Paramaecium

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This article is about the band Paramaecium. For the protozoan, see Paramecium.

Paramaecium is an Australian doom metal band formed in 1991. They play heavy funeral doom with growled vocals. There is use of instrumentation like flutes, cellos and violins on some albums. Paramaecium is one of the doom metal bands that focus on Christian lyrical themes. Their debut album Exhumed of the Earth leans heavily to the style of early My Dying Bride.

1 Biography
2 Members
3 Discography
4 External links

[edit] Biography

In 1993 Paramaecium released their debut album, Exhumed of the Earth. The band consisted of Andrew Tompkins on vocals and bass, Jason De Ron on guitar, and Jayson Sherlock on drums. The music was inspired by Cathedral, early My Dying Bride and Anathema. The band incorporated flute and violin sounds as well as a soprano alongside the usual musical offerings of death and doom metal.

Paramaecium added rhythm guitarist Chris Burton in 1996 and released their second album, Within the Ancient Forest, which was accompanied by a fantasy novel of the same name written by Tompkins. The album was more diverse and technical, and involved female vocalists, harpsichord, piano, flute and cello.

The third album, A Time to Mourn, was released in 1999 and marked the departure of all previous band members except Tompkins. The band no longer had a touring lineup, so guest musicians were used, including guitarist Ian Arkley (formerly of Seventh Angel, Ashen Mortality and My Silent Wake). After a five year break, Paramaecium returned in 2004 with Echoes from the Ground. The album again featured Tompkins as the only original member, but held firmly to the band's doom and death metal roots while again incorporating soprano and violins.

In 2005 Tompkins started working again with guitrist De Ron on songs for a new album. Early in 2006, drummer Sherlock rejoined the band and they played a series of concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, and NordicFest in Oslo, Norway. The NordicFest appearance in November 2006 marked the official end of Paramaecium, but it was also the official launch of the band under its new name, inExordium.

[edit] Members

Andrew Tompkins - Bass, Vocals (1991 - )
Steve Palmer - Drums (1991 - 1992)
Colin Mynard - Guitar (1991)
Jason De Ron - Guitar (1992 - 1995, 2006 - )
Jayson Sherlock - Drums (1993 - 1996, 2006 - )
Chris Burton - Guitar (1995 - 1996)
Ian Arkley - Guitar (1998 - 1999)
Mark Orr - Drums (1998 - 2004)

[edit] Discography

Silent Carnage (Demo, 1991)
Exhumed of the Earth (CD, 1993)
Within the Ancient Forest (CD, 1996)

"Within the Ancient Forest" is also a novel written by Paramaecium's lead singer, Andrew Tompkins. The album of the same name was based on this novel.