GORGUTS, long-running Canadian craftsmen of technical death metal have returned! After more than a decade of silence, mastermind Luc Lemay unleashes "Colored Sands", a new brand of pestilent fury featuring an all star line-up including John Longstreath (ORIGIN, SKINLESS), Colin Marston (BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS) and Kevin Hufnagel (DYSRHYTHMIA). Few extreme bands have the pedigree of GORGUTS. During their early days as part of death metal's first wave, they created a legacy of legendary releases including their debut album "Considered Dead" (1991) and its follow-up "Erosion of Sanity" (1993). The latter witnessed the Canadians becoming more experimental and technical. After a hiatus of five years, Luc Lemay returned with a new line-up, which released the acclaimed third full-length "Obscura" (1998). By then GORGUTS had fully transformed into one of the most progressive and influential bands in extreme music, which remained impervious to trends, while expanding and redefining the language of death metal. With a new line-up that left Lemay as the sole original member, another milestone album was released. On "From Wisdom to Hate" (2001) the Quebecois successfully merged the brutal and more direct approach of their earlier albums with the complex arrangements of "Obscura". Just as GORGUTS seemed on the verge of making the first decade of the new century their own, the band was hit by business and personal issues and went on hiatus. Their musical legacy continued to inspire and thrive as their native Quebec became a focus for technical death metal with acts such as CRYPTOPSY, NEURAXIS and BEYOND CREATION to name but a few following in their footsteps. Now the masters are back to deliver the stunning masterpiece the metal world has been awaiting so long. Brace hard or get swept away by the mind blowing storm of "Colored Sands"!
n there 12-year existence, MISERY INDEX has released 4 studio albums, several EP’s, and performed over 1000 concerts in 45+ countries. Their long-awaited new full-length is expected in 2013 on SEASON OF MIST records.
MISERY INDEX began as a studio project in 2001, when vocalist and bassist Jason Netherton (ex-DYING FETUS) joined together with guitarist and vocalist Mike Harrison and drummer Kevin Talley (ex-DYING FETUS) to record their debut EP "Overthrow." This 5-song death/grind-attack received considerable praise in underground circles, shifting Misery Index into a full time project with the addition of Sparky Voyles (ex-DYING FETUS) on guitar.
In 2002, Mike Harrison and Kevin Talley left the band to focus on other projects and the latter was replaced by Matt Byers, who took up drum duties for their first US tour that summer in support of KATAKLYSM. In 2003, MISERY INDEX released their first full-length "Retaliate,” to exceptional reviews and numerous support tours in Europe and North America supporting bands such as DYING FETUS, AMON AMARTH, DEICIDE, and NILE. In 2004 a video for "The Great Depression" was released, complimenting their first Live DVD, which featured a full set recorded in Athens, Greece. Later in 2004, Adam Jarvis (ex-ALL WILL FALL, currently in PIG DESTROYER) took over on drums, just in time for MISERY INDEX to hit such European festivals as Wacken Open Air, Brutal Assault, and Party San Open Air, followed with more touring alongside bands such as BEHEMOTH, NAPALM DEATH, SUFFOCATION, ROTTEN SOUND, and MAGRUDERGRIND. In 2005, guitarist and vocalist Mark Kloeppel (ex-CAST THE STONE) joined Jason, Adam, and Sparky, solidifying the line-up for the next 5 years.
In 2006, the second full-length “Discordia" was released, followed by even more persistent touring alongside bands such as FEAR FACTORY, DESPISED ICON, JOB FOR A COWBOY, BENEATH THE MASSACRE, NECROPHAGIST and ORIGIN. In 2007, MISERY INDEX appeared on festivals like Hellfest in France and Tuska in Finland, as well as hitting places like Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Croatia for the first time. However, despite being on the road for months, MISERY INDEX were ready to finalise their third full-length, so recordings commenced with Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE) at God City Studios in May of 2008. Later that year "Traitors" was released, and the band embarked on their next tour with ORIGIN and ABYSMAL DAWN right as the album was hitting stores. Reactions from both critics and fans were raving, and the album showcased an exceptional return to form.
In 2008 and 2009, the band toured extensively, playing alongside and supporting bands such as THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, SOILENT GREEN, HATE ETERNAL, THE FACELESS, CANNIBAL CORPSE, PSYCROPTIC and many more, as well as seeing their first trips to play in places like Mexico, Russia and Iceland, an appearance on the prestigious Extreme the Dojo festivals in Japan, the Maryland Death Fest in Baltimore and European festivals such as Summer Breeze, Party San, Hellfest, and Death Feast. Entering 2010, the band booked time at Wrightway Studios with producer Steve Wright in their home state of Maryland to commence recording of the fourth album.
MISERY INDEX released “Heirs to Thievery” in May of 2010, dropping like a bomb on the death metal masses and shattering all expectations. The album was both a commercial and critical success, elevating the band into headlining slots in both Europe and the United States. “Heirs to Thievery” showcased the growing maturity and depth of the band, as the varied song writing shifted naturally from nuanced, blasting technicality (Fed to the Wolves), to pit-inducing groove (The Carrion Call), to crushing heaviness (the 7th Cavalry). The growth and penetrating hooks of the songs took the band to new levels, and was followed by several tours with bands such as GRAVE and AEON in Europe, PSYCROPTIC, ORIGIN, and DECAPITATED in Australia and DESPISED ICON, REVOCATION, JOB FOR A COWBOY, GOATWHORE, and ETEHATEGOD in North America. 2010 also saw the departure of long time guitarist Sparky Voyles, who was replaced by lead guitarist Darin Morris.
Festivals followed in 2011, with MISERY INDEX making appearances at Obscene Extreme, Tuska, With Full Force, Metalfest Open Air, and Neurotic Death Fest, as well as seeing their first visit to countries such as Colombia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In 2012, the band made an appearance supporting CANNIBAL CORPSE on their US ‘Torture’ tour, while also joining the Full of Hate festival tour in Europe alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE, BEHEMOTH and LEGION OF THE DAMNED. On the Munich date of Full of Hate tour, the band recorded their first live album. Captured professionally in all their raw intensity, the album will be released on numbered, die-cut vinyl and digital download in February of 2013.
The band Omerta is founded in July 2004. Tijs(guitars) and Sven (ex-vocals) had the idea of beginning a metal band because they missed something in their previous bands. They searched for band members and ended up with Basten on bass and Fre on drums. They started rehearsing and looking for a style which suited every band member. They felt there was something missing in the band, so they searched for a second guitar player and a second vocalist to complete the line-up. Kenneth and Frodo (ex-vocals Vanity, Reduced To A Whisper, Abandoned) were chosen to join the band and the line-up was complete. In the summer of 2005 Sven left the band. Due to his departure we needed a new vocalist, but now we wanted a brutal death grunt. Pieter (ex-vocals Solifugia, Tronius Mind R.I.P ) joined the band and this is our current line-up. Due to all the different influences from our band members we developed a more brutal style of metal core, mixing death metal, thrash, hardcore, ... into one. With a lot of motivation and effort from the whole band, we reached the point where we could finally hit the stage. In January 2006 we had our first gig and it was a blast. We played 24 shows with alot of cool bands but in december 2006 we parted ways with our drummer and he was replaced by Mathew who also drums in invictrius (www.myspace.com/invictrius) a Belgian deathmetalband. 2007 starts with a new line-up, new ideas and recording plans for a first release that will be unleashed later this year so be prepared!!!