummer Luke Illingworth (Pilnahn). The name of the band originated from the 1967 Roman Polanski comedy horror film The Fearless Vampire Killers.
Their debut studio album Militia of the Lost was set for release on 7 May 2012 through Goremount Records, but the physical release was pushed back to 14 May 2012. The digital release went ahead as planned. A deluxe version of the CD, containing more exclusive artwork, was released at the same time. In 2014, they were an opening act for Black Veil Brides’ tour. They released their new ‘mini-album’, Bruises in 2015.
The band announced their breakup on July 4, 2016 in a Facebook post, due to Kier Kemp’s decision to leave.
The band’s first incarnation was under the name of Remember When back in 2007, consisting of now past members: Laurence Beveridge, Kier Kemp and Shane Sumner as well as their previous drummer Luke Fairhead. All of the members of Remember When knew each other from growing up in Waveney Valley in Suffolk. Soon after moving to London, Remember When broke up and its former members then came together as FVK in 2008. A short time later they recruited Drew Woolnough, who had previously played with Laurence in a band called Self-Titled, to play bass, and after going through a series of drummers the current line-up was completed in 2011 when Luke Illingworth joined as their final drummer before the split.
The band were known for being very hands-on with their work, with Shane Sumner producing all of their artwork and merchandise designs. Additionally, Laurence Beveridge wrote a 334-page novel called Ruple & Evelyn[8] to go along with their EP, In Grandomina…, although the events in the story happen roughly 600 years before the events in the songs.
Parts of their look, especially Shane Sumner’s stage outfit, were influenced by steampunk as well as “turn-of-the-century France, late-1800s bohemian ideas, short waistcoats [and] a bit of the old eyeliner” according to past vocalist Kier Kemp.
Their debut album, Militia of the Lost, was described as a concept record by vocalist Laurence Beveridge; it features themes of “love, loss and addiction” as well as being “an album about the struggle to find a place in society.” The songs in the album are about “the events in the lead up to, and subsequently the repercussions, of the city’s royal palace being set on fire” and “five men that cross paths and get dragged into this world of monsters and crazed revolutionaries.” They recorded their second album in the summer of 2013 with William Control as the producer.
The band announced their breakup on July 4, 2016, via a facebook post, due to Kier deciding to leave. The stated in the post that they had “come to the conclusion that it would be wrong to continue this band without Kier by our side.”
They have stated that they will continue to create music (although “the specifics are uncertain”) and The Obsidian Bond will remain active as a place to maintain the community that it had created.
Discography
Albums
Bruises (2015)
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “Feel Alive” Kier Kemp 3:39
2. “Stepping Stones” Laurence Beveridge 3:01
3. “Keep Smiling” Drew Woolnough 4:24
4. “Regret” Drew Woolnough 4:44
5. “Like Bruises” Laurence Beveridge 3:54
6. “Aging Love” Laurence Beveridge 4:16
Unbreakable Hearts (2014)
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “Intermission” FVK 0:56
2. “Say What You Want from Me (The Ghost You Left Behind)” FVK 4:31
3. “Turn Your Heaven to a Tomb” Laurence Beveridge 3:41
4. “Exploding Heart Disorder” FVK 3:34
5. “Edge of Eternity” FVK 3:07
6. “Taste the Iron on Your Lips” FVK 3:21
7. “Our Nature’s Unnatural” FVK 3:45
8. “Dream of You” FVK 4:42
9. “Brave the Night” Kier Kemp & Luke Illingworth 5:16
10. “In Wondrous Rage” FVK 3:33
11. “Neon in the Dancehalls” Laurence Beveridge 3:52
12. “Batten Down the Hatches” FVK 3:47
13. “Maeby” FVK 4:07
14. “Unbreakable Hearts” FVK 5:03
15. “Remember My Name” FVK 5:04
16. “Lucifer’s Shroud” FVK 2:37
17. “City Falls to Dust” FVK 6:16
Militia of the Lost (2012)
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “Necromania” Drew Woolnough 3:16
2. “Could We Burn, Darling?” Laurence Beveridge 2:36
3. “Concede, Repent, Destroy” Drew Woolnough 3:47
4. “Bleed ‘Till Sunrise” Laurence Beveridge 3:02
5. “Bite Down On My Winchester (There’s a Reckoning A’Coming)” Drew Woolnough 2:52
6. “Palace in Flames” Laurence Beveridge 2:20
7. “Even Ghosts Forget (The Empire for a Kiss)” Laurence Beveridge 2:07
8. “Fetish for the Finite” Laurence Beveridge 3:08
9. “Bow Ties on Dead Guys” Drew Woolnough 2:11
10. “Pleasure of the Pain” Laurence Beveridge 2:42
11. “At War with the Thirst” Laurence Beveridge 4:38
12. “Mascara Tears and Vanilla Spice” Laurence Beveridge 3:27
EPs
In Grandomina… (2010)
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “Faces In The Dirt” FVK 3:02
2. “Palace In Flames” Laurence Beveridge 3:24
3. “Interlude (Feat. Crystal Bats)” 0:47
4. “Don Teriesto” Shane Sumner 4:27
5. “Fearless Vampire Killers” FVK 3:44
… The Blood Never Dries (2011)
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “…” 0:18
2. “A Study In Dystopia” Drew Woolnough 2:52
3. “Bleed Till Sunrise” Laurence Beveridge 3:06
4. “Concede, Repent, Destroy” Drew Woolnough 4:03
5. “Fetish For The Finite” Laurence Beveridge 3:13
Exposition: The Five Before The Flames (2013)
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “The Pilot: P-Train” Luke Illingworth 5:08
2. “The Thief: Merchants Of Decay” Kier Kemp 3:44
3. “The Mechanist: Handlung (Stargazer)” Shane Sumner 4:16
4. “The Vigilante: Death Or Disgrace” Drew Woolnough 4:56
5. “The Prince: Diamond Dust And Crimson Reign” Laurence Beveridge 3:33
Singles
Date of release Title Producer Label
30 November 2009 “I Am Gonna Leave You” Paul Tipler Self Released
26 March 2012 “Bow Ties on Dead Guys” Ben Humphreys, James Billinge and John Mitchell Goremount Records
11 June 2012 “Could We Burn, Darling?” Ben Humphreys, James Billinge and John Mitchell Goremount Records
5 November 2012 “Exploding Heart Disorder” / “Palace in Flames” Ben Humphreys, James Billinge and John Mitchell Goremount Records
25 January 2013 “Diamond Dust and Crimson Reign” Ben Humphreys, James Billinge and John Mitchell Goremount Records
28 September 2013 “All Hallows Evil” Ben Humphreys, James Billinge and John Mitchell Goremount Records
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