The Mark of Cain (band)

The Mark of Cain
John Scott of the Mark of Cain, Livid festival, Brisbane, October 1995
Background information
Also known as	TMOC
Origin	Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Genres	Alternative metal, noise rock, post-hardcore
Years active	1984 (1984)–present
Labels	Phantom, Dominator/Normal, rA/Warner, rA/BMG
Members	John Scott Kim Scott John Stanier & Eli Green
Past members	Rod Archer Gavin Atkinson Roger Crisp Aaron Hewson Campbell Robinson Stuart Baguley Neil Guiver John Rickert Charles Lockey
Website	tmoc.com.au

The Mark of Cain (also seen as the initialism, TMOC) are an alternative metal band from Adelaide, South Australia. Their style has been likened to that of Helmet and Rollins Band, yet this band pre-dates both groups and was influenced by the early work of Joy Division, Big Black and United States hardcore groups. The Mark of Cain were formed in mid-1984 by brothers, John (guitar) and Kim Scott (bass guitar), with Rod Archer on vocals and Gavin Atkinson playing drums. Before long, Archer had left the group and John Scott took on the lead vocal role and the group has remained a trio ever since. The Scotts have been the core of the band which has featured 10 different drummers. Since January 2001, former Helmet member John Stanier has been their drummer; he is also concurrently with Tomahawk and Battles. The self appointed guru of Australian music, Ian McFarlane, described the group's sound as "Gloomy, monotonous vocals and bleak slabs of metallic guitar did battle over a lurching rhythm section to arrive at a harsh sound."^[1] Such erroneous attempts to label the band did not hold true and reflect the consistent efforts of Australia's mainstream 'rock' journalists to put down artists they did not understand. In so far as it is relevant, style wise TMOC were a fusion of Joy Division and Killing Joke, with chorus laced guitar chords played over heavy driving bass and drum rythms in which influence of avant guard bands like Suicide and the'post punk' of Big Black and the Jesus Lizard can be heard. As the band matured a rythmic synchronicity that was more a characteristic of metal crossover bands that came later like Fudge Tunnel and Tool. This however distracts from the fact they were (and are) heavy, fast and precise and the definitive bands of the time, like Nirvana were none of those things.

Throughout the 90's Australian concert goers saw the emergence of bands that challenged the status quo. Major label influence was challenged by the rise of so-called "Alternative" bands. The likes of Big Black, Shellac, Helmet, the Jesus Lizard and Rollins Band were gaining fans in Australia. Many were suprised to learn that among these overseas musicians were fans of an Adelaide band: The Mark of Cain. Guest programmers on ABC's Rage like Henry Rollins, Lydia Lunch and Sepultura played the 'Battlesick' music video. Rollins praised the band, saying there were bands in the USA that were trying to play 'that kind' of music, but were years behind TMOC. Rollins would go on to produce 'Ill At Ease', the bands most popular album to date.

Rod Archer died on 26 February 2016. 2019 marked the 30th Anniversary of the release of the Battlesick album. A major national tour took place in October and the album was re-released on vinyl to celebrate the occasion. Eli Green again tours with the band fulfilling the drumming duties.^[2]

In 2020 the band celebrated 25 years since the release of album 'Ill At Ease' however plans were interrupted by the worldwide COVID-19 infectious disease, delaying tour plans to celebrate this anniversary milestone. 2022 saw 'A Different Kind Of Tension Tour' announced, kicking off in August with the band playing two shows in their hometown of Adelaide on the back of the band's induction into the South Australian Music Association’s Hall of Fame,^[3] sitting alongside other legends including No Fixed Address, Cold Chisel, The Angels, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter and the Masters Apprentices. The band also played dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and finishing the tour on the Gold Coast and Brisbane in September.

The Mark Of Cain in 2023 announced for the first time ever they will be performing their 1995 magnum-opus 'Ill At Ease' live as part of The Eighty-Six Festival at the Croxton Bandroom in Melbourne in October, however due to a severe bike accident with significant injuries to Kim Scott all shows in September and October were cancelled.

TMOC however performed 'Ill At Ease' live across all states in November 2023 to January 2024 after Kim recovers. The tour coincides with a deluxe remastered vinyl reissue of the 1995 classic for the first time. In addition, a companion piece Livid Live '96, a set from Brisbane's 1996 Livid Festival, was remixed by Phil McKellar and made available on vinyl. Both vinyl albums were released on the 4th of November 2023.