Deadly Apples

Formation: 2002–04

In 2002, Alex Martel started playing with fellow students at his high school in Quebec. He had no musical knowledge and didn't own a microphone or any instrument. He taught himself how to sing. The initial sound was mostly influenced by alternative metal. In 2003, the name Deadly Apples was chosen and a revolving lineup of musicians accompanied Martel.

By early 2004, Martel had teamed up with Karl St-Pierre on guitars. St-Pierre's heavy metal influences, along with the emotional and melancoly music Martel was writing, defined the early sound of Deadly Apples that appealed to underground rock and metal audiences. Accompanied by Gabriel Maurice on bass, Mathieu Raby on drums and Melissa Lord on keyboards, Deadly Apples toured extensively in 2004 and 2005 through Canada.

Metamorphosis Has Begun: 2005–07

The band's first EP, Metamorphosis Has Begun, was recorded over a weekend at a studio in Montebello, Quebec in 2005. It was produced by Martel and Jean-Guy Bruneau. Despite its raw sound, it gained many positive reviews in magazines across the world. The album mixed metal riffs, melodic piano, ambient keyboards, emotional vocals and growls. Some critics classified Metamorphosis as alternative metal, gothic rock and doom metal. MetalUniverse.net defined the music as psychotic metal.

The Metamorphosis period was defined by dark imagery and concerts that combined the theatrical performances of acts such as Marilyn Manson and the careless grunge attitude of bands like Nirvana. Deadly Apples started getting recognition from their peers and opened for established Quebec bands like GrimSkunk, Kataklysm and Anonymus.

In 2006, Martel started writing what would later become the Infected EP. His growing fondness for industrial music and interest for synthesizers, sampling and programming heavily influenced the new songs. In between writing, Deadly Apples continued touring in 2006 and 2007 as a four-piece, Martel handling the keyboards and sampling along with Maurice. The live shows became less theatrical and more atmospheric.

Martel's antics on stage became increasingly harsh and controversy arose many times. Aside from the frequent destroying of instruments, Martel attacked drummer Raby several times on stage. After Raby forgot to trigger the outro of a show, Martel threw a cymbal to Raby's head and subsequently fired him because of his poor drumming skills. Martel and St-Pierre also used to frequently spit at each other and sometimes at the crowd, often resulting in minor fights or riots.

Infected: 2007–09

During spring 2007, the initial version of Infected was recorded and produced by Martel and producer Yves Bouthillier with the touring band. Unsatisfied with the result, Martel scrapped the recordings and dismissed Bouthillier as well as the entire touring band. He went on to work with producers Antoine Lamothe (formerly of Endensa, Skindealer, Syntheticuse and Dee) and Dan Pelletier (formerly of Minds). Together, they revamped Deadly Apples, wrote new songs and recorded the album in various studios in Montreal, Montebello and Daytona Beach, Florida. Infected was mastered in St-Zenon, Quebec by Pierre Remillard (Rush, Cryptopsy, Despised Icon). After spending almost a year in the studio, the record was finally released in June 2008.

The album was released as both a free digital download on the band's official website and as a traditional CD. Martel released the following statement on the band's website:

"Deadly Apples is aware of this new era of constant technology development we live in and encourages using it to its full potential. The band applauds its peers such as Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead and Saul Williams for having the courage to take a step forward in that direction.

DA does not solicit or accept donations, but encourages fans to attend concerts, purchase a physical copy if you still collect CD's, purchase other merchandise or simply pass along the word to friends."

Infected is a diverse industrial rock album that moves away from the more metal-oriented Metamorphosis. Both critics and fans embraced the band's new sound, image and live show. Lamothe joined the live band on drums and his input in Deadly Apples since 2007 has been significant. Gabriel Maurice rejoined the band on bass, while a number of guitar players have revolved during the Infected tour.

Deadly Apples started touring Canada and the U.S. in the support of Infected in June 2008. They played the festival circuit during summer, which included stops at the Petite-Nation Rockfest and Outaouais Emergent Music Festival. Stage antics and controversy kept growing at every concert. While standing on a barricade near the crowd, Martel used his microphone to attack a drunk attendee who was taunting him. In September 2008, at a club concert near Ottawa, the band's sampler broke, resulting in the band smashing all the instruments and stopping the set after one song. More controversy arose when the band played Lamothe's psychological short film The Subject as a show intro (Lamothe works in the film industry in Montreal). The short film features a scene in which a prostitute is brutally killed by a deranged man. The band toured extensively with Ok Volca during the fall.

A music video was shot during fall 2008 for the song "Self-Inflicted Oppression", directed by Lamothe, but has yet to see release. In early 2009, the band premiered a stripped down electroacoustic set, opening for the cross-Canada tour of Blindoldfreak, solo project of Nine Inch Nails keyboard player Alessandro Cortini. Following that run, the band continued touring with both their usual and stripped down sets, performing at several festivals in Canada and the U.S., including stops at New Hampshire's Rock On! Fest featuring Korn and Toronto's Virgin Fest featuring Nine Inch Nails and The Pixies.

First full-length album: 2010–present

In January 2010, Martel and Lamothe reunited with Infected co-producer Daniel Pelletier, who later joined the band as full-time guitar player. Along with Maurice, the band started recording their third offering and first full-length album in Montebello, Quebec. Martel described the new material as "really catchy yet very raw and dirty, with ambient soundscapes and electronics -- something unique and different with peaks and valleys. Think of it as Nine Inch Nails meets White Stripes meets Portishead. Kind of."

In between recording sessions, Deadly Apples played a handful of large-scale festivals during the summer of 2010, including stops at Heavy MTL alongside Korn, Rob Zombie and Avenged Sevenfold, as well as Petite-Nation Rockfest alongside Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag and Misfits.

During Spring 2010, Korn guitarist James 'Munky' Shaffer recorded guitar parts with the band while in Maine for two songs off the album. Commented Martel: "I've known James for a long time, and having opened for Korn several times, he's always on the side of the stage watching our set. It was a natural process and we're happy to have him on the album, he's been very generous of his time." Others guests are slated to appear on the album, but the band has yet to announce them. The album was completed in late 2011. It was mixed in Nashville by Vance Powell and mastered by Bob Ludwig. It has not been released yet.

As of late 2011, the band has been on hiatus while Martel focuses on his festival Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec which has become Canada's largest rock festival.

Current members

Past members

Discography