Years active 2003–present | ||
Origin Peterborough, United Kingdom Genres Heavy metal, Thrash metal Labels SPV Steamhammer, Transcend Media Group Associated acts Sabbat, English Dogs, Fields of the Nephilim, Crass | ||
The More I See are an English Heavy metal band from Peterborough, United Kingdom. They combine elements of progressive metal, thrash metal, alternative rock and punk.
Contents
Formation
The More I See were formed by guitarist Graham 'Gizz' Butt, formerly of Punk Metal band English Dogs and the Prodigy.
Formed in Cambridgeshire in 2002 with vocalist Chad Sunderland, guitarist Gavin King (also of Fields of the Nephilim), bassist Lee Churchill and drummer Alex Cummins. They met up with Munich-based Manager and promoter Michael Schurr who got them signed to German Metal label SPV . They recorded their debut album, The Wolves Are Hungry in the south of France with Christian Carvin in December 2003. Andy Sneap mixed the album in February 2004 and the album was released later that year.
Personnel changes
To speed the musical pace up, both live and on record, drummer Spike T. Smith, previously of Sacrilege, The Damned & Conflict and Morrissey, was recruited to the line-up. The band then signed a new deal with maverick label Transcend Records, and recorded their follow-up The Unholy Feast.
Just before Christmas 2008, Chad Sunderland quit. Shortly after Lee Churchill decided that he no longer wanted to continue either. They were replaced in January 2009 with Peter Ellis on vocals and James Cluer on bass. The line-up changed again in Dec 2009 to James Cluer on guitar, Harri Wright on drums and Drew Markwick on bass. After touring the third album "Tread the darker path" through 2010 and 2011, Peter and Gizz agreed it was best they parted company and James Cluer took over as lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist. Peters vocal style deemed unsuitable for The More I See more progressive approach when Ellis preferred a more traditional British metal sound.
In 2012, the band recorded a fourth album with brand new material written by Gizz and James. The album is planned to be released in early 2013 and the band plan to return to touring from September 2012. After a seven-year split Michael Schurr has returned to manage The More I See again after Butt and Schurr rekindled their friendship on Facebook.
Touring
Since the band started they have played all over Europe to between 20 and 80 people. They have toured with Stuck Mojo, Exodus, Pro-Pain and, more recently, Warrior Soul.
Releases
Their debut album, The Wolves Are Hungry received rave reviews, but major European tour plans never came to fruition, sales were disappointing and the band’s relationships with their record label, manager and agent fell apart.
June 2009 saw the band release their second full-length album The Unholy Feast a month after giving the entire record away with Metal Hammer magazine.
Butt described The Unholy Feast to Metal Hammer magazine as "Part Cannibalism, part Vampirism and part UK government" and goes on to say "When we play live we just bang from one song into another and aim to just pummel the energy into the crowd and that's an old-school thing I like."
The band's third album, Tread The Darker Path, was released on Transcend Records and reached number 5 on the HMV metal pre-sales and number 10 on most popular new releases.