Tourniquet
Tourniquet formed in Los Angeles, California in 1990 and bring to the Metal realm Technical Thrash with occasional elements of Hardcore & Death Metal spice thrown into a melting pot of Molten Metal. The time changes and technicality keep their music interesting even after many listens. Its hard to compare Tourniquet to other bands as they have their own unique sound.
The Idea behind the band's name comes from the following:
The Idea behind the band's name comes from the following:
A "Tourniquet" is a surgical device for arresting hemorrhage by compression of blood vessels...The band applies this idea to their name by the following:
"It's a lifelong spiritual process by which a personal God, through the atoning blood, death, and resurrection of His only Son -Jesus Christ- can begin to stop the flow of going through life without knowing and serving our Creator. He is our Tourniquet."
"It's a lifelong spiritual process by which a personal God, through the atoning blood, death, and resurrection of His only Son -Jesus Christ- can begin to stop the flow of going through life without knowing and serving our Creator. He is our Tourniquet."
At the band's official site, it was said that Ted Kirkpatrick’s passion for classical music and Technical Metal finds its way into many Tourniquet songs, resulting in their music being described as “Beethoven Meets Frankenstein”.
Ted Kirkpatrick is the main song writer for the band with many of their songs having an illusion to medical allegories.
Ted Kirkpatrick is the main song writer for the band with many of their songs having an illusion to medical allegories.
Ted is a beast behind the kit being one of the greatest drummers ever, he is the driving force behind the band and is to Tourniquet, what Rex Carroll is to Whitecross. Even more, Just like Rex Carroll included solo tracks on each album, there's a drum solo by Ted on each of their albums as well. "Ted is well known for his ability to create and execute poly-rhythms within the framework of songs, for his advanced double bass technique, and most of all for bringing a musicality to his drumming which is always apparent in Tourniquet songs." Many drummers are just behind the kit to keep time a lot like an old grandfather clock does as it ticks away never showing much life and energy but that's not what we find with Ted as he treats the instrument like it was an electric guitar or any other instrument and it shows. in Tourniquet's music the drums have a life of their own as they are given equal importance as the lead guitar but without drowning out other instruments.
Discography:
- 2011 - Ancient Christmas - Ted solo project
- 2010 - In the Shadow of the Masters - Ted solo drumming project (Pathogenic Records)
- 2010 - Ode to A Roadkill - Ted solo project (Pathogenic Records)
- 2003 - Where Moth and Rust Destroy (Metal Blade)
- 2000 - Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm (Metal Blade)
- 1998 - Acoustic Archives (Tourniquet Productions)
- 1997 - Crawl to China (Diadem)
- 1996 - Collected Works (Frontline)
- 1995 - Carry the Wounded-EP (Frontline)
- 1994 - Vanishing Lessons (Frontline)
- 1993 - Live-EP (Frontline)
- 1992 - Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance (Frontline/Metal Blade)
- 1991 - Psycho Surgery (Frontline/Metal Blade)
- 1990 - Stop the Bleeding (Frontline)
Lyrics are Christ centered and thought provoking as you can see in this tune:
"Vitals Fading"
[Words & Music: Kirkpatrick]
Young child drowning in a sea of pain
Body infested with debilitating proteus strain
Distant footsteps approach, but they're not for him
The anticipation of visitors wanes, spirit dim
Through the drone of a hemodialysis machine
God says oh dying frame, there's only one place to lean
Antes de que la muerte venga a llevarte as
Quiero que aceptes a mi Hijo, muriã por ti
(Before death arrives to take you away like that
I want you to accept my Son, who died for you)
Wrinkled hands reach out for cold metal rails
Whom the human bond of callous family ignores
Body starts to shake in violent burning rigors
This decrepit life is so very frail
Though the mountains crumble deep into the sea
God is ever present
He sees everything
"Vitals Fading"
[Words & Music: Kirkpatrick]
Young child drowning in a sea of pain
Body infested with debilitating proteus strain
Distant footsteps approach, but they're not for him
The anticipation of visitors wanes, spirit dim
Through the drone of a hemodialysis machine
God says oh dying frame, there's only one place to lean
Antes de que la muerte venga a llevarte as
Quiero que aceptes a mi Hijo, muriã por ti
(Before death arrives to take you away like that
I want you to accept my Son, who died for you)
Wrinkled hands reach out for cold metal rails
Whom the human bond of callous family ignores
Body starts to shake in violent burning rigors
This decrepit life is so very frail
Though the mountains crumble deep into the sea
God is ever present
He sees everything
Tourniquet has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including HM magazine's Favorite Band of the Decade, several #1 Metal singles, and six Dove Award nominations. They have appeared in countless magazine, newspaper, and online publications. The success of their "acoustic unplugged" shows has further advanced their strong reputation for musical integrity and versatility. Also, Ted Kirkpatrick has continuously achieved top rankings in polls for the best metal drummers in the world.
Vocalist Guy Ritter was with the band as lead Vocalist from 1989–1993 and has a very distinguished unique vocal delivery going from a high pitched Death Metal sounds to deep mid-range vocals and occasionally shouting out vocals similar to Hardcore vocalist while always mixing things up a lot like Ted does on Drums.
Guy grew increasingly dissatisfied with the band's musical direction, and didn't care for the more aggressive material the rest of the band was writing. He subsequently left the band after the recording of 'Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance' due to these musical differences. Many fans, including me, hated seeing Guy Ritter leave the band in 1993 as he was replaced by Luke Easter that same year. A few years after leaving Tourniquet, Guy Ritter and Gary Lenaire found themselves busy with another band called Echo Hollow. Echo Hollow is a Christian Metal band founded by Guy and Gary back in 1996. Echo H. has released two studio albums, Diet of Worms in 1998 and Superficial Intelligence in 2004.
At the bands official web site under Bios we find that "Luke Easter grew up and resides in the San Francisco Bay area. He started singing at age 19 and his remarkable vocal ability was evident from his first audition with Tourniquet. He brings life and emotion into every vocal line. As the band's front-man, he always manages to get the crowd involved with the show. A testimony to his talent, many of his vocal lines and harmonies on the band's albums were done in only one take. The 1997 album Crawl to China marked Luke's first writing credits - contributing the lyrics to 3 songs. He continued his lyric writing skills by contributing three songs to Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm and two more to Where Moth and Rust Destroy." The albums that Luke contributed vocals on are from 1994-Present.
I know that Luke will never be able to replace Guy Ritter, but we all are going to have to move on while not forgetting the past or forgetting to enjoy it, maybe we can find something to like in some of the newer albums as well.
If you enjoy fast Technical music that will pick you up and Thrash you around like a rag doll, then I can see you enjoying the party that Tourniquet brings to the Metal realm.
I know that Luke will never be able to replace Guy Ritter, but we all are going to have to move on while not forgetting the past or forgetting to enjoy it, maybe we can find something to like in some of the newer albums as well.
If you enjoy fast Technical music that will pick you up and Thrash you around like a rag doll, then I can see you enjoying the party that Tourniquet brings to the Metal realm.
Current Tourniquet Lineup:
Luke Easter-Vocals
Aaron Guerra-Guitars
Ted Kirkpatrick-Drums
Former Members:
Guy Ritter-Vocals
Gary Lenaire-Guitars
Eric Mendez-Guitar
Victor Macias-Bass
Vince Dennis-Bass
Steve Andino-Bass
