Hemlock

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Hemlock is a heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. The band has been together for more than 13 years (placing their origin circa 1993), and has played concerts with likes of Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Soulfly, Otep, Slipknot, Snot, Coal Chamber, Obituary, Drowning Pool, Hed PE, Chimaira, Meshuggah, & Ministry. Hemlock frequently plays shows with thrash metal band Slayer and has received touring sponsorship with Jagermeister on the Jägermeister Music Tour through this alliance. Their focus has always been on their fans and their live shows, typically touring for 8 to 9 months out of the year. The band has done regional touring in the southwest United States consistently since 1999. This, combined with national touring starting in 2003 has provided the band with a base of hardcore Hemlock fans across the United States. The band, fronted by bass guitarist/lead vocalist Chad Smith, makes a valiant effort to be real to their fans while on tour, often staying at the venue hours after the last song to hang out with fans. Smith, with his long dreadlocked hair and workingman attitude, also handles the merchandise booth at venues and is the heart of the band. Five albums are currently available from Hemlock: Bleed the Dream, Pigeon Holed, Shut Down, Controlance and No Time for Sorrow.

Hemlock has been signed to Continental Entertainment Inc. (Major) in December 2006. As of 2007, they are on tour with Ministry. Since that tour, Hemlock has headlined their own U.S. TOur, and gone to tour in Japan on a Headlining tour as well. They are currently working on a new CD, due out later in 2009.

The Wall of Death

A Hemlock concert staple is the wall of death. A common crowd participation gimmick at metal concerts, the wall of death requires the audience to be split into two separate "walls" that face each other from opposing sides of the concert floor (usually where the mosh pit is located). Hemlock started doing the Wall of Death back in the late 1990s at their shows. Frontman Chad Smith admits he didn't come up with the idea, but he did bring it to the metal world, and passed it on to other bands that toured with Hemlock, and they passed it on, and now its a favorite at most metal shows. In Hemlock's version of the wall of death, the band starts playing music while the lead singer counts down from 10. After the singer reachs the number 1, he usually screams out a word such as "go". At this point, the two sides of the audience rush at each other in an often violent collision that may involve jumping in the air, swinging of fists, and throwing of elbows. A mosh pit usually forms following the wall of death.