AxeWound
British-Canadian heavy metal supergroup formed in 2012.
AxeWound is a British-Canadian heavy metal supergroup formed in 2012. The band was officially unveiled on 1 May 2012 on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with the premiere of their first single, 'Post Apocalyptic Party'. Their debut album, Vultures, was released on 2 October 2012 and yielded three singles. The band went on hiatus later in 2013 due to members' commitments to their main projects.
- Formed
- 2012
- Origin
- British-Canadian
- Genre
- Heavy metal
- Known for
- Supergroup featuring members of Cancer Bats, Bullet for My Valentine, Glamour of the Kill, Zoax, and Rise to Remain
- Debut album
- Vultures (2012)
Lore & Background
AxeWound was formed in 2012 as a supergroup comprising lead vocalist Liam Cormier of Cancer Bats, guitarist and co-vocalist Matthew Tuck and drummer Jason Bowld, both of Bullet for My Valentine, guitarist Mike Kingswood of Glamour of the Kill, and bassist Joe Copcutt of Zoax and Rise to Remain. The band was officially unveiled on 1 May 2012 on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, where they premiered their first single, 'Post Apocalyptic Party'. That same day, it was confirmed that AxeWound would sub-headline the Pepsi Max Third Stage at Download Festival 2012 on 8 June. Guitarist and vocalist Matt Tuck announced that Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Synyster Gates would guest on the title track of the band's debut album.
Reader's Guide
AxeWound's significance lies in its brief but notable existence as a supergroup that brought together members of prominent British and Canadian heavy metal and hardcore bands. Their debut album, Vultures, released on 2 October 2012, produced three singles: 'Post Apocalyptic Party', 'Cold', and 'Exorchrist'. The band's lineup featured musicians from Cancer Bats, Bullet for My Valentine, Glamour of the Kill, Zoax, and Rise to Remain, creating a cross-section of the metal scene at the time. Although they announced plans to start work on a sophomore album in August 2013, AxeWound went on hiatus later that year due to the members' commitments to their main projects. Their legacy is that of a short-lived collaboration that yielded one studio album and a single festival appearance, representing a moment when several established musicians temporarily united.
Formation & The Supergroup Lineup
AxeWound emerged in 2012 as a British-Canadian heavy metal supergroup, assembling musicians who already held prominent roles in well-known metal acts. The lineup featured Liam Cormier, the lead vocalist of Cancer Bats, handling primary vocal duties. Matthew Tuck, known as a guitarist and co-vocalist for Bullet for My Valentine, contributed rhythm guitar and shared vocal responsibilities. Fellow Bullet for My Valentine drummer Jason Bowld locked in behind the kit and added percussion. Lead guitar was entrusted to Mike Kingswood of Glamour of the Kill, while bass duties fell to Joe Copcutt, who was also associated with Zoax and Rise to Remain. The combination of these five individuals created a roster that spanned multiple successful bands, making AxeWound a true supergroup project rather than a standalone act. Each member brought their established stage presence and musical identity into the fold, giving the project immediate credibility within the heavy metal community. The British-Canadian designation reflects the multinational origins of the members and their respective primary bands, underscoring that this was a cross-border collaboration from the very start.
The Unveiling & Download Festival Debut
The world first learned about AxeWound on 1 May 2012, when the band was officially unveiled during a broadcast on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show. That same evening, listeners got their first taste of the project's sound with the premiere of "Post Apocalyptic Party," which would go on to become the band's first single. The announcement carried immediate live-performance weight: on that very day, it was confirmed that AxeWound would sub-headline the Pepsi Max Third Stage at the Download Festival, scheduled for 8 June 2012. This meant the group had roughly five weeks from their public introduction to a major festival slot, a remarkably compressed timeline that underscored the momentum behind the project. The BBC Radio 1 platform gave the reveal a wide audience, while the Download booking placed the band in front of thousands of dedicated metal fans in a high-profile setting. For a newly formed supergroup, the combination of a national radio premiere and a marquee festival appearance within the same week represented a powerful launch strategy, establishing AxeWound as a serious act almost overnight.
Vultures & the Synyster Gates Collaboration
AxeWound's debut studio album, titled Vultures, arrived on 2 October 2012, capping a productive run of singles and live performances. The record yielded three official singles: "Post Apocalyptic Party," "Cold," and "Exorchrist," each offering a different facet of the band's heavy metal sound. One of the album's most notable features was a guest appearance by Synyster Gates, the guitarist of Avenged Sevenfold, who contributed to the title track. This collaboration was announced by Matthew Tuck himself, adding a layer of cross-band camaraderie that resonated with fans of both acts. The involvement of a high-profile guest on the lead track signaled that AxeWound was operating in a space where major metal artists supported one another. Vultures stands as the sole studio album in the band's discography, making it a concentrated snapshot of what the five-member lineup could produce when they came together. The album's release followed the Download Festival performance and the BBC Radio 1 premiere, completing a narrative arc from announcement to full-length record in under six months.
Hiatus & the Supergroup Reality
Despite the momentum built around Vultures and the festival run, AxeWound's active period proved brief. In August 2013, it was announced that the band had begun work on a sophomore album, suggesting the project was far from over. However, later that same year, the group went on hiatus, a decision driven by the members' ongoing commitments to their respective main projects. Each of the five musicians—Cormier, Tuck, Bowld, Kingswood, and Copcutt—had primary bands that demanded their time, touring schedules, and creative energy. The supergroup format, while exciting for fans, inherently carried the risk of scheduling conflicts and divided attention. AxeWound's single studio album, Vultures, remains the entirety of their recorded output, a testament to how the demands of their primary acts ultimately took precedence. The hiatus was not portrayed as a breakup but rather as a pause necessitated by professional obligations, leaving the door theoretically open for a future reunion. For fans, the band's story became one of a powerful, if fleeting, collaboration that delivered a strong debut before the realities of the music industry reasserted themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AxeWound?
AxeWound is a British-Canadian heavy metal supergroup that assembled in 2012, uniting musicians from several established metal acts under one project name.
What albums has AxeWound released?
Their sole studio record to date is Vultures, issued on 2 October 2012, from which three singles were cut.
How did AxeWound first announce themselves to the public?
The band officially debuted on 1 May 2012 during the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, where they premiered their opening single, "Post Apocalyptic Party."
Why did AxeWound go on hiatus?
The group paused activity later in 2013 because each member had to return their full attention to their respective primary bands.
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