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3 Inches of Blood

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Band Timeline

1999

Formation and Early Years of 3 Inches of Blood

3 Inches of Blood was formed in 1999 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The founding members were Jamie Hooper, Sunny Dhak, and Bobby Froese, along with Geoff Trawick on drums and Rich Trawick on bass. Originally getting together for a one-off reunion gig of an earlier group, the members found their creative chemistry strong, prompting them to continue as a new band. Their early music drew heavily from traditional heavy metal styles, and they quickly began writing new material that would define their sound.
2002

Debut Album 'Battlecry Under a Wintersun' and Initial Success

In 2002, 3 Inches of Blood recorded and released their debut album, 'Battlecry Under a Wintersun,' in collaboration with Teenage Rampage Records and Fashion Before Function. The album showed their strong influence from the new wave of British heavy metal and garnered moderate underground success in Canada, including rankings on national college radio charts. The album's acclaim led to the band winning Metal Album of the Year at the 2002 Canadian Independent Music Awards. Around this time, Cam Pipes joined as a permanent member, contributing clean vocals that became a signature part of their sound. Their UK distribution company helped them secure a support slot on a tour with rock band The Darkness, which expanded their international exposure.
2004

Signing with Roadrunner Records and Lineup Changes

In 2004, after their initial success, 3 Inches of Blood signed with the prominent label Roadrunner Records. However, this period brought significant lineup changes: founding members Geoff and Rich Trawick left the band due to personal and professional differences. They were replaced by Matt Wood and Brian Redman. Shortly after recording their second album, 'Advance and Vanquish,' Sunny Dhak and Bobby Froese also departed. Their spots were filled by Justin Hagberg, who had previously worked with Cam Pipes, and Shane Clark. Alexei Rodriguez replaced Matt Wood on drums. This period marked a new phase in the band's career as they prepared for wider recognition under a major label.
2004-2005

Release of 'Advance and Vanquish' and Breakthrough Exposure

'Advance and Vanquish,' the band's sophomore album, was released in 2004. Roadrunner Records launched an extensive promotional campaign, which included the heavy rotation of the track 'Deadly Sinners' across sampler CDs, compilations, and even multiple video games such as Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Saints Row 2, and Brütal Legend. This exposure brought the band extensive press attention and helped cement their status in underground and mainstream metal communities. As a result, 3 Inches of Blood were included in Roadrunner’s 2005 Road Rage Tour. Moreover, Justin Hagberg contributed guitar tracks to Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions in 2005, highlighting the band's integration into the label’s roster.
2006

Supporting Iron Maiden and Recording Third Album

In 2006, 3 Inches of Blood gained further prominence by opening for legendary metal band Iron Maiden during the US leg of Iron Maiden’s 'A Matter of Life and Death' World Tour. The band also began work on their third studio album, 'Fire Up the Blades,' writing new material in Tacoma, Washington, and recording at Vancouver’s Armoury Studios. The album was produced by Joey Jordison, known for his work with Slipknot. This album featured demos made available online, nurturing fan excitement. During this time, bassist Brian Redman left the band and was replaced by Nick Cates, solidifying the lineup.
2007

Touring and Release of 'Fire Up the Blades'

3 Inches of Blood toured extensively in 2007, including a US tour supporting Cradle of Filth along with The 69 Eyes. The album 'Fire Up the Blades' was released to positive reviews, showcasing a more aggressive and melodic style of heavy metal that maintained their traditional influences with fresh energy. Their touring further established the band within the international metal scene, earning them a dedicated following and critical acclaim. This period was marked by their active presence in the heavy metal touring circuit and their growing reputation as a dynamic live act.
2015

Disbandment of 3 Inches of Blood

After more than a decade of making music and touring, 3 Inches of Blood officially disbanded in 2015. The band members went on to pursue other musical and personal interests. Their legacy remained influential in the heavy metal community, especially among fans of traditional and new wave British heavy metal-inspired music, thanks to their distinct style blending aggressive and melodic elements and dual vocal approach.
2023

Reunion and Return to Music

In 2023, 3 Inches of Blood reunited, reigniting their presence in the heavy metal scene with a lineup featuring original and longtime members: Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, Nick Cates, and Ash Pearson. The reunion was highly anticipated by fans and marked a new chapter for the band. This revival showcased their lasting impact on metal music and their continued commitment to their roots within the genre. The band members expressed enthusiasm about making new music and performing live once again, promising to build on their storied heritage.

Albums

3-inches-of-blood_1st_album
Battlecry Under a Winter Sun
11 tracks
2002
3-inches-of-blood_2nd_album
Advance and Vanquish
13 tracks
2004
3-inches-of-blood_3rd_album
Fire Up the Blades
13 tracks
2007
3-inches-of-blood_4th_album
Here Waits Thy Doom
12 tracks
2009
3-inches-of-blood_5th_album
Long Live Heavy Metal
15 tracks
2012
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Members

Current

Name
Begin
Occupation

Matt Wood

N/A

Cam Pipes

2001

Lead vocals

Shane Clark

2004

Guitar

Justin Hagberg

2004

Guitar

History

Name
Begin
End
Occupation

Brian Redman

2004
2006

Bass guitar

Ash Pearson

2007
2015

Drums (drum set)

Story of 3 Inches of Blood

3 Inches of Blood, the Victoria, British Columbia-based heavy metal band, exploded onto the scene in 1999. Their sound, deeply rooted in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, quickly garnered a dedicated following. After a hiatus ending in 2015, the band roared back in 2023 with a lineup featuring Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, Nick Cates, and Ash Pearson.

Early Days and Battlecry Under a Wintersun

The band`s genesis was an unplanned reunion gig for a previous project involving Jamie Hooper, Sunny Dhak, Bobby Froese, Geoff Trawick (drums), and Rich Trawick (bass). The songwriting process, focused on a traditional metal style, proved so fruitful that they decided to forge ahead as a new entity. A demo found its way to Steve Bays (keyboardist for Hot Hot Heat), who suggested adding clean vocals. This led to Cam Pipes overdubbing on their first EP, Sect of the White Worm, and ultimately joining the band permanently.

Their debut full-length, Battlecry Under a Wintersun (2002), a collaborative release with Teenage Rampage Records and Fashion Before Function (later remastered and re-released by the band`s own Minion Music), achieved moderate success in Canada, charting on national college radio and winning Metal Album of the Year at the 2002 Canadian Independent Music Awards. A support slot with The Darkness in the UK catapulted them onto the international stage, earning critical acclaim within the underground metal scene and leading to a record deal with Roadrunner Records in 2004.

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