The Mark of Cain (band)

:"This page is about the band from Australia; see Mark of Cain for other uses."Infobox musical artist
Name = The Mark of Cain


Img_capt = The Mark of Cain
Img_size =
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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Adelaide, South Australia
Genre = Hard rock, Alternative metal
Years_active = 1984-present
Label = Dominator Records, Phantom Records, Ra Records, BMG
Associated_acts = Helmet, Tomahawk, Battles
URL = [http://www.tmoc.com.au Official site]
Current_members = John Scott
Kim Scott
John Stanier
Past_members = Aaron Hewson
Campbell Robinson
Rod Archer
Roger Crisp
Stuart Baguley
Neil Guiver
John Rickett
Charles Locke

The Mark of Cain is a hard rock/alternative metal band from Adelaide, South Australia. Their style has been likened to that of Helmet and Rollins Band, yet this band predates both of those groups and was influenced by the early work of Joy Division and US hardcore. The Mark of Cain was formed in 1984 by brothers John (guitar) and Kim Scott (bass guitar), with Rod Archer on vocals and Roger Crisp playing drums. Before long, Archer had left the group and John Scott took on the vocal role; The Mark of Cain has remained a trio ever since. The Scotts have been the core of the band which has featured some 15 different drummers. Currently, that position is held by former Helmet member John Stanier, who is also concurrently with Tomahawk and Battles.

History

The band's first release was a single, "The Lords of Summer" issued by Sydney label Phantom Records in 1988. Following this, The Mark of Cain's drummer situation became reasonably stable for some time with the addition of Campbell Robinson and the band issued two albums on Adelaide label Dominator Records, "Battlesick" in 1989 and "The Unclaimed Prize" in 1991. The band's music came to the attention of Steve Albini, who produced their next release, the 1993 EP "Incoming". This was the recording debut for Robinson's replacement Aaron Hewson, who had joined the band shortly after the release of "The Unclaimed Prize".

Albini's involvement with The Mark of Cain in turn led to Henry Rollins producing the band's breakthrough album, 1995's "Ill at Ease". The first release on Sydney alternative label rooArt, "Ill at Ease" was the also the first to win wide radio support, with Triple J giving the singles "First Time" and "LMA" solid airplay. A national tour followed, after which Hewitt left and Campbell Robinson returned. The next year, The Mark of Cain released "Rock And Roll", a collection of remixes by artists such as Paul Mac and B(if)tek. The band also contributed some songs to the soundtrack of the Australian film "Idiot Box" including a cover of "Degenerate Boy" by early Australian punk band X. This was a minor hit. Robinson was replaced by Stuart Baguley in late 1998 but Stanier was mooted as a member from mid-1999. He was taken on to provide the drumming on the next album "This is This" which was produced by Andy Gill of Gang of Four, one of The Mark of Cain's early influences. "This is This" was released by BMG in 2001 with the announcement that Stainer was now the band's permanent drummer.

According to their official website, The Mark of Cain will be entering the studio with John Stanier to record a new album in February 2008.

Discography

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = The Lords of Summer
Released = 1988
Label = Phantom Records
Producer =
Format = 7"
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks = "The Lords of Summer", "Can You See Now?"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Battlesick
Released = 1989
Label = Dominator Records
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = The Unclaimed Prize
Released = 1990
Label = Dominator
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = ep
Name = Incoming
Released = 1993
Label = Dominator
Producer = Steve Albini
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = "Tell Me"
Released = 1993
Label = Insipid
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks = "Tell Me", "Viet Vet"
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Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = First Time
Released = 1995
Label = rooArt
Producer = Henry Rollins
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Ill at Ease
Writer = John Scott, Kim Scott, Aaron Hewson
Tracks = "First Time", "Details"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Ill at Ease
Released = 1995
Label = rooArt
Producer = Henry Rollins
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles = "First Time", "LMA"
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = LMA
Released = 1996
Label = rooArt
Producer = Henry Rollins
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Ill at Ease
Writer = John Scott, Kim Scott, Aaron Hewson
Tracks = "LMA"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = compilation
Name = Rock and Roll
Released = 1996
Label = rooArt
Producer = Nick Launay, Tim Rogers, The Mark of Cain
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles = "Interloper"
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Degenerate Boy
Released = 1997
Label = BMG
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Idiot Box Original Soundtrack
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Interloper
Released = 1997
Label = BMG
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = Rock and Roll
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = box
Name = The Complete Recordings 88 - 98
Released = 1998
Label = BMG
Producer = Various
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
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Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = [R] Retaliate
Released = 2000
Label = BMG
Producer = Phil McKellar, Andy Gill
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = This is This
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = single
Name = Familiar Territory
Released = 2001
Label = BMG
Producer = Phil McKellar, Andy Gill
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album = This is This
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = This is This
Released = 2001
Label = BMG
Producer = Phil McKellar, Andy Gill
Format = CD
Chart position =
Certification =
Sales =
Singles = " [R] Retaliate", "Familiar Territory"
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

External links

* [http://www.tmoc.com.au The Official Mark of Cain Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/tmocaustralia The Mark of Cain at MySpace]