Twins and Desert Storm members Ryan and Elliot Cole have formed an instrumental 2-piece heavy riff machine band, going the name Wall.
Released on 30th August via APF Records (Desert Storm, Video Nasties, Barbarian Hermit), their debut album Brick By Brick is said to be overflowing with unashamed Iommi-worshipping, instrumental, sludge/doom metal. With the band taking inspiration from the first six Black Sabbath albums as well as being influenced by “the undisputed kings of instrumental stoner rock – The much missed Karma To Burn”. Drummer Elliot Cole further comments on some of the other artists they were listening to at the time while writing the album,
“Torche, High On Fire, Elephant Tree, and The Sword were on heavy rotation a lot. I also was listening to a fair bit of Power Trip at the time too. But as well as the rock/metal stuff, we were listening to Godspeed You!, Black Emperor and Radiohead which helped in a way with some of the more spacey and ambient sections on the album”
Like many recent projects Wall was born during lockdown with the two brothers living together in a small flat. With both of them furloughed, this left the duo with little else to do but write music to distract themselves from the boredom of being stuck at home.
Ryan Cole wrote riffs on an unplugged Gibson SG, whilst Elliot tapped out the drum rhythms on his lap. The first time the twins heard how the songs would sound properly was when they were in the studio tracking their initial first two EPs, as they couldn’t arrange a proper rehearsal due to restrictions.
While originally starting out as a side project, Wall began to evolve into a more serious proposition following shows at Bloodstock Open Air, Desertfest London, Masters of the Riff alongside shows with Discharge, Will Haven and European dates in Germany, Czech Rep and Slovakia.
Now following these shows and 2 Eps on APF Records, the next step for Wall is the release of their debut album Brick By Brick. Recorded at Shonk Studios/Warehouse Studios – Oxford, by Jimmy ‘Evil’ Hetherington and mastered by Tim Turan @ Turan Audio, Brick By Brick has been described as “essential listening for any fan of slow, crushing riffs”.
‘Masking My Contempt’ is the first single to be from the album with Elliot noting: “We are really excited to release the debut album Brick By Brick and ‘Masking My Contempt’ is the first new piece of music in about two years (since the Wall Vol.2 EP). The song ‘Masking My Contempt’ starts with a sample from an amusing scene, that is taken from a film we like called American Beauty. The scene is where Lester Burnham blackmails his boss for over a year’s salary. We have said for years that it would make a cool intro to a song, and to kick in with a big groovy riff after it. The title of the song is clearly taken from the sample, and the rest of the track was built around that first riff. ‘Masking My Contempt’ switches between a 6/8 and 4/4 time signature. There are only three riffs in the whole song, and some bluesy slide guitar overdubbed… It’s short and sweet and what we set out to achieve with this first single.”
Brick by Brick is available on CD and digitally the album can be pre-ordered now from here. It features the tracks: ‘Wrath of the Serpent’, ‘Sonic Mass’, ‘Obsidian’, ‘Legion’, ‘Nineteen’ (Karma To Burn cover), ‘Avalanche’, ‘Masking My Contempt’, ‘The Tusk’, ‘Speedfreak’, ‘Falling From The Edge Of Nowhere’, ‘Cirrhosis’, ‘Filthy Doner Kebab On A Gut Full of Lager’ and ‘Electric Funeral’ (Black Sabbath cover).
Wall will play New Cross Inn in London, on 8th August 2024 and you can check out the video to ‘Masking My Contempt’ here at RAMzine.
