Regional Riffs - South Wales Edition
My Mastodon chum Chris recently laid down a challenge to list some bands that we love based on where we live.
Now, coming from rainy South Wales, there are slim pickings to be had in the metal department, but a smorgasbord of guitar pop/rock bands. So, let’s get cracking.
Cool Cymru
During the 1990s and 2000s a movement began that came to be known as Cool Cymru. There was a wave of new bands emerging that would...decades later still stand the test of time.
Now, in the 90s I was emerging from ‘spotty teenager’ to naive young man and I rarely deviated from the metal I had consumed during my acne-filled earlier years. Thankfully, old me has grown to enjoy some of these bands. So, here goes...
Polythene by Feeder
Hailing from Newport, South Wales, Feeder released Polythene in 1997 and would quickly develop a following, as well as pride of place in the soundtrack to Gran Turismo 1, 3 and 4. I’ve picked Polythene because it’s a great album, but also because it has my favourite track by them --Descend.
Word Gets Around by Stereophonics
Heading up to Aberdare, the Stereophonics became one of the most successful bands of that era, helped in no small part by their impressive debut, Word Gets Around.
I still hear tracks like A Thousand Trees and More Life in a Tramp’s Vest being played quite regularly, along with a selection of material that found its way into Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman’s Long Way series.
Everything Must Go by the Manic Street Preachers
The other huge band from round these parts was the Manics. Hailing from Blackwood, Caerphilly these guys really were everywhere in the 90s thanks to Everything Must Go popping off the way it did.
A Design for Life peaked at number 2 in the singles chart, with the title track just behind it in number 5. I still hear them on TV quite regularly in the mid 2020s.
Babylon by Skindred
Another big band out of Newport, Skindred first emerged as Dubwar in the early 90s, Benji Webbe and Co. fused metal with reggae to great effect. They became Skindred towards the end of the millennium.
Unfortunately they passed me by at the time, but they are still plugging away and the research for this post has prompted me to give them a proper airing. Working my way through Babylon right now and it’s banging.
They have a touch of the System of a Down about them in places, but holy moly, Benji’s such a great vocalist.
