Artist description Attitude-provoking metal with thought-provoking lyrics.

Music Style Damn Powerful Heavy Metal

Musical Influences Too many to list. Tell us who you hear.

Similar Artists You tell us!

Artist History From our press kit: Originally formed in the late 1970s in Edinburgh, Scotland, Holocaust has become one of the most revered acts from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) period. Their two NWOBHM-era full-length releases, "The Nightcomers" (1981) and "Live: Hot Curry and Wine" (1983), epitomize the "NWOBHM sound." The latter includes the first release of "The Small Hours," later covered by Metallica. The diverse mix of bands paying tribute to Holocaust also include Six Feet Under, Gamma Ray, and The Meat Puppets. Their next major release, "The Sound of Souls" EP (1989), is a brutal, thrashing trip through futuristic progressive metal. Its centerpiece, the 12-minute "Three Ways to Die," will forever be one of metal's most innovative and haunting epics. "Hypnosis of Birds" (1992) is a much more thoughtful, introspective release. Sometimes doomy, sometimes depressing, but often eerily beautiful, this "dark horse" release is a real treasure. The next full-length release of all new material was 1997's "Covenant." The band's first concept album, this is based on "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" by Stephen R. Donaldson. This release is an absolute assault, a real return to the brute force introduced by "The Sound of Souls." Holocaust's most recent outing is "The Courage to Be" (2000). Combining some of the best aspects of the previous releases with branches in new directions, this CD showcases the band's versatility better than any other single work. Not surprisingly, the tremendous songwriting and execution has met with high praise from fans and reviewers on both sides of the Atlantic. The current Holocaust lineup features founder/guitarist/vocalist Mortimer, lead guitarist John McCullim, bassist Bryan Bartley, and drummer Ron Levine. Now concentrating on the US market, they played at the Metal Meltdown III festival in New Jersey and are circulating their three-track "Friday the 13th" demo. They will be recording and releasing their new CD, PRIMAL, in August 2001. A tour covering the US is tentatively scheduled for the first half of 2002.

Group Members John Mortimer(g, v), John McCullim(g), Bryan Bartley(b), Ron Levine (d)

Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, drums.

Albums See Holocaust home page for full discography and reviews.

Press Reviews CD Review Kick Major F*cking Ass! What is hailed as the revered act of NWOBHM Holocaust has returned with purest sense of HEAVY METAL. This is a band that helped to outline what is best known as Bay Area Thrash. Bands like Metallica, Exodus and Megadeth to name a few were highly impacted by Holocaust. It is well known that John Mortimer is a god-father of this scene and has influenced many in the METAL genre. His amazingly unique throat is second to none. With a back catalog to boot, Holocaust is returning bringing their very best to light. Friday The 13th is a demo in every sense of the word but it contains 3 of the most neck snapping, fist pumping tunes that I have heard in a very long time. The song listing is 'Iron Will, Colossus, and They Colonise' These are songs which provoke thought and create attitude not to mention just musically rule! Guitarist John McCullim is in every sense of the word a guitar god. His unique playing style is unmatched today. This is an amazing prelude for what is to come in the future from Holocaust. Is THRASH on the comeback? If the return of Holocaust is any indication then I welcome it with open arms. The scene has been dead in this area for many years and it's about time we get the real bands BACK in the limelight to represent true THRASH and HEAVY METAL. This is a veteran band that is utterly brilliant and responsible for so much in the world of METAL. Holocaust is riveting with fury and taking on the world by storm, destroying everything in their path and I for one love it! A++ - Metal Vault HOLOCAUST - Sampler (EP) From the Forthcoming Primal Album One of those cult classic NWOBHM bands that have been covered by the likes of Metallica and Gamma Ray, Holocaust remain, at their best, a purposefully thrashed-up metal stomper. Riding the fence between technical considerations and most often stumbling forth into a wall of sonic sludge, the band is only a step away from the threatening levels of Slayer, yet without nearly the amount of work needed to get the same effect. Where some use machine gun rhythms to invoke testosterone rage, Holocaust lays down marching orders and methodically decimates, as on the determined "Colossus". Oh sure, they shred too! Just get in the groove of "They Colonise" but make sure you jump out before the tank squashes your puny ass. In short, the band's gutter level stompage remains and menacing metal vibe of yesteryear strides forth. *** 1/2 - Brian Coles Starting with [The] Sound Of Souls, the band has become more eclectic, with a style that marries the best of their early NWOBHM energy with progressive and non-metal influences, creating one of the most original sounds in metal. Really a brilliant band, and highly recommended to those looking for something different and unique. -Brian Russ, BNR Metal Pages . . .some of the most classic and brilliant UK metal of all time. -Laurent Ramadier, Snakepit magazine

Location Boston, MA - USA

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