Piggy’s Made A Tummy records and Metal Pope present:
With their debut EP: Welcome To The Rectory.
British heavy metal. Where has it gone? Is it there? Where? Over there? No. Where is it? Is that it? I’m not sure. Exactly. It’s as if it has gone altogether. But has it? No. It hasn’t. It’s back. From where? Who knows where it’s been. But it is back. It is. New metal band Borley Rectory are leading this resurgence in heavy British rock, and this month sees the release of their stunning EP Welcome To The Rectory.
Formed in a wood, Borley Rectory is fronted by Blade D. Crabhole, ex-lead singer for US experimental thrash band Cow’s Pineapple whose album I’ve Bought A Sword reached number 5 in the Ugandan experimental thrash charts. Says Crabhole, “It’s about time British heavy metal was back in the limelight. There’s something about British heavy metal that is much better than heavy metal in other countries. It’s heavier. I think Britain is at the forefront of British heavy metal and as an American I’m glad to be involved. Borley Rectory is leading the way, like the horses in Braveheart. Except we ain’t gonna be impaled on wooden spikes, man.”
The other faces behind Borley Rectory include the Brazilian, Torsion Wipe, former drummer with Brazilian band Drumming Band. Wipe describes Borley Rectory’s music similar to “eating a load of noisy ghosts,” and was instrumental in the final track Burn, You Bloody Rectory, Burn. “It’s about fire and burning,” Wipe explained, “and I’ve seen both those things.”
Lead guitarist Archon Smog-Williams, from Seattle, was last seen in grunge outfit Blonde Bum before taking his music to the streets. “I took my music to the streets,” explained the man described by Vox as being ‘as talented as a piece of lightening’, “But I wish I hadn’t taken my music to the streets. I don’t like streets very much. You see those people sleeping on them, don’t you? I’m glad I don’t do that.”
Finishing the line-up is Howard Bunge, Dutch bassist, and one of the first musicians involved in the early black metal scene. His band Crawly Christ were renowned for their innovative style, not to mention their controversial lead singer… an actual ghost. “People simply didn’t believe we had an actual ghost for a lead singer, but it was true,” states Bunge. “Then those same people would come and see us play live. They were so scared they would piss and shit themselves.”
The band’s direction is best summed up by Crabhole: “Borley Rectory was the most haunted house in England. It still is. We draw our influence from that. It’s like our power. A bit like electricity. That’s also our power. And we’re going to use it. We have to - it makes our instruments and microphones work.”
Harry Price, manager
"It's the start of the end."
Title track -
"Its cold outside and you're all alone, step inside of the gates, into the Rectory, demons will take your coat, ghosts will make you a sandwich, and then monks will show you around, watch out for the burning nun"
Don't eat my hearts -
"Don't Eat My Hearts. That's what I don't want you to do. You can tell by the word "don't". Oh you want to eat them do you? Well, here's a song to stop you."
Black Rooster -
"A rooster? Coming to take you to hell? It can't be! It bloody well is! The rooster is at your death bed and he wants to PECKA-PECK-PECK!"
Burn you bloody rectory, burn -
"There's fire everywhere. Up there, down there, even in that bit there! The ghosts are running out… and so should you!"