Warfare (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Newcastle upon Tyne , England |
| Products | Heavy metal music |
Warfare was a heavy metal group originating from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, established in 1982 and active until their split in 1993. They emerged during the concluding phase of the new wave of British heavy metal movement.
History
The band was formed in 1984 by drummer and vocalist Paul "Evo" Evans, guitarist Gunner, and bassist Falken, aiming to create a distinctive fusion of metal and punk styles. Prior to Warfare, Evo had been involved with punk outfits such as Major Accident, The Blood, and Angelic Upstarts. That same year, Warfare issued two singles and an EP, which included a rendition of "Two Tribes" originally by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Their first full-length album, Pure Filth, was produced by Algy Ward from Tank and featured a guest appearance by Cronos of Venom on one track.
In 1985, Warfare released the EP Total Death as part of the soundtrack for the movie Metal City. Their live shows were infrequent and often marked by disorderly conduct. Later that year, they unveiled their sophomore album Metal Anarchy, produced by Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead, who also contributed alongside guest guitarist Würzel. During sessions for their third album, bassist Falken departed; Cronos temporarily took over bass duties until Zlaughter became the permanent replacement.
The 1986 release Mayhem Fuckin' Mayhem, produced by Cronos—who also lent vocals on a cover of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me"—was succeeded by a single covering Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love". Their notorious live antics, including an incident interrupting a Metallica performance, caused their label Neat Records to postpone the album's release until 1987.
Their fourth studio effort, A Conflict of Hatred (1988), included contributions from Mantas of Venom and introduced keyboardist Lazer. Following this period, Warfare signed with FM Revolver Records. The 1990 album Hammer Horror, inspired by classic British horror cinema, initially appeared on FM Revolver but was later re-recorded with additional material by Evo for Silva Screen Records due to dissatisfaction with the original release.
Warfare dissolved in 1993. Afterward, Evo collaborated with Algy Ward and Würzel on Warhead’s 1995 album. In 2002, Sanctuary Records issued a compilation titled Metal Anarchy – The Best of Warfare. More recently, in 2021, a comprehensive 3-CD set named Songbook of Filth was released, showcasing significant collaborations including those with Pete Way and Fast Eddie Clarke.
Musical style
Warfare’s sound has drawn comparisons to bands like Tank, Motörhead, and Venom, whose members played key roles in producing and contributing to early Warfare records. Chris Ward from OneMetal described the track "Burn Down the King's Road" on their debut album Pure Filth as reminiscent of Venom performing a cover of The Clash. Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic characterized the album as akin to a slower-paced Motörhead infused with punk elements.
According to Urban "Wally" Wallstrom of RockUnited, Metal Anarchy was recorded in nearly live conditions over three days, emphasizing its raw and aggressive nature. Ward noted that the song "Living for the Last Days" aligned well with Motörhead’s 1986 release Orgasmatron. Wallstrom also praised Evo’s interpretation of Barry McGuire’s protest song "Eve of Destruction" featured on the reissue. He described the album as embodying "1980s metal/punk/thrash," blending influences from Motörhead, Tank, Venom, Raven, and Bad News.
The Thrash Metal Guide highlights that A Conflict of Hatred marked a progression toward more sophisticated thrash metal arrangements. On Hammer Horror, Warfare incorporated orchestral elements, doom-inspired heavy riffs, atmospheric passages, female vocals on "Phantom of the Opera," and eerie keyboard melodies—features that later played a role in shaping symphonic doom and gothic metal styles.
Members
- Evo – drums, vocals (1982–1993)
- Falken – bass guitar (1982–1985)
- Gunner – guitar (1982–1990)
- Zlaughter – bass guitar (1986–1993)
- Lazer – keyboards (1990)
- Algy Ward – guitar (1991)
- J.J. Bedsore – lead guitar (1991)
- Fred Purser – keyboards (1991–1993)
- Mantas – guitar (1992–1993)
- Pete Way (2015)
- Fast Eddie Clarke (2015)
- Nik Turner (2015)
Discography
Studio albums
- Pure Filth (1984, Neat Records)
- Metal Anarchy (1985, Neat Records)
- Mayhem, Fuckin' Mayhem (1986, Neat Records)
- A Conflict of Hatred (1988, Neat Records)
- Hammer Horror (1990, Silva Screen Records)
Compilations
- A Crescendo of Reflections (1992, Kraze Records)
- A Decade of Decibels (1993, Bleeding Hearts Records)
- Metal Anarchy – The Best of Warfare (2002, Sanctuary Records)
- The New Age of Total Warfare (2011, Southworld Recordings)
- The Songbook of Filth (2021)
- The Lemmy Sessions CD (2023)
- The Lemmy Sessions Gold Vinyl LP + Bonus 12" (2025, Cadiz Music & Digital)
EPs
- Noise, Filth and Fury (1984, Neat Records)
- Total Death (1985, Neat Records)
Singles
- "Two Tribes" (1984, Neat Records)
- "This Machine Kills" (1984, Neat Records)
- "Addicted to Love" (1987, Neat Records)
Other releases
- Metal City (split VHS featuring Avenger, Venom, and Saracen; 1987, Prism Entertainment)
- A Concept of Hatred (VHS; 1988; self-published)
- Deathcharge (live album; 1991; R.K.T. Records)
- Radio Hell: The Friday Rock Show Sessions (split release with Venom and Raven; 1992; Raw Fruit Records)