Metallers Thy Art is Murder can often be seen traversing the stages of European festivals and packed rooms in America, performing for thousands of punters per show.
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However, returning home to Australia and playing regional tours to far smaller crops of fans is also a crucial exercise for the predominantly Sydney/Brisbane outfit.
“Arguably, statistically we’re the most successful death metal band in the history of Australia,” guitarist Andy Marsh said.
“We have this responsibility to go to these places that don’t get to see death metal, heavy metal, deathcore or whatever you want to call it.
“We want to show these people that live in faraway places, ‘hey, you like this music and thought it was just on the internet? Well, bands care about you and we will come here and play for you’.”
Marsh, who also manages Thy Art is Murder and runs their Australian record label, is accustomed to the nomadic life.
When not on the road, the axeman splits his time between Melbourne, Denver and New Jersey.
“I’ve never been anywhere for longer than two weeks for the past three or four years,” he said.
“There’s probably lots of business-people that have a similar lifestyle where they’re flying around for meetings.
“Generally with this kind of work, it takes its toll on most people, but at the same time, my guys go out on tour for four or five weeks, and then they get paid to stay at home and play video games for three months.
“I’m just still working, flying around. I don’t really get a break, and I think I like it better that way. If I had a break I might realise what I’m missing out on and get depressed,” he laughed.
Not all Thy Art is Murder members have always had such a constitution for travelling, though. The band’s vocalist CJ McMahon left in 2015, citing financial woes and drug addiction.
The front-man has since returned to the fold for latest album Dear Desolation.
“CJ’s one of those people, he’s never been diagnosed but probably has some kind of borderline personality disorder or bipolar,” the guitarist said.
“He was always difficult, and then compound that with drugs.
“Our problem was he was a dick, and his problem was that he had problems, and he was a drug addict.”
Nowadays, Marsh said there were a series of factors that collectively made band activities far more enjoyable.
“The band has made more money, we became more successful and we can afford things like tour buses and (therefore) travel a lot more comfortably.
“That makes a massive difference on the road when we’re doing these long tours.
“He quit the drugs, worked on his personality a lot and we make more money so he’s less stressed.
“And because we make more money, we can have crew who can work for us to make things easier.”
Read more: Twenty years of heaviness
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
