I was looking through some of my CD’s near the bottom of one of my racks and I saw Fudge Tunnel and immediately wondered why I hadn’t written anything about them on here. Even worse, I realized I hadn’t listened to them in quite some time either. Needless to say I put on Creep Diets and later spun Hate Songs in E Minor, both of which are fantastic albums. So yeah, I feel ashamed I haven’t brought them up on here before. Like being overshadowed by many of the other albums on my CD rack, the same could be said for much of their actual time together as a band. Eventually they were sort of second fiddle to Alex Newport’s other project Nailbomb with Max Max Cavalera of Seputura fame.

The band was originally formed in 1988 in the UK and after a quick lineup shuffle the band was set with Alex Newport (vocals, guitar), David Ryley (bass), and Adrian Parkin (drums). The group released the 7” Sex Mammoth in 1989 and then followed it with The Sweet Sound of Excess 12” in 1990. Soon after that the band was signed to Earache Records where they released their first album Hate Songs in E Minor in 1991. I have always been in love with the guitar tone on this album. They never quite had that distinct sound to them ever again; however the later albums were almost if not equally great. Hate Songs in E Minor though stands as my favorite album by the band. It’s sludgy, heavy, and completely pummeling. It’s just and an overall bad ass sounding album to put it simply.

Fudge Tunnel followed that up in 1993 with their second album Creep Diets. While still being an awesome record, it was a bit tamer than their debut, however not by a whole lot. Newport was never seemingly happy with the categorization that the band received. Always fighting to not be a metal band or constantly trying to shake the “grunge” label which US music critics had oh so mistakenly tagged them. At one point during their career new found fans of the band even believed that they were from Seattle. Their music never struck me as having any sort of relation to the whole grunge thing; it was just too uncompromising and downtrodden to really fit that bill.

By this point, frustrations with the press and other matters had done the band in. They released The Complicated Futility of Ignorance in 1994, which would be their final album. It wasn’t very well received, however was equally as heavy and relentless as any of their albums. It was obvious though from the album that matters were serious this time around. All the way from the songs to the album title itself, the album is no holds barred lashing out at just about anything it possibly can. Shortly after they split, Earache released In a Word, which is a collection of past singles, etc.

It’s unfortunate the band never really struck it big or was able to be completely be satisfied with their position in all things rock. They did deserve better, or so I think so.

Hate Songs in E Minor:
Fudge Tunnel – Hate Song [MP3]
Fudge Tunnel – Tweezers [MP3]

Creep Diets:
Fudge Tunnel – Grey [MP3]
Fudge Tunnel – Tipper Gore [MP3]

The Complicated Futility of Ignorance:
Fudge Tunnel – Backed Down [MP3]
Fudge Tunnel – Circle of Friends [MP3]

In a Word:
Fudge Tunnel – Sex Mammoth [MP3]

The Sweet Sound of Excess:
Fudge Tunnel – Shit for Brains [MP3]

Some of you might be familiar with Alex Newport as a record producer, as that’s what he did a lot of after Fudge Tunnel. He also formed another band called Theory of Ruin. Adrian Parkin played briefly in Tubesurfer and Dave Ryley ran a record label called BGR for awhile.

You can still find used copies available on Amazon of practically all of their albums. I do suggest picking up Hate Songs in E Minor if it comes down to a choice among them all. Enjoy!

Labels: noise-rock