Spider Kitten

Spider Kitten is a group from Newport, United Kingdom, active since 2001. The band begins as a two-piece without a drummer and develops into a larger line-up over time, with a revolving membership that includes Rob Davies, G. Day, Jeesus Jones, Steve O Jones, Chi Lameo, Huw Morgan, Ptew, Chris West and Alex White. The longest-standing members are Chi Lameo and Al, and the group has at its most populated included seven players, among them four guitarists and drummer Chris West.

Style and approach

The group works across ambient, doom metal, drone, metal, noise and progressive rock, and is also associated with doom metal, stoner metal, stoner doom, stoner rock and noise rock. Its music moves between extremely slow experimental drone metal, doom-tinged grunge, industrial-leaning hard rock and expansive psychedelia. Across different periods, the band is described as drawing on heavy guitar tone, vintage analogue amplifiers and a deliberately underground approach.

Releases and activity

Spider Kitten releases its music through its own Rugland label and also makes material available as free downloads via its Bandcamp page. Its discography includes _LP (2003), Cat Beach Landing (2003), Live At E10 (2003), Chi Lameo LP (2004), Things I Can't Kill (2005), Dead Beat (2007), Ineffable (2007), Mud River Blues (2008), Future Echos (2008), Rats From A Sinking Ship (2009), Spider Kitten / Atomck Split (2009), Llanrumney (2009), Live 2004 (2009), Burdened (2009), Routine (2010), Driven Men (2010), Twin Obscenities / Semi Auto Construct (2010), Science Insults Your Intelligence (2010), To Let The Winter In (2010), Making Paradise Possible (2011), Cougar Club (2012), Behold Mountain, Hail Sea, Venerate Sky, Bow Before Tree (2014) and Toker (2015).

Related projects

Members of the band also work in other styles outside Spider Kitten, including depressive solo black metal, punky sludge, grindcore, harsh noise and indie rock. The group is also noted for staying outside scene-based promotion and for building its following gradually through live performance and independent releases.

Live performance

Spider Kitten hosts and plays events in South Wales, including a six-hour Cardiff mini-festival called Loserpalooza.