Thou (American band)
Thou is an American sludge metal band formed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2005.[1] The current line-up of the band consists of Bryan Funck (vocals), Andy Gibbs (guitar), Matthew Thudium (guitar), and Mitch Wells (bass).
Thou | |
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Origin | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 2005-present |
Labels | |
Associated acts | The Body |
Website | noladiy |
Members |
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Past members | Terry Gulino Josh Nee |
History
The band was formed by guitarists Andy Gibbs and Matthew Thudium, bassist Mitch Wells, and drummer Terry Gulino. Thou released their first full-length effort, Tyrant, in 2007 after the arrival of the vocalist Bryan Funck.[1] These were followed by their second studio album Peasant in 2008 and a string of EPs, including Malfeasance Retribution EP (2008), The Retaliation of the Immutable Force of Nature (2008), Through the Empires of the Eternal Void (2009) and Baton Rouge/You Have Much to Answer For (2010). Their third full-length album, Summit was released in 2010.[1]
The band's fourth studio album, Heathen, released in 2014, was met with critical acclaim.[2][3] This album marked the first time in the band's career that the band had featured cleanly sung vocals from collaborator Emily McWilliams.[2] The album was named the best metal album of 2014 by music website Pitchfork.[4] Thou has toured with and collaborated frequently with fellow sludge metal band The Body, whom they most recently collaborated with on the album entitled, You, Whom I Have Always Hated.[5]
Style and artistry
Thou's style has been labeled as "experimental doom", stoner metal and sludge metal.[1] On the band's style, Allmusic critic Gregory Heaney stated that "the band's sound blends the shuddering heaviness of doom with the oppressive atmospherics of black metal, giving the band a monolithic sound that feels, at times, inescapable."[1]
Thou has taken a DIY approach to touring which has become a defining characteristic of the band and its aesthetic.[2] Thou's lyrics often espouse anarchist views. Thou also has covered artists from various rock music genres, including Nine Inch Nails' "Terrible Lie" (with The Body)[6] and Nirvana songs "Something in the Way", "Sifting", and "Aneurysm".[7]
Band members
Current members
- Bryan Funck – vocals (2007–present)
- Andy Gibbs – guitar (2005–present)
- Matthew Thudium – guitar (2005–present)
- Mitch Wells – bass (2005–present)
- Tyler Coburn – drums (2018–present)
- KC Stafford - guitar/bass/vocals (2018–present)
Former members
- Terry Gulino – drums (2005–2010)
- Josh Nee – drums (2010–2018)
Discography
Studio albums
- Tyrant (2007, One Eye Records)
- Peasant (2008, Level Plane Records)
- Summit (2010, Gilead Media)
- Heathen (2014, Gilead Media)
- Magus (2018, Sacred Bones Records)
Singles, EPs and Split Records
- Malfeasance-Retribution (2008) (10")
- Thrive and Decay (2008) (Split 7" with Black September)
- To Carry a Stone (2008) (7")
- We Pass Like Night... From Land to Land (2008) (Split-LP with Leech)
- The Retaliation of the Immutable Force of Nature (2008) (EP)
- Through the Empires of Eternal Void (2009)
- Reincarnation Prayer (2009) (Split 7" with Haarp)
- Our Enemy Civilization (2009) (Split-LP with Salome)
- Degradation of Human Life (2009) (Split-LP with Mohoram Atta)
- Dwell In The Darkness Of Thought And Drink The Poison Of Life (2010) (Split EP with The City is the Tower)
- Baton Rouge, You Have Much to Answer For (2010) (EP)
- Tears That Soak a Callous Heart (2010) (Split EP with Moloch)
- A Faire Quarrell (2010) (Split 7" with Human Intruder)
- War Is The Force That Gives Us Meaning: A Two Part Analysis Of Personal And Inter-Personal Conflict (2011) (Split-LP with Cower)
- Big City (2011)
- To the Chaos Wizard Youth (2011) (EP)
- The Archer & The Owle (2011) (EP)
- 4th of July (2012) (Split 7" with Kowloon Walled City)
- Resurrection Bay (Split 7" with Hell) (2012)
- Released from Love (collaborative EP with The Body) (2014)
- The Sacrifice (2014) (EP)
- You, Whom I Have Always Hated (collaborative album with The Body) (2015)
- Wingwalker/Prayer to God (2015) (Split 7" with Great Falls)
- Only You Deserve Conceit (2015) (7")
- Eyehatethou (Split EP with Barghest) (2015)
- I Have Become Your Pupil (Split with The Hirs Collective) (2018)
- The House Primordial (2018)
- Inconsolable (2018)
- Rhea Sylvia (2018)
- Let Our Names Be Forgotten (Split EP with Ragana) (2018)
Compilation albums
- Oakland (2010)
- Rendon (2010)
- Ceremonies of Humiliation (2014)
- Algiers (2014)
- Blessings of the Highest Order (Nirvana covers) (2020, Robotic Empire)
Demos
- Call No Man Happy Until He Is Dead (2005)
- Demo (2007)
Compilation contributions
- "Well Fed Fuck" (originally by Born Against; Compilation "Clone - Play Slow, Die Fast, Vol. II" (2009, Blind Date Records)
- "Milk It" (originally by Nirvana; tribute album In Utero, in Tribute, in Entirety) (2014, Robotic Empire)
- "Endless, Nameless"/"Even In His Youth" (originally by Nirvana; tribute album Whatever Nevermind) (2015, Robotic Empire)
- "Eyehatethou" (Adult Swim Singles 2015) (2015, Adult Swim)
- "Floyd the Barber" (originally by Nirvana; tribute album Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach) (2016, Robotic Empire)
- "Don't Let It Bring You Down" (originally by Neil Young; Compilation "Many Waters: Baton Rouge Flood Relief 2017" (2017, Thrill Jockey)
References
- Heaney, Gregory. "Thou". Allmusic. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Kelly, Kim. "Thou: Heathen". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- Gotrich, Lars. "First Listen: Thou, 'Heathen'". NPR.org. npr. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Stousy, Brandon. "The Best Metal Albums of 2014". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Currin, Grayson. "The Body / Thou You, Whom I Have Always Hated". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Nelson, Michael. "The Body & Thou – "Terrible Lie" (Nine Inch Nails Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Gotrich, Lars. "About A Song: Thou On Nirvana's 'Something In The Way'". NPR.org. NPR.org. Retrieved 6 February 2015.