Taint (band)

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Taint
Origin Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom Flag of the United Kingdom
Genre(s) Sludge Metal, Hardcore Punk, Stoner Rock
Years active 1994 - Present
Label(s) Rise Above Records
SuperFi Records
Website Taint.co.uk
Members
James 'Jimbob' Isaac
Alex Harries
Chris West
Former members
Darren Mason (Bass, '94 - '97)
Stophe (Bass, '97 - '01)

Taint are a three-piece, UK based hardcore/rock/metal band. Their unique sound journeys through elements of sludge, modern metal, hardcore punk, doom, and stoner rock. They formed in 1994 as teenagers in the South Wales DIY punk/metal scene (see below), yet are to some degree children of classic rock. They produced a string of demos, compilation features, and split releases over eleven years honouring the British rock underground until their much anticipated first full length album was released in 2005. As a band, Taint have never limited themselves to the influences of their DIY contemporaries but are more inclusive and broad in their tastes and style. In this sense neither are they an amalgamation of the many influences and bands they have toured with. They have skillfully developed a very individual changeable style despite taking many characteristics on board with open minds. Taint are often labelled with the tag of 'stoner rock' and, though truthful in part, it is genuinely difficult to comfortably slot their unpredictable "moving pieces of art" into any specific genre. Aggressive, fast, sludgy, doomy, riff-laden, groovy, involving, fierce, brutal, contemplative and melodic and all words that have been used to accurately describe their music in turns of movement and progression throughout. Perhaps non-commercial, certainly involving and diverse, Taint have taken their punk-based riffs to a new level that successfully carry, emote and intrigue the listener.

Contents

[edit] Members

  • James 'Jimbob' Isaac - Guitar/Vocals
  • Chris West - Bass
  • Alex Harries - Drums

[edit] History

Taint formed as teenagers in 1994 from the South Wales DIY punk/metal scene. The band originally cobbled together a few demo cassettes of Helmet meets epic, sludge qualities that landed them in – not wholly inaccurately – with the stoner/doom tag. The ensuing Die Die Truthspeaker mini-album was released on London's Household Name Records in 2000 and national shows were played with such others as; Acrimony, Avail, Boy Sets Fire, Canvas, Capdown, Cathedral, Consumed, Converge, Clutch, Earth Crisis, Hard To Swallow, Iron Monkey, Stampin' Ground, Spirit Caravan and Will Haven. From such experiences they honed their trademark style sludge discordance and emotionally fuelled outpourings and Die Die Truthspeaker gained the band a spectrum of comparisons to bands such as Black Sabbath, Clutch and Slint. Preceding the mass Neurosis post-rock and metal amalgams that became so fashionable in the few years following.

In 2002 they teamed up with hometown friends Black Eye Riot for a split album on lesser known label Black Phoenix Records. Praise was given and the release well received as the band gained applause from the rock/metal press. A mini-tour followed with Maryland's hardcore-blues men Clutch, with a sold out set at Garage in Highbury, London, and an appearance at the tribute show to late Johnny Morrow, Iron Monkey vocalist. Here their sound began its next evolutionary step with a much more refined and focused approach to melody, groove and contrasting vocals, and Chris West - formerly of a the Cardiff doom band Diabolo - became their new bass player. The slow process of writing and recording their debut full album was undertaken in 2004, funded entirely by the band themselves. Once finished they began looking around for a compatible label whilst balancing playing shows around the UK and holding down jobs.

April 2005 saw Taint setting out on a successful headline tour of Europe, taking in Le Havre, Paris, Ghent, Tilburg and Utrecht with their good friends Army of Flying Robots. Celebrating the event, a limited tour 7" was released on SuperFi Records, split between the two aforementioned bands. Taint's album track I'm Going To Kill Henry Ford featured, along with gatefold packaging designed by the Taint's own vocalist/guitarist Jimbob. This was followed by a week in the UK with Art of Burning Water, and another sold out show in the capital with Clutch in May at the Mean Fiddler. The gig received rapturous applause and a great review from Kerrang! magazine. It was during 2005 that London's Rise Above Records recognised the band's potential and signed them. Soon after, their latest 57 minute full length album 'The Ruin of Nova Roma' - completed the year before - was released, produced themselves and mixed by Alex Newport (Fudge Tunnel, Melvins, The Mars Volta). An album that moves earth and evokes a journey of dynamics, groove, emotion and colossal riffs, the band immediately decided to take it to a wider audience and launched a European offensive with Swiss 'machinists' Knut and Belgian 'sluggers' Blutch. April saw them playing Give It A Name 2006 (headlined by My Chemical Romance and Lost Prophets) to a 20,000 strong crowd at London's Earls Court and Manchester Arena. In November of 2006 Taint visited Greece to play live shows in Athens and Thessaloniki, gaining a sweep of positive feedback and proving themselves a highly reputable international live act.

Currently more dates around the UK for 2007 are set with Clutch. Further dates in Europe and plans for their debut voyage to the U.S. are in motion. In June the band will return to the studio to record a follow-up 2nd album on Rise Above Records, an October 2007 release date is anticipated.

[edit] Discography

Format and year Title Label
CD (2007) Secrets & Lies Rise Above Records
CD (2005) The Ruin of Nová Roma Rise Above Records
2xLP (2005) The Ruin of Nová Roma SuperFi
Split 7" (2005) Champion Boar Service split with (Army Of Flying Robots) SuperFi
Split CD (2003) Split with Black Eye Riot Black Phoenix Records
MCD (2000) Die Die Truthspeaker Household Name Records
CD (2001) Rumour, Ridicule and the Profit Motive Compilation (Various Artists) Household Name Records
CD (1999) Fuck Off Household Name (Various Artists) Household Name Records
Demo Cassette (1997) 10 x Better n/a
Demo Cassette (1996) Rough recordings '96 n/a
Demo Cassette (1995) Bellydown n/a

[edit] External links

[edit] Related Genres

Sludge Metal, Hardcore Punk, Heavy Metal, Stoner Rock