Brighton has a rich history as a town full of creativity and the arts. The heavy music scene there is one of the strongest in the country, with a plethora of bands having sprung from its close knit DIY music community to break big both nationally and abroad. Ill In Pain are one of the latest bands to emerge from the town, where they have already gained notice in a short space of time through their extremely visceral uniting of hardcore punk, black metal and grind.
The duo’s debut EP Serve is a bludgeoning assault on the senses, whilst carrying the weight of a strong message about ideological statements of working rights, the Western political landscape, carnism, and the misinformation and subsequent mess of each subject. Musically, their sound is utterly relentless, so to find out more about how their rabid cocktail of musical extremity came together, we’ve asked them to compile a list of influences. From black metal legends to hardcore flagbearers, read on to gain an insight into one the UK scene’s hottest prospects.
Serve will be released digitally and as a limited edition cassette run via Astral Noize Records on 30/03/19. The band will be playing Astral Noize Events’ Seek & Destroy fest on the day of its release.
Charlie:
Dead In The Dirt – Suffer, The Blind Hole
Punishing, furious, frustrated. You can feel the passion and the anger behind the music, and the whole thing sounds great; not too polished, the timings aren’t perfect, but the natural sound brings sincerity into the chaos. Dead In The Dirt are a point of inspiration in all parts of our music, from the pained vocals to the efficient approach to songwriting.
Code Orange Kids – Around My Neck // On My Head, Love Is Love/Return to Dust
Do you want to get off your chair? Now you do. This song doesn’t relax, it doesn’t mess around with dynamics or subtlety – it starts fast, gets faster, and keeps pushing right to the end. Intensity is the foundation of what we want to do, and this song captures that intent.
Full of Hell & Merzbow – Burst Synapse, Full Of Hell & Merzbow
Full Of Hell have never ceased to exceed and obliterate my expectations. Their early music was brutal and impassioned, and has since arced toward a faster and more technical sound. However, they still retain their initial grasp of power in music. When it comes to intensity, atmosphere and musical performance, Full Of Hell are the epitome.
Ollie:
Discordance Axis – A Leaden Stride To Nowhere, The Inalienable Dreamless
The Inalienable Dreamless is a musical reflection of a madman having an existential breakdown. The album is a cathartic, chaotic and beautiful experience. ‘A Leaden Stride To Nowhere’ is the slowest and longest song on the album. Comprised of jagged, biting musicianship, the song’s intensity is something we always aim to emulate in Ill In Pain.
Dragged Into Sunlight – Lashed To The Grinder And Stoned To Death, Hatred For Mankind
I first saw Dragged Into Sunlight supporting Mayhem. I didn’t know who they were prior to the gig and I still think it’s the most terrified I’ve been watching a band. Their live show is so affecting and I didn’t know if I initially liked it because it was so intense. Reflecting on the experience, Charlie and I want Ill In Pain to have that same effect when playing live: to push people out of their comfort zone, to surprise.
Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
This is a diabolical album; an immersion into a dystopian sonic landscape. Mayhem are extreme metal legends, and the dark, nightmarish atmosphere on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is sustained throughout the album to great effect. The speed and intensity of this track creates space for a meditative, trance-like experience, and Attila’s vocal performance always feels wholly original and forward-thinking for the black metal genre.
Serve is out 30th March on Astral Noize Records, click here to pre-order. Seek & Destroy fest (feat. Svalbard) takes place in Brighton on the same day.
Words: David Brand
