Dead by Wednesday (DBW) is an American
heavy metal band from
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is List ...
, formed in 2006.
["Lexicon: Dead by Wednesday"](_blank)
retrieved March 7, 2016 The band's current lineup includes founding members Christian "Opus" Lawrence (drums) and Michael Modeste (bass),
["Player Spotlight: Michael Modeste"](_blank)
retrieved March 7, 2016 along with Dave Sharpe (guitar) and Steve Alvarez (vocals).
DBW has released five full-length albums: ''Democracy is Dead'' (2006,
Stillborn Records
Stillborn Records is an American-based independent record label, founded by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, and primarily operated by Jay Reason of the Distance. Stillborn Records has released a variety of bands, mainly focused in the genres of heavy ...
); ''The Killing Project'' (2008, Eclipse Records);
and ''The Last Parade'' (2011, Fake Four Inc.) and ''The Darkest of Angels'' (2016, EMP Label Group). Additionally, the band released its ''Death of the Rockstar''
EP in 2014 via Ear One Productions, and has been featured on Hatewear Inc.'s ''Brutal New Music Compilations Vol. 1, 2, and 3''. The fourth full-length album, ''Darkest of Angels'', released May 2016 featured a variety of well known metal singers.
In 2019 the band released the eponymous album Dead by Wednesday through
Combat Records
Combat Records was an American independent record label founded in 1982 and based in New York City.
The label was made specifically for heavy metal and punk rock acts. Notable artists include: Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, OZ, ...
. Extensive touring in support of
Flotsam and Jetsam
In maritime law, flotsam'','' jetsam'','' lagan'','' and derelict are terms for various types of property lost or abandoned at sea. The words have specific nautical meanings, with legal consequences in the law of admiralty and marine salvage. A ...
ensued.
History
Dead by Wednesday was formed by drummer Opus and his cousins David and Ceschi Ramos, who were the original vocalists for the band. While the Ramos cousins still make guest appearances, Joe Morbidelli
was the singer for most of the band's tenure until leaving in 2014 due to personal issues.
Dead by Wednesday has toured across the United States multiple times, notably with
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1996. Although Shadows Fall has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career, Shadows Fall has been composed of guitarists Jon Donais and ...
in 2014,
Flotsam and Jetsam
In maritime law, flotsam'','' jetsam'','' lagan'','' and derelict are terms for various types of property lost or abandoned at sea. The words have specific nautical meanings, with legal consequences in the law of admiralty and marine salvage. A ...
in 2015, and A Killers Confession in 2017. The band also played several dates for
Mayhem Festival
The Mayhem Festival is a metal festival that takes place during the summer. The inaugural season took place in 2008; the festival later became an annual event across the United States. Most years also included a single date in either Montreal or ...
in 2015.
Before beginning to record ''Darkest of Angels,'' DBW parted ways with longtime guitarist Ross Ragusa.
Joey Concepcion joined on guitar and the band invited a variety of guest vocalists to collaborate on the album. Brian Fair (
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1996. Although Shadows Fall has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career, Shadows Fall has been composed of guitarists Jon Donais and ...
), AK (
Flotsam and Jetsam
In maritime law, flotsam'','' jetsam'','' lagan'','' and derelict are terms for various types of property lost or abandoned at sea. The words have specific nautical meanings, with legal consequences in the law of admiralty and marine salvage. A ...
), John Arch (
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman. There have been numerous lineup ch ...
), Rob Dukes (Generation Kill, ex-
Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Ex ...
), Carley Coma (
Candiria
Candiria is an American band from Brooklyn, New York, mixing progressive metal, metalcore, jazz fusion and hip hop. They are part of the precursors of the mathcore genre with bands like Deadguy or Lethargy.Kevin Stewart-Panko, "The Decade in N ...
), Waylon Reavis (ex-
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound and horror film-inspired imagery which features masks and costumes as well as ...
), Sean Danielsen (
Smile Empty Soul
Smile Empty Soul is an American Rock music, rock band, originally from Santa Clarita, California, Santa Clarita, California, United States. It was started in 1998 by Sean Danielsen (vocals and guitar), Ryan Martin (bass), and Derek Gledhill (dru ...
), Paul Stoddard (
Diecast), Kris Keyes (ex-Gargantua Soul), Antony Hamalainen (
Armageddon
Armageddon ( ; ; ; from ) is the prophesied gathering of armies for a battle during the end times, according to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Armageddon is variously interpreted as either a literal or a ...
) and Ceschi Ramos each have featured tracks, as well as now-permanent singer Rob Roy. ''Darkest of Angels'' was released on May 20, 2016 and was distributed through
David Ellefson
David Ellefson is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist and backing vocalist for thrash metal band Megadeth across two stints.
Ellefson initially became an accomplished bassist and honed his songwriting skills whi ...
(of
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal—alo ...
)'s EMP Label Group.
["EMP Label Group Artists"](_blank)
In June 2016
Soulfly
Soulfly is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 1996. To date the band has release ...
and
Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy is a Brazilian-American heavy metal supergroup from Phoenix, Arizona, founded by Brazilian brothers Max (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Igor Cavalera (drums, percussion), who are widely known as former members of Sepultura, an ...
guitarist
Marc Rizzo
Marc Rizzo (born August 2, 1977) is an American musician, best known as the former lead guitarist of metal band Soulfly. He has featured on eight Soulfly albums: ''Prophecy'', '' Dark Ages'', ''Conquer'', ''Omen'', '' Enslaved'', '' Savages'', ...
joined Dead by Wednesday as a second guitar player for a very brief time.
In August 2018, the band introduced their new guitarist Dave Sharpe of
End-Time Illusion and formally of
Blood Has Been Shed
Blood Has Been Shed was an American metalcore band based in Granby, Connecticut. The band came together in 1997 and has featured members of Killswitch Engage, Diecast, Light the Torch, Red Tide, Terror, Walls of Jericho, Bury Your Dead, The ...
after Kyle departed in April.
In 2020 after the departure of Rob Roy, the band recruited multi-lingual vocalist Steve Alvarez who has toured and recorded with the band ever since. In 2021 DBW toured with Puya in Florida and is close to completing a follow-up 6th full length.
DBW has released several music videos; their video for "Pawns"
was featured on MTV2's Headbangers Ball, Havok TV, Music Choice, and Sirius Satellite's Liquid Metal. They also have videos for "When in Rome", "Will to Fight", "Godlike Feeling", and "All the World is Waiting", which were released on the heavy metal news site Metal Injection.
In 2020 the bands new lineup released the single S.O.S. featuring their new frontman.
European tour
In 2023, Dead by Wednesday embarked on a highly anticipated European tour, spanning 15 days and visiting eight countries. The tour kicked off in Frankfurt, Germany, and took the band to various notable venues across Europe, including KVO in Neuchatel, Switzerland, Castelnuovo and Fucecchio in Italy, Hildburghausen and Cham in Germany, Vienna in Austria, Doetinchen in the Netherlands, Wroclaw in Poland, Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, and concluded in Hamburg, Germany.
The tour proved to be a resounding success for Dead by Wednesday, as they received an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences in each country. Their high-energy performances, combined with their powerful stage presence, helped them gain new fans and establish a solid fanbase in Europe. The band's ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level and their dedication to delivering a memorable live experience contributed to the tour's success.
Documentary
The European tour by Dead by Wednesday was documented by filmmaker Piettro Garibaldi, capturing the band's journey, performances, and behind-the-scenes moments. The documentary provides an intimate look into the band's experiences on the road, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs they encountered during their European tour. It offers fans and music enthusiasts a unique perspective into the band's music and touring adventures.
The documentary not only serves as a memento for Dead by Wednesday but also as a means to further engage their existing fanbase and attract new listeners. With the release of the documentary, the band aims to broaden their reach and enhance their visibility in the music industry.
Legacy
Dead by Wednesday's European tour marked a significant milestone in their career. The success and positive reception they received during the tour helped solidify their presence in the European metal scene. The new fans gained and the consolidation of their fanbase in Europe further propelled their growth as a band.
The impact of the tour and the subsequent documentary continue to resonate with fans and music enthusiasts worldwide, showcasing Dead by Wednesday's dedication to their craft and their commitment to delivering a captivating live experience.
Endorsements
After several years with Washburn Guitars, guitarist Dave Sharpe signed with Solar Guitars in 2021. Dave has been a long time Randall Amplifier endorsee.
Opus Lawrence plays Trinity Cymbals exclusively.
[ ]
Discography
* Democracy Is Dead (2006, Recorded and mixed by Joetown)
* The Killing Project (2008)
* The Last Parade (2011)
* Death of the Rockstar (2014)
* Darkest of Angels (2016)
* Dead by Wednesday (2019)
* Capital Conspiracy (2022)
Awards
* Connecticut Music Awards 'Best Metal' 2012 & 2013
References
External links
Official Bandcamp page
{{Authority control
Heavy metal musical groups from Connecticut
Musical groups established in 2006