Monster Voodoo Machine
Encyclopedia
Monster Voodoo Machine a Canadian
Industrial metal
band, originally active from 1991 to 1998, has recently begun working on a new album.
in 1991, Monster Voodoo Machine was the modern metal brainchild of Toronto musician/vocalist Adam (Doom) Sewell (brother of TNA Wrestling referee/wrestler Shane Sewell
aka Shane "Glamour Boy" Sewell). M.V.M. was born of his desire to create a band to capture the wall-of-sound guitars and hardcore energy of bands like Quicksand
, Black Flag
and Discharge
and to accent the overall sound with electronic, techno and hip hop influences. The end result was definitely not industrial, but rather sort of a sonic knife fight between Black Flag and Pop Will Eat Itself
.
Along with original guitarist Mark Gibson, bassist Terry Landry and drummer Drew Gauley, M.V.M. very quickly established themselves within the Canadian underground music scene. Within their first 6 months of existence the band recorded 1 EP (“Burn” – released on Epidemic Records in 1992) and 1 full-length album (“Turbine” – still unreleased to this day) and film 2 promotional videos: “3 Year Plan” and “Bastard Child”. At this time the band also collaborated with techno
group BTK (“Bastard Child – Techno Storm Mix”) and begin recording sessions with soul singers adding entirely new dimensions to their sound.
Over the next year the band added second guitarist Dave Rose and keyboardist Stacey Hoskin to the lineup. However, non-stop touring and often intense writing sessions led to a dramatic line-up change that saw both guitarists Gibson and Rose replaced by Jason Cuddy (previously of Mundane
) and Darren Quinn. Gauley also left after many tours (later joining Cuddy’s former band Mundane). Eventually, M.V.M. were joined by drummer Dean Dallas Bentley.
In late 1993 the band recorded their second EP and major-label debut “State Voodoo/State Control” (released in 1994 for RCA Records). Produced by Paul Raven (of Killing Joke
, and later Prong) the EP title was a play on the popular Discharge
track "State Violence State Control". Musically however, the EP saw the band move into heavier and darker territory exploring some of the more traditional industrial-metal areas as more successful artists of the era, like White Zombie and Ministry. The EP also featured remixes from several underground producers including Danny Saber (U2).
In late January 1994 the band relocated to Chicago to record their first full length album “Suffersystem”. Produced by Critter and Howie Beno at Chicago Trax studios, the album was a wall-of-noise mix of industrial-metal (“Threat By Example”), Sabbath-influenced stoner rock (“Motionless”, “Sunspots”), hardcore (“Bastard Is As Bastard Does”) hip hop / rock (“Inside These Walls”) and techno / dance music (“Defense Mechanism”). The album also featured several guest appearances most notably Roddy Bottum
(Faith No More
), Leslie Rankin (Silverfish / Ruby) and Wesley Willis
.
On completing the album in the late spring, the band immediately set out on what proved to be a punishing non-stop tour schedule that saw the group perform in the neighborhood of 500 shows. Tours with Carcass
, Life of Agony
, Skrew
, Fight
(Rob Halford
) saw the band performing mostly to metal crowds who were both extremely receptive and occasionally hostile to the groups liberal use of electronics and drum loops.
However, it was the band’s tour with Marilyn Manson
in early 1995 that really helped to give M.V.M. international momentum. The “Portrait Of An American Family Tour” lasted over 2 and half months and made headlines in every city that it rolled through. Both bands occasionally became subjected to death threats, bomb scares and overzealous American right wing organizations who were hellbent on stopping the tour at every turn.
While back home in Canada for a short break after the Manson tour, Suffersystem won the 1995 Juno Award
for “Best Hard Rock Album Of The Year”. At this time, the band also released many singles and EPs featuring remixes by acclaimed artists as Biohazard, DJ Muggs
, KMFDM
and Pigface
.
Several more months of touring followed with the band members all nearing exhaustion and frustration. Sewell at this time asked RCA to have the Chemical Brothers or Liam Howlett (The Prodigy
) produce the next album, RCA declined asking the band instead to consider Butch Vig
. Sewell, disillusioned with RCA
’s (mis)understanding of the band asked to be released from their recording contract. RCA in an act of kindness obliged and the 2 parted company.
Finally in late 1995, the band members found themselves looking to move on to new things. The never-ending tours and rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows had obviously done some damage, and the band was “put on hold” for the next year.
During this time away from M.V.M. Sewell worked on electronic based music under the name def.con.sound.system. and Cuddy, Landry and Quinn formed the metal / hardcore group Semi-Auto Reflex. Keyboardist Hoskin moved to British Columbia
and drummer Bentley made the rounds with several more indie rock slanted bands.
1996 saw the band return to action joined by Soulstorm members Nick Sagias (keyboards) and bassist Chris Harris. The band released 1000 numbered copies of “Pirate Satellite”, an "officially leaked demo" of 5 new tracks. These new songs saw the band moving away from the heavier roots and more towards a rock-meets-triphop-punk vibe. “Distanced” was the most radical departure from the band’s earlier work, but showcased a new depth to their song writing that included strings, intricate arrangements and dynamic sonic textures.
Not long after however, the band announced that they were officially breaking up, and on October 4, 1996 they played their farewell show at the Volcano Club in Kitchener, Ontario
.
Less than a year later, while on tour with def.con.sound.system. in 1997, Sewell was offered a record deal by Dr. Dream Records (a subsidiary of Polygram / Mercury) who suggested that the group use the Monster Voodoo Machine name. At the time def.con.sound.system. featured Sewell, Cuddy, Sagias, Harris and occasionally Quinn and Bentley, so there was no hesitation and plans were set in motion for a new M.V.M. album.
As the group began demo’ing new material, Sewell rediscovered his love of guitar rock and made the decision to record the album without the use of samplers, keyboards and drum loops. The resulting album “Direct Reaction Now!” features several def.con.sound.system. songs reworked into a rock format (“Dragon Style”, “Every Filthy Angel”, Color My Soul Grey”) some new more hardcore influenced numbers (“Gimme A Riot”, Crossroads”) along with the distortion-laden, country-esque “Rats Eye View”. Overall though, the album is a sonic mess, underproduced and lacking the M.V.M signature sound and “vibe”. A valiant attempt, but one that misses the mark and left many old fans feeling indifferent to this new “rock” direction.
The “Direct Reaction Now!” album was released in early 1998 just as Dr. Dream Records found themselves being shut down due to the Polygram / Universal Records merger. The band had just been invited to play the side stage on the Ozzfest
Tour that year (side note: M.V.M. were the first Canadian band to participate in the annual Ozzfest
Tour) and hit the road with a new level of uncertainty hanging over their heads. Joining the group for the Ozzfest tour were Mundane frontman Vitor Rebello on drums, and Nick Sagias on bass (Chris Harris had moved to guitar after Darren Quinn had left the group a month earlier).
With little hype and promotion around the album’s release, and with the band members feeling pessimistic about the future of the group, the next few months ultimately took their toll on M.V.M.
After a few short tours with Queens of the Stone Age
, Sevendust
and some high profile one-offs, the band played their final show in Montreal
during a freezing cold blizzard on a Monday night. Only a very small audience saw M.V.M. play for the very last time.
One week later Sewell along with drummer Bentley hit the recording studio as DAMN 13. A high energy punk / metal band whose sound falls somewhere between Black Flag, The Hellacopters
and Black Sabbath. The band stayed together for the next 8 years and released one critically acclaimed full-length album “Black Heart Northern Soul” (Distort, 2005) before disbanding in 2006. In late 2006 Sewell formed the Toronto dub-punk band AUTOMATIC DUB RIOT with a number of longtime childhood friends. He runs STEREO DYNAMITE RECORDINGS, a record label (The Creepshow, The Matadors, Keepin' 6) and music marketing company. As of June 2007, Sewell has started RIOT ROCK MANAGEMENT and now manages the bands Lacuna Coil
(Century Media Records) and Echoes Of Eternity
(Nuclear Blast Records). Most recently he has been performing with the hardcore band BASTARD CHILD DEATH CULT.
Jason Cuddy went on to play with Sagias in Soulstorm for a while before forming the Southern Rock-influenced SCUZZY. Darren Quinn played with THE DAY AFTER a hip hop / metal hybrid featuring Canadian hip hop superstar Michie Mee
. However, in 2004, Cuddy and Quinn again joined forces in REDEEMER a full on metal band whose sound can be compared to Gojira, Down and The Haunted. Bentley has recently spent time rotating between ALL SYSTEMS GO!, DAMN 13 and C’MON. Hoskin is now recording electronic/ambient/breakbeat music under the name of PILGRIMOMEGA, and also working as a composer in the film and television industry.
While history may not have been so kind to the legacy of Monster Voodoo Machine, the band’s genre-bending influences can still be heard today in many of today’s metal, hardcore, hip hop and dance artists.
In June 2007 the classic SUFFERSYSTEM line-up (Sewell, Cuddy, Quinn, Landry and Bentley) made the announcement that they had been writing for a new album titled "Rise Demon Rise".
The reactivated band have so far played two shows together; Toronto on August 9, 2007 at The Funhaus where they debuted the title track from the new album ("Rise Demon Rise") and a cover of the Quicksand classic "Thorn In My Side" (a video of the Quicksand cover is available on Youtube
and Myspace
).
The second was a one-off show at The Hard Luck Bar on June 13, 2010 in Toronto with Cleanse Your Demons and Nice Cat as a dedication to their friend SAM "I AM" Hatzopoulos who died on May 11, 2010 at the age of 43.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band, originally active from 1991 to 1998, has recently begun working on a new album.
History
Formed in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1991, Monster Voodoo Machine was the modern metal brainchild of Toronto musician/vocalist Adam (Doom) Sewell (brother of TNA Wrestling referee/wrestler Shane Sewell
Shane Sewell
Shane Sewell is a Canadian professional wrestler and referee. He is perhaps best known for his stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as both a referee and wrestler.-International Wrestling Association:...
aka Shane "Glamour Boy" Sewell). M.V.M. was born of his desire to create a band to capture the wall-of-sound guitars and hardcore energy of bands like Quicksand
Quicksand (band)
Quicksand was an American post-hardcore band from New York City founded in 1990 by singer/songwriter Walter Schreifels. Their debut self-titled EP was followed by two major label albums, Slip and Manic Compression...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
and to accent the overall sound with electronic, techno and hip hop influences. The end result was definitely not industrial, but rather sort of a sonic knife fight between Black Flag and Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself are an English alternative rock band, originally formed in Stourbridge in 1986, with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a Grebo act, their style changed to incorporate sample driven indie and industrial rock...
.
Along with original guitarist Mark Gibson, bassist Terry Landry and drummer Drew Gauley, M.V.M. very quickly established themselves within the Canadian underground music scene. Within their first 6 months of existence the band recorded 1 EP (“Burn” – released on Epidemic Records in 1992) and 1 full-length album (“Turbine” – still unreleased to this day) and film 2 promotional videos: “3 Year Plan” and “Bastard Child”. At this time the band also collaborated with techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
group BTK (“Bastard Child – Techno Storm Mix”) and begin recording sessions with soul singers adding entirely new dimensions to their sound.
Over the next year the band added second guitarist Dave Rose and keyboardist Stacey Hoskin to the lineup. However, non-stop touring and often intense writing sessions led to a dramatic line-up change that saw both guitarists Gibson and Rose replaced by Jason Cuddy (previously of Mundane
Mundane
In subcultural and fictional uses, a mundane is a person who does not belong to a particular group, according to the members of that group; the implication is that such persons, lacking imagination, are concerned solely with the mundane: the quotidian and ordinary...
) and Darren Quinn. Gauley also left after many tours (later joining Cuddy’s former band Mundane). Eventually, M.V.M. were joined by drummer Dean Dallas Bentley.
In late 1993 the band recorded their second EP and major-label debut “State Voodoo/State Control” (released in 1994 for RCA Records). Produced by Paul Raven (of Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
, and later Prong) the EP title was a play on the popular Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
track "State Violence State Control". Musically however, the EP saw the band move into heavier and darker territory exploring some of the more traditional industrial-metal areas as more successful artists of the era, like White Zombie and Ministry. The EP also featured remixes from several underground producers including Danny Saber (U2).
In late January 1994 the band relocated to Chicago to record their first full length album “Suffersystem”. Produced by Critter and Howie Beno at Chicago Trax studios, the album was a wall-of-noise mix of industrial-metal (“Threat By Example”), Sabbath-influenced stoner rock (“Motionless”, “Sunspots”), hardcore (“Bastard Is As Bastard Does”) hip hop / rock (“Inside These Walls”) and techno / dance music (“Defense Mechanism”). The album also featured several guest appearances most notably Roddy Bottum
Roddy Bottum
Roddy Bottum , is an American musician, best known as the keyboardist for the San Francisco rock band Faith No More...
(Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
), Leslie Rankin (Silverfish / Ruby) and Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis was a musician and artist from Chicago. A diagnosed chronic schizophrenic, he gained an enormous cult following in the 1990s after releasing several hundred songs of simple but unique music, with emphasis on his humorous, bizarre, and frequently obscene lyrics...
.
On completing the album in the late spring, the band immediately set out on what proved to be a punishing non-stop tour schedule that saw the group perform in the neighborhood of 500 shows. Tours with Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
, Life of Agony
Life of Agony
-Formation and River Runs Red :The band was formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Keith Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. After playing with several drummers, they enlisted Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato before recording the debut album River Runs Red after they signed to...
, Skrew
Skrew
Skrew is an influential industrial metal band. Formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1998, the group announced its return in 2009.-Biography:Skrew was formed in 1990 in Austin, Texas, by Adam Grossman and Danny Lohner...
, Fight
Fight (band)
Fight was an American heavy metal band assembled by Judas Priest frontman, Rob Halford, after his departure from that band in 1992. He took with him from Judas Priest and Racer X drummer Scott Travis, though Travis also continued to drum for Judas Priest...
(Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
) saw the band performing mostly to metal crowds who were both extremely receptive and occasionally hostile to the groups liberal use of electronics and drum loops.
However, it was the band’s tour with Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
in early 1995 that really helped to give M.V.M. international momentum. The “Portrait Of An American Family Tour” lasted over 2 and half months and made headlines in every city that it rolled through. Both bands occasionally became subjected to death threats, bomb scares and overzealous American right wing organizations who were hellbent on stopping the tour at every turn.
While back home in Canada for a short break after the Manson tour, Suffersystem won the 1995 Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for “Best Hard Rock Album Of The Year”. At this time, the band also released many singles and EPs featuring remixes by acclaimed artists as Biohazard, DJ Muggs
DJ Muggs
Lawrence Muggerud , better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest on the albums Which Doobie U B? and Brothas Doobie.-Cypress Hill :...
, KMFDM
KMFDM
KMFDM is an industrial band led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, who founded the group in 1984 as a performance art project...
and Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
.
Several more months of touring followed with the band members all nearing exhaustion and frustration. Sewell at this time asked RCA to have the Chemical Brothers or Liam Howlett (The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
) produce the next album, RCA declined asking the band instead to consider Butch Vig
Butch Vig
Butch Vig is an American musician and record producer, best known internationally as the drummer of the Madison, Wisconsin-based alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of multi-platinum selling album Nevermind by Nirvana....
. Sewell, disillusioned with RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
’s (mis)understanding of the band asked to be released from their recording contract. RCA in an act of kindness obliged and the 2 parted company.
Finally in late 1995, the band members found themselves looking to move on to new things. The never-ending tours and rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows had obviously done some damage, and the band was “put on hold” for the next year.
During this time away from M.V.M. Sewell worked on electronic based music under the name def.con.sound.system. and Cuddy, Landry and Quinn formed the metal / hardcore group Semi-Auto Reflex. Keyboardist Hoskin moved to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and drummer Bentley made the rounds with several more indie rock slanted bands.
1996 saw the band return to action joined by Soulstorm members Nick Sagias (keyboards) and bassist Chris Harris. The band released 1000 numbered copies of “Pirate Satellite”, an "officially leaked demo" of 5 new tracks. These new songs saw the band moving away from the heavier roots and more towards a rock-meets-triphop-punk vibe. “Distanced” was the most radical departure from the band’s earlier work, but showcased a new depth to their song writing that included strings, intricate arrangements and dynamic sonic textures.
Not long after however, the band announced that they were officially breaking up, and on October 4, 1996 they played their farewell show at the Volcano Club in Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
.
Less than a year later, while on tour with def.con.sound.system. in 1997, Sewell was offered a record deal by Dr. Dream Records (a subsidiary of Polygram / Mercury) who suggested that the group use the Monster Voodoo Machine name. At the time def.con.sound.system. featured Sewell, Cuddy, Sagias, Harris and occasionally Quinn and Bentley, so there was no hesitation and plans were set in motion for a new M.V.M. album.
As the group began demo’ing new material, Sewell rediscovered his love of guitar rock and made the decision to record the album without the use of samplers, keyboards and drum loops. The resulting album “Direct Reaction Now!” features several def.con.sound.system. songs reworked into a rock format (“Dragon Style”, “Every Filthy Angel”, Color My Soul Grey”) some new more hardcore influenced numbers (“Gimme A Riot”, Crossroads”) along with the distortion-laden, country-esque “Rats Eye View”. Overall though, the album is a sonic mess, underproduced and lacking the M.V.M signature sound and “vibe”. A valiant attempt, but one that misses the mark and left many old fans feeling indifferent to this new “rock” direction.
The “Direct Reaction Now!” album was released in early 1998 just as Dr. Dream Records found themselves being shut down due to the Polygram / Universal Records merger. The band had just been invited to play the side stage on the Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
Tour that year (side note: M.V.M. were the first Canadian band to participate in the annual Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
Tour) and hit the road with a new level of uncertainty hanging over their heads. Joining the group for the Ozzfest tour were Mundane frontman Vitor Rebello on drums, and Nick Sagias on bass (Chris Harris had moved to guitar after Darren Quinn had left the group a month earlier).
With little hype and promotion around the album’s release, and with the band members feeling pessimistic about the future of the group, the next few months ultimately took their toll on M.V.M.
After a few short tours with Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
and some high profile one-offs, the band played their final show in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
during a freezing cold blizzard on a Monday night. Only a very small audience saw M.V.M. play for the very last time.
One week later Sewell along with drummer Bentley hit the recording studio as DAMN 13. A high energy punk / metal band whose sound falls somewhere between Black Flag, The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
and Black Sabbath. The band stayed together for the next 8 years and released one critically acclaimed full-length album “Black Heart Northern Soul” (Distort, 2005) before disbanding in 2006. In late 2006 Sewell formed the Toronto dub-punk band AUTOMATIC DUB RIOT with a number of longtime childhood friends. He runs STEREO DYNAMITE RECORDINGS, a record label (The Creepshow, The Matadors, Keepin' 6) and music marketing company. As of June 2007, Sewell has started RIOT ROCK MANAGEMENT and now manages the bands Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...
(Century Media Records) and Echoes Of Eternity
Echoes of Eternity
Echoes of Eternity is a band based in Los Angeles. Their debut album The Forgotten Goddess, was released in February 2007 on Nuclear Blast records...
(Nuclear Blast Records). Most recently he has been performing with the hardcore band BASTARD CHILD DEATH CULT.
Jason Cuddy went on to play with Sagias in Soulstorm for a while before forming the Southern Rock-influenced SCUZZY. Darren Quinn played with THE DAY AFTER a hip hop / metal hybrid featuring Canadian hip hop superstar Michie Mee
Michie Mee
Michelle McCullock , better known by her stage name Michie Mee, is a Canadian rapper and actor. As Canada's first notable female MC, she is considered a national hip-hop pioneer.-Early life and career:...
. However, in 2004, Cuddy and Quinn again joined forces in REDEEMER a full on metal band whose sound can be compared to Gojira, Down and The Haunted. Bentley has recently spent time rotating between ALL SYSTEMS GO!, DAMN 13 and C’MON. Hoskin is now recording electronic/ambient/breakbeat music under the name of PILGRIMOMEGA, and also working as a composer in the film and television industry.
While history may not have been so kind to the legacy of Monster Voodoo Machine, the band’s genre-bending influences can still be heard today in many of today’s metal, hardcore, hip hop and dance artists.
In June 2007 the classic SUFFERSYSTEM line-up (Sewell, Cuddy, Quinn, Landry and Bentley) made the announcement that they had been writing for a new album titled "Rise Demon Rise".
The reactivated band have so far played two shows together; Toronto on August 9, 2007 at The Funhaus where they debuted the title track from the new album ("Rise Demon Rise") and a cover of the Quicksand classic "Thorn In My Side" (a video of the Quicksand cover is available on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
).
The second was a one-off show at The Hard Luck Bar on June 13, 2010 in Toronto with Cleanse Your Demons and Nice Cat as a dedication to their friend SAM "I AM" Hatzopoulos who died on May 11, 2010 at the age of 43.
Albums
- Burn (Epidemic 1992)
- Turbine (unreleased 1992/3)
- State Voodoo/State Control (BMG/D-Tribe 1994)
- Suffersystem (BMG/D-Tribe 1994)
- Pirate Satellite (45 Revolutions 1996)
- Direct Reaction Now (Doctor Dream 1998)
Singles/EPs
- Gimme A Riot (Cassette single/Doctor Dream 1998)
- Defense Mechanism EP (BMG/D-Tribe 1994)
- Bastard Is As Bastard Does (BMG/D-Tribe 1994)
- Get On With It (BMG/D-Tribe 1994)
Music videos
- Fetal Position
- Bastard Is As Bastard Does
- Copper Theft
- Get On With It
- Bastard Child
- 3 Year Plan
See also
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada