This is no story of sex and drugs; it is a story of rock, hard work and talent. However, unlike most great odysseys this one began in Warrington when four would-be student rockers decided to form their very own band. Influenced by Faith No More, Led Zeppelin, and Green Day they went by the name of 4ft Soldiers which reflected their desire, like Monty and his soldiers, to succeed against all the odds.

Like a howitzer shell into a trench they exploded into existence taking the Warrington and Lancaster University rock scenes in a blitzkrieg-esq storm of rock. With classics songs, like Sayonara and Submission, they crushed all onlookers in a hail of fury until the pip squeaked and they cried “no more”. But like a crack addict shaking for more, the people of these small cities couldn’t get enough of this rocking stimulant.

The Soldiers were invited back many times and attracted crowds of five hundred or more. Expanding quickly across the north of England they wreaked havoc in Manchester’s Roadhouse and Late Room, carnage in Liverpool’s Cavern Club and Barfly, and terrorised Sheffield’s Fez Club. After, winning a North West battle of the bands competition they went onto support groups like the Glitterati and Oceansize.

Their first single, Fade In, was recorded at Elevator Studios in Liverpool, which has previously given guidance and direction to The Coral and The Zutons. It went down a treat on their old stomping ground of Lancaster University, receiving rave reviews in SCAN and pride of place in Bailrigg FM’s top twenty play list.

This great, Hannibal-esq, march to glory continued and in 2005 they were asked to play at both Guilfest and the Manchester Today Festival. Playing alongside rock legends such as Paul Weller and bands like The Subways and Million Dead, the praise poured forth like Germans across the Russian frontier. Roomthirteen.com compared them to “the better moments of bands such as Cave In,” and went on to say “They obviously have an ear for a killer chorus… and on this evidence it's about time the rest of the country got to hear about them.”

At the start of October, this year, they played at the In The City international music conference at the Palace Night Club Levenshulme, which was sponsored by both 24rockfest.com and Radio 1. Most recently they played a one off intimate gig at Grad College, Lancaster University, to showcase their new material to the old faithful and proved that they are no longer just a student band, but one of the tightest most professional up and coming rock bands the North West has to offer.

With gigs supporting the Towers Of London and the Test Icicles looming on the horizon the march continues, but unlike the soldiers of Napoleon’s and Hitler’s armies the 4ft Soldiers, once signed, shall conquer Britain. The only question that remains though is, will Britain be big enough to contain their sweeping assault of indie, punk rock?