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In 2007, the band signed to Siege of Amida Records in the UK, and Candlelight Records in North America. Just before the band made its first album, Derek Martin left the band, and drummer Kevin Lane filled in on the drums as a permanent member. The band released its debut full length album, "The Somatic Defilement" on July 31, 2007. "This was the only album to feature guitarist Brandon Cagle, due to a motorcycle accident that left him unable to play his instrument" (Wikipedia). Then Zach Householder came into the band to fill Cagle's spot. Every song on the album was in the first person point of view of Jack the Ripper, describing his slaughter and rape of prostitutes, which ties in to how the band got its name.
Soon after the band's debut album release, it signed over to Metal Blade Records, which is one of the biggest metal record labels in history. On July 8, 2008, the band released its sophomore album, "This Is Exile." The lyrics on this album were more about political and anti-religious themes. The album reached No. 118 in the Billboard Top 200. The band was obviously growing very quickly, as the band toured the 2008 Summer Slaughter Tour, and in August 2008, they began their first ever headlining tour with Impending Doom, A Different Breed of Killer, and Through the Eyes of the Dead (Wikipedia). They soon started touring with more well known bands such as A Parkway Drive and Unearth, and eventually earned a spot on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.
The third album by Whitechapel, "A New Era Of Corruption," was released on June 8, 2010. During the first week after the album was released, it had 10,700 copies sold, placing it at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart. The name derived from a line in the lyrics of the song "Possession" which appeared on "This Is Exile." Chino Moreno of Deftones did guest vocals on the track "Reprogrammed To Hate" and as did Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain on "Murder Sermon." The album generally focuses on negative themes such as the concept of the devolution in society and the increasing corruption in society during the post-9/11 times (Wikipedia).
Towards the end of 2010, Kevin Lane left the band to return to college, and former Knights of the Abyss drummer Benjamin Harclerode joined the band. On November 8, 2011, Whitechapel released the Recorrupted EP, which contained the first music released featuring new drummer Ben Harclerode. It featured one new song entitled "Section 8," a cover song of Pantera's "Strength Beyond Strength." two remixed songs, and an acoustic variation of "End of Flesh."
The fourth full-length album by Whitechapel was self-titled and released on June 19, 2012. The album cover is an image of the Tennessee state flag (hence the band's origin) within the band's trademark saw blade (Wikipedia). The album debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200. The band was put onto Mayhem Festival again and later during January/February of 2013, they co-headlined a tour with Emmure and later co-headlined another tour with Asking Alexandria and Motionless In White. Currently the band is set for a spring release date for its fifth album.
Whitechapel has been one of my top favorite bands for a few years now because I like how technical they can be while also being dynamic and lyrical. They are one of the best bands I have ever seen live and each time I see them they continue to get better and better. Guitarist Alex Wade says, "With every record we strive for something different - we're always going to stay true to what Whitechapel is, but we want to evolve and do something that is fresh and engaging both for ourselves and for the people who support us." (Whitechapel) This is another reason I love this band because no one really likes a band that repetitively puts out the same old thing. People want to hear new and different music, and that's exactly what Whitechapel does.
If you haven't listened to Whitechapel before, here is the link their playlist on the Metal Blade Records YouTube channel, which has a few songs you can listen to. I hope you like the band as much as I do and I'd like to hear what you think about the band. It would be awesome to get some responses!
"About : Whitechapel." Whitechapel. Whitechapel, 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
"Whitechapel (band)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Metal Blade Records. "Whitechapel "Vicer Exciser" (OFFICIAL)." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Wildsmith, Steve. "Redirect Notice." Redirect Notice. Lucian Martin, 30 Apr. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
