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 orchestrations 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...:: Masterplan taps Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka (Cradle of Filth drummer) for new album ::..
Discography
YearTitleBand1996Animal FarmAnimal Farm1996Pink Chubby CigarPink Chubby Cigar1997Defenders of the LawScharnhorst1997Pilgrims of ParadisePluggulp1997Delusive EyesInner Fear1997New Hi-TechHappy Death1999Altering the TechnologyHappy Death1999Face of Inner ApocalypsaInner Fear1999Black VeinEntrails1999Serpent SeedEntrails2000Tribute to Master's HammerEntrails2000AkhuInner Fear2001Odeum of SilenceInner Fear2002ThanalogyInner Fear2003SymbiotryInner Fear2004Lost ManGalactic Industry2008Voice from the SilenceSymphonity2008Godspeed on the Devil's ThunderCradle of Filth2010Darkly, Darkly, Venus AversaCradle of Filth2011Evermore DarklyCradle of Filth2012First Born FearInner Fear2012Metal Celebration Live 2011 DVDTitanic2012The Manticore and Other HorrorsCradle of Filth2013Best of Fuck Off!!!Kryptor2013Double TimeTitanic2013Novum InitiumMasterplan2015Dark Chambers of Déjà VuSebastien2015Keep Your Dream aLiveMasterplan2015Hammer of the WitchesCradle of Filth2016Metalovej Svátek Živě/Live 2015Titanic2016King Of PersiaSymphonity2017Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of DecayCradle Of Filth2018TuriecLunatic Gods2018Soumrak TitanuTitanic2019ZoiglPacess2020Soumrak Titanu ZiveTitanic2021OnTitanic2021Existence Is FutileCradle Of Filth2022CäziliaInner Fear2023Double Time (10th Anniversary)Titanic2023Trouble And Their Double LivesCradle Of Filth2023VresovrenieLunatic Gods2023Live in Brno 2022 (Absolutno MC)Pacess2024VzkriseniDogma Art2025The Screaming of the ValkyriesCradle of Filth2025Beyond OlympusSymphonity2026Katechi2musPacess & Bara Basikova (producer & all the keyboards)
References
External links
Official Marthus Website Official Cradle Of Filth Website Official Masterplan Website Official Inner Fear Website Official Titanic (heavy metal Brno) Website Official Symphonity Website Official Happy Death Website Official Entrails Website