Warrior Soul is an American hard rock / punk band formed by lead singer Kory Clarke, guitarist John Ricco, (later replaced by Alexander Arundel, aka X-Factor) bassist Pete McClanahan, and drummer Paul Ferguson (later replaced by Mark Evans and then Scott Dubois). They rose from the poetry readings by Clarke in Manhattan bars such as the Pyramid on the Lower East Side after being talked into forming a band in order to get a medium to offer his thoughts on the world and, more importantly, get further gigs. Formed as a quartet in 1988 after a mere five gigs WARRIOR SOUL inked a deal with Geffen Records and a management contract with the Q-Prime organisation ( METALLICA / QUEENSRYCHE / DEF LEPPARD ). Reportedly the band went through a succession of guitarists as the record company endeavoured to find the right mix for the band.

The band hit the scene in New York City right before '90s grunge. Coming of age during the presidency of the first George Bush, many of its songs were politically based, from the prescient "In Conclusion" to the call to arms, "Children of the Winter."

The term "Acid Punk" was coined to explain the hard driving trippy sound that was Warrior Soul. Kory Clarke has been credited as being ahead of his time and a victim of a label that had a band called Nirvana as its new saviour.

The critical acclaim that accompanied the band and the Space Age Playboys album never translated to the record sales most predicted. Alexander Arundel, a Scottish born musician co-wrote the album along with Clarke and McClanahan. The record's fresh sound and explosive guitar work by X-Factor plus amazing vocal work by Clarke should have created a new fan base for the band, but X-Factor quit leaving the promise of this new Warrior Soul sound unfulfilled.

The band certainly received heady praise for its early albums and acres of media coverage, particularly in Europe, but mainstream commercial success eluded them. WARRIOR SOUL succumbed to an acknowledged drug problem and split in two, Ricco and Evans going their own way. Losing their Geffen deal the band, fronted by a newly shorn Kory Clarke, switched to independent labels for 'The Space Age Playboys', issued by Music For Nations in Europe in 1994 and by Mayhem in North America the following year. Clarke and McClanahan were now heading up a band also comprising X-Factor on guitar and ex- NUCLEAR ASSAULT man Scott Dubois on the drums. A 1995 single release '(Love Is) The Drug' saw inclusion of two exclusive interpretations of DAVID BOWIE 's 'Moonage Daydream' and ELVIS COSTELLO's 'Pump It Up'. WARRIOR SOUL bowed out with 'Fucker', a collection of rare and demo outtakes and given the somewhat tamer title of 'Odds & Ends' for US release. Odds & Ends was released as a posthumous collection of demos and out-takes. 8 Track recordings produced by X-Factor and Kory Clarke providing the basis of this record. Also in 1996 Kory Clarke went on to found a short lived band called Space Age Playboys. Kory Clarke then became the lead singer of Dirty Rig. Drummer Mark Evans met a gruesome end in January of 2005. His burning body was found in a wheelie bin, by a home owner who discovered his garden fence was on fire, in an east London car park. The 48 year old musician had been strangled. Police soon charged three people with murder..

X-Factor went on to form the band TRUTH which toured Europe with a new sound that mixed dance with rock with X-Factor as vocalist, guitarist and DJ. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

With the break up of the band Clarke founded a short-lived band venture with THE CULT guitarist Billy Duffy before making a return with the glammed up act THE SPACEAGE PLAYBOYS . Ardent fans found this act's frivolous song titles and imagery hard to stomach. The band would break up but not before a swansong London concert, which included a large chunk of WARRIOR SOUL material as an indicator of what was to come.

Following a very limited re-release of the band's first five albums in 2006, Clarke reformed Warrior Soul for a UK tour in March 2007, using long time musician friends from England and Sweden.

September 2007 saw Kory Clarke vacating his position with DIRTY RIG and in October WARRIOR SOUL toured the UK supported by RISE TO ADDICTION . However, in a surprise move during May 2008 the singer joined the ranks of veteran Chicago Doom Metal band TROUBLE . Despite this move, WARRIOR SOUL issued the wryly titled 'Chinese Democracy' album that same year. The band at this stage featured former RADIATOR , ELEVATION and present day HATE GALLERY guitarist Janne Jarvis.

During January 2009 WARRIOR SOUL parted ways with drummer Rob Stephenson and replaced him with Billy Williams.

The band released a limited edition studio Album titled "Chinese Democracy" in October of 2008, just a month before the long-awaited and much hyped Guns 'n Roses album of the same name was due for its release. The band shortly re-named the album "...And We Rock and Roll" and began to print more copies.

Late 2008 saw a lauded set at the 2nd incarnation of Hard Rock Hell, in North Wales, with the large room over capacity when the band played, rendering the opposing Hawkwind show on the next stage virtually unattended. Kerrang! magazine reviewed the show as KKKKK (5 K's)

December 2008 also saw the band return to large indoor stages, with shows at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London, and the Academy, Glasgow.

2009 plans are set to include re-issues of the classic Warrior Soul work on vinyl, as well as an expansive European tour to support the release of "...And We Rock and Roll"

See also http://www.organart.demon.co.uk/intwarriorsoul.htm
http://www.videocure.com/music-videos/w/e02331759a8e380229774bb2e5aeeaa2.html

Reviews

"There's plenty to appreciate about Warrior Soul. Frontman Kory Clark, a Detroit native, learned his politicking-bard approach from the Stooges and repackaged it for the 1990's in glittering, metallic form. With an obvious nod to Jane's Addition, Warrior Soul released their debut Last Decade, Dead Century in 1990 and immediately started music critics (especially in England) buzzing. In retrospect that album would stand as their best, but with each release, the band got increasingly vocal -- and eventually downright nasty -- in the music press about their dissatisfaction with their record label. Eventually, the quartet released Chill Pill (1993), a shabby excuse of an album designed to get the band dropped. And it worked. Who knows...if Nirvana's reach hadn't been so profound, perhaps these anarchistic cyberpunks would have ended up as more than Jane's Addiction also-rans" - Linda Ryan http://uk.real.com/music/artist/Warrior_Soul/

Ffi: http://www.myspace.com/warriorsoulinfo

Warrior Soul - 'The Wasteland'

 

Supported by

THE MORE I SEE

Metal / Thrash
From Peterborough.

Peter Ellis - Vocals
Gizz Butt - Lead Guitar
Gavin King - Rhythm Guitar
James Cluer - Bass
Spike T Smith - Repercussions

Inspired by a great number of years spent peddling his musical wares in The Prodigy and cult Punk Metal band English Dogs to people all over the planet Gizz Butt(lead guitar/songwriter) is one of the architects responsible for carving the structure of thrash metal music.

Gizz has taken what he started in the early eighties and has dragged it through the decades, keeping that feeling of no rules and nothing to follow. The band has evolved into an extremely precise, technical, modern example of thrash. Live they are full of ardour and energy, filling the venues with a mixture of adrenalin and amazement, especially with addition of 22 year old Peter Ellis , the closest thing anyone has seen to a new Bruce Dickenson in the modern UK scene. New bassist 18 year old James Cluer has the charisma and playing that is only matched by an incredible vocal ability. The ex Morrissey and Damned drummer Spike T. Smith adds to the act with his bionic and flawless style, further proof that The More I See are a band to be reckoned with. Their 2 nd album ‘The Unholy Feast' released 2nd June 2008 took 3 years to write and record. Mixed by the legendary Andy Sneap, it is 55 minutes of extreme perfection.

This is metal at its most devastating and emotionally penetrating. Laden with heart-stopping melodies, skin-flaying guitar work, jaw-shattering dynamics and a palpable sense that something genuinely important is happening, The More I See is music designed as a weapon…a kick up the arse to wake the dead… the sound of silence before the bomb goes off.

2008 saw The More I See release their long awaited 2nd album 'The Unholy Feast' to awesome reviews. Metal Hammer claiming it to be 'A Gleaming Modern Metal Monster' while Kerrang! stated that it was 'Technical Precision Thrash...progressive musicianship in among the sheet metal riffage and barking aggression KKKK'.

Reviews

“If there was any justice in the world, The More I See would be bigger than Machine Head” – Terrorizer

“Technical, precision trash with a classic feel but a modern production sheen and even a touch of progressive musicianship in amongst the sheet metal riffage and barking aggression” – Kerrang!

“Riff after masterful riff, great solo after great solo, and endless procession of superb songs. Pretenders to the throne beware: the real deal is here” – Zero Tolerance

“Classic metal with an explosive mix of punk aggression, trash speed and technical metal ability, with a righteous fury at the corruption endemic in modern life” – Metal Hammer

“A glorious explosion of trash metal that combines the fiercest of riffing with huge hooks, powerful choruses and stellar solos. Live the band manage to deliver their quality material with an added edge that makes for a fantastic headbanging experience. There aren't many bands around that can hold a candle to The More I See” - Powerplay

Ffi: http://www.myspace.com/themoreisee and http://www.themoreisee.com

Isolation have signed a Record / Distribution Deal with Copro / Casket Records and released their debut album "Lockdown" on Nov 5th 2007 with worldwide distribution via Plastichead. They have completed a 5 month long UK tour to promote the release of this debut album. They have already had the pleasure of playing with bands such as 3 Inches of Blood and Biomechanical on their latest tour. The Wildhearts, Forever Never, Imperial Vipers, Rattlesnake Remedy, Tygers of Pang Tang, Blaze Bailey (Ex Iron Maiden), Grim Reaper, OD Saxon, Goldblade, Gypsy Pistoleros, Cinders Fall, Profane, Shellshock and Showstripsilence (Italy) to name just a few.

Isolation fit in well with metal/hardcore crowds giving them a wide target audience from teenagers right up to late 30's and even 40's, and they understand the importance of putting on a great live performance. They can win over alien crowds with ease every time they play new venues in new cities.

With line up problems at the start of 2008, Isolation went back to the rehearsal room and started auditions, Shane had decided to leave the band and Mawg side-stepped from bass to rhythm guitar, Joe returned on bass and auditions began for a lead guitarist. Enter Will. . . a top class shredder and lead soloist from local band Irritant. After a short while Joe's commitments meant he couldnt give 100% to the band and the search for a bassist began. . . Finally we found Chaz, he had flown in to England from America and 3 days after he landed he was auditioning for the band and that night he became a permanent member. Chaz was in some serious rock bands over in the States, including Unbroken, and Grip Inc (featuring the one and only Dave Lombardo). With the new line up complete Isolation went out and did what they do best, playing live and putting on a great metal show.

2009 brings many more great adventures as well as writing and recording ready for the next album.

Reviews

"Their musicianship as a band is outstanding and the stage presence that these guys have is something of a mind-blowing talent." - Shattermouth Promotions

“A decent mix of blended metal, the crunch of modern metalcore stomping on something that reaches back to a chunky brutal punky hard hitting NWOBHM sound and sense. They're from Cheltenham and subtle is obviously not part of their vocabulary.” - Organ Magazine

"The songs are decent and the performances strong. . . . . . . . These songs will be absolutely superb live and are designed for getting a crowd going.” - Subba Cultcha

“If you like your music loud, dirty and unholy, buy this CD and catch them rampaging live near you. . . .You wont be disappointed.” - Fuse Magazine

“A Cheltenham band with a debut album that is very explosive with rifle-fast drumming, punishing bass and a guitarist who lays down riffs like napalm and solos with the effectiveness of a torpedo hitting its target time after time. It's metal, it's loud, it's hard and it's monstrous in the best way. . . For a debut album, seriously good, but you can bet the best is to come.” - Dead Ernest.

Ffi: http://www.myspace.com/isolation

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