Doom (British band)

Doom
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1987
Headquarters	Birmingham, England
Products	Hardcore punk music, crust punk music
Parent	Peaceville Records (former label)

Doom is a hardcore punk band from Birmingham, England, originally active between 1987 and 1990. Although their initial period was brief, they significantly influenced the development of crust punk, a style that fuses punk rock with aspects of extreme metal. The band was signed to Peaceville Records and is acknowledged as an early influence on grindcore, receiving notable support from BBC Radio's John Peel.

Formation and Early Years

The band began as The Subverters, featuring Jon Pickering on bass and vocals, Bri Doom on guitar, and Jason Hodges on drums. After Hodges was replaced by Mick Harris, the group adopted the name Doom.

Starting out with a crossover metal approach, Bri and Jon gradually shifted away from heavy metal towards a crust punk sound inspired by Discharge. During this transition, Pickering switched from bass to lead vocals, Pete Nash joined as bassist, and Tony "Stick" Dickens took over drumming duties from Harris. This lineup commenced rehearsals in mid-1987.

1987–1990

At this stage, Peaceville Records invited Doom to contribute tracks for their inaugural compilation A Vile Peace. On 28 August 1987, Doom recorded their first demo with Jim Whitley (from Napalm Death and Ripcord) stepping in on bass due to Nash’s injury. Two of the three songs recorded were included on the compilation.

Following this opportunity, Peaceville requested a full-length album from Doom. The band produced the War is Big Business demo on 27 November 1987, which they sold at shows. In February 1988, they recorded 21 tracks for their debut album War Crimes (Inhuman Beings) at Rich Bitch Studios. Alongside these recordings, they expanded their UK fanbase through extensive touring and released another demo titled Domesday.

Towards the end of 1988, Bri announced his departure for personal reasons but remained long enough to complete the split LP Bury the Debt – Not the Dead alongside Swedish band No Security and the EP Police Bastard. Additionally, Doom recorded two sessions for John Peel’s Radio One show. Bri officially left in April 1989 following a European tour.

Afterward, Doom continued with various guitarists including Dave Talbot—co-founder of UK doom metal band Solstice—but predominantly operated as a trio with Pickering handling both vocals and guitar. This formation stayed active until the band's final dissolution in August 1990. After disbanding, Pickering went on to form Cain and Police Bastard; Stick and Nash joined Extreme Noise Terror, with Stick later moving to DIRT and Nash joining Filthkick and Cain.

Activity in the 1990s

Doom reunited in 1992 featuring original members Bri, Jon, Pete, and Stick. They toured Japan and released a 12-inch record through Vinyl Japan. Following near disbandment again, Bri and Stick continued with new recruits Tom Croft (vocals) from Genital Deformities and Paul "Mall" Mallen (bass). This lineup recorded a split album with Selfish as well as a split 7-inch EP with Hiatus. Mall departed amicably soon after and was replaced by Scoot from Largactyl.

This ensemble produced several releases: the split 7-inch EP Doomed to Extinction with Extinction of Mankind; the double LP Fuck Peaceville; and the EP Hail to Sweden. They also appear in the video Videodoom, filmed during their 1994 European tour.

In September 1995, Scoot withdrew from a Scandinavian tour due to personal reasons; Denis Boardman of Blood Sucking Freaks stepped in on bass before switching to second guitar after the tour. Tom Croft left prior to this tour and was replaced by Wayne Southworth (also from Blood Sucking Freaks). During the tour, Doom recorded the EP Monarchy Zoo at Sunlight Studios.

The lineup consisting of Stick, Bri, Denis, Wayne, and Chris recorded the full-length album Rush Hour of the Gods for Flat Earth Records in June 1996.

Following this period, Bri became involved with Khang (later Lazarus Blackstar), moved to Sweden where he formed Murdered Cop and Gloomy Sunday; Stick joined RUIN; Pickering created Police Bastard and Haxan; Nash founded Corvus.

2000s

On 18 March 2005, lead vocalist Wayne Southworth tragically passed away at his residence as a result of an epileptic seizure.

Following this, the band held a final commemorative performance at the 1 in 12 club located in Bradford, England, performing without Southworth.

In 2013, Doom embarked on their inaugural tour across Canada and contributed the track "Stripped, Whipped & Crucified, Part I" from their forthcoming album Corrupt Fucking System to the compilation 25 Years of Crust, released through Moshpit.

Members

Current members

Brian "Bri Doom" Talbot – guitar (1987–1989, 1992–2005, 2010–present)
Tony "Stick" Dickens – drums (1987–1990, 1992–2005, 2010–present)
Michael "Scoot" Gladok – bass (1992–1995, 2010–present)
Denis Boardman – vocals (2010–present); guitar (1995–2000); bass (1995)

Session members

Jim Whitely – bass (1988)

Former members

Jon Pickering – vocals (1987–1990, 1992); bass (1987); guitar (1989–1990, 1992)
Paul Halmshaw – vocals (1989)
Tom Croft – vocals (1992–1995)
Wayne Southworth – vocals (1995–2005; died 2005)
David Talbot – guitars (1989)
Pete Nash – bass, vocals (1987–1990, 1992)
Paul "Mall" Mallen – bass (1992)
Chris Gascoigne – bass (1995–2004)
Andy Irving – bass (2004–2005)
Jason Hodges – drums (1987)
Mick Harris – drums (1987)
David "Sned" Sneddon – drums

Albums

War Crimes (Inhuman Beings) LP (1988, Peaceville Records)
Bury the Debt – Not the Dead split LP with No Security (1989, Peaceville Records)
The Greatest Invention LP/CD (1993, Vinyl Japan)
Pro-Life Control split LP/CD with Selfish (1994, Ecocentric Records)
Rush Hour of the Gods LP/CD (1996, Flat Earth)
World of Shit LP/CD (2001, Vinyl Japan)
Corrupt Fucking System LP (2013, Black Cloud)

EPs/demos

War is Big Business demo tape (1987, discarded tapes)
Police Bastard 7-inch (1989, Profane Existence) (Surpassed 20,000 units sold; ranks as the second highest-selling crust punk 7-inch after Aus-Rotten's "Fuck Nazi Sympathy")
Lost the Fight 7-inch (1993, Flat Earth/Nabate)
Doomed to Extinction split 7-inch with Extinction of Mankind (1994, Ecocentric Records)
Hail to Sweden 7-inch (1995, Pandora's Box)
Pissed Robbed & Twatted – Live in Slovenia 7-inch (1996, Nuclear Sun Punk)
Monarchy Zoo 7-inch/CD EP (1996, Vinyl Japan)
split 10-inch with Cress (1998, Flat Earth)
Consumed to Death (2015, Black Cloud)

Compilations/re-issues

Total Doom CD (1989, Peaceville Records) Featuring Jon Pickering on vocals; Bri on guitar; Peter Nash on bass; Stick on drums.
Doomed from the Start LP/CD (1992, Vinyl Japan)
Fuck Peaceville double LP/CD (1995, Profane Existence)
Peel Sessions CD (1996, Vinyl Japan)
Doomed Again (2012, Agipunk)
25 Years of Crust digital sampler (2013, Moshpit Tragedy)

Live recordings

Live in Japan 7-inch single (1992, Ecocentric Records)
Back & Gone Double Live CD and DVD featuring live performances (2006, MCR)

Compilation contributions

A Vile Peace LP release (1987, Peaceville Records)
Hardcore Holocaust (The 87-88 Peel Sessions) LP (1988, Strange Fruit Records)
Spleurk! LP (1988, Meantime Records)
Volnitza: The Worst of the 1 in 12 Club Vol. 6/7 double LP (1989, 1 in 12 Records)
Hardcore Holocaust II available on LP and tape (1990, Strange Fruit Records)
Vile Vibes CD edition (1990, Peaceville Records)
Hardcore Resistance cassette release (1991, Heed the Ball!)
Endless Struggle: The Worst of the 1 in 12 Club vol. 12/13 double LP compilation (1995, 1 in 12 Records)
Gay Pride 7-inch single (1995, Rugger Bugger Records)
Aftermath available on LP and CD formats (1999, Aftermath Records)

External links