House of Hosts Talk New EP, Favourite Instruments And More

Who is in House Of Hosts, how did you meet and what do you play? 

* James (Thor // Jimmy) Russell — Guitar 

* Daniel (Griff) Foley-Griffiths — Vocals 

* Ross Davies — Guitar 

* Jack (Eldritch Blast) Hunt — Bass 

* Beth Goodwin — Drums 

James –  It depends which era you’re talking about haha. The band originally started out back in 2013, but then broke up after a series of line-up changes. Me and Beth reformed the band back in 20222 with Dan on vocals who we had playing with in a symphonic metal band in the intervening years. 

Jack – They then found me via a mutual friend. Jury’s still out on if that was a good or bad thing. Then I grabbed Ross for a second guitarist, and the current line-up was solidified. 

James – We’ve been going from strength to strength ever since really. 

What is your earliest musical memory? 

James – My earliest musical memory is Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell. I’m honestly not sure how that song came into my life, probably my dad played it in the car. All I know is I very quickly stole the album from him and played it on full blast before going to sleep every night. Not quite sure how or why my parents let me get away with it, but to this day it is my favourite song. 

Beth – I can remember my parents letting me sit on the kitchen floor as a toddler with pans and wooden spoons and I used to hit them like I was playing drums. Apart from that — Recorder. Everyone played the Recorder.  

Jack – Being a kid singing “hound dog” around family friends, with the dog barking along getting all excited 

Griff – My mother blasting the crossroads album by Bon Jovi, we were living just us two in a little flat in Cwmaman, not two pennies to rub together but we had music.  That album was one that we would sing together and that sparked my love for music 

Ross – My earliest musical memory was in juniors, or primary school I believe. We had…. Oh no, it was in nursery actually. I remember the teacher at the time, Miss Bendle, brought in her acoustic guitar, and I remember thinking “Phwoar! Look at the size of that!” as it was twice the size of me at the time. It didn’t take long for me to get told off for strumming it when she wasn’t looking. 

When did you begin songwriting? 

Griff – I was at my mother friend’s house when I was like 10 years old.  Her friend’s son was in a thrash band called “Concrete Sledge” he sat with me in the evening showing me how he writes songs and we wrote my first one together that night 

Jack – It started when I was a teen. I have two modes, trying to write something and nothing coming, or just…everything flows as if I’m not even writing. Because of this, most of my songwriting memories are a blur 

Ross – I think it was when I started to listen to Dream Theatre back in comprehensive school. It really started with me just imitating them and then obviously making loads of banging 30 minute epics with loads of different themes crossing over each other. 

Beth – I used to write songs on guitar when I was a teen, but they were shocking! I’ve only really been songwriting drums since around 2015.  

James – I’ve always struggled to focus when learning to play other people’s songs, so basically as soon as learnt the basics of playing a guitar I would get distracted from whatever my guitar teacher told me to learn and just end up noodling and creating riffs. For a long time I struggled with turning these riffs into fully fledged songs and would always lean on my other band members to help me write the verses in particular. Through working with some great musicians over the years, it has helped me work out what is needed to link everything together. 

You have your new EP ‘Reckoning’ out now. How did you want to approach the making of the EP? 

James – When it came to recording ‘Reckoning’, we did what worked out so well for our first 2 singles, in that we basically demo’d everything we had and then dived into pre-production with Tim. I think we had about 8 songs demo’d before we even got into the studio. 

Then with Tim’s help we ripped the songs apart and put them back together. In fact, it was during these sessions that wrote “Through My Eyes”. Ross just came up with the main riff on the spot and we knew it was too good to leave so we finished it in about an hour or 2 then and there. 

Where did you record the EP and who produced it? 

James – The recording was split between Longwave Studios and the in-house Studio at WoodCroft Audio, both in Cardiff. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Timothy Vincent and mastered by Abraham Fihema.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions? 

Beth – it. Was. Cursed. From start to finish, everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Between sickness, injuries, forgetting radio edits…and the list goes on!  

James – Ha! To the day we joke about how we are amazed we’ve even been able to release it with all the bumps along the way. 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record? 

James – The magic of a good record always begins with the drums, and one of the main reasons the drums sound epic is because of the access we had to Longwave which not only has an awesome live room where the likes of Kids in Glass Houses and Funeral for a Friend have recorded, but also an insane range of microphones that were able to use to really nail the sound we wanted. 

For the guitar nerds out there, they rhythm tones were recorded using a LTD EC-1007 equipped with Keith Merrow signature Fishman Fluence and the leads were done with a Music Man Majesty. 

Which of your new EP tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most most reflective? 

James – All of the songs cover such a range of emotions because they are actively about situations in our lives, whether it being alone whilst dealing with loss or feeling powerless and controlled as if you have no say but can’t speak out. There is however a prevailing theme of hope and rebirth that is running through the entire record. 
 

Was it a difficult EP to write? 

James – The EP itself wasn’t difficult to write per say, as it was basically the best of the songs that we had written since our first 2 singles. What is always difficult though is taking your songs to other people and not being too precious when it comes to allowing them to change them to be better. 
 

Who designed the EP artwork? 
 
James – The artwork was created by my partner, an amazingly gifted artist called Claire Francis. She was basically given free reign over the final piece but in essence it came to her whilst listening to the EP. The piece itself symbolises new beginnings, transformation and becoming. 

The three pupils represent the past, present and future whilst the spheres speak of the inner world and the pain associated with profound change. 
 

Does the EP title have any significance/special meaning? 
 
James – To be honest, one of the most difficult parts of this EP process was coming up with a title and we so many different titles flying around at one point so I can’t remember where this one came from exactly. All I know is it the one that resonated with us all the most and felt like it matched the meaning behind the EP itself. 
 

You have also released the single ‘Pedestal’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track? 

Dan – The song is about being looked down upon by the wealthy, the powerful, the influential.  No matter how much we try to speak out about the wrongs of the world, it almost feels impossible to be heard. The line “these ties as they bind round my mouth and my hands, they burn as I yearn to make you understand” shows this.” 

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it? 

James – Me and Beth directed the video in collaboration with the amazing Jay Hillyer who we also collaborated with on Darkest Day’s video, the first single off this EP.  

Dan – It’s World War 2 era inspiration, delving into the recovery of a fallen soldier, we see the healing process, regaining his strength and to see the love grow between the soldier and the nurse who was the one helping him through his rehabilitation. From the subtle smiles, warm embraces and dancing. To the heartache, despair and loss. This version of pedestal shows how a soldier of that statue is seen as expendable and this is wrong, as not only has a life been lost but a future tarnished. 

Beth – The thought process behind the video came to me one evening after watching a WW2 documentary, and the lyrics that Griff wrote — With the concept of being looked down upon by someone who is higher up than you, or thinks of themself more superior — just fit so well with the theme of war. 
  

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words? 

Swansea – It’s a pretty s***** city 
 

How do you look after your voices? 

James – Dan is a huge fan of hot-toddies in the studio, we would not have been able to make it through the sessions without them. 

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025/2026? 

We completed a run of shows earlier in the year with our good friends in Confessions of a Serial Killer. We do have our EP launch show in Hanger 18 in Swansea on 15th November, Haver-Mosh-West 2 on 29th November and then the “Thank You Ozzy Vol 1” show in Fuel Cardiff on 7th Dec 
 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage? 

James – As long as the audience have enjoyed it, then we have done our job. Not making a massive f***-up always helps to ha! 
 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc? 

Jack – We are big fans of Line 6 Helix’s in the band, although James has abandoned us and started to use a ToneX instead. 

Beth – My Meinl Byzance cymbals were an exceptional addition to my kit, bringing the punch with a clear high end. 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why? 

Beth – OMG the Empyrean series! I could just picture us writing some AMAZING heavy music for the battle scenes, and then contrast it with some sombre, calmer music for the not-battle and love scenes! 

Dan – I’d love to write the score for Fourth Wing, I mean come on!  Its got dragons and naughtiness, perfect for us  

Jack – Can they remake Shrek? 
 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations? 

Dan – Corey Taylor, the emotion in his voice, the way he can switch between aggression with the screams, to a melody that isn’t completely clean but tells the story through its tone  

James – Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora’s ability to serve the song has always inspired me, the way he never overplays but seems to find the perfect parts is genius 

Ross – Mick Gordon in general and Scar Symmetry’s – The Singularity Phase 1 album in particular. But my favourite album….that’s a little hard but is most likely Dream Theatre’s Systematic Chaos 

Jack – Slipknot because angry and chaotic, Rage because of the influences of funk and energy. SOAD for both melody and experimentation. 

Beth –  Gabe Helguera (I Prevail) – because his drum style is sick! He provides the insane-est and cleanest drums and makes I prevail sound absolutely epic! I also love Nick Mason (Pink Floyd),his technicality yet also his fluidity around the kit inspired me to stop playing so rigid and get all loosy goosy and FEEL the music! I also grew up on a LOT of Pink Floyd so he was pretty much part of the family  

What makes House Of Hosts happy and what makes you unhappy? 

Happy? – Pizza, beer and DnD sessions with the lads (Eldritch Blast!) 

Sad – The near non-existent mental health services in this country, unless you have private healthcare or can somehow afford to pay out of pocket.