Sikth

Wikipedia:

Sikth (also typeset as SikTh) are a progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

History [edit]

Early days [edit]

SikTh formed in late 1999, 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 [edit]

SikTh's debut album The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild was released on 18 August 2003 through Gut Records. The album was produced by the band themselves, along with Andrew Scarth. Mixing duties were handled by Colin Richardson. Two singles were released from the album in "Scent of the Obscene" (October) and "Peep Show" (December). The album has sold approximately 30,000 copies in the UK, Japan and Australia.

In support of the album, Sikth performed at Download Festival at Donington Park in 2003. The band subsequently traveled to Japan in 2004, firstly supporting Anthrax and Killswitch Engage, then playing at the Fuji Rock Festival in August with Lou Reed, PJ Harvey and Primus. Also in 2004, the band made an appearance at the debut Fuse Leeds festival of cross-disciplinary New Music, at the personal invitation of festival curator Django Bates (they played a support slot to Bates' own jazz ensemble on the closing night of the festival).

Second album [edit]

The band returned in 2006 with their second full-length album Death of a Dead Day. It was released in the UK on 26 June 2006 on their new label Bieler Bros. Records. It was earlier released in the US on 6 June. 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 a show at The White Horse in High Wycombe, the venue of their first ever gig, on 6 June 2006 and at the Download Festival 2006 four days later, as well as short UK tour.

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 [edit]

On 8 May 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. Mikee Goodman's and Justin Hill's final performance in SikTh was at the Carling Academy, Islington, London on 14 September 2007 (this was a rescheduled show).

Band split [edit]

On 27 May 2008, SikTh announced that the band had decided to split due to numerous factors. The main reasons cited for their breakup was the inability to find replacements for ex-vocalists Mikee and Justin, as well as commitment to other projects. The following statement was issued via the bands MySpace;

"R.I.P. SIKTH 2001-2008. It deeply saddens the four of us to announce that we are closing the book on SIKTH... it's time to split up. A combination of factors have driven us to make this decision. We want to assure you that if it were viable for us to carry on - we would. We are so proud of all that we have achieved as Sikth and we have agreed to work together again in the future. we are currently involved in new projects so keep checking our personal pages for announcements. And finally, we owe such huge and sincere thanks to all of you for listening to our music and enabling us to live our dream. We know we have left you in the dark lately and we are sorry for that. Your loyalty will never be forgotten. Dan, James, Dan, Pin."

Possible Reunion [edit]

On January 15, 2012, an official SikTh Facebook Page was created by the band in order to reissue and sell SikTh merchandise. On the 20th the band confirmed;

"Calls for a reunion are amazing, thanks. Of course we want to, we've never said other wise. It will happen when the time is right. There will be another SikTh record and it will be our best, that's a promise. It took us the best part of two years to complete the writing of DOADD so I guess you'll have to be patient. Besides, there's a bucket load of riffs that we wrote for album three still sat there so we'll have a head start next time. And to clarify... when the time is right!"

Musical style [edit]

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 due to their unorthodox approach, as well as experimental metal and mathcore due to the complex nature of their instrumental playing abilities and the regular inclusion of dissonance into their music.

"Energy has always inspired us," says guitarist Dan Weller, "things that really get you pumping. We play extreme music, sure, but in the sense that we go to all extremes. If something sounds good, then we'll do it, and that includes beautiful, melodic music, which we all love, too". "But," stresses fellow guitarist Pin, "we're always concerned with the quality of the tune; just writing crazy music isn't enough, and I think that's what makes us different from other bands who go really technical. We're definitely writing songs."

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, progressive metal, thrash, nu metal, metalcore, and cock-rock". 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".

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". In the early days of the band, Goodman once described their sound as "scatcore", a reference to their fast-jabbering scat style of singing.

Tours and festivals [edit]

Members and Other Work [edit]

Sikth retained the same line-up throughout their seven years active, which is as follows:

Along side producing and vocal coaching, Goodman is a member of Primal Rock Rebellion, featuring Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and Sikth drummer Dan Foord. Mikee's first project after Sikth was The Painted Smiles and appeared on the tracks 'Dark Matter' by This Is Menace and 'Sleep Street' by Cyclamen.

Justin featured on the track Predisposed from the 2006 album No End in Sight, then returned the favour on Return The Favour from the 2007 album The Scene Is Dead by This Is Menace and Dreams Without Courage from the 2007 album Entities by Malefice. Hill initially formed a group with guitarist Dan Weller but subsequently left, Justin continues to work as a producer based in London.

Weller is currently in a new band called In Colour (previously known as Minutes), which features ex-TesseracT vocalist Daniel Tompkins. Weller produced Enter Shikari's third album, A Flash Flood of Colour. He also assisted in the production of the Enter Shikari album Common Dreads. He produced the first Young Guns Album and is currently producing their second effort. Dan wrote the music alongside co-writer, Ciaran Cahill (who plays keyboards alongside him in In Colour) for Transmission Impossible with Ed & Oucho on the BBC.

Pin is currently a member of the progressive metal band Aliases [1], who are signed to Basick Records. They have released one EP, Safer Than Reality, and are currently working on a full length album. He also is a guitar teacher.

James teaches bass and is Gallows' drum tech. Lwch initially joined Primal Rock Rebellion with Mikee and Foord but left before recording.

Loord has performed session work for the bands Primal Rock Rebellion and Sol Invicto. He is a former member of The HAARP Machine.

Videography [edit]

Charts [edit]