When Evil Blizzard emerged from the bowels of Lancashire with their debut album 5 years ago it is fair to say they caused a stir. Put on the front cover of The Guardian, championed by Mark E Smith (who gave the band the money to record their debut album out of his own pocket) their gruesome mix of four bass players blending Psyche, Krautrock, Post Punk and an unmistakable image saw them launched onto magazines and websites worldwide.
But it is only with the release of their new, third, album The Worst Show on Earth (on their own newly-founded Crackedankles Records, released 29/06/18) that the band have finally fulfilled their potential.
Heavy, grinding and yet commercially viable, this new album sees the band truly shake off the ‘gimmick’ tag of the past and stride forward into new musical dimensions. Yes; there’s still 4 basses. But also, piano, cello, samples and a general disregard for the basic concept of a ‘pop song’ with 2 tracks hitting the 10-minute mark.
The introduction of keyboards into their live onslaught (you have seen them live, right? Right?!?) has developed their sound to incorporate techno and industrial elements, with recent single ‘Fast Forward Rewind’ hitting the nation’s airwaves aided by its freak show video shot illegally in an abandoned Victorian Music Hall. Forthcoming single ‘Unleash The Misery’ (released September 18) sees the band channel their inner Glam Rock. The cataclysmic title track features the spoken word of German artist Arne Wald, with whom the band have collaborated in the past on visuals.
The album title came from a less than impressed reviewer. The band, ever self-deprecating, take great pleasure in antagonising their crowd to the point that their dedicated following greet live performances with booing rather than applause. One fan, who has the band logo tattooed on his arm, made his own ‘I Hate Evil Blizzard’ t shirts. ‘People pay money to hate us. Win/Win.’
The band are touring the UK for the remainder of 2018, together with headline slots at Beatherder, Sonic Rock Solstice and Jesstival amongst other festivals, with European and Japanese dates being arranged for the future.
The album is available through Cargo distribution worldwide and has a limited edition of 500 copies on premium weight blood splattered vinyl though it should be noted their last album sold out of its initial pressing in under 90 minutes.
The band have famously only ever rehearsed 5 times…
Evil Blizzard are:
Side – Drums, vocals and percussion
Filthydirty – bass, guitar, vocals, keyboards and sequencing
Prowler – bass
Kav – bass and guitar
Stomper – bass
Blizzpig – glamour and corruption
Check out The Worst Show on Earth below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about their latest release and more!
How has the initial response of The Worst Show on Earth gone down with fans so far?
Side: The feedback we have received has been really positive from fans. I think with the direction of the songs it has taken some fans by surprise. We know they like to say they hate it but we also have had secret words such as ‘it’s my album of the year but don’t tell anyone I said that’. To be honest we feel it’s our most complete recording and getting feedback is always great. It has really been liked by critics too so that can’t be bad.
Filthydirty: We tried to estimate how many we’d sell and pressed 500 copies on vinyl and they all sold in under 90 seconds. Wow. So there’s a picture disc repressing coming out soon.
What is your favourite track from this album?
Side: For myself the song I love to listen to or play is Like A God, closely followed by Unleash The Misery.. It’s a tough call. Both have a great energy and groove.
Filthydirty: Yeah, those two are stand out tracks. But also the title track is a real favourite of mine. When we recorded that one it was pretty much an accidental procedure and listening back was a ‘wow’ moment. We weren’t sure if we should put it on the album, with there already being a 10 minute long track on already, but we put it on anyway. Fortune favours the brave, and all that.
Can you tell us something about the release that no one else knows?
Side: This album started its life from one simple idea and all the songs were based on that. It’s a sort of post punk psyche prog concept album with no concept!
Filthydirty: There’s a totally illegal sample on there from one of the biggest bands in the world. No one’s noticed it yet.
How have the people at Crankedankles made you the band you are today?
Side: The label has been great in supporting our ideas. They have let us get on with being a band and they have taken over the business side of things. They need to put £1000000 into us though and we can all be happy!
Filthydirty: Every decision is made with the band as that’s what the label is all about. The band owns the copyright not the label, and that’s the way it should be. Any profits are split 60/40 in the band’s favour.
Plus we get to choose what shape swimming pool we get built on our own islands in the Caribbean.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Side: This is a hard question because all the members are into different things, I would expect it would have to be Abba, Peter Gabriel, Funakdelic, Black Sabbath and Steel Pulse. Im sure we would get something quite amazing with that. If we had to choose just one it would have to be whoever begs the most!
Filthydirty: Now ABBA are back in action I’d go for them. Imagine the outfits we could all wear! There was chat about Steve Albini producing our last album – we went with Rick McNamara from Embrace again as he did an excellent job previously. And did so again on this one, incredible vision and focus when the band lack both!
But I reckon doing a 2 track improvised album with Albini could be something to look at in the future. Something nice, quiet and laid back..!
What was the first ever gig you went to?
Side: The first gig that I went to was The Wombles as it was for Filthy Dirty and Stomper too before we all knew each other. A lifelong path of dressing up!
What’s the alternative scene like in Preston at the moment?
Side: Preston has always been healthy for music but a place that the industry has always chose to ignore. Currently there are some amazing bands of different genres such as The Common Cold, Fighting, The Capital, Moon and the Beams and Dream English Kid. It is a pity Manchester seems to get all the attention but hopefully this can change.
Will you be touring at all this year to coincide with your latest release?
Side: We have a full tour lined up over the coming months to support this album in Leeds, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester and a gig at the legendary 100 Club in London in September. We hope to see people there who I’m sure will get into the spirit of the night.