Soilwork

Born in Wilrijk, Belgium in 1975, Dirk Verbeuren began his musical training in elementary school with the violin which he played proficiently for seven years. His family moved to Paris, France in 1988, where he studied piano and electric guitar. Three years later, in 19...91, Dirk discovered his gift and passion for intricate rhythms on a second-hand drumkit. He immediately began practicing, creating and performing with other musicians. In 1993, Dirk moved to Nancy, France to enroll in an 18-month drum course at the Music Academy International (MAI). He formed SCARVE in October of the same year with guitarist Patrick Martin. After showcasing his talent during masterclasses alongside guitar virtuoso MANU LIVERTOUT, Dirk became a drum teacher at the MAI. In the following years, he recorded and toured with bands such as ARTSONIC and HEADLINE, and was sought out by Tama Drums to become an endorsee. SCARVE put out their 1st label release Translucence in 2000. Simultaneously, Dirk became a highly demanded session drummer, working with several renowned metal acts including LYZANXIA. Two years later, SCARVE signed to Listenable Records and toured Europe alongside NILE in support of their 2nd CD Luminiferous. Dirk went on to record and perform with artists such as ABORTED, MORTUARY, YYRKOON and EOSTENEM among others. In 2004, Dirk was requested as SOILWORK’s session drummer while still active with SCARVE’s 3rd album Irradiant. He toured extensively with both bands, including tours in Japan and Australia, famous festivals such as Ozzfest and a handpicked direct support for MESHUGGAH. Dirk then recorded drums for SOILWORK’s Stabbing The Drama, released in 2005. He subsequently signed with Meinl Cymbals and recorded with PHAZE I, INFINITED HATE and NO RETURN. In December 2005, he proudly accepted to join SOILWORK as their permanent drummer. A few months later, in the Winter of 2006, Dirk recorded drums for SCARVE’s 4th CD The Undercurrent, and did session work for SYBREED and SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION. He also put down drum tracks for the NUCLEAR BLAST ALLSTARS Out Of The Dark album written and produced by SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers. In 2007, Dirk recorded SOILWORK’s 7th album, Sworn To A Great Divide, released in October. He collaborated again with Peter Wichers on NEVERMORE vocalist WARREL DANE's solo album Praises To The War Machine, and recorded ONE-WAY MIRROR's debut, featuring members of MNEMIC, SCARVE and LYZANXIA. Dirk toured extensively with SOILWORK and ONE-WAY MIRROR throughout the following year, and kicked off 2009 with an Evans Drumheads endorsement as well as a 2-month long SOILWORK North American headlining tour. In April, Dirk recorded with famed drummer Nir Z for Toontrack's The Metal Foundry drum sampling software, which he subsequently demoed at the London International Music Show. He's currently writing new music with both SOILWORK and SCARVE, and preparing his first-ever drumming DVD, to be shot later this year.