UK-based trio Air Drawn Dagger have unveiled their debut album A Guide For Apparitions on April 4 via Long Branch Records. The record introduces the group’s experimental blend of punk, electronic, and occult styles. Produced by Neil Kennedy (Creeper, Boston Manor), the record highlights themes of ghost lore, witch trials, and inner turmoil. Metal Insider caught up with guitarist Lewis Budden to discuss the record.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the album A Guide for Apparitions?
A Guide for Apparitions was inspired by that feeling of imbalance and the struggle for control and power—not just in some far-off eerie realm but in our everyday lives. We wanted to explore the invisible forces that haunt us, the things we summon—intentionally or not—and what happens when we lose control of them. We drew heavily from Grimoires and pagan traditions, especially Celtic and Norse mythologies. Apparitions became this recurring symbol that tied in with archetypes like the Tridevi—the Maiden, Mother, and Crone—representing life cycles, feminine power, and spiritual evolution. So, while it sounds mystical and occult, at its core, the album is really about confronting chaos, reclaiming power, and navigating the unknown. Each track is like a spell or a warning, a moment where the veil gets a little thinner.
What was the creative process like for you while working on the album?
Considering the cliche is that ‘you have your whole life to make your debut album’, we’re a band that has been releasing consistently for years, so all of the tracks are brand new as opposed to old demos. We wrote this album within a few months before heading into the studio and finished most of the lyrics while the drums were being tracked, which was quite intense but left no time for deliberation. Everything had to be good, or it was burned immediately. It created quite a ruthless process that seemed to work well for us.
Can you talk more about the single, “Bellyaches?”
Partially an ‘end credits’ song for the album, as we bask in euphoric, self-destructive thoughts. Inspired by the emo revival of Modern Baseball etc., and the dopamine hit of shouting lyrics in unison, whilst barely conscious, inside sweaty basements. An ode to getting into a mess with your mates but believing it’ll be ok in the end. Lastly, another nod to rejecting the passage of time, opting to die in the most joyful moment of your life rather than coming down off the high.
Your sound is described as blending genres like pop-punk and electro-emo. What inspired you to mix these styles?
We just all genuinely love lots of different music and want to include as much of it as possible into the things we create. The notion seems to be a bit more popular now, but when you grow up on pioneering bands like Linkin Park and Enter Shikari, then it feels pretty natural for us.
The name, Air Drawn Dagger, comes from Macbeth. How does this tie into the themes and emotions you explore in your music?
The meaning is a characterization of an emotional outburst. That felt like a pretty accurate representation of the music we make, whilst not pigeonholing us to a certain sound.
What were some of the challenges you faced in making A Guide For Apparitions?
We set ourselves a tight turnaround as we didn’t want to leave it too long following our last EP. As it was our debut album, we were learning how to bring all these ideas to life in a way that felt cohesive to the narrative of the record, yet have songs that could stand tall on their own. It was intense, but in the best way. Like any good ritual, it required a bit of chaos to make something powerful.
What are some of the band’s biggest musical influences that shaped the sound of A GuideFor Apparitions?
We definitely wore our influences on our sleeve with A Guide for Apparitions. Bands like My Chemical Romance were a huge inspiration—not just for their theatricality, but the way they tell stories through concept albums. That idea of creating a whole world around a record really stuck with us. There’s also some Paramore energy in the emotional delivery and dynamic shifts, and you’ll hear touches of Creeper and Bring Me The Horizon in the darker, more dramatic moments. We wanted to bring that big, cinematic rock sound but filter it through our own weird, mystical lens. We also pulled from outside the rock world—film scores, folk music, even pagan chants—anything that felt atmospheric or ritualistic. It was about building something that felt immersive and haunted but dynamic and alive.
Now that the album is out, what’s next for Air Drawn Dagger?
Lots of live dates to be announced. We have been shortlisted by Glastonbury to play an event for them at the end of April, then we will be at the Great Escape Fest in Brighton and all over the UK in June, followed by RADAR Festival with more touring to be announced soon.
Is there anything else you’d like to say or add about the new album?
We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s listened, shared, or connected with A Guide for Apparitions—it means the world to us. We’re so grateful it’s finding its people.
And if you haven’t listened yet… Join the Church of Dagger. We’ll be waiting on the other side.
Feature Image Photo Credit: RiccardoCenciMedia
