Tantrum of the Muse was a
heavy metal band based out of
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County (; Pennsylvania Dutch: Lengeschder Kaundi), sometimes nicknamed the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the south central part of Pennsylvania. ...
. The band formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2004. The band members refers to their existence as "The Tantrum Reign of Terror".
History
Origin and ''The Heart is a Two Headed Sperm'' (1998-2000)
Beginning in 1998, when founding member Stephen Mark Sarro (guitar, vocals) and long time music mate, Udrick Wise (drums) decided to turn their studio project into an actual live band. They recruited their hometown friend, Jason Stauffer (bass) to play with them and put together a couple songs and began playing shows.
The band soon went into the studio to record a new batch of songs, Jason Stauffer was kicked out and replaced by Jim Settle.
Stephen and Udrick, recorded the songs that became the band's debut album. Entitled ''The Heart is a Two Headed Sperm''. The album, which was originally slated for release on Philadelphia's punk label, "Sofa Records", but Sofa decided not to release the record and the band made copies and sold them DIY at their shows. The band was offered a record deal with Seattle's Tooth & Nail records, but passed.
In 1999, the band played
Cornerstone Music Festival, where their reputation for originality caught the attention of
Takehold Records, who signed the band and officially re-released ''The Heart is a Two Headed Sperm''. The show where Tantrum gathered Takehold's interest, the members regard as one of their worst sets, as during the set Settle passed out and both Wise and Sarro suffered from heat exhaustion.
''Modernmu$ick(2000)'' (2000-2001)
In 2000, the band entered the studio to record ''Modernmu$ick(2000)!'', their follow-up album which was released July 2000. The band spent three months on the road, touring with
Underoath
Underoath (stylized as Underøath or UnderOath) is an American rock band from Tampa, Florida. It was founded by lead vocalist Dallas Taylor and guitarist Luke Morton on November 30, 1997, in Ocala, Florida; subsequently, its additional member ...
,
Narcissus, and
Few Left Standing.
[ Much like their debut, ''Modernmu$ick(2000)!'' was shown to have a unique, heartfelt musical chemistry. The album was a groundbreaking and original sound, using fretless bass, detuned guitar work, freak-out style drum work, that blended elements of ]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 ...
, metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
, prog-rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...
, and electronic music
Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...
to overwhelming effects. The response to the album and its content was met with critical praise and controversy. During the band's stint with Takehold Records, Jim was dealing with major issues at home. The band continued to play for the rest of the year, with Jim struggling to keep up the momentum.
In 2001, the band agreed to release a live album with Ohio-based Burning Records
Combustion, or burning, is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke. Combustion ...
. Burning released ''The Downtrodden & the Sidhe''. The band went on a temporary hiatus.[ Settle moved to ]Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. Wild quit the band to join The Huntingtons
Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1993 in the Maryland and Delaware area by Cliff Powell (a.k.a. Cliffy Huntington), Mike Holt (a.k.a. Mikey Huntington) and Mike Pierce (a.k.a. Mikee Huntington). The band is hea ...
. Sarro continued to look for a drummer.
Final releases and Break-up (2002-2004)
In 2002, the band worked out their issues with Settle. The band agreed to play once that year together at the Chameleon club in Lancaster PA, with Today is the Day. After that show, Stephen moved to FL with Jim to work on piecing Tantrum of the Muse back together. While staying in FL, Stephen recorded a solo improvisational album called "Sympathy for the Living". While in FL, Takehold records alerted the band that the label had been merged with Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a Christian rock record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington where it is situated today. It is home to many well-known musical acts, including Underoat ...
, and the label would no longer operate. The band had a 2nd option to sign to T&N, but this time agreed that the state the band was in, would make it impossible to fill the new duties of signing to such a big label. Stephen and Jim declined to merge on. Devastated by the turn of events, the band again went on a hiatus. Shortly after recording, Stephen moved back to PA.
In 2003, Stephen decided that the band was going to continue with all new members and began auditions. Udrick, who was still in the Huntingtons
Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1993 in the Maryland and Delaware area by Cliff Powell (a.k.a. Cliffy Huntington), Mike Holt (a.k.a. Mikey Huntington) and Mike Pierce (a.k.a. Mikee Huntington). The band is hea ...
, agreed to come back to Tantrum of the Muse. With the musical direction the band was about to take, they asked a friend, Seth Luzier to join as a keyboard player. Through Seth, they met bassist Tyler Lambert, and asked him to join. The new line up began playing again. Shortly after, Jim Settle moved to PA. Naturally, the band decided to ask Jim to return, and try to continue what they started in 1998. Stephen, Jim, Udrick, and newly recruited Seth began to re-record older songs with new keyboard arrangements.
In 2004, Seth's wife left him, resulting in more stress and conflict. Udrick, deciding to again move on. The band played once more at the annual "Screaming at the Sky" hardcore music festival. Shortly after, Stephen decided to officially end Tantrum of the Muse, and went to HM Magazine for an official statement.[Ritch, Jeremy (2004) . ]HM Magazine
''HM Magazine'' is a monthly, digital and print on demand publication focusing on hard music and alternative culture of interest to Christians. It is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The magazine states that its goal is to "honestly and accurate ...
. Retrieved on May 5, 2016. HM magazine
''HM Magazine'' is a monthly, digital and print on demand publication focusing on hard music and alternative culture of interest to Christians. It is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The magazine states that its goal is to "honestly and accurate ...
shared the details in a lengthy interview.[ In more recent days, band members have gone on to form other bands. Stephen recorded "A Human Comedy" with a new band called ]Unteachers
UnTeachers is a heavy metal band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The band has released a split EP with Grace & Thieves, and a full-length album, titled, ''A Human Comedy '' which debuted No. 10 on Seth Werkheiser's Top 10 of 2014.
History
Formed i ...
, and Jim Settle is currently frontman for Hand of Fire
Hand of Fire is an American thrash metal band that originated in California. The band started in 2015 as a vision of frontman, Jim Settle, formerly of Tantrum of the Muse.
Background
In 2010, Hand of Fire formed with Jim Settle (formerly of ...
.
Members
;Final Line-up
;Former
* Tyler Lambert - Bass (2003-2004)
* Jason Shauffer - Bass (1998)
;Session
* Trav Turner - Drums (ex-Crutch
A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the legs to the upper body. It is often used by people who cannot use their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from short-term injuries to lifelong disabilities.
History
Crutc ...
, Solamors
Solamors was a Christian metal band, that formed in 2012. The band has become a project of members of Becoming the Archetype, Aletheian, and UnTeachers
UnTeachers is a heavy metal band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The band has released a s ...
, ex-UnTeachers
UnTeachers is a heavy metal band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The band has released a split EP with Grace & Thieves, and a full-length album, titled, ''A Human Comedy '' which debuted No. 10 on Seth Werkheiser's Top 10 of 2014.
History
Formed i ...
) (2000)
;Timeline
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Discography
;Studio albums
* ''The Heart is a Two Headed Sperm'' (Takehold Records - 1999)
* ''Modernmu$ick(2000)!'' (Takehold Records - 2000)
;Other releases
* ''The Downtrodden & the Sidhe'' (Burning Records - 2001)
* ''Heart Surgery (2003 Sessions)'' (Independent - 2003)
References
{{Authority control
American art rock groups
Heavy metal musical groups from Pennsylvania
American Christian metal musical groups
Tooth & Nail Records artists