Project: Venhell - Pfft to Your Rules

Stonehaven is usually noted for its bracing wind, but four lads have managed to body-swerve the current and concentrate their efforts on making "terrible metal." Project: Venhell formed in a drunken haze in the now defunct, but previously downtrodden, local nightclub, The Vennel. Mini, Rikki and Hines, undeterred by sobriety, subsequently enlisted Gav (Rikki's Brother). After deciding to change the name to incorporate the word 'hell' - because "this is what cool kids do," claims vocalist Hines, in his typically self effacing manner - Project: Venhell was born.

In early 2006 P:VH released their debut album Ifeelbackwhatthey'relookingatmefor through their own label, Valentine Bitch. The song titles Pfft to Your Rules and Amazing Toast should clue you in to the fact that there is more than a hint of irony to this music. "Lyrics?! Haha, everything we say is just a bunch of crap that Hines makes up on the spot about two seconds after a song has been written," says Mini in all seriousness. But lest you begin to think that this is the work of a novelty band, rest assured that this is arguably one of the most original debut albums to have been released by a Scottish band in the last 12 months.

However, it is their live performances that demonstrate the full strength of P:VH. Having played T in the Park and supported Lightning Bolt, last year was a good one for the band. "Playing with Lightning Bolt is all we ever wanted to do, and we managed to do it. Which was a pleasing moment." Thankfully this does not mean the end of the road. Next on the agenda? "Destroy Europe." March sees the quartet tour Scotland, England, France, Belgium and Germany before returning to the motherland to record their second album with Schneider TM in the summer.

This connection also took vocalist Hines to SXSW last year where he played with Schneider man Michael Beckett in his punk side project Beautiful New Born Children. Not content with three bands, Hines has also set up another pet project with Beckett named UncleDogsBoy: "I went out to Germany a few months back to record on the next BNBC album and we had a bunch of spare time - so myself, under the guise of HeinzHines, and Kpt.Michigan (Beckett) had some beers and spent a few days in the studio getting drunk and making some semi-improvised noisy pop from samples we had taken and just a bunch of pedals for stuff and a guitar. It was a good week of fun!"

Beyond Project: Venhell, this coastal town has given life to another of Scotland's finest alternative bands of the moment. But there is no mutual appreciation society in Stonehaven. "Copy Haho? We spit in their general direction. Despite sharing band members, they are still jerk-offs!" jokes Mini.

Undoubtedly, the absence of any 'scene' in Stonehaven has had a positive effect of Project: Venhell. Far from being insular, they have taken their innovative DIY music across Britain, soon across Europe and if their second album turns out to be anything like the first, then probably the world. And why not? They seem unaffected by the style over content scenesterism currently dominating the central belt. As they cheerfully stumbled on stage at T in the Park last year - with denim cut-offs like little boys lost - to deliver one of the most intense sets of the weekend, it soon became clear that although this band are novel, they are far from novelty.