V.O.L: www.myspace.com/vol

It all started in a room lined with carrots. Way back in the dark days of 2003, when a young, fresh-faced and ample-bottomed Beyonce was getting 'Crazy' at the top of the world's pop charts, a group of four unlikely heroes banded together to save the world
(well, Cape Town anyway) from some very bad music.

By combining the lyrical genius of Bob Dylan with the musical dexterity of Eddie Van Halen and the devil-may-care attitude of a young 19th century chimney sweep, these upstarts were set to change the very face of South African rock music. Unfortunately it was not to be. Turns out that when you squish all those different bits together, you get a pretty unusual sounding metal band.

Bringing together the dubious talents of Artur Shine yer shoes, guvnor? Pereira on drums, Miggs "Miggs" Auer on bass,
Kevin "THE EXPLODANATOR" Rule on vocals and Jonathan " <text missing>" Commerford on guitar, V.O.L is a band that tries very hard to sound like a band thatÕs not trying very hard. Ever since their first gig at the Purple Turtle it's been a violent slog through an indifferent music scene. Slowly however, like the stuff that grows under your sink, they built up a bit of crusty credibility. Playing countless gigs with an eclectic bunch of bands (everyone from Sacraphyx to the Roswell Kings) in some of the skankiest clubs this side of Bangkok they continued to make the kind of music they loved, regardless of whether anyone else liked it or not.

Like a young child, repeatedly banging its head against a stone wall, something was bound to give. And eventually it did, with V.O.L being invited to perform at the prestigious White Horse Sessions at Mercury Live. They also scored a slot supporting their favourite ever SA band Lithium for their reunion show at the 3 Arts theatre.

A few more high profile gigs and a couple of demos later, the band finally got around to recording an album, which they are all set to release on an unsuspecting world. An album unlike anything the SA music scene has ever heard before. An album that will actually stick its tongue in your ear and lick your brain while nibbling on your ear lobes and assuring you that it will still be there in the morning.
An album that, if it were made out of human, would be all the best bits of all the best people.

And so into the future they go, with nothing but a firm belief in the music they make,
a fully submersible dirigible and fond memories of a room lined with carrots.

To be continued. Maybe.