Bands You Should Know: Fudge Tunnel 

Somebody finally posted the version of the Grey video I was talking about… ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Bl7-AOWILn0.html

Criminally underrated band

hell yea! I've been obsessed with Fudge Tunnel for a few months now. Found them through Nailbomb.

I went to Nottingham University from 1989-1993, and I had the great luck to see Fudge Tunnel live at least 4 times They were a superb live show, and I introduce people to them all the time. Super fantastic, and very glad to see anyone in the US appreciating them!! I still love Hate Songs in E minor best

Dude! This is another band that I’m surprised escaped me back in the day! I was a preteen back then and I definitely listened to the same stuff back then. Fudge Tunnel sounds like a blend of Fugazi, maybe Helmet, the Melvins, and some noisy sludgy grunge. Again, I’m very surprised I’ve never heard of these guys. Once again Oldhead thank you so much for introducing me to another worthy band of note! You sir most definitely Rock!🤘🏻

FT were on some other shit. Was a fan, a huge fan. When Nailbomb came out it was like a hammer in the head. Blew us all away

Fudge Tunnel, Vision Of Disorder and Helmet I would place them all in the same category these bands just all closely almost sound same and never went mainstream albeit helmet is more popular than the other two but fudge tunnel is like a grunge-metal hybrid in my opinion but use elements of different categories like noise but also sound like nirvana. These 3 bands are really underrated and its a shame too that fudge tunnel doesn’t get much recognition.

I was hanging out in the late 80's early 90's midlands grind/death/fudge/industrial movement and Fudge Tunnel were always one of the best live bands on the Midlands circuit.

I found a cassette copy of Creep Diets here in Manila in the early 90s. I don't know what they sounded like but I bought it and I loved it. I still play that cassette now. Planning on getting all of Alex Newport's released on vinyl now. I just purchased Nailbomb yesterday. ;-)

YES!!! I thought I was the only one who saw the original video for GREY. Just like you described. I'm probably the biggest fan of Fudge tunnel in America. Hands down. You name it, I know it.

I loved the song "Grey" but when I got the cassette it didn't really grab me, but I don't remember spending a whole lot of time with it. I really enjoyed Alex and Max's side project Nailbomb. Still have the Nailbomb albums even though I haven't listened to them in years.

I remember this band and still listen to their songs.. Still awesome!

I was living in Edmonton in 91, and bought their first album based solely based on the name … such an appropriate name for that album lol I absolutely fell in love with it. For ages I had no idea they ever released anything else, til about 5yrs ago.

Saw them at Lee's Palace in Toronto just after I moved there in 1993. My brother saw them in Montreal the night before, my brother was a big fan also and he saw them there. He told the bassist to say hello from Andy in Mtl, that's cool

Alex was also in: Red Love, Son Of Crackpipe, & Theory Of Ruin

Yesssss Grey was my intro to FT so good

I saw them live in Palo Alto, Ca, early 90's.

Fudge Tunnel is a great band. In the early 90s at school when Hate Songs came out it was a game changer. I was a bit of an indie rocker but I loved the heaviness of Hate Songs, the attitude, and the sense of humour, which was apparently absent in the rest of Earache bands. For a small handful of kids at my school, Hate songs in E Minor was a massive album. I remember my best buddy at the time getting shit on the street for wearing the hate shirt. I think they peaked though with the Teeth ep. After Hate songs and pre Creep diets. Production and playing were off the scale. Super Heavy. If someone who had no knowledge of heavy music asked me to play them a 'heavy' song, i'd prob play them Teeth. Even has Jazz elements. And a singer that sounds like a deranged neanderthal rather than the daft grunts of death metal which I perceived at the time, and couldn't really get into. Saw them early 90s at Sheffield UNI with Jacobs Mouse. Small venue. Super loud. Only gig I've seen as loud was My Bloody Valentine. Had severe tinnitus after both. Spoke to Dave when he was tour managing Tribute To Nothing at Sheffield Leadmill. Super nice guy. Not up his arse at all.

Love this band and was happy that I got to see them on the creep diets tour with fear factory, clutch and sepultura twice. And no I def saw that castle video and was also confused by what they consider to be the video here on youtube

I've been onto them since 1994. I was lucky to have coworkers that had good taste.

They did a headlining tour for Creep Diets in the USA with Painteens and Season To Risk in ‘93 as well.

Sepultura was the gateway to discovering Fudge Tunnel. Some of these best underated heavy music from the 90s. The fact that dont know this stuff blows my mind

Hate Songs in E Minor is the best album of its kind … perhaps the only kind

I’m late to the party but I saw them with Sepultura - DAMN the memories

Favourite band from the early 90s. Hate Songs In e Minor was it for me... and S.R.T off the Teeth EP. I'm surprised that EP didn't get a mention.

Here's the part that he's leaving out. Yes, we wanted to to hear a band like them, because we were doing an awful lot of drugs at the time. Everyone was! Fudge Tunnel was a really cool little band though.

I missed this album but I had seen the grey vid on Much Music around this time. I heard of Alex Newport because of Nailbomb with Max Cavalera. Fudge Tunnel was great because it was undefined.

It's funny to find them now, quite obscure. It's very cool to hear you bringing them up and recommending them. There's something they have that's in common with Isis, Metallica and Radiohead and I don't mean musically, in the way that you'd think. It's like, with Isis: are you an Oceanic guy or a Panopticon guy (Celestial! Gtf out of here, you're weird, ha). Metallica: are you a MOP guy or a AJFA guy (RTL, OK. Black Album? Fackaff). Radiohead: The Bends or OK Computer? So Fudge Tunnel kind of have that thing going on. I'm a Complicated Futility Of Ignorance guy. Please don't hate me just because I am right.

No doubt! Fudge Tunnel 🤘🏻

Hi! I saw all of your videos regarding Fudge Tunnel. I am from Sweden and had the Fortune to witness "Hatesongs" during that tour. Combined with the band Pitch Shifter. If I dont remember wrong. I am totally a Fudge Tunnel fan. And I am so glad that someone except me, who dig this band. Your insights in this group are so welcome. Sorry for my poor grammatics. But anyway, I love your dedication to this band. Thank's a bunch ❤️😎🎶👍

I was into fudge tunnel back in the days, they were unique and awesome! I saw their bassist last year helping out with Conan, they also covered „hate song“, it was one of the greatest live-moments in a long time!

Nothing like a bit of fudge tunnel at the weekend... great videos.. keep them coming

I saw Fudge Tunnel in Toulouse France with Sepultura in 1992, me and my friend enjoyed their show, then we bought the first album later!!! I have the three albums!!!

Fuckin loved fudge back in the 90’s

Gotta love the Sphincter Triplets!

Thanks for the vid. Made me finally buy a copy of Creep Diets. It is really short-sighted of Earache to block review videos from using clips from albums.

Fudge Tunnel aka poop shoot. HA! Awesome band. Haven't heard them in a while, thanks!

As others have said - massively underrated, first heard of them through Alexs side project with Max Cavalera. Can't recommend them enough.

Huge fudge tunnel fan here. Their video for Tweezers is in an abandoned building.. I remember grey always being live footage.

Absolutely agree. Criminally underrated Band - Probably because they don´t fit nowhere nicely. Was lucky enought to see them live on Dynamo Open Air when I already knew them and loved them - great Gig, absolutely. A little short, because of course they played somewhere in the afternoon, but - does it matter? - I saw them and it was great. Other forgotten geniuses of the time: The Beyond - Buzzard - O.L.D.

Fukn, THANK YOU!

I totally feel the same way about my love for metal. I mean I love it but I also love classic rock, punk/hardcore, alternative rock, hip hop, video game music, and film scores. I kinda felt like a puzzle piece that was jammed in a random spot.

I was drawn in after hearing Tipper Gore

They are both 'official' videos ,the 'live' one is by their mates in London VideoCore, the one in the abandoned building is by someone else

I've loved this band since the mid 90s. Creep Diets is also my fave; I think the production quality is the best on it, even better than Complicated Futility of Ignorance IMO. I also really dug their "First Movement" (lol), the Teeth EP and In A Word..., which was a compilation of live stuff, John Peel sessions, etc. Sadly that disk was ripped from my car, those fuckers. At the time I was trying to be a rockstar and Adrian Parkin was a strong influence on my drumming. He played perfectly to the songs, great feel and just enough flash. It's cool how the vocals are way down in the mix, the lyrics take a back seat to dark harmony with heavy guitar crunch. Favorite song is probably Gut Rot, love the odd meter, the many changes, and the tight linkup between bass/drums at the bridge. It's a wild ride! Grey, Face Down, Coverup also strong. Thanks for posting, this band deserves more attention than they get. Cheers!

Yeah, Man! When Hate Songs came out I was listening to more artsy/progy punk bands like Alice Donut, Mudhoney and NoMeansNo. At the time I was not at all into metal, but this band addressed some kind of primal need in me for just simple super super heavy noisy rock, that was curiously groovy and almost danceable, despite being distorted and harsh. They laid the groundwork for my appreciation of metal that came later in life. These days I listen to a lot of Doom/Stoner stuff like Dopethrone and High on Fire, which is not too many steps away from Fudge Tunnel. You're descriptions of your reactions to each of their albums perfectly matches my own reaction to them as they released. Hate Songs was this slow, crunching aberration (for a punkISH person like me), that was both plodding and incredibly compelling at the same time. Creep Diets, was a strong evolution of their sound (the song Don't Have Time for You actually helped me get over a bad break up), and Grey is a freaking masterpiece amongst masterpieces. And I just loved Complicated Futility. The first three songs almost feel like a mission statement. It was just in-your-face Fudge Tunnelness. I was heartbroken when they called it quits as I never got to see them perform that material live. Thanks for this vid!

Good work!!

that Nailbomb album is amazing. I would rather listen to that than anything else ome!Max has done. Incredible. Fudge Tunnel is awesome! Didnt know about Theory of Ruin though, Pretty good stuff there too. Sounds a lot like old Fugazi and I am ok with that.

I remember the video in the castle, you are not alone

"Alterna Metal" , "Sludge Core" etcs , Fudge Tunnel was great , they HAD Metal in their music (Specially Black Sabbath and , in the 1994 album , also a lot of Sepultura influences where added) , but their roots where more on Garage Noise stuff like Sonic Youth . I always thought thir music was pretty similar to Nirvana , but heavier .

"Grey" played regularly on MTV here in Brazil , around 1993 / 1994 . The band gained a lot of spotlight back in the 90's because of the Nailbomb project , unfortunately , back in 1995 I read in a magazine they abruptly broke up , releasing their "final compilation" called "in a word" .

Oh dude you didn't go to that gig? I did in Wolverhampton UK, I have never heard a heavier guitar tone and I have seen Bolt Thrower a lot!

Their version of Black Sabbath's "Changes" tickles me every time I hear it. Keep on Rockin' Dude.

I love me some Fudge Tunnel

I've said it before online: Most of my mates "got" FudgeTunnel, but equally I never "got" Guns n' roses. "Noisy with a good tune" sums up what I liked then. I still do. There's a lot going on musically underneath the the cynical / sarcastic / dark lyrics ("no lyrics exist on this album" is written on the albums). But I love the darkness and noise, mostly. I saw them supporting Sepultura at Wolverhampton Civic Hall - aah, happy memories. I recommend Pharmakon to you.

I've stopped trying to "categorize" Fudge Tunnel when describing them to other metal heads and instead I describe them as "if Nirvana was metal"... Generally that description alone intrigues people enough to pull a track and listen!👍🏾

Hey Mark, loved your work on Sacrament!

Havent heard them in a long time head!! Their pretty kickass.right on cheers🍺👍

One of teh guys is a quantity surveyor in Manchester.

I remember that original video for Grey. I think I might have it buried on a VHS tape somewhere, I used to record metal videos religiously. You're not crazy, it was real!

Great great band. Nice one!

Anyone who likes Fudge Tunnel, should really grab the E.P.s… it’s their best work. Also… if you really like Fudge Tunnel, you’ll love Chat Pile. Check them out and don’t miss out.

thanks man, gonna search their material

Had every release on cassette then managed to get everything except Complicated Futility of Ignorance on CD.

Agreed!

I had Creep Diets on tape in 95, got it from a friend, fell in love, I think Alex still lives in Arizona, he had a studio

Alex kicks ass

Love that heavy grunge sound not a lot of bands sound like that: Kerbdog (first album) , fudge tunnel, Skin yard (Jack Endino) Willard, some helmet stuff.

There were many FT type bands out there in the 90's. I am an old timer at this shit and used to do reviews for WR and others..UD too..If you listen to some of Martin Schirenc's old stuff..and newer as say..Hollenthon you can see the trends. I love Carpathian Forest...why? LISTEN and see..you can FEEL the punk going and the black/death coming..total fucking crossover (old days crossover). I traveled and produced shows back in the 90's...I will share this one story. I was at November to Dismember out in San Bernardino...(from Detroit) It was fucking freezing and we had camped in the HIGHHHHH desert...I thought.."oh Cali...I can just take shorts..LOL>.. so I ate at the show out of a taco truck and later got the shits real bad..destroyed the can man...came out and was so stoned ...started talking to this group of SA or Mex looking background dudes..and we were cracking up...i told about my shit episode..and we laughed hard..turns out it was Autopsy..and their next album came out called "shitfun" LOL...have a great day

Huge fan of FT. I really think Fudge Tunnel pulled heavily from Godflesh’s Streetcleaner than anything else happening out of the US at the time. Bleak and dark Hate Songs In E Minor is a classic

Hell of a band. Alex Newport can do no wrong.

Oh gods. Sepultura, Fudge Tunnel, Clutch, and Fear Factory together on tour? Wtf?!! I tried to find their stuff online for ages. Finally in 2020, I bought another copy of The Complicated Futility of Ignorance. I had that album again for about 6 months before I was run off the road by another car. That CD got stuck in the player of my totaled Jeep. It’s on streaming now.

And speaking of massively under rated bands, check out 'The Ruin of Nova Roma' from 2005 by Taint, from Wales. Alex Newport mixed it. It's incredible.

When you said noise rock, it reminded me of Unsane. Remember them?

Dude thank you🤘🏼

I always thought 1 or 2 members went on to play in a band called Quicksand

I think Fudge Tunnel toured with Sepultura in 92.

This speaks to me, not heard of them, and sounds up my alley. Just gonna jump onto googs music and check them out.....damnit. Oh well, I'll just have to dig a little harder. Thanks man for the rec- I'll be checking these guys out today. Cheers! Oh yeah, and fuck Earache Records

I know what your talking about the grey video can't seem to find the original version uploaded anywhere!

Video is on RU-vid bro.. it’s still there. I saw it the other day!

These guys should have been huge in the grunge era.... Pissed all over all the quasi-emo stuff that Seattle soon spiraled into. FT deserved to be proudly walking side by side with Nirvana, The Melvins, Jesus Lizard, Helmet, Prong etc. Never got to see them even though I was a massive fan since the The Sweet Sound Of Excess ep........ Big regret.

Dave Riley is playing bass on Conan

In hindsight, I think alot of the "categorising" issues lie in the fact that they were signed to Earache and sat alongside Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel, Napalm, Carcass etc etc... who of course they had nothing in common with, but from whom they undoubtedly benefitted, with tonnes of press and MTV coverage. Who knows what would have happened if they'd signed to Touch & Go, Amphetamine Reptile or Sub Pop. Maybe they'd have ended up on a huge tour with Nirvana, or made a good impression at an early Lollapalooza. Alex Newport always hated playing live - so they were destined to split up either way - and to their credit, they're one of the last bands of that era to not reform, which cements their cult status.

Anyone notice his t-shirt in the Grey video?

I knew them.

there is no analogy or comparison that accurately describes fudge tunnel.

Back in the day, they were a big deal in Serbia. Good band they were!

Ddddddude thank you. I dont know how they ever slipped theough my fingers this happens way too often damn it. You rule, old head, you freaking rule. Ps, you have better hair than some women i know.

Don't forget nailbomb

Did you get all the FT and your other albums when they first came out?

Man I’m surprised they found your video that quick or can RU-vid detect that shit now?

Earache are garbage now I agree btw, when I think back to Napalm Death 1986....

My CD of Creep Diets was stolen from my car. Been trying to find it on record ever since ...anyone have a copy?

Grey OG version ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Bl7-AOWILn0.html

Your statement about ..it doesnt really fit..LOL..its FT man..its MARTIN