10 21st Century Rock/Metal Albums That Never Got A Sequel

Talk to many in the alt music world and few will have a stronger shout for ‘band that should’ve made it big’ more than Nottingham-based hardcore ruffians HECK.

Formerly known as Baby Godzilla (where they did release an album but new name, new discography, or something), HECK were immensely popular in their pomp. Their reputation became so great, Japanese entertainment company Toho Inc. had to serve them legal papers over the group’s use of “Godzilla”, prompting the name change. Their sole release as HECK came in 2016 with the album Instructions, further cementing themselves as one of the UK’s brightest talents.

You know the score by now though; in 2017, HECK announced suddenly that they would be disbanding. No reason was given (though it’s easy to look at financial ramifications stemming from the Toho lawsuit), but the HECK side project Haggard Cat soon became the main squeeze for vocalist/guitarist Matt Reynolds and drummer Tom Marsh.

HECK would return for a short run of shows in mid-2022 (initially disguised under the name Knuckles of Ice) along with the brand-new song “Static Noise; Mozart”. For 2023 though, focus has returned to Haggard Cat, with shows alongside The Bronx and Mutoid Man interspersed with spending time in the studio for album #3.