Austrian Death Machine

Austrian Death Machine is an American thrash metal side project from San Diego, California, founded by As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis to be a parody of and tribute to Arnold Schwarzenegger's films.

Austrian Death Machine
Background information
OriginSan Diego, California, U.S.
GenresCrossover thrash, thrash metal
Years active
  • 2008–2014
  • 2023–present
LabelsMetal Blade, Artery
Members
Websiteaustriandeathmachine.com

Biography

Austrian Death Machine released their first album Total Brutal on July 22, 2008. The album was dedicated to Caleb Crain on May 14, 2008, for his birthday that was two months before the scheduled release date. A few months later they released a Christmas-themed EP, A Very Brutal Christmas. After some tour support of Total Brutal, Lambesis went back on tour with As I Lay Dying. While on tour he posted on Austrian Death Machine's MySpace blog that he had ideas to follow up Total Brutal with a double-disc, Double Brutal, stating that the first disc would be original songs where the second disc would be composed of cover songs.[1] After returning home from tour in early Summer 2009, he went to work on Double Brutal which was released September 29, 2009.

Many in the press[2][3][4][5][6][7] have pointed out that a Schwarzenegger movie-themed band concept was already being pursued by ArnoCorps, having been performing live in California and the UK[8] beginning more than seven years prior[9] to Lambesis' effort. Lambesis writes and records all the music playing guitar, bass, and drums as well as the majority of the vocals, leaving Destroy the Runner vocalist Chad Ackerman (portraying "Ahhhnold") to perform Schwarzenegger-like vocals. The only thing Lambesis or Ackerman do not record are the guitar solos in every song which are performed by various guitarists from other bands. Lambesis stated where As I Lay Dying "is heartfelt and full of passion" Austrian Death Machine on the other hand "is an outlet of pure testosterone and stupidity."[10]

Despite Lambesis' May 2013 arrest for attempting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife,[11] it was announced in 2014, that Triple Brutal would be released in April on Artery Recordings.[12] In 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in prison, with 48 days credit for time served.[13]

On October 17, 2023, the band released a new single, "No Pain No Gain", with a music video and announced their plan to release a new album in 2024.[14]

Members

Main

  • Tim Lambesis – lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums (2008-2014)
  • Chad Ackerman - Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals (2008-2014)
  • Josh Robert Thompson - Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on Double Brutal (2009)
  • Timothy Benham - Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on Double Brutal (2009)
  • Joe Gaudet - Schwarzenegger impersonation vocals on Triple Brutal (2014)

Live lineup

Former live

  • JP Gericke (of Death by Stereo) - guitar
  • Mark MacDonald (of Mercury Switch) - guitar

Session guitar soloists

Session drummers and percussionists

Discography
Studio albums
Title Year Label Chart Positions
Top 200 US Heat 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 — — — —

Extended plays

  • A Very Brutal Christmas (2008)
  • Jingle All the Way (2011)

References
  1. What are you thinking?! - Austrian Death Machine's Myspace Blog
  2. Nick Cracknell (August 11, 2008). "Total Guitar Interview - Interview With Austrian Death Machine's Tim Lambesis!". www.totalguitar.co.uk. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  3. JonW (July 29, 2008). "Headbangers Blog - Guest Blog: Ahhnold From Austrian Death Machine". mtv. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  4. Stuart (December 4, 2008). "RevelationZ- Austrian Death Machine - Total Brutal". www.revelationz.net. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  5. Stehlik, Lucy (January 5, 2009). "Battle of the Teutons- Two bands. One bad idea. Who had it first? And why should we care?" (PDF). WAR! Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  6. Witt, Jeremy (July 22, 2008). "Album Review- Austrian Death Machine Total Brutal". Metal Review. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  7. Doug (July 22, 2008). "The Review Busters- Austrian Death Machine - Total Brutal". reviewbusters.net. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  8. Macdonald, Ross (July 12, 2008). "Feelin' the Pump- ARNOCORPS GET BALLSY IN LONDON". keepitfast.com. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  9. "Five Years Running". East Bay Express. November 30, 2005. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  10. "A letter from Tim... - Austrian Death Machine's Myspace Blog". Myspace. May 10, 2008. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012.
  11. "Metal singer Tim Lambesis arrested over murder plot". BBC News. May 8, 2013.
  12. "Artery Recordings has teamed up with... - Austrian Death Machine". Facebook. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  13. Kory Grow (May 7, 2013). "Tim Lambesis Sentenced to Six Years in Jail for Murder-for-Hire Plot | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  14. "Tim Lambesis' Austrian Death Machine Return With New Video "No Pain No Gain"". ThePRP. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
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