Discharge

Discharge, a long-running British hardcore band whose sound has been cited as an influence by Metallica and Anthrax, originated in 1977 with vocalist Terry "Tez" Roberts, his twin brother Tony "Bones" Roberts on guitar, bassist Roy "Rainy" Wainwright, and drummer Hacko. As the decade closed, Kelvin "Cal" Morris was brought in as frontman, shifting Tez to drums after Hacko’s departure. The group became the first signing to the new Clay Records label and delivered its debut EP, Realities of War, in March 1980, followed the same year by Fight Back and Decontrol. Tez soon exited, prompting the use of temporary drummer Bambi on the Why 12"; Garry Maloney was installed as permanent drummer in time to record 1981’s Never Again, which reached number 64 on the U.K. charts.

In 1982 the long-awaited first album, Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing, entered the Top 40, after which the band toured the United States and returned to cut the single “State Violence, State Control.” Bones then left to form Broken Bones and was replaced by guitarist Peter “Pooch” Pyrtle for the EP Warning: Her Majesty’s Government Can Seriously Damage Your Health. Following the next 7", “The More I See,” both Pyrtle and Maloney departed; the singles collection Never Again appeared in 1984, and with guitarist Les “The Mole” Hunt and drummer Nick Haymaker the band released “Ignorance” a year later. Maloney rejoined for the 1986 LP Grave New World, which also featured guitarist Stephen Brooks.

After Wainwright’s departure Discharge entered a period of inactivity broken only by occasional live releases from their earlier years. The group resurfaced in 1991 with Massacre Divine and then Shootin’ Up the World. In 1997 the classic lineup of Cal, Bones, Rainy, and Tez reformed, coinciding with the tribute album Discharged that underscored the band’s continued influence. Metallica’s 1998 collection Garage, Inc. included two Discharge covers: “Free Speech for the Dumb” and “The More I See.”

New studio material arrived in 2002 with a self-titled album from the original lineup. When Cal stopped touring, Anthony “Rat” Martin of the Varukers took over vocal duties on the road. The four-piece recorded its sixth album, 2008’s Disensitise, with Dave Caution replacing Tez on drums and returning to the band’s earlier punk sound. The Propaganda Feeds EP followed in 2011, and a split single with Off with Their Heads appeared the next year. In 2014 vocalist JJ replaced Martin while original drummer Tez returned on rhythm guitar, expanding the group to five members for the first time. At the end of 2015 Discharge announced their signing to Nuclear Blast and preparation of a seventh studio album; preceded by the single “Hatebomb,” End of Days was released in May 2016.