Steve Smyth
Encyclopedia
Steve Smyth is the guitarist
for the metal
band Forbidden
.
and started his career in the female-fronted melodic progressive metal
band Ariah after graduation in 1988. Ariah never released an official studio album, but they recorded a few songs and played local shows with bands like Vicious Rumors and King Diamond
. Ariah disbanded in 1992.
After a three-year hiatus, he joined the power metal
band Vicious Rumors
to replace guitarist Mark McGee who had left the band after the death of Vicious Rumors vocalist Carl Albert
. Something Burning
(1996) was the first album which Smyth played on. It was followed by Cyberchrist
in 1998, and now he participated in songwriting too.
In 1999 Smyth left Vicious Rumors and joined Testament
. The Bay Area thrash legend had just released The Gathering album, but lead guitarist James Murphy was diagnosed with a brain tumor
, so Testament were in want of a new guitarist for the forthcoming tour. In the next 5 years Smyth toured with Testament all around the globe and played uncountable shows as a member of the band. He wanted to make a studio album with Testament but that remained a dream for him.
On the other hand, Smyth formed the band Dragonlord
as a side project with guitarist Eric Peterson
and bassist Steve DiGiorgio
of Testament in 2000. This symphonic black metal
outfit have released two albums: Rapture
(2001) and Black Wings of Destiny
(2005).
Seattle-based Nevermore had been friends with Smyth prior to his joining of the band. Initially jokingly, he asked if he could join Nevermore. He joined Nevermore as a touring guitarist, and in 2004, Smyth officially joined the band after helping them tour in Europe. He played guitar in the band along with Jeff Loomis
and co-wrote some songs on the critically acclaimed album This Godless Endeavor
(2005).
On April 30, 2006, Smyth released a message explaining to fans that he has been diagnosed with kidney failure due to a congenital birth defect. Updates followed on May 30, June 3, and August 9, 2006 on his official website. On December 12, 2006, Smyth had a successful kidney transplantation
.
In the summer of 2007 Smyth left Nevermore due to "personal and business differences". At that time he was working on an all-instrumental
album in the vein of progressive rock
with his former Ariah bandmate and bassist Steve Hoffman. This side project was named "EssenEss" after their same first names, as a transctiption of S'n'S (Steve and Steve). Self-titled The EssenEss Project debut album released on November 5, 2007.
He currently is teaching at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music and is now a member of Forbidden
.
7-String Warlock, 7-String Ignitor,
Assassin, Assassin PX3T guitars, 6-string Warlock, and a Bich models.
He also endorses EVH amplifiers. (Smyth formally endorsed Krank amplifiers.)
He also uses a Digitech effects (his most prominent being a Whammy pedal) and EMG pickups.
In 2011 Steve Smyth signature model B.C. Rich Biches were unveiled in both 6-string and 7-string models.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for the metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Forbidden
Forbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...
.
Biography
Smyth was born in Northern CaliforniaNorthern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
and started his career in the female-fronted melodic progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Ariah after graduation in 1988. Ariah never released an official studio album, but they recorded a few songs and played local shows with bands like Vicious Rumors and King Diamond
King Diamond
Kim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
. Ariah disbanded in 1992.
After a three-year hiatus, he joined the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Vicious Rumors
Vicious Rumors
Vicious Rumors is an American power metal band founded in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.The brainchild of Geoff Thorpe, the band has been active on the metal scene since its inception in 1979...
to replace guitarist Mark McGee who had left the band after the death of Vicious Rumors vocalist Carl Albert
Carl Albert
Carl Bert Albert was a lawyer and a Democratic American politician from Oklahoma.Albert represented the southeastern portion of Oklahoma as a Democrat for 30 years, starting in 1947. He is best known for his service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977...
. Something Burning
Something Burning
Something Burning is the sixth album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1996.-Track listing:#"Ballhog" - 3:38#"Mouth" - 3:11#"Out of My Misery" - 4:00#"Something Burning" - 3:41#"Concentration" - 4:07#"Chopping Block" - 4:10...
(1996) was the first album which Smyth played on. It was followed by Cyberchrist
Cyberchrist
Cyberchrist is the seventh album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1998.-Track listing:#"Cyberchrist" - 4:26#"Buried Alive" - 5:05#"Kill the Day" - 4:23#"No Apologies" - 3:29#"Fear of God" - 3:56#"Gigs Eviction" - 3:13...
in 1998, and now he participated in songwriting too.
In 1999 Smyth left Vicious Rumors and joined Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. The Bay Area thrash legend had just released The Gathering album, but lead guitarist James Murphy was diagnosed with a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
, so Testament were in want of a new guitarist for the forthcoming tour. In the next 5 years Smyth toured with Testament all around the globe and played uncountable shows as a member of the band. He wanted to make a studio album with Testament but that remained a dream for him.
On the other hand, Smyth formed the band Dragonlord
Dragonlord (band)
Dragonlord is an American symphonic black metal band that was formed in 2001 as a side project by Eric Peterson & Steve DiGiorgio of Testament, and Steve Smyth of Nevermore. The band is a result of Eric Peterson's interest in darker music, and not being able to do that with Testament he formed...
as a side project with guitarist Eric Peterson
Eric Peterson (musician)
Eric Peterson is an American guitarist. He is best known as the only constant member of the US thrash metal band Testament. Eric has also formed a side-project black metal band called Dragonlord, in which he plays guitar and also sings. In Testament, Eric was originally a rhythm guitarist while...
and bassist Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio is an American bassist and musician.DiGiorgio has played bass guitar in heavy metal bands such as Death, Autopsy, Control Denied, Testament, Vintersorg, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Obituary, and is a founding member of Sadus. He is widely renowned for...
of Testament in 2000. This symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal is a black metal subgenre that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The genre is known for its symphonic and orchestral elements and is centralized in Europe.-Characteristics:...
outfit have released two albums: Rapture
Rapture (Dragonlord album)
Rapture is the first album by the Black metal band Dragonlord.Though essentially a black metal album, much of Eric Peterson's thrash roots can still be heard, likening the sound that to the faster thrash style on Testament's "The Gathering" album mixed with symphonic black metal...
(2001) and Black Wings of Destiny
Black Wings of Destiny
Black Wings of Destiny is the second album by the Black metal band Dragonlord.Almost all of the previous album's thrash roots vanished, replaced with pure black metal. Peterson also began extending creative control to the rest of the band, instead of writing all the music himself for this album...
(2005).
Seattle-based Nevermore had been friends with Smyth prior to his joining of the band. Initially jokingly, he asked if he could join Nevermore. He joined Nevermore as a touring guitarist, and in 2004, Smyth officially joined the band after helping them tour in Europe. He played guitar in the band along with Jeff Loomis
Jeff Loomis
Jeff Loomis is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore.-Early days:...
and co-wrote some songs on the critically acclaimed album This Godless Endeavor
This Godless Endeavor
-Credits:The Band:*Warrel Dane - lead vocals*Jeff Loomis - guitar*Steve Smyth - guitar*Jim Sheppard - bass*Van Williams - drumsGuest Musician:*James Murphy - Special guest lead guitar on "The Holocaust of Thought"Production:...
(2005).
On April 30, 2006, Smyth released a message explaining to fans that he has been diagnosed with kidney failure due to a congenital birth defect. Updates followed on May 30, June 3, and August 9, 2006 on his official website. On December 12, 2006, Smyth had a successful kidney transplantation
Kidney transplantation
Kidney transplantation or renal transplantation is the organ transplant of a kidney into a patient with end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplantation is typically classified as deceased-donor or living-donor transplantation depending on the source of the donor organ...
.
In the summer of 2007 Smyth left Nevermore due to "personal and business differences". At that time he was working on an all-instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
album in the vein of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
with his former Ariah bandmate and bassist Steve Hoffman. This side project was named "EssenEss" after their same first names, as a transctiption of S'n'S (Steve and Steve). Self-titled The EssenEss Project debut album released on November 5, 2007.
He currently is teaching at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music and is now a member of Forbidden
Forbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...
.
Equipment
Smyth plays B.C. RichB.C. Rich
B.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently, most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C....
7-String Warlock, 7-String Ignitor,
Assassin, Assassin PX3T guitars, 6-string Warlock, and a Bich models.
He also endorses EVH amplifiers. (Smyth formally endorsed Krank amplifiers.)
He also uses a Digitech effects (his most prominent being a Whammy pedal) and EMG pickups.
In 2011 Steve Smyth signature model B.C. Rich Biches were unveiled in both 6-string and 7-string models.
The EssenEss Project
- 2007 - The EssenEss Project (Two Louder Music)
Dragonlord
- 2005 - Black Wings of DestinyBlack Wings of DestinyBlack Wings of Destiny is the second album by the Black metal band Dragonlord.Almost all of the previous album's thrash roots vanished, replaced with pure black metal. Peterson also began extending creative control to the rest of the band, instead of writing all the music himself for this album...
(Escapi) - 2001 - RaptureRapture (Dragonlord album)Rapture is the first album by the Black metal band Dragonlord.Though essentially a black metal album, much of Eric Peterson's thrash roots can still be heard, likening the sound that to the faster thrash style on Testament's "The Gathering" album mixed with symphonic black metal...
(Spitfire)
Vicious Rumors
- 1998 - CyberchristCyberchristCyberchrist is the seventh album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1998.-Track listing:#"Cyberchrist" - 4:26#"Buried Alive" - 5:05#"Kill the Day" - 4:23#"No Apologies" - 3:29#"Fear of God" - 3:56#"Gigs Eviction" - 3:13...
(Massacre) - 1996 - Something BurningSomething BurningSomething Burning is the sixth album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1996.-Track listing:#"Ballhog" - 3:38#"Mouth" - 3:11#"Out of My Misery" - 4:00#"Something Burning" - 3:41#"Concentration" - 4:07#"Chopping Block" - 4:10...
(Massacre)
HateSphere
- 2005 - "The Sickness Within" (SPV/Steamhammer) (Guest leads on the song "Marked by Darkness")
Testament
- 2003 - Live in Tilburg, The Nederlands DVD (official bootleg)
- 1999 - Live in Osaka, Japan DVD (official bootleg)
- 1999 - Live in Tokyo, Japan DVD (official bootleg)
External links
- Official forum
- Steve Smyth at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace 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....
- The EssenEss Project, Smyth's project with Steven A. Hoffman and Atma Anur
- Steve Smyth interview on Maximum Threshold 10/2007
- Interview with Steve Smyth @ Skylight Webzine