Taint (band)

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Taint


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Border = black
Origin = Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom flagicon|UK
Genre = Sludge metal, Hardcore punk, Stoner rock
Years_active = 1994 - Present
Label = Rise Above Records SuperFi Records
us_distribution =
URL = [http://www.taint.co.uk Taint.co.uk]
Current_members = James 'Jimbob' Isaac Alex Harries Chris West
Past_members = Darren Mason (Bass, '94 - '97) Stophe (Bass, '97 - '01)

Taint are a three-piece, UK based hardcore/rock/metal band. Their unique sound journeys through elements of sludge, modern metal, hardcore punk, doom, and stoner rock. They formed in 1994 as teenagers in the South Wales DIY punk/metal scene (see below), yet are to some degree children of classic rock. They produced a string of demos, compilation features, and split releases over eleven years honouring the British rock underground until their much anticipated first full length album was released in 2005. As a band, Taint have never limited themselves to the influences of their DIY contemporaries but are more inclusive and broad in their tastes and style. In this sense neither are they an amalgamation of the many influences and bands they have toured with. They have skillfully developed a very individual changeable style despite taking many characteristics on board with open minds. Taint are often labelled with the tag of 'stoner rock' and, though truthful in part, it is genuinely difficult to comfortably slot their unpredictable "moving pieces of art" into any specific genre. Aggressive, fast, sludgy, doomy, riff-laden, groovy, involving, fierce, brutal, contemplative and melodic are all words that have been used to accurately describe their music in terms of movement and progression throughout.Perhaps non-commercial, certainly involving and diverse, Taint have taken their punk-based riffs to a new level that successfully carry, emote and intrigue the listener.

Members

* James 'Jimbob' Isaac - "Guitar/Vocals"
* Chris West - "Bass"
* Alex Harries - "Drums"

History

Taint formed as teenagers in 1994 from the South Wales DIY punk/metal scene. The band originally cobbled together a few demo cassettes of Helmet meets epic, sludge qualities that landed them in – not wholly inaccurately – with the stoner/doom tag. The ensuing "Die Die Truthspeaker" mini-album was released on London's "Household Name Records" in 2000 and national shows were played with such others as; Acrimony, Avail, Boy Sets Fire, Canvas, Capdown, Cathedral, Consumed, Converge, Clutch, Earth Crisis, Hard To Swallow, Iron Monkey, Stampin' Ground, Spirit Caravan and Will Haven. From such experiences they honed their trademark style sludge discordance and emotionally fuelled outpourings and "Die Die Truthspeaker" gained the band a spectrum of comparisons to bands such as Black Sabbath, Clutch and Slint. Preceding the mass Neurosis post-rock and metal amalgams that became so fashionable in the few years following. In 2002 they teamed up with hometown friends Black Eye Riot for a split album on lesser known label "Black Phoenix Records". Praise was given and the release well received as the band gained applause from the rock/metal press. A mini-tour followed with Maryland's hardcore-blues men "Clutch", with a sold out set at "Garage" in Highbury, London, and an appearance at the tribute show to late Johnny Morrow, Iron Monkey vocalist. Here their sound began its next evolutionary step with a much more refined and focused approach to melody, groove and contrasting vocals, and "Chris West" - formerly of a the Cardiff doom band "Diabolo" - became their new bass player. The slow process of writing and recording their debut full album was undertaken in 2004, funded entirely by the band themselves. Once finished they began looking around for a compatible label whilst balancing playing shows around the UK and holding down jobs.

April 2005 saw Taint setting out on a successful headline tour of Europe, taking in Le Havre, Paris, Ghent, Tilburg and Utrecht with their good friends Army of Flying Robots. Celebrating the event, a limited tour 7" was released on "SuperFi Records", split between the two aforementioned bands. Taint's album track "I'm Going To Kill Henry Ford" featured, along with gatefold packaging designed by the Taint's own vocalist/guitarist "Jimbob". This was followed by a week in the UK with Art of Burning Water, and another sold out show in the capital with "Clutch" in May at the Mean Fiddler. The gig received rapturous applause and a great review from Kerrang! magazine. It was during 2005 that London's Rise Above Records recognised the band's potential and signed them. Soon after, their latest 57 minute full length album 'The Ruin of Nova Roma' - completed the year before - was released, produced themselves and mixed by Alex Newport (Fudge Tunnel, Melvins, The Mars Volta). An album that moves earth and evokes a journey of dynamics, groove, emotion and colossal riffs, the band immediately decided to take it to a wider audience and launched a European offensive with Swiss 'machinists' Knut and Belgian 'sluggers' "Blutch". April saw them playing "Give It A Name" 2006 (headlined by My Chemical Romance and Lost Prophets) to a 20,000 strong crowd at London's Earls Court and Manchester "Arena". In November 2006 Taint visited Greece to play live shows in Athens and Thessaloniki, gaining a sweep of positive feedback and proving themselves a highly reputable "international" live act.

Currently more dates around the UK for 2007 are set with "Clutch". Further dates in Europe and plans for their debut voyage to the U.S. are in motion. In June the band will return to the studio to record a follow-up 2nd album on Rise Above Records, an October 2007 release date is anticipated.

Discography

External links

* [http://www.taint.co.uk Taint Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/taintuk Taint Official MySpace]
* [http://www.riseaboverecords.com Rise Above Records]
* [http://www.superfirecords.co.uk/ SuperFi Records]
* [http://www.deafsparrow.com/Taint-review.htm Review of The Ruin of Nova Roma]
* [http://bartolomy.com/Taint-Mean_Fiddler-161206/index.html Mean Fiddler Dec. 2006 photos by Bartolomy]
* [http://www.bartolomy.com/Taint-Pennard_Castle-Swansea-100207/index.html Swansea Feb. 2007 by Bartolomy]
* [http://www.drunken-marksman.com Drunken Marksman, Jimbob's graphic design work]
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Related Genres

Sludge metal, Hardcore punk, Heavy metal, Stoner rock