Shrum - 1997 - Red Devils and Purple Ringers

SHRUM was created by Audie T. Pitre in 1995 when he got the idea of putting two bass players together, in order to create a brutal sound. He shared this idea with Tommy Viator and they began creating what was the beginning of SHRUM. They were undecided as to whom they would get to play the second bass position. They asked Joseph J. Fontenot (they knew from a band called Shredding Lettuce) if he would be interested in the concept of a forming a band together with two bassists, drums and vocals. Enter second bassist, Joseph. The only question now was, who could they possibly get to become the vocalist, this would complete the "total package". Audie was a member of Louisiana's most notorious metal band Acid Bath, their singer Dax Riggs was the first one considered for the vocalist position of SHRUM. Dax went to one of the band's jam sessions and worked on a song. A song that would eventually become "Tears Of A Marionette". Dax's melody was perfect for the song but his lyrics just didn't work. Dax lived very far away, from everyone else in the band so it just didn't work out, unfortunately. Scott Leger would listen in on SHRUM's jam sessions. He said that he was a vocalist, but none of the band members had ever heard him. He was asked to try out for the vocalist position in SHRUM. The first practice he came to was very rough, he was trying to mimic Dax and that was definitely not what SHRUM was looking for. "We wanted something original" says Joseph. Audie then told Scott that he should be himself and sing with emotion. With that said, entered the brutal vocal style of Scott Leger Jr. SHRUM was on the verge of playing live shows, when abruptly Audie Pitre's life was taken in an automobile accident, along with his parent's lives. Red Devils and Purple Ringers were released to raise money for Audie Layne (Audie's son). The tape sold extremely well, eventually selling out completely. SHRUM completed it's first show with Kelly Pitre (Audie's little brother) filling in on bass. It was an outdoor block party. The response, and turnout for the event was absolutely unbelievable. After all this time had passed, people were still itching to here SHRUM play live. Since that time SHRUM has played a show at Zeppelins in New Orleans La. with Goatwhore. The show went great, afterward the band gave an interview to New South Metal Magazine. The question was asked "What does the future hold for SHRUM?" the answer was, "The future is wide open." As of right now SHRUM is no longer together, but legacy of Audie, and the SHRUM crew lives on threw their music. 

1997 - Red Devils and Purple Ringers

Track Listing:

1. Drip
2. Virus
3. Cybergod
4. Michelle Song
5. Psychedellic Abomination
6. Tears of a Marionette
7. Technodrone
8. Generation Hate
9. Disincarnation

Thanks to Tim over at angrychairs for posting this a while back, I had lost this tape YEARS ago, and this was tottally refreshing to hear again.

RIP Audie!