Scatter The Tribe explain why they’re holding back a live favourite
Scatter The Tribe have a song that fans keep asking them to release. At The Sanctum festival 2026, they told Festpod why they’re holding it back, how a festival organiser ended up joining the band, and why everyone should feel part of the tribe.
We caught up with the London modern metal band after their set at Dead Wax Digbeth in Birmingham, swapping the festival noise for a grey industrial wall and some passing traffic. Not the most glamorous interview spot, but we make these things work.
Neill was already sold on them after seeing their performance the previous year. He’d even bought a T-shirt, although Festpod’s “corporate dress” requirements apparently prevented him from wearing it this time.
The conversation soon turned to something he wanted considerably more of - their music.
Scatter The Tribe performing live at The Sanctum festival 2026
The song fans keep asking for
Their Sanctum set drew heavily from debut EP The Human Condition, alongside their latest single and an unreleased song that has been hanging around the live set for a while: Vacant Stares. That title will be familiar to some longstanding gig-goers, with the track appearing in live coverage as far back as 2023.
The band said people had been asking when it would come out. Some had apparently expected it to be the first release after the EP, but Scatter The Tribe had other ideas.
They explained that they wanted to give the song a better chance of reaching people. Releasing it when their audience was still small, they felt, could mean it passed too many potential listeners by.
“So we thought, let’s hold it back just a little bit,” they told us.
There’s also something they like about a song becoming familiar through gigs before a recorded version arrives. The hope is that people who have already heard it live will recognise it straight away when it finally lands.
They were clear that they intended to release it. A date, however, wasn’t part of the conversation.
Part of the band, not just the crowd
For anyone yet to catch Scatter The Tribe, they describe a sound that’s heavy, melodic and introspective, with influences including Monuments, Polaris and Makari. But the live experience is about more than what’s coming out of the speakers.
New member Joe had watched them before joining, giving him a useful view from both sides of the stage.
“You feel like you’re part of the band when you watch Scatter The Tribe play,” he said. “It’s so involved and engaged with the crowd, and the songs have such an incredible emotional weight to them.”
That connection came up repeatedly. The band spoke about feeding off the energy people bring to their shows and wanting to make music that listeners can carry into their own lives.
Even their backdrop plays into that idea. An outstretched hand surrounded by circuitry, bringing together different images of connection.
Whether someone has followed them for ages or wandered in knowing absolutely nothing, the intention is the same.
“Everybody is welcome at our shows and we want to include people and connect people.”
Watch our full interview with Scatter The Tribe below.
The booking came first
Joe’s arrival has brought what the band described as a “fresh perspective”, without changing the things they feel make Scatter The Tribe recognisable. The band have also publicly welcomed him as their new guitarist.
There is another connection worth explaining. Joe also organises The Sanctum.
Before anyone raises an eyebrow, the booking came first.
Joe said Scatter The Tribe were the first band he booked for the 2026 festival after enjoying them so much the previous year. Joining them happened afterwards, turning a booking he was excited about into a much more personal return.
The band also stressed that Reza remained involved behind the scenes, including in songwriting. Their hope was to perform together as a five-piece when circumstances allowed.
Scatter The Tribe on Instagram
An album? There are a few things to work out first
Asked about a debut album, the band were interested but cautious. Money was one consideration. Another was building a dedicated audience who would spend time with a full-length release.
Playing beyond London was part of that thinking. They described The Sanctum as an important opportunity to reach people elsewhere and hinted at further shows outside the capital in 2027, without revealing the details.
They also said they had two songs in the pipeline. Whether new releases would tie in with those shows was still undecided.
Neill put the other side of the argument to them. More songs give new listeners more opportunities to discover a band and find something they love.
Or, as he eventually put it:
“What I’m saying to you is I want to hear more.”
Subtle, Neill. Very subtle.
Scatter The Tribe are listed to support Vianova at New Cross Inn, London, on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the event listing for current ticket information.
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