Calavera

**Calavera** is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, New Mexico in 2000 by vocalist Wyatt Brandon and guitarist Justin Erix. The band is well-known for having very slow breakdowns and thrash metal influenced breakdowns. They have seen success over the years.

## Calavera

### Genres

Metalcore, Deathcore, Nu metal, Alternative metal, Heavy metal, Post-hardcore, Melodic hardcore

## Members

### Current members

Wyatt Brandon, Jacob Southwick, Justin Erix, Bradley Olson

## History

Wyatt Brandon and Justin Erix met at a Hatbox moshpit in Las Vegas, New Mexico in early 2000. The two became friends after the concert. They later met Mackenna Thorn and Bradley Olson. They recorded a demo together in July 2000, which caught the eye of Interscope Records, who signed the band to a 2 album deal in late 2000. In 2001, the band released their debut album *JunkBone* which combined metalcore and deathcore with alternative metal and nu metal. The band later headlined their own tours with Primer 55 as the supporting act and supported Sevendust on their tour. In 2004, the band released their second album *Psychological Damage* which completed the 2 album deal. In 2005, the band went on tour with As I Lay Dying as the opening act.

In 2007, the band released their third album *Counting Blood Pouches* which added post-hardcore and melodic hardcore influences which was later followed up with *Blood In Jacuzzi* in late 2008. In 2009, the band went on that year's Vans Warped Tour on the Main Stage from the Las Cruces date to the Milwaukee date. In 2012, the band released their fifth album *Shadow Lives*, afterwards, the band went on tour with Fozzy as the supporting act. In 2015, the band released their sixth studio album *Dire for Notoriety* which featured the likes Chris Jericho, Ash Costello, Matthew Tomahawk and Trantina Mothra. from 2016 to 2017 the band went on tour with Attila as the opening act, which included Vans Warped Tour on the Monster Mutant North Stage for only the July 24th date to play Linkin Park covers for Chester Bennington who passed away prior to their Milwaukee stop.

In 2018, Mackenna Thorn retired from music to focus on being with family. Jacob Southwick, who is a pro wrestler, was her replacement. In 2019, the band released their seventh studio album *Let It All Decay* which featured a doom metal influence. The band went on tour from July 2019 to January 2020. On April 5, 2023, the band released their eighth album *Unholy Trinity*, they announced an August 2023 to March 2024 with Flyleaf, Bad Wolves and Butcher Babies as the supporting acts.

## Influences

Genres the band are put under are metalcore, deathcore, nu metal, alternative metal, heavy metal, post-hardcore and melodic hardcore. Let It All Decay is considered "nu-doom" according to Louder Than Grunge.

Justin Erix said in a interview with Kerrang that Hatbox, Nirvana, Korn, Silverchair, Staind, Static-X, Deftones, Helmet, Machine Head, Pantera, Sepultura, Type O Negative and Ugly Kid Joe as big influences.

## Members

### Current

Wyatt Brandon-lead vocals (2000-present) \*has 8 different Shure microphones\*

Jacob Southwick-bass (2018-present) \*plays a Jackson Pro Series 5-string Black Gloss Spectra bass\*

Justin Erix-guitar (2000-present) \*plays a Gibson Justin Erix Signature Firebird 7-string guitar with Digitech Bad Monkey overdrive and BOSS DS-2 distortion pedals\*

Bradley Olson-drums (2000-present) \*plays a double bass 12 piece drum set by Tama and Meinl\*

### Former

Mackenna Thorn-bass (2000-2018) \*played a Jackson Pro Series 5-string Concert bass\*

## Discography

*JunkBone (2001)*

*Psychological Damage (2004)*

*Counting Blood Pouches (2007)*

*Blood In Jacuzzi (2008)*

*Shadow Lives (2012)*

*Dire For Notoriety (2015)*

*Let It All Decay (2019)*

*Unholy Trinity (2023)*