Tomahawk (band)

Tomahawk is an American rock supergroup from Nashville, Tennessee.<ref name="allmusic"/> They formed in 1999 when singer/keyboardist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle) met guitar player Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard) and the pair started swapping tapes with the intention of collaborating. Denison then recruited drummer John Stanier (Helmet), while Patton invited bass player Kevin Rutmanis (Melvins/ex-Cows). The group recorded three albums and toured extensively from 2000–2007 then went on extended hiatus, and reformed in 2013 with Trevor Dunn replacing Rutmanis.

History

Early days (1999–2000)

When Faith No More broke up in 1998<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mike Patton created the record label Ipecac Recordings, returned to work with his other band Mr. Bungle, and formed the metal supergroup Fantômas with Buzz Osborne of the Melvins and Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Patton met Duane Denison in 1999 at a Mr. Bungle concert in Nashville and the two began exchanging music and jamming.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Subscription required</ref>

Tomahawk (2001–2002)

During May and June 2001, the band recorded their debut album in Nashville.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was released on October 30, 2001, it was produced by Joe Funderburk. After the release of Tomahawk, the band began touring extensively, playing in many countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Europe and Japan. They generally headlined shows but were the supporting act for bands such as Tool. When opening for Tool on their 2002 summer tour of North America, the band was frequently booed for insulting the crowds.<ref name="pitchforkmitgas"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tomahawk also played at various festivals, including the 2002 Big Day Out festival in Australia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mit Gas (2003–2004)

Second album Mit Gas, recorded with producer Joe Barresi, was released in 2003. Tomahawk took part in the "Geek Tour" during 2003, which featured labelmates the Melvins and Fantômas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the band's early years they were known for dressing up as police officers in promotional photo shoots and during concerts.<ref name="counterculture">Template:Cite web</ref> The band went on a short hiatus from 2004 to 2006 after finishing touring for Tomahawk and Mit Gas in late 2003 as the members began to focus on other projects.

Anonymous (2007–2008)

The band's third album, Anonymous, was released on June 19, 2007 through Ipecac Recordings. Kevin Rutmanis left the band during the recording; reasons for his departure are unknown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the album, Denison and Stanier recorded their parts in Nashville, and then sent their finished product to San Francisco where Patton added his vocals and samples.<ref name="anonymous"/> No live shows were performed during this period.<ref name="fasterlouder"/><ref name="blabbermouth2012"/> Tomahawk remained inactive from 2008 to 2011.<ref name="tomahawk returns">Template:Cite web</ref>

Oddfellows (2012–2014)

In July 2011, Mike Patton announced that Tomahawk was preparing to record its fourth album.<ref name="rollingstone2011">Nagy, Evie, "Mike Patton on Voicing a Video Game, Faith No More Reunion", Rolling Stone, Jul 25, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011</ref> In early 2012, Tomahawk announced that Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, John Zorn, MadLove, Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant) would play bass for the band.<ref>Facebook, "New Tomahawk page!! Which means a NEW record is coming soon!", Facebook, April 11, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011</ref> On April 21, 2012 the band released Eponymous To Anonymous, a box set containing the band's first three records released on vinyl for the first time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In late 2012, the band began playing their first live shows since 2003.<ref name="fasterlouder">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="blabbermouth2012">Template:Cite web</ref> On December 3, 2012, a full-length video for first single, "Stone Letter", was posted online.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Oddfellows was released January 29, 2013.<ref name="SPIN">Template:Cite web</ref> The band were scheduled to play in Mexico for the first time on March 21, 2014 but withdrew due to an illness.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On April 9, 2014 the band announced they would be releasing two previously unreleased tracks from the Oddfellows recording session.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single, entitled M.E.A.T., was first released on May 23, 2014 on vinyl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tonic Immobility (2020–present)

In February 2020, Duane Denison revealed that Tomahawk had been writing and recording new record material.<ref name="Consequence">Template:Cite web</ref> On January 21, 2021, a single called "Business Casual" was released, which also revealed the name of their upcoming fifth album as Tonic Immobility, which has later been released on March 26, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bassist Trevor Dunn remarked in 2021, "Me and Duane [Denison] and John [Stanier] recorded all of our parts for that record about four years ago actually. Duane had finished the music and I guess Mike was busy at the time, so John and I flew down to Nashville and recorded with Duane. Then over the years, we've just been waiting for Mike, and he's been doing other stuff so it took a while. I think the pandemic kind of helped spur it along because he was stuck at home, so he wrote the vocal melodies and the rest of the lyrics at his studio in San Francisco.".<ref name="mxdwn"/>

On October 15, 2024, Tomahawk announced that they would be performing at the 2025 Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas, marking their first show since 2013, however, one month after the announcement, the entire festival was canceled due to logistical issues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musical style and influences

Several critics have described Tomahawk's style as alternative metal,<ref name="rollingstone2011"/><ref name="SPIN"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> alternative rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Prog">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> avant-garde metal,<ref name="Consequence"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and experimental rock.<ref name="mxdwn">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Their sound has also been labeled as art rock,<ref name="Prog"/> avant-prog,<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> noise rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> post-rock,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> progressive metal,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and progressive rock.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, the band considered their genre to be "cinematic rock", since all members were fans of film soundtracks.<ref>2002 Dutch interview with Mike Patton and John Stanier Youtube.</ref> Butch Lazorchak of the Boston Herald has compared the band's sound to 1970s hard rock groups such as Blue Öyster Cult.Template:Citation needed

The band's self-titled first album combines rock with elements of experimental music, country music, and hardcore;<ref name="pitchfork2001">Template:Cite web</ref> critic Blake Butler of Allmusic described their debut album as one of the most straightforward rock-oriented projects of Patton following his work with Faith No More, but he still notes their eclectic side stating that they are not a “mass-marketable band.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their second album Mit Gas features influences from metal as well as punk rock.<ref name="pitchforkmitgas">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album also includes instrumental segues.<ref name="pitchforkmitgas"/> The band's 2007 album Anonymous incorporates Native American music elements.<ref name="anonymous">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Oddfellows features a more accessible sound which the band has labeled as "avant-pop".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The record includes influences from jazz music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US <ref name="US">Template:Cite web</ref>	US Heat. <ref name="US" />	US Ind. <ref name="US" />	AUS <ref name="AUS">Template:Cite web</ref>	BEL (FL) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	NOR <ref name="NOR">Template:Cite web</ref>	UK <ref name="UK">Template:Cite web</ref>
2001	Tomahawk Released: October 30, 2001 Label: Ipecac Formats: CD, DI	—	31	20	37	—	—	—
2003	Mit Gas Released: May 6, 2003 Label: Ipecac Formats: CD, DI	137	3	7	28	—	17	98
2007	Anonymous Released: June 19, 2007 Label: Ipecac Formats: CD, DI	158	2	12	32	—	31	—
2013	Oddfellows Released: January 29, 2013 Label: Ipecac Formats: CD, DI, LP	69	—	9	37	149	—	—
2021	Tonic Immobility Released: March 26, 2021 Label: Ipecac Formats: CD, DI, LP	—	—	—	18 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	182	—	—

Box sets

Year	Album details
2012	Eponymous to Anonymous Released: April 21, 2012 Label: Ipecac Formats: LP

Singles

Year	Song	Album
2003	"Rape This Day"	Mit Gas
2007	"Sun Dance"	Anonymous
2012	"Stone Letter"	Oddfellows
2014	"M.E.A.T."
2021	"Business Casual"	Tonic Immobility
2021	"Dog Eat Dog"	Tonic Immobility
2021	"Predators and Scavengers"	Tonic Immobility

Music videos

The band's first music video was for "Rape This Day" from Mit Gas, featuring a cameo from Queens of the Stone Age's Nick Oliveri. No official music videos were released for Anonymous. For the release of Oddfellows in 2013 the band made music videos for "Stone Letter" and the title-track.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="pitchfork stone letter">Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2014, over a year after the release of Oddfellows, the band released a music video for "South Paw".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition to the band's four official music videos, there have also been a number of unofficial/fan-made videos.

Year	Song
2003	"Rape This Day"
2012	"Stone Letter"
2013	"Oddfellows"
2014	"South Paw"
2021	"Dog Eat Dog"
2021	"Predators and Scavengers"

External links

• Template:Discogs artist
• Ipecac Recordings