A GUITARIST and singer, whose band Loathe is about to release its debut album at a headlining event at Liverpool’s O2 Arena, said it is a “total dream come true.“

Erik Bickerstaffe, from Nutgrove, is “excited and speechless“ to release their debut record, The Cold Sun, alongside his Liverpool based-bandmates, Kadeem France, Shayne Smith, Connor Sweeney and Sean Radcliffe.

The album was recorded at Glow In The Dark Studios in Atlanta, Georgia with producer Matt McClellan and will be released in a special show at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Friday, April 14.

Former Rainhill high pupil Erik, 20, said: “ This album is a total dream come true, we are excited and speechless.

“We have all wanted this for so long, since we were young and first getting into music, so last year when we were signed to California-based SharpTone Records we were amazed it happened so fast.

“We are a metal band at the bare bones but we take a lot of influence from other bands and sounds, because as we have grown our sound has too.

“It’s unbelievable that we are going to release our first album, we had such great feedback over our first two singles that this 12-strong album should hopefully do well, we couldnt be happier with it.“

‘The Cold Sun‘ is a 35 minute concept record telling the tale of a dark, post-apocalyptic tale.

The record follows the adjacent timeline of two protagonists who exist during a dystopian future.

LOATHE will be supporting hardcord punk bank Blood Youth at three events ahead of the album launch, in Glasgow on April 8, The Key Club in Leeds on April 9 and at the Boston Music Rooms in London on April 10.

They will also be playing at the Hellfest official UK party show in London on May 11.

For more information on the band visit loatheasone on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The album will be available on Itunes and Spotify as well as other music outlets from April 14.