Harold

The Origins and Evolution of Harold

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In 1991, two high school guitarists, DM and ML, from Oshawa, Ontario, set out to form a Thrash Metal band despite their limited ability to play the genre. Inspired by established thrash musicians, they recruited drummer EI(S) and bassist/vocalist MM—friends from their junior high school years—to round out the lineup. All four were still learning their instruments, and weekend jam sessions became a ritual in EI(S)’s basement.

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As time went on, a fifth member, AL, joined the group, and they adopted the name Infestation, attempting to write original material. Two early compositions, Summerland (Beyond) and Deglutition of Defecation, emerged—youthful, unpolished, and full of imagination. One riff from AL would later find its way into Harold’s track Pyrogenics, a heavy opener that could have led off an album had Harold ever recorded one.

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Over time, an alliance formed between DM and EI(S), both eager to carve out a path in the music industry. While EI(S) eventually found success in film and music, DM faded into obscurity before resurfacing as an underground, solitary artist. The lineup shifted again—guitarist AL and bassist/vocalist MM departed, and guitarist WZ joined, alongside EI(S) and DM, who had switched to bass.

With this new formation, the band took on the name Harold, inspired by DM’s red-eared turtle—named after Primus’ Harold of the Rocks. The turtle still lives today with another family. The band even joked about creating a "religion of Harold," led by a turtle who would be seen as some sort of schizophrenic prophet, though this remained a playful idea.

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Harold’s Active Years (1993)

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By 1993, Harold held regular jam sessions at EI(S)’s and ML’s houses, with a fifth member, SS, joining as guitarist. Song writing gained momentum, though all tracks remained instrumentals, as no one stepped up to sing. One standout composition, Ecstasies, written on bass by DM, evolved into a sprawling track ranging from five to twenty minutes. A version featuring two bass guitars (DM & SS) was submitted for inclusion on “Dysfunctional Blender: A Durham Regional Compilation of Local Talent”. The compilation captured a changing Durham Region scene, which was shifting from Heavy Metal and Death Metal toward the dominance of Grunge. Harold, however, existed on the fringes of this movement.

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ML, now drawn to Grunge, lost interest, and the band decided to move forward without him. Ecstasies was performed before a small crowd at a Death Metal show—eliciting smirks from the audience. Harold also appeared at Lozerpalooza, a local festival parodying Lollapalooza, playing a brief 15-minute, three-song set. EI(S) had traveled to Switzerland, so Harold performed as a trio, with SS handling drums.

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Momentum was building—Harold had a track out on a compilation and prospects of further shows, and a plan to play at Durham Region’s infamous Pizza Pinos (a rite of passage for local bands) in Ajax. However, internal shifts soon led to decline. Rehearsals became infrequent, mirroring ML’s earlier disengagement. DM eventually found himself pushed out as the remaining members formed a new band, effectively marking Harold’s end.

Harold’s Legacy and Later Collaborations

Years later, in the 2000s, EI(S) and DM reunited, collaborating on early iterations of the band Omniman. Now listed like on Pharaonic Kings lists, Omniman existed in two phases—Omniman I (EI(S)-driven material) and Omniman II (DM’s independent work). DM also collaborated with SS on the first Irama Gema record.