Black Tusk is an American sludge metal band from Savannah, Georgia. The ban… Read Full Bio ↴Black Tusk is an American sludge metal band from Savannah, Georgia. The band was formed in 2005, when its members were all living on the same street. With the dissolution of Andrew Fidler (guitar, vocals) and Jonathan Athon (bass, vocals) crust punk band and James May (drums, vocals) street punk band, Andrew and Athon went down the street to James' house and asked him if he wanted to play with them. During the next few days they jammed continuously, and within a few months they had recorded the EP When Kingdoms Fall, which was released on Wrecked Signal. Two years later the band self-released their first full-length studio album, The Fallen Kingdom, followed by another a year later with Passage Through Purgatory, released through the local label Hyperrealist Records. In 2009, Black Tusk released a series of split albums with bands such as ASG, The Holy Mountain, and Fight Amp, before signing to Relapse Records in November. The band released its debut for Relapse, Taste the Sin, in May 2010. They released their third album, Set the Dial, in October 2011 through Relapse Records.
Black Tusk is mostly associated with Baroness and Kylesa, for their shared hometown of Savannah, as well as for their sludge metal sound. The band is linked to Baroness' guitarist and vocalist John Dyer Baizley, who is also a painter and creates all of Black Tusk's artwork. Black Tusk's members describe their music as "swamp metal," a term that has been described by Allmusic as "the murkiest, dirtiest sludge [metal] to come out of Savannah since Kylesa". The term is a reference to the climate of Savannah in relation to the music that the band create. Reviewing the album Taste the Sin, Pitchfork Media stated that the band's blend of hardcore punk and stoner metal "works to capitalize on the immediacy of its chosen genres and not to bend them into obscurity." Black Tusk acknowledges its punk rock origins, but prefer not to cite a list of bands that influence them because they feel that it is ineffective since they are not "trying to emulate any one bands style or any one genres sound."
Black Tusk released the EP Tend No Wounds in July 2013. The EP was recorded with producer Phillip Cope (Kylesa, Baroness) at the Jam Room in Columbia, SC. The artwork was created by Brian Mercer (Eyehategod, Lamb of God, Zoroaster).
Black Tusk has toured the globe extensively and garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in the metal scene. Black Tusk’s intense musicianship as well as the shared vocal duties by each member of the band makes for a truly fascinating display of talent that BrooklynVegan calls “mind-blowingly fun.” Having performed shows with bands such as Pentagram, Down, Weedeater, High on Fire, Mastodon, Red Fang, Eyehategod, Tombs, Municipal Waste, Royal Thunder, Intronaut, and 3 Inches of Blood, Black Tusk have placed themselves right at the top of the pile of today’s most talked-about metal bands and have proven themselves to be fully capable of holding their own within the context of several decades of heavy music. Additionally, Black Tusk has had the honor of performing at Scion Festival, SXSW, Roadburn Festival, and as well as Metallica’s Orion Festival (June 2012).
Tragically on November 9,2014, bassist and vocalist Jonathan Athon died due to injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident. He was placed in a medically-induced coma and, per his wishes, was pulled from life support after it was determined that he had irreparable brain damage.
Black Tusk is mostly associated with Baroness and Kylesa, for their shared hometown of Savannah, as well as for their sludge metal sound. The band is linked to Baroness' guitarist and vocalist John Dyer Baizley, who is also a painter and creates all of Black Tusk's artwork. Black Tusk's members describe their music as "swamp metal," a term that has been described by Allmusic as "the murkiest, dirtiest sludge [metal] to come out of Savannah since Kylesa". The term is a reference to the climate of Savannah in relation to the music that the band create. Reviewing the album Taste the Sin, Pitchfork Media stated that the band's blend of hardcore punk and stoner metal "works to capitalize on the immediacy of its chosen genres and not to bend them into obscurity." Black Tusk acknowledges its punk rock origins, but prefer not to cite a list of bands that influence them because they feel that it is ineffective since they are not "trying to emulate any one bands style or any one genres sound."
Black Tusk released the EP Tend No Wounds in July 2013. The EP was recorded with producer Phillip Cope (Kylesa, Baroness) at the Jam Room in Columbia, SC. The artwork was created by Brian Mercer (Eyehategod, Lamb of God, Zoroaster).
Black Tusk has toured the globe extensively and garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in the metal scene. Black Tusk’s intense musicianship as well as the shared vocal duties by each member of the band makes for a truly fascinating display of talent that BrooklynVegan calls “mind-blowingly fun.” Having performed shows with bands such as Pentagram, Down, Weedeater, High on Fire, Mastodon, Red Fang, Eyehategod, Tombs, Municipal Waste, Royal Thunder, Intronaut, and 3 Inches of Blood, Black Tusk have placed themselves right at the top of the pile of today’s most talked-about metal bands and have proven themselves to be fully capable of holding their own within the context of several decades of heavy music. Additionally, Black Tusk has had the honor of performing at Scion Festival, SXSW, Roadburn Festival, and as well as Metallica’s Orion Festival (June 2012).
Tragically on November 9,2014, bassist and vocalist Jonathan Athon died due to injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident. He was placed in a medically-induced coma and, per his wishes, was pulled from life support after it was determined that he had irreparable brain damage.
Red Eyes Black Skies
Black Tusk Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Black Tusk:
Beyond The Divide Crossing the boundaries of this land and time A journey…
Black Tide In dark water, now I drown In these black depths…
Bring Me Darkness Six, six, six Bring me darkness and thunder My malevolent wi…
Desolation in Endless Times Alone with empty minds A scheme, a plan unwinds Blank…
Fixed in the Ice Abandon all hope Pass into a world of fire Trapped by the…
God's on Vacation Here we go again A sigh left for the end Rise…
god’s on vacation Here we go again A sigh left for the end Rise…
Leveling The day Remains We live In chains Now It's time To make A c…
Mind Moves Something Tear you down to the way I fell Till there's nothing…
Still Not Well Grinding of teeth, scratching of my flesh Wrenching of hand…
The Crash Too far, journey has come to an end Times up, no…
Walk Among The Sky You will never know True believers see Altars left in time …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Shay Mathiesson
I love this band...wish I heard of them years ago!!!!
Myxlplyx
I'm really start to dig these guys! Will definitely see them when they roll through town.
LastMourning
My band is opening for these guys and Hooves in October 2012 at the A Club in Spokane, Wa. It's a small venue, I met Red Fang there back in May of 2011 when Hooves and Mecha Shiva opened. I can't fucking wait!!! If any of you are in the area, ATTEND!!!
jen-ash
saw you guys at Orion in Atlantic City and have been a huge fan ever since. You guys rock
Tommy Wills
Gentlemen, this has made me headbang between beers. 👍
Blue Collar Hero
RIP
Long live Black Tusk
HeyDavidHey
Incredible song, like a muddy boot to the face. Wish your tour was coming to LA!
Menno
love the intro :D
Ana Bickle
We love you Athon. Rest in peace.
Astral Weeks
Sad, sad news. My thoughts are with Emily, as well as Andrew and Jamie, Jon's friends and family, and all the fans of this very fine band. What a shit year this is turning out to be. RIP.