Mike Heller

Mike Heller
Background information
Born	January 17, 1982[1] Brooklyn, New York
Genres	Technical death metal, jazz, funk, Latin, pop, rock, heavy metal, industrial metal, death metal, groove metal, alternative metal
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums
Years active	2002–present[2]
Associated acts	Malignancy, Fear Factory, System Divide, We of Worms, Control/Resist[1]

Mike Heller (born January 17, 1982) originally from Brooklyn, New York, is a drummer in bands including industrial metal group Fear Factory and technical death metal band Malignancy.^[3] Mike also formed the band System Divide^[4] and is a session drummer with credits in many genres.^[2]

Biography

Heller studied the drums at the Collective School of Music in New York City.^[5] He traces his musical and drumming influences across many genres, including gospel, Latin jazz, and funk.^[2] He has been known to incorporate these styles into his death metal compositions,^[6] although they can be difficult to recognize when played at death metal tempos. Mike teaches current and aspiring extreme metal drummers^[7][8] and writes columns for Sick Drummer Magazine.^[9] He is known as a talented linear player,^[4] a style which involves the use of two or more limbs, with no two limbs playing at the same time.^[9] Mike plays session drums^[10] and has collaborated with artists in many disparate styles.^[8] He joined the Yonkers, NY-based technical death metal band Malignancy in 2003, replacing Roger J. Beaujard. In 2008, he started the band System Divide with Aborted vocalist Sven de Caluwé and ex-Distorted vocalist Miri Milman. Mike joined Fear Factory in 2012 after the departure of Gene Hoglan.^[4][11][12]

Discography

Heller performing with Fear Factory in 2013

Fear Factory

• Genexus (2015)

Malignancy

• Inhuman Grotesqueries (2007)
• Eugenics (2012)
• Epilogue (2014)

Ol Drake

• Old Rake (2015)

Gorepunch

• Give Em Hell (2015)

Control/Resist

• Gods By Design (EP) (2014)

System Divide

• The Collapse (EP) (2009)
• The Conscious Sedation (2010)
• Ephemera (2012)

Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky

• The Grand Partition, and the Abrogation of Idolatry (2009)

Secrets She Kept

• Le Fin Absolue du Monde (2011)

Kalopsia

• Death Starts the Horror (2011)
• Amongst the Ruins (2012)

Zillah

• Not All of Me Shall Die / Man Son of Swine (2011)

Azure Emote

• The Gravity of Impermanence (2013)

The Cosmos

• Imbecile (2013)

Mike has also recorded in the studio with bands/artists including Abigail Williams, Excommunicated, Edei, Ryann, Measure, Control/Resist, Razorcult, Chikatillo, Pseudo Supremacy, Hollow, Death Dealer, and Cryosaur among others.^[8]

References

1. "Mike Heller". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
2. "Mike Heller". Sick Drummer Magazine. October 6, 2007. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
3. "Mike Heller – Malignancy – Rehearsal Drum Cam". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
4. "Mike Heller Confirmed As New Fear Factory Drummer". Sick Drummer Magazine. April 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
5. "The Collective | New York City Music Institution | College | The Collective School of Music". Thecollective.edu. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
6. "SWWAATS in Studio, Episode 2". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
7. "Mike Pistone – OKOSU – Carrion Feeders". YouTube. February 6, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
8. "Sick Drummer Magazine – NAMM 2011 – Mike Heller Interview". YouTube. January 20, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
9. "SDM Lesson: Linear Drumming In a Death Metal Context". Sick Drummer Magazine. January 22, 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
10. "Mike Heller Drums". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
11. "An Interview With Fear Factory". Tone Deaf Network. June 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
12. "Interview: Fear Factory Guitarist Dino Cazares Discusses Making 'The Industrialist,' Lineup Changes and Gear". Guitar World. May 16, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-04.