Thy Art Is Murder

Thy Art Is Murder

Thy Art Is Murder is a deathcore band from Blacktown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, formed in 2006. The current lineup features vocalist Tyler Miller (also of Aversions Crown), guitarists Sean Delander and Andy Marsh, drummer Jesse Beahler, and bassist Kevin Butler.

Discography and Independent Release

The band has released six full-length albums and three EPs. Their most recent album, Godlike, was released on September 22. This release followed the tenth-anniversary celebration of their seminal album, Hate. For Godlike, Thy Art Is Murder collaborated again with producer Will Putney, delivering a 10-track album that explores the boundaries of extreme metal with intense songwriting.

Godlike also marked a significant milestone as the band's first independently released campaign, anchored by their own label, Human Warfare. However, the album's release date was delayed by a week due to unforeseen circumstances. Upon the release of Godlike, the band parted ways with vocalist CJ McMahon, removing his vocals from the album and re-recording them with an undisclosed vocalist. The band cited McMahon's comments, perceived as anti-transgender, as a symptom of larger issues leading to the split.

Chart Success and Influences

Thy Art Is Murder achieved notable chart success with their second album, Hate, which debuted at number 35 on the ARIA Charts. This made them the first extreme metal band to reach the Top 40 in Australia. Their album Holy War further broke ground, debuting at number 7, the highest position ever for an Australian extreme metal act.

Individually, the band members draw inspiration from a variety of musicians. Collectively, their influences include bands such as Decapitated, Gojira, Meshuggah, and Behemoth. Vocalist CJ McMahon has frequently cited Behemoth as a major influence, calling them "the best band on this planet." Guitarist Andy Marsh elaborated, stating, "We are big fans of music that can evoke a feeling and mood, but often that music isn’t very in your face and heavy. Behemoth are amazing at capturing that synergy in just the right way and it is that ethos that inspires us."

Thematic Exploration

The lyrical themes explored by Thy Art Is Murder vary across their albums. Hate expresses the band's critique of organized religion, while their third album, Holy War, delves into a broader spectrum of topics including anti-religion, anti-extremism, animal rights, war, and greed.