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NOCTURNUS
NOCTURNUS

 

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United States
Progressive Death Metal

Состав

  • Mike Davis - гитара
  • Sean McNenney - гитара
  • Emo Mowery - бас, вокал
  • Louis Panzer - клавишные
  • Rick Bizarro - ударные

Дискография

"Nocturnus" была первой дэт-металлической командой, которая не побоялась ввести в свой арсенал клавишные инструменты. Основал группу барабанщик и вокалист Майк Браунинг после своего ухода из рядов "Morbid angel" в июне 1987 года. Первыми его партнерами были басист Джефф Эстес и гитаристы Майк Дэвис и Джино Марино. Клавишник Луис Панзер появился в команде через год, и именно с его приходом "Nocturnus" обрели свое фирменное звучание. В 1988-м музыканты записали второе демо, "The science of horror", (продюсировал сие творение Джон Олива из "Savatage"), материал с которого впоследствии попал на альбом "The Key".

Демку заметил представитель "Earache records", и в 1990 году коллектив получил контракт от этого лейбла. Правда, Марино не дотянул до этого события и уступил гитару Шону Макнинни, а сам переехал в Атланту, где основал проект "Euphoria".

Первый альбом, "The Key", помимо наличия на всех треках клавишных выделялся высокой гитарной техникой, доселе невиданной на дэт-метал сцене. Благодаря такому раскладу пластинка разошлась по всему миру тиражом свыше 50000 экземпляров. В 1991-м "Nocturnus" в компании с "Bolt thrower" ворвались в Европу, весьма изумив поклонников брутального жанра живым исполнением своих песен. Затем команда приняла участие в американском туре "Grindcrusher" в одной связке с "Napalm death" и "Godflesh". Вдоволь намотавшись с гастролями, музыканты отправились в студию записывать второй лонгплей.

Перед сессиями коллектив пополнился вокалистом Дэном Иззо (экс-"Tortured soul"), что позволило Браунингу полностью сконцентрироваться на ударных. Еще одна рокировка была произведена с бас-гитаристами, и место Джеффа занял Чед Андерсон. Правда, сразу после записи "Thresholds" он ушел из группы, предоставив четырехструнку Джиму О'Салливану.

Второй альбом стал последним релизом "Nocturnus" на "Earache records". Вскоре О'Салливана сменил Эмо Мовери (экс-"Fallen idols"), а на месте ушедшего в "Acheron" Браунинга оказался Джеймс Марсинек. После европейского тура с "Confessor", летом 1993-го коллектив выпустил семидюймовку с двумя треками ("Possess the priest", "Mummified"), а затем прекратил свою деятельность. Возрождение "Nocturnus" произошло в 2000 году. Обновленный состав группы выглядел так: Дэвис (гитара), Макнинни (гитара), Мовери (бас, вокал), Панзер (клавишные) и Рик Бизарро (ударные). На французском лейбле "Season of mist records" команда выпустила мощный альбом "Ethereal tomb", базировавшийся на научной фантастике.

Однако удержаться на плаву "Nocturnus" так и не смогли. После ухода Панзеро и Бизарро оставшиеся музыканты так и не смогли найти им замену, и в 2002 году группа распалась во второй раз. В качестве эпитафии "Ноктюрнусу" фирма "Karmageddon media" выпустила на одном CD материал с двух первых демо. // По материалам сайта:hardrockkafe

english wikipedia

Nocturnus was an American progressive death metal band formed in Tampa, Florida in 1987 by drummer/vocalist Mike Browning (formerly of Morbid Angel). They were known for their science-fiction themed lyrics and use of keyboards, both of which were virtually unknown in extreme metal.

Biography

Nocturnus was formed in 1987 by drummer/vocalist Mike Browning following the breakup of his old band Incubus. The band was formed by Browning, former Incubus guitarist Gino Marino and former Agent Steel bassist Richard Bateman. The band eventually began working on material and added second guitarist Vincent Crowley. This first lineup recorded one self titled demo in 1987. Crowley quit (going on to form Acheron) and was replaced by then-unknown 18-year old guitar prodigy Mike Davis. Bateman quit shortly afterwards to join Nasty Savage.

The band remained inactive for some time, returning with new bassist Jeff Estes and a keyboard player, Louis Panzer, both friends of Davis, in 1988. Panzer's addition gave the band a new, more "spacey" atmosphere to the music that made them unique in death metal at the time. This lineup put out the classic Science of Horror demo. In 1989 Marino quit and was replaced by Davis's long time friend and neighbor Sean McNenney. The band, now featuring two virtuoso guitarists, became increasingly technical and complex, which largely added to their audience.

In 1989, thanks in large part to Mike Davis's somewhat ironic friendship with Morbid Angel guitarist Trey Azagthoth, the band signed to Earache Records. The band recorded their debut album, The Key with Tom Morris, which was released in 1990. The album, filled with a unique occult meets sci-fi concept (a blend of Browning and Davis's influences, respectively), virtuoso guitar pyrotechnics and space-age-ish keyboards, managed to become a death metal hit, spawning classic tracks such as "Standing In Blood" and "BC/AD (Before Christ/After Death)". It has gone on to sell 70,000 copies worldwide. It also featured backing vocals by former Mantas/Death and then Massacre vocalist Kam Lee.

Jeff Estes began developing a major drinking problem during the recording of The Key. This damaged his bass playing skills (Mike Davis ended up playing much of the bass on The Key) and was fired shortly after because of this. He was replaced by Jim O'Sullivan. With O'Sullivan on board the band toured for The Key in 1991 in support Bolt Thrower and then embarked on the Grindcrusher tour with Morbid Angel, Napalm Death and Godflesh. O'Sullivan ended up not working out and he was fired as soon as the bands tours were over.

In 1992 the band decided to get a full time vocalist, allowing Browning to concentrate solely on drumming and because Earache promised the band a music video if they got a "real" frontman. Former Tortured Souls vocalist Dan Izzo was brought in on lead vocals. The band drafted Chris Anderson to play bass on their new album, Thresholds.

With Browning becoming less involved in the bands songwriting, Thresholds saw the band moving in a much more space and sci-fi oriented direction. It was generally more musically mature than The Key (in the case of "Arctic Crypt", at times even melodic, while the more progressive songs used more odd time signatures and frequent changes), with Davis and McNenney not playing as many non-stop solos as they did on The Key (the solos, while still high-speed shredding, were also generally more melodic and longer). The album did not sell quite as well as The Key, perhaps due to the bands more mature direction. However, it was still successful and the band shot a video for "Alter Reality", which became a metal hit in Europe. The band also got a new permanent bassist Emo Mowery (formely of Malediction) and had a successful European tour for Thresholds.

It was actually a secret about the band at the time that the Nocturnus name was not actually copyrighted by Mike Browning, thinking he could trust his bandmates not to steal the name. However, after the 1992 Thresholds tour, Louis Panzer, Sean McNenney and Mike Davis went behind Brownings back and copyrighted the name Nocturnus for themselves, apparently so they could "make Nocturnus all about sci-fi and sell more albums". The ironic thing was, Mike Davis did not know about what he was signing when Mcnenney and Panzer copyrighted the name (he would later ever regret doing such, and said that if he ever knew what would happen if he signed the papers, he would never have. He actually was willing to compromise with Mike Browning on writing more occult themed lyrics and less sci fi themed ones). Shocked and angered, Browning was fired from Nocturnus shortly after this. He was replaced by James Marcinek. This has led to bad blood between Panzer/McNenney and Browning to this day, although Mike Davis has apparently made up with Browning since then (Davis apparently is also no longer friendly with McNenney or Panzer).

The new Nocturnus lineup began recording new songs for a 3rd album, including "Mummified", "The Invertebrate Plague", "The Great Spot", and "Orbital Decay", all of which were written by Davis/McNenney/Panzer, were highly technical and featured sci-themed lyrics. However around this time the band began to lose label support from Earache as their contract was dropped. The new lineup put out a two song self-titled EP in 1993, which featured a recycled ealry song "Possess The Priest" and the brand new "Mummified". However Panzer, McNenney, and Marcinek all departed the band after this. Davis and Mowery formed a new band under a different name. Davis also began working on a project with Trey Azagthoth that was eventually scratched.

In 2000 Mowery and Davis reunited with McNenney and Panzer, along with new drummer Rick Bizarro and released their comeback album Ethereal Tomb. The album was met with good reception from old Nocturnus fans and even briefly sparked a new interest in the band in the death metal scene. However in 2002 the band finally split up for good.

Since breaking up Mowery is now in the band Leash Law. Mike Davis has given up music and moved on to a stable job and family life, managing his own computer buinsness. Louis Panzer reformed an old band called Cry Blue, which Mike Browning described as "Sting type music". Browning has been involved in a wide variety of projects, currently After Death, which bares a style similar to a less technical Nocturnus.

Post-breakup the band has made two releases, The Nocturnus Demos, a collection of the bands pre-Earache recordings, and Farewell To Planet Earth, a DVD of live shows from various periods.

Members

Last Known Lineup

  • Mike Davis - lead/rhythm guitars (1988–1993, 2000–2002)
  • Sean McNenney - lead/rhythm guitars (1989–1993, 2000–2002)
  • Louis Panzer - keyboards (1988–1993, 2000–2002)
  • Emo Mowery - bass guitar/vocals (1992–1993, 2000–2002)

Former Members

Vocals

  • Dan Izzo (1992–1993)
  • Browning was vocalist from 1987 to 1992
  • Mowery was vocalist from 2000 to 2002

Guitars

  • Gino Marino (1987–1989)
  • Vincent Crowley (1987)

Bass

  • Richard Bateman (1987)
  • Jeff Estes (1989–1991)
  • Jim O' Sullivan (1991)
  • Chris Anderson (1992) (session only)

Drums

  • Mike Browning (1987–1992)
  • James Marcinek (1992–1993)
  • Rick Bizarro (2000)

Discography

  • 1987 Nocturnus (demo)
  • 1988 The Science of Horror (demo)
  • 1990 The Key
  • 1992 Thresholds
  • 1993 Nocturnus (EP) (EP)
  • 2000 Ethereal Tomb
  • 2004 The Nocturnus Demos (Compilation)
  • 2004 Farewell to Planet Earth (DVD)

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* NOCTURNUS Band Bio excerpted from Rockdetector online:

"Tampa Death Metal act NOCTURNUS are widely credited with being one of the prime instigators of keyboard driven technical styled Death Metal. The group was manifested during June of 1988 by ex-MORBID ANGEL and INCUBUS drummer/ lead vocalist Mike Browning, guitarist Gino Marino, bassist Jeff Estes and eighteen year old guitarist Mike Davis. The addition of keyboard player Louis Panzer in September of that year would undoubtedly succeed in putting the band into the realms of the unique. Their inaugural demo effort, the four song effort 'The Science Of Horror', immediately secured a recording contract with the Nottingham based cutting edge label Earache Records.

"For their debut 'The Key' NOCTURNUS, seeing Sean McNenney replacing Gino Marino, plied a unique combination when it came to plying their particular brand of Death Metal unafraid to add the keyboards of Panzer well upfront and with lead vocals being handled by Browning. MASSACRE's Kam Lee adds backing vocals. Meantime bassist Jeff Estes made way for James Sullivan for touring which included dates BOLT-THROWER across the UK capitalised on by the US 'Grindcrusher' tour alongside GODFLESH and NAPALM DEATH. Meantime former member Gino Marino relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to found EUPHORIA.

"1992's 'Thresholds' saw the band adopt a more conformist approach by adding former TORTURED SOUL vocalist Dan Izzo to the line up allowing Browning to prioritise the drums. Further changes saw Estes superseded by Chad Anderson. For subsequent touring NOCTURNUS drafted Jim OяПНSullivan on bass who was in turn substituted by Emo Mowery for shows in league with CONFESSOR in 1991.

"Browning quit to work with ACHERON, appearing on their 1994 albums 'Hail Victory', 'Satanic Victory' and 'Lex Talionis'. In a further change Sullivan lost his place and NOCTURNUS utilised the talents of Chris Anderson in the studio although a more permanent position went to ex-FALLEN IDOLS man Emo Mowery. The band toured Europe together with CONFESSOR in 1992. The following year an eponymous two track EP emerged on the Seattle based Moribund label, this seeing new drummer James Marcinek of ASTAROTH installed. Although fans acknowledged this EP as being a return to form the group folded shortly after recording.

"Ex-drummer Mike Browning would be found pursuing an eclectic range of products such as DEACON SCREECH, ASH, WOLF AND HAWK and DEVINE ESSENCE. Rising out of the ashes of NOCTURNUS during 1999 the former players vocalist / drummer Mike Browning, guitarist Gino Marino and bassist Richard Bateman forged NOCTURNUS A.D. in union with second guitarist Mike Walkowski. During 2000 this band distanced itself from prior connections, re-billing itself as AFTER DEATH. NOCTURNUS resurfaced in 2000 with a fresh vocalist Emo Mowery and a new album 'Ethereal Tomb'. Mowery would also form part of ex-CRIMSON GLORY man Wade Black's SECTOR 9 line up as bass player."
Credit/s: Garry Sharpe-Young
Copyright: яПН Musicdetector Websites

 

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