Holocaust (band)
Encyclopedia
Holocaust is a heavy metal
band based in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. Founded in 1977 while still at high school, the original lineup, featuring guitarists John Mortimer and Ed Dudley, vocalist Gary Lettice, bassist Robin Begg and drummer Paul Collins, became part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
movement. After numerous line-up changes due to internal strife, John Mortimer remains the only founding member of Holocaust since No Man's Land.
After the demise of the original incarnations of the band John Mortimer embarked on less heavy direction with the formation of 'Dunedin', with guitarist Fin West, long term drummer Steven Cowan and bassist Graham Hall, recruited from the blues-rock
band 'Just the Job'.
Despite Dunedin producing some notable material, West left to pursue separate projects leaving Mortimer/Cowan and Hall to revert to a heavier sound.
This lineup of the band produced what is generally regarded as the bands finest recording The Sound of Souls which embraced a multitude of musical styles and introduced industrial elements to the bands sound with Cowans electronic percussion playing a significant part in moulding the overall sound. The album was released to massive critical acclaim and has been cited as an influence to countless other rock acts. Shortly after the release of The Sound of Souls Graham Hall was replaced on bass by classical guitarist and long time friend of the band Iain McKenzie, who remained in the line-up during the writing and rehearsal of Hypnosis of Birds, before finally leaving to teach music.
Hypnosis of Birds in 1992 was a change in the atmosphere of Holocaust. The songs were more gloomy and the riffs from The Sound of Souls were gone. Spirits Fly is largely in the slower style of Hypnosis of Birds.
Covenant in 1997 was a return to the thrash metal
style of The Sound of Souls. With the return of Graham Hall as bass player, it is a much faster album with the fast riffs heard in The Sound of Souls.
The Courage to Be (which saw a return of Iain McKenzie as co-lead guitarist) and Primal both follow in the steps of Covenant.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Founded in 1977 while still at high school, the original lineup, featuring guitarists John Mortimer and Ed Dudley, vocalist Gary Lettice, bassist Robin Begg and drummer Paul Collins, became part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
movement. After numerous line-up changes due to internal strife, John Mortimer remains the only founding member of Holocaust since No Man's Land.
After the demise of the original incarnations of the band John Mortimer embarked on less heavy direction with the formation of 'Dunedin', with guitarist Fin West, long term drummer Steven Cowan and bassist Graham Hall, recruited from the blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
band 'Just the Job'.
Despite Dunedin producing some notable material, West left to pursue separate projects leaving Mortimer/Cowan and Hall to revert to a heavier sound.
This lineup of the band produced what is generally regarded as the bands finest recording The Sound of Souls which embraced a multitude of musical styles and introduced industrial elements to the bands sound with Cowans electronic percussion playing a significant part in moulding the overall sound. The album was released to massive critical acclaim and has been cited as an influence to countless other rock acts. Shortly after the release of The Sound of Souls Graham Hall was replaced on bass by classical guitarist and long time friend of the band Iain McKenzie, who remained in the line-up during the writing and rehearsal of Hypnosis of Birds, before finally leaving to teach music.
Hypnosis of Birds in 1992 was a change in the atmosphere of Holocaust. The songs were more gloomy and the riffs from The Sound of Souls were gone. Spirits Fly is largely in the slower style of Hypnosis of Birds.
Covenant in 1997 was a return to the thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
style of The Sound of Souls. With the return of Graham Hall as bass player, it is a much faster album with the fast riffs heard in The Sound of Souls.
The Courage to Be (which saw a return of Iain McKenzie as co-lead guitarist) and Primal both follow in the steps of Covenant.
Albums
- The Nightcomers (1981)
- Live (Hot Curry & Wine) (1983)
- No Man's Land (1984)
- Hypnosis of Birds (1992)
- Spirits Fly (1996)
- Covenant (1997)
- The Courage to Be (2000)
- Primal (2003)
EPs and Singles
- "Heavy Metal Mania" (1980, 7-inch)
- Heavy Metal Mania (1980, 12-inch)
- "Smokin' Valves" (1980, 7-inch)
- Smokin' Valves (1980, 12-inch)
- Live from the Raw Loud 'n' Live Tour (1981, 7-inch)
- Comin' Through (1982, 12-inch)
- The Sound of Souls (1989)
- Heavy Metal Mania '93 (1993, CD)
Cover versions
- MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the song "The Small Hours" on their 1987 EP Garage Days Re-Revisited and their album Garage Inc.Garage Inc.-Disc two:These tracks are a collection of B-sides from artists Metallica were inspired by, throughout the early years of the band.-Personnel:* James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Whiskey In the Jar"... - Gamma RayGamma Ray (band)Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
covered the song "Heavy Metal Mania" on their 1996 live album Alive '95Alive '95Alive '95 was the first live album by Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray. It was released on May 1996, following the live concerts in Milano, Paris, Madrid, Pamplona and Erlangen, during the band's "Men on a Tour" European tour.-Track listing:CD1...
. - Six Feet UnderSix Feet Under (band)Six Feet Under is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1993. The band was originally a side project by Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes with guitarist Allen West of Obituary...
covered the song "Death or Glory" from The Nightcomers album on their 1997 WarpathWarpath (album)Warpath is Six Feet Under's second studio album. Tracks on this album include "Death or Glory", which is a cover of a song originally done by Holocaust and "4:20", a song 4:20 in length which, according to the liner notes, was recorded at 4:20 PM on April 20, 1997-Track listing:#"War Is Coming" –...
record.