Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka

Marthus
Škaroupka at Kuopiorock 2008
Škaroupka at Kuopiorock 2008
Background information
Birth nameMartin Škaroupka
Born (1981-01-20) 20 January 1981 (age 43)
OriginBrno, Czech Republic
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Drums
  • keyboards
Years active1996–present
Member of
Formerly of
Websitemarthusmusic.com

Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka (born 20 January 1981) is a Czech drummer, best known as a member of the British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. He is also a songwriter and keyboard player, having written and recorded all the keyboards and orchestrations for the Cradle of Filth albums The Manticore and Other Horrors, Hammer of the Witches, Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay and most of the keyboards and orchestration for Existence Is Futile. He wrote the music for songs such as "Right Wing of the Garden Triptych" or "Crawling King Chaos".

Biography

When he was six, Škaroupka started attending piano and singing lessons at LŠU Brno until he was 13. Because there were no drums lessons at any of the music schools of that time available, he began to take private lessons from prof. Cupák (member of Janáček opera in Brno).

When he was 15 years old, Škaroupka was admitted to Leoš Janáček Conservatory Brno, where he graduated in drums and piano.

Marthus began playing with various bands of various music styles when he was 15. In the same year, his first studio enterprise is released with the band Animal Farm, which was followed by another studio CD with the band Pink Chubby Cigar.

In 1997, Marthus and his long-time friend Khaablus founded the band Inner Fear, where Marthus was responsible for all compositions, keyboards and drums. In the same year, the first demo came out, and by 2003 two more mini-CDs and three full-length albums were produced (out of which the first was never released officially).

Also in 1997, Marthus filled in as touring drummer for Czech bands Monastery, Pluggulp, Inner Fear, Happy Death and Scharnhorst.

In the years following (1997–2000), Marthus played live not only with Happy Death and Inner Fear, but also appeared as a guest drummer on Melancholy Pessimism mini-tour (2000), a project of Root singer Jiří "Big Boss" Valter, BigBoss and in 1999 recording CD of project Entrails (where he met Root guitar player, Petr "Blackie" Hošek).

In the beginning of 2001, Marthus took played drums in Pandemia, setting out on a spring European tour, after which he left the band.

In summer 2004, Marthus filmed his first drumming DVD and moved from Czech Republic to England.

In autumn 2004, Marthus joined English band Mantas (featuring Venom guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn) and in summer 2005 started collaborating with Czech power/speed/symphonic metal band Symphonity (ex Nemesis).

In January 2006, Marthus recorded drums for a new Symphonity album at House of Audio studios in Germany.

In October 2006, Marthus joined English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, replacing Adrian Erlandsson.

In July 2012, it was announced that Marthus would join melodic power metal band Masterplan.[1]

Discography

Marthus performing with Cradle of Filth in 2021
Year Title Band
1996 Animal Farm Animal Farm
1996 Pink Chubby Cigar Pink Chubby Cigar
1997 Defenders of the Law Scharnhorst
1997 Pilgrims of Paradise Pluggulp
1997 Delusive Eyes Inner Fear
1997 New Hi-Tech Happy Death
1999 Altering the Technology Happy Death
1999 Face of Inner Apocalypsa Inner Fear
1999 Black Vein Entrails
1999 Serpent Seed Entrails
2000 Tribute to Master's Hammer Entrails
2000 Akhu Inner Fear
2001 Odeum of Silence Inner Fear
2002 Thanalogy Inner Fear
2003 Symbiotry Inner Fear
2004 Lost Man Galactic Industry
2008 Voice from the Silence Symphonity
2008 Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder Cradle of Filth
2010 Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa Cradle of Filth
2011 Evermore Darkly Cradle of Filth
2012 First Born Fear Inner Fear
2012 Metal Celebration Live 2011 DVD Titanic
2012 The Manticore and Other Horrors Cradle of Filth
2013 Best of Fuck Off!!! Kryptor
2013 Double Time Titanic
2013 Novum Initium Masterplan
2015 Dark Chambers of Déjà Vu Sebastien
2015 Keep Your Dream aLive Masterplan
2015 Hammer of the Witches Cradle of Filth
2016 Metalovej Svátek Živě/Live 2015 Titanic
2016 King Of Persia Symphonity
2017 Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay Cradle Of Filth
2018 Turiec Lunatic Gods
2018 Soumrak Titanu Titanic
2019 Zoigl Pacess
2020 Soumrak Titanu Zive Titanic
2021 On Titanic
2021 Existence Is Futile Cradle Of Filth
2022 Cäzilia Inner Fear
2023 Double Time (10th Anniversary) Titanic
2023 Trouble And Their Double Lives Cradle Of Filth
2023 Vresovrenie Lunatic Gods
2023 Live in Brno 2022 (Absolutno MC) Pacess
2024 Vzkriseni Dogma Art

Equipment

Marthus is endorsed by Pearl drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drum sticks, Remo drumheads and Serial Drummer clothing company.

  • Drums -Pearl Reference Series in Twilight Fade
    • 8"×8" Tom
    • 10"×8" Tom
    • 12"×9" Tom
    • 14"×12" Tom
    • 16"×14" Tom
    • 22"×18" Bass Drum (X2)
    • 13"×6.5" Snare Drum
  • CymbalsSabian
    • 21" HH Raw-Bell Dry Ride
    • 13" AAX Fusion HiHats
    • 14" AAX Stage HiHats
    • 19" AAX Dark Crash
    • 18" AAX Metal Crash
    • 17" AAX Rock AAXtreme China
    • 19" AAX Rock AAXtreme China
    • 16" AAX Stage Crash
    • 10" AA China Splash
    • 10" AAX Splash
    • 8" AAX Splash
    • 9" Signature Max Splash
  • DrumheadsRemo
    • Toms – Emperor Clear
    • Bass Drums – Powerstroke
    • Snare – Ambassador Coated
  • Hardware – Pearl And Ddrum
    • Pearl P2000B Pedals
    • Ddrum 4 SE
    • Ddrum Kick Drum Triggers
  • SticksVic Firth's SD4

References