Timōrātus (/tɪmɒrɑːtʌs/), also stylized as TIMŌRĀTUS, began in 2006, as a solo project of David Napier. The band was to begin as a metal band, but Napier, who had injured his hands, began the project with a more programmed electronic foundation.[1] The band describes their style as "Multi-genre metal".[2]

Timōrātus
OriginLouisville, Kentucky, United States
Genres
Years active2006-present
LabelsIndependent
MembersDavid Napier
Courtney Napier
WebsiteTimōrātus on Facebook

History edit

The project began in 2006, as a solo project of David Napier. Originally, he recorded a few songs with an electronic-based influence.[1] The project debuted in 2006, with an EP called Afraid of the Light, which featured 5-electronic based songs. Three years past before the band's next release, an EP titled Signs & Peace, also very electronically influenced.[1] By 2014, Timōrātus completely molded into its original vision of a metal band, releasing an EP, titled Black, which signified the style portrayed in the release.[3][4] Only a few months after Black's release, the project released a follow-up with a completely different premise, Death, which portrayed a death metal-style.[5][6] In 2015, the project would release an electronically-influenced fuzz rock single, made for Napier's now-wife, Courtney, as a marriage proposal song depicted by the cover.[7] Two more EPs would follow in the same year, titled Doom (doom metal-style)[8] and Grind (grindcore-style).[9] All of the EPs, were concept releases, following the story of man named Kafla.[1] Following his quadruple EP release, Timōrātus released their debut studio album, Reverentia, which was released digitally for free.[10] The album also marked the band's debut on Christian Metal Underground Records, the band's new record label.[11] The album was the first to feature David's wife, Courtney on vocals.[10] The album received very mixed reviews.[12][13][14]

Timōrātus collaborated with another progressive metal act, Weapons of Indignation on a drone metal EP titled Compass, which featured both David Napier and Aleks Tengesdal working together on two tracks, with the release rounding out at around 17 minutes.[15][16] The project's final release of 2017 was "Christmas Present Crisis", which presented several different styles, including grindcore, black metal, death metal, indie rock, hip hop and much more in a comical fashion.[17][18] 2018 was a big year for the band, debuting in February with 7 Deadly Sins, a 7-minute grindcore EP, which debuted Courtney on harsh vocals.[19] A single, "Screen Attack", came out in June, followed by the EP, For We Are Not Beasts, which released in July.[1][20] It was later announced that Timōrātus would be featured on a four-way split grind EP, slated for release on September 8 through Christian Metal Underground Records, featuring Abandoned Mortuary, Eternal After Death and Wise As Serpents.[21]

The band released a black metal split, with Symphony of Heaven and Bismoth titled Body of Christ, and it was released independently in March 2019,[1] with Timōrātus’ portion of the EP containing many guest musicians, including Jake Martin (Taking the Head of Goliath), Luke Renno (Taking the Head of Goliath, Crimson Thorn, Temple of Perdition), Max Kevin Ølstoren (Shadow Puncher, Tunge Byrder), and Zack Plunkett (Abated Mass of Flesh, ex-Christageddon), as well as live drummer Mason Beard (Mystic Winter) contributing in addition. Later that year, the band would perform at Audiofeed Festival, sharing the stage with acts such as American Arson, Taking the Head of Goliath, Drottnar, and Crimson Moonlight. The band would also play three additional shows that year alongside Symphony of Heaven, Bleed the Masses, Shadows of Insanity, Malignant Vision, Pound, Hemwick, and Fall. On July 29, 2020, the band released their second album independently, My Life in a Mediocre Metal Band, a comedic metal album, featuring guest performances by Thompson and Beard, as well as Peter Watson of Elephant Watchtower and Eero Tertsunen of Renascent.

As of 2022 the band has released a follow up to their album My Life in a Mediocre Metal Band titled, My Life in a Made Metal Band which released June 10, 2022. It continues the comedy concept following the caricaturist version of Timōrātus as they sign a multi-million dollar record deal. It features guest performances by Thompson and Beard, as well as Krissy Vanderwoude of Whimsical, Peter Watson of Elephant Watchtower and Mac Smith of Krosis.[22]

Influences and style edit

Timōrātus is a peculiar band as far as style; the band has produced several releases, each with several different genres that were focused on.[1] The releases have covered the genres of black metal,[3] death metal,[5] grindcore,[9] doom metal,[8] drone metal,[15][16] post-metal[12] and blackgaze.[1]

The band, having several different styles, have several different influences per style. However, the foundation of the project, is Extol. Other influences include Sunn O))), Jesu and Genghis Tron.[1] On the band's For We Are Not Beasts EP, Genghis Tron, Rolo Tomassi and Arsonists Get All the Girls influenced the release.[1]

Members edit

Current
  • David "The Party" Napier - all instruments, vocals (2006–present) (Symphony of Heaven, The Abrasive Realization, Color Crush)
  • Courtney "The Style" Napier - vocals (2017–present) (Color Crush)
Live
  • Logan "The Redneck" Thompson - guitars (2019–present) (Symphony of Heaven, The Abrasive Realization)
  • Mason "The Kid" Beard - drums (2019–present) (Mystic Winter, Symphony of Heaven, The Abrasive Realization)
  • "The Mystery" - bass (2020–present)
  • Jethro de Beer - bass (2019) (Bismoth, Be Not Betrayed)
Session
  • Benjamin Steven Dohrmann - vocals (2017)
  • Amy Austin - vocals (2017)
  • Carman Hammond - vocals (2017)
  • Bryan Powell - vocals (2017)
  • Eero Tertsunen - guitars (2019, 2020, 2022) (Renascent, Symphony of Heaven, The Slave Eye)
  • Peter Watson - guitars (2020, 2022) (Elephant Watchtower)

Discography edit

List of studio albums
Year Title Label
2017 Reverentia Christian Metal Underground
2020 My Life in a Mediocre Metal Band Independent
2022 My Life in a Made Metal Band Independent
List of EPs
Year Title Label
2006 Afraid of the Light Independent
2009 Signs & Places Independent
2014 Black Independent
2014 Death Independent
2015 Doom Independent
2015 Grind Independent
2018 7 Deadly Sins Independent
2018 For We Are Not Beasts Independent
List of Collaborations and Splits
Year Title Label Notes
2017 Compass Independent Collaboration with Weapons of Indignation
2018 4-Way Grind Split Christian Metal Underground Split with Abandoned Mortuary, Wise As Serpents and Eternal After Death
2019 Body of Christ Independent Split with Symphony of Heaven and Bismoth[1]

Singles

  • "My Starshine" (2015)
  • "Christmas Present Crisis" (2017)
  • "Screen Attack" (2018)
  • "Christmas Present Conundrum (Courtney's Crisis)" (2018)
  • "Christmas Present Chaos (Bandmate's Confusion)" (2019)
  • "Best Show" (2020)
  • "Are We There Yet?" (2020)

Compilations

  • The Great Mortality (2018; Black, Death, Doom, & Grind EPs)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Napier, David (July 29, 2018). "David & Courtney Napier Bring What Metal Can Be - Exclusive Interview with TIMŌRATŪS". The Metal Onslaught. Interviewed by Mason Beard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "TIMŌRĀTUS". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Jackson, John (August 4, 2014). "Timōrātus - Black (EP)". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  4. ^ thrashboy (July 13, 2014). "'Timōrātus' "Black" EP Available for Free Download". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  5. ^ a b thrashboy (November 7, 2014). "'Timōrātus' Second EP Released "Death", Available for free Download". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  6. ^ Jackson, John (February 28, 2015). "Timōrātus – "Death" (EP)". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Of_This_Night36 (June 23, 2015). "Timōrātus - My Starshine". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved August 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b thrashboy (March 23, 2015). "'Timōrātus' Third EP Released "Doom", Available for Free Download". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  9. ^ a b thrashboy (May 7, 2015). "'Timōrātus' Fourth EP Released "Grind", Available for Free Download". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  10. ^ a b thrashboy (April 29, 2017). "'Timōrātus' Releases "Reverentia" Album, Available for Free Download". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  11. ^ thrashboy (May 27, 2017). "'Timōrātus' Signs with 'Christian Metal Underground Records' (a Sub-Label of Vision of God Records)". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Harp, Loyd (January 9, 2018). "Timōrātus - Reverentia". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  13. ^ Gatto, Chris (October 24, 2017). "Timōrātus - Reverentia". Heaven's Metal Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  14. ^ Jackson, John (June 18, 2017). "Timōrātus - Reverentia". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Bishop, Syd (May 18, 2017). "REVIEW: TIMŌRĀTUS / Weapons of Indignation – "Compass"". Never Nervous. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "TIMŌRĀTUS feat. weapons of indignation – Compass (2017)". Metal Soliloquy. April 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  17. ^ Beard, Mace (December 18, 2017). "News: TIMORATUS Releases a New Christmas track "Christmas Present Crisis"". The Bearded Dragon Productions. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  18. ^ Beard, Mason (December 18, 2017). "TIMŌRĀTUS Releases a New Christmas Song, "Christmas Present Crisis"". The Metal Onslaught. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  19. ^ Beard, Mace (March 10, 2018). "Review: TIMŌRĀTUS - 7 Deadly Sins". The Bearded Dragon Productions. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  20. ^ thrashboy (August 14, 2018). "2 Piece Outfit 'Timōrātus' Releases "For We Are Not Beasts" EP, Available Now". The Metal Resource. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "SALE CHRISTIAN METAL UNDERGROUND RECORDS – 4 WAY GRIND SPLIT (CD)". Vision of God Records. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  22. ^ "My Life in a Made Metal Band (Part 2 of 2), by TIMŌRĀTUS". TIMŌRĀTUS. Retrieved 2022-06-14.