SikTh

Infobox musical artist
Name = SikTh


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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Watford, Hertfordshire, UK
Genre = Progressive metal Mathcore
Years_active = 2001–2008
Label = Bieler Bros. Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.sikth.com/ SikTh.com]
Current_members = Dan Weller Graham Pinney James Leach Dan Foord
Past_members =

SikTh was a progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

History

Early days

SikTh formed in January 2000, but consolidated their line-up in March 2001. That line-up consisted of dual vocalists Mikee Goodman and Justin Hill, guitarists Dan Weller and Graham Pinney, bassist James Leach and drummer/percussionist Dan Foord.

Their first official release was an EP titled "Let the Transmitting Begin". Released in 2002, it featured three tracks, as well as a limited edition live CD from the BBC Radio 1 recordings of the same songs.

The band's first release for Gut Records was an EP titled "How May I Help You?" Released in 2002, it featured three tracks, two of which were on the band's debut album. A video for the song "(If You Weren't So) Perfect" was also contained. The song "How May I Help You?" contained a story about a person called Rodney. The song was made into an animated video, which was written, directed and produced by Mikee Goodman. It went on to win the best video award in The Big Cheese Magazine, as well as reaching number 1 on MTV UK, and being an A-list video on MTV Asia.

Debut album

SikTh's debut album "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild" was released on August 18, 2003 through Gut Records. The album was produced by the band themselves, along with Andrew Scarth. Mixing duties were handled by Colin Richardson, whose credits include Machine Head and Slipknot. Two singles were released from the album in "Scent of the Obscene" (October) and "Peep Show" (December). How May I Help You? was released as an EP, featuring their first ever song "Suffice" as well as a slightly different version of "Tupelo."

In support of the album, they went on to appear at Download Festival at Donington Park in 2003. The band traveled to Japan in 2004, firstly supporting Anthrax and Killswitch Engage, then playing at the famous Fuji Rock Festival in August with Lou Reed, PJ Harvey and Primus.

The album has sold approximately 30,000 copies in the UK, Japan and Australia.

econd album

The band returned in 2006 with their second full-length album "Death of a Dead Day". It was released in the UK on June 26, 2006 on their new label Bieler Bros. Records. It was earlier released in the US on June 6. The album entered the UK album charts at number 55. The album was once again produced by the band themselves, with mixing duties handled by Matt LaPlant.

In support of the album, SikTh performed at Download Festival 2006 prior to its release, as well as an extensive UK tour afterwards.

An EP titled "Flogging the Horses" was released in October 2006, featuring demo versions from "Death of a Dead Day" tracks, as well as a remix version of "Where Do We Fall?". The track "Each Other and Ourselves" was also included, which was a bonus track on the Japanese version of the album. The EP was limited to just 1,500 copies.

Vocalists depart

On May 8, 2007, it was announced that vocalists Mikee Goodman and Justin Hill would be leaving the band at the conclusion of the July 2007 "The Black Summer Starts Here" UK tour set, due to their ongoing projects and producing careers. [cite web | title = SIKTH Seeks New Vocalists| publisher = Blabbermouth.net| date = 2007-05-08| url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=72076| accessdate = 2007-11-20] Mikee Goodman's and Justin Hill's final performance in SikTh was at the Carling Academy, Islington, London on September 14 2007 (this was a rescheduled show).

Band split

On May 27, 2008, SikTh announced that the band had decided to split due to numerous factors. The main reasons cited for their break up was the inability to find replacements for ex-vocalists Mikee and Justin, as well as commitment to other projects. [cite web | title = SikTh Calls It Quits| publisher = Blabbermouth.net| date = 2008-05-27| url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=97816| accessdate = 2008-05-27]

Musical style

SikTh's style of music is hard to categorize and as they incorporate many different elements of metal, rock and hardcore. They are commonly categorized as progressive metal [All Music Guide, [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:f9fwxquald0e~T0 "SikTh Band Overview"] , Retrieved June 27, 2007.] due to their unorthodox approach, as well as technical metal and mathcore due to the complex nature of their instrumental playing abilities.

In a review for SikTh's second album "Death of a Dead Day", DecoyMusic.com described the band's style as containing elements of "speed metal, tech, thrash, nu metal, metalcore, and cock-rock". [DecoyMusic.com, [http://www.decoymusic.com/index.php?content=reviews&reviewid=12886&oldreview=0 "SikTh Death of a Dead Day review"] , Retrieved June 27, 2007.] The website Drowned in Sound "sees the band come across like a heady America-friendly mix of Dillinger Escape Plan's feather-fingered guitar contorting melded with Korn's manipulated rhythms, thundering through the bizarre nuances of System of a Down". [Drowned In Sound, [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1010519 "SikTh Death of a Dead Day review"] , Retrieved June 27, 2007.]

In a review for the band's debut album "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild", MusicOMH.com described the album as containing "guttural throaty vocals mixed with harmonized melodies, viciously rhythmic drumming which instantly metamorphosises into elaborate percussion, and haunting atmospheric piano interludes which sit superbly between slices of metal brutality". [MusicOMH.com, [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/sikth.htm "SikTh The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild review"] , Retrieved June 27, 2007.] In the early days of the band, Goodman once described their sound as "scatcore", a reference to their fast-jabbering scat style of singing.

Performing live

Tours

* UK Tour with Sanctum in 2000
* UK Tour with Dead Life Portrait in 2001
* UK Tour with American Head Charge in 2002
* UK Tour with Mad Capsule Markets in 2003
* UK Tour with Mudvayne in 2003
* Download Festival at Donington Park twice in 2003 and 2006 with such bands as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Korn, Marilyn Manson and Guns N' Roses.
* Europe Tour with Machine Head in 2003
* Ireland tour with Akercocke and Labrat in 2004
* Japanese tour with Anthrax, Killswitch Engage and more in 2004
* Fuji Rock Festival in Japan in 2004
* Fury Fest in France with Slayer and Fantomas in 2006
* French headline tour in 2006
* Barfly (club) Tour in association with Jägermeister in April 2006.
* Leeds Carling Festival warm up show in 2006.
* Death of a Week Day UK tour in July 2007 last tour with the current line-up.
* Final show London in September 14th 2007

Members

Former Members

* Dan Weller – Guitar, Piano
* Graham "Pin" Pinney – Guitar
* James Leach – Bass
* Dan "Loord" Foord – drums/Percussion
* Mikee Goodman – vocals, Lyrics
* Justin Hill – vocals

Discography

tudio albums

* "The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild" (2003)
* "Death of a Dead Day" (2006) UK # 55

EPs and Singles

* "Let the Transmitting Begin" (EP) (2002)
* "How May I Help You?" (EP) (2002)
* "Scent of the Obscene" (Single) (2003)
* "Peep Show" (Single) (2003)
* "Flogging the Horses" (EP) (2006)

Demos and Promos

* "Pussyfoot/Suffice" (2000)
* "Hold My Finger/Such the Fool" (2001)
* "Pussyfoot" (2003)

Charts

Videos

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vdYoBfoKoU "(If You Weren't So) Perfect"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-BzWuc16GE "How May I Help You?"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz5oa98LDq4 "Scent of the Obscene"] (Alternative Version)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5uZlBl7PAg "Scent of the Obscene"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79yP5MJw_6w "Peep Show"] (Alternative Version)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVujRBZGTfk "Peep Show"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAyqaLpJTQg "Bland Street Bloom"]

ee also

*List of bands from England

References

External links

* [http://www.sikth.com Official site]
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* [http://www.sikthireland.co.uk SikTh Fan Site]
* [http://www.sound.jp/sikth SikTh Japanese Fan Site]