Septic Death was an American

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

band active in the 1980s. The foursome from

Boise Boise (, , ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho and is the county seat of Ada County. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, it is east of the Oregon border and north of the Nevada border. The downtown area's ...

, Idaho was a major influence for the development of

grindcore Grindcore is an extreme fusion genre of heavy metal and hardcore punk that originated in the mid-1980s, drawing inspiration from abrasive-sounding musical styles, such as thrashcore, crust punk, hardcore punk, extreme metal, and industrial. G ...

thrashcore Thrashcore (also known as fastcore) is a fast-tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore, often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less d ...

and "speedcore".

History

Septic Death was formed in 1981 by Brian "

Pushead Brian Schroeder, better known as Pushead, is an American graphic artist. He is best known for his album covers and other merchandise for bands in the hardcore punk and heavy metal genres. Career Originally from Boise, Idaho, Schoeder formed t ...

“ Schroeder (vocals), Jon Taylor (guitar), Mike Matlock (bass) and Paul Birnbaum (drums). At the beginning the band was a pure fun project without further ambition. The band name represents a counterdraft to religions promising an afterlife after death. The four members were active in the skating scene of their hometown. Although there was no hierarchy within the band, media interest focussed on singer Schroeder who had already made a name as an illustrator within the growing hardcore scene and operated his own record label Pusmort from 1984 on. Most of the band's releases were published via this label. The band's only regular album, ''Now That I Have The Attention What Do I Do With It?'', was popular in Japan where it was published by major label VAP. The Japanese pressing featured a free double-A-side promotional

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

with two songs by

Corrosion of Conformity Corrosion of Conformity (also known as COC) is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 1982. The band has undergone multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with guitarist Woody Weatherman as the sole const ...

and

Poison Idea Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980. History Formation, 1980s, and 1990s Poison Idea was formed in 1980 by vocalist Jerry A. (aka Jerry Lang). The initial lineup consisted of Jerry A., Chris Te ...

. The band disbanded in 1986. In 1987 the EP ''Burial Mai So'' was released posthumously including material for which

James Hetfield James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder and a main songwriter of heavy metal band Metallica. He is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionall ...

had provided backing vocals. On the posthumously released ''Kichigai'' EP from 1988 there was material on which

Kirk Hammett Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist and a contributing songwriter for heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. Before joining Metallica, he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, ...

played guitar.

Style and influences

Septic Death was among the first hardcore bands in the United States. Their music was fast but also very technical. The lyrics of the band's songs mainly deal with fear, paranoia and mental states.

Impact and legacy

Today Septic Death is deemed one of the first and a groundbreaking "speedcore" band and a hardcore legend. Many bands and musicians of different genres name Septic Death as influential for their works, among them

Integrity Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Inte ...

Darkthrone Darkthrone is a Norwegian extreme metal band from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991 Darkthrone embraced a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost and became one of the leadin ...

John Zorn John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, conductor, saxophonist, arranger and producer who "deliberately resists category". Zorn's avant-garde and experimental approaches to composition and improvisation are inclusive of jaz ...

and

Napalm Death Napalm Death are an English grindcore band formed in 1981 in Meriden, West Midlands. None of the band's original members has been in the group since 1986. But since ''Utopia Banished'' (1992), the lineup of bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch ...

Steven Blush Steven Blush is an American author, journalist, record collector and film maker who is best known for his book ''American Hardcore'' and the movie of the same name. Blush has written five books, is the founder of ''Seconds'' magazine and has w ...

called the band's contributions to 1984 hardcore sampler ''Cleanse the Bacteria'' "crucial to metal crossover". Online music magazine ''

Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...

'' labeled the band "a cultishly beloved band of hardcore extremists" that was "influential on later generations of bands that combined hardcore and metal". In 2018, British ''

Kerrang! ''Kerrang!'' is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication ''Mixmag''). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one- ...

'' magazine declared Septic Death as the best hardcore band from Idaho and that the band "inspired cornerstone bands such as Infest,

Rorschach Rorschach may refer to: * Hermann Rorschach, a Swiss psychiatrist ** Rorschach test, his psychological evaluation method involving inkblots * Rorschach (character), a character from the comics ''Watchmen'' * Rorschach (comic book), a 2020 comic * ...

, and Integrity for years to come".

Band members

The line-up of the band was stable during the entire history of the band. * Brian Schroeder: Vocals * Jon "Onj“ Taylor: Guitar * Mike Matlock: Bass * Paul Birnbaum: Drums

Discography

* ''Need So Much Attention... Acceptance Of Whom'' ( EP, 1984, Pusmort) * ''Time Is The Boss- Aaarrggh It's Live!'' (Live EP, 1985, Deluxe) * ''Now That I Have The Attention What Do I Do With It?'' (1986, Pusmort)

Post-breakup

* ''Burial Mai So'' (EP, 1987, Pusmort) * ''Kichigai'' (EP, 1988, Pusmort) * ''Somewhere in Time'' (EP, 1988, Lost and Found Records) * ''Attention'' (Compilation, 1990, Pusmort) * ''Theme from Ozobozo'' (1992,

Toy's Factory is a Japanese record label founded in the late 1980s as a subsidiary of the entertainment company VAP, based in Japan. On May 30, 1990, it was established as an independent company. Toy's Factory, as of the first half of 2012, is the four ...

)

References

External links

Private fan site
* {{Discogs artist, artist=203857-Septic-Death 1981 establishments in Idaho American hardcore punk groups Musical groups established in 1981