Under the Radar: Bronto Skylift

Wrong. Over the last few years, a succession of two-piece acts, from Rhode Island’s Lightning Bolt to venerable Norwegian black metal crust punks (no, really) Darkthrone, have defied convention to prove that a drumkit and a single guitar can make all the noise you’ll ever need.

Bronto Skylift, Glasgow’s own two-pronged noisemongers, are reluctant to shed light on the eldritch mysteries surrounding how such a small ensemble manages to create such a huge racket. “We could never reveal our secrets!” laughs guitarist and vocalist Niall Strachan. “I think it’s a combination of Iain hitting the drums really hard and me hitting my guitar really hard and brushing our teeth three times a day!”

Originally hailing from the north – Strachan is from Inverness while drummer Iain Stewart has roots in Orkney – Bronto Skylift formed in Glasgow in early 2007, quickly earning a reputation as energetic live perfomers. Though the band originally featured a bassist, three soon became two, and Strachan and Stewart have carried on as a duo ever since.

The Bronto Skylift sound is difficult to pinpoint, but there’s nothing wrong with that, the band say. “The music maybe sounds familiar,” says Strachan, sagely, “but at the same time you can’t put your finger on it.”

Falling somewhere in the nexus between grunge, sludge and noise rock, Bronto’s songs are laden with driving, jagged riffs with plenty of opportunity for Stewart to demonstrate his virtuoso drumming skills. A comparison with Lightning Bolt is certainly valid, though Bronto’s brand of noise is perhaps a little less chaotic and a bit more focused.