(c’89-92) Julian “Jules” Wathen (Bass), Jon Croxford (Drums), Dave Durban (Guitar) and Justin ‘Atticus’ Morley (Guitar / Vocal).
This thrash metal band were formed by Wathen, Croxford and Morley – three Guildford Grammer students – in late ’89. In early 1990 they released “Temple of Insanity”, their 1st cassette demo, which carried 3 tracks: “Assault and Battery”, “Necronation”, and “Temple of Insanity”.
The Thrash Metal Guide’s review describes the demo as “offer[ing] quite cool progressive classic melodic thrash which also wins points from the expressive boosted bass performance and the plentiful intriguing melodic walkabouts which on “Necronation” easily reach heights worthy of pillars like Fates Warning and Dream Theater. Still, this is thrash pretty much, and once the lads settle for a more moshing stroke, they can rank with the biggest bashers out there, like the less restrained rhythms on the title-track show only too well, the not very rehearsed, unemotional clean vocals not contributing much to the appetizing demanding picture which should have received a more fulsome, full-length release baptism.”
It was a year after their formation before their first gig at All Saints Church Hall, New Haw, on 3 Nov ’90, supporting Backlash and Alternative Law. On 3 May ’91 the band were at the West End Centre, Aldershot supporting Warp Spasm along with Severence, and Asteroth. By June ’91 Durban had joined the band in time for “Madhouse”, their second demo released later in ’91. In the Spring of ’92 the band played at Tormead School’s 6th Form Ball, shortly after which, on 24 April ’92, they headlined a gig at The Cricketers, Westfield and were supported by Faced Out.
Morley may have moved North and joined Manchester folk metal combo Andraste.
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