The Birthday Massacre

Industrial rock: The Birthday Massacre came life in early 2000 but they’re still around – their last album was recorded in 2007, “Walking With Strangers”.

Formed in early 2000, The Birthday Massacre was first known as Imagica, but they changed their name due to complications with a similar bound name doing the rounds. Which is just as well. Imagica isn’t bad, as far as choosing a band name goes, but it does sound more like a film studio, and is clearly nothing like as good as The Birthday Massacre which, as a name, simply… resonates.

As one might guess from the name, The Birthday Massacre have been described as a cross between gothic and electronic. They’ve also been described as industrial rock and a host of other things.

The Birthday Massacre describe themselves as “an audio-visual project. We combine imagery, sound, art, fashion and performance to create an experience for our audience that is both unique and multi-faceted”. This may sound unlikely but if you check out their website Nothing and Nowhere you’ll see exactly where they’re coming from.

For instance, fans can go to Violet Prison to download music, video and much, much more.

It’s always nice to know the facts, so who are the musicians that make up the band? Well, you have… Chibi (vocals), Rainbow (rythm guitar), M. Falcore (lead guitar), and Aslan (bass guitar). Their first show was at Diversity Nightclub in London, Ontario. Dank, playing keyboard, and O.E. with percussion joined the group live.

In 2001 that the band moved to Toronto, Ontario to start recording. It was also around this time that they officially changed their name from Imagica to The Birthday Massacre. In 2002, they released their first album, Nothing And Nowhere. It was re-released in 2004 with attractive new artwork.

In 2003, Adm joined the band on keyboards and Rhim on drums. The band grew in sucess as they released Violet in 2005 (excellently gloom-laden and atmospheric) and Walking With Strangers in 2007 (the same dark tones given a bigger, more glamorous sound). Their most recent album, Looking Glass, was released in 2008.

Together, they’re more than just ‘The Birthday Massacre’. It’s impossible to just fit them into one little genre. Combined, they could be metal, electronic, synth-pop/rock, or even alternative rock. Since the band members all have different tastes, they combine it together and… wah-lah!

One gets a feel of their musical influences from interviews with the band. Chibi says: “I’d want to play with bands that mesh well musically, and with whom there is a mutual respect. There are so many bands we’ve been in contact with who are at the same point as us, who it would be great to tour with. As for larger bands, I’d like to play with bands I admire and enjoy, like Type O Negative, Deftones, Nine Inch Nails.”

We’re pleased to see Chibi is a bit of a riot grrl at heart: “I enjoy playing with bands who have women in them, that’s always fun. I’m very interested in the female perspective of the music industry, especially on the performance side.”

Random facts about the Birthday Massacre

• If you go to their website, Nothing and Nowhere, there are hidden treasures dotted around… like photos of them when they were in Grade One and pictures of things Chibi drew.
• Some of the music the band listens to are: Deftones, Type O Negative, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, The Cure, Cindi Lauper, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Tool, and Radiohead.
• M. Falcore would love to tour with Bjork or Curve.
• If Chibi could be someone else for 24 hours, she would be Lady Jane Grey, the girl who was the Queen of England for nine days.
• Rainbow and M. Falcore have known each other since Grade Four.
• They’ve mentioned that Alice in Wonderland is an inspiration.

If you liked The Birthday Massacre, you might like: Dead Can Dance.