Blood

Originally dubbed Coming Blood, the name proved too offensive even for this notoriously chaotic UK ensemble, prompting its members to abandon it in favor of the Blood. The hardcore punk and heavy metal crossover outfit comprised vocalist Bill Sykes, guitarists J.J. Manson and Snake, drummer Mark Brabbs, and keyboardist Phil Butcher. Their sound fused Motörhead-styled power chords with punk’s raw energy and attitude, yielding a March 1983 debut single titled ‘Meglomania’. This blistering, acidic release—delivered at a pace reminiscent of the Damned’s ‘New Rose’—drew approval from both rock and punk audiences alike. Their first full-length effort, False Gestures For A Devious Public, proved equally compelling, its overt humor on cuts such as ‘Gestapo Khazi’ and ‘Done Some Brain Cells Last Night’ never undermining the music’s force. Poor distribution and promotion nevertheless blunted the album’s reach, and subsequent releases could not reverse the setback. Directionless and adrift, the group gradually shed its distinctive edge, settling into the mold of an ordinary heavy metal act.