Deadbird

Originally formed in 2002 by brothers Chuck (vocals/guitars) and Philip Schaaf (drums), Deadbird is an adventurous doom/sludge band from Fayetteville, AR, that also dabbles in hardcore, death, and progressive metal elements, as evidenced on their 2005 debut, The Head and the Heart. The album also featured guitarist/vocalist Alan Short and bassist Todd Bohannon, both of whom would leave during the recording of Deadbird's sophomore effort in late 2006, delaying the process by over a year as the Schaafs sought and eventually found replacements in guitarist Jay Minish and bassist/vocalist Reid Raley. Coincidentally, the latter is also a full-time member of Arkansas' chicken-fried prog-sludge top dogs, Rwake — a band Chuck Schaaf was briefly involved with himself in 2002 — therefore eliciting frequent (and not incorrect) comparisons between the two bands' sounds, although Deadbird's compositional talents more than justify their existence.