Adam Bray - vocals
Dan Lucas - guitar/vocals
Jay Gillett - guitar
Ricky Laing - bass
Symon Minter - drums

Jairus have developed from the typical non-descript beginnings that we nearly all find ourselves presented with when a new unit of musicians get together to play. Back in October 2001 was when the members of Jairus first found themselves placed together with the sole intention of creating music. To be completely specific the first time the band entered the rehearsal studio it was minus James Gillet (Guitar), who says he "wasn't interested in joining a band. Then I went for a practice and it felt so right!". There it was, the legacy of Jairus had begun.

James and Dan Lucas (Guitar/Vocals) had already known each other from a previous band known as Cipher; "shitty nu-metal band" according to Dan. Symon Minter (Drums) being a mutual friend of Jays and Dans from a number of different crossed paths. Together with Ricky Laing (Bass) and Adam Bray (a man Dan claims is "the funniest man I know") these five young men had crossed paths for the first time.

For those of you who haven't heard Jairus it is hard to explain the band to you in words. Sonically the band clearly take influences from similar acts such as Hopesfall, Poison The Well and At the Drive-In. But Dan also talks of a much deeper musical influence and inspiration the band take from unexpected artists such as The Cure, Joy Division, The Smiths, The Ozric Tentacles, Interpol and Radiohead. However Jairus really are a band you have to see for yourself to appreciate.

According to James the band spent a lot of their early rehearsal time making sure every song was "just right", although the band were very keen to hit the road they spent a long time making sure their songs were a perfect representation of Jairus. But when the band finally did hit the stage, they sure made a mark. The first live show was the 19th of April 2002 @ the bands local Harp Club in Folkstone UK. The live show is perhaps the most important part of Jairus, it has gained the band admiration and respect all round the United Kingdom.

In amongst the bands early blitzkrieg attacks upon unsuspecting audiences nationwide they recorded a couple of Demo's, which have since fallen by the roadside as Dan claims "The first two didn't capture any energy", whereas the bands latest effort, recorded with close friend Ben Phillips, is described by Dan as "awesome" and James as "perfect, just the right blend of clarity and intensity". The demo contains the tracks "And Caligula Blushed", "The Diaries Of Nancy Thompson" and "Spindley". The tracks can all be downloaded from the bands official website (www.jairusonline.com) Of which "And Caligula Blushed" and "Spindley" will feature on the upcoming album alongside 7 new tracks (but more on that later).

The evolution of Jairus has been a fascinating and endearing one. According to Dan the music is certainly far more "dynamic" and "heartfelt" and the band have gotten a lot more "confident with experimenting". Ricky and James are both especially keen to experiment with various effects and pedals. Dan describes the band's ethic these days as "Fuck, lets not hold anything back". This is clearly evident when you see the band live and hear the new tracks, which are far more diverse and intense than anything the band have done before, and you can appreciate why tracks that would be classics in most bands eyes such as "The Diaries Of Nancy Thompson" won't even make it onto the record.

Now for the present of Jairus. The band have recently signed a contract with Skipworth Records, and will be releasing their new album on the label later this year. I questioned the band on their reasons for signing with Skipworth; according to Dan "Skipworth has the exact approach we were looking for in a label. Skippy seems a lot like we are, he is very passionate about the bands on his label and we need someone who cares about the music we're writing. Skippy completely respects our reasons for playing what we play". For James the reasons are very similar; "We knew Skippy was coming from the same place as us... it would be an honour to be a part of Skipworth". The album will be an eclectic mix of tracks, with such high-octane brutal tracks as "And Caligula Blushed" and newie "Ara Pacis" alongside far more diverse and technical tracks such as "Sidewalk Dances" and "Abandons The Exterior Look". Other completed tracks include "Cut The Six Minute Caller" and "Lucco Sleeps On Screen".

The band are still out and about a lot making a name for themselves on the live circuit, to date the band have supported such acts as Hopesfall, Sikth and Johnny Truant. They landed a prestigious, high-profile slot at the Goodlife Summer Festival in Belgium. Sharing the stage with bands such as Shai Hulud and Naiad. Following this the band began recording of their album on August the 18th for three weeks with producer Ben Phillips, the aforementioned friend who recorded their new demo with them. Then the band have many UK shows. Then to round the year off the band will embark upon a two week European tour with friends Secondsmile that visits Spain and France.

So you could say 2003 has and will be a pretty exciting time for Jairus. You'd have though they might slow down a bit in 2004. Thankfully no. The band will be playing another UK tour which features the whole Skipworth entourage of Fordirelifesake, Deluge and Jairus in late 2004. The band will also be playing in Europe AGAIN and also in Japan and the USA. So no doubt if this is the first time you are reading about Jairus it will certainly not be the last, and what a good thing that is.

By Tom Winter Credits Skipworth Team Member

Although the phrase is now tired and clichéd, very few bands can truly claim that their music is "straight from the heart". But you only have to witness Jairus's touching, apocalyptic live show to see just how fitting the idiom really is.

Jairus's unique sound is hard to pinpoint – they fuse the raw passion of US peers Hopesfall and Poison The Well with the complex song structures of Tool and At The Drive-In to create something truly worth loving. From gut-wrenching screams to poignant vocals and spoken word, Jairus are pushing the boundaries of hardcore day by day.

The Kent five piece have sprung out of nowhere in the past few months and are beginning to win over audiences all over the UK, Europe and USA. With an album due out on European label Skipworth in winter 2003/04, Jairus are undoubtedly the future of emotional music.

By Marcus Credits Furyfanzine.com

For those of you are unfamiliar with Jairus, you are missing out on perhaps one of the most talented hardcore bands on the planet. A bold statement indeed, but sometimes in life you just get a feeling in your gut, the hairs on your arms stand on end, and a shiver rockets down your spine. Prepare for this when you first hear "And Caligula Blushed". Arguably the bands most polished work to date, with the same amount of passion thrown into every practice, show and recording session. As raw as it is refined, as blunt as it is razor-edged and as eclectic as it is possible to be in one track. This song is the complete musical experience, one of the few times in your life you will physically be incapable of moving as the track fires out of your speakers, into your ears and embeds itself in your mind! As the song dances from balls out hardcore, to melancholic emo, you will simply be an observer to a slice of something which is beyond words, the only thing that can truly emphasize how significant this song, indeed this band will be is the music.
But this my friends is just a taste of what it to come. The warning signs are there, the seeds have evidently been sown. Because this ladies and gentlemen, is the start of a revolution, just make sure you know which side you are on.

By Tom Winter