Wormrot

Wormrot is a Singaporean grindcore band that formed in 2007, immediately after the founding members had completed their mandatory two years of national service.[1] The band have released four studio albums to date, as well as a number of EPs and split releases with other bands. Since 2010, the band has been signed to Earache Records.[2] They have been described as one of the top 10 grindcore bands by OC Weekly, and have toured Europe and the United States.[3] In 2017, they became the first Singaporean act to play at the Glastonbury Festival.[4]

Wormrot
Wormrot performing in 2023
Background information
OriginSingapore
GenresGrindcore
Years active2007–2012, 2013–present
LabelsScrotum Jus Records, Scion AV, Speed Thrash Attack Distro, 41.9.30 Records, Noise Attack, Earache
MembersRasyid Juraimi
Vijesh Ghariwala
Past membersArif Rot
Ibrahim
Fitri
Rashid Said
Halim Yusof
Websitewww.facebook.com/wormrot

History
Founding vocalist Arif performing in 2010

Abuse and Dirge (2009–2012)

The band was discovered in late December 2009 by Digby Pearson, the owner of record label Earache, in a mixtape posted on the Invisible Oranges webzine.[5] After hearing the song "Born Stupid" on the compilation, Pearson searched out and downloaded Wormrot's debut, Abuse, from file-sharing site MediaFire.[6][7] Pearson was impressed with the album's quality and the band's "ambition, hard work ethic, and willingness to put [its home country] and Asian grindcore in the global map."[8] Pearson approached the band on their Myspace page, asking if they were interested in joining Earache's roster.[9] The band signed a recording contract with Earache in late January 2010.[8][10]

Earache reissued Abuse in Europe on 13 April 2010 and in the United States on 8 June 2010.[11][12] To promote the album's reissue, Wormrot toured Europe between late April and June 2010, and US between mid August and September 2010.[13]

Their second studio album, Dirge, was released on 3 May 2011 through Earache Records. The album received positive reviews from AllMusic writer Phil Freeman and other critics.[14] The band released an EP titled 'Noise' digitally through Scion AV on 20 September 2011. The EP was distributed as a download for free.[15]

Wormrot went on an extended US tour in early March and April 2011 and a European tour in August–September 2011. In January 2012, they had toured Indonesia and their last European tour was in June – July 2012.[16] A photograph and video recording from the tour's concert in France, featuring a goat in the Wormrot's audience dubbed "The Grindcore Goat" went viral on the internet.[17] In a 17 July Facebook post, the band announced that they would be taking a break with the plan to continue writing new music and return in a few years.[18] After concerned comments from fans and media alike, Arif later clarified "we are taking a break from TOURING".[19]

Voices and side-projects (2013–2022)

Over a year later, in August, Wormrot returned at Baybeats Festival 2013 and performed five new songs which would appear in their next album.[20]

On 6 April 2015, the band announced that Fitri had been removed from the band by Arif and Rasyid. The status of Fitri was unknown at the time of the announcement, with the band writing that "For the past couple of weeks, he has distanced himself from us and has remained incontactable [sic]. We fear that he has gotten himself into some shit too deep, he's not comfortable to share with us. If any of his friends who are reading this have any news regarding Fitri, let him know that we're waiting for any kind of reply. Any."[21] In June 2015, the band announced that they had recruited a new drummer, Vijesh Ghariwala, and would be continuing work on recording their third album.[22]

On 20 July 2016, the band's third studio album, Voices, was revealed with an album trailer featuring a new song titled "Fallen Into Disuse". The band later recorded a music video for this song in support of the album's release.[23] According to Arif, the song is about "unconscious abandonment from reality. Desperately trying to be accepted into the norm. At the very least. Failed miserably." Other songs including were also premiered in advance of the album's release, and the album was made available to stream in full on Noisey on 13 October.[24][25] Voices was released on 14 October 2016 through Earache Records.

In 2017, Wormrot went on tour in Europe in February and March.[26] They were also due to tour the US in May and June but cancelled the tour due to "the current political climate and numerous bands being turned away at US customs, we felt it was not worth the risk coming to America without the right paperwork, which is expensive."[27][28] The band returned to the UK in June to perform at Glastonbury Festival 2017, becoming the first Singaporean act to do so.[4]

The band members then turned their attentions to side projects. On 31 August, Arif, Vijesh, former member Fitri and Tiong, guitarist for Malaysian grindcore band Tools of the Trade, announced the launch of a new band Code Error.[29] They released their debut EP, S/T, on March 12, 2018.[30] Meanwhile, Rasyid formed Marijannah with bassist Muhd Azri, guitarist Nicholas Ng and drummer Nicholas Wong.[31] They released their debut album, Till Marijannah, on 13 February, 2018.[32] Wormrot toured the US and Canada in May and June with support from New York band Escuela.[33]

Hiss (2022–present)
Touring vocalist Gabriel Dubko performing with Wormrot in 2023

On 16 March 2022, it was announced that Wormrot would be releasing their first album in almost six years, Hiss.[34][35][36][37] Released on 8 July 2022 via Earache Records, Hiss is available on limited coloured vinyl, cassette, signed CD and digital download, and also comes as part of a new, very limited collector's cassette tape set. The album announcement was accompanied by a single release, "Behind Closed Doors".[34][35][36][37] Guitarist Rasyid said of the song: "This is our fight song. No nonsense. Hit hard."[35]

On 31 May 2022 (shortly before the release of Hiss) Wormrot announced that vocalist Arif was leaving the band, his wife Azean also simultaneously left her management position with the band as well so that the two of them could focus on their life as a family.

Members

Current members
  • Nurrasyid "Rasyid" Juraimi – guitar (2007–2012, 2013–present)
  • Vijesh Ghariwala – drums (2015–present)

Former members
  • Fitri – drums (2007, 2008–2012, 2013-2015) backing vocals (2009)
  • Halim Yusof – bass (2007)
  • Rasid A. Said – drums (2007)
  • Ibrahim – drums (2008)
  • Arif Suhaimi – vocals (2007–2012, 2013–2022)

Timeline

Discography
Studio albums
EPs
  • Demo (2007)
  • Dead (2008)
  • Flexi Disc: Decibel (2011)
  • Noise (2011)
Splits
  • Wormrot (SG) / Diseptic (GRE) Split Tape (2008)
  • Wormrot (SG) / I Abhor (US) Split CD (2010)
Compilations
  • V/A Fist of Fury compilation CD (2007)
  • V/A Silence Sucks compilation CD (2007)

References
  1. Hoare, James (June 2010). "Wormrot feature". Terrorizer.
  2. "Wormrot – Earache". earache.com. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  3. Distefano, Alex (4 March 2014). "Top 10 Grindcore Bands". OC Weekly. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  4. "Singapore band Wormrot perform in a 'train' at Glastonbury". Straitstimes.com. 24 June 2017.
  5. Smith, Zach (August 2010). "Grind! in the name of love". Decibel (70): 40. ISSN 1557-2137.
  6. O'Hagar, Sammy (13 April 2010). "Wormrot strive to be Singapore's chief export on Abuse". MetalSucks.net. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  7. Lee, Cosmo (22 February 2010). "Earache and Burzum album leak". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  8. Pearson, Digby (31 January 2010). "How did Earache sign Wormrot?". Earache Records. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  9. "Metal Horde SG interview with WORMROT". Metalhordesg.wordpress.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. "Wormrot ink deal with Earache Records". BW&BK. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  11. "Wormrot debut out now in Europe". BW&BK. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  12. Pacheco, George. "Abuse review". About.com. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  13. "Wormrot kick off European tour". BW&BK. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  14. "Dirge – Wormrot | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  15. "Wormrot 'Noise' EP Release, Scion AV". Scion Audio Visual Blog. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  16. "2012 European Tour Flyer". Facebook.com.
  17. Teitelman, Bram (20 January 2014). "Grindcore fan that happened to be a goat passes away | Metal Insider". Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  18. "WORMROT: "IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BREAK"". MetalSucks. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. "WORMROT ARE NOT BREAKING UP". MetalSucks. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  20. "Watch: A Complete Wormrot Live Set, Including Five New Songs". MetalSucks. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  21. "Wormrot Issue Wormupdate". Metalsucks.net. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  22. "WORMROT Found A New Drummer! We're Getting A New Album! – Metal Injection". Metalinjection.net. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  23. "Singaporean Grindcore Squad Wormrot Returns with "Fallen Into Disuse" – Noisey". Noisey.vice.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  24. "Exclusive Track Premiere: "God's in His Heaven" by Wormrot". Metalsucks.net. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  25. "Wormrot Returns to Grind Blockheads and Posers into Dust on 'Voices' – Noisey". Noisey.vice.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  26. Magazine, AntiHero (11 September 2016). "WORMROT ANNOUNCE 2017 EUROPEAN TOUR, RELEASE NEW TRACK". Antihero Magazine. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  27. "Wormrot Announce New U.S. Tour Dates". MetalSucks. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  28. "Wormrot Cancel U.S. Live Dates". MetalSucks. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  29. "Code Error: Current and Former Members of Wormrot Launch New Project". MetalSucks. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  30. "Code Error drop brutal debut EP, S/T – listen". Code Error drop brutal debut EP, S/T – listen | Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  31. "Meet Marijannah, the New Stoner/Doom Band Featuring Members of Wormrot". MetalSucks. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  32. "Exclusive Album Premiere: Marijannah's Till Marijannah". MetalSucks. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  33. "Wormrot announce North America tour in May and June 2018". Wormrot announce North America tour in May and June 2018 | Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  34. Singh, Surej (16 March 2022). "Wormrot announce new album with single, 'Behind Closed Doors'". NME. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  35. "WORMROT Announce New Album "Hiss," Drop Video for Single 'Behind Closed Doors'". Sonic Perspectives. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  36. Wahab, Ynez (16 March 2022). "Wormrot Release New Pummelling Single 'Behind Closed Doors' From Upcoming Album 'Hiss'". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  37. "Singaporean Grindcore Trio Wormrot Announce New Album". The Razors Edge. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
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