Citadels
Photo provided by Citadels
23rd December 2023
​Citadels, the 3-piece band from Renfrewshire, chatted to ‘it’s live’ on their musical styles alongside their single, ‘MYTHOS’. As they wrapped up their EP, they also received recognition by being shortlisted for Indie, Rock & Alternative Live Artist of the Year - an achievement they were incredibly thankful for.
The line-up includes Mark McMillan on guitar and vocals, Scott Mcpartlan on bass and vocals and Stuart McMillan on drums. Together they experiment between styles of post rock, emo, heavy pop, punk and metal.
Photo Cred: Raymond Mundito O’neill
'MYTHOS' was the second song written for their EP, ‘Endless Story’, blending each of their different sounds together to create a ‘live anthem’: “It's wild and energetic and heavy, yet lilting and melody driven probably more than any other song we have.”
The song takes us on a compelling journey: “It's about reawakening our appreciation for the culture that has been handed to us. Whether or not you've heard that we should be ashamed of it.” Additionally, 'MYTHOS' explores themes of rediscovery and acceptance: “It's about finally standing in responsible adulthood over your life and accepting that life is what we make of it…It's a riposte to post modernist self hatred. Humans are fucking awesome. Flawed or not.”
"It's about accepting that life is what we make of it"
Citadels are inspired by bands such as System of A Down and Limp Bizkit for their heaviness whilst also embracing the songwriting style of Nirvana. Their sound is further shaped by influences from Biffy Clyro, The Xcerts and Foo Fighters yet highlight their appreciation for other distinctive artists: “We have an edge of punk, and unique bands like Soft Play, and Pulled Apart By Horses play a big part in our approach.”
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When writing music, the main melody and lyrics are first laid down on a demo by Mark before being shared with the rest of the band. The next process allows each member to mould the song into what we hear live, adding their own twist and uniqueness: “Mark is the main songwriter, but writes FOR the band… Everyone's voice is heard, there's no judgement and we have a real respect for each other.”
Photo Cred: Record Factory
Their favourite song to perform live often varies but ‘Monuments’ stands out for Scott because of its depth: “It goes through lots of changes and you're really on a journey.” On that note, Mark emphasises the significance of writing an effective set list: “The right song in the wrong place is actually just the wrong song, and you spend fucking 5 minutes cringing.” It therefore comes down to context: “It's not about the party exactly , it's about what you're celebrating.”
"Everyone's voice is heard, there's no judgement and we have a real respect for each other”
​Some of their most memorable gigs have included Record Factory, Paisley Food Festival and Airdrie Vibe nightclub: “Just incredible energy, food fest being a massive tent and Airdrie being a sweaty low ceiling room.” With next year just around the corner, they have their hopes set on expanding to a large capacity show whilst bagging a spot at some festivals.
To end, Citadels contemplate their wishes for the future by revealing they strive to create impact on their own terms instead of losing themselves in a structure to achieve fame. “When we write music, it's about truth and never about getting bigger as a band or trying to fit the mould. We want to change people's lives in a positive way, even for one night.”
Author: Karina Caulfield