Onslaught – Killing The Peace
Thrash was the biggest metal genre in the 80's, and the UK had it's own thriving thrash scene back then, with such metal greats as Sabbat, Slammer, Xentrix and of course – Onslaught. Following two successful albums the band was signed to major label "London Records", a step that proved to be the band's undoing. After the release of 1989's successful, but critically problematic "In Search Of Sanity" the band was no more.
2005 saw this thrash legend reuniting, and then releasing a new album. "Killing Peace" was a true return to form, with vocal duties handled once more by the band's original vocalist, Sy Keeler, and a stellar production by the always busy Andy Sneap. We spoke with the band's guitarist, and co-founder Nige Rocket about things, past, present, and what’s to come for these British thrashers.
Hey Nige, I'd like to start with current events, what shows and festivals did you do lately? Any certain gig better than the rest?
WE’VE BEEN PLAYING MANY SHOWS/FESTIVALS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, ITS BEEN AWESOME. AND EVERYONE ONE WAS GREAT IN ITS OWN WAY. THE 2 THAT WERE EXTRA SPECIAL, WAS BRUTAL ASSAULT IN CZECH REP AND UP FROM THE GROUND IN GERMANY. THERE WERE SOMETHING ELSE.. HUGE CROWDS, GREAT REACTIONS FOR ONSLAUGHT.
I understand you have a new DVD out, what can you tell us about it?
YEAH, IT WAS FILMED IN POLAND BACK IN MARCH, AND PRODUCED BY METAL MIND PRODUCTIONS. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THE DVD, THE WHOLE THING IS VERY WELL DONE. IT WAS A COOL GIG TOO.
Your latest release, Killing Piece, is in my opinion one of the most surprising thrash releases of recent years, as you managed to capture the feel of your classic albums, while not sounding dated at all, how did you manage to create such a good combination?
THIS WAS OUR INTENTION AT THE BEGINNING, TO MAKE A NEW ALBUM THAT WAS 100% CLASSIC THRASH METAL BUT THAT SOUNDED MODERN AND RELEVENT IN 2008, ANDY SNEAP DID A GREAT JOB IN HELPING US ACHIEVE OUR GOAL.. WE HAD THE SONGS AND HE HAD THE PRODUCTION SKILLS, IT COULD NOT HAVE WORKED BETTER.
Do you think it resembles your first 2 releases, or is it very different?
YEAH, DEFINITLY, IT HAS ALL THE AGGRESSION OF THE FIRST 2 ALBUMS AND MORE, ITS ALSO QUITE A DARK AND ANGRY ALBUM. IT CONTAINS MANY OF THE TRAITS FROM OUR EARLY DAYS. WE WANTED IT TO CLOSE TO THOSE ALBUMS, BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS 2007, SO THERE WILL ALSO BE DIFFERENCES
How much do you think that Andy Sneap's contribution was crucial to the album?
AS FAR AS THE SONG ARRANGEMENTS ETC GO, ANDY HAD NO INPUT INTO THAT WHATSOEVER, BUT IT WAS THE SOUND OF THE ALBUM THAT HE REALLY MADE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION. WE KNEW WHAT KIND OF SOUND WE WANTED AND HE DELIVERED PERFECTLY. IT COULD NOT BE BETTER.
What's the idea behind the album's name and cover art?
I DISLIKE RELIGION AND EVERYTHING IT STANDS FOR IMMENSELY, ‘KILLING PEACE’ IS EXACTLY WHAT RELIGION IS DOING. RELIGION HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO FIND SOLACE AND BELIEF IN, BUT IN 2007 ALL IT DOES IS CAUSE CONFLICT ON A GLOBAL SCALE.THE ARTWORK DEPICTS EVIL EMPOWERING AND POSSESSING THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, WHO IS A BROKEN DECAYING FIGUREHEAD.
Now back in history, do you recall a certain time when you cay say that the band was born?
YEAH, I HAVE VAGUE MEMORIES. I REMEMBER OUR FIRST REHEARSAL IN A SCHOOL ROOM PLAYING PUNK COVERS IN 1983, IT WAS PRETTY BASIC AS NONE OF US COULD REALLY PLAY, BUT IT WAS AT LEAST A START.
How did you begin your connection with "Metal Forces"?
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY I WAS WRITING TO BERNARD DOE WHEN HE WAS FIRST STARTING THE MAGAZINE OFF. METAL FORCES PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN HELPING ONSLAUGHT GROW AND ACTUALLY HELPING US GET A DEAL WITH MUSIC FOR NATIONS, THE LEAST WE COULD DO AS RECOGNITION FOR THIS WAS TO WRITE A SONG DEDICATED TO THEM.
Where you surprised at the success of your first albums at that time?
I GUESS WE HAD TO BE SURPRISED AT THE SUCCESS OF POWER FOM HELL BECAUSE IT WAS OUR FIRST EVER RELEASE, WE NEVER KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THE RECORD COULD BE, THE RESPONSE WAS AMAZING AND REALLY SET A PLATFORM FOR US TO MOVE ON TO GREATER THINGS WITH THE FORCE ALBUM.
You state your show at Dynamo festival at that time as very memorable, why is that?
IT WAS BY FAR OUR BIGGEST SHOW AT THE TIME OVER 8000 PEOPLE, IT WAS THE FIRST EVER DYNAMO FESTIVAL AND THE CROWD WERE ABSOLUTELY INSANE, THIS WAS 1986 AND I DON’T THINK ANYONE HAD REALLY WITNESSED CROWD PITS ETC AT THIS TIME. IT WILL DEFINITELY NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
I remember reading that you sacked Jason Stallard at the time following one gig in Bristol, what's the real story behind that?
WE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH JASE, HE COULDN’T HANDLE GOING ON STAGE UNLESS HE WAS SO DRUNK OR HIGH WHICH OBVIOUSLY AFFECTED HIS PLAYING. SO WE HAD OUR SOUND TECH RECORD HIS GUITAR TRACK, IT WAS NOT GOOD, BASICALLY HE WAS JUST PLAYING ANYTHING, IT DID NOT RELATE TO OUR SONGS IN ANY WAY.. SO WE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO FIRE HIM.. IT WASN’T NICE AS HE IS A GOOD FRIEND.
What did you think of landing the deal with London Records?
WHEN WE FIRST SIGNED TO LONDON WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA TAKE THE BAND UP SEVERAL LEVELS, WE WERE SO FUCKIN HAPPY, BUT THINGS SOON STARTED TO GO BADLY WRONG. LOOKING BACK IT WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF OUR CAREER.
Your biography states that Sy was replaced by your record label and producer Stefan Galfas, how could such a thing happen?
THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF BEING SIGNED TO A MAJOR LABEL WHO HAD NEVER WORKED WITH A METAL BAND BEFORE. THEY THINK THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE ONSLAUGHT WORK. THEY WANTED CONTROL, THEY WANTED TO TELL US HOW TO MAKE GOOD MUSIC, THEY WANTED TO DECIDE WHO WAS IN THE BAND. IF WE DIDN’T AGREE THEY WOULD HAVE PULLED THE PLUG.. WE HAD SIGNED A 6 YEAR DEAL AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO STAY FOR 6 YEARS AND NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE A RECORD. TOTALLY FUCKIN WRONG, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO. EVENTUALLY IT KILLED THE BAND.
I understand Sy's next band, Mirror Mirror, actually supported you later on, was the break up amicable?
SY TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE WAS VERY COOL ABOUT THE SITUATION AND WE REMAINED FRIENDS. WE FELT WE OWED HIM A MAJOR DEBT, SO THAT’S WHY WE OFFERED HIS NEW BAND THE SLOT ON THE TOUR, IT WAS THE VERY LEAST WE COULD DO TO TRY AND HELP HIM BACK UP THE LADDER.
Why did you choose Steve Grimmet as the replacement, a vocalist so different than Sy?
WE DIDN’T ACTUALLY CHOOSE STEVE GRIMMETT, THE RECORD COMPANY HAD CHOSE STEVE GRIMMETT. THEY WANTED TO MAKE ONSLAUGHT A MORE COMMERCIAL SOUNDING BAND IN THE HOPE OF COMPETING WITH METALLICA AND IRON MAIDEN. THEY JUST DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THEY WERE DOING.
In Search Of Sanity was your most successful album, but was heavily criticized too, what are your feelings about the album today?
GREAT SONGS, WRONG VOCALS, WRONG PRODUCTION.. IF WE WERE LEFT TO MAKE IN SEARCH OF SANITY OURSELVES THE RECORD WOULD HAVE BEEN 100% HEAVIER 1005 MORE AGGRESSIVE. THE DEMOS WE RECORDED FOR THAT ALBUM SOUNDED BRUTAL.
Why did the band break up after that?
THE RECORD COMPANY DESTROYED THE SOUL OF THE BAND.. IT WASN’T FUN ANYMORE, WE HAD BECOME A BUSINESS MACHINE.. AND THEN WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DROP US BECAUSE WE HADN’T REACHED SALES FIGURES OF 2 MILLION, THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW.. WE DIDN’T HAVE THE HEART TO PICK OURSELVES UP.
I understand that you and Steve played in a band called Frankenstein, what can you tell us about it?
IT WAS SHIT.. HAHAHA.. ITS SOMETHING WE’D RATHER PUT BEHIND US, IT WAS THIS EXPERIMENTAL/FUSION TYPE THING.. NOTHING COOL.
How did you join Hora-Kain later?
WELL, TONY O’HORA WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND ASKED ME TO PLAY SOME GUITAR ON HIS ALBUM, IT WAS REALLY NOTHING MORE THAN THAT.
What led to the re-releasing of the band's albums?
TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST I HAVE NO IDEA, IT WAS ALL DONE WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE OR PERMISSION. BUT HELL, IT GOT US BACK TOGETHER IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY SO I AINT GOINNA KNOCK IT.
How did you guys decide to reform? Did you keep in contact with all the band members?
IT ALL STARTED BECAUSE OF THE RE-RELEASED ALBUMS, IT MADE US REALISE THAT PEOPLE STILL WANTED TO HEAR ONSLAUGHT, ALL ACROSS THE WORLD PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT US ONCE MORE AND THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO RETURN.
WE WERE ALL IN TOUCH IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, STEVE WAS THE INSTIGATOR OF US PICKING UP OUR INSTRUMENTS ONCE MORE,WE HAVEN’T LOOKED BACK SINCE.
A lot of thrash bands reform, but don’t release a new album (Xentrix are one example), what led you to do that?
BECAUSE WE FELT WE HAD SOMETHING CREDIBLE TO OFFER, WE DIDN’T COME BACK FOR NOSTALGIA, WE’RE BACK FOR REAL AND TO DO SOME DAMAGE.. THERE’S A LOT OF ANGER LEFT FROM THE EARLY DAYS AND WE WANNA CHANNEL THAT INTO NEW MUSIC.. AND AGGRESSIVE SHOWS.
What now? Do you see the band continuing to tour? Record a new album?
WE ARE GETTING SO MANY TOUR OFFERS RIGHT NOW WE JUST CANT FIT IT ALL IN, ITS GOING CRAZY. WE’RE GONNA PLAY AS MANY SHOWS AS WE CAN BEFORE WE START WORK ON THE FOLLOW UP ALBUM TO ‘KILLING PEACE’. WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!
