Jayson Sherlock
Encyclopedia
Jayson Sherlock was the drummer for the Australia
n death metal
band Mortification
, which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre.
Sherlock was the founder of the one-man project Unblack metal
band Horde
, in which he played every instrument. He has also been in other bands such as Paramaecium
, InExordium, Altera Enigma
, Soundscape and Where Shadows Lie.
disbanded LightForce, established the new band and released Mortification's debut album Break the Curse
. Then came the self-titled album Mortification
. Mortification changed to a more death metal
style in 1992 and subsequently released the groundbreaking album Scrolls of the Megilloth
. Mortification then released another album titled Post Momentary Affliction
and the live album Live Planetarium
. During this time Mortification was said to belong to the elite of the death metal movement and Sherlock had a notable role in the band as he wrote some of the more well-known songs such as "Terminate Damnation". Scrolls is widely noted as a piece of Australian metal history and a classic of the genre. After releasing these albums, Sherlock left Mortification in 1993 to join the doom metal
band Paramaecium.
, which was considered to be one of the greatest Christian doom metal albums of the time. After the success of its previous album, the band proceeded to release the concept album
Within the Ancient Forest
, based on a book written by the band's vocalist Andrew Tompkins. According to Doom-metal.com, Paramaecium "are the only Christian death doom band that made it to the top of the genre." After the success of Paramaecium, Sherlock left the band in 1996.
under the pseudonym "Anonymous" on Nuclear Blast Records in 1994, followed by a re-release on Rowe Productions. The title "Hellig Usvart" is Norwegian, a fact which at first led many to believe that Horde originated in Norway
, a theory backed up by the grim production quality on the album, considered to be a trademark of Norwegian black metal.
Upon the initial release of Hellig Usvart, a publicity campaign was launched throughout the black metal
community, revolving around Sherlock being credited as "Anonymous". Death-threats were sent to Mark Staiger at Nuclear Blast to reveal the identity of the anonymous musician who had created the album; later the musician was revealed to be Jayson Sherlock.
Hellig Usvart pioneered the previously unheard-of genre of "Christian black metal
" (sometimes referred to as "Holy UnBlack Metal" as Sherlock called his music). Since its release, bands such as Dark Endless (also a black metal band with one anonymous member), Crimson Moonlight
and Antestor
have emerged as proponents of Christian black metal.
band Paramaecium
and appeared at the '06 Black Stump
festival. In 2007 they went to the NordicFest in Oslo, Norway
which was to be Paramaecium's final show before the creation of InExordium by the remaining members of the band. Sherlock is also part of a progressive metal
band called Altera Enigma
, in which Jason De Ron (Paramaecium, InExordium) is also involved. In 2009 Jayson recorded as guest drummer for Fearscape
's Nightmare Hymn (to be released mid 2009 on Bombworks Records). In mid 2009, Jayson was asked to fill in for Teramaze drummer Julian Percy as Julian was unable to fulfill commitments due to a chronic heart condition. Jayson has since fulfilled his commitments with the band, and they now have a permanent drummer.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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....
band Mortification
Mortification (band)
Mortification is an Australian Christian extreme metal band which was formed in 1987 as a heavy metal group, Lightforce, by mainstay Steve Rowe on bass guitar and vocals. By 1990, in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin, they were renamed as Mortification with the line-up of Rowe, Michael Carlisle on...
, which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre.
Sherlock was the founder of the one-man project Unblack metal
Unblack metal
Unblack metal is a term used to describe musically black metal sounding artists whose lyrics and imagery promote Christianity. Such artists are controversial, mainly because black metal's pioneers, especially those of the Second Wave, intended to encourage hostility towards Christianity...
band Horde
Horde (band)
Horde is the single-album unblack metal project of Australian musician Jayson Sherlock, formerly of Mortification and Paramaecium. In 1994 the only album Hellig Usvart was released on Nuclear Blast. With a session line-up, Horde played live-shows in 2006, Norway, and in 2010 in Finland and Germany...
, in which he played every instrument. He has also been in other bands such as Paramaecium
Paramaecium
Paramaecium was an Australian death/doom metal band formed in 1991. There is use of instrumentation like flutes, cellos and violins on some albums. Paramaecium is one of the few doom metal bands that focus on Christian lyrical themes and Christian concepts...
, InExordium, Altera Enigma
Altera Enigma
Altera Enigma is an experimental death metal supergroup formed by Jason De Ron, the former guitarist and front man of Paramaecium, and Jefray Arwadi, former guitarist, vocalist, and front man of Kekal. Both of these musicians have a career that has seen them record and release nearly 20 albums...
, Soundscape and Where Shadows Lie.
Style
Sherlock is known for his unique and extremely fast double bass pedal and blast beat technique. He also plays guitar and bass. There have also been rumors circulating that he received death threats for his coining of the Unblack Metal genre.Mortification
In 1990 Sherlock joined Mortification after Steve RoweSteve Rowe
Steve Rowe is the founder, bass guitarist, and vocalist of the Australian Christian death metal band Mortification which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre. Prior to forming Mortification he was in a traditional heavy metal styled Christian band known as LightForce...
disbanded LightForce, established the new band and released Mortification's debut album Break the Curse
Break the Curse
Break the Curse is Christian metal band Mortification's debut demo, recorded in 1990. The album expresses Mortification's thrashier metal, rather than their death metal yet to come.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification...
. Then came the self-titled album Mortification
Mortification (album)
Mortification is Mortification's second studio release and eponymous debut album, released in 1991. The album before was a demo. This album leans more towards death metal, but still keeps itself in the ways of thrash....
. Mortification changed to a more 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....
style in 1992 and subsequently released the groundbreaking album Scrolls of the Megilloth
Scrolls of the Megilloth
Scrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording, released in 1992. The band's most famous release, this album is full-on death metal, with the thrash metal roots barely showing, and possibly their most extreme album to date...
. Mortification then released another album titled Post Momentary Affliction
Post Momentary Affliction
Post Momentary Affliction is the fourth release and third studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993. The album goes back to Mortification's thrash roots, but with the death metal elements still showing...
and the live album Live Planetarium
Live Planetarium
Live Planetarium is a live album and fifth release of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification except where noted# "Grind Planetarium" - 5:16# "Distarnish Priest" - 7:50...
. During this time Mortification was said to belong to the elite of the death metal movement and Sherlock had a notable role in the band as he wrote some of the more well-known songs such as "Terminate Damnation". Scrolls is widely noted as a piece of Australian metal history and a classic of the genre. After releasing these albums, Sherlock left Mortification in 1993 to join the doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band Paramaecium.
Paramaecium
In 1993 Paramaecium released their debut album Exhumed of the EarthExhumed of the Earth
Exhumed of the Earth is the debut album by Paramaecium. It was released in 1993. Exhumed of the Earth is considered to be one of the landmarks of both doom metal and Christian metal movements.-Recording history:...
, which was considered to be one of the greatest Christian doom metal albums of the time. After the success of its previous album, the band proceeded to release the concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
Within the Ancient Forest
Within the Ancient Forest
Within the Ancient Forest is the second album by Paramaecium. It was released in 1996. Within the Ancient Forest is also a novel written by Paramaecium's lead singer, Andrew Tompkins...
, based on a book written by the band's vocalist Andrew Tompkins. According to Doom-metal.com, Paramaecium "are the only Christian death doom band that made it to the top of the genre." After the success of Paramaecium, Sherlock left the band in 1996.
Horde
After a year Sherlock formed the one-man band Horde. He released the album Hellig UsvartHellig Usvart
Hellig Usvart is the debut album by Australian unblack metal band Horde, released in 1994 on Nuclear Blast Records. Upon its release in 1994, the album created a controversy among the black metal fans; death threats were sent to Nuclear Blast demanding the label to drop the album from its catalogue...
under the pseudonym "Anonymous" on Nuclear Blast Records in 1994, followed by a re-release on Rowe Productions. The title "Hellig Usvart" is Norwegian, a fact which at first led many to believe that Horde originated in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, a theory backed up by the grim production quality on the album, considered to be a trademark of Norwegian black metal.
Upon the initial release of Hellig Usvart, a publicity campaign was launched throughout the 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....
community, revolving around Sherlock being credited as "Anonymous". Death-threats were sent to Mark Staiger at Nuclear Blast to reveal the identity of the anonymous musician who had created the album; later the musician was revealed to be Jayson Sherlock.
Hellig Usvart pioneered the previously unheard-of genre of "Christian black metal
Unblack metal
Unblack metal is a term used to describe musically black metal sounding artists whose lyrics and imagery promote Christianity. Such artists are controversial, mainly because black metal's pioneers, especially those of the Second Wave, intended to encourage hostility towards Christianity...
" (sometimes referred to as "Holy UnBlack Metal" as Sherlock called his music). Since its release, bands such as Dark Endless (also a black metal band with one anonymous member), Crimson Moonlight
Crimson Moonlight
Crimson Moonlight is a Swedish Christian black metal band which was formed in the summer of 1997 with the mere intention of recording a primitive old school black metal demo and playing one show before breaking up. However, the breakup never happened, and they have since recorded two EPs and two...
and Antestor
Antestor
Antestor is an extreme metal band formed in 1990 in Jessheim, Norway. Credited for starting the whole northern European Christian extreme metal scene, Antestor is the only Christian band to have an album released by Cacophonous Records, which has also released records by bands such as Dimmu Borgir,...
have emerged as proponents of Christian black metal.
Other projects
Sherlock is also involved in a number of other bands. In 2000 he joined the band Soundscape and in 2002 he joined the band Where Shadows Lie. In 2006 he rejoined the doom metalDoom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band Paramaecium
Paramaecium
Paramaecium was an Australian death/doom metal band formed in 1991. There is use of instrumentation like flutes, cellos and violins on some albums. Paramaecium is one of the few doom metal bands that focus on Christian lyrical themes and Christian concepts...
and appeared at the '06 Black Stump
Black Stump Music and Arts Festival
The Black Stump Music and Arts Festival is a four day Christian festival that is held in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan region over the labour day long weekend, often the first weekend in October.-Features:...
festival. In 2007 they went to the NordicFest in Oslo, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
which was to be Paramaecium's final show before the creation of InExordium by the remaining members of the band. Sherlock is also part of a 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 called Altera Enigma
Altera Enigma
Altera Enigma is an experimental death metal supergroup formed by Jason De Ron, the former guitarist and front man of Paramaecium, and Jefray Arwadi, former guitarist, vocalist, and front man of Kekal. Both of these musicians have a career that has seen them record and release nearly 20 albums...
, in which Jason De Ron (Paramaecium, InExordium) is also involved. In 2009 Jayson recorded as guest drummer for Fearscape
Fearscape
Fearscape is a black metal/death metal band from Wollongong, Australia who have released two albums and one EP.-Biography:Fearscape are a Progressive black Metal styled band originally from the industrial city of Wollongong, NSW Fearscape is a black metal/death metal band from Wollongong, Australia...
's Nightmare Hymn (to be released mid 2009 on Bombworks Records). In mid 2009, Jayson was asked to fill in for Teramaze drummer Julian Percy as Julian was unable to fulfill commitments due to a chronic heart condition. Jayson has since fulfilled his commitments with the band, and they now have a permanent drummer.
Digital Graphic Artist
Sherlock was known to illustrate the cover art for most of his bands' albums. He created the artwork for Mortification's albums during 1990-1993 and designed a number of their T-shirts. These works are characterized by their underground approach, which is typical for death metal music. He also created artwork for Paramaecium's debut, which showcases detailed calligraphy artwork, and Horde's Hellig Usvart, among others. Eventually Sherlock became a professional Digital Graphic Artist.Mortification
- Break the CurseBreak the CurseBreak the Curse is Christian metal band Mortification's debut demo, recorded in 1990. The album expresses Mortification's thrashier metal, rather than their death metal yet to come.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification...
- (1990) - MortificationMortification (album)Mortification is Mortification's second studio release and eponymous debut album, released in 1991. The album before was a demo. This album leans more towards death metal, but still keeps itself in the ways of thrash....
- (1991) - Scrolls of the MegillothScrolls of the MegillothScrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording, released in 1992. The band's most famous release, this album is full-on death metal, with the thrash metal roots barely showing, and possibly their most extreme album to date...
- (1992) - Post Momentary AfflictionPost Momentary AfflictionPost Momentary Affliction is the fourth release and third studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993. The album goes back to Mortification's thrash roots, but with the death metal elements still showing...
- (1993) - Live PlanetariumLive PlanetariumLive Planetarium is a live album and fifth release of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification except where noted# "Grind Planetarium" - 5:16# "Distarnish Priest" - 7:50...
- (1993) - Best of 5 Years - (1995)
- Grind Planets - DVD - (2005)
- Live Planetarium - DVD - (2006)
Paramaecium
- Exhumed of the EarthExhumed of the EarthExhumed of the Earth is the debut album by Paramaecium. It was released in 1993. Exhumed of the Earth is considered to be one of the landmarks of both doom metal and Christian metal movements.-Recording history:...
- (1993) - Within the Ancient ForestWithin the Ancient ForestWithin the Ancient Forest is the second album by Paramaecium. It was released in 1996. Within the Ancient Forest is also a novel written by Paramaecium's lead singer, Andrew Tompkins...
- (1996) - Repentance - (1996)
Horde
- Hellig UsvartHellig UsvartHellig Usvart is the debut album by Australian unblack metal band Horde, released in 1994 on Nuclear Blast Records. Upon its release in 1994, the album created a controversy among the black metal fans; death threats were sent to Nuclear Blast demanding the label to drop the album from its catalogue...
- (1994) - Alive in OsloAlive in OsloAlive in Oslo is a live album by Australian unblack metal band Horde, released in April 2007 by Veridon Music. The album features the live concert by the band, recorded at Nordic Fest in Oslo, Norway on November 3, 2006...
- (2007) - Alive in Oslo - DVD - (2007)
Sonor Sonic Plus 2
- 14" Snare
- 10" Rack Tom
- 12" Rack Tom
- 13" Rack Tom
- 14" Floor Tom
- 20" Bass Drum
Cymbals
- Sabian AAX Stage 13" Hats (Main)
- Ufip Class Series 12" Hats (X hats)
- Ufip 8" Ice Bell
- Stagg Myra Brillant 8" Splash
- Stagg Myra Brillant 10" Splash
- Stagg Myra Brillant 18" Crash
- Stagg Myra Brillant 19" Crash
- Zildjian Oriental Trash 18" China
- Zildjian Oriental Trash 16" China
- Sabian HH 12" Mini China
- Zildjian A Custom Medium 16" Crash
- Zildjian A Custom Medium 15" Crash
- Zildjian Earth 20" Ride
- B2B 16" Energy Crash
Electronics
- Beringer XENYX802 Mixer
- Roland TD-3 Drum Module
- Roland RT-10 Kick Trigger
- Shure E Series In-Ear Monitors
External links
- Jayson Sherlock at MySpace
- Jayson Sherlock at inexordium.com