Grinderman

Over the past four decades, Nick Cave has evolved from The Birthday Party's neo-Iggy freakazoid to one of Australia's most respected, if challenging, artists, writers and filmmakers. He's also found success with The Bad Seeds, an ensemble exploring the shadowy abyss between gothic rock and art song. But as the emergence of Grinderman proves, you can't ever take the freakazoid out of the man. The quartet, which also includes Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos, grew straight out of The Bad Seeds. Cave, in various interviews, has said he and his mates wanted to start a band that didn't carry the weight of the Seeds. Translation: Enough with the poetry, it's time to rock! Cave isn't the sonic terrorist he once was, but Grinderman's self-titled debut, released in 2006, rocked harder than just about any record that came out of the indie universe. The record features Cave playing some guitar, nearly a first. But it's Grinderman's other axeman, Ellis, who steals the show, unleashing a vile barrage of post-punk grind-n-squeal. With no signs of middle-age fatigue, the group released the equally savage Ginderman 2 in 2010.