Earache Records were instrumental in bringing death metal to the masses. The U.K. label released essential early records by such pioneering death metal acts as Napalm Death, Entombed, Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower and others. Earache Records recently played a major part in re-popularizing thrash, with this resurgence of thrash starting with the signing of Municipal Waste. Following the success of Municipal Waste, Earache signed two more thrashin' bands, Evile and SSS. These three bands represent a triumphant return to the energy, aggression and style of the hardcore and thrash bands from two decades prior.
SSS resembles Evile and Municipal Waste in many areas such as speed, aggression and attitude, but have apparent differences in musical style. While SSS often hit a speed metal stride like the other two, they exhibit more punk and hardcore tendencies. Lead voice man, Foxy sings with a thick English accent that exudes punk toughness. His accompanying band mates nobly wave the flag of hardcore with massive breakdowns and mid-pace grooves in the vein of Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All. These moments seem fitted for a large mass of swinging elbows and smashing knees or circle-pitting mayhem.
SSS’ sound is a throwback to the early days of crossover and thrash, which could also explain the group’s affinity for vinyl. Vinyl was the choice of media for many of the group’s early releases. In 2005, they released a 7” wax offering that featured “Black Night White Light,” an ode to Metallica’s fallen bassist, Cliff Burton. The following year, SSS released a self-titled CD through Dead & Gone Records and a limited edition 12” wax provided a vinyl alternative. This 16 track CD caught the attention of Earache records and in 2007, the label reissued the self-titled effort with the bonus track, “Black Night White Light.” Their debut received many accolades from press and fans and helped the band climb further into the spotlight on their recent European tour with labelmates Municipal Waste. Blistering spoke with vocalist Foxy to learn more about these upstarts.
Blistering.com: How did you feel when you signed to Earache Records?
Foxy: It’s a bit of a blur really. We’re pretty happy that we put our scribble where it mattered. To this day, we still haven’t gone out to celebrate the fact. That’s what, five months later? I’m stoked to be on Earache, though. They get their shit out there. That’s all we wanted: to spread the word across this dump of a planet.
Blistering.com: How did you hook up with this classic extreme label?
Foxy: When we put out the first CD ourselves, I blasted close to 200 CDs out into no-man’s-land. Just sent them to all the labels we know. We got some good "no thanks" emails back and some positive reviews etc. Al from the New York Earache office got in touch after he received one and sent us an email saying that Earache was into the idea of signing us. I didn’t expect anything, it was just an exercise is self-promotion. We just wanted to tell everyone we have done this LP, and we are stoked about it, have a listen, here you go. We didn’t realize anyone would bite and want to sign us.
Blistering.com: Considering all the success that Municipal Waste has enjoyed on Earache, do you think having a similar style helped gain this label’s attention?
Foxy: Of course it does. You have three bands thrash bands that are on Earache: SSS, Waste [Municipal Waste] and Evile. Maybe in the same music pond, but they are poles apart in terms of musical styles, I reckon. It can only be a good thing to have bands of a similar ilk on a label. Some dodgy stuff has been on the Earache books for years. I'm glad they are getting back into the some good stuff
Blistering.com: Your name is an abbreviation for Short Sharp Shock. On your debut album, you also perform a song by the same name. Tell us about the concept of Short Sharp Shock.
Foxy: The concept for SSS means to strip away to the bone and dish out fast, aggressive, no nonsense songs. This means short and simple songs loaded with riffs. If you blink, you will miss them. Look under rocks and in dark shadows for us - we don’t like spotlights
Blistering.com: Your debut 2006 demo was reissued by Earache as your first album for the label. Did you remaster the original or make any other tweaks to this demo before it was re-released?
Foxy: Our six-song demo came out in May of 2005 as a CDR with stickers, etc. We pressed the 7" on April 2006 and the L.P. on October 2006. We pressed these ourselves, and it came out on Thrashgig/Dead & Gone Records. The reissue of the LP on Earache came out in June 2007. We had slight boosts for toms and a few snips of whistles and odd things we missed the first time around, nothing major. The track “Black Night White Light" was taken from the 7" and again, keeping in line with the LP, was injected with new tom sounds.
Blistering.com: Your MySpace page lists a couple other releases you have done. Give us some details about those albums. Where can we purchase those?
Foxy: The four-song 7" is the only other release. It’s barely still in print. We have about thirty left. You can order those records, shirts and get some abuse from myspace.com/shortsharpshock.
Blistering.com: Your bio says you are into cult films and early Metallica and D.R.I. How have you used these interests in creating your sound?
Foxy: The song “Overload” has a sample from the film "Scum.” It’s about a Borstal, a young offenders home. You could call it a jail for young adults. The movie is about how these youth are fucked over and ignored by the authorities in charge. They have no hope, no future and are caught up in the internal wranglings of prison life. One day they just fight back. I would say it’s pretty relevant to the world today. One day you just have enough, you can’t take it, lose your mind and fight back. People are scum in today’s world. Tidal waves, disease, poison, earthquakes: I relish the day the planet just gives up. We only buzz off the good parts of Metallica and D.R.I.—the speed, energy, the blast beats, and the solo licks.
Blistering.com: An audible bass and mini-bass solos used to be more common, but took a long hiatus from the metal scene. It seems that you and other crossover bands are bringing back that technique. Why do you feel it is necessary to spotlight your bass?
Foxy: Everyone plays their part in SSS. Having a bass solo breaks up the music and shows what we can play. I agree it’s different. The newer stuff shows this technique as well. I guess when you hear it; it makes the song stand out, just like a good lyric or guitar solo. When you listen to a band and you can’t remember any of the songs at the end of the LP then it’s time to go back to the drawing board. You have to get inside people’s heads, brand your songs on the inside of the skull, and use any hook you can.
