The Birthday Massacre

The Birthday Massacre is a Canadian gothic and industrial rock group that forms in 1999 in London, Ontario, and is later based in Toronto, Ontario. It begins under the name Imagica, which it uses from 1999 to 2002. The name change to The Birthday Massacre happens to avoid confusion with another metal band.

Line-up and formation

The original line-up consists of Chibi, Rainbow, Michael Falcore and Aslan on bass, with Dank on live keyboards and O.E. on live drums. Over time, the group’s membership includes J. Aslan, Chibi, M. Falcore, Rainbow, O.E., Rhim, Owen, Nate Manor, Brett Carruthers and Philip Elliott. Chibi handles vocals, Rainbow plays guitars and programming, Michael Falcore plays guitars, Owen plays keyboards, Brett Carruthers plays bass, and Philip Elliot plays drums. O.E. later moves from live drums to bass after Aslan leaves for his own project, Aslan Osiris. Rhim joins on drums in 2003, and Nate Manor later replaces O.E. on drums.

Sound and labels

The band’s sound blends synth-rock with alternative rock, new wave, industrial and synthpop elements. Its listed genres include gothic, industrial, industrial rock and rock. The Birthday Massacre releases material independently at first, then signs to Repo Records in Germany and later to Metropolis Records. It is also associated with Violet Bunny Music.

Recordings and releases

The Birthday Massacre releases eight studio albums: Nothing and Nowhere, Violet, Walking With Strangers, Pins and Needles, Hide and Seek, Superstition, Under Your Spell and Diamonds. Its other releases include the DVD Blue, the live album and DVD Show and Tell, and the EPs Violet, Looking Glass, Imaginary Monsters and Imagica. The debut album Nothing and Nowhere appears in 2002 and is later reissued with new sleeve artwork. Violet appears as an EP in 2004 and is later remastered and expanded for European release, with four re-recorded tracks from Nothing and Nowhere. The DVD Blue includes a video for the title track, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, a studio performance of “Nevermind”, and live performances of “Violet” and “Video Kid”.

Later albums and tours

Walking With Strangers is released with the singles “Kill the Lights” and “Looking Glass”, and enters the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. Pins and Needles follows in 2010 and appears on the Billboard 200, the heatseekers chart and the independent chart. Imaginary Monsters arrives in 2011, followed by Hide and Seek in 2012. Superstition is funded through PledgeMusic and is promoted with a North American tour and a video for “Beyond”. Under Your Spell is also funded through PledgeMusic. The group tours internationally, including dates in Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Belgium, and later tours North America and Europe. Show and Tell is recorded in Hamburg, Germany, and issued first as a live album before a DVD release with additional video content.

Background

The band name comes from the title of a song that is later retitled “Happy Birthday”, and the original name Imagica is inspired by Clive Barker’s novel Imajica. The Birthday Massacre is active from 1999 to the present.