Atomic Mother Turn Up the Volume With New Summer Single
A fresh track and headline gig mark the next phase for the Aberdeen rockers.
Atomic Mother are back with a new track and a launch gig at Drummonds on 25th July. Known for their high-impact live shows and a love of heavy riffs, they’ve built a reputation as one of Aberdeen’s most energetic bands. “We always bring a lot of energy, hard riffs, epic solos,” says bassist Ollie Middleton. “And of course, you should expect things to be loud.”
The track started with what Ollie describes as “a rattly awful recording” from drummer Pavlos Karageorgiades. Max Anderson reworked the riff into something the band could run with. Lyrically, it takes aim at celebrity culture and the lengths people go to hold onto fame. It came together fast and has already become a setlist staple.
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Join Open Road for a raft of Festival of the Sea events, including The Sea Salt Shore, an evening of sea songs, shanties and storytelling from Joss Camerin, steeped in coastal tradition.
There’s also plenty for families, including a rockpooling morning at Aberdeen beach with the Countryside Ranger and magical maritime tales from storyteller Andy Cannon.
Aberdeen’s loudest band?
Atomic Mother have been making noise since 2018, when Tyler Booth and Max decided to start something heavy. “Sean was a natural fit,” says Ollie, “and Pav got in touch when we were looking for a drummer. We actually couldn’t believe we hadn’t thought of him in the first place.” Ollie himself was recruited more casually. “We thought, well he’s never busy, so we handed him a bass.” He learned on the job and has been with them ever since.
They describe their sound as “full throttle”: big riffs, pounding choruses and lots of noise. The latest track is a clear example of that energy. Written as a group and refined during practice, it’s built for noise and meant to be heard live.
Launch night and writing together
They’re launching the single at Drummonds, joined by Vacants and History of Concrete. It’s one of their favourite venues, and they’re excited to share the stage with two acts they rate highly. They reckon they’re best seen live, and Drummonds is the right place for it.
Writing usually starts with Max bringing in a riff. The rest comes together through jamming. Everyone writes their parts, though they’ll offer suggestions to each other as songs take shape. Tyler handles the lyrics, which could change right up until recording. “We like to focus on the song sounding right at practice first,” Ollie explains. The live arrangement comes later.
Hard Rock in Aberdeen
Being a hard rock band in Aberdeen isn’t always easy. “The city’s more known for metal, indie and acoustic acts,” Ollie says. “Hard rock is probably more niche, but there’s an audience who love it and we love to play to.” They’ve found support from Fat Hippy Records, Captain Tom, and local venues that have helped them stay busy.
Getting more people out to gigs is the bigger challenge. “There are some fantastic bands out there, but it’s hard to get the average Joe to come out and see bands live nowadays,” says Ollie. He’d love to see more folk take a chance on local nights. “When you think that an Oasis ticket is costing you over £300, and you can go see any local band for less than a tenner, it’s more than worth it.”
What Comes Next
The band has played across Scotland, from Bannermans to the Liquid Rooms. A standout show was in Newton Stewart, where The Vault hosted a packed rock night and the whole village turned up. The rest of the trip was memorable for other reasons: a broken exhaust, a door slammed on Pav’s head, and an Airbnb surrounded by cows.
They’ve been writing more and plan to get back in the studio soon. But right now, their focus is on the single launch at Drummonds—one of their favourite local stages—and making sure the night lives up to the sound they’re known for.
