Toehider sounds like a one-man Broadway production staged inside a heavy metal arena. It is a kaleidoscopic explosion of sound where Queen-inspired vocal harmonies collide with technical thrash riffs, folk-tinged acoustic passages, and synth-pop hooks. Michael Mills possesses a voice that seems to defy physics, soaring from a gritty baritone to a glass-shattering falsetto with effortless precision, often layered into a massive wall of sound that feels both intimate and cosmic.
What truly sets the project apart is its fearless embrace of the absurd. While many progressive acts lean into dour complexity, Toehider treats musical virtuosity as a playground. Whether it is a concept album about robots or a collection of fake cartoon theme songs, the music is characterized by a restless creative energy and a genuine sense of humor. The collaboration with illustrator Andrew Saltmarsh adds a visual dimension that makes the entire discography feel like a living, breathing comic book universe.
For the uninitiated, 'I LIKE IT!' is a perfect entry point, showcasing the project's ability to craft catchy, high-energy anthems without sacrificing technical depth. If you want to see how far the rabbit hole goes, dive into the 47-minute epic 'I Have Little to No Memory of These Memories,' which serves as a masterclass in long-form composition and vocal storytelling.
Toehider are a progressive rock band from Melbourne, Australia that also identifies as a "collab project between musician and illustrator". Their influences include progressive rock, pop, hard rock, metal and folk. Toehider was founded in 2008 by Michael Mills (the musician) and Andrew Saltmarsh (the illustrator). After the release of their debut EP Toe Hider in the same year, another twelve EPs were released from May 2009 to April 2010 as part of a 12in12 project, in which the release took place on the twelfth of each month for twelve consecutive months. During these recordings, the band experimented with different styles of music. The EPs were each provided with cover artwork and a 2-page comic by Andrew Saltmarsh (also known by his nickname, "Salt" or "Salty"). In 2011 the debut album To Hide Her was released, and in 2012 an EP Children of the Sun Part 2. The band's second album What Kind of Creature Am I? was released in 2014. In 2015 the EP Mainly Songs About Robots was recorded with Vinny Appice on drums and released in September of the same year. The album I LIKE IT! was released in 2020, consisting of selected songs from a list of demos voted by the fans to be recorded for the album. Mastermind Michael Mills has guest-starred as a singer on the Ayreon albums The Theory of Everything, Transitus, and The Source, as well as on the live project Ayreon Universe.
Shares maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style); progressive metal, progressive rock (subgenres)
Shares studio polished, maximalist, layered dense (production style); playful, triumphant, energetic (moods)
Shares maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style); progressive rock, hard rock (subgenres)
Shares playful, triumphant, restless (moods); maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares progressive rock, art pop, hard rock (subgenres); maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares playful, triumphant, restless (moods); maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style); playful, triumphant, energetic (moods)
Shares maximalist, studio polished, layered dense (production style); triumphant, playful, energetic (moods)
Shares triumphant, playful, energetic (moods); maximalist, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares art pop, theatrical, hard rock, falsetto (signature)
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