Jex Thoth

Jex Thoth
Jex Thoth
	;
Background information
Also known as	Totem (2005 - 2007)
Origin	Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Genres	Occult Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Years active	2007 - Present?
Labels	I Hate
Associated acts	Sabbath Assembly, Ossuary, Zola Jesus, Wooden Wand
Website	Facebook

Jex Thoth are a psychedelic rock / doom metal band formed in 2007, currently based in Madison, Wisconsin. The band originally took shape under the name Totem. After issuing an EP with that moniker, the group rechristened itself Jex Thoth after the band's female frontwoman and vocalist. Jex Thoth take their cues from the metallic strains of Black Sabbath and the retro experimentalism of Amon Düül II. Thoth and drummer Nick Johnson have remained the sole constants since 2009 with a rotating cast of musicians.

To date Jex Thoth has released two studio albums and has toured Europe on several occasions, performing at marquee events and festivals all over the world.

History[]

Prior to Jex Thoth's formation the band was known as Totem, whom formed in 2005. The founding lineup would be Jex Thoth, Grim Jim, Blackouts and Zodiac. The quartet would release an eponymous EP in 2007 but would re-christen themselves at Jex Thoth in June of that same year. The first release under this moniker would be a split with English doom metal legends Pagan Altar, releasing this split on 31 October 2007. In the same recording sessions the band recorded an album's worth of material at The Tomb in Wisconsin.

Jex Thoth was initially a collaboration between Jessica Bowen and then husband songwriter James Jackson Toth, leader of the experimental psych-folk outfit Wooden Wand. Like Wooden Wand the band initially favored stage names: Jex Thoth aka Jessica Bowen, Grim Jim aka James Jackson Toth, Silas Paine aka Glenn Donaldson from The Skygreen Leopards, Zodiac aka Clay Ruby, and, later, Johnny Dee aka Nick Johnson.

The eponymous Jex Thoth saw release on 29 February 2008, attaining positive reviews^[1]^[2] and selected as Julian Cope's album of the month.^[3]

By 2009 frontwoman Jessica Bowen and drummer Nick Johnson would be the only remaining original members. Working with Clay Ruby, Silas Paine and Nico Kain the new lineup would comprise a series of recordings for an EP entitled Witness, released 11 April 2010. The band would compose their earliest known tour, taking a through Europe in the Spring and Fall while making marquee appearances at festivals such as Doom Shall Rise, Roadburn Festival and Hammer of Doom Festival. A follow-up tour in Europe the next year would see the band appearing at the likes of Stoned From The Underground and Tuska Open Air.^[4] In 2012 the band would tour Europe once again, sharing the stage with the likes of Oranssi Pazuzu, Orange Goblin, The Machine, Harvey Milk and Sleep to name a few.^[5]

Work would begin on a second album in January 2013, recording at Avast! Studios in Washington with Randall Dunn, with guest appearances by JD Guy, Steve Moore and Lori Goldston. Mastering would be handled by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering. Lastly artwork would be provided by Sami Hynninen of Reverend Bizarre notoriety. Blood Moon Rise would see release on 15 June 2013 to critical acclaim from the likes of Echoes and Dust,^[6] Sea of Tranquility,^[7] Fast n' Bulbous,^[8] The Sleeping Shaman^[9] and Sputnik Music^[10] to name a few. Jex Thoth would compose two extensive European tours in 2013 to support Blood Moon Rise, making a return to Hammer of Doom and sharing the stage with the likes of Chelsea Wolfe, Belzebong, Karma To Burn and Samsara Blues Experiment to name a few.

Jex Thoth would tour the United States for the first time the next, surrounding appearances at Scion RockFest and Days of The Doomed,^[11] followed by a Fall tour of Europe surrounding an appearance at the inaugural Desertfest Belgium.^[12] 2015 would see Jex Thoth touring with Truckfighters and Blues Pills among an appearance at Maryland Deathfest and a fall European tour. Jex Thoth would take some time off, only making sporadic live appearances in 2017 for a show supporting The Crazy World of Arthur Brown^[13] and an appearance at Psycho Las Vegas. The band would return to the road in 2018 for a tour of Europe surrounding appearances at Desertfest London and DesertFest Berlin. The band's last known show to date took place in January 2019, supporting The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.^[14]

Discography[]

Studio Albums[]

Jex Thoth (2008, I Hate)
Blood Moon Rise (2013, I Hate)

Other Releases[]

Totem (EP; Originally as Totem) (2007, I Hate; 2009, I Hate)
Stone Evil / Walking In The Dark (Split 7" with Pagan Altar) (2008, I Hate)
Witness (EP) (2010, I Hate)
Circles (7" Single) (2013, I Hate)

Members[]

Current Members[]

Jex Thoth - Vocals (2007 - Present)
Nick Johnson - Drums (2009 - Present)
Matt Jacobs - Guitar (2012 - 2013); Bass (2013 - Present)
Jason Hartman - Guitar (2013 - 2014, 2017 - Present)
David Uttal-Veroff - Guitar (2015 - Present)
Joel Shanahan - Keyboards (2017 - Present)

Past Members[]

Grim Jim - Bass, Synth, Guitar (2007 - 2009)
Clay Ruby - Drums (2007); Keyboards (2007 - 2011)
Johnny Dee - Drums (2007 - 2009)
Zeke Wood - Guitar (2007)
Silas Paine - Guitar, Bouzouki, Flute (2007 - 2009)
Shane Verwey - Bass (2009 - 2011)
Nic Kain - Guitar (2010 - 2012)
Danny Gonzalez - Bass (2011 - 2013)
Brandon Newhouse - Guitar (2012 - 2013)
Bryan Moll - Guitar (2014)

List of Known Tours[]

Spring 2010 European Tour (2010)^[15]
Fall 2010 European Tour (2010)^[16]
2011 European Tour (2011)^[17]
Purify With Pyra 2012 (2012)^[18]^[19]
Blood Moon Rise Part I (2013)^[20]
Blood Moon Rise Part II (2013)^[21]
May 2014 West Coast Tour (Select dates with Atriarch) (2014)^[22]
June/July 2014 North American Tour (With Agalloch) (2014)^[23]
September 2014 North American Mini-Tour (With Windhand, All Them Witches) (2014)^[24]
Fall 2014 European Tour (2014)^[25]^[26]
Rock Revelation (With Blues Pills, Truckfighters, Three Seasons) (2015)^[27]
Fall 2015 European Tour (2015)^[28]
2018 European Tour (2018)^[29]

External Links[]

References[]

[1] Your Last Rites

[2] Metal Underground

[3] Head Heritage

[4] Last.fm

[5] Last.fm

[6] Echoes and Dust

[7] Sea of Tranquility

[8] Fast n' Bulbous

[9] The Sleeping Shaman

[10] Sputnik Music

[11] Last.fm

[12] Last.fm

[13] Jex Thoth

[14] Jex Thoth Facebook

[15] Last.fm

[16] Last.fm

[17] Last.fm

[18] Jex Thoth Official

[19] Last.fm

[20] Jex Thoth Facebook

[21] Jex Thoth Facebook

[22] Jex Thoth Facebook

[23] Last.fm

[24] Last.fm

[25] Last.fm

[26] Last.fm

[27] Jex Thoth Facebook

[28] Jex Thoth Facebook

[29] Jex Thoth Facebook

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