Sergeant Thunderhoof: The Sergeant Rides Again

Having formed by accident in 2013, SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF have spent the last decade bringing their own unique blend of dark and heavy psychedelic rock to the eager ears of fans around the globe. After hitting uncharted heights with the release of 2022’s critically acclaimed This Sceptred Veil, we sat down with guitarist Mark Sayer to talk about the band’s follow-up record The Ghost Of Badon Hill, released through the band’s own label Pale Wizard Records on November 15th.

One of the first things Mark talked about was that this is the band’s first attempt at creating a full concept album that is steeped in the historical UK county of Somerset, where the band is based: “Dan [Flitcroft, frontman and lyricist] was the first one of us that really got interested in all the local history, myths and legends that exist in this corner of the world and found out that Badon Hill is the location of one of the largest battles that took place between the invading Anglo-Saxons and the last of the Celtic Britons in Post-Roman Britain. Interestingly, what’s drawn into that battle is the mythical – if he was mythical – figure of King Arthur. There’s not a huge amount left over from that time though, thanks to people recording stuff on parchment back then which obviously doesn’t last that well in the good old British weather! So the actual site of Badon Hill and exactly what happened as a result of this battle is still widely disputed but we still thought it would be a great idea to build the album around. Because we’re obviously really passionate about this part of the world, we decided to create a story set in that time and place and Dan was able to use his amazing way of writing to build it into this tale of a ghost looking back over his life and, ultimately, his demise at this battle.”

This is very much one of the things that stands out about the new record, how an incredibly human story can be woven into events that are set so far in the distant past, which presumably must have presented its own set of challenges.

“It did to some extent,” Mark agrees. “But what is great about Dan is that not only is he a fantastic thinker and fantasist but also he’s a human being and I think his ability to convey that in his lyrics is one of his real strengths. Whether it’s 2024 or 486AD, we’ve all got our own emotional trials and tribulations that we have to deal with and to be able to bring such an ancient piece of history to life and to make it more human and relatable is really important I think.”

As well as being their first full concept album, the new record is also their first as a five-piece, having recruited long-time producer Josh Gallop as a permanent second guitarist, which is something that Mark feels has added a whole new layer to the band’s songwriting.

“Josh has always been a catalyst for new ideas in the studio, asking me to try out new guitar parts, or even asking the immortal question ‘what would Lemmy do?’ at certain points of the recording process. Now he’s actually in the band, we’re working on ideas together even more and he has such a great ear for melody and counter-melody. He thinks really obtusely, so he’ll add guitar lines to my riffs that just make me think ‘wow what’s he doing there?!’ He comes up with stuff I just never would have thought of.”

Mark also points out that it’s made rehearsals for the band’s upcoming live shows even more exciting too. “Because I’m always guilty of overlayering my guitar parts on our albums, there are loads of songs we’ve never been able to play live because they just wouldn’t sound big enough. Now we’ve got that extra guitar it opens up a lot more of our back catalogue to take out on the road. So it all bodes well for the future really!”

SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF has always been a band that has written epic songs, travelling through labyrinthine twists and turns that often feel like a whole album’s worth of ideas in just a single track. The twenty minute Muramasa and the incredible Avon & Avalon Pts. 1 and 2 spring to mind from their recent back catalogue. This time around, though, the band wanted to challenge themselves to make a more focused record and one that wouldn’t need to be split over a double album, like most of their previous work. While this was a tough ask, Mark points out that it wasn’t actually as difficult as the band had anticipated.

“When we were having those discussions about what should end up on the cutting room floor, some of it was pretty obvious really because it just didn’t feel like it fitted in properly with the feeling we were going for and we were all pretty unanimous on those decisions. Of course, sometimes you think ‘I just don’t really want to lose that part’ and in that case you just have to put your foot down a bit. If you listen back to something you’ve done and you’re thinking ‘that just sounds crap’ then it’s pretty easy to back yourself and we’re all pretty understanding with each other when those sorts of things come up.”

Working with their own label Pale Wizard Records (also run by the multi-talented Dan) has also helped keep the pressure off when it comes to writing and recording.

“We’ve always been liberal with what we do and can basically do it whenever we want but also the double albums cost a lot to make, especially on vinyl. This time around, because we were a bit more strict with ourselves it meant we didn’t have to run kickstarters and fundraisers to help cover those costs. It also means that we are now on the brink of playing our first ever show abroad thanks to the money we’ve saved, which obviously we’re really looking forward to.”

That first show abroad will see the band take to the stage at the Planet Desert Rock Weekender in Las Vegas at the end of January 2025 and will finally give their fans in the states (of which there are many if their social media following is anything to go by) the chance to experience the wonders of a SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF live show.

With upcoming dates across the UK either side of that trip State side, and with an incredible album to support, it really feels like this could be an exciting new dawn for the band to be galloping towards.

The Ghost of Badon Hill is out now via Pale Wizard Records. 

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