Relapse Records just announced the signing of cult UK doom/sludge outfit Iron Monkey. The band originally formed in Nottingham, England in 1994 and released two full-lengths (1997's self-titled debut and 1998's Our Problem), a live album and a split with Church Of Misery before splitting in 1999. Now, almost two decades later, the band has decided to reform as a trio with co-founding members S. Watson on bass and J. Rushby on guitar/vocals. They're rounded out by new member S. Briggs (Chaos U.K.,) who also played with original Iron Monkey vocalist J.P. Morrow in the short-lived sludge supergroup My War.

Iron Monkey has entered Moot Group studios in Nottingham to record a new album with Johnny A. Carter (ex-Pitchshifter). The album will consist of eight tracks plus a cover song and a late summer/early fall release is expected via Relapse Records.

The band commented on the reformation and new material: "We're older, more cynical, more isolationist. Musically, we're more aggressive, more focused - a direct assault. We intend to take what is rightfully ours, usurp the scene, then crush it's skull."

Source:	label.relapse.com
Band profile:	Iron Monkey