Martin Marthus Škaroupka

Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka (born 20 January 1981) is a Czech heavy metal drummer. He is a member and songwriter in British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.

Since he was 6, Martin started attending piano and singing lessons at LŠU Brno (attendance until 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 15 years old, he was admitted to Leoš Janáček Conservatory Brno, where he graduated in drums and as an additional instrument – piano.

Marthus began playing with various bands of various music styles when he was 15 (1996). In the same year, his first studio enterprise is released (band Animal Farm), which is followed by another studio CD with band Pink Chubby Cigar.

In 1997 Marthus and his long-time friend Khaablus founded the band Inner Fear, where Marthus is responsible for all compositions, keyboards and drums. In the same year the first demo came out and until 2003 two more mini-CDs and three full-length albums (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 minitour (2000), in a project of Root singer Jiří "Big Boss" Valter, BigBoss and in 1999 recording CD of project Entrails (where he meets Root guitar player, Petr "Blackie" Hošek).

In the beginning of 2001, Marthus took place on drummer-stool in Pandemia, setting out on a spring European tour, after which the cooperation is finished.

In summer 2004 Marthus filmed his first drumming DVD and moved from Czech Republic to England.

In autumn 2004 Marthus joined English band Mantas (legendary Venom guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn) and in summer 2005 started his cooperation 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 heavy metal band Cradle of Filth, replacing Adrian Erlandsson.

On 1 July 2012 it was announced that Marthus would join melodic power metal band Masterplan.

Marthus is also a songwriter and keyboard player. He also wrote and recorded all the keyboards and orchestrations on the Cradle of Filth albums 'Manticore and The Other Horrors' and 'Hammer Of The Witches'.

Marthus is endorsed by Pearl drums, Sabian Cymbals and Vic firth sticks.

• Drums -Pearl Reference Series in Twilight Fade
  • 8"×8" Tom
  • 10"×8" Tom
  • 12"×9" Tom
  • 14"×12" Tom
  • 16"×14" Tom
  • 22"×18" Bass Drum (X2)
  • 13"×6.5" Snare Drum
• Cymbals – Sabian
  • 21" HH Raw-Bell Dry Ride
  • 13" AAX Fusion HiHats
  • 14" AAX Stage HiHats
  • 19" AAX Dark Crash
  • 18" AAX Metal Crash
  • 17" AAX Rock AAXtreme China
  • 19" AAX Rock AAXtreme China
  • 16" AAX Stage Crash
  • 10" AA China Splash
  • 10" AAX Splash
  • 8" AAX Splash
  • 9" Signature Max Splash
• Drumheads – Remo
  • Toms – Emperor Clear
  • Bass Drums – Powerstroke
  • Snare – Ambassador Coated
• Hardware – Pearl And Ddrum
  • Pearl P2000B Pedals
  • Ddrum 4 SE
  • Ddrum Kick Drum Triggers
• Sticks – Vic Firth's SD4

Marthus often utilizes blast beats and large amounts of double bass in his playing. Marthus is known primarily for his excellent double bass articulation, speed, and control, as well as creative and often unorthodox cymbal applications.