A co-ed quintet from the outskirts of Bath, England, the Heavy draw influence from funk, soul, blaxploitation film soundtracks, and the gritty garage rock of the Sonics. Guitarist Dan Taylor and vocalist Kelvin Swaby became friends in the 1990s, bonding over a shared appreciation for vintage R&B and Jim Jarmusch films.

Joined by bassist Spencer Page, drummer Chris Ellul, and keyboardist Hannah Collins, the two launched their own act — the Heavy — and began combining Taylor’s distorted guitars with lo-fi samples, horns riffs, stomping percussion, and soulful Prince-styled vocals. The photogenic band made its studio debut in 2007, releasing several singles on the London-based Ninja Tunes label before issuing the full-length Great Vengeance and Furious Fire that fall. An American release followed in early 2008 on the newly minted +1 Records.