Thy Art Is Murder

2015 has been a defining year for Sydney’s most talked about hardcore band, Thy Art Is Murder. They found success both at home and overseas with the release of their third studio album Holy War, but at the same time they’ve been forced to defend their decision to release a graphic video clip for the title track that depicts decapitation and torture. “We hoped it would get a reaction,” says guitarist and band manager Andy Marsh.
“People make music for all sorts of reasons, but we come from a punk rock background,” he continues. “We’re into hardcore and message-based music: music that people enjoy, and that puts forward a message, is a powerful thing.”
There’s no denying that the band, originally from Blacktown, has an exceptionally loyal fan base that continues to grow around the world. “I’m having meetings about booking the band into 2017 and that does my head in,” Marsh smiles. “Things are going really well for us at the moment, but to survive as a band these days you have to tour so that’s what we do.”
Thy Art Is Murder just wrapped up a tour with buddies Parkway Drive in support of their new album Ire. “We got to bring super brutal death metal to the Parkway stage, which is fun. We played some FIFA on Xbox backstage and see who the better video gamer is!” Marsh laughs. “We always hang out while we’re on tour and catch waves together.”
Marsh says that aside from his friendship with the Byron Bay five-piece, it’s their drive to succeed that unites both bands. “I’ve always really admired the work ethic of Parkway Drive. When we were starting out [circa 2006] they started picking up momentum. We watched them tour relentlessly, always putting on the best live show that they could, always investing in themselves. Parkway Drive made me believe that with hard work their level of success was achievable.”
Marsh is clearly a man on a mission: “I’m the band’s manager, and because we’re a DIY punk band playing death metal, we like to control everything,” he laughs. “We pick our own merchandise, we design our own artwork, book our own tours and choose our own supports – we do everything.”
For their upcoming blink-and-you’ll-miss-it headline tour that kicks off in Perth this week, Marsh chose the supports wisely. “The most important thing for us is that we’re on the road with friends. Marinos Katsanevas, the guitarist from Feed Her To The Sharks, is our guitar tech most of the year,” he says.
“Lochlan Watt from Colossvs has been a friend of mine for as long as I’ve been involved in music,” he continues, “and I produced Aversions Crown’s record [Tyrant] that came out last year. We like what they do, even though a lot of our fans might not get into that style of music. Feed Her To The Sharks is very 2000’s metal core with some electro. Colossvs is more of an underground metal hardcore band, and then Aversions Crown – they’re the closest to us but they’ve got that spacey death metal element going on. We’re all friends, we always have a good time and we can’t wait to play some heavy music.”
Written by Natalie Rogers
When & Where: Corner Hotel, Melbourne – October 16