AN art punk band who once used an industrial grinder during a gig at Colchester Arts Centre have returned with a new album 25 years on from their last record.

Maniac Squat, based in Colchester, first pricked the ears of industry bigwigs back in the mid-1990s with their cult hit F**k Off, named single of the week by Kerrang!.

The group, originally comprised of Tom Wilcox, Michael Giaquinto and Scott Pearce, went on to perform more than 200 gigs, embarking on tours across Europe.

One venue which did not welcome the band back, however, was Colchester Arts Centre, after they smashed a hole in the stage and brandished an industrial grinder.

Following five years of musical notoriety, not least due to their crazed performances, Maniac Squat promptly split after their last record in 1996.

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The trio later re-appeared in the mid-2000s as part of The Chavs, and several of their tracks were used as theme tunes on MTV theme tunes.

Now, a quarter of a century on, the group have reformed and are on the brink of dropping a new concept album of experimental art-work.

The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary, which also leans towards jazz, has been inspired by the work of 18th Christian mystic, author and philosopher, Karl von Eckhartshausen.

Maniac Squat frontman, Tom Wilcox, said: “Our wilderness years were spent stumbling horny from one fix to the next.

“In trying to repair our multi-faceted relationships, we were profoundly affected by the teachings of Karl von Eckartshausen and the key change rubrics of Gustav Mahler.

“These inspirations provoked us into composing separate elements of a larger piece of music.

“We gradually brought the disparate movements together to make one work. There is no coming to consciousness without pain.”

For the record the musicians have teamed up with an all-star ensemble headed up by Davie Bowie and Iggy Pop sideman, Kevin Armstrong, who also produced the album.

Iggy Pop's drummer, Mat Hector, PJ Harvey's sax player, Terry Edwards, and rising Manchester-based rapper, El Zeeko, have also all been drafted in.

The release is also set to be accompanied by a stunning video by art director and film producer, Robert Russell.

The visual is said to capture the intensity of emotions the band delve into with their experimental soundscapes using vibrant, other-worldly imagery.

Producer Kevin Armstrong, who also plays on the record, says he is surprised, but delighted, with how the album has turned out.

He said: “When I was presented the opportunity to help the revival of Maniac Squat little did I imagine our efforts would produce such savage and desolate beauty.”

The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary is slated for release on digital platforms and in a limited-edition vinyl on September 23 and will be available at maniacsquat.com.