Lair of the Minotaur
Encyclopedia
Lair of the Minotaur is a thrash
/sludge metal
band from Chicago, Illinois.
and long-time friend Larry Herweg as drummer
(of post-metal
band Pelican
). Wasting no time, Lair Of The Minotaur recorded their self-produced 6-track debut EP
in 2003, eventually finding its way into the hands of Southern Lord Records
. Immediately impressed, Southern Lord signed up LotM, releasing debut full-length Carnage
in 2004, and the follow-up, The Ultimate Destroyer, released in 2006. In between Carnage and The Ultimate Destroyer, the second EP, Cannibal Massacre, was released in 2005, also under Southern Lord Records
. Later in 2006, Herweg was replaced on drums by Chicago-native Chris Wozniak. The band embarked on a European tour with Capricorns during the summer of 2007 before returning to Chicago to record their third full-length War Metal Battle Master
, released by Southern Lord Records
in March of 2008. The band toured the United States extensively in 2008 in support of the album, with bands such as Kylesa
, Today is the Day
, Boris
, and Torche
. In October 2008, Barraca left the band and was replaced by Indianapolis
-native and Demiricous
bass guitarist/vocalist Nate Olp.
A highly edited version of the music video for the song "War Metal Battle Master
" premiered on Headbanger's Ball on MTV2
in July of 2008. The storyline in the video follows the song's lyrics, with the unedited version featuring Spartan-like warriors fighting with swords, graphic depictions of decapitations, and naked blood-covered female cannibals feasting on human flesh. A DVD featuring both versions of the video, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and various live videos was released by Southern Lord in January of 2009.
In February 2010, the band announced their fourth full-length album, Evil Power
, would be released on April 13, 2010 on The Grind-House Records, an independent record label started by Rathbone, Wozniak, and Josh Diebel of Alleysweeper Records, and distributed by Southern Lord.
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...
/sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
band from Chicago, Illinois.
History
Lair Of The Minotaur was formed by vocalist/guitarist Steven Rathbone in 2003 due to his other band, 7000 Dying Rats, becoming solely a studio project, giving up playing live. He enlisted fellow 7000 Dying Rats bandmate Donald James Barraca on bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and long-time friend Larry Herweg as drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
(of post-metal
Post-metal
Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal.Hydra Head Records owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner originally termed the genre "thinking man's metal", demonstrating that his band was trying to move away from common metal conventions...
band Pelican
Pelican (band)
Pelican is a post-metal quartet from Chicago, Illinois.-Biography and description:The band is known for its dense combinations of different melodies and extended track lengths. Its distinctive sound draws from stoner rock, doom metal, post-rock, and other influences...
). Wasting no time, Lair Of The Minotaur recorded their self-produced 6-track debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 2003, eventually finding its way into the hands of Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
. Immediately impressed, Southern Lord signed up LotM, releasing debut full-length Carnage
Carnage (album)
Carnage is the debut full-length album by the Chicago-based thrash/sludge metal band Lair of the Minotaur. The album was released in CD form by Southern Lord Records, along with a red vinyl version with a gold and black screenprinted cover limited to 666 copies.-Track listing:# Carnage Fucking...
in 2004, and the follow-up, The Ultimate Destroyer, released in 2006. In between Carnage and The Ultimate Destroyer, the second EP, Cannibal Massacre, was released in 2005, also under Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
. Later in 2006, Herweg was replaced on drums by Chicago-native Chris Wozniak. The band embarked on a European tour with Capricorns during the summer of 2007 before returning to Chicago to record their third full-length War Metal Battle Master
War Metal Battle Master
War Metal Battle Master is the third studio album by the Chicago-based sludge/thrash metal band Lair of the Minotaur. There was a music video recorded for the title track, which was directed by Gary Smithson.-Track listing:...
, released by Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
in March of 2008. The band toured the United States extensively in 2008 in support of the album, with bands such as Kylesa
Kylesa
Kylesa is a metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with sludgy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is...
, Today is the Day
Today is the Day
Today Is the Day is an experimental noise rock/metal/grindcore band from Nashville, Tennessee. They have a diverse sound that includes influences from alternative rock, grindcore, & progressive rock among other genres...
, Boris
Boris (band)
is a Japanese experimental rock band, known for often combining and switching between different music genres including drone metal, sludge metal, noise rock, psychedelic rock, ambient and pop...
, and Torche
Torche
Torche is a band from Miami, Florida, whose sound is often described as stoner metal, or sludge metal.-Biography:The group was formed in 2004 by Steve Brooks , Juan Montoya , Jonathan Nuñez and Rick Smith Torche is a band from Miami, Florida, whose sound is often described as stoner metal, or...
. In October 2008, Barraca left the band and was replaced by Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
-native and Demiricous
Demiricous
Demiricous is a death/thrash metal band from Indianapolis, Indiana formed by Nate Olp, Scott Wilson, Ben Parrish, and Christopher Cruz. In 2005, they self-released a demo which caught the attention of Metal Blade. After the release of their first album, Christopher Cruz left the band and was later...
bass guitarist/vocalist Nate Olp.
A highly edited version of the music video for the song "War Metal Battle Master
War Metal Battle Master
War Metal Battle Master is the third studio album by the Chicago-based sludge/thrash metal band Lair of the Minotaur. There was a music video recorded for the title track, which was directed by Gary Smithson.-Track listing:...
" premiered on Headbanger's Ball on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
in July of 2008. The storyline in the video follows the song's lyrics, with the unedited version featuring Spartan-like warriors fighting with swords, graphic depictions of decapitations, and naked blood-covered female cannibals feasting on human flesh. A DVD featuring both versions of the video, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and various live videos was released by Southern Lord in January of 2009.
In February 2010, the band announced their fourth full-length album, Evil Power
Evil Power
Evil Power the fourth full album from the band Lair of the Minotaur was announced in February of 2010 and released on April 13, 2010 under the newly created Grind-House Records, an independent record label to replace their last label Southern Lord Records....
, would be released on April 13, 2010 on The Grind-House Records, an independent record label started by Rathbone, Wozniak, and Josh Diebel of Alleysweeper Records, and distributed by Southern Lord.
CD
- 2003 - Lair of the Minotaur EP (self-produced and distributed)
- 2004 - CarnageCarnage (album)Carnage is the debut full-length album by the Chicago-based thrash/sludge metal band Lair of the Minotaur. The album was released in CD form by Southern Lord Records, along with a red vinyl version with a gold and black screenprinted cover limited to 666 copies.-Track listing:# Carnage Fucking...
(Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
) - 2005 - Cannibal Massacre EP (Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
) - 2006 - The Ultimate Destroyer (Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
) - 2008 - War Metal Battle MasterWar Metal Battle MasterWar Metal Battle Master is the third studio album by the Chicago-based sludge/thrash metal band Lair of the Minotaur. There was a music video recorded for the title track, which was directed by Gary Smithson.-Track listing:...
(Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
) - 2010 - Evil PowerEvil PowerEvil Power the fourth full album from the band Lair of the Minotaur was announced in February of 2010 and released on April 13, 2010 under the newly created Grind-House Records, an independent record label to replace their last label Southern Lord Records....
(The Grind-House Records)