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WIKIPEDIA.ORG
ENTRY: Along with original guitarist Mark Gibson, bassist Terry Landry and drummer Drew Gauley, M.V.M. would very quickly establish themselves within the Canadian underground music scene. Within their first 6 months of existence the band would record 1 EP (“Burn” – released on Epidemic Records in 1992) and 1 full-length album (“Turbine” – still unreleased to this day) and film 2 promotional videos: “3 Year Plan” and “Bastard Child”. At this time the band would also collaborate with techno group BTK (“Bastard Child – Techno Storm Mix”) and begin recording sessions with soul singers adding entirely new dimensions to their sound. Over the next year the band would add second guitarist Dave Rose and keyboardist Stacey Hoskin to the lineup. However, non-stop touring and often intense writing sessions would lead to a dramatic line-up change that would see both guitarists Gibson and Rose replaced by Jason Cuddy (previously of Mundane) and Darren Quinn. Gauley also left after many tours (later joining Cuddy’s former band Mundane). Eventually, M.V.M. would be joined by drummer Dean Bentley. In the late summer of 1993 the band would record their second EP and major-label debut “State Voodoo/State Control” (released in 1994 for RCA Records). Produced by Paul Raven (of Killing Joke, and later Prong) the EP title was a play on the popular Discharge track “State Violence / State Control”. Musically however, the EP saw the band move into heavier and darker territory exploring some of the more traditional industrial-metal areas as more successful artists of the era, like White Zombie and Ministry. The EP also featured remixes from several underground producers including Danny Saber (U2). In late January of 1994 the band would relocate to Chicago to record their first full length album “Suffersystem”. Produced by Critter and Howie Beno at Chicago Trax studios, the album was a wall-of-noise mix of industrial-metal (“Threat By Example”), Sabbath influenced stoner rock (“Motionless”, “Sunspots”), hardcore (“Bastard Is As Bastard Does”) hip hop / rock (“Inside These Walls”) and techno / dance music (“Defense Mechanism”). The album also featured several guest appearances most notably Roddy Bottum (Faith No More), Leslie Rankin (Silverfish / Ruby) and Wesley Willis. On completing the album in the late spring, the band would immediately set out on what would prove to be a punishing non-stop tour schedule that would see the group perform in the neighborhood of 500 shows. Tours with Carcass, Life of Agony, Skrew, Fight (Rob Halford) saw the band performing mostly to metal crowds who were both extremely receptive and occasionally hostile to the groups liberal use of electronics and drum loops. However, it was the band’s tour with Marilyn Mansonin early 1995 that really helped to give M.V.M. international momentum. The “Portrait Of An American Family Tour” would last over 2 and half months and make headlines in every city that it rolled through. Both bands would occasionally become subjected to death threats, bomb scares and overzealous American right wing organizations who were hellbent on stopping the tour at every turn. While back home in Canada for a short break after the Manson tour, Suffersystem won a Juno Award (a Canadian Grammy) for “Best Hard Rock Album Of The Year”. At this time, the band also released many singles and EPs featuring remixes by acclaimed artists as Biohazard, DJ Muggs, KMFDM and Pigface. Several more months of touring followed with the band members all nearing exhaustion and frustration. Sewell at this time asked RCA to have the Chemical Brothers or Liam Howlett (The Prodigy) produce the next album, RCA declined asking the band instead to consider Butch Vig. Sewell, disillusioned with RCA’s (mis)understanding of the band asked to be released from their recording contract. RCA in an act of kindness obliged and the 2 parted company. Finally in late summer of 1995, the band members would find themselves looking to move on to new things. The never-ending tours and rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows had obviously done some damage, and the band was “put on hold” for the next year. During this time away from M.V.M. Sewell would work on electronic based music under the name def.con.sound.system. and Cuddy, Landry and Quinn would form the metal / hardcore group Semi-Auto Reflex. Keyboardist Hoskin would move to British Columbia and drummer Bentley would make the rounds with several more indie rock slanted bands. 1996 would see the band return to action joined by Soulstorm members Nick Sagias (keyboards) and bassist Chris Harris. The band released 1000 numbered copies of “Pirate Satellite”, an "officially leaked demo" of 5 new tracks. These new songs would see the band moving away from the heavier roots and more towards a rock-meets-triphop-punk vibe. “Distanced” would be the most radical departure from the band’s earlier work, but would showcase a new depth to their song writing that would include strings, intricate arrangements and dynamic sonic textures. Not long after however, the band announced that they were officially breaking up, and on October 4, 1996 they played their farewell show at the Volcano Club in Kitchener, Ontario. Less than a year later, while on tour with def.con.sound.system. in 1997, Sewell was offered a record deal by Dr. Dream Records (a subsidiary of Polygram / Mercury) who suggested that the group use the Monster Voodoo Machine name. Ironically, at the time def.con.sound.system. featured Sewell, Cuddy, Sagias, Harris and occasionally Quinn and Bentley, so there was no hesitation and plans were set in motion for a new M.V.M. album. As the group began demo’ing new material, Sewell rediscovered his love of guitar rock and made the decision to record the album without the use of samplers, keyboards and drum loops. The resulting album “Direct Reaction Now!” features several def.con.sound.system. songs reworked into a rock format (“Dragon Style”, “Every Filthy Angel”, Color My Soul Grey”) some new more hardcore influenced numbers (“Gimme A Riot”, Crossroads”) along with the distortion-laden, country-esque “Rats Eye View”. Overall though, the album is a sonic mess, underproduced and lacking the M.V.M signature sound and “vibe”. A valiant attempt, but one that misses the mark and left many old fans feeling indifferent to this new “rock” direction. The “Direct Reaction Now!” album was released in early summer 1998 just as Dr. Dream Records found themselves being shut down due to the Polygram / Universal Records merger. The band had just been invited to play the side stage on the Ozzfest Tour that year (side note: M.V.M. were the first Canadian band to participate in the annual Ozzfest Tour!) and hit the road with a new level of uncertainty hanging over their heads. Joining the group for the Ozzfest tour were Mundane frontman Vitor Rebello on drums, and Nick Sagias on bass (Chris Harris had moved to guitar after Darren Quinn had left the group a month earlier). With little hype and promotion around the album’s release, and with the band members feeling pessimistic about the future of the group, the next few months would ultimately take their toll on M.V.M. After a few short tours with Queens of the Stone Age, Sevendust and some high profile one-offs, the band would play their final show in Montreal during a freezing cold blizzard on a Monday night. Only a very small audience would see M.V.M play for the very last time. One week later Sewell along with drummer Bentley would hit the recording studio as DAMN 13. A high energy punk / metal band who’s sound falls somewhere between Black Flag, The Hellacopters and Black Sabbath. The band would stay together for the next 8 years and release one critically acclaimed full-length album “Black Heart Northern Soul” (Distort, 2005) before disbanding in 2006. Most recently Sewell has formed the Toronto dub-punk band AUTOMATIC DUB RIOT with a number of longtime childhood friends. He runs STEREO DYNAMITE a record label (The Creepshow, The Matadors, Keepin' 6) and music marketing company. As of June 2007, Sewell has started RIOT ROCK MANAGEMENT and now manages the bands LACUNA COIL (Century Media Records) and THE ARTIST LIFE. Jason Cuddy would go on to play with Sagias in Soulstorm for a while before forming the Southern Rock-influenced SCUZZY. Darren Quinn would play with THE DAY AFTER a hip hop / metal hybrid featuring Canadian hip hop superstar Michee Mee. However, in 2004, Cuddy and Quinn would again join forces in REDEEMER a full on metal band who’s sound can be compared to Gojira, Down and The Haunted. Bentley has recently spent time rotating between ALL SYSTEMS GO!, DAMN 13 and C’MON. Hoskin is now recording electronic/ambient/breakbeat music under the name of PILGRIMOMEGA, and also working as a composer in the film and television industry. While history may not have been so kind to the legacy of Monster Voodoo Machine, the band’s genre-bending influences can still be heard today in many of today’s metal, hardcore, hip hop and dance artists. JUNE 2007: Taking everyone by surprise, in June 2007 the classic SUFFERSYSTEM line-up (Sewell, Cuddy, Quinn, Landry and Bentley) made the announcement that they have been writing a new album and will be playing live again starting this August. One Toronto tour date (Aug. 9th) has so far been announced.
MONSTER VOODOO MACHINE 2007
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