Revolver (UK)

Revolver is a London-based guitar band active from 1990 to 1994. The line-up comprises Mat Flint on guitar and vocals, Hamish Brown on bass, and Nick Dewey on drums. Flint and Dewey play in school bands together before moving to London in autumn 1990, where they meet Brown and complete the group.

Career

The band signs to Hut Records, a Virgin Records subsidiary, in summer 1991 after drawing interest from several labels. They build a following through support slots with Chapterhouse, Slowdive, Teenage Fanclub, and Blur, and receive coverage in NME, Melody Maker, and The Face.

Revolver’s early singles are “Heaven Sent An Angel”, “Crimson”, and “Venice”. All three reach the top of the UK independent charts. The first three singles are compiled in the United States as Baby’s Angry on Caroline Records, which helps the band gain airplay on US college radio. The group tours America in autumn 1992 as co-headliners with Drop Nineteens, also on Caroline.

Recording and style

In 1993, Revolver releases “Cradle Snatch” and then the album Cold Water Flat. Their later material is described as more developed than the earlier singles, although it does not match the same level of sales. The final single, “I Wear Your Chain”, does not reach the top 75, and Virgin drops the band. Revolver splits at the beginning of 1994 after failing to secure another label deal.

The band’s music is characterised by bright, abrasive guitar pop with strong melodies. It is often associated with the shoegaze scene, a label the band itself does not welcome.

Aftermath

After Revolver ends, Mat Flint plays bass for Death In Vegas from 1996 onwards. He also works with Deep Cut, releasing the singles “Commodity” and “Time To Kill”. Deep Cut’s debut album My Thoughts Light Fires is released on Club AC30 Records.