The beginnings of this Lincolnshire based ‘tighter-than-a-duck’s-arse, eight legged hard rocking groove machine’ go back to 2003, when guitarist Bolda (24), and drummer Daryl Hocking (24) first got together to play music, bonded by a shared love of Iron Maiden, Queen, Metallica, Guns N Roses et al.
Having watched the first line-up of Nightvision play for 18 months, bassist Dean Hocking (20), brother of Daryl, was persuaded in 2005 to join the band when the previous bass player moved on. The dynamic created by two brothers in a band can go one of two ways – disastrously or with creative sparks flying. Fortunately it was the latter!
The search then began for the final piece in the band’s jigsaw – a talented vocalist / front man, culminating at the beginning of 2006, when extrovert, energetic vocalist Dave McKee (25) walked into the group’s audition room, exuding all the self-confidence of a natural born front man.
The four musicians gelled instantly and soon assumed an enviable group consciousness, honing down their craft and impressing audiences with a series of headline slots from Glasgow to London as well supporting the likes of Diamond Head, Fozzy, New Generation Superstars, Sweet Seduction, Kid Ego, From Almost The End, The Imperial Vipers, Forever Never, Disarm and many more.
2009 saw Nightvision take a huge step forward with the release of their irresistible, tour de force debut album; ‘As The Lights Go Down’ on Manchester based Rocksector Records. Produced and engineered by Matt Elliss at Axis Studios, Doncaster, ‘As The Lights Go Down’ is packed with exuberant, crisp, crunching guitar riffs, soaring, wide ranging vocals, thunderous melodic bass lines and powerhouse engine room drumming. This is the sound of four excellent young musicians who have embraced their influences from the (metal and hard rock) past, injected tons of energy and enthusiasm and created their own distinctive brand of high energy hard rock music in the process.
Heavy Rock fans around the UK have shown fantastic appreciation for a live show that lives up to the album in every respect and has ensured that every venue played has resulted in an invitation to return and an ever growing mailing list of new fans.
Since the release of the album which has received rave reviews, 2009 saw Nightvision featured with a half-page spread in Metal Hammer, a two page feature in Powerplay, touring the length of the UK (c.50 dates in-all) and culminating in an incredible headline performance at Camden’s Purple Turtle in December. Radio coverage has also been strong with Bruce Dickinson playing & praising the band on BBC6, plus coverage on Rock Radio Manchester 106.1, Total Rock, Planet Rock, Hard Rock Radio Live & more. Little wonder the band has a burgeoning fanbase of rock & metal devotees.
Always building on previous experience and with new and exciting songs being added to the repertoire, there is no chance of Nightvision slowing down their aims of playing in front of new and bigger audiences, looking for major tour support slots and festival invitations, or just simply the chance to play as many gigs as possible. This is a band that will be ready for opportunities when they happen as they look to write the next chapter in their history.
