| Devolved | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Technical death metal |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Copro Records, Modern Music, MGM, Unique Leader |
| Associated acts | Fear Factory Divine Heresy |
| Website | Devolved |
| Members | |
| John Sankey Mark Hawkins Mark Haggblad |
|
Devolved is a technical death metal band originally from the Gold Coast, Australia[1] but based in Los Angeles, California since 2005. Led by founding member John Sankey the band has so far released three full-length albums with a fourth studio album scheduled for 2012, and toured throughout Australia, Europe, North America, UK and Japan.
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Devolved is a technical metal band originally from the Gold Coast, Australia but based in Los Angeles, California since 2005. Led by founding member John Sankey the band has so far released three full-length albums with a fourth studio album scheduled for 2012, and toured throughout Australia, Europe, North America, UK and Japan.
The band was formed by drummer John Sankey and guitarist Brett Noordin in 1998. In 2000, a demo titled Truth was recorded with a line-up consisting of Brett Noordin and Mark Walpole on guitar and bass player/vocalist Joel Graham. Nik Carpenter was added to the band on lead vocals and in 2001. Devolved released their debut album Technologies via Brisbane based label Modern Music. The band's live performances included a light show that featured heavy use of strobe lighting. After a fan suffered an epileptic seizure during a performance, Devolved was given a court order requiring a warning about the possible dangers of this effect to be included on all the band's promotional material including advertising and even album artwork.
Shortly after the release of Technologies, Devolved was voted Australian Metal Band of the Year by both listeners and staff of radio network Triple J. Roadrunner Records affiliated magazine 'Outsider' also judged Technologies as the Australian metal album of the year and John Sankey as best metal drummer.
In early 2002, Wayde Dunn joined on bass. The group then embarked on an extensive tour of the United Kingdom, Japan, and Europe. In 2002 Devolved released an EP entitled Automation 001. Devolved also toured and performed during this time with high profile bands such as Machine Head, Strapping Young Lad, Opeth, Arch Enemy, and Fear Factory.
During 2003 Devolved began work on a second album. At the same time John Sankey traveled to the USA and wrote and recorded songs with former Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares and became the original drummer for Divine Heresy. John Sankey also played with Melbourne-based band Frankenbok for several months while that band's drummer Mick Morley recovered from an injury. Sankey also contributed drums to the debut album by death grind metal band Limb From Limb.
Devolved's second album Calculated was released in September 2004. In early 2005, John Sankey, Brett Noordin, and Patrick Brown relocated to Los Angeles due to Sankey's commitments as original drummer with the band Divine Heresy and various other ongoing projects which included contributing a song to the Roadrunner All-Stars album co-written with Dino Cazares and Christian Machado entitled 'No Mas Control'. Sankey has since co-written various material with Cazares including the track 'Designing The Enemy' featured on the Fear Factory album Mechanize.
Devolved soon recruited Los Angeles-based singer Kyle Zemanek. The band embarked on various American tours and began work on the next studio album. Devolved signed to Unique Leader Records in early 2009 and re-released the Calculated album internationally on January 19, 2010.
Devolved's third full-length LP 'Oblivion', was released world-wide on May 24, 2011. John Sankey continues to be the driving force behind the band, Sankey recently announced he will be writing all the music, lyrics and arrangements for a new studio album to be released in 2012, and will collaborate with Florida-based guitarist Mark Hawkins who will be playing all guitar tracks. John Sankey was quoted "I will always continue writing and releasing new Devolved music. I started this band for the purpose of creating extreme, brutal music and this next album will be the most accomplished and progressive Devolved album to date!". Throne Of Ashes vocalist Mark Haggblad will be performing vocals on the next studio album, since previous singer Kyle Zemanek is no longer involved in the band. The next Devolved release is set for 2012.
In December 2011, Devolved post a new song entitled 'Collateral Damage' from the forthcoming album.