U.K. hardcore outfit Stampin’ Ground owed as much to metal bands such as Venom and Slayer as they did to their punk predecessors. Formed in early 1995, they released the 7-inch single ‘Dawn Of Night’ on the Days Of Fury label, and won support slots with Sick Of It All, Slapshot, and Ignite. After signing with the German label We Bite they released 1997’s DEMONS RUN AMOK, a well-received collection of slow grinding riffs and punishing arrangements. They moved to Century Media for 1998’s AN EXPRESSION OF REPRESSED VIOLENCE, and made their first visit to the United States that same year, supporting Cause For Alarm and Boston nihilists Blood For Blood. The excellent CARVED FROM EMPTY WORDS (2000) was followed by 2003’s equally impressive A NEW DARKNESS UPON US.