Torment

Torment were a UK psychobilly band who came out of Bristol in late 1985 and were active through the end of the decade, winding down around 1990 or shortly after. The band was formed by singer and guitarist Simon Brand after he left Frenzy, teaming up with drummer Kevin Haynes and double bassist Sean Holder. Like a lot of bands in the scene at the time, they quickly became part of the tight-knit UK psychobilly circuit and were regulars at London’s Klub Foot, which was basically the heart of the scene in the 1980s. 

Line-ups shifted a bit over the years, especially on double bass. Sean Holder didn’t stay long, and Simon Crowfoot took over bass duties for most of the band’s classic period, later followed by Vince Mildren. Despite the changes, Simon Brand was always the core of the band and the main creative force, giving Torment a pretty consistent identity throughout their run. 

Their debut album, 'Psyclops Carnival', came out in 1986 on Nervous Records and immediately set them apart. While they were clearly psychobilly, Torment didn’t lean heavily into the usual horror-movie clichés or cartoonish shock themes. Instead, their songs were often more personal, darker, and sometimes introspective, which made them stand out in a genre that was often loud, fast, and deliberately over the top. Musically, they mixed classic psychobilly with touches of rockabilly, swing, and even hints of punk and neorockabilly. 

They followed up quickly with 'Three’s a Crowd' in 1987, then 'Round the World' in 1989, and finally 'Hypnosis' in 1990. Across those albums you can hear the band experimenting more, stretching the genre a bit without completely leaving it behind. They also released EPs like 'Mystery Men' and appeared on key compilations such as the "Stomping at the Klub Foot" series, which helped cement their reputation, especially across Europe. 

Live, Torment were well respected and toured widely, particularly in continental Europe, where psychobilly had a huge and very loyal following. By the early 1990s, though, things slowed down. Simon Brand eventually moved abroad, and after his death in the mid-1990s, any real possibility of a full revival ended.

 
Even though they weren’t around for that long, Torment left a solid mark on the genre. They’re remembered as a band that proved psychobilly didn’t have to be all gimmicks and horror imagery, and that you could still be part of the scene while writing more thoughtful, emotionally heavy songs.