Nicholas Howard Barker (born 1973) is an English

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. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...

drummer best known for his work in

Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...

from 1993 to 1999,

Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic lang ...

from 1999 to 2004,

Brujeria Witchcraft in Latin America, known in Spanish as () and in Portuguese as ''bruxaria'' (), is a blend of Indigenous, African, and European beliefs. Indigenous cultures had spiritual practices centered around nature and healing, while the arriv ...

from 2003 to 2005 and from 2016 to 2022, and Shining from 2022 to 2023. Currently he is the drummer for Borstal, Liquid Graveyard, Twilight of the Gods, and United Forces.

Biography

Barker was born on 25 April 1973. His career started as a touring drum tech for

Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

, for whom he filled in on drums at live shows when Carl Stokes suffered an injury in 1993. He joined Cradle of Filth as a full time member later in 1993 replacing Was Sarginson and playing on the first four albums. After leaving in 1999, he joined Norwegian

symphonic black metal Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. History One of the earliest forerunners in what would come to be the sound of symphonic metal was Celtic Frost ...

band

. After being removed from the line-up, Barker went on to play with

Old Man's Child Old Man's Child is a Norwegian black metal band originating from the city of Oslo. The band was founded by Galder (formerly known as Grusom; birth name: Thomas Rune Andersen), who is the sole permanent member of the group. History Old Man's Ch ...

, Lock Up,

Gaahl Kristian Eivind Espedal (born 7 August 1975), better known by his stage name Gaahl, is a Norwegian vocalist. He is best known as the former frontman of Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. He is also the founder and lead vocalist of Trelldom an ...

and

King ov Hell Tom Cato Visnes (born 27 November 1974),

Leaves' Eyes Leaves' Eyes is a symphonic metal band from Germany and Norway. Formed in 2003 by Liv Kristine, formerly the lead singer of Theatre of Tragedy, along with the entire line-up of Atrocity (band), Atrocity, the band has since released eight studio a ...

. In 2007 he recorded with Winter's Thrall, on their EP ''In:Through:Out''. On Dimmu Borgir's 2002 ''

World Misanthropy ''World Misanthropy'' is the first video album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It was released on 28 May 2002 as a two disc set, with early pressings featuring the bonus CD, a VHS and the bonus disc separately as a limited ...

'' video, Barker mentioned the following names as influences on his playing style:

Neil Peart Neil Ellwood Peart ( ; September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020) was a Canadian and American musician, known as the drummer, percussionist, and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush (band), Rush. He was known to fans by the nickname "the Profe ...

( Rush),

Gene Hoglan Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...

( Dark Angel,

Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

Strapping Young Lad Strapping Young Lad (SYL) was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, '' Heavy as a Really Heavy ...

Clive Burr Clive Ronald Burr (8 March 1956 – 12 March 2013) was an English musician. He was the drummer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden from 1979 to 1982. Together with fellow Iron Maiden member Dennis Stratton, he joined Praying Mantis for the r ...

Nicko McBrain Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain (born 5 June 1952) is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1982. He is the third-longest serving member of the band, having appeared on each Iron Maiden album sin ...

(

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...

Dave Lombardo David Lombardo (born February 16, 1965) is a Cuban-American drummer, best known as a co-founding member of the thrash metal band Slayer. He currently plays drums with Fantômas, Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle, Empire State Bastard, and Misfits. Lo ...

(

Slayer Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them ...

), and

Pete Sandoval Pedro Rigoberto "Pete" Sandoval (born May 21, 1964) is a Salvadoran-born American drummer, best known for his work with extreme metal bands Morbid Angel, Terrorizer and I Am Morbid. According to Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic, Sandoval "challe ...

(

Morbid Angel Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist, primary composer and sole remaining original member Trey Azagthoth, vocalist and bassist Dallas Ward, and drummer Mike Browning. Widely considere ...

). In 2011, Barker joined Los Angeles death metal band

Sadistic Intent Sadistic Intent is an American death metal band from Los Angeles. Active since 1987, it is one of the longest-standing death metal acts in all of California, and a prominent Latino metal band. As of 2017, the band had never released a full-lengt ...

, replacing longtime drummer Emilio Marquèz. Barker was drumming in United Forces, featuring two former members of

Stormtroopers of Death Stormtroopers of Death (abbreviated to S.O.D.) was an American crossover thrash band formed in New York City in 1985. They are credited as being amongst the first groups to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style often referred to as c ...

, vocalist

Billy Milano Billy Milano (born June 5, 1964) is an American heavy metal and hardcore punk musician. He is the singer and occasionally guitarist and bassist of crossover thrash band M.O.D., and was the singer of its predecessor, Stormtroopers of Death. Be ...

and bassist

Dan Lilker Daniel Adam Lilker (born October 18, 1964) is an American musician best known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, and vocalist. He has played bass in numerous heavy metal bands, including Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D. and Holy ...

, and guitarist

Anton Reisenegger Anton Reisenegger von Oepen (born 21 January 1969) is a Chilean musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of the thrash/death metal band Criminal as well as guitarist and vocalist of death metal band Pentagram Chile. He is also the host of t ...

. Barker also joined

Voices Voices or The Voices may refer to: Film and television * ''Voices'' (1920 film), by Chester M. De Vonde, with Diana Allen * ''Voices'' (1973 film), a British horror film * ''Voices'' (1979 film), a film by Robert Markowitz * ''Voices'' (1 ...

, featuring former members of

Akercocke Akercocke are an English extreme metal band from London, formed in 1997 by Jason Mendonça and David Gray. The band also features Paul Scanlan and Nathanael Underwood. History Akercocke's first album, '' Rape of the Bastard Nazarene'', was sel ...

, as live drummer for their tour of the United Kingdom with

Winterfylleth Winterfylleth (Ƿinterfylleþ) was the Anglo-Saxon or Old English name for the month of October. It marked and celebrated the beginning of winter. The name of the month was recorded by Bede thus: See also * Anglo-Saxon * Germanic calendar * ...

. In July 2023 it was announced that Barker was battling

kidney failure Kidney failure, also known as renal failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney fa ...

Discography

Metalmania 2007 - Testament - Nick Barker 01

Ancient

* Back to the Land of the Dead (2016, Soulseller Records)

Borstal

*''At Her Majesty's Pleasure'' (2021, Rucktion Records/4 Family Records)

Brujeria

*'' Brujerizmo'' (2000,

Roadrunner Records Roadrunner Records is a Dutch–American record label focused on Heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock music. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. Formerly seen as ...

) *''

Pocho Aztlan ''Pocho Aztlan'' is the fourth studio album by American extreme metal band Brujeria, released on September 16, 2016 through Nuclear Blast. This is the first full-length studio album by Brujeria since '' Brujerizmo'', marking the longest gap betw ...

'' (2016,

Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiary, subsidiaries located in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on ...

) *Esto es Brujeria (2023, Nuclear Blast)

Cradle of Filth

*''

The Principle of Evil Made Flesh ''The Principle of Evil Made Flesh'' is the debut studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It was released on 24 February 1994 through Cacophonous Records, following three demos released between 1991 and 1993. The album's soun ...

'' (1994, Cacophonous Records) *''

V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein ''V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein'' is the first EP by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, and the first release following their 1994 debut studio album ''The Principle of Evil Made Flesh''. It was released on 22 April 1996, ...

'' (1996, Cacophonous Records) *'' Dusk... and Her Embrace'' (1996,

Music for Nations Music for Nations (MFN) is a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. Originally a subsidiary of Zomba Records, which was a division of BMG, the label was closed in 2004 and later revived in 2015 by Sony Music Ente ...

) *''

Cruelty and the Beast ''Cruelty and the Beast'' is the third studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, released on 5 May 1998 by Music for Nations. It is a concept album based on the legend of the Hungarian "blood countess" Elizabeth Báthory and f ...

'' (1998, Music for Nations) *''

From the Cradle to Enslave ''From the Cradle to Enslave'' is the second EP by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, released on 30 October 1999 by Music for Nations (Europe) and Metal Blade (US). Recording and content The EP was recorded during a period of uphe ...

'' (1999, Music for Nations) (only on the "Funeral in Carpathia" re-recording)

Dimmu Borgir

*''

Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia ''Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'' is the fifth studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It was released by Nuclear Blast Records in 2001. This is the first album to feature drummer Nick Barker, guitarist Galder, ...

'' (2001,

) *''

Alive in Torment ''Alive in Torment'' is the third EP by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It was recorded in Stuttgart, Germany on 4 April 2001, during the tour supporting their fifth studio album Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. Track list ...

'' EP (2002, Nuclear Blast) *''

'' DVD (2002, Nuclear Blast) *''

Death Cult Armageddon ''Death Cult Armageddon'' is the sixth studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, released on 9 September 2003. It has since sold over 100,000 copies in the United States; the first album under Nuclear Blast to do so; a ...

'' (2003, Nuclear Blast)

Liquid Graveyard

*'' By Nature So Perverse'' LP & CD (2016,

Sleaszy Rider Records Sleaszy Rider Records is an independent record label which was founded in 1999 by Tolis G. Palantzas. The head office of the label is located in Greece. The label is mainly distributed in Europe by Sony Music/EMI. The label also distributes rele ...

Season Of Mist Season of Mist is an independent record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pa ...

)

Lock Up

*''

Pleasures Pave Sewers ''Pleasures Pave Sewers'' is the debut album by grindcore band Lock Up, a side project of Napalm Death, featuring Peter Tägtgren on vocals. According to engineer Andy Sneap, the album was recorded in a day and was never mixed. Background A ...

'' (1999, Nuclear Blaster) *'' Hate Breeds Suffering'' (2002, Nuclear Blast) *''Play Fast Or Die'' (2004, Toy Factory) *'' Necropolis Transparent'' (2011, Nuclear Blast) *''Demonization'' (2017, Listenable Records)

Monolith

*''Sleep with the Dead'' 7" (1992, Cacophonous Records) *''Tales of the Macabre'' (1993,

Vinyl Solution Vinyl Solution was a record label of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the offshoot of an independent London-based record store based at 231 Portobello Road (now known as Intoxica Records). The label signed many unconventional acts in a number of unc ...

)

Noctis Imperium

*''Glorification of Evil: The Age Of The Golden Dawn'' LP (2008, Ariah Records)

Obskkvlt

* Blackarhats (2019, Nooirax Producciones)

Old Man's Child

*''

In Defiance of Existence ''In Defiance of Existence'' is the fifth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Old Man's Child, released on 20 January 2003. Track listing All music and lyrics written and composed by Galder, except on tracks 4 & 7 music by Galder/Jard ...

'' (2003,

Century Media Records Century Media Records is a German heavy metal record label with offices in Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million. Background Century Media was founded by R ...

)

Shining

* Shining (2023, Napalm Records)

Twilight of the Gods

* Fire on the Mountain (2013,

)

Winter's Thrall

*''In:Through:Out'' EP (2007, self-released)

Live / session

Borknagar Borknagar is a Norwegian progressive metal band with black metal and folk influences. It was founded in Bergen in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun primarily as a black metal band before later switching to a more melodic and progressive style. Borkn ...

– live drums 1999 *

Nightrage Nightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band originally from Thessaloniki. They later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden. History Formation and ''Sweet Vengeance'' (2000–2003) Nightrage was founded by Marios Iliopoulos and his cl ...

– live drums 2004 *

Anaal Nathrakh Anaal Nathrakh are a British extreme metal band formed in 1999 in Birmingham by multi-instrumentalist Mick Kenney and vocalist Dave Hunt (musician), Dave Hunt. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records. The band's name is Irish language, ...

– live drums 2004 *

God Seed God Seed was a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. Former Gorgoroth members Gaahl and King ov Hell adopted the name in March 2009 following the ending of the Gorgoroth name dispute. After performing a few gigs as God Seed, vocalist Gaahl ...

– live drums 2007 and 2008 *

Gorgoroth Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. It was formed in 1992 by guitarist Infernus, who is the sole original member remaining, and has released nine studio albums. Gorgoroth are a Satanism, Satanic band and have drawn contro ...

– live drums 2008 *

Divine Heresy Divine Heresy is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercia ...

- session drums 2007 *

Testament A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament. Testament or The Testament can also refer to: Books * ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book * ''Testament'', a thriller no ...

– live drums 2007 *Symbolic Death Tribute Band – recording of the DVD – live drums on 12 December 2007 *Noctis Imperium – session drums 2008 'Glorification of Evil: The Age of The Golden Dawn' *

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 ...

*The More I See *

Anathema The word anathema has two main meanings. One is to describe that something or someone is being hated or avoided. The other refers to a formal excommunication by a Christian denomination, church. These meanings come from the New Testament, where a ...

– Bloodstock Open Air UK Festival 2009 *

Ancient Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient h ...

Criminal In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

– live drums in Santiago (2010) *

Evile Evile are an English thrash metal band from Huddersfield, formed in 2004. They have experienced numerous line-up changes over the years, with drummer Ben Carter being the only member of the original line-up to have stayed consistently. The curr ...

– live drums in London (12/8/2009) * River Freshney – live drums in London (22 July 2010) *

– live drums 2009 *

Nuclear Assault Nuclear Assault was an American thrash metal band formed in New York City in 1984. Part of the mid-to-late 1980s thrash metal movement, they were one of the main bands of the genre to emerge from the East Coast along with Overkill, Whiplash, ...

–

Maryland Deathfest Maryland Deathfest (often abbreviated to MDF) is an annual American extreme metal music festival founded in 2003 by Ryan Taylor and Evan Harting. The festival is held in Baltimore, Maryland during Memorial Day weekend, and it features many bands ...

XIV (28 May 2016) *

– live drums 2016 *Obskkvlt (Galician band) session drums in 2017 for the 2019 album ''Blackarhats''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Nick 1973 births Living people Black metal musicians Cradle of Filth members British death metal musicians Dimmu Borgir members English heavy metal drummers People from Chesterfield, Derbyshire Lock Up (British band) members Testament (band) members Leaves' Eyes members 21st-century British drummers God Seed members Old Man's Child members