Wikipedia

Wargasm (band)

Wargasm (stylised as 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐌, and sometimes known as Wargasm (UK)) are a British electronic rock duo from London. Formed in 2018 by musician Sam Matlock and model Milkie Way, they released several standalone singles before releasing the EP Explicit: The Mixxxtape in September 2022, which charted at No. 19 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. Their debut studio album, Venom, was released in October 2023 and charted at No. 88 in the UK Albums Chart.[1]

Wargasm
Wargasm performing in London, 2022
Background information
Also known asWargasm (UK)
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active2018–present
Labels
Members
  • Milkie Way
  • Sam Matlock
Websitewargasm.online

Alternative Press listed them as a defining part of the 2020s wave of nu metal, and NME listed them as one of 2021's essential emerging artists. The pair also took home "Best UK Breakthrough" at the Heavy Music Awards in 2021 and Best New Noise at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards.

History

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2018-2021: Early performances

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Guitarist Sam Matlock met model and photographer Milkie Way when she was hired by Matlock's previous band Dead! to film their concerts. After the band disbanded, Matlock approached Way, who by then had taken a job modelling in Tokyo at the time, and formed Wargasm with her, taking their name from the L7 song of the same name.[2] At first the pair began writing pop punk songs, later diversifying into a combination of rap and nu metal. They released their debut single, "Post Modern Rhapsody", in August 2019,[2] before playing their first live performance a few weeks later.[3] They then released "God of War" that November,[4] which was later used as the theme for NXT UK.[5]

In February 2020, they released a cover version of "Lapdance" by N.E.R.D. alongside a music video,[6] followed by their own composition, "Gold Gold Gold", later that month.[7] They released the single "Spit" that June, which they had written in lockdown.[8] They then played a set for that year's Heavy Music Awards,[9] at which they would win "Best UK Breakthrough" at the following year's ceremony.[10] In September 2020, they released "Backyard Bastards",[9] which they released a music video for the following month,[11] and then the month after that, they released the single "Rage All Over", which they had written about their own rage at the declining condition of the world.[12]

At the start of January 2021, NME listed them as one of their essential emerging artists for the following year; Yungblud used the piece to describe Way as "a metal Gwen Stefani".[13] That April, they released the single "Your Patron Saints", a track about loneliness and isolation they had written after one of the band had a small breakdown in a supermarket.[14] They followed this in June with "Pyro Pyro",[15] after which they performed at the 2021 Download Festival Pilot.[16] The following month, Alternative Press listed them as a defining part of the 2020s wave of nu metal.[17] That August, they announced their debut UK headline tour, with dates booked between 17 and 30 November 2021,[18] and that they would tour with Creeper the month after.[19] Later that August, they released the single "Salma Hayek",[20] performed at the 2021 Reading and Leeds Festivals[21] and at ALT+LDN festival,[22] and featured on a remix of Death Blooms' single "Shut Up".[23]

2021-2022: Scala incident and Explicit: The Mixxxtape

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On 5 November, the band performed at Scala at their Face Down club night. Two days after performing,[24] Matlock uploaded to social media a picture of large red marks he had sustained to his back and arms. In his post, he alleged that three security guards had administered verbal abuse to the band's female tour manager and responded to him challenging it by dragging him into a toilet, bashing his head against a toilet seat, and holding his head in a toilet bowl.[25] He also stated that he only escaped after another member of his touring party intervened,[26] that they had been attempting to contact the venue over the weekend regarding the matter, and that said bouncers' continued employment meant that they did not consider the club a safe venue, especially for women. The Security Industry Authority confirmed that they had received a complaint.[25] After investigating, Scala fired two of the bouncers involved,[27] with Wargasm later posting to social media that the third had also been fired.[28] A week and a half after the incident, the venue set out a number of planned security measures for its subsequent performances.[29]

 
WARGASM performing in Southampton in 2023

Later in November, the band released "Scratchcard Feeling", a track about continuing to feel lucky despite continuing to lose.[30] The band then supported Neck Deep on a UK tour in early 2022. Reviewing a February set for Louder Than War, Daniel Tsourekas complimented the contrast between Matlock's "gritty" vocals and Way's "softer yet punk-infused" vocals.[31] The following month, Rolling Stone reported that Wargasm would be joining Limp Bizkit on their North American "Still Sucks" tour.[32]

In May 2022, Matlock and Way announced that Wargasm had signed to slowplay and Republic Records, and would release a single, "D.R.I.L.D.O.", and a mixtape, Explicit: The Mixxxtape;[33] they released "D.R.I.L.D.O." later that month.[34] The following month, they won the New Noise Awards at that year's Kerrang! Awards,[35] and then the month after that, they released "Fukstar", a rant against the behaviour of high-net-worth individuals.[36] In August, they featured on Enter Shikari's "The Void Strikes Back",[37] and then the following month they released Explicit,[38] which charted at No. 19 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.[1] Its full-length release then enabled them to go on tour across the United Kingdom and Ireland playing shows in cities such as London, Belfast and Dublin, most notably their show at the O2 Forum Kentish Town, which is their biggest headline show to date.[39] These shows then contributed to the music video for their song "Super Fiend" released on 12 December 2022, using shots of the crowd and live performances on stage for scenes in the video.[40][41][42] On Christmas Day 2022, the duo released a cover of the Girls Aloud song "Something Kinda Oooh" for Amazon Music.[43]

Musical style and influences

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Wargasm are listed as "Wargasm (UK)" in several territories due to the existence of other bands from the United States, Finland, Sweden and France.[44] Critics have categorised the band's music as electro-punk,[45][15][46] digital hardcore,[47] post-hardcore[48] and nu metal.[18][49] Their music makes use of elements of riot grrrl,[49][50] heavy metal, dubstep,[51] screamo,[52] pop, electronic and hip hop music.[53] NME writer Ali Shutler described their music as "cyberpunk".[54] Their music often makes use of screamed vocals, electronic and psychedelic sounds, aggressive guitar riffs,[55] and distorted bass.[56] Songs often feature Matlock and Way trading off vocals duties mid verse.[57]

Alternative Press writer Giedrė Matulaitytė described their music as an "eclectic blend of punk/riot grrrl attitude, hardcore energy, grunge pessimism and murky nü-metal groove",[58] and Ali Cooper described them as "If you take all the limitless energy of a pulsing nightclub and throw it into the pit".[17] Metal Hammer writer Yasmine Summan described it as "catchy nu metal riffs, throw in a bit of riot grrrl flare and wash it down with a healthy dosage of post-apocalyptic angst"[59] and Jack Saunders described them as "the Prodigy and Slipknot at the same time."[48]

They have cited influences including L7, Limp Bizkit,[2] Loathe, SHVPES and Poppy.[60] For "Pyro Pyro", they were inspired by a scene in a documentary about Grimes which asserted that she used laser shots from video games and gunshots to construct her music,[15] and for "Salma Hayek", its chorus was inspired by Kim Petras.[20] When asked on an interview with Fred Perry clothing what songs' lyrics inspired them, Matlock answered "Custer" by Slipknot and Way answered "Smack A B*tch - Remix" by Rico Nasty.[61]

Members

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  • Milkie Way – vocals, bass, guitar, production
  • Sam Matlock – vocals, guitar, production

Live members

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Current

  • Adam Breeze – drums (2019, 2021–present)[62]
  • Adam Crilly - DJ, electronics, vocals (2022-present)
  • Stone Behzadi - guitar (2024-present)

Former

  • Ryan Cornall – drums (2019–2021)[11]
  • Edison Hunter – guitar (2019–2023)[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Extended plays

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  • Explicit: The Mixxxtape (2022)

Singles

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Title Year Album / EP
"Post Modern Rhapsody" 2019 Non-album singles
"God of War"
"Gold Gold Gold" 2020
"Lapdance"
"Spit"
"Backyard Bastards"
"Rage All Over"
"Your Patron Saints" 2021
"Pyro Pyro" Explicit: The Mixxxtape
"Salma Hayek"
"Scratchcard Feeling" Non-album single
"D.R.I.L.D.O" 2022 Explicit: The Mixxxtape
"Fukstar"
"Do It So Good" 2023 Venom
"Bang Ya Head"
(featuring Fred Durst)
"Modern Love"
"70% Dead"
(featuring Corey Taylor) 		2024 Non-album single
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Year Title Album
2020 "Generation Undead"
(BaseFace featuring Wargasm) 		Generation Undead
2021 "Spoiler (Recoil)"
(DJ Hyper featuring Wargasm) 		Non-album single
"The Cycle"
(Death Tour featuring Wargasm) 		Scared?
"Shut Up"
(Death Blooms featuring Wargasm) 		Non-album single
2022 "The Void Stares Back"
(Enter Shikari featuring Wargasm) 		Dancing On The Frontline
2023 "Molotov"
(Ho99o9 featuring Wargasm) 		Ho99o9 presents Territory: Turf Talk, Vol. II
2024 "God Speed"
(Crossfaith featuring Wargasm) 		AЯK
"Girls Gone Wild"
(Scene Queen featuring Wargasm) 		Hot Singles in Your Area
"Hedonist [Recharged]"
(Bad Omens featuring Wargasm) 		Concret Jungle[the OST]

Promotional singles

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List of promotional singles
Title Year Album
"Something Kinda Ooooh"[43]
(Amazon Original) 		2022 Non-album single

Tours

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Headlining

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  • War On the Road (2021)[63]
  • The Explicit Tour (2022)[64]
  • The Venom Tour (2023)[65]

Supporting

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Awards and accolades

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Heavy Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Themselves Best UK Breakthrough Band Won [10]
2022 Themselves Best Live Artist Nominated [74]
2023 Explicit: The Mixxxtape Best Breakthrough Album Nominated [75]
"The Void Stares Back"
(Enter Shikari ft. Wargasm) 		Best Single Won
2024 Venom Best Breakthrough Album Pending [76]

References

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  1. ^ a b "WARGASM Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  2. ^ a b c MacMillan, Jamie. "Wargasm: "Everyone takes themselves so seriously in the rock scene"". Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. ^ Shutler, Ali (16 December 2020). "Wargasm live in London: duo's bruising live return is a reminder why bedroom metal will never thrive". NME. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  4. ^ Hofer, Tess. "NEWS: Wargasm release new song, 'God Of War'!". Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  5. ^ Alderslade, Merlin (3 September 2020). "UK metallers Wargasm are soundtracking the return of NXT UK". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ^ Redrup, Zach. "NEWS: Wargasm release cover of 'Lapdance' by N*E*R*D!". Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  7. ^ Hofer, Tess. "NEWS: Wargasm release new song, 'Gold Gold Gold'!". Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Wargasm lament "the disgusting state of the world" with their new single, 'Spit.'". Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b Hofer, Tess. "NEWS: Wargasm drop new single, 'Backyard Bastards'!". Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. ^ a b Richards, Will (3 September 2021). "Bring Me The Horizon and Nova Twins among the winners at 2021 Heavy Music Awards". NME. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Hofer, Tess. "NEWS: Wargasm release bloody video for 'Backyard Bastards'!". Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
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  13. ^ "The NME 100: Essential emerging artists for 2021". NME. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  14. ^ ROGERS, JACK. "WARGASM HAVE RELEASED A DIZZYINGLY PUNISHING NEW TRACK". RockSound. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
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  27. ^ "Scala bans bouncers after Wargasm frontman assault claim". BBC News. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  28. ^ Jones, Damian (11 November 2021). "Scala bans third bouncer after Wargasm assault claims". NME. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  29. ^ Richards, Will (15 November 2021). "Face Down nightclub and Scala set out new security measures following Wargasm incident". NME. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  30. ^ Scarlett, Liz (17 November 2021). "Wargasm's new track Scratchcard Feeling is the best Prodigy song you never heard". louder. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  31. ^ Tsourekas, Daniel (25 February 2022). "Wargasm UK: O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester - live review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  32. ^ Mier, Tomás (16 March 2022). "Limp Bizkit Sent Us a Video Announcing Their Tour and We Can't Share It". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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  34. ^ "WARGASM drop new electronic-meets-metal banger, D.R.I.L.D.O". Kerrang!. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
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  36. ^ Robinson, Ellie (11 July 2022). "Listen to Wargasm's tearing new single 'Fukstar'". NME. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  37. ^ Skinner, Tom (12 August 2022). "Listen to Enter Shikari's new single 'The Void Stares Back' featuring Wargasm". NME. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  38. ^ Robinson, Ellie (25 December 2022). "Listen to Wargasm's cover of Girls Aloud's 'Something Kinda Ooooh'". NME. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  39. ^ "O2 Forum Kentish Town talk about the WARGASM show". Twitter. 28 October 2022.
  40. ^ "𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐌 - "Super Fiend" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  41. ^ "SEE WARGASM RAGE IN NEW "SUPER FIEND" MUSIC VIDEO". Revolver. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  42. ^ "Hear Wargasm's New Slipknot-Inspired Rager "Super Fiend"". Revolver. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  43. ^ a b Ingle, Alex (26 December 2022). "Wargasm have shared a cover of Girls Aloud's 'Something Kinda Ooooh'". DORK. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  44. ^ Rhombus, Emperor. "10 Artists Who Share Their Names With Existing Bands". MetalSucks. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
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  46. ^ Alexander, Phil. "Wargasm hit The K! Pit: "It feels so good to be back!"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  47. ^ Leivers, Dannii. ""Someone said that they were in a Portaloo while we were on stage, and the bass rumbled some excrement out of them." Getting to know Wargasm, the genre-splicing, Fred Durst-approved duo making major waves in modern metal". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  48. ^ a b Saunders, Jack. "Now Hear This: Jack Saunders on the best nu-metal, post-hardcore and trip-hop". Kerrang!. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  49. ^ a b MADDEN, EMMA (September 2020). "WARGASM: NU-METAL-LOVING, RIOT-GRRRL-SPIRITED U.K. DUO ARE "FIRE AND FIRE"". Revolver. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  50. ^ Mills, Matt (15 December 2020). "10 new bands you need to watch out for in 2021". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  51. ^ Stock, Olivia (5 September 2021). "WARGASM: "We're like fire meets acetone peroxide"". Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  52. ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (September 2021). "ALT+LDN 2021 review: a solid crossover concept, messily executed". NME. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  53. ^ "5 ARTISTS YOU NEED TO KNOW: JUNE 2020". Revolver. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  54. ^ Shutler, Ali (21 June 2021). "Download Festival 2021 review: the new generation upend legacy focused rock-fest". NME. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  55. ^ "UK Bands Are Keeping Heavy, Aggressive Rock Music Alive And Interesting". Clash. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  56. ^ Rogers, Jack. "WARGASM HAVE RELEASED A COMBUSTIBLE NEW TRACK 'PYRO PYRO'". RockSound. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  57. ^ Redrup, Zach. "LIVE REVIEW: Download Pilot – Saturday (19/06/2021)". Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
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  59. ^ Summan, Yasmine (28 October 2020). "Nihilistic nu metal with electro-punk attitude? Wargasm have got it covered". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  60. ^ Richardson, Jake. "Why Wargasm Are Making Angry Songs For Sad People". Kerrang!. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  61. ^ "WARGASM Musicians — London". Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  62. ^ Krol, Charlotte. "Wargasm drummer shares video of drum monitor catching fire at Japanese festival". NME. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  63. ^ "Wargasm have announced their first ever UK headline tour". Kerrang!. 2 August 2021.
  64. ^ "𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑: 𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖 Our biggest venues yet. Special guests to be announced. The last tour sold out". X (formerly Twitter). 17 June 2022.
  65. ^ "𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐌 𝐗 LIVE IN THE U.K. 2023. HAVE YOU GOT YOUR TICKETS?". Facebook. 6 December 2023.
  66. ^ "𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊. Wargasm will be performing live with @yungblud next month in London and Nottingham, and later on in the year in Glasgow". X (formerly Twitter). 16 July 2022.
  67. ^ "NORTH AMERICA 2022". Enter Shikari. 6 July 2021.
  68. ^ "𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐗 Wargasm will be returning to the U.K & Europe in 2023 with the one and only Limp Bizkit x". X (formerly Twitter). 9 December 2022.
  69. ^ "Limp Bizkit announce Still Sucks Tour of the U.S. with WARGASM and more". Kerrang!. 17 March 2022.
  70. ^ "INDIAN METAL BAND BLOODYWOOD ANNOUNCE U.S. TOUR WITH VENDED AND WARGASM". Revolver. 28 February 2023.
  71. ^ "Corey Taylor debuts new single from second solo album CMF2". Kerrang!. 16 May 2023.
  72. ^ "Europe, we are excited to announce the EU/UK Tour will have support from special guests @thisiswargasmuk, @Vukoviband and @weareMEGARA on select dates". X (formerly Twitter). 26 April 2023.
  73. ^ "𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 & 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘𝐑𝐒 𝐗 Wargasm will be joining Poppy on tour in the U.K. Feb 2024. Tickets on sale now". X (formerly Twitter). 17 December 2023.
  74. ^ "Heavy Music Awards 2022 Finalists Announced". Heavy Music Awards. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  75. ^ DiVita, Joe (15 March 2023). "All 2023 Heavy Music Awards Nominees Revealed For 14 Categories". Noisecreep. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  76. ^ "The Heavy Music Awards Unveils 2024 Finalists". Knotfest. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
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