Askari have some serious talent. Their social commentary of life in London is very refreshing because you can see the anger in their sound. It contains elements of grime, metal, and garage.

The band consists of Asher Baker (vocals), James Routh (Baritone/Trombone), Aiden Baldwin (drums/samples), Liam Carroll (guitar), and Archi Troko (keys). Askari have a crushing sound with lyrics about growing up on an estate where the only choice is stabbings or joining a gang. They wrote ‘Progress’, a song released last year, about these experiences. The more you hear it, the harder it hits because you realise that if you work hard, anything is possible.

The band’s latest single, ‘Phantom’ contains influences from drum n’ bass’. The production is murky, with a descending, spacey synth, while The dark drums complete the confrontational atmosphere. They are a wake-up call to pay attention to the lyrics. The lyrics are about Asher’s life. This includes: being kicked out of a gang, dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, and his mum’s loss to cancer. It’s about making the best of what you’ve got. I think it’s a banger because it makes me want to groove, and the lyrics are very inspiring.

Words by Ermis Madikopoulos