The prolific UK DIY label Cruel Nature was founded by Steve Strode in 2013 and is run from his home in Morpeth, Northumberland. In eight years it has released over 150 recordings in cassette tape and digital download formats, ranging from avant punk and experimental sludge to industrial noise and lo-fi electronics. This selection of tracks – with annotations by Strode – serves as a companion to Joseph Stannard's Unlimited Editions profile of the label in The Wire 451.

Sarcastic Burn Victim
“Michaeldouglasplatz”
From Blood & Stomach Pills

A London based sextet fronted by Zara Skumshot and notable for the excoriating horn interventions of Sax Pest. Their album Blood & Stomach Pills is described by Strode as "an improvised skronkfest that fuses free jazz and grindcore, underpinned by a wry sense of humour".

Salisman & His Blessed Eunuchs
“Wilter's Dream”
From Absolution

Comprised of two Chicago musicians and a Geordie electrician, Salisman & His Blessed Eunuchs represent the more melodic and accessible side of Cruel Nature. "A slight departure from your standard CN fare, this is one that 6Music would (should) be all over if they bothered to check out the goodness that is coming up from the underground. An Anglo-American collaboration with exemplary attention to detail in terms of overall sonic presentation and Tyneside’s Chris Tate (of d_rradio/Score) on the dials with added electronic sounds and production wizardry. It starts off in a staple indie rock vein but then verges into a territory of psychedelic weirdness, exploring various aspects of Americana past. Album number two looks to be another moment of greatness." 


Ballpeen
“Dairy Queen”
From Pachinko

Ballpeen were formed in 2017 by members of Tide Of Iron, Grace, Jinn, OZO and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaind. "Pachinko is an 8-track rager from stalwarts of the Newcastle post-hardcore scene. Ballpeen are one of those bands who I had to publish after witnessing many of their face-meltingly intense live shows. Solid musicianship all round and packaged in one of the finest designs James Watts has ever laid on a CN inlay. Condenses all the best bits from labels like Amphetamine Reptile, Touch & Go, etc and then some."

Mirrored Lips
“Mermaid”
From Сексуальность неуместна

Though firmly rooted in the North East scene, Strode's willingness to look farther afield for potential collaborators is demonstrated by his work with artists such as Russian experimental punk trio Mirrored Lips. "The CN friendship with Mirrored Lips first occurred with their debut for the label, 2016's MOM. On the back of that, I organised and travelled with them on their first UK-wide tour in 2017, which included stopping off at The Soundroom in Gateshead (since closed due to the impact of Covid) to record and mix this album, showcasing the tracks that made up their blistering live set on that tour and cemented their connections with the North East, leading to further visits and recordings when back in the UK."

Lip Critic
“Scammer”
From Split LP

One of Cruel Nature's most potent recent releases is a split LP between New York electropunks Lip Critic and industrial sludge outfit Omnibael from Stoke on Trent. "It joins together two acts who on paper possibly sound like they shouldn’t go together but it actually works as two separate releases or as a whole. The two acts are certainly more contrasting than overtly complementary, but that’s the key to the success of this release. New York City’s Lip Critic fully embrace the electronic, using it to construct a car spray-painted with all shades of hiphop, which they then proceed to drive headlong into a wall. Repeatedly. It may be a rather clumsy analogy, but on hearing this, it will make sense. From industrial jungle to electropunk drum ’n’ bass, Lip Critic pack a lot of insanity into five short songs. The industrial leanings of Stoke on Trent’s Omnibael are a whole lot more serious, and a whole lot bleaker, evoking vintage Pitch Shifter and Godflesh: hard, heavy and propelled by clanging metallic beats, theirs is the sound of rage, of fury, of powerlessness and nihilism."

Lovely Wife
“Just Desserts”
From Audible Beef

Newcastle upon Tyne's Lovely Wife feel somewhat representative of Cruel Nature's aesthetic overall, being both mordantly amusing and crushingly heavy, sonically extreme yet free from pompous self-regard. "North Tyneside's finest centre around the duo of vocals (James Watts) and bass (Joe Garrick) and a revolving cast of drummers and additional miscreants. Performing entirely improvised material that slides easily from depth charge doom to noise rock madness, with influences ranging from Eagle Twin, Melvins and Iron Monkey through to Lightning Bolt, Fossils and The Butthole Surfers. Audible Beef builds on their debut release for CN (2017's Problem Rock), employing again the amazing Paul Leary-esque guitar talents of Jon O'Neill. A record that made folks sit up and take notice and saw the band start to shape and channel the chaotic pummelling riffery of their live performances, to develop – dare we say it – songs."

Wire subscribers can read Joseph Stannard’s September 2021 Unlimited Editions feature on Cruel Nature in The Wire 451 via the online archive