Origin (band)

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Origin
Origin au Grillen.jpg
Origin performing in 2014
Background information
Also known asNecrotomy (1990-1993), Thee Abomination (1993-1997)
Origin Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
Genres Technical death metal
Years active1990–present
Labels Relapse, Nuclear Blast, Agonia
MembersPaul Ryan
Mike Flores
John Longstreth
Jason Keyser
Past membersJeremy Turner
George Fluke
James King
Doug Williams
Clint Appelhanz
Mark Manning
James Lee
Mica Meneke

Origin is an American technical death metal band from Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1990. [1] They have been noted for their technical skill [2] [3] [4] and use of blast beats, [5] arpeggios and sweep picking on guitars and bass. [4] Their songs often have odd time signatures. [5] In 2008, the band broke through in the United States with the release of their fourth studio album, Antithesis , which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. [6] [7]

Contents

History

Beginnings

Kansas natives Paul Ryan and Jeremy Turner formed Origin in 1990. The two formed a death metal band with the goal of making music as technically proficient as possible. The band was known as Necrotomy from 1990 to 1993, then changed their name to Thee Abomination. These bands did not capture the sound they were seeking. In October 1997, bassist Clint Appelhanz and vocalist Mark Manning joined, followed by drummer George Fluke in January 1998. The band members decided to tour as Origin. [1]

On May 23, 1998, Origin opened for Suffocation. That summer, Origin recorded a four-song, self-financed, self-distributed demo, A Coming Into Existence. In October, the band secured an opening slot on the Death Across America Tour, which also featured Nile, Cryptopsy, Oppressor and Gorguts. [1]

In February 1999, George Fluke was replaced with John Longstreth and Doug Williams replaced Clint Appelhanz. This new lineup secured a show with Napalm Death on April 14. Several other regional shows followed, including a spot at the November to Dismember Metalfest in Texas. On December 16, Origin signed to Relapse Records. [1]

Debut album

On July 11, 2000, Origin released its first studio album, Origin . [1] Origin played the March Metal Meltdown in New Jersey and was invited to Contaminated 2000. They shared the stage with Exhumed and Cephalic Carnage, and participated in another November to December in California. Origin joined Poland's Vader, along with Cephalic Carnage and Dying Fetus, for the Death Across America 2000 Tour. [1] Soon after, Origin embarked on another tour, this time with Candiria, Cryptopsy and Poison the Well. They made another Milwaukee Metalfest appearance in 2001, and participated in Summer Slaughter that year. Origin secured a headline tour before beginning work on another album. The result, Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas , introduced two new members, James Lee on vocals and Mike Flores on bass guitar. [1]

Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas

The band's second album, Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas, was produced by the band with Colin E. Davis at Studio One in Racine, Wisconsin. Immediately following its release, Origin went on a summer metal tour with Nile, Arch Enemy and Hate Eternal. Following the tour, Jeremy Turner resigned from the band and Clint Appelhanz (this time playing guitar instead of bass) returned. Origin toured with Immolation, Vader, and The Berzerker, followed by another tour with All That Remains, Scar Culture and Crematorium. Origin had to cancel the tour with Nuclear Assault in January 2003. Shortly thereafter, John Longstreth resigned from the band. James King replaced him. [1]

The band played its first show with the new line-up in September 2003 in Topeka, Kansas. At the concert, they shot a music video for the song "Portal", from Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas. The band landed a headlining west coast tour in January 2004 with Uphill Battle. In the summer, Origin toured the Midwest, playing the Milwaukee Metalfest 2004 and The Texas Death and Grindfest with Soilent Green and Kill the Client. [1]

Echoes of Decimation

On March 15, 2005, [8] Origin released Echoes of Decimation , its third studio album. [9] Fan reaction was mixed. A review in the student newspaper of Metropolitan Community College-Longview in Kansas City called it monotonous, yet nonetheless impressive due to the band members' instrumental prowess. [4]

Numerous United States tours followed, including headlining performances at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and Ohio Deathfest. The band joined Malevolent Creation and Animosity for a summer North American tour that was sold out at many venues. The tour for Origin was 52 days long, and only three shows were cancelled. [1]

In early 2006, James King and Clint Appelhanz left Origin and joined death metal/grindcore group Unmerciful with Jeremy Turner and Tony Reust. In April, John Longstreth returned to Origin, and in May, the band played their first European show. [10] They embarked on another summer headlining tour across North America, with Paul Ryan performing all guitar parts. [1]

Antithesis

In February and March 2007, Origin played in Europe with Misery Index, Necrophagist, and Diskreet. After this tour, Turner rejoined Origin and the band began to work on its next album. [11] They finished recording in February 2008, [12] and the resulting album, Antithesis , was released April 1, 2008, [2] and peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. [6] [7] The band released a music video for the song "Finite" on May 23, 2008. [13] The video was shown on television the next day, premiering on MTV2's Headbangers Ball . [13]

Entity

The band went to record their fifth album, Entity , as a trio of Ryan, Flores and Longstreth. Vocals were done by Ryan and Flores as vocalist James Lee was ejected from the band in late 2010. Lee later joined Minnesota-based death metal band Face of Oblivion. [14] [15] In 2010, the band signed to German-based Nuclear Blast Records and recorded their debut for the label in November. After releasing Entity, Origin recruited Jason Keyser of Skinless on vocals. The band embarked on a tour with Hate Eternal, Vital Remains and Abysmal Dawn in North America. Soon after, Origin toured Europe with Psycroptic and Leng Tch'e. The band headlined the American "Occupation Domination" tour with Cattle Decapitation, Decrepit Birth, Aborted, Rings of Saturn and Battlecross in 2012.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Compilations

Members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Origin (band)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Origin --- Artist Biography". Origin --- Official Relapse Records Band Page. Relapse Records. March 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Prato, Greg. "Allmusic Review: Antithesis by Origin". Allmusic . Macrovision Corporation . Retrieved February 7, 2009. The instrumental prowess of Origin's players is mighty impressive here. But be forewarned—there's not an ounce of melody detected anywhere.
  3. ↑ York, William (2002). "Allmusic Biography: Origin". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved February 19, 2009. Ridiculously technical, fast, and punishing.
  4. 1 2 3 Frink, Troy (October 10, 2005). "Origin's death metal could kill someone". Longview Current. The College Publisher. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  5. 1 2 Prato, Greg (January 4, 2008). "Allmusic Review: Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas by Origin". AllMusic . Macrovision Corporation . Retrieved February 19, 2009. But, as amazing as much of the playing is, some of the songwriting seems to suffer under the weight of all the technicality.
  6. 1 2 "Artist Chart History: Origin". Billboard . Nielsen Company . Retrieved July 22, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "ORIGIN: Antithesis Lands In Billboard Charts; Announce May U.S. Tour". News from Relapse Records. Relapse Records. April 9, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  8. ↑ The news post at Relapse Records' website, announcing the release of this album, is dated February 2, 2004. However, Allmusic and Amazon.com both state that the album was released on March 15, 2005. The news post itself states that the album was recorded in November 2004. The incorrect date arises from confusing post formatting—the post was created on February 2, 2004 but its content was not added until much later.
  9. ↑ "Allmusic Overview: Echoes of Decimation by Origin". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  10. ↑ "ORIGIN: Welcome Back Drummer; Announce Summer Tour Plans". News from Relapse Records. Relapse Records. April 16, 2006. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Band History". Origin MySpace Blog. MySpace. July 15, 2007. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  12. ↑ "ORIGIN: Completes Work On Antithesis". News from Relapse Records. Relapse Records. February 11, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  13. 1 2 "ORIGIN: Premiere "Finite" Video". News from Relapse Records. Relapse Records. May 23, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  14. ↑ blabbermouth.et
  15. ↑ Archived March 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ "ORIGIN To Release 'Unparalleled Universe' Album In June". Blabbermouth.net. May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Origin To Release Anniversary Album "Abiogenesis – A Coming Into Existence"". ThePRP. February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
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