Century Media Records
File:Century Media logo.png
Founded	1988
Distributor(s)	Caroline Distribution (US)
Genre	Rock, punk rock, heavy metal, extreme metal
Country of origin	Germany
Location	Dortmund (Germany) (Headquarter), Hawthorne, California
Official Website	www.centurymedia.com

Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, and Australia.

Background[link]

Century Media was founded by Robert Kampf in Dortmund, Germany in 1988 and has gone on to launch the careers of bands such as Divine Heresy, Eyehategod, Nevermore, Moonspell, Diecast, Suicide Silence, Winds of Plague, Iced Earth, God Forbid, Lacuna Coil, In This Moment, Warbringer, and Shadows Fall. The label specializes in many different styles of heavy metal music.^[1] A number of artists listed are licensed to Century Media for the American market from labels mostly based in Europe. Century Media is also home to legendary acts such as Napalm Death, Celtic Frost, and Trouble. From 1995 to 2007, Marco Barbieri was the label's president.

The label’s most popular band is Lacuna Coil. Shadows Fall experienced its greatest success during its time with the label. Iconic hardcore punk band Sick of It All also resides in the Century Media family. Lacuna Coil’s 2002 album, Comalies, became Century Media’s first act to crack the Billboard 200 album chart, peaking at #178 two years after its release. Their fourth album, Karmacode, improved on that achievement, having sold over 490,000 copies since its release, and peaking at #28 on the US Billboard Album Chart. It hit number one on the Top Independent Albums Chart. Shadows Fall’s 2004 album, The War Within, set a new milestone for the label with a Top 20 debut on the Billboard 200 and also debuted at number one on the Independent Albums chart, having sold over 300,000 copies since its release. Other notable artists on the label that have also made appearances on the Billboard 200 include In This Moment, Arch Enemy, Stuck Mojo, Nightrage, Behemoth, Strapping Young Lad, Suicide Silence and God Forbid. The Finnish band Sentenced were awarded on August 14, 2008 for their platinum Buried Alive DVD labelled by Century Media. In April 2009, the label announced that they were extending their existing distribution deal with EMI, who had been distributing their releases in the United States since 1997, and in Europe since 2005, to include Australasia.^[2]

Century Black[link]

During the mid to late 1990s, Century Media had a label off-shoot called Century Black, which served to be the "Miramax Films" of black metal, releasing or re-releasing hard-to-find black metal albums that normally would be near impossible to find in America (usually released under smaller labels such as Malicious Records or Candlelight Records). By 2000 the Century Black label was discontinued, seeing as more than a few bands under that label either moved on to other labels, changed their musical direction, or became part of the actual "Century Family".

Abacus Records[link]

Abacus Records was an imprint of Century Media created in 2002, signing mostly metalcore bands. On July 24, 2007, it was reported that Abacus Records had shut down.^[3]

Spotify Controversy[link]

In August 2011 Century Media decided to pull all of their acts from Spotify, an online music streaming service, citing this as "an attempt to protect the interests of their artists". Metal blog Metal Sucks^[4] criticized Century Media in a post, which was later replied to by the label in an email^[5]. All associated acts are still missing from Spotify to date.

See also[link]

• List of record labels
• Century Media Records artists
• Abacus Recording artists
• List of Century Black Albums

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Century Media Records at YouTube
• Abacus Recordings website

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2010)

Angelus Apatrida
The band in the tour with Arch Enemy, 2009
Background information
Origin	Albacete, La Mancha, Spain
Genres	Thrash metal Groove metal
Years active	2000 - present
Labels	Century Media
Website	angelusapatrida.com
Members
Guillermo Izquierdo - Lead Guitars, Lead Vocals David G. Alvarez - Lead guitars, Back vocals Jose Izquierdo - Bass, Back vocals Victor Valera - Drums, Back vocals
Past members
Alberto Izquierdo - Drums Alberto Gayoso - Lead vocals

Angelus Apatrida is a thrash metal band formed in 2000 in Albacete, Spain.

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Angelus Apatrida was formed with a music style much different than what is played today. At the beginning it was a classic heavy metal music / power metal band. Two demos were recorded in this period: Lost in the Realms of Orchinodaemon (2001) and Unknown Human Being (2003). The last one was a change for the band and was recorded with a new style that led Angelus Apatrida to a post-thrash metal style.

With those demos the band started to play live shows supporting other bands like Saratoga and its popularity soon increased. It won a competition of bands and signed its first contract with the label Red Dragon and recorded the song "Danza de la Muerte" for a tribute album for the Spanish classic heavy metal band called Panzer.

Red Dragon Records[link]

The contract with Red Dragon Records was for three albums. The band recorded the first one, called Evil Unleashed in the Korsakov studios in Madrid during the summer of 2004 produced by Kosta Vázquez but it was never released due to problems with the label. Eventually, the band decided to break the contract with Red Dragon and to re-record the album one year later.

[edit] Evil Unleashed

The Evil Unleashed album was re-recorded in the Studio54 studio in Valencia, produced by Enrique Soriano and mastered by Dave Horrocks in Canada at the Infinite Waves studio. The album was edited by Angelus Apatrida in March, 2006 with Producciones Malditas. It was distributed through K-Industria all over the country.

The album received good reviews and Angelus Apatrida was considered as one of the most sensational new bands of the country. It sold many albums in Spain and other countries.

Angelus Apatrida started its first important tour with the Evil Unleashed Tour through many locations in Spain as well as recognized fests like Thrash Attack fest or Viñarock playing together with international bands like Sepultura or Horcas and supporting others like Warcry or Destruction.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Give 'em War

After the first album and the Evil Unleashed tour, the band started recording a new album one year later. It recorded the Give 'em War album at the New Life studios in Madrid produced by José A. Garrido and Daniel Melian, mastered by Kosta Vázquez at the Oasis studios and distributed by Mastertrax.

The album was faster, darker and more aggressive than the previous one. The band received many good reviews of the album and the band became one of the most representative bands of the The New Wave of Spanish Thrash Metal. It sold many copies all over the world in many different countries and started a long tour on September 2007.

The tour included shows all over the country and others in Europe, in many different fests or supporting acts.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Century Media Records and new album Clockwork

The band signed a worldwide deal with major label Century Media Records.^{[citation needed]} Angelus Apatrida already finished the recording sessions of its third album entitled Clockwork, the first for Century Media, which was recorded in January 2010 at the Portuguese studios Ultrasound with the producer Daniel Cardoso. In December 2009 the band toured with Swedish metal act Arch Enemy in Spain and Portugal.^{[citation needed]}

Members[link]

Current members[link]

• Guillermo Izquierdo - Lead guitars, Lead vocals
• David G. Alvarez - Lead guitars, Back vocals
• Jose Izquierdo - Bass, Back vocals
• Victor Valera - Drums, Back vocals

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• Evil Unleashed (2006, Maldito Records / K-Industria)
• Give 'em War (2007, Molusco Discos / Mastertrax)
• Clockwork (2010, Century Media Records)
• The Call (2012, Century Media Records)

Demos[link]

• Lost in the Realms of Orchinodaemon (2001)
• Unknown Human Being (2003)

External links[link]

• Official website
• MySpace

Napalm Death
Background information
Origin	Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Grindcore, death metal
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Century Media, Spitfire, Earache
Associated acts	Benediction, Blood from the Soul, Brujeria, Carcass, Cathedral, Defecation, Doom, Meathook Seed, Extreme Noise Terror, Godflesh, Lock Up, Scorn, Terrorizer, Unseen Terror, Venomous Concept
Website	www.napalmdeath.org
Members
Shane Embury Mark "Barney" Greenway Mitch Harris Danny Herrera

Napalm Death are an extreme metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981.^[1] While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's career.

Napalm Death are credited with defining the grindcore genre by incorporating elements of hardcore punk and death metal, short songs, fast tempos, deep guttural vocals and sociopolitical lyrics. The band's debut album Scum, released in 1987 by Earache Records, proved substantially influential throughout the global metal community.^[2]

Napalm Death have released fifteen studio albums and are listed by Nielsen SoundScan as the seventh best-selling death metal band in the United States.^[3]

Biography[link]

Early history 1981–1986[link]

Napalm Death were formed in the village of Meriden near Birmingham, in the United Kingdom, in May 1981 by Nic Bullen and Miles Ratledge while the duo were still in their early teenage years. The duo had been playing in amateur bands since 1980 as an extension of their fanzine writing, and went through a number of names (including "Civil Defence," "The Mess," "Evasion" and "Undead Hatred") before choosing Napalm Death in mid 1981.

The band were initially inspired by the early wave of punk bands, particularly the anarcho-punk movement (a sub-genre of punk music focused on anarchist politics), and associated groups such as Crass.

The first stable line-up of the group consisted of Nicholas Bullen on vocals and bass, Simon Oppenheimer on guitar, and Miles Ratledge on drums, and lasted from December 1981 to January 1982. Graham Robertson joined on bass in January 1982. Simon Oppenheimer left the group in August 1982 and was replaced by Darryl Fedeski who left the group in October 1982: at this point, Graham Robertson began to play guitar and Finbarr Quinn (ex-Curfew) joined on bass and backing vocals.

The group played concerts throughout 1982 (playing their first concert on July 25, 1982 at Atherstone Miners Club) and 1983 (sharing billing with anarcho-punk groups such as Amebix, The Apostles and Antisect), and made 4 demo recordings in 1982 and 1983, one of which contributed their first released recording to the Bullshit Detector Volume 3 compilation released by Crass Records in 1984.

The band entered a period of hiatus from the end of 1983 onwards, playing only one concert in 1984 (a benefit for striking mine workers) with additional vocalist Marian Williams (ex-Relevant POS, and sister of the drummer of the group Human Cabbages from Coventry, UK). During this period, Nic Bullen met Justin Broadrick, a guitarist from Birmingham with whom he shared an interest in the music of bands such as Killing Joke, Throbbing Gristle, Crass, Amebix, Swans, and the developing power electronics scene. Bullen joined Broadrick's Final project for a period in 1983.

In July 1985, Napalm Death briefly reformed in order to appear at a concert at the Mermaid in Birmingham which was also notable as the last concert by Final. The group consisted of a 4-piece line-up of Miles Ratledge - drums, Bullen - vocals, bass and guitar, Graham Robertson - guitar and bass, and Damien Errington - guitar.

After this concert, Miles Ratledge and Bullen asked Broadrick to join Napalm Death as guitarist, with Bullen as vocalist and bass player. The band began to develop a musical style which blended elements of post-punk (particularly Killing Joke and Amebix), heavy punk in the vein of Discharge, and thrash metal (with particular reference to Possessed and Celtic Frost).

The group played their first concert as a trio on 31 August 1985 (playing 2 concerts on the same day: Telford with Chumbawamba and Blyth Power, and Birmingham with We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It), and began to play regularly in the Birmingham area (particularly at The Mermaid public house in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham) with a wide range of musicians including Icons of Filth, Concrete Sox, The Varukers, Decadence Within, and The Groundhogs.^{[citation needed]}

In September 1985, Peter Shaw (ex-Autism) joined on bass. The 4-piece line-up recorded Hatred Surge (the band's 5th demo recording) on 23 October 1985 which the band made available at their concerts and by mail.

Following the recording of the demo, Bullen and Broadrick wished to extend their exploration of a more extreme musical style which created a split in the group with Ratledge: as a result, the group splintered and Mick Harris (a local fan) was asked to join as drummer in December 1985.

The trio - Bullen on vocals and bass, Broadrick on guitar and Harris on drums - made their first performance on 15 December 1985 and went on to play many concerts in 1986, predominantly in the Birmingham area, with musicians such as Amebix, Antisect, Chaos UK, Varukers, Disorder and Dirge.

The group recorded a 6th demo, From Enslavement to Obliteration, on 15 March 1986, which the group made available at their concerts and through mail, before making a 7th recording later that year, Scum, which was provisionally intended to form part of a split LP with the English hardcore band Atavistic on Manic Ears records. This recording later became the first side of the band's debut album Scum in 1987.

The band then faced a number of line-up changes. Nic Bullen was becoming frustrated with the musical direction of the group, and began to lose interest as a whole: as a result, Jim Whiteley was asked to join as bass player. The band played a number of concerts as a four-piece before Justin Broadrick left the group to play the drums for local band Head of David. The group attempted to find a new guitarist by asking Shane Embury (ex-Unseen Terror and a fan of the group) to join and giving a trial period to Frank Healy (ex-Annihilator, later of Cerebral Fix and Sacrilege). After Broadrick's departure, Nic Bullen's dissatisfaction with the musical direction of the group led him to leave the group in December 1986 (in order to focus on his studies in English Literature and Philosophy at university).

1987–1989[link]

With the departure of Broadrick and Bullen, the band had to look for new members. Guitarist Bill Steer played in a band based in Liverpool, called Carcass and given the affinity between the bands, he joined Napalm Death while still playing an active role in Carcass. The band asked a friend (Lee Dorrian) to join as vocalist due to his good relationship with the band (he had organised a number of concerts for the band), even though he had never been in a band before. This line-up recorded the B side of the Scum LP at Rich Bitch studios in May 1987, and the album was released through Earache Records. Bill Steer also came third place on Decibel Magazine's "Top 20 Death Metal guitarists of all time."^[4]

The band promptly lost another member just before they undertook a short tour after the release of Scum. Jim Whiteley left the group (to join Ripcord) and Shane Embury (former drummer of Unseen Terror) moved to bass. The band then appeared on two compilation records ('North Atlantic Noise Attack' and the 'Pathological Compilation'), recorded two Peel sessions and a split 7" with Japanese band S.O.B. They also returned to Rich Bitch studio once more and recorded their second album: From Enslavement to Obliteration.

A follow-up release to "Enslavement..." came in the form of the six song 12" EP "Mentally Murdered", which was to be the last recording with the Harris/Steer/Dorian/Embury line-up. This EP was recorded at the Slaughterhouse Studios and took on a slightly different sound, blending grindcore with death metal. Following the release, Napalm Death were featured on national television in the United Kingdom in a heavy metal special by Arena (BBC 2).

The band continued to tour, but as soon as they came back home from Japan, in July 1989, Steer and Dorrian left the band: Steer decided to dedicate himself full-time to Carcass, while Dorrian formed the doom metal group Cathedral. The group recruited Jesse Pintado (ex-Terrorizer) on guitar and Mark "Barney" Greenway (ex-Benediction) as vocalist. This line-up took part in the Grindcrusher tour organised by Earache Records and featuring fellow label-mates Carcass, Bolt Thrower and Morbid Angel. The group recruited Mitch Harris (ex-Righteous Pigs) as second guitarist after the tour.

1990–1994[link]

In Florida, they started working on their next album, Harmony Corruption. While writing Harmony Corruption they changed their style a little, from grindcore, to a mix of blast beats and some slower, more rhythmic parts. In addition, death metal was a major influence on Harmony Corruption, more so than their previous records. After releasing the new record, they went on touring around the world and from the material filmed at those concerts they released a home-video, Live Corruption. Directed by noted metal director Steve Payne.

The band caught considerable flack from longtime fans in respect to the "death metal" sound and production of Harmony Corruption. Smarting from the accusations of selling-out by the British underground "elites", Napalm entered Eddie Van Dale's Violent Noise Experience Club in March of '91 to record six new tracks. These new songs, the "Mass Appeal Madness" 12" LP, had a much more raw grind quality to them, finding instant favour with fans. This recording, along with the "Mentally Murdered" 12", the spit 7" with S.O.B. and live tracks from Live Corruption, found a home on the Death by Manipulation CD.

Drummer Mick Harris - the only remaining member of the line-up that had played on the band's first album, Scum - eventually left Napalm Death because of conflicts regarding their musical style. Danny Herrera, a close friend to Jesse Pintado, was brought in to replace Mick. The addition of Herrera would be the last major line-up change of the band, save for Jesse Pintado's future absence, which has yet to be filled (and vocalist Phil Vane never recorded with the band). Napalm Death released a new record, Utopia Banished. Now working with producer Colin Richardson. This release was a kind of "return to the roots" - grindcore. After recording The World Keeps Turning EP, the band toured Europe with Dismember and Obituary on the "Campaign for Musical Destruction" tour.^{[citation needed]} They then toured the US with Sepultura, Sacred Reich and Sick Of It All.^[5] The proceeds of Napalm Death's 1993 EP Nazi Punks Fuck Off were donated to anti-fascist organisations.^[6]

The band remixed the track "Mind Of A Razor" by London based hip hop crew Gunshot. The remixed version of the track appeared on the EP of the same name in 1992. Thereafter, they went to the studio and recorded Fear, Emptiness, Despair. Although it was still as heavy and aggressive as previous releases, the new record took a different direction and sounded more experimental; they added more rhythmic riffs, an industrial-like structure, and then added grindcore blast beats. Live concerts with Entombed, Obituary and Machine Head showed the audience how violent and aggressive the new Napalm Death sound was. They continued with the experimentation through the rest of the 1990s.

1995–2004[link]

The Greed Killing EP was the next release from the band, through Earache. After the preview with the EP, Diatribes, a full-length album was released. Although things seemed to be going smoothly from outside, they were going through problems. Misunderstanding rose between the members and singer Greenway was expelled from the band in late/mid 1996. Greenway went to record with Extreme Noise Terror (the ENT release Damage 381 features Barney on lead vocals) and ENT's main singer Phil Vane went to fill vocals slot in Napalm Death. Things did not go as well as they were supposed to, and Vane was kicked out of the band just before they got into the studio to record the new album. And so Greenway returned to Napalm Death.

The next albums Inside the Torn Apart and Words from the Exit Wound continued with the experimentation but displayed more signs of grindcore, notably faster tempos than the last two albums. This return was completed with the release of Enemy of the Music Business. It shows their anger with the music industry and especially with Earache. Order of the Leech continued where their previous album ended and can be seen as even more faster and aggressive.

In 2004, they recorded a covers album called Leaders Not Followers: Part 2, the sequel to their earlier covers EP. It contains covers of old hardcore punk and heavy metal bands, including Cryptic Slaughter, Massacre, Kreator, Sepultura, Siege and Discharge. Due to personal problems, Jesse Pintado did not play on either Order of the Leech or Leaders Not Followers: Part 2, and left the band in early 2004. Nevertheless Pintado stated that he left because he grew tired of Napalm Death and wanted to start something new. The two guitars that you hear is Mitch over-dubbing.

2005 onwards[link]

Live in 2007

In April 2005, their next album The Code Is Red...Long Live the Code was released. It features guest appearances from Jeffrey Walker (formerly of Carcass), Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed vocalist) and Jello Biafra (formerly of Dead Kennedys, and Lard among many other bands). The album continued the band's progressive approach to their brutal brand of extreme metal, with their trademark grindcore sound retained.

Napalm Death finished recording their follow-up album titled Smear Campaign in June 2006; released on September 15, 2006 to very strong reviews from fans and critics alike. The main lyrical focus is criticism of the United States Government and other governments who are strongly religious. The album features a guest appearance by Anneke van Giersbergen, vocalist for the Dutch rock band The Gathering. There is a limited edition digipak version of Smear Campaign, which has two new songs, "Call That an Option?" and "Atheist Runt".

In early 2006 Napalm Death headlined a tour with Kreator, A Perfect Murder, and Undying. On August 27, 2006, Jesse Pintado died in a hospital in the Netherlands due to liver failure, prompting Mitch Harris to express his sadness at the loss of someone he thought of as "a brother" on the band's official website. After the Smear Campaign tour, the band did a 2007 "World Domination Tour". Bassist Shane Embury is currently working on a project with Mick Kenney of Anaal Nathrakh, their work together will be released on FETO Records at the end of 2007.

In November 2008, Napalm Death's fourteenth studio album, entitled Time Waits For No Slave, leaked onto the internet; it was officially released on January 23, 2009. Similar to Smear Campaign, Time Waits For No Slave also had a digipak version containing two extra songs ("Suppressed Hunger" and "Omnipresent Knife In Your Back").

In February 2011, Napalm Death appeared in an episode of E4's Skins. Napalm Death entered Parlour Studio in Kettering, U.K with producer Russ Russell to begin working on a new album. Also in 2011, they recorded the single "Legacy Was Yesterday". Napalm Death released their fifteenth studio album, Utilitarian, on February 27, 2012 in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via Century Media.^[7]

In March 2012, Napalm Death headlined the Metal Mayhem IV festival organized by "Defenders of Metal" in Nepal. This was the first time Napalm Death played in Nepal.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

• Scum (1987)
• From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988)
• Harmony Corruption (1990)
• Utopia Banished (1992)
• Fear, Emptiness, Despair (1994)
• Diatribes (1996)
• Inside the Torn Apart (1997)
• Words from the Exit Wound (1998)
• Enemy of the Music Business (2000)
• Order of the Leech (2002)
• Leaders Not Followers: Part 2 (2004)
• The Code Is Red...Long Live the Code (2005)
• Smear Campaign (2006)
• Time Waits for No Slave (2009)
• Utilitarian (2012)

Members[link]

Current lineup[link]

• Mark "Barney" Greenway – vocals (1989–1996, 1997–present)
• Shane Embury – bass guitar (1987–present)
• Mitch Harris – guitars, backing vocals (1990–present)
• Danny Herrera – drums (1991–present)

Past members[link]

Associated acts[link]

Members of Napalm Death have moved on to form bands such as Carcass, Godflesh, Cathedral, Scorn, Jesu, and Black Galaxy. Additionally, band members have formed numerous side projects, including Lull, Painkiller, Brujeria, Lock Up, Meathook Seed, Defecation, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, and Venomous Concept.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Barcinski, André & Gomes, Silvio (1999). Sepultura: Toda a História. São Paulo: Ed. 34. ISBN 85-7326-156-0
• Mudrian, Albert (2004). Choosing Death: the Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Los Angeles, CA: Feral House.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Napalm Death

• Official website
• Official MySpace

3 Inches of Blood
3 Inches of Blood performs at Reds, Edmonton, 2005
Background information
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia
Genres	Heavy metal, thrash metal, speed metal, power metal
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Minion, Roadrunner, Century Media
Associated acts	Pride Tiger, S.T.R.E.E.T.S, Allfather, Curse of the North, Bison B.C.
Website	www.3inchesofblood.com
Members
Cam Pipes Justin Hagberg Shane Clark Ash Pearson Byron Stroud
Past members
Jay Watts Geoff Trawick Rich Trawick Bobby Froese Sunny Dhak Matt Wood Brian Redman† Alexei Rodriguez Jamie Hooper Nick Cates

3 Inches of Blood is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in 2000 in Kelowna, British Columbia, currently consisting of Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, and Ash Pearson. They are currently signed with Century Media Records and are marked by strong influences from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.

Biography[link]

[edit] Early years, and the Battlecry Under a Wintersun era

The group initially performed with only Jamie Hooper as vocalist before the addition of Cam Pipes. Hooper, Sunny Dhak, and Bobby Froese got together to do a one-off reunion gig for an old group of theirs; however, things went so well they decided to continue under a new moniker. Pipes heard their demo EP at the house of Hot Hot Heat keyboardist Steve Bays, a longtime friend and former bandmate.^[1][2] Pipes, who at the age of 10 had sung in his school's choir,^[3] was originally asked to add some vocals to the band's already-recorded demo, Sect of the White Worm, and became a permanent band member after the results proved to the band's liking.^[4] Their debut album Battlecry Under a Wintersun was recorded in 2002 and released in cooperation with the Teenage Rampage and Fashion Before Function labels. It was later remastered and re-released by the band under their own label entitled Minion Music. This release went by almost unnoticed until the band's UK distribution label decided to put them on as a support slot for a tour with platinum rock band The Darkness. This exposure gained them much critical attention and acclaim in the world of underground metal, and they were signed by major label subsidiary Roadrunner Records in 2004.

[edit] Advance and Vanquish

Cam Pipes live on stage

In 2004, original drummer Geoff Trawick and bassist brother Rich Trawick left the band. Matt Wood of Vancouver doom/sludge/noise band Goatsblood, and Brian Redman replaced them. Original guitarists Sunny Dhak and Bob Froese left the band shortly after recording in around July 2004 because "they could no longer commit to touring and needed to deal with some personal matters".^[5] They were also committed to a business that they had set up called Bloodstone Press, a union shop and party venue.^[6] It is now defunct and together with Mike Payette (who was the third of the four shareholders of Bloodstone Press) and Matt Wood (who is also an ex-3 Inches of Blood member since July 2005 and was replaced by Alexei Rodriguez^[7]) they founded the rock band Pride Tiger.^[8]

The band plays music more oriented towards '70s guitar-driven rock bands because, as Wood stated, "[m]etal just becomes the same thing over and over. Anyway, I'm not really a metal dude. None of us are. I'm sure if you studied pictures of 3 Inches of Blood you could pick us out as not really belonging there".^[9] Sunny and Bobby were replaced by Justin Hagberg, who had previously played with Pipes in Allfather, a black metal band, and Shane Clark. Roadrunner put out an advertising blitz, and the track "Deadly Sinners" from the band's second release Advance and Vanquish appeared on numerous sampler CDs, compilations, and even three video games (Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Saints Row 2, and Brütal Legend), creating a huge press hype for the band that caused their popularity to skyrocket, with a slot on 2005's Road Rage tour in August (with bands like Machine Head and Chimaira) gaining them many new fans.

Also in 2005, Justin Hagberg recorded the guitars on the tracks "Dawn of a Golden Age" and "I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)" for Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions. In October 2006, the band opened a show for Iron Maiden during the United States leg of their 2006 A Matter of Life and Death World Tour. The show was at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, California.

[edit] Fire Up the Blades

The band wrote their entire third studio album in Tacoma, Washington and performed their new songs at various places in the vicinity of Washington. By December 2006, the band had begun to record material for their follow-up album at the Armoury Studios of their hometown, and revealed that it would be titled Fire Up the Blades, with Joey Jordison, drummer of Slipknot as producer.^[10] A demo of "Goatrider's Horde" which was recorded in Seattle in the spring of 2006 was later made available for streaming on Roadrunner's official website. Another demo of "Night Marauders" appeared in the fifth Battle Metal compilation album that was released in issue 161 of the UK magazine Metal Hammer.

The band toured the United States during January and February 2007 in support of Cradle of Filth with The 69 Eyes and in March toured the UK with Biomechanical. On March 22, 2007, the band was confirmed to play the second stage at Ozzfest.^[11] On April 6, 2007, the band's website was completely redesigned. Prior to the release of Fire Up the Blades, the band stressed that the album would be "darker, tighter and more dangerous" than their Roadrunner Records debut.^[12] "This album is heavily influenced by low quality beer, bong rips and listening to black metal in the dark", says Hooper. "It doesn't sound blatantly black metal, it still sounds like us. But it's a faster, more intense version of us."^[13] Fire Up the Blades was ultimately released in Japan on May 28, 2007, and worldwide on June 26, 2007. During the 2007 Ozzfest Tour, Jamie Hooper was unable to sing with the band as he was experiencing throat problems, and was warned by doctors that he may damage his voice permanently if he did not rest it.^[14] He did not perform on the Ozzfest tour nor the Operation Annihilation tour. Harsh vocal duties were taken over by guitarist Justin Hagberg. Hooper did not perform with the band for the whole 2007-08 year.^{[citation needed]}

Following a fight with Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler on November 10, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hell festival in the UK, 3 Inches of Blood fired drummer Alexei Rodriguez and issued an apology for his behavior.^[15] The fight left Glockler with broken glasses and a black eye. Four security guards intervened and beat Rodriguez severely, hospitalising Rodriguez with a broken elbow. He was replaced by Ash Pearson (of Sound Of the Swarm & Just Cause) who later joined the band permanently.

[edit] Here Waits Thy Doom

Jamie Hooper eventually quit the band permanently in late 2008 and did not perform on Here Waits Thy Doom, making it the first album from the band not to feature any original members. Hagberg has taken over harsh vocal duties full-time.

The song "Beware The Preacher's Daughter" features all four members of fellow Canadian Metal band Bison BC (James Farwell, Dan And, Masa Anzai and Brad MacKinnon) singing gang vocals on the chorus.

3 Inches of Blood was featured in Rockstar's Mayhem Festival 2010. On September 9, 2010 the band released a music video for the song "Silent Killer".^[16]

A new song, "Lords of Change" is currently streaming on the bands Facebook from their forthcoming 7 inch called Anthems For The Victorious.^[17]

A new song, "Leather Lord" is currently streaming on Blabbermouth from their upcoming Album Long Live Heavy Metal.^[18]

Band members[link]

Current members

• Cam Pipes – vocals, occasional bass guitar (2001 – present)
• Justin Hagberg – guitar (2004 – present), screamed vocals (2008 – present)
• Shane Clark – guitar (2004 – present)
• Ash Pearson – drums (2007 – present)
• Byron Stroud – bass guitar (2012 - present)

Former members

• Aaron "Boon" Gustafson - bass guitar (live only) (2011)
• Steve Ericson - Bass (live only) (2009–2011)
• Nick Cates – bass (2006–2009)
• Jamie Hooper – harsh vocals (1999–2008)
• Alexei Rodriguez – drums (2005–2007)
• Brian Redman - bass (2004–2006); Brian Redman was killed in a scooter crash in Tacoma, Washington on September 27, 2009, aged 31.^[19]
• Matt Wood – drums (2004–2005)
• Geoff Trawick – drums (1999–2004)
• Rich Trawick – bass (1999–2004)
• Bobby Froese – guitar (1999–2004)
• Sunny Dhak - guitar (1999–2004)
• Jay Watts- guitar (1999-2000)

Timeline[link]

 id:guitar value:green      legend:Guitar
 id:vocals value:red        legend:Vocals
 id:bass   value:purple     legend:Bass
 id:drums  value:blue       legend:Drums
 id:lines1 value:black      legend:Studio_Albums
 id:bars   value:gray(0.93)

 bar:Jay    text:Jay Watts
 bar:Sunny  text:Sunny Dhak
 bar:Bobby  text:Bobby Froese
 bar:Shane  text:Shane Clark
 bar:Justin text:Justin Hagberg

 bar:Jamie  text:Jamie Hooper
 bar:Cam    text:Cam Pipes

 bar:Rich   text:Rich Trawick
 bar:Brian  text:Brian Redman
 bar:Nick   text:Nick Cates
 bar:Steve  text:Steve Ericson (live only)
 bar:Aaron  text:Aaron "Boon" Gustafson (live only)
 bar:Byron  text:Byron Stroud

 bar:Geoff  text:Geoff Trawick
 bar:Matt   text:Matt Wood
 bar:Alexi  text:Alexi Rodriguez
 bar:Ash    text:Ash Pearson

 width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Jay    from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:guitar
 bar:Sunny  from:01/01/1999 till:01/07/2004 color:guitar
 bar:Bobby  from:01/01/1999 till:01/07/2004 color:guitar
 bar:Shane  from:02/07/2004 till:end color:guitar
 bar:Justin from:02/07/2004 till:end color:guitar

 bar:Jamie  from:01/01/1999 till:01/11/2008 color:vocals
 bar:Cam    from:01/11/2001 till:end color:vocals

 bar:Rich   from:01/01/1999 till:01/02/2004 color:bass
 bar:Brian  from:02/02/2004 till:01/06/2006 color:bass
 bar:Nick   from:02/06/2006 till:01/06/2009 color:bass
 bar:Steve  from:02/06/2009 till:31/05/2011 color:bass
 bar:Aaron  from:01/06/2011 till:25/01/2012 color:bass
 bar:Byron  from:26/01/2012 till:end color:bass

 bar:Geoff  from:01/01/1999 till:01/02/2004 color:drums
 bar:Matt   from:02/02/2004 till:10/02/2005 color:drums
 bar:Alexi  from:02/02/2005 till:10/11/2007 color:drums
 bar:Ash    from:11/11/2007 till:end color:drums

 at:03/06/2003 color:lines1 layer:back
 at:27/09/2004 color:lines1 layer:back
 at:26/06/2007 color:lines1 layer:back
 at:08/09/2009 color:lines1 layer:back

Discography[link]

Albums

• Battlecry Under a Wintersun (2002)
• Advance and Vanquish (2004)
• Fire Up the Blades (2007) U.S. #147^[20]
• Here Waits Thy Doom (2009) U.S. #195
• Long Live Heavy Metal (2012)^[21] CAN #92^[22]

EPs

• Sect of the White Worm (2001)
• Trial of Champions (2007)
• Anthems For the Victorious (2011)^[23]

Singles

• "Ride Darkhorse, Ride" (2002)
• "Destroy the Orcs" (2003)
• "Deadly Sinners" (2004)
• "The Goatriders Horde" (2007)
• "Trial of Champions" (2007)
• "Battles and Brotherhood" (2009)
• "Silent Killer" (2010)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website