ALTERnatives Documentaries


ALTERnatives

Telling the South African Alternative music story via documentaries on bands at the top of their Genres.

VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


V.O.D
- VOICE OF DESTRUCTION -


Francois Blom (vocals)
Greg McEwan Marriott (guitar)
Diccon Harper (bass)
Paul Blom (drums)

VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Like the ALTERnatives Facebook Page

Like the V.O.D Facebook Page

Voice Of Destruction (V.O.D) "the Godfathers of South African Metal", was originally formed as a Punk / HardCore band in Cape Town, South Africa around 1986 by guitarist Greg McEwan-Marriott.

1st vocalist Neil 'The Viking' was replaced by Stewart Hendry.

VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Bassist Radley Clack was replaced by Diccon Harper around 1988 / 89.

Several drummers down the line included Deon Miller and Neil 'Thunder' - Paul Blom was playing with Metalmorphosis (CPT), but joined V.O.D in 1989.
By this time the band started shifting towards a Cross-Over, or Cross-Core sound.

Across the decades around 15 releases saw the light on cassette, VHS, CD, DVD and download.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


With Diccon and Paul's Metal background, the initial Hardcore/Punk sound of V.O.D moved more in that direction.

Around '91 Paul left for a year and was replaced by Robin Stehlik.

Alan Herbert (formerly of Phoenix) joined as 2nd guitarist for a short while.

Stewart left in the early '90s and was replaced by Francois Blom making the full-on Metal transition.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Paul returned shortly after - from hereon out this core line-up became the strongest and most prolific.

Namibian Johan DeJager became the on-off 2nd guitarist from about '94.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


In the early '90s the popular Seventh Demo was recorded and caught the attention of (rip-off artists) Inhouse Records in Johannesburg, signing the band. V.O.D recorded the "Black Cathedral" album with them, as well as contributing the epic "If I Had A Soul" track for the "Death Of Africa" compilation CD (and cassette feat. extra tracks "Black Cathedral", "Goodbye" and "Welcome To South Africaaaargh!!!").


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


The "Black Cathedral & Other Stories" video was also released by Inhouse (on VHS), featuring V.O.D and other bands live in the studio (incl. Axe, Retribution Denied, Debauchery, Urban Assault)


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Since the late '80s V.O.D had regular tours to Johannesburg (as well as a few Durban slots), exciting live shows becoming their trademark and leaving large footprints for others to follow.

Paul produced the extensive "Welcome To South Africaaargh!!!! - Live '93" video in 1994, featuring behind the scenes footage and many live shows across Cape Town, incl. their performance supporting Napalm Death on their SA tour.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Morbid Records in Germany signed V.O.D in the mid-'90s and the band flew over to the UK to record the legendary "Bloedrivier" album (now available as a 10th Anniversary re-release) at Academy Studios (where bands like Paradise Lost, Anathema, My Dying Bride and Cradle Of Filth first recorded).
Besides shows in the UK, this was followed by a full European tour in '96 covering the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Spain, UK etc. The band was joined by 2nd guitarist Johan. Tour mates were Katatonia (Sweden) and In The Woods (Norway).
Johan returned to Namibia and Paul returned to South Africa, followed by Francois. Greg eventually also head back, but Diccon remained in his ancestral land of Blighty.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Before Greg's return to SA, Paul and Francois was joined by Johan on guitar and Adam Van Der Riet (Pothole) on bass to play two monstrous nights at the 1998 Oppi Koppi festival.

With Greg back, the band played the first Woodstock Festival in Heidelberg (Gauteng) 1999, with Tom Somers on bass.
V.O.D closed the festival with a total chaotic bang.

Since then Francois stayed busy with his solo project Die Kruis and experimental Afrikaans project turned Metal band K.O.B.U.S. with Theo Crous (Springbok Nude Girls guitarist). The band released 3 albums (self-titled, "100% Skuldgevoelvry" and "Swaar Metaal"), and won the Best Afrikaans Rock Album at the 2008 SAMA award for the latter. They played live across South Africa incl. OppiKoppi festival and KKNK, plus the Manowar-headlining Magic Circle Festival in Germany.
A double vinyl collection was released in 2017.
Francois is married and has a son.
www.facebook.com/swaarmetaal1

Paul occupied himself with his one-man project F8 (pronounced "Fate") in the late-'90s / early-2000s, and Industrial-Metal band Terminatryx (est. 2002 - present), fronted by his wife Sonja. Paul also played live drums for K.O.B.U.S. between 2003-2008. At many K.O.B.U.S. shows in Pretoria and Bloemfontein V.O.D fans attended, J.M.S.P. was often played as an encore. In 2006 Diccon's SA visit resulted in him playing bass for a K.O.B.U.S. show and a few V.O.D numbers were naturally slipped in.
www.TERMINATRYX.com / www.FLAMEDROP.com/F8
Terminatryx released two studio albums, each followed by a full remixed version (by local and international remixers), a DVD, a digital collection, a heavy Afrikaans compilation, an adaptation of an Ingrid Jonker poem etc.; They played Popkomm in Berlin, Germany (2006), with Diccon filling in on additional 8-string bass(!) and supported international acts like Ministry, Diary Of Dreams, Sigue Sigue Sputnik; played festivals like RAMfest and WitchFest.
In 2006 Paul & Sonja formed The Makabra Ensemble with musician friends, creating new original soundtracks to classic silent films and perform these live to the big screen - www.terminatryx.com/makabra
Paul also makes movies, videos and runs various film festivals - www.flamedrop.com/events
In 2000 he started a website concentrating on movies, music & video games - www.FLAMEDROP.com, and Horror portal Shadow Realm, inc. - www.SHADOWREALMinc.com
His movies and videos can be seen at www.youtube.com/Terminatryx and www.youtube.com/FlamedropProductions
Paul is spearheading teh ALTERnatives documentary project.

Greg moved to the West Coast where he edited a community paper, then to PE with his new wife, and is now in Hermanus.
He started work on his Black Opera project.
http://music.smeak.com/release/black-opera-i/

In the UK Diccon played with Demoniac, which became Dragonforce, but he left before they struck it big. He also plays for classic doom band Pagan Altar which included extensive tours and various releases.
He's built hand made bass guitars and when the urge strikes him, cast pewter jewelry.
www.MySpace.com/PaganAltar

Johan released several albums with his Namibian-based band Arcana XXII and moved on to Ruacana and The Electric Dead. He has relocated to Germany where he's a graphic designer and contributes to Into The Pit.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


2006 saw the 10th Anniversary of V.O.D's classic "Bloedrivier" album and a special edition was released late-2006 in South Africa (the country where this local band's CD could only be obtained by import from their German label!).
The album is currently out of print but is available at www.voiceofdestruction.bandcamp.com

2009 marked a decade since V.O.D played together, and the Voice Of Destruction reunion tour hit festivals and venues across South Africa incl. Ramfest, Zeplins, The Doors, Klein Libertas Theatre, and The Assembly.
In August it was followed by the release of the 3 hour DVD "The V.O.D Archives Vol. II: Live '93 & Europe '95 - '96".
It was set to be followed by the retrospective CD "The V.O.D Archives Vol. III: Return To The Great Abyss" - a release that may still see the light.


VOD Voice Of Destruction Reunion Tour ALTERnatives

2008 / 2009 the V.O.D classic JMSP appears on the "KOPSKOOT!" compilation album, which pulled together 16 heavy songs in Afrikaans. Produced and compiled by Paul, the album also includes V.O.D-linked K.O.B.U.S., Terminatryx, F8, and Die Kruis, as well as Battery 9, Van Coke Kartel, Insek, Mind Assault, Andre' Van Der Walt, Somerfaan, Lion's Pride, Conquest For Death etc.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Plans for the definitive "V.O.Documentary" - the inside story of "the Godfathers of South African Metal", fluctuated between 2006 ("25 Years Of Destruction") and 2016 ("3 Decades Of Destruction"). In 2017 it got integrated into the wider reaching ALTERnatives series of documentary feature films, also including Battery 9 and No Friends Of Harry.

VOD Voice Of Destruction Wot Demo ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Seventh Demo ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Live 93 VHS ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Black Cathedral ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Black Cathedral VHS ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Death Of Africa CD ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Death Of Africa tape ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Demo Comp ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Finale Dead ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Buff 95 VHS ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Mini CD ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Bloedrivier CD ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Video Vixens VHS ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction Bloedrivier Re CD ALTERnatives
VOD Voice Of Destruction DVD ALTERnatives


Interviews are already underway for the V.O.D ALTERnatives documentary, with band members, key players and people who were there, surviving to tell the tale.
If you feel you have something to add, from being interviewed on camera or supplying photographs, video, news articles and more, contact us.


VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Any sponsors and financial backers keen to get involved in this piece of entertainment history, don't hesitate to contact us.

Like the ALTERnatives Facebook Page
Like the V.O.D Facebook Page

VOD Voice Of Destruction ALTERnatives


Click the No Friends Of Harry and Battery 9 logos below for details and images of the bands :

No Friends Of Harry ALTERnatives Battery 9 ALTERnatives
   



ALTERnatives Documentaries

© 2018
Flamedrop Productions