Shai Hulud (band)
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Shai Hulud was a hardcore band with metal influences. The name comes from the giant sandworms in Frank Herbert's Dune.
The band is famous within the hardcore scene for their often complex compositions, misanthropic lyrics and revolving-door line-up. Originally hailing from Florida, the band later moved up to Poughkeepsie, NY. The two mainstay members of Shai Hulud are considered to be Matt Fox (guitar) and Matt Fletcher (originally guitar, but then moved on to bass), who together write most of the band's musical output. After the release of 2003's "That Within Blood Ill-Tempered" and a number of tours going into the subsequent year, vocalist Geert Van Der Velde decided to leave the band. Initially, most people took this as the end of Shai Hulud, despite their previously high membership turnover rate, and this seemed to be the case until Matt Fox and Matt Fletcher came out on the band's homepage indicating that they would not be breaking up; instead, the band would change name to The Warmth of Red Blood and continue what had started with Shai Hulud. At the same time, they also started requesting that anyone who considered themselves up for the challenge of taking over vocal duties record a demo of themselves performing the track "Whether To Cry Or Destroy" (quite similar to the audition fellow hardcore maniacs The Dillinger Escape Plan did when auditioning new vocalists).
Surprisingly, the band seems to, despite the misanthropy that is their trademark, harbor a dry sense of humor, most notably on their web page, in liner notes and on the recently released record "A Comprehensive Retrospective: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Release Bad and Useless Recordings".
Shai Hulud also have a side project named Zombie Apocalypse, whose sound can be summed up as a faster, more chaotic and more manic version of its mother band. It features Matt Fox and Matt Fletcher, as well as members of The Risk Taken, Shallow Water Grave and the now-defunct Try.Fail.Try..
Shai Hulud's remaining two members Matt Fox and Matt Fletcher have recently changed their name to 'The Warmth of Red Blood' and are searching for a singer to complete the line-up.
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The final line-up of Shai Hulud
Geert Van Der Velde - vocals
Matt Fox - guitar
Matt Canning - guitar
Matt Fletcher - bass
Tony Tintari - drums
This was the final official lineup, despite drama, rumors and hear say. Previous to Matt Canning on guitar there was a fill-in named Sean Paul of a band called Anadivine, who were signed to The Militia group and broke up a few months after wards, and another person named Steve Bucala. Matt Canning opted to end his tenure with the other members after Shai Hulud broke up, and went on to form The Twilight Collective, who currently still an active band.
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Notable former members:
Chad Gilbert - vocals, now plays guitar in New Found Glory
Oliver Chapoy - guitar
Damien Moyal - vocals, went on to form As Friends Rust amongst others
Discography
Profound Hatred of Man (1997)
Hearts Once Nourished With Hope and Compassion (1997)
The Fall of Every Man (1998) (split record with Indecision)
Together On One Convenient Format (2000) (split record with Another Victim)
That Within Blood Ill-Tempered (2003)
A Comprehensive Retrospective: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Release Bad and Useless Recordings (2005)
Related bands
- Former Shai Hulud member Chad Gilber now plays in New Found Glory.
- Steve Kleisath used to play in Strongarm.
- Matt Canning went on to play in The Twilight Collective.
- Steve Kleisath is also the drummer for Further Seems Forever.
External links
Shai Hulud's official homepage (http://www.hulud.com)