Rhys Bloodjoy is a one man noise machine, using sophisticated loops, echo drenched harmonies and reverb soaked melodies to create a truly unique style of Psychedelia—once described as “a stroke of genius that will haunt you long into the night”.
Dubbed by the Manchester Evening News as “lo-fi brilliance”, the Bloodjoy experience was born in the underground scene in 2014. Since then, Rhys has gained in strength and stature, honing his sound to create soundscapes that result in electrifying live performances. Backseat Mafia confirm this when they say “he’s not just one to watch, he’s one to absorb.”
The journey so far saw Bloodjoy release his AA debut single “Broken Window / Scandinavian Girlfriend” on Sister 9 Recordings in June 2016. This popular blood red vinyl 7″ was enthusiastically mastered by Sonic Boom and was promoted with UK and overseas dates, including several dates in the Netherlands.
Shortly after a successful 10-date tour of Spain, his first EP, “Psyche Attack Theories” was released in December 2016 and lauded as “brilliantly dark and raucously noisy.”
After relocating deep into to the Spanish mountains soon after, Bloodjoy returned in spring 2018 with “Love Is A Fucked Up Goddess (Parts II & I) [Expanded]” on Limited Edition vinyl. That release featured two cassette EPs which had previously sold out via psych tape label, Eggs In Aspic, one year earlier. The release received nationwide acclaim; “a shadowy tapestry that’s all at once darkly set and kaleidoscopically mesmeric”, “this is something that feels fresh, if music as dirty, fuzzy and downright intense as this can be described as fresh.”
Bloodjoy’s debut album, “Human.Pattern.Repeat.” was quietly released at the start of the pandemic in May 2020 on red vinyl and has since been described as “a stroke of master craftmanship” and as “reflecting a lot of the great Fuzz Club releases from Singapore Sling to Sonic Jesus but with a more experimental edge and a lot darker.”
After a haitus, Bloodjoy returned in December 2023 with ‘Drugs Loop’—which was the first track taken from his second album, “The Chaos In Veins”. The track was described as having “the original Manchester sound that Bloodjoy emerged with for ‘Broken Window’…but carves its own path, with a more upbeat countenance which hypnotises from the first beat to the last.”
2024’s “The Chaos In Veins” sees a departure from the Cold Wave sound of the previous LP and ventures into different territory, partly due to the fact it was originally developed as a musical accompaniment to Vividsection — a conceptual series of artworks by Dangerosa. However, in true Bloodjoy style, the album reflects some of the darker aspects of the human condition; from suicide to demonic possession, and as Rough Trade (EU) put it: “The album showcases Rhys Bloodjoy’s exceptional songwriting skills and his ability to create an immersive musical world. The Chaos in Veins will transport you to another realm where emotions run deep and introspection reigns supreme.”
In December 2024, Rhys unleashed “Bloodjoy Remixes (Part One)”—an EP starring four artists who have previously released albums on his record label, Sister 9 Recordings, as well as a follow-up to his low-key 2022 debut single with Neu Oscuro, titled ‘Desolation Suits Me’—the opening track to the band’s first official vinyl release, the “Desolation EP”.
Bloodjoy returned to the live scene with an appearance on the main stage at Resistanz Festival in Sheffield on April 20, 2025 as part of a new collaboration: Bloodjoy vs Headcharge + De Vine—a gig that was followed with a special appearance at The Conjuring Festival in August as part of a double-edged show which also featured Neu Oscuro. Soon after, Bloodjoy unexpectedly announced the Halloween release of the “Evils Highway EP”—his first solo release since 2024’s “The Chaos In Veins”—followed shortly after with the announcement of the album, “Bloodjoy Vs (Vol. 1)”—the definitive soundtrack to the Bloodjoy vs Headcharge + De Vine project.
Further collaborations and releases are expected to follow—as well as a new wave of hoodless activity with Rhys’ first band, the recently dubbed “lo-fi/post-punk/scuzz-rock underground heroes”, Dolium— so stay tuned for updates and be sure not to miss anything by subscribing to the mailing list!