Eric Clayton & The Nine: The Man, the Scars, the Band and the live show in Athens.

Saviour Machine is a unique band. Saviour Machine has a unique story; a story that could be larger than the band itself. Formed back in 1989 by the brothers Eric and Jeff Clayton, it became an artistic vehicle that could carry the creative minds of both Eric and Jeff, and travel their musical vision in the heart and soul of the audience. But there are different kinds of audience, so let’s just talk about that specific audience that remained close to the heart and soul of Saviour Machine. That audience will never forget the first time that listened to Saviour Machine I (1993) or Saviour Machine II (1994). That audience was shocked at the first time that witnessed the live ceremony of Saviour Machine, and some of them later, couldn’t handle the Legend trilogy. But that incomplete trilogy, was something that no one could handle; not even the artists themselves. And then, sometime after the entrance of the new millennium, Saviour Machine was no more and Eric Clayton was lost…

by Andreas Andreou

The Man. Eric Clayton. A visionary artist and performer. His legacy so far is more than just music and his story is more than just a story… In 2004 Eric got diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus, a condition that got worse over the course of some years. The story is known, so let’s just copy the statement: “We are all familiar with the American healthcare system. You’re not insured, there is no money, we’re gonna pump you full of pills. All kinds of them. The ones that make you feel numb, afraid of everything, weary of contact with anyone. The ones that make you feel dead inside.

This is not a state in which an artist can create. Especially not when you’re dealing with the end of the world every day. Slowly but surely, both Eric’s musical career and his social life burned out. Saviour Machine was dead, his marriage fell apart. With little more on board then some clothes and a baseballbat, Eric Clayton retreated to a trailer in the middle of the Utah dessert, determined not to be found by anyone.”


“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring” - David Bowie


The Scars in the soul of Eric Clayton were created from deep artistic and emotional wounds. A different kind of audience (not the one we spoke about in the beginning), the bold and ambitious Legend trilogy, the music industry, health, things that shouldn’t happen but happened, and things that never happened… And then, Eric Clayton disappeared. Someone could even write a book about those years in the life of Eric Clayton… But actually, this book is already written by Eric himself; The Collective Journals 1997 – 2009.

There were two turning points in the period of Eric Clayton’s life after The Collective Journals 1997 – 2009, so let’s go somewhere in the mid-10s. Eric was invited by Arjen Lucassen to perform at the Ayreon spin-off The Theatre Equation (2015) in Netherlands. Then, one person enter his life and another one left the mortal world. Eric met his future wife, and David Bowie died. David Bowie and Black Sabbath are Clayton’s biggest influence. Jeff Clayton has even recorded an amazing complete album inspired by Black Sabbath, while in my recent meeting with Eric, once the show in Athens was completed, his first words to me were, “Great t-shirt!”… I was wearing a Black Sabbath one.

Along with his brother Jeff, Eric decided to pay a tribute to David Bowie and started the Bowie Decade project, in which, for a whole year, they recorded and released on bandcamp, a Bowie cover (from his first decade) every month! I’ve been following Eric Clayton since ages and it was very nice to see that the desire for music was back again. This whole procedure was like a redemption and month by month, you could see the evolution of music. Shortly, former members of Saviour Machine, Nathan Van Hala (keyboards) and Charles Cooper (bass) joined this project and that eventually led to the reunion of Saviour Machine.

Listen to the Bowie: Decade project HERE

The writing sessions for new Saviour Machine material started and it was announced that the album will be called Saviour Machine III. However, during those writing sessions - that will take their time, and the album won’t hit the record stores before 2021 – Eric came up with material that didn’t exactly fit for Saviour Machine; it was different and deeply personal…


The Band under the name Eric Clayton & The Nine was formed in 2018. As Saviour Machine are currently not able to tour, Eric formed this band, and they started playing selected concerts, performing Saviour Machine songs and few covers.

Eric Clayton had already decided to move permanently to Europe (specifically in Germany) in the summer of 2017. Then, he was teamed with few talented musicians from the Netherlands: Jeroen Geerts (guitar), Bas Albersen (guitar), Rob Dokter (bass), Twan Bakker (drums) and Ludo Caanen (keyboards). Eric Clayton & The Nine performed seven live shows during the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, including Hammer of Doom festival and Brainstorm fest. During that time, new songs started taking shape and now, a new album is already written. The album will be named A Thousand Scars and shortly, the band will enter studio for recordings, with Devon Graves helping with the production.

The live show in Athens, is the ninth show of Eric Clayton & The Nine, and that number seems more suitable than ever before. When Eric Clayton & The Nine were announced that will perform two dates in Greece, 27th of September in Thessaloniki and 28th of September in Athens, at Demons Gate Festival (along with names like Meden Agan, Doomocracy, On Thorns I Lay, Sorcerer and Saturnus), the Greek audience was expecting something unique. Few fans in Thessaloniki weren’t really satisfied, but the ninth show of the band in Athens, was full of passion and emotions, both from the artists on stage and the audience.   

The masks were on stage, but Eric wasn’t wearing one. He doesn’t have to hide anything, anymore, and the band started with “Helter Skelter”, a cover from The Beatles. And then, the masks were off and classic Saviour Machine songs filled the venue. “Christians and Lunatics”, “Enter the Idol”, “The Mask” and an amazing performance of the “Killer”. Then, Eric said that he needs to perform the next song and it was something personal, so David Bowie’s “Five Years” was the next cover. While in the first minutes of the show it seemed that the band needed to find its steps on the stage, we already started to experience something unique. Just like what we really wanted from such a band; and even more. Eric’s voice still sounds emotional and his stage presence is captivating. As for The Nine – The Band, I don’t think that Eric could find more suitable musicians to share his vision and all together share the same passion and love for music. Jeroen and Bas on guitars, Rob on bass, an amazing Twan Bakker on drums and Ludo on keys, all were magnificent.

“Ludicrous Smiles”, “The Wicked Window”, “Son of the Rain”, “Ascension of Heroes” and the apotheosis of “The Stand” (probably the highlight of the night) were next in line. At that point, two new songs were performed, from the upcoming A Thousand Scars album, “The Space Between Us” and “American Whore”. Both of them sounded very good and it seems that the debut album of Eric Clayton & The Nine will be an inspirational, emotional and beautiful release.

A very different performance of “Carnival of Souls” was next, and the show ended with “Legion” and “Love Never Dies”. Eric went off stage and became one with the audience. The kind of audience we spoke about in the beginning. The kind of audience that is one with the artist. The artist we missed for so many years, and finally is back with us.


Welcome back.

Doom over the world... from bands that are not doom metal!

While I have in mind to work on a "best of" Doom Metal article, it seems that a proper work will take lot of time, and the additional contribution of musicians involved in the greatest albums of the genre, is more than needed. So, while this article is in the labyrinth of my mind (along with other ideas) and will reach the exit sometime in the future, let's pick 10 songs that have a strong doom metal vibe (some of them are actually doom metal) from bands... that have nothing to do with Doom Metal!

We will probably continue this type of articles with more genres, but for now, let's just spread doom over the world.

VENOM - Warhead

Originally released as a single in 1984, few months before the album "At War with Satan", "Warhead" is a heavy possessed anthem that stands among those Venom tracks released as singles only, and remain favourite fan songs. We are already at a period where the New Wave of British Heavy Metal started to fade, but its mark upon metal music never faded. Venom started as part of the NWoBHM movement but during the early '80s, they were something different. Sinister, vicious and everything society hated. One of the most important and influential bands of metal music. Thrash metal, black metal and all things extreme metal, owe a small debt to Cronos, Mantas and Abaddon.

During the NWoBHM we had bands like Witchfinder General,  that were highly influenced by Black Sabbath and offered doom metal in its early forms, but Venom was a unique beast and in 1984 tried different things. Among them, "Warhead", stands as one of their very best songs.  Hear the thunder roar, engraved on flesh and bone.

SCORPIONS - Animal Magnetism

Here we have a true doom metal song. Weird isn't it? This is Scorpions, the greatest German hard rock / heavy metal band, that has sold millions of albums, and yet, back in 1980 (!) they recorded a doom metal song. Following "The Zoo", "Animal Magnetism" is the last track of the same titled album that was released between "Lovedrive" (1979) and "Blackout" (1982), two of the most important and well-known albums of the band. Despite the fact that "Animal Magnetism" was the first Scorpions album that reached platinum status in the USA, somehow remain underrated. Scorpions' guitarist and composer, Rudolf Schenker, has said to Malcolm Dome and Classic Rock that "it's a really powerful album" and ranked it as Number 4 among his 10 favourite Scorpions albums. I don't know if we can take Rudolf seriously since among those 10 albums there is none before "Lovedrive" but we all know the "weird" look of artists upon their legacy and art.

I remember when US power metallers Sanctuary played live in Athens, Greece, in September of 2011, and among the classics of "Refuge Denied" and 'Into the Mirror Black", they also performed a cover of "Animal Magnetism", and most of the attendants didn't recognize that song. If you are not familiar with that doom metal gem, have a listen!

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP - Lost Horizons

Micheal Schenker's debut album ("The Michael Schenker Group") was also released in 1980. Michael Schenker left UFO and briefly joined Scorpions during "Lovedrive", just to leave after a while and start his own band. "Lost Horizons" is taken from his debut album and his playing has all those elements that influenced a generation of metal guitarists, including many ones from Sweden... Funny how, Memento Mori have covered both "Lost Horizons"  and "Animal Magnetism".

DANZIG - Pain in the World

Off Danzig's second album, "Danzig II - Lucifuge", the closing track is about a heart full of hell and sin. The first 4 Danzig albums include songs that balance between dark rock, slow, groovy heavy metal, blues and lot of experimental sounds. Let's say that Danzig play heavy dark rock and we will be fine! But "Pain in the World" is doomed.  

KING DIAMOND - Digging Graves 

Once a King, always a King. Right? Or not? Well, King Diamond's return over the last years is filled with praise because of his great live shows. There are even people that believe he is in his best shape, ever. It's been a "while" since his last studio album ("Give Me Your Soul... Please", 2007) but just few hours ago, he performed at Hellfest in France a new song! Hopefully, the new album will hit the shelves of the record stores in the next months.

King Diamond's legacy is one of the most important and greatest in metal history, incuding of course, both King Diamond band and Mercyful Fate. Just have a look at all those great musicians that played in these bands, next to King Diamond. Few of them, have also a doom metal history. "Digging Graves" is taken from "The Graveyard" (1996), one of King Diamond's modern classics, and dwells in insanity and doomed feelings.

YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN - Dark Ages 

While Candlemass go neoclassical at "Into the Unfathomed Tower" (from "Tales of Creation", 1989), when they released their monumental debut album, Yngwie Malmsteen released his third solo album ("Trilogy") and "Dark Ages" is a great neoclassical doomed piece, that could be more epic (?) if it was longer. To be or not to be, Maestro is fast, but when he goes slower, he still rules, and there is always a great epic feeling in Malmsteen's slower songs.

ZOOL - Cross of Greed 

When Henrik Flyman (guitars) and Martin Häggström (vocals) disbanded Moahni Moahna in 1997, they formed another unique band under the name Zool, but besides the same-titled album in 2002, they were lost into oblivion. Flyman continued with Evil Masquerade and among others, he was also involved with Epic Irae / Quicksand Dream. While Moahni Moahna still remains a personal favourite and underrated act, Zool in "Cross of Greed" pay a tribute to Dio-era Black Sabbath. And that's just great.

SAVIOUR MACHINE - The Beast 

I just love Saviour Machine. Eric Clayton is one of the most charismatic and emotional performers out there. "The Beast" is taken from "Legend I" (1997) and the Apocalypse is a great concept for Saviour Machine. The story is not completed (and I don't know if it will ever be) but what Saviour Machine tried to do, still remains majestic and unique. And that concept can offer many doomed moments... Behold the nail, the sentence of death, and Jesus wept, it is manifest.

TWISTED SISTER - Destroyer

When Dee Snider and Co. put you under the blade, you will be destroyed. Funny thing is that someone could say that "Destroyer" is inspired by the "God of Thunder" track of Kiss, that's included in their album... "Destroyer"(1976)! Originally released in 1982, decades later, "Destroyer" still remains a killer, ultra heavy anthem and a fan favourite live track. When Twisted Sister were performing in various festivals around Europe, once "Destroyer" was hitting the stage and doomsters haven't heard of them, they were turning their heads to watch the stage, wondering "how the fuck did I miss this"?

MANOWAR - Dark Avenger

There is no need to include epic heavy metal bands here, since many of them have songs with a strong doom metal vibe. But we cannot leave aside Manowar since from their debut album, "Battle Hymns" (1982), they offered to the world an epic doom metal masterpiece entitled, "Dark Avenger". "These bones may be broken but the spirit can't die". No need to mention something else.