The Virginmarys

Mixing the power of the grunge era with the vigor of punk, the Virginmarys create driving hard rock reminiscent of the Foo Fighters. Formed in Macclesfield, England in 2006 by singer and guitarist Ally Dickaty, bassist Chris Birdsall, and drummer Danny Dolan, the band set out to create intelligent hard rock that could be visceral and fun without being meatheaded. The lineup would be short-lived, with bassist Matt Rose taking over for Birdsall in 2009, but the years that followed would see the band release a string of EPs, including 2010's Cast the First Stone, 2011's Just a Ride and Portrait of Red, and 2012's Dead Man's Shoes. Their first proper full-length, King of Conflict, arrived in 2013 on Wind Up Records.