“IS JIM DAVIES THE UK'S MOST EXCITING GUITARIST?" - TOTAL GUITAR.
VICTORY PILL is the brainchild of former Pitchshifter/Prodigy axeman JIM DAVIES, long considered one of the UK's most revered guitarists, whose much documented first break came in the form of The Prodigy where he shaped his style playing on several tracks on their breakthrough Fat Of The Land album including Prodigy staples “Firestarter” and “Breathe”, as well as supplying guitars on the bands next 2 records. Jim toured worldwide with the band including a headline slot at Reading 2001
“I started playing guitar, solely rock/metal. My turning point was when 'dance' bands like The Prodigy started using guitars. I loved all the squelchy synth sounds and textures which I started to replicate on the guitar. I also started to get more into effects and sounds which I think is when I developed a bit of a unique style for myself."
A fan and regular stage-diver at Pitchshifter gigs Jim approached JS Clayden after a show in 1997. "We got talking and he suggested I add some guitars to some of their tunes. He gave me a demo of www.pitchshifter.com. I added some guitars for a track called “Please Sir” after which the band invited me to Nottingham to record it. I ended up playing on 6 tracks and was asked to join the band.
The track 'WYSIWYG' is one of my favourite solos ever, it’s the most bizarre sounding lead ever, which was the idea.". Jim toured relentlessly around the globe with Pitchshifter and then went on to co-write the albums Deviant and PSI . Jims last gig for Pitchshifter was immortalised as the Bootlegged, Distorted Live album."My last gig with them was a massive high and I will always remember it as such"
A unique brand of Modern Rock with a dark, electronic side, VICTORY PILL came to fruition after Jim’s departure from PSI, when he teamed up with former Prodigy drummer Kieron Pepper.
“I had a big writing session over a few months which resulted in nearly 20 tunes. I played
the tracks to Kieron and realised that I needed to get a band together. I tried vocals for the first time and it seemed to work well". With Kieron on board as a Bass player and second vocalist VICTORY PILL was formed. "We played a few gigs on the quiet to see how the music was working live. It worked but was lacking some of the electronic darkness I was after so we took stock and started approaching some producers, John Ross (who produced Hyper an electronic band I tour with) worked on a few tracks . We then met up with Pete "Pistol" Crossman who was totally on our wave length, he ended up mixing the whole album and producing most of it."
With that pedigree, it is no surprise then that the result is a mammoth debut album of inventive and infectious sounds, like the explosive "Downfall" and "Another Clone" as well as the critically acclaimed first single "Worst Case Scenario".
"I've taken my time on this, but I think this is the best music I've ever done. I've found some great new guitar sounds. It would be impossible for me to write an album that all sounded in a similar vein. I have to mix it up that's what keeps it fresh and exciting for me.” Davies concludes.
VICTORY PILL hits stores 10/23 on Corporate Punishment/Koch.
"Instant ,catchy, rocking riffage. This lives up to its superb pedigree." -
Eddie Temple - XFM
"Victory Pill are going to soon be making their mark on a rock scene
starved of a decent electro-rock band...."
-www.planet-loud.com
"Impressive debut single from Jim Davies
(ex-Pitchshifter/ProdigyGuitarist) - like a mix between both of his previous
bands, with the earnest melodic bent of BoySetsFire - great stuff!!
http://www.subba-cultcha.com
"The Prospects for Victory Pill are very good, with an inventive
& infectious sound.." www.last.fm/music
"I really like this..." - Malcolm Dome - Total Rock
"Great work from professional musicians...." Girl Talk
"Interesting noise from ex-Pitchshifter and Prodigy members " - Ho
"Former Pitchshifter and Prodigy Guitarist Jim Davies returns...." Express
"Industrial rock with a melodic edge...."Metro
