Extreme Noise Terror

Often abbreviated as "ENT", Extreme Noise Terror are a British metal band formed in Ipswich, UK in 1985 and one of the earliest and most influential 'grindcore' style bands, originally consisting of dual vocalists Dean Jones and Phil Vane (R.I.P. 2011), along with Pete Hurley (guitar), Jerry Clay (bass) and Darren "Pig Killer" Olley (drums). Their first release was a split LP with Chaos (UK) in 1986, entitled Radioactive Earslaughter. Although there were still musical similarities between the two bands, Extreme Noise Terror were already beginning to twist hardcore into what would later become known as "grindcore".

In 1987, Extreme Noise Terror came to the attention of John Peel, on the recommendation of fellow Ipswich group The Stupids. After watching them at the Caribbean Centre in Ipswich, Peel offered them their first (of four) "Peel Sessions" for BBC Radio 1, a second Peel Session was recorded the following May.

The drum stool was then replaced by former Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris, although he left soon afterward to form Scorn to be replaced by Tony "Stick" Dickens (ex-Doom). Clay would then be the next to leave and replaced by Mark Gardener. The debut album, A Holocaust in Your Head (1989) then followed.

Further radio support from John Peel brought the band to the attention of Bill drummond of the act The KLF. drummond asked Extreme Noise Terror to re-record a version of The KLF's hit single 3 a.m. Eternal, with the intention of the band performing live on the Top of the Pops television show that Christmas. The BBC, however, felt that the song was inappropriate for broadcast on daytime television and refused to air it, leading to The KLF to boycott the show. The single eventually saw limited edition release through 'KLF Communications' and won Single of the Week from both the NME and Melody Maker.

Throughout 1993 and 1994, the band underwent further line-up changes with Dickens leaving to join DIRT and replaced by ex-Pig Killer, Lee Barrett, while Ali Firouzbakht joined on lead guitar. The act then singed to 'Earache Records'. A further line-up change occurred with Olley being replaced by ex-Cradle of Filth drummer William A. "Was" Sarginson. A further departure came from founding member Vane, who left to join Napalm Death in late 1996; in a twist of trading places, Napalm Death front man Mark "Barney" Greenway joined Extreme Noise Terror during the recording of their next album, Damage 381 (1997), an album, whose title comes from the BPM recorded on the title track, that saw Extreme Noise Terror move closer toward the death metal genre. Soon after, however, Napalm Death asked Greenway to return as they were unhappy with the new member's vocals; Vane subsequently returned to Extreme Noise Terror in 1997.

Further line-up changes came in 1999, with Vane once again leaving to be replaced by Adam Catchpole, while Sarginson was replaced by Zac O'Neil, and ex-Cradle of Filth member Gian Pyres on lead guitar for the release of Being and Nothing (2001) and their fourth BBC Radio 1 session.

Paul "Woody" Woodfield (guitar) took over for studio and live duties in early 2001, whilst Stafford Glover (bass) took over from Barrett, who left to concentrate on the To-Mera project). Desecration's Ollie Jones was added to the line-up as permanent second guitarist. Vane once again returned to the band; he had been away in Switzerland for the past six and a half years. Zac O'Neil also left the band, to be replaced by Michael Hourihan (ex-Tigertailz).

Law of Retaliation (2008) and Extreme Noise Terror (2015) would follow.

On 17 February 2011, Phil Vane died in his sleep due to a cerebrovascular accident at the age of 46; Ben McCrow would eventually replace him in 2014.