Seems very very strange sitting down and writing about Axegrinder for the first time since we split 14 years ago. I still have very mixed feelings on the band but it has to be said most of the memories are fond ones. Forgive me if some of the dates and facts are wrong, memory loss and weight gain are just a few joys of growing old (disgracefully I hope).

Most of the band had been knocking around the London anarchist scene throughout the early 80's, myself and Matt had limited success in a Crass / Conflict influenced band called Stone the Crowz, releasing two demos, a split single and a track on the Conflict funded 'We won't be your fucking poor' compilation. Jel was playing in a band called The Proudhons who were heavily influenced by The Mob, a real melodious gem of a band. Steve then joined them and totally obliterated any hope of a tune with his raw buzz saw heavy as fuck guitar playing. Through mutual friends both bands ended up playing a benefit gig and I was immediately both disappointed in the Proudhons new sound and totally encapsulated by the new big 'fuck off' guitar riffs.
After a few drinks we knew both bands were finished and made plans to join forces and form Tyrants of Hate.

Initially T.O.H were a fast as fuck endless rant against everything and everyone with Icons of Filth being our complete idols (a totally unpunk thing to admit to having idols back then). After one riotous gig supporting Anti Sect where due to crowd trouble (fuelled by cheap cider and glue) half the band ended up in the pit fighting, we all felt that the whole anarchist punk movement had imploded and we quickly put T.O.H out of its misery. My only regret today is that no tapes exist of the band because as a 38 year I would love to hear the youthful venomous spite just once more.

Axegrinder came together around 1986 and although still very much a political band our musical tastes were now leaning towards punk bands that were experimenting with metal riffs, faves being Anti Sect, Anti System and Amebix. We recorded the 'Grind the Enemy' demo in '87 decided it should be packaged with a booklet and patch (our little homage to Crass). The booklet contained short pieces wrote by the band outlining our political beliefs and feelings on the current punk/metal debate. It was self-distributed and the initial run 400 quickly run out leaving tape traders to do all the hard work for us?thanks guys. Hammy from Peaceville picked up on the tape and we were invited to record a track for the 'A Vile Peace' compilation. At the time the band were going through a hiatus. Not really knowing what we wanted to sound like or what message we wanted to convey (if any).

We struggled with our musical tastes, which were now fully-fledged metal: Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Voivod, Slayer etc, how were four inept punks going to get that good musically? The resulting track 'Where Evil Dwells' was a mismatch of old punk riffs mixed up with badly played heavy metal?. not pretty.

Luckily the answer was just around the corner, with the surge of break beat punk/metal. Bands like Napalm Death; Brutal Truth etc were fast becoming popular and with all originators, spawned a thousand wannabe bands. Never wanting to be part of the crowd we quickly realised we wanted to go in the opposite direction and slow everything down?we had found our niche.

(Source: axegrinder.fetishdesktops.com/New_html/Bio.htm)