Origins & Early Demos
Flies Are Spies From Hell formed in the Summer of 2004, briefly working with a singer before transitioning into a fully instrumental unit. Jamming and gigging in the creative hubs of Leeds and Chichester, the band drew early inspiration from pioneering instrumental and math-rock releases by 65daysofstatic, Explosions in the Sky, and Oceansize.
Their initial self-recorded Demo EP, crafted in smoky basement studios, quickly caught local attention. Leeds fanzine Sandman described the early sound as "all haunting piano lines and crunchy guitars floating and riffing, riffing and floating all over a menacing backdrop of impending epic-ness." They quickly established a reputation for live performances that balanced heartfelt melodic peace with intense, climactic aggression.
Mountain Language & Touring
In 2007, the band released the critically acclaimed Mountain Language EP. Praised by Silent Ballet as "a remarkable accomplishment, saturated in beauty, enriched with emotion," and compared by Nightshift to "some bizarre fusion of Mike Oldfield and Explosions in the Sky," it cemented their place in the UK post-rock landscape.
The same year, Chris co-founded the I Am Joy Arts Festival in Chichester, which the band headlined annually. Over the next few years, the band toured extensively, sharing stages with instrumental heavyweights such as Russian Circles, And So I Watch You From Afar, Maybeshewill, *Shels, and Vessels.
Red Eyes & Nerves Still Beating
Their debut full-length album, Red Eyes Unravelling, arrived in December 2009. The release was notoriously delayed by literal lightning strikes destroying studio equipment and lost masters, but the reception was stellar. Rock Sound awarded it 8/10, writing: "A stunningly assured debut... the band’s compositional elegance and ear for a genuinely affecting melody make this a hugely enjoyable listen."
A UK tour followed in 2010. Shortly after, Field Records backed the creation of the Nerves Still Beating EP in 2011, featuring remixes by Gunning For Tamar, Court of Hidden Faces, and Karhide. This release launched their first European tour, taking their live show to the Czech Republic, France, and Belgium.
Underdog Underfoot & Dunk! Fest
Following a second larger European tour in 2012, the band released their sophomore album Underdog Underfoot in 2015. Hailed as "an exhilarating listen... you'll be hard pushed to hear a better post-rock album this year" (9.5/10, AltDialogue), the record was backed by two additional European tours.
Live festival performances followed at major alternative music gatherings including ArcTanGent in 2014 and Belgium's legendary Dunk! Festival in 2016. In 2018, the band released Underdog Undone, an ambient sister album featuring remixes by Cities and Memory, WiresDreamDisasters, and Karhide.
Final Quiet & Present Status
Flies released their third studio album, Final Quiet, in May 2020 on Voice Of The Unheard Records. Recorded and mixed at Nice Weather For Airstrikes Studios by Pete Lambrou (VLMV / Codes In The Clouds) and mastered by Ludwig Maier, the record was dedicated to the memory of Teri Chapman. The album received glowing praise as "an impeccable production and execution" (BeCult).
In February 2022, the band announced a hiatus. While active band operations are paused, members remain close and continue work on other projects: Chris runs A Cheery Wave Records, and Chris & Will write music together in their ambient project Winter At Sea.