Twenty years, three albums and one disastrous tour later, Montrose heavy rockers Late Landing are about to release their most ambitious record yet. With Odyssey landing on 6 November, we caught up with the band to talk riffs, resilience and the night in Bradford they’ll never live down.
Who are you and where are you from?
We’re Late Landing, a four-piece heavy rock band from Montrose, Scotland. Ben Moore on vocals and guitar, Joe Moore on guitar, Nicky Pirie on drums and Chris Davie on bass.
We’re celebrating 20 years as a band this year and looking to head into our 21st with some good momentum behind us. Especially since we’ll finally be old enough to drink in America. Yee haw!
How did Late Landing form, and how did you find your sound?
We formed back in 2006 from the remnants of older bands, and we’ve always had the drive to write riff-heavy music and put on an energetic live show. Our sound has developed over the years, and like the finest malts, improved with age!
Our style is pretty hard-hitting, and our songs can go from straightforward rock to something much more expansive, progressive and ambient, sometimes within the same track.
How would you describe your music to someone discovering you for the first time?
“Riff music” (patent pending…) would probably describe us quite well, but we’re heavy rock at heart. Somewhere between hard rock and heavy metal.
You can find three-minute upbeat bangers, slow and heavy grooves, long meandering progressive songs, all heavy but melodic, with plenty of stylistic variety.
Live, it’s just the four of us giving it everything. No backing tracks, no click tracks, just full-on live rock music.
2026 marks 20 years as a band. What has kept you going, and how has the band changed over that time?
Passion. There have been breaks and line-up changes over the years, but we all share this musical passion. It fuels us to keep writing, recording and playing live, which, in turn, drives us to keep going.
We still love making music and enjoy what we create. Being fans of our own songs probably helps!
Musically, we’re more ambitious while also knowing when to keep a simple song simple.
What’s the story behind the new album Odyssey?
Odyssey is our third full-length album and probably our most ambitious yet. Eight tracks, around 42 minutes, covering everything from straightforward heavy rock to more progressive material.
It’s been ten years since our previous album, so getting this one finished feels like a significant milestone.
We worked with Mark Tindal at Open Eyes Productions, who helped us create something we’re really proud of.
The title feels pretty appropriate given the journey we’ve been on to get it finished!
Are there any tracks on the album you are especially proud of, or that mean the most to you?
We’d probably all give you a different answer!
‘Odyssey’ itself is a standout. It’s an 11-minute instrumental that closes the album and probably our most ambitious track to date. It’s also been a live favourite for years.
‘Heart In Hand’ is another, starting almost like a ballad before turning into a proper riff fest and finishing with an epic double chorus.
Ultimately, we’re proud of the whole album. Every track brings something different.
What is the rock scene like in the North East of Scotland?
There’s no shortage of talented bands up here.
There are some great promoters, venues and festivals supporting original music. Bonnie Scotland Presents, for example, do a brilliant job putting on shows and supporting local bands.
Getting people out to support original music can be challenging, but when you get a good crowd, it makes all the effort worthwhile.
Can you tell us a dramatic story from your 20 years as a band?
We once attempted a five-date UK tour that turned into an absolute shambles…
Glasgow was cancelled on the first day, just before we set off. We headed south anyway to gain some ground.
Sheffield was brilliant, although we ended up sleeping in the pub on pool tables and manky, sticky leather benches.
Macclesfield was cancelled after we’d set up and soundchecked because of a burst pipe. What a day.
London was thankfully brilliant, despite us arriving with minutes to spare. Two of us were parking the van while the other two set up our gear before a blinder of a show.
Then came Bradford. Both support bands had pulled out, leaving us as the only act. We thought, fuck it, we’re en route, let’s play!
We played to the bar staff, one punter and the sound guy, who somehow ended up wrestling each other during our set.
After that disaster, we drove straight back to Scotland.
And we haven’t crossed the border since.
The end.
What’s next for Late Landing?
First up is releasing Odyssey on November 6th, including our first vinyl release!
Then it’s onto 2027, hopefully playing plenty of shows and reaching new audiences. We’ve already got Bonfest’s main stage confirmed, which we’re really looking forward to.
And no doubt we’ll start writing more music. Hopefully the next album won’t take ten years!
Where can people find and follow you?
We’re on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, with our music available on all the usual platforms.
Odyssey is out November 6th. Get on it!
