After some debate we decided to place this Chokehold into the Unsigned Section as well... they are unsigned. However if you think that you know the name, you probably do, as Chokehold are the band who made a bit of a splash by gaining a slot on last year’s Saxon/Masterplan tour after being offered a place by none other than Biff Byford on E4’s Get Your Act Together. I caught that tour in Manchester but unfortunately Chokehold didn’t get to play that night and after spending some quality time with their new CD The Sweet Smell of Genocide, I’m somewhat disappointed to have not had the pleasure. 

Ordinarily Chokehold’s brand of groove heavy metal isn’t the sort of stuff that floats my boat but it’s become a real fixture in my house over the last few days probably because its aggressive nature reflects my current mood! Post Work Syndrome in particular hits the spot as it mixes a reverence for old school thrash with a modern sensitivity – and it’s really f***ing loud as well! There isn’t a duffer on here which makes the group’s lack of label success somewhat strange. 

There is one genuine selling point that you should all take note of though, one that should encourage you to take a punt on The Sweet Smell of Genocide no matter what your normal tastes are; It’s FREE! That’s right, FREE to download from the band’s website – therefore you know what to go and do now, don’t you?

Contact: www.chokehold-metal.com      

Simon Bray