Battle

London indie rock outfit Battle initially came together in the mid-'90s when founders Jason Bavanadan (vocals/guitar) and Jamie Ellis (guitar) were tinkering around with their instruments while still attending secondary school. Inspired by the likes of Nirvana, Echo & the Bunnymen, Britpop, and Motown, the two friends headed to Kent University in 2000. There, they met Tim Scudder (bass) and Oliver Davies (drums) and spent the next two years honing a quirky, energetic style. The four friends originally called themselves Killing Moon; however, the connection to the Echo & the Bunnymen song of the same name proved too confusing. Thus Battle was coined in 2005. Their debut single, "Isabelle/Feel the Same," was issued by Fierce Panda in April 2005. A second single, "Demons," followed on Transgressive in September, and the 1,500 copies sold out in one day. Having already played shows with other popular U.K. bands such as the Rakes, the Subways, and Bloc Party, Battle made their stateside performance debut at New York City's Mercury Lounge in March 2006. An appearance at the annual South by Southwest convention also coincided the March release of Battle's third single, "Tendency." The Back to Earth EP followed in October. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi