RANDOM HAND have spent the last few years tearing full throttle through the UK scene with their ferocious in your face ska-punk-metal mashup. Stops along the way in the U.S.A. and mainland Europe and Russia have enhanced a relentless UK touring schedule. In that time the West Yorks based 4 piece released two albums, 'Change of Plan' (Riot Music)and 'Inhale/Exhale' (Rebel Alliance) and a single, 'Anger Management', played countless festivals including Reading, Leeds, Slam Dunk and a headline set at Rebellion 09, and toured alongside the likes of Reel Big Fish, Propagandhi, Big D & The Kids Table, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Leftover Crack, Left Alone and Strung Out along with the cream of the UK punk and ska scene. A potentially career ending injury derailed the band at the start of 2010 but RANDOM HAND are back in action and firing on all cylinders with the addition of ex-'Chief' drummer, Sean Howe. In their time out the decision was made to take back control of the two albums on their own 'Our Music' label, re-launching their debut as 'ANOTHER CHANGE OF PLAN' with an additional 5 tracks. A re-issue of 'INHALE/EXHALE' followed with the extra track, 'Save Us' featuring Babar Luck, ex of skacore pioneers, King Prawn.
The band's 3rd album, 'SEETHING IS BELIEVING' is set for release on 21.03.11 through Bomber Music. It will be preceeded by a download only single, 'FIND WHAT'S OUT THERE' which showcases the band's in your face style perfectly. Tours across Europe will be followed with a return to the U.S. and Canada in early Summer.
RANDOM HAND : Do not remove your seatbelt, the ride is far from over!!
Reviews for "Inhale/Exhale"
"It has a musical landscape that effortlessly shifts from driving hard-hitting punk to dirty urban rap and chilled ska, without every losing any of its intensity. What we have here is one of the finest ska/punk mash-up records that you will hear this year from one of the country’s hardest-working touring bands. My recommendation is that you pick this up, learn the singalongs and make your way to one of their shows. You will not regret it." 5/6
www.sonicdice.com
"A flowing, fighting record that you can't help but get swept along bya mash-up is too simple and crude a term for the precision and work that has gone into this album. No one with a half-decent taste in rock music could dislike this album, there is literally something for everyone without getting the sense that the band are trying to please" 9/10
www.outlineonline.com
"Inhale/Exhale is a relentless bastion of an album, a puss filled wart that sticks out of place on the numb hairy overly acupunctured back of a rather flat, passionless musical landscape. Here is an album from a band that has simply gone for it, spitting and snarling like a Jack Russell that thinks it’s a bad ass lion. One hell of an album, finally something that makes sense." 8/10
www.thefourohfive.com
"The first album of the year that actually sets the standards for all those to follow.45 minutes of musical pleasure." 11/13
www.roomthirteen.com
"The ‘difficult’ second album is in the bag, and what a bag. Random Hand has crafted an impeccably produced top-notch record that develops on the previously set out stall and takes the band up another level. Impressive stuff you need to listen to now." 4.5/5
Punktastic.com
"Party-inducing ska-music with ballsy guitars and killer riffs."
www.rockfreaks.net
"Superb - a testament to what hard work, outstanding musicianship and an ear for sellable material can do. If this album is anything to go by, Random Hand are passionate enough, pop enough and good enough to bring it back out into the bright lights of the mainstream."
www.leedsguide.co.uk
"Fantastically written and pumped full of passion.phenomenal."
Just An Insight
"The perfect antidote after Capdown's break-up."
It's Raining Planes and Helicopters
"One of the best domestic ska albums in years.Up until now they may well have been best known for their spectacular live shows, but thanks to Inhale/Exhale 2009 will be the year of Random Hand." 4/5
www.hellontoast.net
"A very good record which doesn’t sound anything like anything else. Nice work if you can get it. Ultimately, Random Hand are just a very good band who have found a way to do it differently."
www.subba-cultcha.com
Live Reviews
"It's up to Yorkshire's Random Hand to get the riot started. Mixing sludgy metal riffs with a healthy dose of ska-punk, their vicious blasts of socio-political punk are raw, rough and real."Kerrang
"Random Hand (KKKK) are brilliant first thing on Saturday at Reading. Their trombone-infused ska-punk is fast, furious and ferocious, while singer Robin Leitch is impressively impassioned."Kerrang
Their music reminds me of a runaway train that thunders along with the constant risk of either the wheels coming off or the boiler exploding.
That they stay on the track is testament both to the band's musical skill and their obvious love of performing.
David Knights for Keighley News
"Not so much arriving on stage as erupting, Yorkshire four-piece Random Hand brings a heavier feeling to this evening's proceedings. Blurring the boundaries between skacore and downright heavy metal, the band tears through a setlist comprising mainly of tracks from superb new album "Change of Plan". Frontman Robin Leitch covers every inch of the stage in what appears to be nothing shy of a stinging-nettle fury, trombone flailing wildly. Set closer 'Anthropology' with its siren induced menace has the entire crowd lapping up the concoction of musical ingredients. It's safe to say Random Hand is the unofficial champion of the evening."
www.skacommunity.co.uk
"Headlining tonight's gig are Random Hand, who have already developed quite an affinity with Esquires. This Yorkshire Ska-Band are incredibly making their fourth appearance here in just under a year. As per usual their entertainment value earns them top marks from me.Of their set this evening, it’s ‘Scum Triumphant’ that comes out on top. Totally anthemic and some real ‘nasty’ ska."
Bedford Esquires
"Like I would imagine a Psychedelic acid trip on a crazy fairground ride; fast lights, crazy emotions, excitement, heightened senses.this band blows you away."
The Talk Magazine
"Random Hand entices an entire dance floor assembly, serving a concoction of metal, punk and ska. Considering the early time the sheer number of people pogoing from opener 'Answers' to closer 'Anthropology' is a sight to behold. Who says all Londoners stand about with their arms crossed?"
www.skacommunity.co.uk
"Now we come to Random Hand. Now I’ve only caught a bit of their set before & even then I enjoyed their ska-metal punk stylings, but after the whole set I would have to say I was nothing short of impressed. They came on strong & stayed that way the entire set with the frontman having enough time between songs to have a laugh with the audience… I only wish now I’d had enough money to buy their CD afterwards."
www.punknews.co.uk
".the passion and showmanship of each member of the band is reminiscent of the early, funky Nu-Metal of Incubus, while with a crazed glint in his eye, and at times politically relevant lyricisms, Leitch and co remind us of SOAD’s heavy cross genre mix-up.you won’t see a more passionate live show. These guys believe in what they play, so kick up your heels and dance like a loon, the ska rock revolution is coming soon!"
Sandman magazine
"Tonight’s opener “Play Some Ska” is particularly fitting as a small group at the back of the room has been heard mumbling unimpressed that they “thought this was a ska night”, a perfect illustration of the closed-mindedness that the song scolds. It’s obvious though that these naysayers are largely outnumbered by a pit that erupts in a concoction of jumping, flailing, head-banging and general indifference to well being.
What follows is a fifty minute set that sees the front row singing every word of the likes of “Milk” and “Mr Bib Wakes Up” back to the band, which after two weeks on tour is already well honed in this particular set. “Anthropology” is still a highlight (people like sirens, it’s the truth) and sounds as abrasive as ever. The trademark mix of metal and ska is on display tonight, and may not have sounded better."www.skacommunity.co.uk
