-Labrat-

LABRAT signed to FEAR FAMILY ASSASSINS Records after settling on a stable line-up in June 1998, then promptly set about writing and recording their debut single "THEME FOR A DOWNER AND ANTHEMS OF REJECTION".

They followed this with a short tour of the U.K. in September/August, stepping in at the last minute to replace salsa-metal's finest LABERINTO, who were deported on their arrival in Britain.

LABRAT were received rapturously at all eleven shows, most notably at The Red Rose Theatre in Rugely, where a near-riot ensued among the 400 people present.

An appearance on August 15th in the Czech Republic at their second annual DYNAMO festival was greeted energetically by the 6000-strong crowd and gave them the opportunity to hold their own on virgin soil among the likes of CLAWFINGER, THERION, INSOLENCE, IN FLAMES, BENEDICTION, KRABATHOR and GOD DETHRONED, to name but a few.

"THEME FOR A DOWNER AND ANTHEMS OF REJECTION" was released shortly after their return and garnered much acclaim from the metal press; METAL HAMMER branded it "ultra-aggressive yob-rock 8/10", KERRANG!'s MORAT insisted that their readers should "break into your local record-store and liberate a copy now!" and Ian Glasper of TERRORIZER/STAMPIN' GROUND thought "it's all heavy and it's all good, LABRAT could well be unstoppable.".

The sheer brutality and dexterity of the three crushing tracks has been compared to such bands as MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, PANTERA, IRON MONKEY, CONFLICT and MEDULLA NOCTE by press and promoters alike.

March 5th 1999 saw LABRAT take part in ROCK RADIO NETWORK's "SLAYED IN BRITAIN" event at London's renowned FORTRESS STUDIOS performing a ferocious live set which was broadcast to 250,000 listeners worldwide. The event was intended to highlight some of Britain's finest metal and included NAPALM DEATH, PULKAS, IRON MONKEY, MEDULLA NOCTE, BREED 77, PIG and STIMULATOR among others.

On 25th May 1999 LABRAT performed a triumphant support slot at London's BORDERLINE with SKINLAB which converted many new fans and generated yet more positive press.

August 8th 1999 saw a brutal exhibition of sonic violence at London's UX-FEST, at which several hundred people witnessed the band in full unrelenting ironic mode. Dressed in corpse-paint and coining the now-infamous "METAL IS GAY" catch-phrase which led to major correspondence on TERRORIZER's web-page, the band once again emerged triumphant.

LABRAT have continued to keep a busy schedule, playing with the likes of EARTHTONE 9, NAPALM DEATH, MEDULLA NOCTE, AKERCOCKE, KNUCKLEDUST and RAGING SPEEDHORN, and in September 1999 they out-sold TAIRRIE B'S MY RUIN in Newcastle.

The inclusion of a new track, "PHUELLED BY FARMACEUTICALS" on worldwide release c/o CENTURY MEDIA's 21st CENTURY MEDIA BLITZ 2 compilation has seen then once again increase their following and has led to a new work-ethic, with the band currently rigorously writing and rehearsing new material and playing anywhere and everywhere in 2000.

With over 200 people nationwide on their ever increasing mailing list, this is a band who cannot be ignored - as some unfortunate souls found out recently during their punk rock styled tour of IRELAND with FREEBASE in FEB 2000. Playing 3 packed out gigs in two days and selling clear out of merchandise, the band shocked all present with their new found levels of ferocity in the live environment.

After completing a massive DIY tour of the UK with SUBVERT (from late June through to August), LABRAT are currently writing and recording some pre-production demos for their first full length album, due for release in September 2001, with view to putting out an EP, as well as numerous compilation appearances in the meantime.