Band : Panic Cell
Album title : Crazy
Label : Undergroove Records
Distributor : /
Release date : 18/11/2010
Release : CD-single

Gee...what gives guys? Having us update on a band through the release of a 1-track single, when we didn't even get the CD for review?

Anyway...so here I was at the website's headquarters, browsing through the “to do” box...and seeing this release I went “Hey, is this band still around?”, and set it apart for a review. You see, I'd reviewed the band's debut full-length (favourably, I might add) The Bitter Part Of Me, issued through Casket Music/ Copro Records in February 2004, and the website even published an interview with the guys! So I was kinda looking forward to getting re-acquainted with the guys...to call the feeling I had when finding out what I'd taken home was only a 1-track single a “disappointment”, can therefore be seen as one of the understatements of the decade. Ach well, let' get over it, and give you a short history (the one I provided with my review of the band's debut album was lost when the website computer suffered a crash in late 2004, I'm afraid...and so's the interview) of this now rather popular British band.

The Kent county based quintet's history actually goes back to the early '90s, when singer/bassist Luke Bell, guitarists Harjeet Virdee and Kelly Downes, and drummer Lee Turner first became rather popular in the London Underground scene with the band Exile and later (same line-up but different musical direction due to changed scene) even more with Downtrodden. In fact, the latter band became a favourite at such now high profile venues as Marquee and Astoria, and a major label signing seemed like the logical step, but somehow it was all a case of “at the right place, but the wrong time”. The band split towards the end of the last millennium, but reformed in late 2002, deciding to take a new direction in both writing and the line-up. You see, this time Luke wanted to concentrate on his singing, leaving an available free spot at the bass position...which was soon taken by Bobby Town (had played with Lee n the past, and also in Big Guns, with whom Exile had shared stages). After settling in their new musical direction (best described as a Groove Thrash Metal), the boys recorded and released their debut EP Rockphilia in 2003, and through it got in contact with Copro, whom had the band record extra songs at the label's own Philia Studios with Dave Chang for their above mentioned full-length debut.

After that things become a bit blurry, as not much info is available on the internet about the period...but when the band returned with their sophomore album What Doesn't Kill Us in August 2007 through the somewhat higher profile label Ant Hill Records. Meanwhile the guys had apparently worked themselves up in the world, and had set a start of a globe-trotting career as musicians. Somewhere along the line (and I'm not even sure when it happened) Turner was replaced by new drummer Rob Hicks. It's with him the band recorded their third album Fire it Up, which was released to critical acclaim on April 5 of this year through Undergroove Records. Working up to the release, the band was announced a European tour (as support) with Life Of Agony, The Damned Things, Anthrax, and 3 Inches Of Blood to coincide with the album's release. They played the Hammerfest II, and then the Download 2010 event twice (once as headliners), opened the main stage at Sonisphereat Prague (for DevilDriver, Anthrax, Megadeth, Alice In Chains, and Metallica), played the biggest show in their career at Poland's Przystanek Woodstock to over 250,000 people, did the Lokerse Feesten in Belgium (opening for Alice Cooper), and did further European dates with Anthrax, Ill Niño, and Life Of Agony. To say they've had a busy Summer...

So, the single, and the reason for its release. Seen as it was released on October 18, it was probably meant in the first place as a radio promotion for the fact that the band was to play at London's KCLSU (with Blaze Bayley) on the 28th...at Stoke-On-Trent's Victoria Hall (with Gun) on the 30th...and at Leeds' Damnation Festival on November 6. Regrettably, all those events are now in the past. But what matters is that the band's been put to your attention again, right? In case you needed to listen to some of the band's music, check out what's posted at myspace.com/paniccell. I reserve the right for a more elaborate review of PC' music until I get more than just the one song to listen to!!! And just out of spite (joke, you know), you get no rating!

Tony.