Los Angeles rock ‘n’ rollers The Bites arrive at The MetalTalk Lowdown with a new chapter already gathering momentum. Following the high-voltage return of Aftertaste, the quartet have released the swaggering new single Whenever You’re Ready, ahead of their self-titled album, due on 18 September 2026 through Earache Records. Here, Jordan Tyler, Mark Hylander and Zack Currier take us inside the band, their ambitions and the music driving them forward.
What’s the most Metal thing you’ve ever done off stage?
Mark: Ignored festival promoters telling us to speed things along and not take photos at a signing. We took photos with everyone until we got kicked out of the tent, and then we took more photos at our merch table. These people waited for us. It was the least we could do, and we weren’t going to be told to crush their days.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played, and why?
Jordan: We had a filler date on tour in Ottawa, Canada, while opening for Sebastian Bach, and our agent found us a show at a divey basement bar opening for a Bon Jovi Tribute act. The seven people, including the bartenders, were zero per cent interested in us at all, so we played lightning fast and got outta dodge.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played, and why?
Jordan: Simply because of the grandiose size and crowd, we have to give it to Stonedead Festival in Newark.
Would you choose a platinum record or one perfect, legendary live show?
Zack: I would have to go with a platinum record. It’s something that would stand the test of time and continuously push us to up our game when it comes to live shows. The growth I’ve seen us experience in the last two years alone makes me think we will have a number of live shows that we will feel are legendary.
What’s your greatest fear?
Jordan: Going through life without achieving the goals and successes I’ve chased since childhood. Also spiders.
What’s the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Mark: Thinking I’m cooler than everyone because I play music that I think is the best in the world. MH
What’s the trait you most deplore in other musicians?
Mark: Thinking they’re cooler than me because they play music they believe is the best in the world, but can’t be because it isn’t ours.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Jordan: I don’t think any of us are ashamed to like the things we are passionate about. Anyone who wants to judge us for the things we enjoy is most likely a joy sucker.
What does a great riff feel like to write?
Jordan: It’s one of those when you know, you know type of feelings. Sure, we could sit around pumping licks we’ve never heard before for the sake of quantity, but when a really powerful one comes across your fingers, it feels incredible.
What’s the worst thing a fan has ever said to you?
Jordan: Not the most offensive thing in the world, but someone told me I swore a bit too much for his liking on stage. Sorry ‘n’ shit.
What’s the worst thing a critic has ever said to you?
Mark: ‘The Bites aren’t as good as the bands that inspired them’ keeps me awake at night. But hey, appreciate the sentiment because now I need to prove that person wrong, and I think this album [The Bites, out 18 September] should make even his foot tap and head bang.
If you were not in music, what would you be doing?
Mark: Trying to figure out how to learn an instrument because there is nothing else in this world for me.
What’s one album outside your genre you secretly love?
Mark: Discovery by Daft Punk, hands down.
When did you last cry, and why?
Mark: October, when my childhood Boston Terrier, Wendell, had to leave us.
What keeps you awake at night?
Zack: Mark pacing around his room and mumbling about the time a critic said: “The Bites aren’t as good as the bands that inspired them.” His room and my room share a wall.
Riffs, royalties or recognition, if you had to choose?
Mark: Riffs beget royalties, so I am going to focus on making the best riffs to keep up with our two incredible guitarists. Recognition will follow.
How do you want to be remembered?
Mark: The band that paved their own way and didn’t chase trends to be a flash in the pan. We want to be the band that keeps optimism alive while it seems like everyone else is giving in to pessimism and cynicism.
What’s the most important lesson the road has taught you?
Mark: Take the time to appreciate the fans who stop and talk to you, because they’re supporting you whether they have seen you before or if you just met them that night. We would not be where we are without them, and even when we are tired and want to go to bed, push that aside and be grateful to the people who came to thank you.
What happens when the music stops?
Zack: The four of us remain best friends. Three of us live together, and the fourth one lives a ten-minute walk away. We tour for a month and then come home and keep hanging out like we didn’t just spend all that time together in the van.
The Bites release their self-titled album on 18 September 2026 via Earache Records. For more details, visit earache.com/collections/the-bites.
The post The MetalTalk Lowdown: The Bites Keep Optimism Alive Through Rock ’N’ Roll first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.
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