History
Hilt
Hilt emerged as a side project from the influential industrial music group Skinny Puppy, though its origins trace back to Vancouver's early punk scene. Vocalist Al Nelson and multi-instrumentalist cEVIN kEY first collaborated in the late 1970s under the moniker Illegal Youth. Following the dissolution of Illegal Youth, Key became a prominent figure in the synth-pop band Images in Vogue before co-founding Skinny Puppy.
Musical Roots and Resumption of Collaboration
While Nelson continued to explore punk-oriented projects, he also began contributing to Skinny Puppy as a cinematographer for their distinctive concert films. Nelson and Key rekindled their musical partnership periodically, often joined by Skinny Puppy's Dwayne Goettel. However, a formal recording project didn't materialize until the Nettwerk label challenged the trio to create music with a minimal budget.
Debut and Subsequent Releases
Accepting the challenge, the trio enlisted longtime Skinny Puppy producer Dave "Rave" Ogilvie for their 1990 debut album, Call the Ambulance Before I Hurt Myself. Ogilvie also brought in guest musicians, including Betsy Martin and Mark Shaffer from Caterwaul. The resulting album shared sonic similarities with Skinny Puppy but offered its own unique stylistic deviations. Hilt followed up with various singles and a second album in 1991, Journey to the Center of the Bowl. The project eventually wound down as Key and Goettel focused their energies on Skinny Puppy. Al Nelson passed away in 2000.
