Cryptopsy
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| Cryptopsy | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Montreal, Québec Canada |
| Genre(s) | Technical death metal Deathcore (recent) |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Label(s) | Century Media Gore Invasion Wrong Again Displeased |
| Associated acts | Capharnaum Gorguts Quo Vadis |
| Website | www.cryptopsy.net |
| Members | |
| Alex Auburn Eric Langlois Flo Mounier Christian Donaldson Matt McGachy |
|
| Former members | |
| See: Former members section | |
Cryptopsy is a technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada and was formed in 1992.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early years as Necrosis (1988–1992)
The formation of Cryptopsy originates in the Montréal area. Making their first appearance in 1992, the band was founded by drummer Mike Atkin, guitarist Steve Thibault and vocalist Lord Worm under the name "Necrosis" from 1988-1992. This line-up featured Mike Atkin on drums, Steve Thibault on guitar, Dan Greening (who would later take the name "Lord Worm") on vocals and John Todds on bass.
During this time, Todds introduced the band to a young drummer by the name of Flo Mounier. Atkin, whose musical direction was heading in a slightly different direction in a more Thrash/Speed Metal vein, passed the torch to Mounier, whose "high speed and hard hitting drumming" style would mark the beginning of the Cryptopsy sound. Todds left Necrosis shortly thereafter and retired from music to focus on his family. During the same year the name "Necrosis" was dropped and the band renamed themselves "Cryptopsy".
[edit] Cryptopsy with Lord Worm (1992–1997)
Wasting no time they recruited a new bassist by the name of Kevin Weagle and in 1993 the band released their debut demo, Ungentle Exhumation. This demo caught the attention of local label Gore Records (later called Great White North). Gore records would proceed to re-release the demo and would for a short time manage the band as well. The demo release earned them some attention in the Canadian death metal underground, as well as from the German label Invasion Records.
By 1994 the band lineup would change yet again when Bassist Kevin Weagle was replaced by Martin Fercuson, and Dave Galea left to be replaced by new lead guitarist Jon Levasseur. This line-up recorded their 1994 debut album, Blasphemy Made Flesh, which at first was independently released and later licensed to Invasion Records. This gained them a wide following in the death metal underground.
Despite the recent recognition, difficulties would ensue with their label Invasion Records. Invasion was collapsing because of financial problems and Cryptopsy was now without a label. Despite the setback, the album would later come in the possession of Dutch label Displeased Records. After successful touring in support of Blasphemy Made Flesh, guitarist Steve Thibault left the band but remained manager for a few short months. Bassist Martin Fercuson was replaced by the now well-known death metal bassist Eric Langlois. The addition of Langlois incorporated funk-style bass slaps into the Cryptopsy sound.
Then in 1996, the line-up of Lord Worm, Flo Mounier, Jon Levasseur, and Eric Langlois released the album None So Vile on the Swedish label Wrong Again Records. This album took the extreme and technical elements further than the last outing and is now considered a benchmark of technical death metal. Jon Levasseur's riffing was complex and difficult to pull off at high speeds, yet had a very catchy tone to it throughout the album. His guitar leads consisted of very fast yet complex shreds, with obvious influence of guitarists such as Chuck Schuldiner, which were played in usually short bursts. Although Jon Levasseur handled all the guitar parts on the album, the band would add a second guitarist named Miguel Roy to join the band for touring.
After the tour in support of None So Vile, Lord Worm departed the band, focusing his career as an English teacher. The band had reached some musical differences as well, as the rest of the band wanted to evolve and expand more, and Lord Worm expressed a dislike for the experimental path that Cryptopsy's music was then taking[citation needed].
[edit] Mike DiSalvo era (1997–2001)
In early 1997 new vocalist Mike DiSalvo joined the band. He was an American from Boston and was approved by Lord Worm to be the new vocalist. Mike DiSalvo also used a different vocal style than Lord Worm, and had a more intelligible, somewhat less extreme and more hardcore sounding voice. In July 1997, Cryptopsy’s appearance at the Milwaukee Metalfest XI gained the attention of many American metalheads as well as a larger label in Century Media.
Cryptopsy's next album, Whisper Supremacy, was released on Century Media in 1998, and featured Miguel Roy on second guitar. It took Cryptopsy's style further, incorporating some jazz and fusion elements, quite evident on the song "Cold Hate, Warm Blood". Some criticised Mike DiSalvo's vocal style, citing that it was too similar to that of hardcore vocalists and preferred the more extreme death metal style of Lord Worm, whereas some welcome the somewhat more accessible vocal presence of DiSalvo[citation needed]. The tour in support of Whisper Supremacy also took the band on their first trek through the United States, increasing their fan-base significantly.
Cryptopsy released their fourth studio effort, ...And Then You'll Beg, in 2000. The album featured a new guitarist, Alex Auburn, replacing Miguel Roy. Alex also played more solos, and would later replace Levasseur as Cryptopsy's main guitarist. This album is viewed as a bit less extreme than the previous albums, but just as experimental and as technical as ever. This album also incorporated even more progressive elements into the music. After the first portion of the tour, Mike DiSalvo departed from the band to pursue a family life with his girlfriend in Montreal and with a son on the way[citation needed]. A new singer had to be recruited for the Europe and Japan wings of the tour.
[edit] After DiSalvo: None So Live (2002–2003)
In 2001, Montreal-area Cryptopsy fan Martin LaCroix took over the position as Cryptopsy's singer. His style was viewed by many fans as being in between the styles of Lord Worm and Mike DiSalvo, making him a convenient choice to front the band. In June 2002, Cryptopsy played their first concert in their hometown of Montreal in four years, and attracted an audience of more than 2000, which is quite large for a death metal concert. The concert was recorded and released as a live album, None So Live, in May 2003. This release was LaCroix's only contribution to Cryptopsy's discography. The band soon realised that the French-speaking LaCroix did not have a full enough mastery of the English language, which prevented him from writing lyrics on par with his predecessors.
[edit] Return of Lord Worm and Once Was Not (2003–2007)
Later in 2003, it was announced that Lord Worm, Cryptopsy's original vocalist, had rejoined the band. Throughout summer 2004, Cryptopsy played shows in the Montreal area, and continued a full Canada tour on September 7, with former guitarist Miguel Roy filling in for the unavailable Jon Levasseur. Beginning on October 9, Martyr and former Gorguts guitarist Daniel Mongrain took over second guitar duties for the live dates. The setlist for this tour began with all 8 songs from None So Vile played in a row, and then followed by songs from Blasphemy Made Flesh and Whisper Supremacy. The Canada 2004 tour ended at Cryptopsy's performance on November 6 at the Trois-Rivieres Metalfest IV, which was filmed for a live DVD.
On January 31, 2005, Jon Levasseur announced that he had lost interest in extreme music and amicably departed Cryptopsy. Daniel Mongrain also remained on guitar duties for the Back to the Worm tour, Cryptopsy's headlining trek through the United States from February to May. After the tour's completion Daniel Mongrain also departed. It was then announced that Cryptopsy's next album, Once Was Not, would be released on October 18, 2005. The album features Lord Worm, Flo Mounier, Eric Langlois, and Alex Auburn handling all guitar duties except the intro track "Luminum". On September 28 it was announced that the new touring guitarist would be Christian Donaldson of Mythosis. The band completed a North American tour with Suffocation, Despised Icon, and Aborted. Advanced copies of the new album were available at the shows. After a well-deserved holiday break and the release of Flo Mounier's instructional drumming 2DVD set Extreme Metal Drumming 101, the band toured Europe with Grave, Aborted, Dew-Scented, and others, with tours also in United States and Australia. Following their second running tour of Europe, UK, and Scandinavia; guitarist Christian Donalson was hired as a permanent member of the band.
[edit] Lord Worm's second departure
On April 23, 2007, Cryptopsy announced that Lord Worm had been kicked out of the band and that they were looking for a new vocalist. [1] After the announcement, Lord Worm stated that he left the group earlier than planned for health reasons which contradicts the previous information of him being kicked out.
[edit] Band's Career Change
On December 4, 2007, Cryptopsy revealed the addition of vocalist Matt McGachy and keyboardist Maggie Durand to the band. Many fans have been disappointed with the new album, some stating that the band has shifted towards being deathcore.[1]
[edit] Members
| (1988–1992) as Necrosis |
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|---|---|
| (1992–1993) |
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| (1993–1995) Ungentle Exhumation Blasphemy Made Flesh |
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| (1996–1997) None So Vile |
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| (1997–1999) Whisper Supremacy |
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| (1999–2001) ...And Then You'll Beg |
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| (2001–2003) None So Live |
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| (2003–2004) |
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| (2004–2005) Once Was Not |
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| (2005) |
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| (2005–2007) |
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| (2007–2008) The Unspoken King |
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| (2008–present) |
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[edit] Current members
- Matt McGachy - lead vocals (2007–present)
- Alex Auburn - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1999–present)
- Christian Donaldson - rhythm & lead guitars (2005–present)
- Eric Langlois - bass guitar (1996–present)
- Flo Mounier - drums, backing vocals (1992–present)
[edit] Former members
- Mike Atkin - drums (1988–1992) as Necrosis
- John Todds - bass guitar (1988–1992) as Necrosis
- Kevin Weagle - bass guitar (1992–1993)
- Dave Galea - lead & rhythm guitars, vocals (1992–1993)
- Steve Thibault - rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1988–1995)
- Martin Fergusson - bass (1994–1996)
- Miguel Roy - rhythm & lead guitars (1996–1999)
- Mike DiSalvo - lead vocals (1997–2001)
- Martin Lacroix - lead vocals (2001–2003)
- Jon Levasseur - lead & rhythm guitars (1993–2005)
- Daniel Mongrain - rhythm guitars (live, 2004–2005)
- Lord Worm - lead vocals (1988–1997, 2003–2007)
- Maggie Durand - keyboards (2007–2008)
[edit] Discography
- 1993: Ungentle Exhumation (demo)
- 1994: Blasphemy Made Flesh
- 1996: None So Vile
- 1998: Whisper Supremacy
- 2000: ...And Then You'll Beg
- 2003: None So Live
- 2005: Once Was Not
- 2008: The Unspoken King
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- Official website (in French and English)
- Cryptopsy at MySpace
- Cryptopsy interview@Metalfan.ro
- Cryptopsy discography at MusicBrainz
- Cryptopsy at Discogs
- Cryptopsy at Encyclopaedia Metallum
- Interview´s Flo - HallOfMetal
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