Atomkraft
Encyclopedia
Atomkraft are an English
heavy
/speed metal
band who were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
movement. They formed in 1979 and disbanded 1988. Their "Total Metal" approach is somewhere between fellow NWOBHM bands such as Motörhead and Venom
, punk rock
bands such as The Dickies
, and early Exodus
or Slayer
. The band subsequently reformed in 2005.
and Paul Spillett got together with the intention to form a band. Initially, going under the name of Moral Fibre and playing punk rock, they recruited guitarists Ian Legg and Chris Taylor. Ian Legg then left to be replaced by Sean Drew who also subsequently left. However the band continued to operate as a trio.
After trying out a couple of guitarists they settled on Steve White, whom Tony knew from his art class at college. Another member of Tony’s art class, Mark Irvine, joined on bass. With Tony on rhythm guitar and vocals and Paul on drums the new line-up played four shows. Unfortunately, Mark’s parents disapproved of his heavy metal
image and lifestyle and so persuaded him to quit the band. Tony switched back to bass and the band was able to continue.
, Raven
, Metallica
, Anthrax
and Megadeth
. Spurred on by this, Paul and Tony began writing material and returned to England in late 1984 to search for a guitarist. They later fell out over a girl and went their separate ways.
to see if anyone could recommend a drummer, Tony met Cronos
of Venom who informed him that Ged Wolf (the brother of Venom’s manager) was looking for a band having just left Tysondog. Tony and Ged got together and started auditioning for a guitarist, but initially did not have a lot of luck.
Then a 16-year-old guitar player, Rob Mathew, was recommended as being a great guitar player and so they all met up. Fortunately they got on well and this became the new Atomkraft line-up.
The band began working on the new material that Tony had been writing, and went on to record the Pour the Metal In demo at Neat Records studio. It featured 3 tracks, "Pour the Metal In", "Burn in Hell" and "Carousel". The demo is sent to various fanzines and received a good response. Dave Woods of Neat Records also hears the demo and offered them a deal, and so the band started work on the Future Warriors album.
magazine, other reviews were more positive and they got further requests for interviews. The band also opened for Slayer
at The Marquee
, where faulty equipment resulted in the band trashing the equipment in frustration after just three numbers. Despite this the band were asked to join the bill of the Venom/Exodus
tour.
Tony wanted to use the services of a London-based company, while Ged and Rob wanted to use Venom’s management. The disagreement could not be resolved and so Tony left the band.
Neat then released the track "Your Mentor" as part of the Powertrax promotional cassette, while the vocal tracks on the rest of the "Your Mentor" sessions were re-recorded by Ian Davison-Swift from Avenger
. D.C. Rage (Darren Cook of Avenger) was brought in as bassist and two new tracks were recorded, with the new four-piece, "Queen of Death" and "Protector" (although Alan Hunter of Tysondog had originally contributed vocals to "Protector"). In October 1986 the re-titled Queen Of Death EP was released with the title track and "Protector" on the A-side, and "Demolition", "Funeral Pyre" and "Mode III" on the B-side. The pictures on the back cover show the line-up of Ged, Rob, Ian and D.C. Rage although this line-up never played live. A re-recording of the track "Future Warriors", with Ian on vocals was also licensed for future inclusion in a compilation. However, it was not long before Tony was invited back in the band to replace D.C. Rage on bass, while retaining Ian on vocals.
, Nuclear Assault
and Agent Steel
, and was promoted as ‘The Longest Day’. Atomkraft’s performance was filmed for the Live Conductors video as well as being recorded for a live BBC
radio broadcast. They also played Dynamo Festival alongside Testament
, Destruction
and Stryper
with the show going out live on Dutch radio.
With the tour at an end and the band preparing demos for the next album (to be titled Atomized), a thicker guitar sound was required, so simply re-recruiting D.C. Rage and Tony switching to guitar resolved this.
and Exhumer ultimately resulting in a ‘unique’ gig (for the time) in Katowice
, Poland at Spodek Stadium. This show was recorded for live TV/video. On completion of the tour Ian left the band as did Tony (who was offered a position in Venom as replacement for Cronos), and despite Ged’s attempts to recruit replacements the band folded in 1988.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
heavy
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
band who were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
movement. They formed in 1979 and disbanded 1988. Their "Total Metal" approach is somewhere between fellow NWOBHM bands such as Motörhead and Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands such as The Dickies
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock group formed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1977.-History:The Dickies were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles...
, and early Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
or Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
. The band subsequently reformed in 2005.
Moral Fibre
The roots of Atomkraft date back to the summer of 1979, when Tony ‘Demolition’ DolanTony Dolan
Tony "Demolition" Dolan is an English musician and actor, most known as bassist and vocalist of heavy metal bands Atomkraft and Venom born in 1961....
and Paul Spillett got together with the intention to form a band. Initially, going under the name of Moral Fibre and playing punk rock, they recruited guitarists Ian Legg and Chris Taylor. Ian Legg then left to be replaced by Sean Drew who also subsequently left. However the band continued to operate as a trio.
Atomkraft
On returning from a trip to Bremen, Germany, Chris presented his band mates with some button badges featuring the environmental slogan ‘Atomkraft, Nein Danke!’ (Nuclear Power, No Thanks!) They liked the way the word "Atomkraft" sounds and so adopted it as the band name, believing it suits the new "metal" sound they pursued. In the endeavour for something more metal and less punk they got rid of Chris.After trying out a couple of guitarists they settled on Steve White, whom Tony knew from his art class at college. Another member of Tony’s art class, Mark Irvine, joined on bass. With Tony on rhythm guitar and vocals and Paul on drums the new line-up played four shows. Unfortunately, Mark’s parents disapproved of his heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
image and lifestyle and so persuaded him to quit the band. Tony switched back to bass and the band was able to continue.
Demon
In 1981 the band recorded the four song demo Demon at Impulse studios, this being funded by band member Paul Spillett who was the only one working at the time and with the help of Keith Nicol. It was their first "proper" demo, although, the limitation of time and a 2-track recorder gave results that were pretty bad. However, the band soldiered on, gaining experience by continuing to play live shows.Total Metal
In early 1983, Atomkraft returned to Impulse studios to record another demo. Learning from their previous experience they opted to record only 2 tracks for the Total Metal demo, featuring the title track and "Death Valley". Steve passed a copy of the demo to Sam Kress, who ran a radio station and ‘Whiplash’ magazine. Sam liked the demo and promised to feature the band in his magazine. However, in late 1983, Steve left the band for personal reasons. Tony was left wondering what to do. By coincidence he was invited to stay with his sister in Canada to help out with her two kids, while she was studying. With Tony unemployed and the band effectively on hold, he decided to take her up on her offer.Canada
In 1984 Paul Spillett joined Tony in Canada. Tony was further inspired when he got a copy of the magazine containing the write-up that Sam Kress promised. The write-up presented Atomkraft in a very positive light and also featured VenomVenom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, Raven
Raven (band)
Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. Spurred on by this, Paul and Tony began writing material and returned to England in late 1984 to search for a guitarist. They later fell out over a girl and went their separate ways.
Pour The Metal In
While visiting Neat RecordsNeat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
to see if anyone could recommend a drummer, Tony met Cronos
Conrad Lant
Conrad Thomas Lant is a British musician who is the vocalist and bass player of the influential black/thrash metal band Venom, from 1979 to 1987 and from 1995 to present.- Early life :...
of Venom who informed him that Ged Wolf (the brother of Venom’s manager) was looking for a band having just left Tysondog. Tony and Ged got together and started auditioning for a guitarist, but initially did not have a lot of luck.
Then a 16-year-old guitar player, Rob Mathew, was recommended as being a great guitar player and so they all met up. Fortunately they got on well and this became the new Atomkraft line-up.
The band began working on the new material that Tony had been writing, and went on to record the Pour the Metal In demo at Neat Records studio. It featured 3 tracks, "Pour the Metal In", "Burn in Hell" and "Carousel". The demo is sent to various fanzines and received a good response. Dave Woods of Neat Records also hears the demo and offered them a deal, and so the band started work on the Future Warriors album.
Future Warriors
Recorded over a couple of weeks and produced by Keith Nichol, Future Warriors was released in September 1985. Despite getting a particularly poor review in Kerrang!Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine, other reviews were more positive and they got further requests for interviews. The band also opened for Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
at The Marquee
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
, where faulty equipment resulted in the band trashing the equipment in frustration after just three numbers. Despite this the band were asked to join the bill of the Venom/Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
tour.
Queen Of Death
After the end of the Venom/Exodus tour, Atomkraft prepared and recorded a new EP, with the tracks "Your Mentor" on the A-side and "Demolition", "Funeral Pyre" and "Mode III" on the B-side. Unfortunately, the EP did not get released in this form, as a rift developed in the band as a result of discussions over management.Tony wanted to use the services of a London-based company, while Ged and Rob wanted to use Venom’s management. The disagreement could not be resolved and so Tony left the band.
Neat then released the track "Your Mentor" as part of the Powertrax promotional cassette, while the vocal tracks on the rest of the "Your Mentor" sessions were re-recorded by Ian Davison-Swift from Avenger
Avenger (British band)
Avenger are a heavy metal band from Newcastle, England. Associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they released two albums in the 1980s before splitting up. The band reunited in 2005.-History:...
. D.C. Rage (Darren Cook of Avenger) was brought in as bassist and two new tracks were recorded, with the new four-piece, "Queen of Death" and "Protector" (although Alan Hunter of Tysondog had originally contributed vocals to "Protector"). In October 1986 the re-titled Queen Of Death EP was released with the title track and "Protector" on the A-side, and "Demolition", "Funeral Pyre" and "Mode III" on the B-side. The pictures on the back cover show the line-up of Ged, Rob, Ian and D.C. Rage although this line-up never played live. A re-recording of the track "Future Warriors", with Ian on vocals was also licensed for future inclusion in a compilation. However, it was not long before Tony was invited back in the band to replace D.C. Rage on bass, while retaining Ian on vocals.
Conductors Of Noize
The new line-up records the mini-album Conductors of Noize, which was released in July 1987, and then promoted the record as part of support to Agent Steel and Nuclear Assault. The first date of the tour, at Hammersmith Odeon featured an expanded line-up of Max Penalty, Atomkraft, OnslaughtOnslaught (band)
Onslaught are an English thrash metal band from Bristol, England. Initially active from 1983 to 1991, they reformed in 2004. The band initially drew influence from the second wave punk rock bands such as Discharge and The Exploited, and then adopted a straight forward thrash metal...
, Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
and Agent Steel
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
, and was promoted as ‘The Longest Day’. Atomkraft’s performance was filmed for the Live Conductors video as well as being recorded for a live BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio broadcast. They also played Dynamo Festival alongside Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
and Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
with the show going out live on Dutch radio.
With the tour at an end and the band preparing demos for the next album (to be titled Atomized), a thicker guitar sound was required, so simply re-recruiting D.C. Rage and Tony switching to guitar resolved this.
Disbandment
The expanded 5-piece embarked on a 1988 European tour with Nasty SavageNasty Savage
Nasty Savage was a thrash metal band originating from Brandon Florida, USA. The band rose to popularity primarily due to lead vocalist "Nasty" Ronnie Galetti's over-the-top stage show performances The first album featuring the hit single "XXX" was recorded at Progressive Music in Tampa...
and Exhumer ultimately resulting in a ‘unique’ gig (for the time) in Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, Poland at Spodek Stadium. This show was recorded for live TV/video. On completion of the tour Ian left the band as did Tony (who was offered a position in Venom as replacement for Cronos), and despite Ged’s attempts to recruit replacements the band folded in 1988.
Reformation
In 2004 Sanctuary Records (who have previously acquired the Neat Records back-catalogue) released an Atomkraft anthology. With renewed interest in the band, Tony reformed Atomkraft for live dates and a new album. The new line-up includes Payre Hulkoff on guitar and Steve Mason on drums.Discography
- 1981 - Demon - Demo
- 1983 - Total Metal - Demo
- 1985 - Pour the Metal In - Demo
- 1985 – Future Warriors - LP
- 1986 - Queen of Death - EP
- 1987 - Conductors of Noize - Mini LP
- 2004 - Total MetalTotal MetalTotal Metal is the compilation album by heavy metal band Atomkraft. It contains songs from albums published by Neat Records, as well as some previously unreleased material- CD 1 :# Total Metal# Pour the Metal In# Foliage# Teutonic Pain...
: The Neat Anthology - Compilation CD - 1981 - Cold Sweat - EP
Line-up
- Tony DolanTony DolanTony "Demolition" Dolan is an English musician and actor, most known as bassist and vocalist of heavy metal bands Atomkraft and Venom born in 1961....
- bass/vocals (1979–1986, 1988), (2005-) (Venom, Mantas, Raubtier) - Steve Mason - drums (2005-) (Iron Fire, Blinded by Fear)
- Payre Hulkoffgarden - guitars (2005-) (Viperine, Karyan, Raubtier)
Guitars
- Ian Legg (1979)
- Chris Taylor (1979)
- Sean Drew (1979–1983)
- Steve White (1980–1983) (Venom, War Machine)
- Neil Rander (1985)
- Rob Mathew (1985–1988) (Agankast)
- Raggy (1986)
- Andra Butler (1987–1988)(Revenant Host)
- Joe Matera (2006)(ex Geisha)