AMEBIX Reform With Drummer Roy Mayorga
March 5, 2008, 16 years ago
Crust/thrash legends AMEBIX have announced they have reformed with drummer Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR, ex-SOULFY, NAUSEA) and have recorded studio material and video footage to be released with an upcoming DVD overlooking the band's history and the impact left behind by their legacy. The DVD will include original band interviews and live footage, as well as interviews with Jello Biafra (ex-DEAD KENNEDYS), NEUROSIS, and Max Cavalera (Soulfly, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, ex-SEPULTURA). Mayorga, who also produced and mixed the studio tracks, temporarily filled in behind the drum-kit for Sepultura's 2006 European tour with IN FLAMES following Igor Cavalera's absence.
Rob "The Baron" Miller (Amebix vocalist/bassist) writes on his myspace: "The DVD is coming together really well, looking over the whole history of the band through interviews, etc. I thought a logical conclusion would be to show how all of us are still creating stuff in our own right, I also wanted to think about showing how strong the songs were, and got the idea to contact Stig about maybe jamming a couple of songs to see how it felt. I also had made contact with Roy so thought I would talk to him about this as Spider (original Amebix drummer) has Tinitus and is no longer able to play. I really didn't expect Roy to say 'yeah, in a heartbeat!', so that left me in the situation of having to put my money where my mouth was and book flights for everyone to meet up in Ireland last week at the DVD project base, to have a shot at making a video of some of the songs. My thinking was this: if its no good we will be honest and appraise it accordingly, no-one will ever need to know, and at least we had a shot. However, it was absolutely fucking MAD! Ten times better than the original versions: tighter, heavier, stronger. So what the hell to do? We are going to use this footage and tracks for extras on the DVD, probably doing the whole project DIY now, with a website set up for us to sell our own stuff through, trying to put screen-caps and footage on there as the project comes along."
Amebix was formed in England during 1978 and are a band that many consider to have started the sub genre crust punk. The band first appeared on the first Crass Records Bullshit Detector compilation LP followed by the release of several now highly-regarded releases. Their music was heavily influenced by MOTÖRHEAD, BLACK SABBATH, VENOM, and early KILLING JOKE and combined with an ethos and worldview akin to Crass, represented their non-traditional lifestyles. In 1985 the band met Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys and become the first UK signing to his label, Alternative Tentacles with the release of their Arise LP. In 1987 the band signed to Heavy Metal Records for the album Monolith though difficulties from the release led to the band eventually splitting.
Amebix have also recently announce a reissue of their classic 1987 album Monolith through Moshpit Tragedy Records as part of the label's sliding scale download series. The nine-song album is available from the label's website complete with a print-ready sleeve for as much or as little as each visitor chooses and is even being offered for free to those without a paypal account.
For more information visit www.moshpit-tragedy.com.