M. Kerswill (born April 5, 1973 in

Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington ( Lenape: ''Paxahakink /'' ''Pakehakink)'' is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. It lies at the confluence of the Christina ...

) is an American

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

best known for his drumming in the bands

Unearth Unearth is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released seven studio albums. History Early career (1998–2002) Unearth was formed by Trevor Phipps, Buz McGrath, Ken Susi, Mike Rudberg, a ...

Seemless Seemless was an American rock/metal group formed by ex-Shadows Fall/Unearth drummer Derek Kerswill, Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, and ex-Overcast/Killswitch Engage guitarist Pete Cortese. Formed in 2002 following Leach's departure ...

Kingdom of Sorrow Kingdom of Sorrow is an American sludge metal band that features Kirk Windstein of Crowbar and Down, along with Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed. History Kingdom of Sorrow was founded when Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta introduced himself to Down ...

, and multiple fill-ins/studio projects. He was also invited to play in the heavy metal band

The Sword The Sword was an American heavy metal band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2003, the band was composed of vocalist and guitarist John D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie and drummer Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III for most of its t ...

around 2011 but turned down the offer and decided to work at the

Bose Corporation Bose Corporation () is an American manufacturing company that predominantly sells audio equipment. The company was established by Amar Bose in 1964 and is based in Framingham, Massachusetts. It is best known for its home audio systems and speak ...

instead. He then started private drum lessons after a little while with the company, and most recently however Derek became a truck driver and a skeptic tank pumper.

Biography

Derek has been playing drums since the age of 9. He is completely self-taught and also writes music on guitar and bass for his band

. His resume boasts some of metals top visionaries, including most recently, Massachusetts based metal outfit

and underground sludge-core super group

. Kingdom of Sorrow's debut album was released in February 2008, debuting at #131 on Billboard Top 200. He has also spent time in

Shadows Fall Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1996. Although Shadows Fall has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career, Shadows Fall has been composed of Jon Donais (lead guitar, b ...

, Icepick, and a host of studio work that has demonstrated his diverse playing, while always maintaining a style all his own. He has also coined the term "Brutal Groove", which best describes his style. He was also officially named as Unearth's new drummer. Most recently, his project

has disbanded, but the surprisingly atmospheric and pop-sensible T A N G E N T S has surfaced as his new project, with longtime friend and song writing collaborator Dave Witham. In late 2010, Derek announced his departure from

and immediately toured with The Ghost Inside on their "Returners" 25 date European tour. Another new project with Matt Bachand and Jon Donais of

fame has surfaced in the form of a heavy and 80's influenced rock/metal band called

Dead of Night ''Dead of Night'' is a 1945 black and white British anthology horror film, made by Ealing Studios. The individual segments were directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer. It stars Mervyn Johns, Googie Wi ...

. In late 2014, a new supergroup featuring Derek & Brian Fair of

surfaced in the form of Downpour and rumors have been flying through the metal industry for months claiming they have an entire record finished and they are just waiting for the "right label" before releasing. According to his Myspace page www.myspace.com/derekkerswill Also found at www.purevolume.com/derekkerswill

Equipment

Derek Kerswill uses USA Custom, New Classic, and Renown Maple

Gretsch Gretsch is an American company that manufactures musical instruments. The company was founded in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York by Friedrich Gretsch, a 27-year-old German immigrant, shortly after his arrival to the United States. Friedrich Gretsc ...

drums, a variety of snare drums, and

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Hardware. He also uses and endorses Aquarian drumheads, Vater drumsticks (he uses X-Treme Designs "Punisher" and "Warrior"), XL Specialty Cases and Meinl cymbals.

Current tour kit (2008-2009)

Gretsch Drums Gretsch Drums is a division of American musical instrument manufacturer Gretsch. The company was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1883. Gretsch drum kits have been used by many notable drummers including Max Roach, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, ...

& Meinl Cymbals:Gretsch Drums Website
/ref> *Drums - New Classic Maple in Deep Cherry Gloss **10x8" Tom **12x9" Tom **13x10" Tom **14x14" Floor Tom **16x16" Floor Tom **22x18" Bass Drum **14x6.5"

Banged Brass Snare **Cymbals – MeinlMEINL CYMBALS... INSPIRE: Artists : Derek Kerswill
/ref> **14" Mb20 Heavy Soundwave Hi-Hats **22" Mb20 Heavy Ride **18" Byzance Traditional Medium Crash **19" Mb20 Heavy Crash **20" Mb20 Heavy Crash **20" Byzance Traditional China

Discography

*Downpour - “s/t” (2018) *

The V The V (LG VX9800) is a CDMA smartphone. It was released under Verizon Wireless in 2005. Since then, it has been replaced by the enV (VX9900), enV2 (VX9100) and enV3 (VX9200), which are much slimmer and maintain most of the features of The V, w ...

- "Now or Never" (2015)
Christa Alberts
- "My Song" (2011) *T A N G E N T S - "One Little Light Year" (2010)
Sonia V.
- "Oh Sweet Tragedy - anthems from the ashes" (2009) *

- "The March" (2008) *

- "Kingdom of Sorrow" (2008) *

Garuda Garuda (Sanskrit: ; Pāli: ; Vedic Sanskrit: गरुळ Garuḷa) is a Hindu demigod and divine creature mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. He is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. Garuda is a ...

- "Garuda" (2008) *

- "Alive From The Apocalypse" DVD (2008) *

- Seeking The Way: The Greatest Hits *

- "What Have We Become" (2006) * Icepick - "Violent Epiphany" (2006) *

- "Seemless" (2005) *

Stryper Stryper is an American Christian metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass guitar), and Robert Sweet (drums). Formed in 1983 as Roxx ...

- "Reborn" (2005) *Robby Roadsteamer - "Okay Computer" (2004) *New Idea Society - "You Are Awake Or Asleep" (2004) *Twelfth Of Never - "Things That Were" (2003) *

- "Fear Will Drag You Down" European & Australian release *Medium - "Terra Firma" (2002) *The Rise Park - "The Rise Park" (2001) *Long Distance Runner - "s/t" (1999) *Scattered Remnants - "Destined To Fail" (1997)

Guest appearances

- "Live From The Apocalypse" DVD (2008)

References

- Alive from the Apocalypse DVD (2006). Kerswill is featured and provides live drums.
Derek Kerswill Meinl Cymbals Page , Brutal Groove
Last updated April 30, 2008
Derek Kerswill MySpace , Brutal Groove
Last updated May 10, 2008
Derek Kerswill Pure Volume - Lunenburg, MA - Music
Information on Derek.
Garuda Myspace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerswill, Derek 1973 births People from Lunenburg, Massachusetts People from Wilmington, Delaware Living people American heavy metal drummers Musicians from Massachusetts