The Hunger

Originating in Houston during the late 1980s, the five-piece outfit the Hunger merged the synthetic layers of industrial music with the ferocity of alternative metal. Brothers Jeff Wilson and Thomas Wilson, who initially handled both vocals and keyboards, joined bassist Brian Albritton to launch the project as a straightforward dance act. Their first release, the independently produced 1988 single “Shock,” gained traction in nearby clubs. Exposure to Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and similar acts pushed the group toward a harder, more abrasive industrial direction. The follow-up single “Never Again” drew the interest of local producer Stephen Bogle, who first remixed the track and then joined permanently on guitar. With drummer Max Schuldberg on board, the Hunger delivered their initial full-length indie effort, Leave Me Alone, in 1991. After establishing the Gut Records imprint, they issued Grip two years later. Both albums performed strongly in the regional market. Following completion of their third set, Devil Thumbs a Ride, the band secured a deal with Universal, which released the album in 1996. The subsequent Cinematic Superthug, appearing in 1998, marked an even deeper shift into alt-metal territory. Spaceman’s Last Goodbye surfaced three years after that, and Finding Who We Are arrived in 2005.