Smoke Crack and Worship Satan!
Born in the festering underbelly of suburban Lower Hutt, Backyard Burial was a brutal death grindcore band that attained cult status in the capital and beyond during its 13 year reign of destruction. Backyard was formed in 1998 by Ryan O’Leary (guitars), Mike Flannigan (drums) and the mighty “Blaps Warmonger”/ Matthew Hall on vocals.
Looking to push the level of ruthless intensity up to 11 the three-piece set about recording a set of demos that cast a template for the band’s sonic savagery melding death metal, grindcore and a distinctive low-end groove. These tracks were released as the “Deviance In Society” EP at the band’s debut appearance, a last minute addition to the afternoon show at Punkfest 1999, with the group now featuring new addition Nathan Holmes (Shitfux) on bass.
By the time the new millennium had ticked over, Backyard Burial had expanded again, adding former Killtrain member Aidan McDonald on bass and shifting Nathan to second guitar, establishing the band’s preferred formation. Over the following year Backyard appeared on lineups with a mix of metal and punk acts including a support for Code 13 from Minneapolis, USA, and a return to Punkfest in October.
In April 2001 the band headed to Auckland to record at Rockbottom Studios, the result of which was The $2 PE.EP, released a month later. Given a decent studio to work in and fellow Hutt Valley-ite, recording engineer Nick Cunnigham, as engineer, the EP was a big step up from the band’s demo recordings, showcasing the 5-piece lineup, with songs like “Psychotic Amok In A Morgue” combining horror with a dark humour intensified through samples and the expanded range of Blaps Warmonger’s vocals.
By 2002, the gears were grinding for a full-length assault with a return to Rockbottom Studios. By this time Greg Bassett, formerly of Lower Hutt hardcore band Discenter, had taken over from Aidan on bass. The result of the recording sessions was “Repeat Offender”, an Aotearoa grindcore classic that established Backyard Burial as legendary grindscum within NZ’s extreme metal scene but also (with Auckland best buds Malevolence) embodied a sick sense of humour that allowed both to bridge the punk and metal scenes playing with the likes of Carnys, Padded Cell, mr sterile, If I Had A Gun, Poodles, Gomorrah and Flesh D-Vice.
During the 2000’s and through numerous lineup changes in bass and second guitar Backyard shifted further away from the punk scene with the band becoming a go-to support act for touring acts that included Deeds of Flesh, Pungent Stench, Blood Duster and Napalm Death.
They released a further two albums, Hedonistic Cravings (2005) and Symptoms Of Psychopathology (2009) plus a split CD with Malevolence, 2008’s Grinding Aotearoa. Backyard Burial’s pace had slowed somewhat compared to the hectic period of the early to mid-2000’s and it came to a grinding halt with the tragic murder of vocalist Mathew Hall in February, 2011. The legacy of Blaps Warmonger has lived on amongst Backyard Burial’s devoted fans with a 12” vinyl pressing of Repeat Offender released by Wellington label Limbless Music in 2018 and a 10th anniversary show to mark his passing in 2021. All hails Blaps Warmonger! Rest In Power.
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| Origin | Lower Hutt |
| Genre | grindcore, death metal, death-grind |
| Years Active | 1998 – 2011 |
| Website | Backyard Burial Bandcamp |
| Associated Acts | Akaname, Malevolence, School Of Meat, Diecast, Monsterworks, Side Project |
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Matthew Hall Blaps Warmonger | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox | vox |
| Mike Flannigan Human Hating War Machine | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | drum | |
| Ryan O’Leary Bobby Helford Robbo Cop | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat | gat |
| Nathan Holmes Psychodroid Shitfux | bass | gat | gat | gat | |||||||||
| Mark Davey Mork Sprayborg | gat | gat | gat | gat | |||||||||
| Alex Beere Gurney Sprayer Wombflooder The Overseer | gat | gat | gat | gat | |||||||||
| Joe Hape Joseph Thompson | gat | gat | gat | gat | |||||||||
| Aidan McDonald Dan Druff | bass | bass | bass | ||||||||||
| Greg Bassett Cyborg Slut | bass | ||||||||||||
| Jason Hislop Ahkmed Headless | bass | bass | bass | bass | bass | ||||||||
| George Prowse Spraying Mantis | bass | bass | bass | ||||||||||
| Boyd/ Taffy | bass | bass |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deviance In Society | Oct 23, 1999 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| The $2 Pe.ep | May 29, 2001 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| Repeat Offender | Oct 26, 2002 | album | CD/ DL | |
| Hedonistic Cravings | Feb 25, 2005 | album | CD/ DL | |
| A Promising Young Law Student | March 8, 2007 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| Grinding Aotearoa | March 7, 2008 | split EP | CD/ DL | |
| Symptoms Of Psychopathology | Sept 5, 2009 | album | CD/ DL | |
| Repeat Offender | April 21, 2018 | Limbless Music | album | 12″/ DL |
Timeline
1998
Backyard Burial formed in the Hutt Valley by Mike, Ryan, Dave and Matt.
1999, October 23, Deviance In Society
1999, October 23, Punkfest
Photo: Skippy
2000
2000, January 15, Indigo
2000, May 27, Petone
2000, June 9, Valve
2000, September 25, Indigo
2000, October 20-22, Punkfest
2001
2001, January 13, Web Bar (AKL)
2001, April 13-14?, Rockbottom Studios
Backyard Burial recording songs for The $2 PE.EP at Rock Bottom Studios with Nick Cunningham.
2001, April 13, Necropolis
2001, May 29, The $2 PE.EP
2001, June 2, Valve
2001, August 30, Valve
2001, November 2, Valve
2001, November 22, Papa Jacks
2001, November 24, Flicks
2001, December 1, The Frying Pan
2001, December 21, Indigo
2002
2002, March 2, Valve
2002, March, Rockbottom Studios
Backyard Burial record “Repeat Offender“, with Nick Cunningham.
2002, May 9, Valve Bar
2002, September 14, Kings Arms
2002, October 5, Valve
2002, October 26, Repeat Offender
2002, November 23, The Fry Pan
Benefit gig for Stu, with Saliva Twist, Bonus Donor, Carnys, Backyard Burial, Disinterring Diana, Shotgun Surgery
2002, November 29, Valve
2002, December 21, Valve
2003
2003, January 18, Valve
2003, January 24, Indigo
2003, March 15, Alternative Routes
2003, May 16, Valve
2003, May 24, Danny Boys
2003, May 30, The Joint (AKL)
2003, July 12, Valve
2003, August 16, Valve
Retribution, Wrath, Backyard Burial
2003, October 18, Odin’s Inn, Napier
2003, October 31, Satanfest
2003, November 1, Indigo
2003, December 13, Valve
2004
2004, February 13, Valve
2004, February 27, Valve
2004, March 5, The Cross
2004, April 8, Basement Bar
2004, April 17, Valve
2004, June 5, Valve
2004, June 18, Valve
2004, August 7, Thistle Hall
2004, August 20, Guv’nors
2004, September 9-11, Meatwaters
2004, October 23, The Bogan Shed
2004, December 17, Valve
2005
2005, January 8, Pinnacle Club
2005, January 29, Valve
2005, February 25, Hedonistic Cravings
2005, February 25, Valve
2005, March 15, Valve
2005, March 26, Napier
2005, April 23, Valve
2005, June 11, Safari Lounge
2005, July 1, Valve
2005, September 30, Kings Arms
2005, October 6, Valve
2005, October 14, Valve
2005, October 22, Valve
2005, October 29, Satanfest
2005, December 8, Valve
2006
2006, February 4, Valve
2006, February 11, Valve
2006, March 9, Valve
2006, March 31, Valve
2006, May 25, Valve
2006, June 9, Valve
2006, June 10, Blacknote
2006, September 1-2, Capital Punishment
2006, September 9, Valve
2006, September 30, Underground Arts
2006, October 21, 420 Bar
2006, October 27, Valve
2006, November 16, Sub Nine
2007
2007, March 8, A Promising Young Law Student
2007, March 17, Zeal (WGTN)
8 Foot Sativa, Backyard Burial, Morte Vida, Dead Stoned Babies
2007, June 23, Valve
2007, August 31, Valve
2007, September 10, SFBH
2007, November 24, Valve
2008
2008, February 8-9, Valve/ Underground
2008, March 7, Grinding Aotearoa split
2008, March 7, 8, 15, Grinding Aotearoa tour
2008, July 22, Valve
2008, August 2, Valve
2008, August 16, Valve
2008, October 31, Valve
2009
2009, May 29, Transmission Room
2009, June 13, Hole In The Wall
2009, September 5, Symptoms Of Psychopathology
2009, September 5, Bodega
2009, October 2, Hole In The Wall
2009, December 5, Fitzroy Tavern
2010
2010, March 20, Thirsty Dog
2010, May 15, Medusa
2011
2011, February 15, RIP Blaps Warmonger
2018
2018, April 21, Repeat Offender
12″ vinyl re-release of the 2002 classic album, put out by Limbless Music.
https://vlonz.wordpress.com/backyard-burial/
2021
2021, February 26, Valhalla
