Miocene, also typeset as , was an English
alternative
Alternative or alternate may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki''
* Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...
band from London.
Early days
Forming in 1998, but consolidating their line-up in 2000, Miocene came to the attention of the manager and promoter Keith Eccles of Keith's Back Yard, and after a series of well-reviewed London shows and a self-organised UK tour with the rockers
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons are an English alternative rock band formed in London, England, in 1999. It consists of Colin Doran (vocals), Larry Hibbitt (guitar, vocals), Andy Gilmour (bass), and Andy Bews (drums).
After releasing ''EpOne'', '' EpTwo'', a ...
, signed to Dante Bonutto's Infernal Records label.
''Refining the Theory''
Miocene's first release with Infernal Records was ''Refining the Theory'' in 2000 (produced b
Dave Chang. This was a compilation of the songs that the band had written to date and was primarily nu-metal in style. It was well received by critics, receiving 4Ks in ''
Kerrang!
''Kerrang!'' is a British music webzine and quarterly magazine that primarily covers rock, punk and heavy metal music. Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication ...
'' and 9/10 in ''
Metal Hammer
''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' featu ...
'' magazines. One song, "Fits Like That", was selected in November 2000 for inclusion on the ''Kerrang!'' cover CD, ''Incoming – The Sounds of 2001''.
This record was supported with a five-date tour with
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...
, an extensive three-month tour with the UK Trip Rockers
Sunna, and the Britpop trio
Crackout, and selected shows with bands such as
Earthtone9,
One Minute Silence
One Minute Silence is an Irish four-piece rap metal/nu metal band based in London, England. The band consists of vocalist Brian 'Yap' Barry, from Templemore, County Tipperary, guitarist Massimo Fiocco from London, drummer Martin Davies, and ...
,
Raging Speedhorn
Raging Speedhorn are a British extreme metal band formed in Corby, Northamptonshire in 1998.
Career
Raging Speedhorn were formed in August 1998 from the merging of the bands Soulcellar and Box. The band quickly established itself as a maj ...
and Charger; and a headline tour supported by Porcelain Roach.
''Cellular Memory''
Influenced from
Squarepusher
Thomas Russell Jenkinson (born 17 January 1975), known professionally as Squarepusher, is an English electronic musician, record producer, bassist, multi-instrumentalist and DJ. His music spans several genres including drum and bass, IDM, a ...
and
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972 in San Jose, California, San Jose, California), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ and record producer. His debut studio album, ''Endtroducing.....,'' was released in 1996.
He uses l ...
, the band released a downbeat EP called ''Cellular Memory'' in 2002. The record was hailed as a brave departure by ''Kerrang!'' and ''
Rocksound
''Rock Sound'' is a British magazine that covers rock music. The magazine aims at being more "Subculture, underground" and less commercial, while also giving coverage to better-known acts. It generally focuses on pop punk, post-hardcore, metal ...
'', and Miocene toured extensively in support of this record with
SikTh
Sikth (also typeset as SikTh) are an English progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, formed in 1999.
History Early days (1999–2002)
Sikth formed in late 1999, but consolidated their line-up in March 2001. That line-up consisted ...
and The Kennedy Soundtrack.
''A Perfect Life with a View of the Swamp''
Miocene spent three years writing ''A Perfect Life with a View of the Swamp'', which was intended as a culmination and a progression of both previous releases. Featuring 10+ minute progressive metal pieces, as well as short spoken word pieces and long electronic instrumentals, the album was released on Corporate Risk Products in 2005. The album received positive reviews in the press,
but before the album could be toured, the bands' bass guitarist left and the album was never toured.
On 10 April 2006, it was announced via the band's
MySpace
Myspace (formerly stylized as MySpace, currently myspace; and sometimes my␣, with an elongated Whitespace character#Substitute images, open box symbol) is a social networking service based in the United States. Launched on August 1, 2003, it w ...
page that Miocene had disbanded.
Discography
Studio albums
*''Refining the Theory'' (2000) (Infernal Records)
mini-LP
A mini-LP or mini-album is a short record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A mini- ...
*''Cellular Memory'' (2002) (Infernal Records)
EP
*''A Perfect Life with a View of the Swamp'' (2005) (Corporate Risk Products) album
Live albums
*''Live at Camden Monarch'' (2003) (
bootleg)
References
External links
Official websiteMiocene MySpaceMiocene Discogs
{{Authority control
Rock music groups from London
British progressive rock groups
British nu metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1997
Musical groups disestablished in 2006