The Surprising Career Jacksepticeye Pursued Before YouTube

For every YouTuber who has chased their dreams with single-minded determination from the very start, there are just as many (if not more) who followed a different path before they began broadcasting to the masses. Seán "Jacksepticeye" McLoughlin is an example of the latter, as he originally pursued a very different passion before becoming known for his high energy "let's play" videos and charity streams. While some of his longtime fans may be aware of his musically-minded side, newcomers to his channel may be surprised to learn that Jacksepticeye is quite an impressive drummer — particularly when it comes to heavier music.

Sure, Jacksepticeye has entertained viewers on several occasions with drum covers of popular metal songs, but these videos are not the only time he's made public use of this talent. In the early 2000s, before his rise to fame on YouTube, Seán McLoughlin was the drummer for a melodic death metal band called Raised to the Ground. According to information gleaned by some of Jacksepticeye's fans, the band's unusual name may have been chosen as a winking nod to Reaper, a band to which some of Raised to the Ground's members had previously belonged. In its short time together, the Irish metal band put out a single EP called "Risen from the Ashes." 

Released by now-defunct indie label Death Cap (not to be confused with Death Cab), Raised to the Ground's EP featured four songs that showed off the band's aggressive sound. The album is full of melancholy lyrics, blistering guitars, heavy riffs, and the intense drumming technique that Jacksepticeye fans have come to know and love. 

A review posted to Sputnik Music gave particular props to Jacksepticeye's skills: "McLoughlin's drums drive the pace and energy of the music – going from fast paced insanity on 'Spit It Out' to chugging and menacing on 'Your Freedom, My Burden' ... There's no doubt that these guys were capable songwriters and musicians." The reviewer only had a few minor knocks against the EP to note, pointing out that frontman Conan Heffernan's clean vocals are noticeably stronger than his guttural screams and that a couple of the songs could be strengthened by at least one guitar solo. 

Overall, however, Jacksepticeye fans have welcomed this different side of their favorite YouTuber with open arms, even if it's not the kind of music they'd normally listen to. It's difficult to find a physical copy of the EP these days (although Jacksepticeye apparently has dozens of copies somewhere in his house). Thankfully for curious fans, all four songs have been uploaded to Spotify within the last few years. After years of listening to bootleg rips uploaded to the internet, fans finally have access to a streaming version with higher-fidelity sound. To this day, some fans can't help but wonder what could have been. "I'm glad he stopped playing music to be on YouTube but if I were him I would have kept making music," remarked one Redditor.

The band doesn't tend to be a regular topic of conversation, but Jacksepticeye has touched on his past with Raised to the Ground on a few occasions. Most notably, the group came up when a fan posted an old promo photo of the band on social media. Jacksepticeye was clearly overtaken by nostalgia, explaining this chapter of his life for the uninitiated.

"I played the f***ing s*** out of those drums," Jacksepticeye quipped. "Those were good times. I do not regret a single moment of any of those days ... I had a great time with all of my friends. We had some pretty decent music for our age and our time and our friend groups, because no one else was really playing heavy metal music, and the stuff they were playing was not nearly as good as the stuff we made." According to Jacksepticeye, he still keeps in touch with some of his old bandmates, who were his childhood best friends.

Raised to the Ground's sole EP has become an interesting curiosity for the YouTuber's fans in the present day. Every once in a while, Jacksepticeye's followers will reach out on social media to ask him if he's ever considered getting the band back together or doing a giveaway of the group's old CD. Jacksepticeye seemingly has not weighed in on any of these comments, but who knows? Wilder reunions have happened. Maybe one day, Jacksepticeye's fans will be able to tune in and see him smashing away at the drums with his buddies, just like in the good ol' days.