Penthouse (aka: 50 Tons of Black Terror)...

Maybe better known in the USA as 50 Tons of Black Terror thanks to a legal run in with Penthouse magazine, the London based band was formed in the mid-nineties by members Charlie Finke (vocals), John Free (guitars), Graham Flynn (bass), and Tim Cedar (drums). Although their moniker elsewhere is much shorter, I much prefer that name over the longer one that reminds me of something that a cheesy metal band would go by. Names aside though, Penthouse was an extremely overlooked bluesy noise-rock band during their time together, never getting much attention over here as to be expected despite being on a fairly large label at the time for US release.

Their first album Gutter Erotica appeared originally 1997 through World Domination, which wastes no time establishing the core of the bands sound with a startling blast of screeching guitar and the blare of a harmonica to go along with Finke’s maniacal vocals. The album was re-issued a year later both in the UK and USA through Beggars Banquet, with the USA release under the 50 Tons name and along with it a name change for the album as well to Demeter. The USA re-issue however features a four song remix EP, which for me doesn’t do much but might be interesting for some out there. I’m never really into remixes as a whole. Anyway, the band followed that up with their second full-length My Idle Hands in 1999 released through Beggars Banquet in both the UK and USA. At this point they swapped out bassists, losing Flynn and replacing him with Esme MacDonald. Following that, their third and final album would appear in 2002 titled UNT (Unprecedented National Tragedy) through their own Vanity label in the UK and through Space Baby here in the USA. The album would see the band diving further into their sludgey garage inspired sound resulting in what may be their best effort. All three albums are pretty solid though in my opinion, full of twisted guitar and crushing low end.

These days almost all of the members can be found doing other projects. The band broke up not long after the release of UNT. Charlie Finke can be found playing in The Cesarians and Blood Safari. Graham Flynn does a solo thing simply called Flynn. Tim Cedar went on to form the wonderfully noise ridden Part Chimp. John Free can be found in Gin Palace.

Gutter Erotica:
Penthouse – Voyeur's Blues [MP3]
Penthouse – Road Rash [MP3]

My Idle Hands:
Penthouse – Detunabilly [MP3]
Penthouse – Giant Haystacks [MP3]

UNT:
Penthouse – Creatures vs. People [MP3]
Penthouse – Baby Must Die [MP3]

For those that don’t already own these and are looking to pick up an album or two, practically everything that Penthouse/50 Tons of Black Terror put out can be had by heading over here. I suggest doing it if you like what you hear posted above, much more where that came from.