Bio
During the lockdown years in 2021/22, the label decided to move on from releasing Live Concerts of existing bands and start a different project developing a newly formed band that would play a blend of hard rock, heavy metal, NWOBHM and some punk thrown in the mix. The aim was an album of unrelenting riffs, big drums, thumping bass and loud guitars all over the place.
In Autumn 2020, we approached musicians on various band platforms who were listed as ‘advanced’ or ‘expert’ level with an interest in heavy metal. Over the next 18 months, we settled on a line up and a name ‘Nerve Star’ The first line up consisted of: Joss Thorley (Bass Guitar), Chris Billinghurst (Lead Guitar), Joe Donegan (Drums) and Ky Underhill (Lead Guitar) with a Vocalist still to be found.
Joss and Chris were interested right away and jumped on board. They liked the concept and were eager to start. Joe was based in France but that wouldn’t cause too many problems and Ky was in another local band. Everyone was tied down to their homes anyway!
We started sending out some really cool tracks that mostly had not been previously recorded, got past the Demo stage or had only limited releases. Others which had been released had not had any commercial success. Their initial task was to record their own parts from these tracks, which were then rough mixed into a final Demo version minus the vocals. About ten tracks were done this way. We now just needed a vocalist. At this point we were looking around for a suitable studio to lay down these tracks properly.
However when the lockdown ended, some band members decided to go back to work and others left for alternative projects. Joe and Ky moved on and we now were three people short, the recording studio was put on hold and we had to re-record all their respective parts on the tracks we had done so far. Over the next 6-9 months, several Drummers and Vocalists were tried but their style didn’t quite fit. 2022 was basically a total washout!
In 2023, things started to look brighter. A great singer from the South of England called Matt Oakman who was already in several other bands, showed an interest and tried a few songs out. The songs instantly moved into another league and Matt joined up but we still needed a Drummer and Lead Guitarist
A month later after being let down by several musicians, I decided to contact Janne Stark over in Sweden, who I had come across through my Thin Lizzy contacts. Our label MLP had released the very successful ‘UK Tour 75’ CD album and Janne had contacts with the original drummer Brian Downey and also worked in a Lizzy Tribute band called ‘Falling Hazard’. Janne had done it all. He has played in many bands since the 1980’s, produced and recorded his own albums and others, had the experience and solidity we had lacked so far. Sessions were completed in days rather than weeks or months and then everything started to take off. Janne introduced me to a Drummer friend and colleague who go way back. Peter ‘Trumpeter’ Svensson jumped on board. A great drummer who can play a variety of styles and able to get drum tracks recorded quickly and effortlessly.
With the line up complete, I now turned to searching out a recording studio that would be a good fit for our type of music and within our budget. I recalled that a few years previously when we were in a similar position calling a London studio and speaking with a guy called Ras, who owned Raw Studios. He had kindly spent several hours of his own time over many phone calls explaining the best procedure and preparation for the sessions. So I reached out to Ras and the first sessions were booked in. I then found out this was no more than the lead singer with Diamond Head – Rasmus Bom Andersen.
The perfect fit and it was green for go!
Janne and Peter recorded their parts over in Sweden. Joss, Chris and Matt with Ras at Raw Studios in Berkshire and this continued through 2023/24 with some overdubs in late 2024 until we had 11 tracks completed. Mixing was finished in 2025 ready for Mastering and it was then that we knew we had a great album on our hands ready for release.
– Mike Dixon, Manager (2025)