Cryptopsy

Cryptopsy

Lord Worm performing live in Århus
Background information
Also known as Necrosis (1988–1992)
Origin Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres Brutal death metal, technical death metal[1][2][3]
Years active 1988–present
Labels Century Media, Regain, Displeased
Associated acts Capharnaum, Gorguts, Quo Vadis, The Agonist, Mythosis, 3 Mile Scream, Infestation, Defect Designer
Website Official Facebook page
Members Flo Mounier
Christian Donaldson
Matt McGachy
Olivier Pinard

Cryptopsy is a Canadian technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1988. The band has sold over 300,000 records.[4]

History

Necrosis (1988–1992)

Cryptopsy was formed in 1988 by drummer Mike Atkin, guitarist Steve Thibault and vocalist Dan Greening (who would later take the name "Lord Worm" because he would dig up and ingest worms on stage) under the name "Necrosis". John Todds later joined on bass. The band released several demos, including Mastication and Heterodontism (1989), Realms Of Pathogenia (1991) and Necrosis (1992). The band made their first live appearance in 1992, and changed their name to "Cryptopsy" the same year.

Atkin, whose musical direction was heading in a more thrash/speed metal vein, left the band and was replaced by Flo Mounier (introduced to the band by Todds), 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. Guitarist Dave Galea also joined the band.

Blasphemy Made Flesh (1993–1995)

Cryptopsy recruited Kevin Weagle to play bass, and in 1993 released their debut demo, Ungentle Exhumation. This demo caught the attention of local label Gore Records. Gore Records would proceed to re-release the demo and would, for a brief period, manage the band as well. Cryptopsy's first demo release earned them some attention in the Canadian death metal underground, as well as from the German label Invasion Records.

By 1994, bassist Kevin Weagle had been replaced by Martin Fergusson, and Dave Galea left and was replaced by lead guitarist Jon Levasseur. This line-up recorded their debut album, Blasphemy Made Flesh, which at first was independently released in 1994 and later licensed to Invasion Records. The album gained them a wide following in the Canadian underground.

Despite recent recognition, difficulties ensued with their label Invasion Records. Invasion was collapsing because of financial problems and as a result Cryptopsy was now without a label to support their tour and album activities. Despite 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 months. Bassist Martin Fergusson was replaced by Eric Langlois. The addition of Langlois incorporated funk-style bass slaps into the Cryptopsy sound.

None So Vile (1996–1997)

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 and is now considered a benchmark of technical death metal. By this time, Levasseur was a very prominent songwriter in the band. His guitar leads consisted of very fast yet complex shreds, which were usually played in short bursts. Although Levasseur handled all the guitar parts on the album, the band would add Miguel Roy as a second touring guitarist.

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 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.

In early 1997, new vocalist Mike DiSalvo joined the band. He was from Boston, Massachusetts and had the personal approval by Lord Worm to be the new vocalist. Mike DiSalvo also had a different vocal style from Lord Worm: a 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 the label Century Media.

Whisper Supremacy (1998–1999)

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. Some fans 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 others welcomed the more intelligible lyrics and vocal presence of DiSalvo. The tour in support of Whisper Supremacy also took the band on their first tour through the United States, increasing their fan-base significantly.

…And Then You'll Beg (2000–2001)

Cryptopsy released their fourth studio effort, …And Then You'll Beg, in 2000. The album featured a new guitarist, Alex Auburn, who replaced Miguel Roy. And Then You'll Beg was viewed as being less extreme than Cryptopsy's previous albums. The album also incorporated even more progressive elements and was still considered to be very technical and experimental. After the first portion of the supporting tour, Mike DiSalvo departed from the band to pursue a family life with his girlfriend in Montreal and with a daughter on the way.

In 2001, Montreal–area Cryptopsy fan Martin LaCroix took over the position as Cryptopsy's singer for the Europe and Japan tours. 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.

None So Live (2002–2004)

In June 2001, Cryptopsy played their first concert in their hometown of Montreal in four years and attracted an audience of more than 2,000. 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 was not fluent enough in English, which prevented him from writing lyrics on par with his predecessors.

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 in September, with former guitarist Miguel Roy filling in for the unavailable Jon Levasseur. Beginning on October 9, Martyr and former Gorguts guitarist Dan Mongrain took over second guitar duties for the live dates. The setlist for this tour began the entire None So Vile album played straight through, 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. The DVD Live at Trois-Rivieres Metalfest IV was released in 2005.

Once Was Not (2005–2006)

On January 31, 2005, Jon Levasseur announced that he had lost interest in extreme music and amicably departed Cryptopsy. Dan Mongrain remained on guitar duties for the Back to the Worms tour through the United States from February to May. After the tour's completion Mongrain also departed in order to continue his work with Martyr. It was then announced that Cryptopsy's next album, Once Was Not, would be released on October 18, 2005. The album features original vocalist 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 toured North America with Suffocation, Despised Icon, and Aborted. Advanced copies of the new album were available at the shows. After a break, and the release of Flo Mounier's instructional drumming DVD Extreme Metal Drumming 101, the band toured Europe with Grave, Aborted, Dew-Scented, and others, followed by tours in America and Australia. Following their second tour of Europe, UK, and Scandinavia; guitarist Christian Donalson was hired as a permanent member of the band.

The Unspoken King (2007–2011)

The new album was originally to be called The Book of Suffering, and was to be a double album,[5] but on April 23, 2007, Cryptopsy announced that Lord Worm had been fired from the band and that they were looking for a new vocalist.[6] After the announcement, Lord Worm stated that he left the group earlier than planned for health reasons, which contradicted the band's statement that he was kicked out.

On December 4, 2007, Cryptopsy revealed the addition of vocalist Matt McGachy and keyboardist Maggie Durand to the band. With these additions, the band's style incorporated melodic elements and made use of clean vocals. The new lineup released The Unspoken King on June 24, 2008.[7] The album was subject to a backlash from fans of the band's previous works, due to the album's new style and addition of clean singing.[8]

In early February 2009, guitarist Alex Auburn announced his departure from the band, saying that there were numerous reasons for his leaving, and that he and the rest of the band agreed with the departure.

Cryptopsy (2011–present)

On May 25, 2011, the band announced on their official Facebook page that former lead guitarist and major contributor Jon Levasseur returned to the band. Additionally, bassist Eric Langlois decided to take a break from Cryptopsy, and Youri Raymond took his place on bass. On December 9, 2011, Raymond announced his departure from the band.[9] On January 15, 2012, Cryptopsy announced that Olivier Pinard, from Neuraxis and Vengeful, would be the new bassist for the band.[10]

Cryptopsy released Cryptopsy on September 14, 2012. The album marked a return to their technical death metal sound.

On May 8, 2015, it was announced that Cryptopsy would release The Book of Suffering - Tome 1 in mid-2015, the first in a series of EPs. An Indiegogo campaign was launched the same day. Regarding the recording process, it was stated that Jason Suecof would handle mixing duties, while Alan Douches would handle the mastering process.

Members

Current members

  • Flo Mounier – drums, backing vocals (1992–present)
  • Christian Donaldson – lead & rhythm guitars (2005–present)
  • Matt McGachy – lead vocals (2007–present)
  • Olivier Pinard – bass guitar (2012–present)

Former members

Vocals

  • Lord Worm – lead vocals (1988–1997, 2003–2007)
  • Mike DiSalvo – lead vocals (1997–2001)
  • Martin Lacroix – lead vocals (2001–2003)

Rhythm guitar

  • Steve Thibault – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1988–1995, 1996)
  • Miguel Roy – rhythm, lead guitars (1996–1999)
  • Alex Auburn – rhythm guitar, lead, backing vocals (1999–2009)
  • Youri Raymond – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2011, 2012-2013)

Bass guitar

  • John Todds – bass guitar (1988–1992) as Necrosis
  • Kevin Weagle – bass guitar (1992–1993)
  • Martin Fergusson – bass guitar (1994–1995)
  • Eric Langlois – bass guitar (1996–2011)
  • Youri Raymond – bass guitar (2011)

Lead guitar

  • Dave Galea – lead, rhythm guitars, vocals (1992–1993, 2000)
  • Jon Levasseur – lead, rhythm guitars (1993–2005, 2011–2012)

Keyboards

  • Maggy Durand – keyboards (2007–2008)

Drums

  • Mike Atkin – drums (1988–1992) with Necrosis

Live members

  • Dan Mongrain – lead guitar (2004)
  • Steven J. Robillard – keyboards (1988-1992)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Live albums

Demos

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ Harris, Chris. "Cryptopsy Drummer Dismisses Sell-Out Claims; Plus Sepultura & More News That Rules, In Metal File". MTV.com. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  2. ↑ Robinson, Iann. "Metal File: Hard & Heavy News On Judas Priest, Vader, Fireball Ministry, Children of Bodom, Cryptopsy & More". MTV.com. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  3. ↑ Harris, Chris; Wiederhorn, Jon. "36 Crazyfists Pounding Away On Next Album; Plus Anthrax, Ipsissimus & More News That Rules, In Metal File". MTV.com. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  4. ↑ "Extreme Metal Drumming". Flo Mounier. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  5. ↑ "Cryptopsy video interview HARDTIMES.CA". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  6. ↑ "CRYPTOPSY Parts Ways With Singer LORD WORM, Seeks Replacement". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  7. ↑ Harris, Chris (2008-07-03). "Cryptopsy Drummer Dismisses Sell-Out Claims; Plus Sepultura & More News That Rules, In Metal File". MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-07-03. If you don't like it, don't listen to it
  8. ↑ McQUEEN, VALERIE. "CRYPTOPSY DRUMMER FLO MOUNIER AND NEW VOCALIST MATT McGACHY ON THEIR LATEST ALBUM, 'THE UNSPOKEN KING'". Revolver. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  9. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/cryptopsy/blog/544988428
  10. ↑ Cryptopsy - Cold Hate Warm Blood (Official Video - New Bassist Olivier Pinard) on YouTube
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