Dance Club Massacre
Encyclopedia
Dance Club Massacre is an American extreme metal
band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 2004, the group originated as a simple recording project between founding members Nick Seger and Kurt Latos. After recording three songs described as "Halloween-core" and distributing them to friends, the project became a complete band when friends began rehearsals with one another all while attending college.
Dance Club Massacre currently consists of Nick Seger (lead vocals), Jon Caruso (drums
), Chris Mrozek (bass guitar
), Mitch Hein (guitar
) and Matt Hynek (keyboards
). They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records
, and its division, Black Market Activities
.
in 2004 as a duo consisting of Nick Seger and Kurt Latos before acquiring the line-up of a full band consisting of friends, many of which were college students. The band recorded their first demo in early 2005 at Blam Recording in Chicago, which was just simply titled Demo, with producer, Eric Butkus. The demo had seven tracks and 150 hand pressed copies were issued. These copies of the demo were sold at shows and through their Myspace
profile. Shortly after the release of the demo, Matt Hynek took Kurt Latos' place as keyboardist.
By April 2006, all copies of the demo were sold out, which then had Dance Club Massacre record their debut full-length album, Feast of the Blood Monsters
with the same engineer that recorded their demo. Six of the seven tracks that were on the demo were re-recorded for the album. Feast of the Blood Monsters was self-released and 1,100 copies were made in real packaging, which were sold at local indie record stores, shows, and on Interpunk. The album has stayed in Interpunk's top 50 items ever since it was released. They then played at 2006's Warped Tour
. After being noticed by Black Market Activities
, they were signed to the label and their debut album was re-issued through Black Market and Metal Blade
with heightened production and different cover art.
During 2008, the band traveled to Syracuse, New York
to record their second album, Circle of Death
with Jason Randall at More Sound Studios. The album was released in November of that year, also through Metal Blade and Black Market Activities. Two years following its release, the band stated that the writing process of a new album began. However, since that time, they confirmed that three of the members have began a side-project, a hardcore
band named Contender. Thus making the progress on the third album uncertain.
al style, which is ultimately influenced by many extreme metal
and metalcore
musical groups. The band's influences include groups such as, Dimmu Borgir
, Cradle of Filth
, An Albatross
, The Locust
, Daughters
, Converge
, Horse the Band
, Fantomas
, Pig Destroyer
and Between the Buried and Me
. They even incorporate influence from indie rock
musical styles. Their lyrical themes usually focus on subjects such as partying, girls, alcohol and enjoying life in general rather than the morbid or aggressive themes extreme metal bands traditionally employ.
Genre-wise, the band have been considered to be a wide array of many things, including experimental metal, black metal
, deathcore
, death metal
, grindcore
, math rock
, post-hardcore
, and thrash metal
.
Former
Demos
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 2004, the group originated as a simple recording project between founding members Nick Seger and Kurt Latos. After recording three songs described as "Halloween-core" and distributing them to friends, the project became a complete band when friends began rehearsals with one another all while attending college.
Dance Club Massacre currently consists of Nick Seger (lead vocals), Jon Caruso (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Chris Mrozek (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Mitch Hein (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Matt Hynek (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
). They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
, and its division, Black Market Activities
Black Market Activities
Black Market Activities is an independent record label which was founded in 2003 by Guy Kozowyk, the singer of the Boston, Massachusetts, based metal band The Red Chord.-History:...
.
History
Dance Club Massacre originated in Lansing, IllinoisLansing, Illinois
Lansing is a village in Cook County, Illinois, USA. Lansing is a southern suburb of Chicago. The population was 28,332 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in 2004 as a duo consisting of Nick Seger and Kurt Latos before acquiring the line-up of a full band consisting of friends, many of which were college students. The band recorded their first demo in early 2005 at Blam Recording in Chicago, which was just simply titled Demo, with producer, Eric Butkus. The demo had seven tracks and 150 hand pressed copies were issued. These copies of the demo were sold at shows and through their Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile. Shortly after the release of the demo, Matt Hynek took Kurt Latos' place as keyboardist.
By April 2006, all copies of the demo were sold out, which then had Dance Club Massacre record their debut full-length album, Feast of the Blood Monsters
Feast of the Blood Monsters
Feast of the Blood Monsters is the debut album by Dance Club Massacre. It was released on June 6, 2006 independently and was re-issued on July 10, 2007.- Release and information :...
with the same engineer that recorded their demo. Six of the seven tracks that were on the demo were re-recorded for the album. Feast of the Blood Monsters was self-released and 1,100 copies were made in real packaging, which were sold at local indie record stores, shows, and on Interpunk. The album has stayed in Interpunk's top 50 items ever since it was released. They then played at 2006's Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. After being noticed by Black Market Activities
Black Market Activities
Black Market Activities is an independent record label which was founded in 2003 by Guy Kozowyk, the singer of the Boston, Massachusetts, based metal band The Red Chord.-History:...
, they were signed to the label and their debut album was re-issued through Black Market and Metal Blade
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
with heightened production and different cover art.
During 2008, the band traveled to Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
to record their second album, Circle of Death
Circle of Death (album)
Circle of Death is the second full-length album by Dance Club Massacre, released November 11, 2008. It was recorded in 2008 at More Sounds Studios in Syracuse, New York with Jason "Jacko" Randall as the producer and was released through Black Market Activities.While the band's debut album was...
with Jason Randall at More Sound Studios. The album was released in November of that year, also through Metal Blade and Black Market Activities. Two years following its release, the band stated that the writing process of a new album began. However, since that time, they confirmed that three of the members have began a side-project, a hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band named Contender. Thus making the progress on the third album uncertain.
Musical style, influences and concept
Dance Club Massacre generally have an experimental musicExperimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
al style, which is ultimately influenced by many extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
and metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
musical groups. The band's influences include groups such as, Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
, Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
, An Albatross
An Albatross
An Albatross is a noise rock band based in Wilkes-Barre, PA, known for their chaotic live shows and psychedelic/circus-like presentation.-History:Formed in the fall of 1999 by guitarist Jake Lisowski, vocalist Edward B...
, The Locust
The Locust
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
, Daughters
Daughters (band)
Daughters is an American grindcore/mathcore/noise rock band formed in 2001 in Providence, Rhode Island after the demise of Providence-based As the Sun Sets. Daughters have four releases including their self-titled EP, Canada Songs LP Hell Songs and last album Daughters . The band has re-released...
, Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
, Horse the Band
HORSE the band
Horse the Band is a band from Lake Forest, California who are best known for their 8-bit Nintendo-influenced sound combined with metalcore. Frontman Nathan Winneke once described their sound as "Nintendocore".-Biography:...
, Fantomas
Fantômas (band)
Fantômas is an avant-garde metal supergroup formed in 1998 in California, United States. The band is named after Fantômas, a supervillain featured in a series of crime novels popular in France before World War I and in film, most notably in the 60s French movie series.-History:Fantômas began just...
, Pig Destroyer
Pig Destroyer
-Biography:The band formed in 1997 with vocalist J. R. Hayes , guitarist Scott Hull , and drummer John Evans. Evans was later replaced by Brian Harvey...
and Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD...
. They even incorporate influence from indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musical styles. Their lyrical themes usually focus on subjects such as partying, girls, alcohol and enjoying life in general rather than the morbid or aggressive themes extreme metal bands traditionally employ.
Genre-wise, the band have been considered to be a wide array of many things, including experimental metal, black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
, deathcore
Deathcore
Deathcore is an extreme metal music genre that combines elements of death metal with elements of metalcore or hardcore punk, or both. It is defined by an "excessive" use of death metal riffs, blast beats and use of hardcore punk breakdowns...
, death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
, grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
, math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
, post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
, and thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
.
Band members
Current- Jon Caruso - drums
- Mitch Hein - guitars
- Nick Seger - vocals
- Chris Mrozek - bass guitar
- Matt Hynek - keyboards, synthesizer
Former
- Kurt Latos - keyboards, synthesizer
- James Poston - bass guitar
Discography
Studio albums- Feast of the Blood MonstersFeast of the Blood MonstersFeast of the Blood Monsters is the debut album by Dance Club Massacre. It was released on June 6, 2006 independently and was re-issued on July 10, 2007.- Release and information :...
(Black Market Activities, 2007) - Circle of DeathCircle of Death (album)Circle of Death is the second full-length album by Dance Club Massacre, released November 11, 2008. It was recorded in 2008 at More Sounds Studios in Syracuse, New York with Jason "Jacko" Randall as the producer and was released through Black Market Activities.While the band's debut album was...
(Black Market Activities, 2008)
Demos
- Demo (self-released, 2005)