Pete Hurley (RIP 2014) - Extreme Noise Terror

Pete Hurley - guitarist for Extreme Noise Terror (? - January 29, 2014)

Pete Hurley’s time with Extreme Noise Terror (ENT) is one of my favorite eras of the band, specifically for that classic crust-grindcore sound. He played guitar on the seminal 1989 album A Holocaust in Your Head, a recording defined by lo-fi, raw production and a relentless D-beat focus. Pete’s playing style centered on massive, memorable riffs that complemented the dual-vocal bark of Dean Jones and Phil Vane. I also love his work on the John Peel Sessions recorded between 1987 and 1990, which captured a high-energy, "live-in-studio" feel. In the 1990s, Pete transitioned toward a heavier and more structured sound, notably on the 1995 album Retro-bution, which featured tighter technicality and more polished production values. Despite this shift into a more metallic sound, Pete maintained the dirty distortion of the guitar sound.

Extreme Noise Terror (ENT) are a British extreme metal band formed in Ipswich, England in 1985 and one of the earliest and most influential crust bands. Noted for one of the earliest uses of dual vocalists in hardcore and for recording a number of sessions for BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, the band started as crust punks and helped characterise the early, archetypal grindcore sound with highly political lyrics, fast guitars and tempos, and often very short songs.

Extreme Noise Terror were formed in early 1985 in Ipswich, England, originally consisting of dual vocalists Dean Jones and Phil Vane, guitarist Pete Hurley, bassist Jerry Clay and drummer Pig Killer. Prior to ENT, Vane and Hurley had played with Discharge-influenced acts Freestate and Victims of War, whilst Jones had been singing with Raw Noise. Hurley claims that the band name came from an insert for an album by the Dutch band Lärm. Aside from Discharge, the band cite as early influences Anti Cimex, Rattus and Antisect.

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, ENT were already beginning to twist hardcore into what would later become known as "grindcore." In 1987, ENT came to the attention of John Peel. After seeing them live in Ipswich, Peel offered them their first of four Peel Sessions for BBC Radio 1.

During this period, the line-up changed as former Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris joined briefly before being replaced by Tony "Stick" Dickens. This line-up recorded ENT's debut album, A Holocaust in Your Head, which was later voted one of the essential European grindcore albums by Terrorizer magazine.

The band signed to Earache in 1994 and recorded Retro-bution, a compilation of re-recorded material that saw ENT take a slightly more metal direction. Founder member Phil Vane left to join Napalm Death in late 1996, and in a unique trade, Napalm Death frontman Mark "Barney" Greenway joined ENT for the recording of the album Damage 381. Vane eventually returned to the band in 1997.

In 2001, the band released Being and Nothing and continued to tour Europe, including a slot at Wacken Open Air in 2003.

In early 2009, ENT released Law of Retaliation, described as a return to explosive, hyper-speed hardcore punk insanity. While remaining fiercely political, the band became more open-minded regarding their beliefs over the years, with Dean Jones commenting on the progression away from the restrictive nature of the early crust scene.

On 17 February 2011, Phil Vane died in his sleep at the age of 46. The band has continued to tour and release music with frontman Ben McCrow, dedicating their 2015 self-titled album to Vane's memory.

Extreme Noise Terror - Conned Through Life (Peel Sessions) [Official Audio]

Extreme Noise Terror - I Am a Bloody Fool (Peel Sessions) [Official Audio]

Extreme Noise Terror - Carry On Screaming