| Zero Cipher | |
|---|---|
Zero Cipher |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Farnham, England[1] |
| Genres | Metal[2] Alternative |
| Years active | 1998–2009 |
| Labels | Null Void, Deck Cheese (2007) Anticulture (2004-6) Copro (2002-4) |
| Website | www.zerocipher.com www.myspace.co.uk/zerocipher |
| Members | |
| Duncan Williams Barnaby Whattingham Ryan Harris Lewis Wheeler |
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Zero Cipher were a metal/rock/alternative[2][3] band from Farnham, Surrey. The band formed in the year 1998 from members of other bands within their local area.[4][5] They played a style of music that fuses metal, rock, and industrial, although they cite wide ranging influences like Carcass, Wham, and Depeche Mode.[6] Googlism describes them as 'noisecore mixed with turntablism'.[7] They broke up in October 2009, citing numerous reasons behind the decision.
Contents |
Zero Cipher take their name from a mathematical riddle based on cryptography. They have released albums on Anticulture records, and Deck Cheese records, as well as self-funded releases on Copro records, and their own label, Null Void records. They have played in the past with bands such as Skindred,[8] Stampin' Ground[9] and Breed 77; and have been supported by the likes of Enter Shikari and Bullet For My Valentine.[10] They were the last band to tour with rap/metalcore band One Minute Silence in July 2003,[11] and OMS' singer Yap performs guest vocals on "My Statement of Misintent", a track on their second album "Diary of a Sadist".[12]
Zero Cipher have a third album, titled Juggernaut due out in 2009.[13][14]
An early demo from Juggernaut, titled "Fist of the North Star" was released by Metal Hammer magazine in November 2007, to coincide with their appearance at the Hard Rock Hell festival with Cradle of Filth and Twisted Sister[15] - The band have also been featured by Rock Sound, Kerrang and Big Cheese, leading to performances at Kerrang's Scumfest[16] and a European tour with Austrians, 'Spout', including a performance at Rock Im Park festival.[17]
Zero Cipher changed rhythm section in 2003, appointing Ryan Harris of Fony on bass guitar.[18]
Zero Cipher's video for the track "Stupid People Make Me Angry" was playlisted on Totalrock Radio and Scuzz TV. Subsequent Zero Cipher videos have failed to make such an impact on mainstream music television, with MTV2 turning down the videos for "The Hijack" and "The Thrills, The Kills, The Rapture" because of their depictions of drug use and/or violence.[19] Organ TV, a Public-access television cable TV channel, screened the TV premier of the video for 2005 single "It's No Secret"[20]
Somewhat unusually for an unsigned band, Zero Cipher were endorsed by Marshall amplifiers before ever releasing an album. In 2006, Duncan became endorsed by Vigier guitars, who made him a custom all-black "Indus" model. Duncan subsequently appeared at the London International Music Show in 2008 on the Vigier stage.[21]
| Year | Album | Label | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 45 Minutes of FairyTale Endings / 45rpm [22] | Copro Records | 6 June 2003 |
| 2005 | Diary of a Sadist[23] | Anticulture Records | 31 October 2005 |
| 2007 | Diary of a Sadist 2nd Edition | Null Void Records | 7 May 2007 |
| 2009 | Juggernaut | Null Void Records | 31 March 2009 |
| Year | Compilation | Label | Catalogue No. | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Class of 2002[24] | Future Publishing | MHR97/01/02 | "She Loves Me Not" (demo) |
| 2003 | Sound of the Underground[25] | Future Publishing | MHR121/13/03 | "Stupid People (Make Me Angry)" |
| 2005 | Zero Tolerance[26] | Zero Tolerance Magazine | ZTAudio004 | "Kiss and Tell" |
| 2006 | Hard 'n' Heavy Vol. 84[27] | Cyber Press | HNHCD119 | "It's No Secret" |
| 2007 | Hard Rock Hell[28] | Future Publishing | MHR171CD2/11/07 | "Fist of the North Star" |