Acrimony was a Welsh heavy metal band from Swansea who was active during the 1990s. Releasing their debut album in 1994, they are regarded as the pioneers of stoner metal in the United Kingdom, and an important influence upon the scene.[2][3]

Acrimony
OriginSwansea, Wales, United Kingdom
GenresStoner rock,[1] doom metal
Years active1991–1999
LabelsGodhead Records, Game Two Records, Peaceville Records, Leaf Hound Records, Shiver Records<music for nations>
MembersDorian "Dexter" Walters
Stuart O'Hara
Matthew Lee "Roy" Davies
Darren Ivey
Paul "Mead" Bidmead
Past membersDavid "Dai" Jones
Websiteblackmetal.com/~mega/acrimony/

Career

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Although the band never achieved mainstream success, during their career they received much critical acclaim – they were nominated for the Kerrang! Best Newcomer award and earned top review ratings.[4][1] Acrimony have maintained a cult following in the British metal scene, their records reportedly selling for vast sums as collectors' items.[5] AllMusic described their musical style as a "powerful blend of Black Sabbath’s heavy metal riffery, Hawkwind's space rock excursions, and Blue Cheer's fuzzed-out psychedelic feedback."[6] In 2019, Kerrang! listed Acrimony as part of "20 bands who didn't get the respect they deserved".[7]

Post split

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Since their split in 1999, Stu O'Hara went on to play guitar in Iron Monkey before the outfit disbanded, then he went on to form the Dukes of Nothing with other ex-Iron Monkey members and members of Orange Goblin. Lee 'Roy' went on to form Swansea-based crust, power violence six-piece Black Eye Riot along with Stu and Dorian. Darren and Mead formed the 9ine, and Mead has his own trance project Yeti. Lee 'Roy' Davies now plays in the heavy metal band Lifer. In 2008 Stu, Mead, Darren and Dorian re-grouped and wrote tracks as Sigiriya, releasing an album called Return to Earth in 2011. A change of vocalist came in Matt "Pipes" Williams for 2013 release Darkness Died Today. Lee 'Roy' formed Woven Man and released their debut album entitled Revelry (In Our Arms) in January 2019.

In November 2019, Acrimony's three albums, Hymns to the Stone, Tumuli Shroomaroom and Bong On - Live Long! were reissued in 3CD digipack and remastered edition by the Dutch music label Burning World Records.[8]

Band members

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  • Dorian "Dexter" Walters – vocals
  • Stuart O'Hara – guitar
  • Matthew Lee "Roy" Davies – guitar
  • Paul "Mead" Bidmead – bass
  • Darren Ivey – drums

Former members

  • David "Dai" Jones – Bass

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Label Notes
1994 Hymns to the Stone Godhead Records Debut album
1997 Tumuli Shroomaroom Peaceville Records Reissued in 2007 on Leaf Hound Records
2007 Bong On - Live Long! Leaf Hound Records Compilation album
2019 The Chronicles of Wode Burning World Records 3CD with all 3 albums in digipack and remastered editions

EPs and Singles

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Year Title Label Notes
1992 A Sombre Thought None EP, self-released
1993 Solstice Sadness Shiver Records EP
1995 The Acid Elephant Godhead Records EP, later included on Bong On - Live Long!
1996 Motherslug Game Two Records Split-single with Iron Rainbow
2003 Acrimony/Church of Misery Game Two Records Split-EP with Church of Misery, later included on Bong On - Live Long!

Compilation appearances

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  • 1996 – "Earthchild Inferno" on Dark Passages Volume II, later included on Bong On - Live Long!
  • 1997 – "Bud Song" on Burn One Up
  • 1998 – "Find The Path" on Stoned Revolution
  • 1998 – "O Baby" on Peaceville X, later included on Bong On - Live Long!
  • 1999 – "Tumuli Shroomaroom" on Rise 13: Magick Rock Volume 1
  • 2001 – "Satellite 19" on 21st Century Media Blitz Volume II

References

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  1. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Acrimony Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. ^ "BBC Wales – Acrimony". BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007. Acrimony were formed in Swansea in 1991 and were arch exponents of the stoner/metal/psych crossover...
  3. ^ Leafhound Records. "Leafhound Records – Acrimony biography". Leafhound Records. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007. [Acrimony were] among the first exponents of the UK stoner scene…
  4. ^ "BBC Wales – Acrimony". BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007. Their second album Tumuli Shroomaroom was critically acclaimed, scooping the top mark five-Ks review in Kerrang! magazine. They were nominated for the Kerrang! Best Newcomer award in 1996.
  5. ^ Leafhound Records. "Leafhound Records". Leafhound Records. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007. ...originals have become collectors items, changing hands on Ebay for phenomenal sums.
  6. ^ "Biography Acrimony". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  7. ^ Kerrang!. "20 BANDS WHO DIDN'T GET THE RESPECT THEY DESERVED". Kerrang!. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Acrimony - The Chronicles Of Wode". Burning World Records. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
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