Cephalic Carnage

Last updated

Cephalic Carnage
Cephalic Carnage (3323512100).jpg
Frontman Leonard Leal in 2009
Background information
Origin Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Genres Deathgrind, technical death metal
Years active1992–present
Labels Relapse, Headfucker
Members
  • Leonard Leal
  • John Merryman
  • Steve Goldberg
  • Nick Schendzielos
  • Brian Hopp
Past members
  • Zac Joe
  • Anthony Chavez
  • Tom Clenin
  • Doug Williams
  • Howard Hubbard
  • Jawsh Mullen

Cephalic Carnage is an American deathgrind band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1992. The band comprises vocalist Leonard Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos. Cephalic Carnage has released six studio albums and toured in North America, Europe and Japan.

Contents

Cephalic Carnage play a technically proficient deathgrind style, progressively experiment with other genres, and incorporate songs of joke nature into their albums, such as parodies of black metal or metalcore. They refer themselves as "rocky mountain hydro grind". [1]

History

Conforming to Abnormality and Exploiting Dysfunction (1992–2001)

Cephalic Carnage formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1992 by vocalist Leonard Leal, drummer Anthony Chavez, bassist Tom Clenin, and guitarist Zac Joe. The quartet recorded a demo EP titled Scrape My Lungs in 1993, but then took a break until 1996, when they recruited drummer John Merryman, guitarist Steve Goldberg and bassist Doug Williams. [2] [3] Merryman also collaborated with Secret Chiefs 3. [4] Soon after the reformation, their second demo EP Fortuitous Oddity was released. During 1997, Cephalic Carnage financed its own tour across the United States. [2] [3]

In 1998, the band caught the attention of Italian record label Headfucker Records, which released the band's debut album Conforming to Abnormality that year. Williams left in 1999 and joined Origin. He was replaced by Jawsh Mullen, and the band toured at the Milwaukee Metalfest in 1998, the Dallas Grindfest, the Ohio Deathfest and the Denver Hatefest in 1999. [2] [3]

In 2000, Cephalic Carnage signed to heavy metal record label Relapse Records and released its second album Exploiting Dysfunction , which included a tour with Napalm Death and The Dillinger Escape Plan. [2] [3]

Lucid Interval and Anomalies (2002–2006)

Lucid Interval , the band's third album, was recorded in early 2002 and released in August that year. [2] [3] The band toured a month later in Canada [5] and subsequently in the U.S. with German thrash metal veterans Kreator and Destruction. [3] [6] In May 2003, the band undertook the "North American Contamination" tour alongside Mastodon and others. That September, Cephalic Carnage and Madball supported Hatebreed on the North American "Rise of Brutality" tour. [3]

In September 2004, the band recorded its next album, Anomalies , with producer Dave Otero. Darren Doane directed a promotional music video for "Dying Will Be the Death of Me", [3] which premiered at MTV's Headbangers Ball . [7] The song parodies American metalcore with its music, lyrics and vocals. [8] In March 2005, Anomalies was released, and the band toured in North America once again. [3]

Mullen exited in January 2006 to prioritize his education and other acts, [3] and the band soon found replacement Nick Schendzielos. [9] In March, the band's recording studio was robbed. [10] They played several shows in the United States in April, and an extensive European tour followed in June [3] with Darkest Hour. [11]

Xenosapien (2007–2009)

Guitarist Steve Goldberg in 2009 Cephalic Carnage Steve Goldberg 02.jpg
Guitarist Steve Goldberg in 2009

The band recorded its next studio album between November and December 2006, [9] and its release was set for May 2007 under the title Xenosapien . In March 2007, the band supported Brujeria on U.S. dates [3] and subsequently embarked on "Xenosapien World Tour", [12] which started in continental Europe on May 4, [13] continued in United Kingdom and Ireland in May [3] [13] and resumed in the "Summer Slaughter" trek (dubbed the "Summer's Laughter" by band members) [14] across the U.S. throughout June and July along with Decapitated among others. [3] [12] The band also filmed a music video for the song "Endless Cycle of Violence". [12] On November 20, 2007, the band's van was robbed. Their "recent earnings from the tour (close to $4,000), a laptop with more than $2,000 in music-software programs loaded, an iPod and various personal items" were stolen. [15]

Cephalic Carnage reissued Conforming to Abnormality under Relapse Records on April 29, 2008. They participated in a "mini-tour" of Japan in May 2009, performing in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. [3] In June 2009, Cephalic Carnage, along with Cattle Decapitation and Withered, pulled out of the Blackenedfest tour due to organization problems and said they were "getting on with writing the next full length, (...) as well as finishing construction of our late night poutine stand, where we will serve country-fried giraffe eggs and your favorite French-Canadian specialty." [16] In October 2009, the band released a music video for the song "Vaporized" while writing a new album and announced a planned concert DVD entitled Live at Your Mom's House. [17] [18]

Misled by Certainty (2010–present)

Cephalic Carnage began recording their new album, Misled by Certainty , in May 2010. It was released August 31, 2010 by Relapse Records. [19] They also reissued Lucid Interval on September 13, 2011.

Musical style

AllMusic describes the style of Cephalic Carnage as "crazy concoction of truly experimental grindcore, death metal, and jazz". [2] Their music varies from deathgrind, [20] [21] technical death metal, [22] occasional surf rock, [23] instrumental, to flamenco interludes [24] or violin-and-sax ambient jams. [25] Their early style is typically progressive and technically proficient, with some comedic songs. Their later work developed into a more experimental, [26] complex direction. [24]

Cephalic Carnage is also known for its humorous songs. Popmatters points out some examples: "On past albums, the band has taken satirical swipes at the overtly image-oriented black metal ("Black Metal Sabbath") and the oversaturated, angst-ridden metalcore sound ("Dying Will Be the Death of Me"), and even in live settings, they're not above taking the odd spontaneous piss-take to bring some levity to a situation. One notorious YouTube clip has a fight starting in the pit at a Cephalic show in Toronto, and in an inspired moment, the band launches into a rousing excerpt from "Eye of the Tiger", to a raucous ovation from the kids." [22]

Members

Timeline

Cephalic Carnage

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obituary (band)</span> American death metal band

Obituary is a Florida death metal band formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1984. Initially called Executioner, they were one of the fundamental acts in the development of the death metal genre, and are one of the genre's most successful bands of all time. Obituary has released eleven studio albums, and with the exception of a six-year hiatus from 1997 to 2003, they continue to perform live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Reinert</span> American drummer (1971–2020)

Sean Landon Reinert was an American musician. He was the drummer for the rock band Æon Spoke and the drummer and cofounder of the progressive metal band Cynic along with Paul Masvidal until leaving the band in September 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suffocation (band)</span> American death metal band

Suffocation is an American death metal band formed in 1988 in Centereach, New York, currently consisting of lead guitarist Terrance Hobbs, bassist Derek Boyer, rhythm guitarist Charlie Errigo, drummer Eric Morotti, and vocalist Ricky Myers. The band rose to prominence with their 1991 debut album Effigy of the Forgotten, which became a blueprint for death metal in the 1990s. Since then, Suffocation has recorded eight albums. These feature growled vocals with downtuned guitars, fast and complex guitar riffs and drumming, open chord notes and occasional breakdowns.

<i>Anomalies</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Cephalic Carnage

Anomalies is Cephalic Carnage's fourth full-length album. It was released on Relapse Records. A video was released for the album's single, "Dying Will Be the Death of Me". The song is a parody of American metalcore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Between the Buried and Me</span> American progressive metalcore band

Between the Buried and Me, often abbreviated as BTBAM, is an American progressive metalcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2000, the band consists of Tommy Giles Rogers Jr., Paul Waggoner, Dan Briggs, Dustie Waring (guitar) and Blake Richardson (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Relapse Records</span> American record label

Relapse Records is an American independent record label based in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Origin (band)</span> American technical death metal band

Origin is an American technical death metal band from Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1990 under the monikers Necrotomy and Thee Abomination. They have been recognized by music critics and metal fans alike for combining a harsh sound with a high level of technical skill.

The End were a Canadian mathcore/metalcore band based in Mississauga, Ontario. Their sound has been compared to that of The Dillinger Escape Plan and deathgrind group Discordance Axis, as well as Neurosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burst (band)</span> Swedish metal band

Burst was a Swedish metal band from Kristinehamn, active between 1993 and 2009. They were formed in 1993 by Jesper Liveröd, Linus Jägerskog and Patrik Hultin, with guitarists Robert Reinholdz and Jonas Rydberg joining later. Their label, Relapse Records, labelled them one of Sweden's brightest metal prospects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benighted</span> French deathgrind band

Benighted is a French deathgrind band formed in Saint-Étienne in 1998. The group comprises vocalist Julien Truchan, guitarists Emmanuel Dalle and Fabien "Fack" Desgardins, bassist Pierre Arnoux and drummer Kevin Paradis, Benighted have released nine studio albums.

<i>Conforming to Abnormality</i> 1998 studio album by Cephalic Carnage

Conforming to Abnormality is Cephalic Carnage's first full-length album. It was first released in 1998 on Italy's Headfucker Records. In 2002, the album was re-released on Hybrid Records. In 2006, Subordinate Records from Italy re-released the album without the band's permission on CD and LP. In 2008, the album was remixed, remastered, and repackaged, and had 20 bonus tracks added. This version was released by Relapse Records on April 29, 2008. The bonus tracks come from the band's split with Anal Blast, plus a new song sung by former bassist Jawsh Mullen.

<i>Lucid Interval</i> 2002 studio album by Cephalic Carnage

Lucid Interval is the third full-length album released by Cephalic Carnage. It was released in 2002 via Relapse Records. The album was reissued by Relapse Records with a bonus track on September 13, 2011.

Aletheian are a Christian progressive/melodic death metal band. They formed in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1997 under the name Crutch, and then changed their name to "Aletheian" prior to the 2003 album Apolutrosis. Guitarist Alex Kenis joined Becoming the Archetype in 2007. In the early 2007, Aletheian signed to IronClad Recordings, an imprint of Metal Blade Records.

<i>Xenosapien</i> 2007 studio album by Cephalic Carnage

Xenosapien is the fifth full-length album by Cephalic Carnage. It was released on May 28, 2007, on Relapse Records. "Endless Cycle of Violence" is the first single, and is available on the band's MySpace page. The album has received strong reviews, and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Xenosapien was recorded from December 2006 to February 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devourment</span> American death metal band

Devourment is an American death metal band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1995, the band has split up and reformed three times leaving Brad Fincher as the only original member. The current lineup is Ruben Rosas, Chris Andrews, Dave Spencer and Brad Fincher. The band is currently signed to Relapse Records, and was previously signed to Brutal Bands, United Guttural and Corpse Gristle Records. Devourment has also had albums re-released by other labels.

Man Must Die was a Scottish technical death metal band from Glasgow, formed in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obscura (band)</span> German technical death metal band

Obscura is a German technical death metal band from Landshut, founded by guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer in 2002. The band have released six studio albums, a compilation album and twelve music videos since its formation. Their latest album A Valediction was released on 19 November 2021 via Nuclear Blast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decapitated (band)</span> Polish death metal band

Decapitated is a Polish death metal band formed in Krosno in 1996. The group is composed of guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski, bassist Paweł Pasek and drummer James Stewart. Decapitated are recognized as one of the death metal's most widely respected bands and one of the finest exponents of technical death metal. The band earned an international fan base in the underground music community and became an innovating act in the modern death metal genre.

Antigama is a Polish grindcore band. The band formed in 2000. Antigama has released eight albums, four EPs, and several split records.

<i>Misled by Certainty</i> 2010 studio album by Cephalic Carnage

Misled by Certainty is the sixth studio album by the Colorado-based deathgrind band Cephalic Carnage. It was released on August 31, 2010, through Relapse Records. Misled by Certainty sold 1300 copies in the United States in its first week, appearing at the #24 position on Billboard Heatseekers. This is the first album with Brian Hopp as a guitarist. In support of this album, Cephalic Carnage toured Europe during September and October 2010; for this tour, called the "Initiation of the Misled European Tour 2010", Cephalic Carnage performed alongside Psycroptic, Ion Dissonance, Hour of Penance, and Dyscarnate. Four vlogs of the recording process for this album have been posted online.

References

  1. ↑ Parks, Andrew (April 2005). "Why Be Normal? Cephalic Carnage delivers another delicious dose of hydro-grind with Anomalies". Decibel Magazine.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kevin Odle. "Cephalic Carnage Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Cephalic Carnage Biography". MusicMight. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  4. ↑ "John Merryman". Sick Drummer Magatine. Archived from the original on September 8, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  5. ↑ "December, Cephalic Carnage Lay Canada To Waste - Aug. 16, 2002". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on March 18, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Kreator To Embark on North American Tour - Aug. 8, 2002". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on September 15, 2003. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cephalic Carnage: 'Dying Will Be The Death Of Me' Video To Receive 'Headbanger's Ball' Premiere - Aug. 26, 2005". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  8. ↑ Adrien Begrand. "Cephalic Carnage Xenosapien". PopMatters . Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Cephalic Carnage To Record New Album in November/December - May 31, 2006". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Cephalic Carnage's Recording Studio Robbed, Reward Offered - Mar. 23, 2006". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved July 20, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
    "Cephalic Carnage: New Album Title Announced - Mar. 21, 2007". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Cephalic Carnage Announce European Tour with Darkest Hour, Dead To Fall - June 1, 2006". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 "Cephalic Carnage Completes Work on New Video - May 16, 2007". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  13. 1 2 "Cephalic Carnage: New Album Title Announced - Mar. 21, 2007". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  14. ↑ Stewart-Panko, Kevin (July 2009). "Summer Slaughter Tour, Inside the Carnage". Decibel Magazine.
  15. ↑ "Cephalic Carnage Robbed in Tulsa - Nov. 23, 2007". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Exclusive: The Demise of Blackened Fest". Metal Injection. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  17. ↑ "New video for "Vaporized" on Youtube". MySpace. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Cephalic Carnage: 'Vaporized' Video Released; New DVD In The Works - Oct. 8, 2009". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  19. ↑ Cephalic Carnage Begins Recording New Album - May 14, 2010 Archived May 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , Blabbermouth.net
  20. ↑ Parks, Andrew (July 2007). "Cephalic Carnage Xenosaphien". Decibel Magazine.
  21. ↑ Chris Cusack. "Metal Up Your Ass - February 2009". The Skinny . Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  22. 1 2 Adrien Begrand. "Cephalic Carnage Xenosapien". PopMatters . Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  23. ↑ Lucid Interval review, Exclaim!
  24. 1 2 William York. "Lucid Interval". Allmusic . Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  25. ↑ Clay Jarvis. "Lucid Interval". Stylus Magazine . Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  26. ↑ Greg Pratt. "Cephalic Carnage Conforming to Abnormality". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2008.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.