Holocaust

Biography

Holocaust are a Scottish heavy metal band founded in 1978 and based in Edinburgh.
The band's lineup is John Mortimer (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Wallace (Drums), Steve Walker (Guitar), Jonny Hall (Guitar) and
Craig Shortel (Bass). The original lineup featured guitarists John Mortimer and Ed Dudley, vocalist Gary Lettice, bassist Robin Begg and drummer Nick Brockie. In 1983, guitar player Ed Dudley left the band, forming and releasing an album under the moniker Hologram. Holocaust was one of the Scottish bands in the new wave of British heavy metal scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s, deviating from the more commercial new wave music of the day, and combining earlier metal with the tempo and attitude of punk rock. The name alludes to a nuclear holocaust; Mortimer felt that "when someone hears us, it should be like a nuclear bomb going off".
The John Mortimer-led Holocaust incorporated many progressive metal, thrash metal and post-punk influences into its sound, releasing complex pieces such as the "Sound of Souls" EP and concept album Covenant×Covenant12 September 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Leper's Progress4:062Salt Heart6:403Return to Dust7:294Paradox0:375The Battle of Soaring Woodhelven16:366Valley of Megiddo6:037Mount Thunder5:208We Shall See Him as He Is6:129Alexander9:2410The Infinite2:19. The band's three-piece lineup has remained the same since 2003, releasing the EP "Expander×Expander19 April 2013 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Expander4:352Shine Out5:163Observer One2:23" and the album Predator×Predator2 December 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Predator3:012Expander4:323Can’t Go Wrong With You5:504Lady Babalon6:045Observer One2:246Shiva5:317Shine Out5:128Revival5:589What I Live For5:49 in 2015, and most recently the album "Elder Gods×Elder Gods18 April 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Elder Gods5:402Children of the Great Central Sun4:363Ishtar9:254Observer Two1:455Eon of Horus6:096Astaroth6:257Solaris5:068Benedictus3:319Natural State5:22" in 2019.
Holocaust's song, "The Small Hours", was covered by Metallica in 1987 and released on their The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited EP, and reappeared on their 1998 compilation album Garage Inc.
In 1996, Holocaust recorded a cover of Metallica's "Master of Puppets" for the compilation Metal Militia: A Tribute To Metallica II.

Albums

The Nightcomers (1981)
Steal the Stars (1983) released under the name 'Hologram'
No Man's Land (1984)
The Sound of Souls (1989)
Hypnosis of Birds (1992)
Spirits Fly (1996)
Covenant (1997)
The Courage to Be (2000)
Primal (2003)
Predator (2015)
Elder Gods (2019)
Luna (T.B.C)

EPs and singles

"Heavy Metal Mania×Heavy Metal ManiaJuly 1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAHeavy Metal Mania4:07B1Love's Power3:13B2Only as Young as You Feel4:05" (1980, 7-inch, 12-inch)
"Smokin' Valves" (1980, 7-inch, 12-inch)
Live from the Raw Loud 'n' Live Tour (1981, 7-inch)
Comin' Through (1982, 12-inch)
Heavy Metal Mania '93 (1993, CD)
Expander (2013, CD)

Compilations

NWOBHM '79 Revisited (1990)
Metal Militia: A Tribute To Metallica II (1996)
Smokin' Valves: The Anthology (2003)

Videos

Live from the Raw Loud 'n' Live Tour (1981, VHS; 2004, DVD)

Cover versions

Metallica covered the song "The Small Hours" (as above).
Gamma Ray covered the song "Heavy Metal Mania×Heavy Metal ManiaJuly 1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAHeavy Metal Mania4:07B1Love's Power3:13B2Only as Young as You Feel4:05" on their 1996 live album Alive '95. There was also a studio version released as a bonus song with their 1995 album Land of the Free. In 2013, Gamma Ray recorded the song "Death or Glory" for their EP "Master of Confusion".
Six Feet Under covered the song "Death or Glory" from The Nightcomers album on their 1997 Warpath record.