Austrian Death Machine is an American

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...

side project from

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, founded by As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis to be a

parody A parody is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satire, satirical or irony, ironic imitation. Often its subject is an Originality, original work or some aspect of it (theme/content, author, style, e ...

of and tribute to

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, former politician, and former professional bodybuilder, known for his roles in high-profile action films. Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...

's films.

History

Austrian Death Machine released their first album '' Total Brutal'' on July 22, 2008. The album was dedicated to Caleb Crain on May 14, 2008, for his birthday that was two months before the scheduled release date. A few months later they released a Christmas-themed EP, ''A Very Brutal Christmas''. After some tour support of ''Total Brutal'', Lambesis went back on tour with As I Lay Dying. While on tour he posted on Austrian Death Machine's MySpace blog that he had ideas to follow up ''Total Brutal'' with a double-disc, '' Double Brutal'', stating that the first disc would be original songs where the second disc would be composed of cover songs. After returning home from tour in early Summer 2009, he went to work on ''Double Brutal'' which was released September 29, 2009. Many in the press have pointed out that a Schwarzenegger movie-themed band concept was already being pursued by ArnoCorps, having been performing live in California and the UK beginning more than seven years prior to Lambesis' effort. Lambesis writes and records all the music playing guitar, bass, and drums as well as the majority of the vocals, leaving Destroy the Runner vocalist

Chad Ackerman Chad Daniel Ackerman (born November 30, 1983) is an American rock musician. His debut as a singer/songwriter was in November 2012 under the name "AVEIL" with an album entitled ''The in Between''. He has also been the vocalist for the bands Chapt ...

(portraying "Ahhhnold") to perform Schwarzenegger-like vocals. The only thing Lambesis or Ackerman do not record are the guitar solos in every song which are performed by various guitarists from other bands. Lambesis stated where As I Lay Dying "is heartfelt and full of passion" Austrian Death Machine on the other hand "is an outlet of pure testosterone and stupidity." Despite Lambesis' May 2013 arrest for attempting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife, it was announced in 2014, that '' Triple Brutal'' would be released in April on Artery Recordings. In 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in prison, with 48 days credit for time served. On October 17, 2023, the band released a new single, "No Pain No Gain", with a music video and announced their plan to release a new album in 2024. On December 5, it was revealed the band's fourth album, ''Quad Brutal'', would be released on February 23, 2024; the second single from the album, "Don't Be Lazy", was also released.

Members

Main * Tim Lambesis – lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums (2008–present) *

– Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals (2008–2014) *

Josh Robert Thompson Josh Robert Thompson (born March 11, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for his work on ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'', providing the voice of robot skeleton and Craig Ferguson's sidekick Geoff Peterson along with numerous c ...

– Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on '' Double Brutal'' (2009) * Timothy Benham – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on ''Double Brutal'' (2009) * Joe Gaudet – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on '' Triple Brutal'' (2014) Live lineup * Tim Lambesis – lead vocals (2008–present) * Justin Olszewski – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals (2009–2014) * Emil Werstler (of

Dååth Dååth is an American death metal band from Atlanta. Their music incorporates styles such as death metal, orchestral music, and progressive metal. History Dååth was started by Eyal Levi and Mike Kameron, who had been playing in bands sinc ...

) – guitar * Josh Gilbert (of As I Lay Dying, Wovenwar) – bass (2009–2014) * Jon "The Charn" Rice (of Job for a Cowboy) – drums (2009–2014) Former live * JP Gericke (of Death by Stereo) – guitar * Mark MacDonald (of Mercury Switch) – guitar Session guitar soloists * Jason Suecof of Capharnaum (All releases) * Mark MacDonald of Mercury Switch (All releases) * Dan Fitzgerald (on ''Total Brutal'') *

Adam Dutkiewicz Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz (born April 4, 1977) is an American musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist of the metalcore bands Killswitch Engage, Aftershock (band), Aftershock and Times of Grace (band), Times of Grace, as well as the ...

Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, and drummer Justin ...

(on ''Total Brutal'') * Nick Hipa of As I Lay Dying (on ''Total Brutal'') * Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler of

(on ''Total Brutal'') * Jason Barnes formerly of Haste the Day (on ''Total Brutal'') * Andrew Tapley formerly of The Human Abstract (on ''Double Brutal'') * Rusty Cooley of Outworld (on ''Double Brutal'') * Chris Storey formerly of All Shall Perish (on ''Double'' & ''Triple Brutal'') * Buz McGrath of Unearth (on ''Double Brutal'') * Kris Norris formerly of Darkest Hour (on ''Double Brutal'') * James "JP" Gericke of Death By Stereo (all releases) * Rocky Gray of Living Sacrifice (on ''Double Brutal'') * Kevin Schwartz formerly of

Pathology Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

(on ''Triple Brutal'') * Wes Hauch formerly of The Faceless (on ''Triple Brutal'') * Dan Palmer (on ''Triple Brutal'') * Doc Coyle of

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(on ''Triple Brutal'') * Sean Swafford (on ''Triple Brutal'') * Lorenzo Antonucci formerly of Sworn Enemy (on ''Triple Brutal'') Session drummers and percussionists * Brandon "B-Town" Trahan of Impending Doom * Mike Catalano formerly of Destroy the Runner * Jerad Buckwalter formerly of Sworn Enemy * Jeff Gretz of Zao * Christian Bass of

Heaven Shall Burn Heaven Shall Burn is a German extreme metal band from Saalfeld, formed in 1995. The band consists of vocalist Marcus Bischoff, guitarists Maik Weichert and Alexander Dietz, bassist Eric Bischoff and drummer Christian Bass. They are currently sig ...

Discography

;Studio albums Extended plays * ''A Very Brutal Christmas'' (2008) * ''Jingle All the Way'' (2011)

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Crossover thrash groups Metalcore musical groups from California Thrash metal musical groups from California Musical groups established in 2008 Musical groups disestablished in 2014 Metal Blade Records artists Musical groups from San Diego American comedy rock musical groups Parody musicians American parodists Cultural depictions of Arnold Schwarzenegger