Cancer (band)
Encyclopedia
Cancer was a British
death
/ thrash metal
band formed in Ironbridge
, Telford
, Shropshire
in 1988. Over the course of their career they released five full-length albums, including one for the major label East West
, breaking up in 2006.
, Telford
by drummer Carl Stokes, guitar
ist John Walker and bassist
Ian Buchanan. The band quickly put together their first two-track demo, No Fuckin' Cover, at the Pits studio in Birmingham
, owned by ex-Starfighters
vocalist Steve Burton. The demo was produced by Stevie Young (brother of AC/DC's Angus Young
) and engineered by "Big" Mick Hughes
(live sound engineer for Metallica
). The band also began playing live, starting with their first gig in Birmingham
opening for Bomb Disneyland, and including shows with the likes of Bolt Thrower
, Cerebral Fix
and GBH.
A second demo session was recorded in 1989, and was followed shortly by the bootleg live album Bloodbath in the Acid, recorded at Wrexham
Memorial Hall and pressed on the Headache label. However, No Fuckin' Cover had secured Cancer a deal with Vinyl Solution
and in Winter 1989 the band recorded their debut album, To the Gory End
, over four days at Loco Studios in Usk
. The record was then mixed by Scott Burns
at Morrisound Studios
, with backing vocals from John Tardy
(of Obituary
) added to the track "Die, Die", and released in April 1990. The band followed it up with tours with Obituary and Deicide
.
Cancer started preparing material for their second album at Reel to Reel Studios in Telford with engineer Tony Higley, and in February 1991 flew out to Florida to begin recording Death Shall Rise
with Scott Burns at Morrisound. They enlisted the skills of James Murphy (of Agent Steel
and Obituary) on lead guitar
, and Deicide's Glen Benton
to provide backing vocals for lead track "Hung, Drawn and Quartered". Released in April 1991, the album would go on to gain a certain amount of notoriety owing to being banned in Germany, whose state body for censorship of works likely to be dangerous to youth considered that the cover art would incite youngsters to incite violence upon each other. The album would also subsequently go on to be placed #27 in Terrorizer Magazine
s Top 40 Death Metal Albums. Throughout May, Cancer toured throughout the UK supported by Unleashed
and Desecrator, then returned to USA for an appearance at the 1991 Milwaukee Metal Festival and further touring in support of Deicide and Obituary.
James Murphy left the band in December 1991 to form Disincarnate and was replaced by Barry Savage. This was followed by further touring throughout the USA, Mexico, Israel and Europe. The band recorded their third album, The Sins of Mankind
, with Simon Efemey
at the Windings in Wrexham in December 1992. Following its release through Vinyl Solution in June 1993, Cancer embarked on a European tour with openers Cerebral Fix
. Problems arose when drummer Stokes was involved in an accident when his motorbike collided with a British Telecom van, leading to the band enlisting Nicholas Barker
(later of Cradle of Filth
and Dimmu Borgir
) for further live shows.
In 1994, Cancer left Vinyl Solution to sign to major label East West
for worldwide distribution, one of the first death metal bands to do so. They entered Great Linford Studios in Milton Keynes
, again with Simon Efemey at the helm, to record their fourth effort, Black Faith
; the record was later mixed at Pink Floyd
's Brittania Row Studios. Despite Stokes allegedly using a human thigh bone for percussion on "Temple Song", the record received decidedly mixed reviews; some compared the Black Faith material to mid-period Metallica, whilst others considered it a "poor man's Heartwork
". Following a short European tour with support act Meshuggah
, Cancer decided to call it a day, citing "a lack of faith from certain key individuals in the industry and Major Label Bullshit".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
death
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
/ thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band formed in Ironbridge
Ironbridge
Ironbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, England. It lies in the civil parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin...
, Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
in 1988. Over the course of their career they released five full-length albums, including one for the major label East West
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
, breaking up in 2006.
Biography
Cancer was formed one night in 1988 in the Tontine public house in IronbridgeIronbridge
Ironbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge, in Shropshire, England. It lies in the civil parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin...
, Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
by drummer Carl Stokes, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist John Walker and bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Ian Buchanan. The band quickly put together their first two-track demo, No Fuckin' Cover, at the Pits studio in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, owned by ex-Starfighters
Starfighters (band)
Starfighters are an English heavy metal band from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement founded in Birmingham, England in 1979. They attracted a strong British cult following but were not able to translate this into any lasting success.-Career:...
vocalist Steve Burton. The demo was produced by Stevie Young (brother of AC/DC's Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
) and engineered by "Big" Mick Hughes
Big Mick
"Big" Mick Hughes is the live audio engineer for Metallica, a position he has held since 1984.He was born in 1960 and grew up in Birmingham, England. While an apprentice at British Steel, he studied electronics at a local technical college and also gained experience on the thriving Midlands music...
(live sound engineer for 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 ...
). The band also began playing live, starting with their first gig in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
opening for Bomb Disneyland, and including shows with the likes of Bolt Thrower
Bolt Thrower (band)
Bolt Thrower are a British death metal band from Coventry, England. They formed in 1986 and released their first album with Vinyl Solution in 1988. The band then shifted to a new record label, Earache Records, soon becoming one of the best selling bands on that label. Their current label is Metal...
, Cerebral Fix
Cerebral Fix
Cerebral Fix are an English thrash/death metal band formed in Birmingham in 1986. They became members of the UK thrash metal and death metal scenes through four albums, three of which were on major labels before finally disbanding in 1993...
and GBH.
A second demo session was recorded in 1989, and was followed shortly by the bootleg live album Bloodbath in the Acid, recorded at Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
Memorial Hall and pressed on the Headache label. However, No Fuckin' Cover had secured Cancer a deal with Vinyl Solution
Vinyl Solution
Vinyl Solution was a record label of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the offshoot of an independent London based record store based at 231 Portobello Road . The label signed many unconventional acts in a number of uncompromising genres, such as skatepunk thrash band The Stupids, Britcore rappers...
and in Winter 1989 the band recorded their debut album, To the Gory End
To the Gory End
To the Gory End is the first album by Cancer. The cover artwork was censored in some countries, with only the band's name and album title left on a black background...
, over four days at Loco Studios in Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
. The record was then mixed by Scott Burns
Scott Burns
Scott Burns is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Football career:Originally from Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League, Burns was drafted by the Collingwood Football Club with the 90th selection in the 1992 National Draft...
at Morrisound Studios
Morrisound Recording
Morrisound Recording is an audio recording facility in Temple Terrace, Florida, owned and operated by brothers Jim and Tom Morris. Since its opening in 1981, Morrisound has been responsible for the popularization of genres such as heavy metal and death metal, but of course caters to every genre of...
, with backing vocals from John Tardy
John Tardy
John Tardy is an American vocalist who is best known for his work with the death metal bands Obituary and Tardy Brothers. He is the brother of Donald Tardy who is the drummer of Obituary.- References :...
(of Obituary
Obituary (band)
Obituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph...
) added to the track "Die, Die", and released in April 1990. The band followed it up with tours with Obituary and Deicide
Deicide (band)
Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987. Their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, are ranked second and third place in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.-As Amon/Carnage :...
.
Cancer started preparing material for their second album at Reel to Reel Studios in Telford with engineer Tony Higley, and in February 1991 flew out to Florida to begin recording Death Shall Rise
Death Shall Rise
Death Shall Rise is the second album by the British death metal band Cancer. It was released in 1991 by Vinyl Solution.- Track listing :All tracks by Cancer# "Hung, Drawn and Quartered" – 3:25# "Tasteless Incest" – 4:54# "Burning Casket" – 4:02...
with Scott Burns at Morrisound. They enlisted the skills of James Murphy (of 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 Obituary) on lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, and Deicide's Glen Benton
Glen Benton
Glen Benton is an American heavy metal musician best known as the vocalist and bassist for the death metal band Deicide, although he prefers not to use the 'death metal' terminology. He is also the studio vocalist for Vital Remains, and has performed live with them on a few occasions...
to provide backing vocals for lead track "Hung, Drawn and Quartered". Released in April 1991, the album would go on to gain a certain amount of notoriety owing to being banned in Germany, whose state body for censorship of works likely to be dangerous to youth considered that the cover art would incite youngsters to incite violence upon each other. The album would also subsequently go on to be placed #27 in Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer is an extreme music magazine published by Dark Arts Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It is released every four weeks with thirteen issues a year and features a 'Fear Candy' covermount CD, a twice yearly 'Fear Candy Unsigned' CD, and a double-sided poster.-1993:Terrorizer published its first...
s Top 40 Death Metal Albums. Throughout May, Cancer toured throughout the UK supported by Unleashed
Unleashed (band)
Unleashed is a Swedish death metal band that was formed in 1989 by Johnny Hedlund. Viking culture, recollection of a pre-Christian world, and Norse folklore are common themes found in the band's songs. A number of their recent songs also contain references to J. R. R. Tolkien.-Biography:Unleashed...
and Desecrator, then returned to USA for an appearance at the 1991 Milwaukee Metal Festival and further touring in support of Deicide and Obituary.
James Murphy left the band in December 1991 to form Disincarnate and was replaced by Barry Savage. This was followed by further touring throughout the USA, Mexico, Israel and Europe. The band recorded their third album, The Sins of Mankind
The Sins of Mankind
The Sins of Mankind is the third album by Cancer. It was released in 1994 by Vinyl Solution. The cover painting is Armageddon by Joseph Paul Pettit.-Track listing:# "Cloak of Darkness" – 3:58# "Electro-Convulsive Therapy" – 3:54...
, with Simon Efemey
Simon Efemey
Simon Efemey is an English record producer most noted for his work with metal and hard rock groups, including Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, Obituary, Amorphis, Deceased and The Wildhearts...
at the Windings in Wrexham in December 1992. Following its release through Vinyl Solution in June 1993, Cancer embarked on a European tour with openers Cerebral Fix
Cerebral Fix
Cerebral Fix are an English thrash/death metal band formed in Birmingham in 1986. They became members of the UK thrash metal and death metal scenes through four albums, three of which were on major labels before finally disbanding in 1993...
. Problems arose when drummer Stokes was involved in an accident when his motorbike collided with a British Telecom van, leading to the band enlisting Nicholas Barker
Nicholas Barker
Nicholas Howard Barker is an extreme metal drummer .- Biography :He was the original drummer for British metal band Cradle of Filth, playing on the first three albums. After leaving in 1999, he joined Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir...
(later of Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
and Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
) for further live shows.
In 1994, Cancer left Vinyl Solution to sign to major label East West
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
for worldwide distribution, one of the first death metal bands to do so. They entered Great Linford Studios in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
, again with Simon Efemey at the helm, to record their fourth effort, Black Faith
Black Faith
Black Faith is the fourth album by Cancer. It was released in 1995 by East West and distributed worldwide. The record received decidedly mixed reviews; some compared the Black Faith material to mid-period Metallica, whilst others considered it a "poor man's Heartwork".-Track listing:# "Ants "# "Who...
; the record was later mixed at Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's Brittania Row Studios. Despite Stokes allegedly using a human thigh bone for percussion on "Temple Song", the record received decidedly mixed reviews; some compared the Black Faith material to mid-period Metallica, whilst others considered it a "poor man's Heartwork
Heartwork
Heartwork is the fourth album by metal band Carcass, released through Earache Records in 1993. The album was recorded at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool between May 18 and June 21, 1993....
". Following a short European tour with support act Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, Cancer decided to call it a day, citing "a lack of faith from certain key individuals in the industry and Major Label Bullshit".
Final line-up
- John Walker (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
/guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) - Dave Leitch (guitar)
- Adam Richardson (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Carl Stokes (drums)
Former members
- James Murphy (guitar)
- Barry Savage (guitar)
- Rob Engvikson (guitar)
- Ian Buchanan (bass)
Discography
- No Fuckin' Cover (demo, 1988)
- Demo #2 (demo, 1989)
- To the Gory EndTo the Gory EndTo the Gory End is the first album by Cancer. The cover artwork was censored in some countries, with only the band's name and album title left on a black background...
LP (Vinyl SolutionVinyl SolutionVinyl Solution was a record label of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the offshoot of an independent London based record store based at 231 Portobello Road . The label signed many unconventional acts in a number of uncompromising genres, such as skatepunk thrash band The Stupids, Britcore rappers...
, 1990) - Death Shall RiseDeath Shall RiseDeath Shall Rise is the second album by the British death metal band Cancer. It was released in 1991 by Vinyl Solution.- Track listing :All tracks by Cancer# "Hung, Drawn and Quartered" – 3:25# "Tasteless Incest" – 4:54# "Burning Casket" – 4:02...
LP (Vinyl Solution, 1991) - The Sins of MankindThe Sins of MankindThe Sins of Mankind is the third album by Cancer. It was released in 1994 by Vinyl Solution. The cover painting is Armageddon by Joseph Paul Pettit.-Track listing:# "Cloak of Darkness" – 3:58# "Electro-Convulsive Therapy" – 3:54...
LP (Vinyl Solution, 1993) - Live Death split LP with SuffocationSuffocation (band)Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
, Malevolent CreationMalevolent CreationMalevolent Creation is a death metal band originally hailing from Buffalo, New York. Moving to Florida in 1987, they became a part of the emergent local death metal scene, landing a deal with Roadrunner Records...
and ExhorderExhorderExhorder is an American thrash/groove metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are credited as the purveyors of the groove-oriented thrash sound later made famous by bands such as Pantera, White Zombie, and Machine Head. Initially active from 1985 to 1992, they have since reformed in...
(RestlessRestless RecordsRestless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...
, 1993) - Black FaithBlack FaithBlack Faith is the fourth album by Cancer. It was released in 1995 by East West and distributed worldwide. The record received decidedly mixed reviews; some compared the Black Faith material to mid-period Metallica, whilst others considered it a "poor man's Heartwork".-Track listing:# "Ants "# "Who...
LP (East WestEast West RecordsEast West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
, 1995) - Corporation$Corporation$Corporation$ is the fifth album by Cancer, released after the band reunited in 2004.-Track listing:# "Oil" – 4:19# "Witch Hunt " – 2:33# "Dethroned Emperor " – 4:51...
EP (Copro, 2004) - Spirit in Flames LP (Copro, 2005)