Infamous early grindcore demo from Shane Embury and Pete Giles, both of Unseen Terror and later Harmony As One fame. This eerily resembles Unseen Terror in multiple facets, the Rich Bitch production, the guitar tone (and "that" triggered snare tone), and extreme similarities in riffs with UxTx. Shane Embury speaks very distantly of the band, almost as if he was never a member, and though the other members aren't exactly in hiding, there's just no real tangible information about the project. This is a rip from my O.G. copy, so have at it. INB4: No one has heard the first demo.
OOPS! UPDATE: Interview with Pete Giles for Voices From The Darkside webzine!!! U/G writing legend Laurent Ramadier conducted the interview...
AZAG-THOTH…does that fuckin’ band name still ring a bell in
your head? Well it better has to as this Death / Thrash act was
definitely one of the heaviest / most impressive acts that the United
Kingdom has ever created when it comes to extreme Metal! No shit, if you
ever wondered what a mixture of early POSSESSED, SLAYER, EXODUS with
some Hardcore relents on top of this would give, then AZAG-THOTH is that
monstrous beast!!! With only one quickly recorded demo back in 1987,
AZAG-THOTH has managed to enter the realms of legendary underground
acts. While I had covered the history of that act as much as I could
with the help of Shane Embury a few years ago, I recently had the
opportunity given (thanks so much to you crazy Evil Malek! [Malek and I are homies, he's pretty psycho for cult tunes. --S] ) to get in
touch with former member / bassist Pete Giles again and it didn’t take
me much longer to prepare an interview with him regarding AZAG-THOTH!
Make sure to put your hands on that truly cult demo tape before entering
the Circle Of Maniacs!
Let’s do a trip into your musical past... When did you start
playing bass? What were your influences to start with and how did you
become interested in Metal / Hardcore?
“Started playing in 1985, well I say playing, trying to play would be
more accurate. I had managed to get some hire purchase and bought this
huge Marshall stack and a bass. Obviously at the time I wanted to
emulate Cronos from VENOM. So it was this that started the band
AZAG-THOTH. In short, getting my shit together. Influences: in ‘85 I was
listening to HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, VENOM, EXODUS, METALLICA, SODOM,
BATHORY and of course SLAYER. I was also into DEATH and POSSESSED when
they were still doing demos. Hardcore didn't happen for me until ‘86,
although in previous years I had seen ENGLISH DOGS and ANTISECT play
when they were still good, I hadn't really caught onto the US Hardcore
thing. It wasn't until I picked the UNITY 7" that things got really
interesting for me, managed to track down the first CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER
demo and that was it, I was hooked. Of course, I saw SCREAM play in
London in ‘85 and they blew my head off also so that is when the
interest started to grow.“
Before being involved in AZAG-THOTH during mid ‘87, what were
the previous bands you’ve played with? Tell us everything about those
previous acts
“Okay, well AZAG-THOTH actually started in '85 with me on bass, Rich on
guitar and Andy on drums. Rich would later do the artwork for the first
HARMONY AS ONE 12", “No Elite”. Apart from that I had tried out in a
band called ANTICHRIST.”
So you were involved with the ‘hobby’ band called ANTICHRIST but
I personally don’t recall having seen your name mentioned with that
‘band’ back then so what’s the truth with this?
“Okay, this was the first band I ever played in, again it had some
French guy playing bass called Carl, Rim from AYS, Jason L. and myself
on guitar. The only problem was I couldn't play to save my fuckin’ life.
I think I did one rehearsal, and the band did perhaps two before Jason L
managed to get HERESY to act as the backing group on the Bailey
Brothers compilation (“Diminished Responsibility”).”
Were you a big fan of the U.K. Metal (ONSLAUGHT, SACRILEGE) /
crossover (HERESY, RIPCORD, CONCRETE SOX, NAPALM DEATH) scene at that
time as the extreme U.K. scene was becoming the next big thing in the
underground at least?
“Yes, I wasn't into RIPCORD as far as I recall, but I used to love the bands you mentioned.”
What about the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene, did you
show interest into it when it was reaching its peak by 1981 / 1983? Were
you more into the bigger bands than into the underground acts or was it
like equal?
“Well the first show I ever went to was MOTÖRHEAD's Brain Damage Party
in '79 which also culminated in the end of the “Bomber” tour. At this
show I saw ANGEL WITCH, GIRLSCHOOL whom I was really into, SAXON and
then VARDIS, WHITE SPIRIT and perhaps one other. '81 was certainly late
for me by then I had moved onto VENOM and kept with MOTÖRHEAD. Early
gigs I saw at the time were SAXON and RIOT whom I used to fuckin love.
In fact, a friend recently played me a couple of their songs and it
still sounds good now. I saw MANOWAR, TED NUGENT, ANVIL, TANK, aaahhhhh
just so many fuckin’ bands.”
So how did you end up joining Wayne Aston (ex - WARHAMMER) to
join AZAG-THOTH in the first place? I understand that it was through an
advert placed in Kerrang by Wayne
“Yeah that is right, I was looking for a guitarist to do AZAG-THOTH so I
thought ‘well ring this bloke up’, you know how it is, "nothing
ventured nothing gained". So, I asked him if would be interested in
joining my band. I went up to Telford, and as they say, the rest is
history.”
You were shortly after joined by Shane Embury (ex - WARHAMMER /
UNSEEN TERROR) on drums as it seems finding the right drummer was
impossible back then, is it correct? Did you try out somebody else
besides him?
“No, I just didn't know anybody who could play fast, but also anybody
who was interested in playing in a band like that, kind of strange now
when you think of how many extreme bands there are now.”
Were
you somewhat familiar with the WARHAMMER material that had been
released during late 1985 (a demo and rehearsals) or even with UNSEEN
TERROR practice recordings as they were definitely the heaviest act in
U.K. at that time?
“No I am afraid I was not. I was never into WARHAMMER even when I heard them. The same can't be said of UNSEEN TERROR.”
How did you end up becoming the vocalist in AZAG-THOTH? Was it
an instant choice to come up with growling vocals à la POSSESSED and
stuff for that material?
“You know I had been working on my vocals for two years by the time I
had found Wayne and Shane. So I suppose I had managed to find a style
that suited me, of course the influence came principally from DEATH and
POSSESSED.”
So by late July 1987, the “Shredded Flesh” demo was recorded,
what do you recall from that session? Where was it recorded as almost
nothing is known about that legendary tape?
“I don't remember so much about it. I know that Dig (Pearson) from
Earache was there, I also remember meeting Jim from RIPCORD the day
before we recorded, and Ron (Martinez) from FINAL CONFLICT was staying
with him. The actual day of recording is a blur, I remember Shane had to
play in this drim booth at the end of the recording studio whilst Wayne
and I played close to the mixing room. Some time was spent on sorting
out the samples which came from Charles Manson, NURSE WITH WOUND and
CURRENT 93, both of those bands have been a big influence on my whole
musical career. And it was recorded at a place called Rich Bitch in
Birmingham, I believe the studio is still there.”
Regarding the material on it, part of it was ultra intense Death
/ Thrash Metal, very fast and powerful while some songs were crossover
influenced, one being a two second tune à la S.O.D., how come that there
was this kinda strange mixture? I understand that you were much more
into Hardcore à la UNIFORM CHOICE than into Metal at that point
“Yeah I was so much a Metalhead by then, whereas Wayne was dedicated to
the cause of Metal much to my consternation. I remember having long
arguments with him about what we should call the style of music we
played, he always saw it as Death / Thrash Metal, whereas I always saw
it as Hardcore Thrash. In the end people like Dig decided that the demo
was way too Metal for Earache!!”
Did you have a big hand in the songwriting department as a whole or was it like Wayne did come up with most of the stuff?
“I think the most complicated parts in the songs Wayne came up with,
otherwise it was a joint effort in his little bedroom playing through a
practise amp.”
I understand that you were taking care of the promotion /
selling aspect for that demo tape but there was like no articles in
magazines except I believe a review in Kerrang and it was like nearly
impossible to order that tape, how come?
“I didn't even know about the review in Kerrang. At the time I targeted
specific people more than magazines. So it was never going to get
noticed. Malcom Dome got hold of a copy and tried to get people
interested, such as MOTÖRHEAD’s management, but of course nothing
happened.”
Do you recall how many copies were sold of that debut effort as a whole since Shades Records was carrying it back then?
“Absolutely no recollection whatsoever. I know I didn't do many, perhaps 50 were made. But I can't really be sure.”
If I recall correctly, a gig was played in London, I believe, by
AZAG-THOTH... Please give us all the details about that gig... it’s
still a mystery today
“Now this is when I get sketchy about what happened. Okay let me give
you things I do remember. I remember having to go and pick up Shane and
Wayne and then drive them home after the show. A drive from hell, I
covered over 600 miles in under 12 hours. The venue was The Castle on
the corner of Dalston Junction. We played with a band that had members
from AYS. Can't remember the name though. There were not many people
there, perhaps 20 at most. I can't remember the set, but it would have
been close to the demo, I do remember we played this track called
'Barbarian' which was a title Wayne had given to one of the new tracks.
You see what I mean METAL HEAD!”
That
demo did quickly become a favorite among underground fanatics and has
reached the legendary status over the years. There was talks by Shane
about seeing it being released last year or so but so far nothing has
happened, still a bootleg LP has recently been released featuring that
demo coupled with the first TERRORIZER demo / rehearsal on the other
side, how do you view this? I mean it probably has been done by some die
hard Metalhead who was tired of not seeing it being officially released
“Yeah the person who has done it is Don from NUNSLAUGHTER. The
TERRORIZER side is awful, you can't hear anything. Fortunately for me
the AZAG-THOTH side sounds identical to the tape. And yes there was talk
of it being officially released in Japan, however, since I paid for the
recording I was and am reluctant to let go of the original tape, which
in theory could be totally remixed again. Shane did tell me that some
guy wanted to give £800 for the tape, but I insisted that I saw the
money before I let something like that disappear into the aethyr.”
So during the Winter of 1987, Wayne did leave the band as it
seems from the reports I saw back then that he wasn’t into playing
Hardcore orientated material and choose to start his own band (MORBID
JUDGEMENT), so what was the status of AZAG-THOTH at that point?
“The band died. I got hold of a guitar and started teaching myself to play fast.”
Is it correct that you did try to find a new guitarist to
replace him and continue as AZAG-THOTH? I understand that Mitch
Dickinson (ex - WARHAMMER, HERESY, UNSEEN TEERROR) was asked to replace
him?
“I don't remember that I am afraid. It may well have happened.“
So how did the whole AZAG-THOTH thing end up exactly? Would you
say that this band had all the elements to start with to become a much
bigger band and achieve a lot more than it did?
“Sadly the band just faded out like a dying flame. One minute it was
burning bright the next it was extinguished. And yes I think the band
could have been massive. We were one of the first bands to be playing
really complicated material alongside blast beats.”
So while AZAG-THOTH were around, you did join UNSEEN TERROR
around the summer of 1987 I believe to replace Jed on bass as they had
got a record deal with Earache Records, do you recall how it came about?
“I think it was suggested and I said yes.”
Did you manage to rehearse a couple of times with UNSEEN TERROR
as I know there was the distance aspect which was a problem, you being
based in the London area while the others were based in the Shropshire
area?
“Yeah I rehearsed a few times, I used to split my time between
rehearsing with AZAG-THOTH and UNSEEN TERROR. Distance had always been a
problem. I was the one who was working so it was assumed I could afford
to travel all that way every weekend. It was gruelling, and it may have
been that, that killed the enthusiasm for the band.”
So the band entered the Rich Bitch studios in September 1987 to
record their debut album, “Human Error” but Mitch did play the bass
parts apparently because you didn’t know all the songs, is that correct?
“That is correct, and also my bosses would not give me time off, and at
that point I had a mortgage to pay so I could not afford to risk losing
my job.”
Still you were pictured on the album, how did you view the final product even if you didn’t play on it?
“It almost felt like I was part of it though. Things conspired against
me resulting in me not recording the LP, but that didn't mean I was not a
fully integrated part of the band, because I felt, at least, like I
was.”
Did
you appear on the two tracks that UNSEEN TERROR recorded for the
“Diminished Responsibility” compilation LP during early July 1987?
“No.”
So how come that you weren’t involved anymore with UNSEEN TERROR
after the album was recorded? I mean the band recorded a Peel Session
during March 1988 but you didn’t play on it and the one and only show
UNSEEN TERROR did perform was with Wayne Aston handling the bass?
“I had just had enough of travelling, UNSEEN TERROR taking priority over
AZAG-THOTH. Shane had refused to play as fast for AZAG-THOTH as he did
for UNSEEN TERROR, and for me that was the final straw.”
Did you part ways with Mitch and Shane in good terms at the end? Was it considered at a later point to work again with them?
“Yeah very much so, as far as I recall. They may tell you different.
Wayne and I had a big bust up which nearly came to blows but I don't
recall when that was in terms of at the end or somewhere in the
beginning.”
So what have you done from 1988 until like the late ‘90s when
you were involved with SCALPLOCK I believe? Which bands have you joined
or formed after this?
“Okay, after AZAG-THOTH, I started HARMONY AS ONE then Martin and I did
NIGHTSIDE OF EDEN and then TOXICGEN. I joined INSIGHT and then SCALPLOCK
and another side project called DEATH OF AN ELECTRIC CITIZEN. And
finally I now do two bands, FLYBLOWN and NO TOMORROW which features
members from Swedish groups such as MARTYRDOD, SKIT-SYSTEM, AVSKUM,
WOLFBRIGADE and BOMBSTRIKE.”
Have you recorded something with FLYBLOWN?
“There is a FLYBLOWN LP called “Genocide-Genocide” which I released and
we have split 7" coming out with us and DISCLOSE from Japan. Again I am
releasing that on my label On The Verge. We also have a website www.flyblown.co.uk it has MP3s if people are interested in what one old man is doing now.”
How would you describe FLYBLOWN musically speaking? You were recently on the road right?
“FLYBLOWN is a straight down the line crusty Punk band with blast beats
and d-beats. It's ferocious short and very political and aggressive. But
er... no we have not been on tour, I was driving VICTIMS on their
European tour.”
Do you still keep an eye on what’s going on in the Metal Scene? I mean a lot have happened since the late ‘80s
“Not at all.”
How
do you view what happened in the U.K. Metal / Hardcore scene with all
those extreme bands from the mid ‘80s having disappeared with the
exception of NAPALM DEATH?
“That is what happens, people change their taste in music, they have a
family, for most people a band like the ones we have spoken about are
for when you are young. Responsibility for many takes that away, for me
it just makes me stronger. I will keep writing material as long as there
are people who are interested in playing with me. In the last three
weeks I have written the whole of the new FLYBLOWN LP 17 songs and then
some more. That kind of production has not faded from life and I don't
think it ever will.”
How do you want to end up that feature?
“I would just like to thank all those people who remain passionate about
extreme music and playing extreme music. I just hope that AZAG-THOTH
has in someway instilled a feeling of no surrender to the bitter end.
This one's for the nigga Carlo. Dizoom from The Isle (not the Koala one). Contemporaries of Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, Anathema brought absolutely nothing to that table other than being just as precociously talented, and rising in similarly high arcs (Classique!). What you get here is the second demo, which isn't my rip because the one I own(ed) has seemingly disappeared from the miasma that is my collection, coupled with FLAC files of a live appearance from 1991 (where they perform the first demo). The live show's sound isn't worthy of a lossless rip, but niggaz trip and nerd...
