Hindsights

History

Hindsights formed in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in 2011, after the disbandment of the members' previous bands. The founding lineup consisted of Benio Baumgart (vocals, guitar), Billy Hutton (vocals, guitar), Miles Hay (bass), and Jack Perry (drums). Most members came from Maidenhead and nearby Burnham, Buckinghamshire, though in a 2014 interview with the Reading Post they named Reading, Berkshire as their hometown. They released a demo in 2011.

On 11 June 2012, their debut EP Weathered came out. A split EP with New York City band Wester followed on 15 November 2012 through Don't Shoot the Messenger Records and Meadowbrook Records, supported by a US east coast tour with Wester. On 19 August 2013, they signed to Beach Community. Their second EP, The Thoughts That Weigh Me Down, premiered on Punktastic on 30 September 2013 and was officially released on 7 October.

They headlined a tour of Belgium and the UK from 11 to 17 October. The single "Grey", featuring Thom Weeks of Gnarwolves, was released on 29 June 2014. On 27 November 2014, they issued the single "Cold Walls", announcing it would appear on their debut album. The single "Pensive" followed on 15 December.

In January 2015, they supported Milk Teeth on a UK headline tour. The single "Cloudy Eyes" was released on 10 February, and a UK headline tour ran from 21 to 29 February. Their debut album Cold Walls/Cloudy Eyes premiered through Kerrang! on 16 February. The release show took place at the Garage in London on 17 February, with support from Creeper and Bad News.

The album was officially released on 23 February. They performed at The Great Escape Festival 2015 on 15 May. From 26 June to 13 July, they toured Europe with Prawn and Brightr. Between 27 July and 2 August, they supported Blitz Kids on a UK tour alongside Creeper, Monarks and Verses.

On 22 August, they supported Muncie Girls at the Cricketers in Kingston, with Muskets. Their final live performance was on 23 January 2016, later released as The Final Show live album.

Musical style and legacy

Critics described Hindsights' music as soft grunge, emo, melodic hardcore, and alternative rock, with grunge and pop-punk elements woven in. Their songs could shift dramatically, moving from slow, reflective pieces to fast punk numbers. They started out playing punk, but over time moved more toward alternative rock. After Baumgart switched to vocals only in late 2015, pop rock influences appeared.

The band's sound relied on contrast, especially Baumgart's jump from gentle singing to strained, cracking shouts. One writer said his voice always seemed on the verge of heartbreak. Their guitar work often used effects pedals, particularly fuzz, and another critic noted their sound recalled the defend pop-punk era. Brand New was their earliest influence, and they later looked to bands on Run for Cover Records and No Sleep Records, especially Title Fight.

By 2013, Crime in Stereo and Mineral also shaped them. The members drew from post-rock and pop music, but Baumgart noted these influences were subtle since they wanted high-energy live shows. Hindsights stood out as a major UK emo band in their time. A 2015 writer predicted they would soon be among the most sought-after faces in UK emo.

A 2018 retrospective said they were meant for the big leagues, on par with Basement, Title Fight, and Gnarwolves. They were also listed among the great one-album artists. By 2019, they were called much missed. Milk Teeth named them a favorite.