Warning (British band)
Warning was a British doom metal band from Harlow, Essex. Founded in 1994 by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Patrick Walker, the band released two albums and is regarded as highly influential on the doom metal sound.[1]
Warning | |
|---|---|
Warning at 2017 Roadburn Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Harlow, Essex, England |
| Genres | Doom metal |
| Years active | 1994–2001, 2005–2009, 2017–2018 |
| Labels | Svart Records, The Miskatonic Foundation, Cyclone Empire |
| Spinoffs | 40 Watt Sun |
| Past members | Patrick Walker Andrew Prestidge Marcus Hatfield Wayne Taylor John Sellings Stuart Springthorpe |
Following the band's breakup in 2009, Walker continued to release music with a new band 40 Watt Sun, which is now a solo project.
Warning briefly reunited in 2017 to perform Watching from a Distance in its entirety at the Roadburn Festival, which was followed by a tour of the United States and Europe.
History edit
Warning was formed by Patrick Walker in 1994 with bassist John Sellings and drummer Stuart Springthorpe. The band released two demo tapes, Revelation Looms in February 1996 and Blessed by the Sabbath in March 1997, which led them to gain underground metal press attention and label interest. Rise Above Records wanted to sign them, but Walker declined because he did not agree with the label's desire to change Warning's image and sound to fit the stoner rock scene.[2]
Warning debuted in 1999 with The Strength to Dream on the Miskatonic Foundation label. With this album, Warning gained a cult status within doom metal circles, but they soon disbanded after their 2001 European tour with Jack Frost. During the breakup, Walker acted in Pixar films and Terry's Chocolate Orange advertisements.[3] Warning reformed with Walker, Springthorpe and bassist Marcus Hatfield to play the Doom Shall Rise festival in Göppingen, Germany from 15 to 16 April 2005.[4]
In April 2006, following a Scandinavian tour with Reverend Bizarre at the start of the year, the band flew to Rosenquarz Studio in Lübeck, Germany, where they recorded their second and final album, Watching from a Distance.[5] The album was critically acclaimed and has been heralded as one of the best doom metal albums of all time. Kerrang! placed it at number one in their list of "The 13 bleakest rock and metal albums ever" and listed "Footprints" in "The story of doom metal in 29 songs".[6][7] Loudwire ranked it 17th in their list of the top 25 doom metal albums of all time.[8] Terrorizer ranked it at No. 55 in its Top 100 Albums of the Decade.[9]
In January 2009, Walker disbanded Warning, stating, "in order to make music that retains some semblance of integrity and wholeness, I realize I need to move on."[10] He formed the band 40 Watt Sun shortly after.[11]
Warning reunited for a performance at the 2017 edition of Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands on 22 April, where they played Watching from a Distance in its entirety. The festival's artistic director Walter Hoeijmakers approached Walker at a Primordial concert in London years before to discuss this reunion, and Walker knew that Roadburn was the only appropriate place to debut the full album set.[12] Soon after, Warning toured the album throughout Europe and the United States, the band's first shows across the Atlantic.[13][14] The band's Roadburn performance was eventually released on a live album in 2021, Watching from a Distance – Live at Roadburn.[15]
Legacy edit
In his 2017 book A History of Heavy Metal, author Andrew O'Neill described Warning as "the best doom band of the bunch", writing, "their 2006 release 'Watching from a Distance' contains possibly the most emotionally affecting song in all of heavy metal – the incomparable 'Bridges'."[16]
Metal Hammer noted the importance of Watching from a Distance: "While the doom world seemed fixated on amps and aping Electric Wizard, [Warning] took its cues from the slow-core vibes of Low and Red House Painters; less riff-based and more about a stripped-back despondency."[3]
Line-up edit
Final members edit
- Patrick Walker – vocals, guitar
- Marcus Hatfield – bass
- Andrew Prestidge – drums
- Wayne Taylor – guitar
Former members edit
- John Sellings – bass (1994–1997)
- Wayne Taylor – bass (1997–1998)
- Stuart Springthorpe – drums (1994–2008)
- Christian Leitch – drums (2008–2009)
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
- The Strength to Dream (1999)
- Watching from a Distance (2006)
Live albums edit
- Watching from a Distance – Live at Roadburn (2021)
Extended plays edit
- Bridges (2010)
Demos edit
- Revelation Looms (1996)
- Blessed by the Sabbath (1997)
Compilations edit
- The Demo Tapes (2011)
- Casting Shadows (2017, complete discography)
Compilation appearances edit
- At the Mountains of Madness CD, 1999 (The Miskatonic Foundation) – features "Cemetery Eyes"
References edit
- ^ "WARNING: Digital Releases from Cappio Records". Metal Temple Magazine. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ The Miskatonic Foundation via Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "The 50 greatest cult metal bands of all time". louder. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Blabbermouth (27 October 2004). "MIRROR OF DECEPTION, WELL OF SOULS Confirmed For Germany's DOOM SHALL RISE Festival". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Interview with B.S.T." doom-metal.com. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "The 13 bleakest rock and metal albums ever". Kerrang!. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "The story of doom metal in 29 songs". Kerrang!. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ DiVita, Joe (8 November 2022). "Top 25 Doom Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Rocklist.net....Terrorizer Magazine..." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Blabbermouth (22 January 2009). "WARNING Split Explained". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "40 Watt Sun (ex-Warning) bring us 'The Inside Room', going on tour (dates & 3 song streams)". BrooklynVegan. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Roadburn Deep Dives: Warning – Roadburn Festival". Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Roadburn Announces 2017 Lineup Featuring Coven, Baroness and Warning -". mxdwn Music. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Warning playing 'Watching from a Distance' on US tour (IO Presents)". BrooklynVegan. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Weaver, James (18 July 2021). "Warning announce new live album 'Watching From A Distance - Live At Roadburn'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ A History of Heavy Metal. ISBN 9781472241450.