| Matt Fox | |
| Birth Name: | Matthew Ian Fox |
| Alias: | The World Devourer (on The Fall of Every Man) |
| Birth Date: | 28 April 1973 |
| Birth Place: | Smithtown, New York, U.S. |
| Origin: | Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Instrument: | Guitar, bass, drums |
| Genre: | Hardcore punk, progressive metal, metalcore, crossover thrash, horror hardcore, ska punk |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter |
| Years Active: | 1990 - present |
| Associated Acts: | Shai Hulud, Zombie Apocalypse, Strongarm, New Found Glory, Merauder |
Matthew Ian Fox (born April 28, 1973) is an American musician, founding member and a current lead guitarist for the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud and his side project Zombie Apocalypse.
Fox writes most of Shai Hulud's musical and lyrical output. He has also played guitar in many other rock bands, like Planet X, The Murrychesstoes, The One Eyed Kings, Unwillful Demise, S.F.B and Bingo Mut.[1] [2]
Fox is credited with popularising the "metalcore" term in the late 1990s/early 2000s, identifying bands like Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity as metalcore bands,[3] even calling Shai Hulud a metalcore band back then as a tongue-in-cheek term with his friends. However, in some interviews, he has stated that he no longer considers Shai Hulud a metalcore band, since the term "has lost its original meaning", i.e. hardcore bands with a "heavier" sound. Fox called the genre "trite" and "shallow music", "made by people that imitate it rather than love it".[4] As of 2015, he refers to Shai Hulud's sound as "Shai Hulud Unincorporated".
In 1999, Fox founded the independent record label Ides of March, releasing music by bands like Glasseater, Brother's Keeper, Destro and Poison the Well. Fox secured an exclusive distribution deal through Revelation Records, to which his band Shai Hulud was already signed. Ides of March was originally scheduled to release Shai Hulud side-projects like A New Found Glory, Boddicker and re-issues of obscure Shai Hulud material, but shifted instead to releasing music by close friends. In early 2003, after having put out twelve releases as Ides of March, Fox changed the name of the record label to At Dawn We Wage War, announcing the release of a Shai Hulud compilation. The label however only released a handful of things under the new name and by 2005, it had faded out. The Shai Hulud compilation evolved into , which was eventually co-released by At Dawn We Wage War and Revelation Records in January 2005.
Although Fox practices a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle, he is not part of the straight edge movement, as stated in many interviews.[5]
Fox's favorite group is the thrash metal band Metallica.[6] He also has been influenced by many other hardcore punk, metallic hardcore, thrash metal, punk rock and progressive metal bands.
Fox has stated that he suffers from coulrophobia, a fear of clowns.[7] Fox also has an extreme love for the Muppets, stating that Kermit is his favorite.[5] [8]
See main article: Shai Hulud discography.