DOWNLOAD: Chum - Dead to the World

About a year ago, I posted the 1994 EPs from this Huntington's Chum. Dead to the World is the 1996 full-length album from one of West Virginia's best and most successful (by getting signed standards) heavy bands. After releasing the EPs, Chum went on tour and found themselves on stage at CBGG's in New York City, where they were discovered and signed by Century Media Records. This is the excellent album the band produced for for the label. Despite the quality of Dead to the World, the success - and Chum's career - was short-lived after it was dropped by Century Media, but not before receiving plenty of critical praise and comparisons to King's X, Helmet and Quicksand. One critic wrote of Dead to the World:

"The amalgamation of harmonic bliss and chaotic guitar riffs sets this band ahead of the pack with a triumphant bit of genuinely open and sure-fire songwriting. No sooner than the first track "Stepping On Cracks" begins do we feel the intensity that Chum are willing to reveal to us through their music - and it only gets heavier."

The members of Chum including band leader John Lancaster went on to play in other bands and solo projects, but nothing quite lived up to the legendary status Chum established for itself in and around Huntington. In 2004, the band's principal line-up lead by Lancaster reunited in for sporadic performances, but nothing permanent.

Artist: Chum

Album: Dead to the World

Year: 1996

For Fans Of: King's X, Helmet, Quicksand

DOWNLOAD: Chum - Dead to the World

DOWNLOAD: Chum - 1994 EPs

Huntington, West Virginia, is a heavy metal, hard rock town. James Maynard Keenan could be in a Robert C. Byrd-like state in a wheelchair on stage and Tool would still sell out the local Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Maybe that explains why Huntington has produced a couple really good heavy bands - the best of them being Chum. Chum hailed from Huntington and were at their peak around 1996 when the band released Dead to the World on Century Media Records. A self-described "heavy, yet melodic" band, Chum played music in the vein of King's X, Faith No More, or, yes, Tool.

Before their major label debut, the group led by singer-guitarist John Lancaster released two EP cassettes in 1994 - Postblisstheory and God Given. The two EPs sent the band on tour and landed them at CBGBs - a performance that got them signed. Both EPs represent a natural progression into the eventual Dead to the World full-length. Chum was eventually dropped by Century Media and disbanded. Despite their initial short-lived career, they helped establish Huntington as the heavy music haven that it is - unfortunately no band of the genre has managed to hold a flame to the songs Chum recorded between between 1994 - 96.

Artist: Chum.

Albums: Postblisstheory, God Given.

Year: 1994.

For Fans Of: King's X, Faith No More, Helmet.

DOWNLOAD: Chum - Postblisstheory.

DOWNLOAD: Chum - God Given.