Moosehead: Hard-Hitting Rock with a Southpaw Punch

Chunky riffs, raw vocals, and soul-searing guitar solos-Moosehead isn’t just making noise, they’re making a statement. Since their formation in 2022, this UK-based powerhouse has been carving their name into the rock scene, gaining global recognition with their signature heavy yet melodic sound.

Following the success of their debut album Carved In Stone, they’re back with Mr Moonshine, a relentless, high-energy single that keeps their momentum charging forward. With a UK tour on the horizon and a new album in the works, 2025 is set to be a seismic year for Moosehead.

Your  latest single, Mr Moonshine, continues the heavy, melodic sound you're known for. What inspired the track, and how does it build on the energy of Carved In Stone?

DUNK - vocals/rhythm guitar

There was no inspiration, lyrically, for Mr Moonshine. When I write lyrics I write short stories and this one is about a guy with an addictive personality but a huge ego who basically treats his girlfriend badly and with no respect.

Music wise we wanted it to be a hillbilly, swamp stomping, groove type thing. Big guitars and huge drums with a kinda Clutch sounding feel to it .

JAN-lead guitar

 Musically it was a departure from ‘Carved…’ mostly because we have such diverse influences and we don’t seek to sound like any one particular sub-genre. That’s obvious across the ‘Carved…’ album and even more pronounced in the diversity of songs for the upcoming second album.

You've shared stages with artists like Jamie Lenman and King Creature, and you’re gearing up for a 2025 UK tour. How has the live scene influenced your growth as a band?

DUNK

Playing live is what it’s all about man! The bigger the stage and the bigger the crowd the better it is for us.

We just had the pleasure to play with The Brant Bjork Trio which we are huge, huge fans of which was definitely one of our favourite gigs so far. Yes,we are in the planning stages of a UK tour.

JAN 

It’s a real pleasure to share the stage with some great bands, some of whom we are  big fans of, like Jamie Lenman(Reuben) and Brant Bjork (Kyuss), who we just supported in Southampton. In April we’re supporting Earthtone9, and we love that our sound can work with such a diversity of headliners.

ROSS-Drums

For me, the live shows are where it's at. It's a showcase of our skills and our music. To share the stage with bands that we are all fans of  is an absolute dream come true.  It's also where we as a band come alive, the camaraderie and the passion as musicians who are great friends truly shows through to those who come to see us.

Loud Enough Magazine described your sound as "distorted, full-sound riffing with clean rock vocals and a mean edge." How would you define the Moosehead sound in your own words?

DUNK

It’s hard to explain your own band's sound. I guess it’s just a combination of all our musical influences thrown into a blender, whisked up and poured out  as a heavy Moose milkshake with a cherry on top!

You're heading back into the studio to record your next album. Can you give us any hints about what fans can expect—will it be a continuation of your debut, or are you exploring new territory?

JAN

Depends what you mean by new territory. We’ve got heavier songs, a ballad, and a hell of a lot of new ideas thrown into the pot. You’ll still hear it and know it’s a Moosehead album, but we’re no one-trick ponies, that’s for sure.

JOE -Bass guitar

This is where the live shows have played a real influence with me personally. Playing the same stage as Brant Bjork, one of the masters of stoner rock,experiencing it live, there’s definitely subtle hints of that coming through in my play style.

Your music blends heavy riffs with melodic hooks, drawing from classic and modern rock influences. Who are some of your biggest inspirations, and how have they shaped your approach to songwriting?

DUNK

I think we’ve all brought our own personal music influences into the band which gives us our sound. I'm a huge Mother Love Bone fan and loved the way that even though they were heavy you could still hear every single word Andrew Wood was singing, god bless his soul, and that’s important to me. On the guitar side of things I'm inspired by the chunky riffs of bands like Monster Magnet and Clutch which I think we have a hint of.

JAN

I’ve always liked guitarists who innovate. I’m not much of a shred player: I like melodic lines that add to the song but also love layering harmonies and leaving little bits of ear candy that you maybe only pick up after a few listens. Currently I think bands like Baroness and Kvelertak are nailing that balance between heaviness, rhythmic and melodic complexity, and damned catchy headbanging tunes.

ROSS 

My early influences came from the likes of Peter Erskine, Buddy Rich, Dave WeckI and then it was my first listen of my Dad's Led Zeppelin II record that I heard John Bonham and instantly was drawn to that style of drumming. In my teens I discovered  Ian Paice (Deep Purple) Nicko Mcbrain (Iron Maiden) Vinnie Paul ( Pantera) and Neil Peart, who heavily influenced my style and my whole approach to drumming, playing what is right for the music rather than it  just being a back beat.