The Handshake Murders

The Handshake Murders was an American mathcore and metalcore band from Fort Smith, Arkansas. It included many members from Eso-Charis and Norma Jean. When Eso-Charis, disbanded, Holmes made The Handshake Murders full-time. The band has released one full-length album, and two EPs.^[3] The band has been compared to Coalesce, Meshuggah, Opeth, and A Life Once Lost.^[3][4] After 10 years of being active, the band broke-up.^[6]

The Handshake Murders
Origin	Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres	Mathcore[1] metalcore[1] sludgecore[2] death metal[3][4]
Years active	2000–2011
Labels	Goodfellow[5]
Spinoff of	Eso-Charis, Norma Jean
Past members	Jayson Holmes John Ridenour Brian Evans Jeff Hickey Cory Brandan Putman Daniel Wiggins Bryce Lucien Jeff King Brandon Rogers Keith Baskett

Members

• Jayson Holmes – vocals (ex-Eso-Charis) (2000–2011)
• Brian Evans – guitar (2002–2011)
• John Ridenour – guitar (2001–2010)
• Cory Brandan Putman – guitar (ex-Eso-Charis, ex-Living Sacrifice, Norma Jean)
• Jeremy Joplin – guitar (2000-2003)
• Bryce Lucien – guitar (2008–2011)
• Jeff Hickey – guitar, bass (Norma Jean) (2000–2008)
• Brandon Rogers – guitar, bass (2009–2011)
• Keith Baskett – bass (2008–2009)
• Daniel "Dan" Wiggins – drums (2000–2008)
• Jeff King – drums (2008–2011)

Discography

Studio albums

• Usurper^[1][7][8]

EPs

• Bury the Effigy (2002)
• Essays in the Progression of Man (2005)

Compilation appearances

• "Messenger" on End Times, released through Goodfellow Records

References

1. Bowar, Chad. "Usurper review". About.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
2. Bergman, Keith. "The Handshake Murders – Usurper". Blabbermouth.net.
3. "The Handshake Murders biography on AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
4. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "AllMusic review of Usurper". AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
5. THE HANDSHAKE MURDERS Sign With GOODFELLOW RECORDS at Blabbermouth.net on May 3, 2006
6. "The Handshake Murders break up". Lambgoat.com. October 6, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
7. Deneau, Max (February 14, 2007). "The Handshake Murders – Usurper review". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
8. "Usurper review". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2015.