Primevil

Primevil formed as a fleeting hard rock unit in Indiana, featuring lead singer Dave Campton alongside guitarists Larry Lucas and Jay Wilfong, bassist Mark Sipe, and drummer Mel Cupp, with Moe Whittemore adding studio synthesizer parts. Most members had scarcely left their teenage years behind when the group tracked its only full-length release, Smokin' Bats at Campton's, during 1974. The sessions took place at 700 West Studio in New Palestine, Indiana, yet without any label support the record received nothing beyond localized Midwest airplay upon first appearing. Its raw fusion of blues-inflected hard rock and metal, laced with subtle prog and psych touches, later cultivated a devoted audience among contemporary stoner rock collectors, who traded scarce original pressings online for substantial sums and ultimately spurred a long-delayed compact-disc edition in 2006.