Quick Read
- Isle of Man band Silo signed with Easy Life Records for their debut album ‘Haze’.
- Their single ‘Crawl in a Bottle’ was released on January 23 and reached #14 on the Kerrang! Chart.
- ‘Haze’ is scheduled for release on May 1.
- The band, formed post-COVID, initially recorded music as a personal memento with funding from the Isle of Man Arts Council.
- They gained attention from Kerrang! and Metal Hammer, marking an unexpected rise.
DOUGLAS (Azat TV) – The Isle of Man-based alternative rock band Silo is experiencing a rapid ascent in the music scene, securing a record deal with Easy Life Records and garnering significant attention from major music publications ahead of their debut album, ‘Haze,’ set for release on May 1. The quintet, which formed after the COVID-19 pandemic, initially intended to simply document their music but has found themselves on the front page of Kerrang!‘s website and featured in Metal Hammer, marking an unexpected and ‘insane’ rise.
Silo’s Unexpected Breakthrough and ‘Haze’ Album
Comprising vocalist Kriss Maguire (35), guitarists Lar Crookall (35) and Chris Barber-Shaw (36), bassist Dario Leonetti (35), and drummer Darren Shields (36), Silo emerged from the Isle of Man’s alternative music scene post-COVID. Their journey to a record deal was far from conventional. In August of last year, the band embarked on recording their music primarily as a personal memento, aiming to document their work for themselves in their mid-thirties, recognizing that ‘Bands come and go and they never really sort of get their music recorded.’
The recording sessions took place at the Ranch Production House in Southampton with producer Kel Pinchin, known for his work with bands like Split Chain and As It Is. This initial phase was made possible with crucial funding support from the Isle of Man Arts Council, which has expressed pride in their involvement with the band’s burgeoning success.
From Memento to Major Label with Silo
The turning point for Silo arrived during the mixing stages of their album. An unexpected email from Camden-based Easy Life Records, founded by Jamie Osman in 2014, landed in their inbox with the intriguing query: ‘Who are you? What is this album?’ Easy Life Records boasts an impressive roster of past and current signings, including well-known names like Softcult, Lonely the Brave, and Lower Than Atlantis, signaling a significant industry endorsement for the Isle of Man group.
The band released their first single from ‘Haze,’ titled ‘Crawl in a Bottle,’ on January 23. The track has quickly gained traction, described by Metal Hammer as ‘despondent yet oddly comforting’ and even reaching number 14 on the influential Kerrang! Chart. Guitarist Lar Crookall articulated the band’s astonishment, stating, ‘This is far and beyond anything we could have ever imagined in our wildest dreams already. I can’t comprehend that.’ The band members recounted their disbelief upon seeing their photo on the front page of the Kerrang! website, a publication many of them grew up with as their ‘Bible.’
Silo’s Future and Impact on the Scene
With ‘Haze’ slated for release on May 1 via Easy Life Records, Silo is poised to make a substantial impact beyond their local scene. Their story highlights the evolving landscape of the music industry, where independent artists, initially focused on self-documentation, can capture the attention of established labels through the quality of their work and the power of digital reach. The band’s success is a testament to the vibrant, albeit often overlooked, alternative music communities found in smaller regions, and the potential for local arts funding to catalyze international recognition.
The journey of Silo underscores how, even in 2026, grassroots artistry combined with strategic support and unexpected industry interest can rapidly propel a band from personal project to international recognition, challenging traditional pathways to success in the music industry.