Stoking up jealousy in native town

STOKE-on-Trent is not best known for its ultra slow, doom- laden metal but Charger have seen this change in the last two years.

The band's sludge-like metal has earned them respect throughout the UK and hatred in their native northern town, where their success has provoked jealously. "There's nothing there really - a few heavy bands but nothing to get excited about," said Tim.

"They don't like us in Stoke, nobody comes to see us anyway, but we haven't played since supporting Amen.

"There's a bit of jealously amongst the bands, now we have made it." After an EP, debut mini album and countless tours with Amen et al Charger go back two years to Fuzzbastard, their awe-inspiring debut.

The three-track EP, featuring possibly the slowest rock this side of aged industrial crooners Swans, is re-released on Monday January 28, the same day Charger call on Gretsky's Bar, Cardiff International Icerink with Minus and Matter. "There are a lot of people who have the album but want to hear the early stuff," said Tim. "So we have decided to release it with live tracks and demo stuff.

"The stuff we released before Fuzzbastard isn't worth re-releasing; it's good, but me and the guitarist aren't on it."

Fuzzbastard was already written before Tim joined Charger so, he says, the lyrics don't really mean anything.

His screeching vocals accompany pummelling metal played by guitarist Jay, bass player Tom and Paul the drummer.

Swans are definitely an influence as are early Black Sabbath as heard in the vaguely bluesy Immense Mammoth and the epic scale of everything Charger do. Even slower, doomcore bands, such as, Doom and Septic Death have lent them a riff or two, it seems.

"Jay and Tom are into their thrash metal but I like 70s' prog rock like ELP, Yes and Crimson," said Tim. "It's way too difficult to write prog rock songs!" The re-issued Fuzzbastard has added delights: one demo recording and three live tracks, recorded at Total Rock's Total Fest in June 2001.

"The bass player left just before the tours so we went the whole hog with no bass," said Tim. "We got two cabs and a pitch shifter pedal and did it like that. "We had to get a new bass player because the guitarist could only play one string at a time using a pitch shifter, which he wasn't too happy about, and it's heavier with a bass, anyway."

You can hear what he's getting at on the CD. Heaviness is of the outmost importance to Charger, in their present form, more so than the average metal band.

To achieve their threatening grumble the band detunes to drop C. "Most nu metal is in drop D, so we are one lower," said Tim. "But it's the way we play as well.

"We are such a tight band we know how to make it sound sludgy. "It's very slow with sloppy sounding drums.

"Paul is a very talented with his drumming. He knows exactly when to come in and what he can fit in.

"Live, you will never hear exactly the same drumming twice." However, slowness is becoming a drag for Charger who, Tim said, are speeding up a bit now.

Production will be handled by Paul Simms who has the arduous task of getting the best performance from Tim.

"He's great - he really draws it out of you," said Tim. "I have to tell him all the lyrics so he can get inside them and get the best out of me. "He gives you a lot of stick."

The new but one album will mark a departure for Charger. "We've written quite a few songs now," he said. "It's virtually the same vein as Foul Year but a bit more accessible and more violent.

"It will be probably completely different for the next album. "We are getting bored with playing the heavy stuff all the time. "To do the extreme music every night is killing us."

To keep himself interested, Tim has other projects, including a dance-orientated music one with his girlfriend. He does the instrumentation. She sings. They are currently looking for musicians to build a band.

Charger play Gretsky's Bar, Cardiff International Icerink on January 28 with Minus and Matter in support.