Smyth was born in
Northern California and started his career in the female-fronted five-piece
melodic death metal band Ariah in 1988. Ariah never released an official studio album, but they recorded a few demos and played local shows. Ariah disbanded in 1992. so Testament were in want of a new guitarist for the forthcoming tour. In the next five years, Smyth toured with Testament all around the globe and played uncountable shows as a member of the band, although he never recorded and album with them. On the other hand, Smyth formed the band
Dragonlord as a side project with guitarist
Eric Peterson and bassist
Steve Di Giorgio of Testament in 2000. This
symphonic black metal outfit have released two albums:
Rapture (2001) and
Black Wings of Destiny (2005).
Seattle-based
Nevermore had been friends with Smyth prior to his joining of the band. Initially jokingly, he asked if he could join Nevermore. He joined Nevermore as a touring guitarist, and in 2004, Smyth officially joined the band after helping them tour in Europe. He played guitar in the band along with
Jeff Loomis and co-wrote some songs on the critically acclaimed album
This Godless Endeavor (2005). On April 30, 2006, Smyth released a message explaining to fans that he has been diagnosed with
kidney failure due to a
congenital birth defect. Updates followed on May 30, June 3, and August 9, 2006, on his official website. On December 12, 2006, Smyth had a successful
kidney transplantation. Smyth guest starred as Snazz of Pickles' former band Snakes n' Barrels in two episodes of
Metalocalypse. In the summer of 2007, Smyth left Nevermore due to "personal and business differences". At that time he was working on an
all-instrumental album in the vein of
progressive rock with his former Ariah bandmate and bassist Steve Hoffman. This side project was named "EssenEss" after their same first names, as a transcription of S'n'S (Steve and Steve). Self-titled
The EssenEss Project debut album released on November 5, 2007. Smyth currently is teaching at the London Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and is now a member of
Forbidden. Steve started an international metal band with classic and modern influences, featuring members carefully selected by Smyth: Mikkel Sandager (Mercenary) on vocals, Jamie Hunt (Biomechanical) sharing guitar duties, rounded out by a powerhouse rhythm section with Tomas "O'Beast" Koefoed (
Mnemic) on bass guitar and Michele Sanna on drums (although former drummer Raphael Saini of Italian band Chaoswave played on the album). Their debut album
The Distortion of Lies and the Overdriven Truth was released on February 18, 2014, via Scarlet Records. The CD was recorded and produced by Steve Smyth and was mixed by Roy Z (
Judas Priest,
Bruce Dickinson,
Halford). It was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music, with artwork created by Niklas Sundin from Cabin Fever Media, complemented with photography from Anthony Dubois. In 2014, Smyth joined the
thrash/
death metal supergroup From Hell alongside Damien Sisson of
Death Angel and
Paul Bostaph of
Slayer. Their debut album
Ascent from Hell was released on April 8, 2014, via Scourge Records. ==Discography==