Austrian Death Machine
| Company type | Side project / Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | July 22, 2008 |
| Founder | Tim Lambesis |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California , United States |
| Products | Thrash metal music, studio albums, EPs |
Austrian Death Machine is a thrash metal side venture originating from San Diego, California, created by As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis as both a parody and homage to the cinematic works of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
History
The initial album from Austrian Death Machine, titled Total Brutal, was launched on July 22, 2008, with a dedication to Caleb Crain. This release was followed by a holiday-themed EP called A Very Brutal Christmas. After completing the tour supporting Total Brutal, Lambesis focused on producing a double album named Double Brutal, which debuted on September 29, 2009, consisting of one disc with original tracks and a second featuring cover songs.
Media outlets observed that the concept of a band centered around Schwarzenegger had previously been explored by ArnoCorps, a group active in California and the UK for more than seven years before Lambesis initiated his project. In Austrian Death Machine, Lambesis handles all instrumental parts and the majority of vocals, while Destroy the Runner's vocalist Chad Ackerman delivers the Schwarzenegger-style vocal performances. Various guest guitarists contribute solos throughout the albums. Lambesis has described Austrian Death Machine as an expression of "pure testosterone and stupidity," serving as a contrast to the emotional intensity found in As I Lay Dying.
Despite Lambesis' 2013 arrest related to an attempt to hire someone to kill his estranged spouse, it was announced in 2014 that Triple Brutal would be released in April through Artery Recordings. Later that year, Lambesis received a six-year prison sentence.
On October 17, 2023, the band unveiled the single "No Pain No Gain" accompanied by a music video and announced plans for a new album in 2024. Subsequently, on December 5, it was disclosed that their fourth studio album, titled Quad Brutal, is scheduled for release on February 23, 2024; alongside this announcement, the second single "Don't Be Lazy" was also made available.
Members
Core Personnel
- Tim Lambesis – lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums (2008–present)
- Chad Ackerman – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals (2008–2014)
- Josh Robert Thompson – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals featured on Double Brutal (2009)
- Timothy Benham – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on Double Brutal (2009)
- Joe Gaudet – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on Triple Brutal (2014)
Live Band
- Tim Lambesis – lead vocals (2008–present)
- Justin Olszewski – Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals (2009–2014)
- Emil Werstler (of Dååth) – guitar
- Josh Gilbert (of As I Lay Dying, Wovenwar) – bass (2009–2014)
- Jon "The Charn" Rice (of Job for a Cowboy) – drums (2009–2014)
Former Touring Members
- JP Gericke (of Death by Stereo) – guitar
- Mark MacDonald (of Mercury Switch) – guitar
Guest Guitar Soloists
- Jason Suecof from Capharnaum (on all releases)
- Mark MacDonald of Mercury Switch (on all releases)
- Dan Fitzgerald (featured on Total Brutal)
- Adam Dutkiewicz from Killswitch Engage (featured on Total Brutal)
- Nick Hipa of As I Lay Dying (featured on Total Brutal)
- Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler of Dååth (featured on Total Brutal)
- Jason Barnes formerly with Haste the Day (featured on Total Brutal)
- Andrew Tapley formerly of The Human Abstract (featured on Double Brutal)
- Rusty Cooley from Outworld (featured on Double Brutal)
- Chris Storey formerly of All Shall Perish (featured on both Double and Triple Brutal)
- Buz McGrath of Unearth (featured on Double Brutal)
- Kris Norris formerly of Darkest Hour (featured on Double Brutal)
- James "JP" Gericke of Death By Stereo (on all releases)
- Rocky Gray from Living Sacrifice (featured on Double Brutal)
- Kevin Schwartz formerly with Pathology (featured on Triple Brutal)
- Wes Hauch formerly with The Faceless (featured on Triple Brutal)
- Dan Palmer (featured on Triple Brutal)
- Doc Coyle from God Forbid (featured on Triple Brutal)
- Sean Swafford (featured on Triple Brutal)
- Lorenzo Antonucci formerly of Sworn Enemy (featured on Triple Brutal)
Session Drummers and Percussionists
- Brandon "B-Town" Trahan of Impending Doom
- Mike Catalano formerly with Destroy the Runner
- Jerad Buckwalter formerly with Sworn Enemy
- Jeff Gretz of Zao
- Christian Bass of Heaven Shall Burn
Discography
- Studio albums
| Album | Release Year | Record Label | Chart Rankings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 200 | US Heatseekers | US Indie | US Hard Rock | US Rock | |||
| Total Brutal | 2008 | Metal Blade Records | 179 | 7 | 29 | — | — |
| Double Brutal | 2009 | 105 | 1 | 15 | 14 | 44 | |
| Triple Brutal | 2014 | Artery Recordings | 64 | — | — | — | — |
| Quad Brutal | 2024 | Napalm Records | — | — | — | — | — |
EPs
- A Very Brutal Christmas (2008)
- Jingle All the Way (2011)