Zero Cipher
| Zero Cipher | |
|---|---|
 Zero Cipher | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Farnham, England |
| Genres |
Metal[1] Alternative |
| Years active | 1998–2009 |
| Labels |
Null Void, Deck Cheese (2007) Anticulture (2004-6) Copro (2002-4) |
| Website | www.zerocipher.net |
| Members |
Duncan Williams Barnaby 'DJ Force X' Whattingham Ryan Harris Lewis Wheeler |
Zero Cipher were a metal/rock/alternative[1][2] band from Farnham, Surrey. The band formed in the year 1998 from members of other bands within their local area.[3][4] They played a style of music that fuses metal, rock, and industrial, although they cite wide ranging influences like Carcass, Wham, and Depeche Mode.[5] Googlism describes them as 'noisecore mixed with turntablism'.[6] They broke up in October 2009, citing numerous reasons behind the decision.
Overview
Zero Cipher take their name from a mathematical riddle based on cryptography. They have released albums on Anticulture records, and Deck Cheese records, as well as self-funded releases on Copro records, and their own label, Null Void records. They have played in the past with bands such as Skindred,[7] Stampin' Ground[8] and Breed 77; and have been supported by the likes of Enter Shikari and Bullet For My Valentine.[9] They were the last band to tour with rap/metalcore band One Minute Silence in July 2003,[10] and OMS' singer Yap performs guest vocals on "My Statement of Misintent", a track on their second album "Diary of a Sadist".[11]
Recent news
Zero Cipher have a third album, titled Juggernaut due out in 2009.[12][13]
An early demo from Juggernaut, titled "Fist of the North Star" was released by Metal Hammer magazine in November 2007, to coincide with their appearance at the Hard Rock Hell festival with Cradle of Filth and Twisted Sister[14] - The band have also been featured by Rock Sound, Kerrang and Big Cheese, leading to performances at Kerrang's Scumfest[15] and a European tour with Austrians, 'Spout', including a performance at Rock Im Park festival.[16]
History
Line-up changes
Zero Cipher changed rhythm section in 2003, appointing Ryan Harris of Fony on bass guitar.[17]
Video Controversy
Zero Cipher's video for the track "Stupid People Make Me Angry" was playlisted on Totalrock Radio and Scuzz TV. Subsequent Zero Cipher videos have failed to make such an impact on mainstream music television, with MTV2 turning down the videos for "The Hijack" and "The Thrills, The Kills, The Rapture" because of their depictions of drug use and/or violence.[18] Organ TV, a Public-access television cable TV channel, screened the TV premier of the video for 2005 single "It's No Secret"[19]
Endorsements
Somewhat unusually for an unsigned band, Zero Cipher were endorsed by Marshall amplifiers before ever releasing an album. In 2006, Duncan became endorsed by Vigier guitars, who made him a custom all-black "Indus" model. Duncan subsequently appeared at the London International Music Show in 2008 on the Vigier stage.[20]
Discography
Studio Albums
| Year | Album | Label | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 45 Minutes of FairyTale Endings / 45rpm [21] | Copro Records | 2 June 2003 |
| 2005 | Diary of a Sadist[22] | Anticulture Records | 31 October 2005 |
| 2007 | Diary of a Sadist 2nd Edition | Null Void Records | 7 May 2007 |
| 2009 | Juggernaut | Null Void Records | 31 March 2009 |
Compilation Appearances
| Year | Compilation | Label | Catalogue No. | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Class of 2002[23] | Future Publishing | MHR97/01/02 | "She Loves Me Not" (demo) |
| 2003 | Sound of the Underground[24] | Future Publishing | MHR121/13/03 | "Stupid People (Make Me Angry)" |
| 2005 | Zero Tolerance[25] | Zero Tolerance Magazine | ZTAudio004 | "Kiss and Tell" |
| 2006 | Hard 'n' Heavy Vol. 84[26] | Cyber Press | HNHCD119 | "It's No Secret" |
| 2007 | Hard Rock Hell[27] | Future Publishing | MHR171CD2/11/07 | "Fist of the North Star" |
Other songs
- "Gay Bar" (cover of Electric Six) - was A listed on Totalrock Radio and has been played by Colin Murray on BBC Radio 1.[28]
- "Vitriolic HSF" (cover of earthtone9) - appears on debut album which was released by the same label as the earthtone9 albums, copro records.[29]
Band members
- Duncan Williams − Vocals, guitar
- Barnaby Whattingham - scratch DJ
- Ryan Harris − Bass
- Lewis Wheeler − Drums
Achievements
- Kerrang! - Runner up for Best Unsigned Band 2002. (Runner Up)
- Amplify This - Best British Band 2003. (Won)
- Rancid News - Best New Band 2003. (Won)
References
- 1 2 http://www.allmusic.com/album/r927675 allmusic page
- ↑ "MusicMight :: Artists :: ZERO CIPHER". rockdetector.com.
- ↑ How they formed - record label's page
- ↑ "Nu-Metal: The Next Generation: Amazon.co.uk: Casey Chaos, Joel McIver: 0752187488736: Books". amazon.co.uk.
- ↑ "Zero Cipher : Interview / Spirit of Metal Webzine (en)". spirit-of-metal.com.
- ↑ "Googlism : index.htm?ism=zero+cipher&type=1". googlism.com.
- ↑ "Zero Cipher on tour with Skindred". totalrock.com.
- ↑ [Rock Sound Magazine, Issue 65 Information on Zero Cipher at Uxfest with Stampin' Ground and Knuckledust, written by Ken McGrath]
- ↑ "Information on Zero Cipher with Enter Shikari". totalrock.com.
- ↑ NME.COM. "NME News ONE MINUTE SILENCE TO SPLIT - NME.COM". NME.COM.
- ↑ "SoundClick artist: Zero Cipher". SoundClick.
- ↑ "Totalrock site discuss Zero Cipher 3rd Album Title". totalrock.com.
- ↑ Zero Cipher discuss third album plans at Hard Rock Hell festival with Komodo Rock
- ↑ Zero Cipher demo on Metal Hammer CD for Hard Rock Hell Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Zero Cipher at Kerrang Fest Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Zero Cipher tour dates with Spout
- ↑ Zero Cipher biography with information on line up change in 2003 Archived 23 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ NME Video page of banned Zero Cipher video
- ↑ Organ TV screen Zero Cipher video.
- ↑ "Artist details Williams Duncan / Zero Cipher - Vigier". vigierguitars.com.
- ↑ Allmusic Zero Cipher Album 2
- ↑ Allmusic Zero Cipher Album 2
- ↑ "Class of 2002 by Various Artists (Compilation): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com.
- ↑ "Sound of the Underground by Various Artists (Compilation): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com.
- ↑ "Zero Tolerance: ZTaudio004". last.fm.
- ↑ "Hard 'n' Heavy Vol. 84 by Various Artists (Compilation): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com.
- ↑ "Hard Rock Hell by Various Artists (Compilation): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com.
- ↑ BBC. "BBC - Radio 1 - Colin Murray - Tracklisting". bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Zero Cipher - 45 Minutes of Fairytale Endings (album review ) - Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com.