Arising from a joint hardcore / metal background, they have toured with the likes of Sepultura, The Haunted, Hatebreed and Biohazard; enabling them to reach a bigger market of both the hardcore and metal scenes combined. As one of the most threatening and active live bands around, they have earned a loyal, solid following and attracted a wealth of media attention in the process.
Their success is entirely due to two things, the power and aggression with which they imbue their music, and the ability to keep a sharp eye on their all-important song-writing appeal.
Stampin’ Ground’s latest masterpiece, ‘A New Darkness Upon Us’ (Oct ’03), sees the band continue to challenge the listener with its innovative metallic sounds, creating a cocktail of extreme heaviness and viciously infectious hooks that speaks to all fans of heavy music. Produced and engineered by Andy Sneap (Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Machine Head etc.) the new album boasts one of the most convincing and massive production efforts to date; every riff and drum beat hitting home harder than ever and with more fury than any so-called rival.
Capitalising on the sound they’ve already built, Stampin’ Ground deliver twelve new tracks that transcend the barriers set by current trends. A gargantuan work of razor sharp focus that proves once and for all that the band’s formula of strong choruses, deadly hooks and head-crushing delivery is one that will propel them leagues ahead of the competition. From the offset, ‘A New Darkness Upon Us’ is a rollercoaster of an album that changes pace and experiments with delivery and dynamics until its raging conclusion.
The band’s previous album, ‘Carved From Empty Words’ (July ‘00), was internationally recognised as their breakthrough release, garnering them an incredible array of glowing reviews from the alternative press the world around. Awarded full marks and the enviable ‘Album of the Week’ accolade by the UK’s Kerrang! Magazine, as well as full marks in Metal Hammer, and ‘Album of the Month’ in Terrorizer, to point out the most notable, Stampin’ Ground had finally evolved from the underground; the classic opener and radio favourite ‘Officer Down’ recruiting thousands of fans the world over.
March 2001 saw the bands first stateside release, where ‘Carved From Empty Words’ emerged on the credible Thorp Records (under license from Century Media). Immediately upon its release it clocked up fantastic results on the majority of the U.S College & metal radio station playlists; in addition, they received airplay on speciality show radio on a number of commercial radio stations. Quick to capitalise on this, the band flew out there for a few festival appearances, namely Jack Koshnik’s Metal Meltdown festival in New Jersey, and the successful New England metal and hardcore festival in Worcester, Massachusetts. An East Coast tour coincided with these shows, the success of which was conveyed by the U.S media and kick-started the bands stateside cult status.
Formed in Cheltenham, England, in 1995, Stampin’ Ground are no strangers to hard work, and have since released an impressive back catalogue that illustrates both their staying power and their determination to climb the ranks to the top of their profession. Always more than willing to push back the boundaries, Stampin’ Ground were the first English band of their kind to tour in America; actually going Stateside in 1998 without even having an album released there, eager to find out whether their success in Europe could be applied to the U.S. Great reactions proved that it could. It then comes as no surprise that with each of the earlier albums, ‘Demons Run Amok’ and ‘An Expression Of Repressed Violence’, the band grew beyond label means; each release prompting a move to a more powerful and reliable home, presently Century Media Records.
Playing live has always been the bands biggest strength, the arena in which they prove time and time again that they are one of the most exciting and entertaining bands of their kind. Stampin’ Ground understand that audience participation is a fundamental factor in any ultimate gig experience, and frontman Adam Frakes-Sime is a master of his craft. Whilst he whips an audience to boiling point, the rest of the band energetically cover the stage, nailing their songs down with confidence and aggression. It’s with this approach to playing live that has gained them successful tours across Europe including Iceland, Spain and Greece, again, the first of their kind to do so. Soon enough their live reputation had generated enough impact internationally to be invited to play such prestigious European events as the Dour Festival (Belgium), With Full Force (Germany), Pressure Festival (Germany), Kerrang! K Fest (England), and more notably, a main stage appearance at the 2003 Download Festival at England’s Castle Donnington.
In an age where hype and industry politics produce bands of unworthy overnight success, Stampin’ Ground are the antidote; the backlash that proves once and for all that it is the extreme music fans themselves that decide who succeeds and who fails, and no one else.
Never has a band been more ready to step up to the next level of the game.
Stampin' Ground eventually called it a day in 2006, with several members going on to form Romeo Must Die.
On the 24th of February 2014 they were announced to be playing the 2014 UK leg of the Sonisphere festival. The reformed line-up consists of Adam Frakes-Sime, Scott Atkins, Ben Frost, Paul Fletcher and Neil Hutton.
Discography:
‘Stampin’ Ground’ MCD -1996 (We Bite)
‘Demons Run Amok’ - 1997 (We Bite)
‘An Expression Of Repressed Violence’ – 1998 (Kingfisher / Century Media)
‘Carved From Empty Words’ -2000 (Century Media)
‘A New Darkness Upon Us’ – 2003 (Century Media)
Outside Looking In
Stampin' Ground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without the need to judge my friends
Before you start your critical preaching
Remember every carnivore's a potential vegan
True friends are hard enough to find
Without adding to the constraints what's in their diet
And you try to steal away
Their inherent right to choose
If all you do is divide and conquer
Curl up and die, the scene doesn't want you
I will live my life my own way
Whilst you crawl away, stagnate
You seek to judge me?
You don't even know me
So quick to pass the blame
Yet you won't even sign your name
This is not a judgmental song I'm not
Interested in casting stones
But if SXE is about anti obsession Isn't being
Obsessed with SXE missing the point?
Eating your words to save some face
Your destiny: to fall from grace
Scene elitists scaring kids away
With their snobbery and power plays
I will live my life my way
While you curl up and die
And every time that
They force their views
Someone else will lose
The right to choose
There is room for
Everyone in this scene
Pointless divisions
Are all your cliques mean
The lyrics of Stampin' Ground's song Outside Looking In are a commentary on the divisions within the straight edge (SXE) music scene. The singer rejects the judgmental attitudes and narrow-mindedness of some members of the community, arguing that true friendship should not be defined by what one eats or drinks. The song calls out those who seek to impose their views on others and create divisions within the scene, stating that there is room for everyone and that cliques are pointless.
The chorus of the song, with the lines "I will live my life my own way / Whilst you crawl away, stagnate" is a defiant statement of individuality and rejection of conformity. The lyrics also criticize "scene elitists" who scare away younger fans with their snobbery and power plays. The song suggests that the true spirit of SXE is about anti-obsession and inclusivity, rather than conforming to a strict set of rules or ideologies.
Overall, the lyrics of Outside Looking In are a call for unity and understanding within the SXE scene, rejecting the idea that personal choices should define someone's worth or place within the community.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll find peace within my life
I will discover contentment in my own life
Without the need to judge my friends
I won't criticize my friends for their choices
Before you start your critical preaching
Think twice before being preachy
Remember every carnivore's a potential vegan
Everyone has the potential to change and make different choices
True friends are hard enough to find
It's hard to find genuine friends
Without adding to the constraints what's in their diet
Without further limiting their choices of food
And you try to steal away
And you attempt to take away
Their inherent right to choose
Their fundamental freedom to choose their own way
If all you do is divide and conquer
If all you do is separate and prioritize
Curl up and die, the scene doesn't want you
The community doesn't appreciate your approach
I will live my life my own way
I will live my life according to my own choices
Whilst you crawl away, stagnate
While you retreat and stay the same
You seek to judge me?
Are you attempting to criticize me?
You don't even know me
You have no insight into who I am
So quick to pass the blame
So prompt to blame others
Yet you won't even sign your name
Yet you are unwilling to take responsibility for your actions
This is not a judgmental song I'm not
This song is not meant to be judgmental
Interested in casting stones
Interested in criticizing people
But if SXE is about anti obsession Isn't being
But if being Straight-Edge is about being against obsession
Obsessed with SXE missing the point?
Isn't being obsessed with being Straight-Edge contrary to the point?
Eating your words to save some face
Backtracking on your previous statements to appear better
Your destiny: to fall from grace
Your future is to lose respect
Scene elitists scaring kids away
People who think they're superior are deterring newcomers
With their snobbery and power plays
With their arrogance and manipulations
And every time that
When
They force their views
They impose their beliefs
Someone else will lose
Someone else will lose out
The right to choose
The freedom to make their own decisions
There is room for
There is space for
Everyone in this scene
Everyone can be a part of this community
Pointless divisions
Meaningless separations
Are all your cliques mean
Your groups are all cruel for no reason
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind