Unseen Terror
Encyclopedia
Unseen Terror was a British
extreme metal
band formed by Shane Embury
(later of Napalm Death
) and Mitch Dickinson (Heresy
), and played extreme metal
with a technical edge. Their most notable feat took place in March 1988, when they recorded tracks for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
program.
This short-lived, but highly influential group was founded in early 1986 by singer/guitarist Mitch Dickinson and Shane Embury. (Re: The album cover - They were later joined very briefly by Pete Giles (Harmony as One, Scalplock) on bass during the summer of 1987).
Mitch and Shane wrote many songs together as a two piece band during mid 1986. These rehearsal tapes were distributed on an international level via the tape trading network of the time. These tapes caught the attention of Digby Pearson who later founded Earache Records.
In the meantime, the band were invited to contribute two tracks to the compilation LP Diminished Responsibility, a 1987 Thrash compilation album, the group landed a record contract at Earache Records
. The album Human Error was recorded by Mitch Dickinson and Shane Embury as a two piece band during September 1987. After their debut-album, Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris joined the band as singer. By then, Giles was no longer a member of the group as he did not really fit in. The band were invited to a recording session for BBC Radio One legend John Peel, and a one-off performance in Nottingham
with bassist Wayne Aston. Incidentally, Wayne Aston did not appear on the Peel sessions recordings.
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...
extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
band formed by Shane Embury
Shane Embury
Shane Embury is a British bassist and member of Napalm Death.-Napalm Death:Embury is the only member left who has been in the band since the Scum tour, replacing previous bassist Jim Whitley in 1987...
(later of Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
) and Mitch Dickinson (Heresy
Heresy (band)
Heresy were a hardcore punk band from Nottingham, England, formed in 1985 and active until late 1988. They released three albums and recorded three sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show...
), and played extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
with a technical edge. Their most notable feat took place in March 1988, when they recorded tracks for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
program.
History
To set the record straight - The band was not named after the S.O.B track "Unseen Terror". This song from S.O.B came quite a while later. The band was actually named after Mitch was listening to the band SEPTIC DEATH. Here is the story. The song "Terrorain" by this classic band has the lyric "Unseen Death - Terrorain". The Chernobyl disaster was very fresh in the minds of many at the time, and Mitch thought of the term "Unseen Terror", as the radation in the air around the area of the disaster was invisible. It was literally an unseen terror.This short-lived, but highly influential group was founded in early 1986 by singer/guitarist Mitch Dickinson and Shane Embury. (Re: The album cover - They were later joined very briefly by Pete Giles (Harmony as One, Scalplock) on bass during the summer of 1987).
Mitch and Shane wrote many songs together as a two piece band during mid 1986. These rehearsal tapes were distributed on an international level via the tape trading network of the time. These tapes caught the attention of Digby Pearson who later founded Earache Records.
In the meantime, the band were invited to contribute two tracks to the compilation LP Diminished Responsibility, a 1987 Thrash compilation album, the group landed a record contract at Earache Records
Earache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
. The album Human Error was recorded by Mitch Dickinson and Shane Embury as a two piece band during September 1987. After their debut-album, Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris joined the band as singer. By then, Giles was no longer a member of the group as he did not really fit in. The band were invited to a recording session for BBC Radio One legend John Peel, and a one-off performance in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
with bassist Wayne Aston. Incidentally, Wayne Aston did not appear on the Peel sessions recordings.
Band members
- Mitch Dickinson - vocals, guitar, bass
- Shane EmburyShane EmburyShane Embury is a British bassist and member of Napalm Death.-Napalm Death:Embury is the only member left who has been in the band since the Scum tour, replacing previous bassist Jim Whitley in 1987...
- drums - Pete Giles - bass
- Mick HarrisMick HarrisMick Harris commonly known and credited both as Mick Harris or occasionally M.J. Harris, is an English musician....
- vocals
Discography
- Rehearsal demo tape (1987)
- Diminished Responsibility (Comp LP), 1987
- Human ErrorHuman Error (album)Human Error is an album by British band Unseen Terror. It was originally released in 1987, and re-released in 2001, with six bonus tracks.-Track listing:# "Unseen Terror" – 3:34# "Oblivion Descends" – 2:20# "Divisions" – 1:50...
(Album, Earache RecordsEarache RecordsEarache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
, 1987) - Hardcore Holocaust, 1989
- Hardcore Holocaust II, 1989
- The Peel Sessions (12", Strange Fruit RecordsStrange Fruit RecordsStrange Fruit Records was an independent record label in the United Kingdom.The label, established by Clive Selwood and John Peel in 1986, was the primary distributor of BBC recordings, including Peel Sessions....
, 1989) - 21 Years of Alternative Radio One, 1989
- Grind Crusher (Compilation album, (Earache RecordsEarache RecordsEarache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
, 1990) - Human Error" CD Reissue (with bonus tracks), 2001
- Grind Madness at the BBC (3 CD Compilation), 2010