FOCUS: Detonata

Teesside rock band Detonata prepare to release their double-A side single Delirium and Cataracts on 21st August. Here, they tell us a little about themselves.

Who are you and where are you from?
We are Detonata, a heavy rock band from Teesside, England who formed in Billingham in early 2025 by vocalist Donovan Johnson, bassist Forrest Devine, drummer Joseph Allison and guitarist Ryan Gibson, later being joined by guitarist Jack Trotter in early May 2026.

What is it you do?

At first we started off making 80’s hard rock-adjacent songs such as our first single Curse the Stone among other songs we didn’t release such as Finest Hour and Lonely at the Top. Our first live performance was at NE Volume in June 2025. From that show we have only improved and gotten closer as a band, growing our skills and improving our confidence while increasing our notoriety in the local area.

What inspires you?

Detonata’s sound has changed considerably since our beginning, going for a more darker and edgier sound recently hailing inspiration from the sound of Black Sabbath, Black Label Society and possibly most prominent, Mötley Crüe’s 1994-97 era,

Despite these inspirations we always try to sound unique and exciting, not being too similar to any to ensure our sound sounds like something new and exciting!

Tell us about your music

Our work is a product of all of us coming together to work on a song as a band not on our own or only by a certain few within the band to make sure our songs our made to the best of our individual abilities. Our first EP of original and high quality music released in May this year titled Detonation included our songs E-V-I-L, Tranquility, Dreadnought and our aforementioned first single Curse the Stone.

The songs are a defining piece of Detonata’s sound demonstrating our variety of styles and proficiency of music abilities.

Some of our most notable performances have been the Georgian Theatre in October 2025 to raise money for the local charity Bright Minds Brighter Futures, our performance at the Middlesbrough Town Hall Battle for the Battle of the Bands in February 2026, The Teesside University student union in March 2026, the Darlington Forum in April 2026 and our upcoming gig at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton on Friday 21st August to celebrate the release of Delirium and Cataracts.

Where can people find out more about you?

You can us and our music at: https://linktr.ee/Detonator.Band