Pulkas

Lore & Background

Pulkas were formed in 1995 by Luke Lloyd (vocals), Martin Bourne (guitar), Jules McBride (bass) and Rob Lewis (drums) after meeting on the London Underground. The band released a demo tape containing the songs 'Control' and 'This Is It', which later appeared on their debut album 'Greed'. This demo caught the attention of Earache Records, and the band was signed after less than ten performances. The album 'Greed', produced by Colin Richardson, was released in early 1998. Pulkas later toured with Dub War, Janus Stark and Misery Loves Co. as part of the Earache NextGen tour in 1998. After the release of 'Greed', the band decided they wanted to be under a larger record label, which violated their contract with Earache that promised at least three more studio albums. The band broke contact with Earache, leading to legal proceedings. In October 2002, the band changed their name to I:AM:I due to what they described as 'boring tedious music business bullshit', hired a new drummer, and announced a tour with Zero Cipher, Aconite Thrill, The Goose and Mumcuss. The band broke apart shortly after.

Reader's Guide

Pulkas's significance lies in their brief but impactful presence in the British nu metal scene of the late 1990s. Their debut album 'Greed', produced by Colin Richardson, was released in early 1998 and featured the singles 'Control' and 'This Is It'. The band's signing to Earache Records after fewer than ten performances highlights the early promise that attracted the label. Their subsequent contractual troubles with Earache, stemming from a desire to move to a larger label, led to legal proceedings and ultimately a name change to I:AM:I in October 2002. The band's legacy includes being cited as a major influence by fellow English band earthtone9, who compared them to Killing Joke. Despite their short career, Pulkas left a mark on the underground metal scene, with their music and story serving as a cautionary tale about the challenges of navigating the music industry.

Did You Know?

• Pulkas formed after the members met on the London Underground.
• Their debut album 'Greed' was produced by Colin Richardson.
• The band changed its name to I:AM:I in October 2002 due to 'boring tedious music business bullshit'.
• Fellow English band earthtone9 have cited Pulkas as a major influence, comparing them to Killing Joke.