NOW PLAYING : Get With It - Human Waste Project

From left to right: Scott Ellis, Aimee Echo, Mike Tempesta, Jeff Schartoff

Human Waste Project was an alternative metal/numetal band formed in the early 90s by bassist Jeff Schartoff, the remaining lineup including vocalist Aimee Echo, guitarist Mike Tempesta, and drummer Scott Ellis. When questioned about the band's name Schartoff stated "If you watch the news and really analyze it, it's all bad news. That's basically what the name is about."

Human Waste Project's single "Powerstrip" released in 1997 with somewhat mediorce reception. Their first (and only) album "E-lux" (originally titled "Electralux"), after many delays, released the same year with an astoundingly positive preformance - the music was new and unique; no one could quite fit it into a single genre. Aimee Echo's vocals stood out from other female vocalists of the time. With E-lux began the growth of the bands popularity and media prescence; which later they would find was short lived.

Cover of HWP's "Powerstrip" Single

Cover of HWP's debut album "E-lux"

Due to the unique nature of their music (and possibly their association with bands in the genre), Human Waste Project was commercially categorized as numetal, although the band themselves would label their sound as "professional murder music".

Despite not having the typical sound associated with the numetal genre, the band became a notable part of the scene during their activity; opening for and touring with popular bands such as Korn, Deftones, Snot, Tura Santana, and more - this plethora of connections likely due to frontwoman Aimee Echo's friendship with Jonathan Davis prior to Human Waste Project's formation (fun fact she used to work at a piercing shop and did his eyebrow piercings!) , as well the band's association with Ross Robinson, producer of many popular numetal albums.

Aimee Echo with Jon Davis (Korn)

Aimee Echo and Dez Fafara (Coal Chamber)

If it seems like I'm talking about Aimee a lot it's because she totes my bias. Half joking. But Aimee Echo defitenly carried the band in media/stage prescence - very eccentric on stage, and most often featured in magazines or interviews relating to the band... and she's the frontwoman of course. Aimee was also friends with members from other bands like Tairrie B, Dez Fafara, Rayna Foss, and Jonathan Davis :D (previously mentioned).

Aimee Echo for Metal Hammer

Aimee Echo and Tairrie B being FREAKS!!!

Anyways, if it wasn't evident already, Human Waste Project split up soon after the release of E-Lux. This was unfortunate, but happened for a variety of reasons including the dwindling success and popularity of their preexisting music, differing interests between members of the band, and the bands divorce from their previous record label. Aimee Echo also highly disliked being grouped in with numetal and heavy metal acts, and that scene just wasn't as interested in their music. Aimee eventually announced she no longer wanted to be a part of Human Waste Project, and despite her band members insisting it was a poor choice, Human Waste Project disbanded in 1998.

All band members went on to seperate musical ventures though. Aimee Echo and Scott Ellis formed Hero, which later turned into TheSTART, Jeff Schartoff formed the band Professional Murder Music, and Mike Tempesta went on to join Powerman5000.