Cephalic Carnage
Encyclopedia
Cephalic Carnage is an American grindcore
band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado
. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos. Cephalic Carnage has released six studio albums and toured in North America
, Europe
and Japan
.
Cephalic Carnage play a technically proficient deathgrind
style, progressively experiment with other genres, and incorporate songs of joke nature into their albums, such as parodies of black metal
or metalcore
. They refer themselves as "rocky mountain hydro grind".
, in 1992 by vocalist Lenzig Leal and guitarist Zac Joe. The duo recorded a demo EP titled Scrape My Lungs in 1993, but then took a break until 1996, when they recruited drummer John Merryman, guitarist Steve Goldberg and bassist Doug Williams. Merryman also collaborated with Secret Chiefs 3
. Soon after the reformation, their second demo EP Fortuitous Oddity was released. During 1997, Cephalic Carnage financed its own tour across the United States.
In 1998, the band caught the attention of Italian
record label Headfucker Records, which released the band's debut album Conforming to Abnormality
that year. After this release, Williams left in 1999 and joined Origin
. After he was replaced by Jawsh Mullen, the band toured at the Milwaukee Metalfest in 1998, the Dallas Grindfest, the Ohio Deathfest and the Denver Hatefest in 1999.
In 2000, Cephalic Carnage signed to the American heavy metal record label Relapse Records
and released its second album Exploiting Dysfunction
, which included a tour with Napalm Death
and The Dillinger Escape Plan
.
, the band's third album, was recorded in early 2002 and released in August that year. The band toured a month later in Canada and subsequently in the U.S. with German thrash metal
veterans Kreator
and Destruction
. In May 2003, the band undertook the "North American Contamination" tour alongside Mastodon
and others. That September, Cephalic Carnage and Madball
supported Hatebreed
on the North American "Rise of Brutality" tour.
In September 2004, the band recorded its next album, Anomalies, with producer Dave Otero. Darren Doane
directed a promotional music video for "Dying Will Be the Death of Me", which premiered at MTV's Headbanger's Ball. The song parodies American metalcore
with its music, lyrics and vocals. In March 2005, Anomalies was released, and the band toured in North America once again.
Mullen exited in January 2006 to prioritize his education and other acts, and the band soon found replacement Nick Schendzielos. In March, the band's recording studio was robbed. They played several shows in the United States in April, and an extensive European tour followed in June with Darkest Hour.
. In March 2007, the band supported Brujeria
on U.S. dates and subsequently embarked on "Xenosapien World Tour", which started in continental Europe on May 4, continued in United Kingdom and Ireland in May and resumed in the "Summer Slaughter" trek (dubbed the "Summer’s Laughter" by band members) across the U.S. throughout June and July along with Decapitated
among others. The band also filmed a music video for the song "Endless Cycle of Violence". On November 20, 2007, the band's van was robbed. Their "recent earnings from the tour (close to $4,000), a laptop with more than $2,000 in music-software programs loaded, an iPod and various personal items" were stolen.
Cephalic Carnage reissued Conforming to Abnormality under Relapse Records on April 29, 2008. Cephalic Carnage participated in a "mini-tour" of Japan in May 2009, performing in Osaka
, Nagoya and Tokyo
. In June 2009, Cephalic Carnage, along with Cattle Decapitation
and Withered
, pulled out of the Blackenedfest tour due to organization problems and said they were "getting on with writing the next full length, (...) as well as finishing construction of our late night poutine stand, where we will serve country-fried giraffe eggs and your favorite French-Canadian specialty." In October 2009, the band released a music video for the song "Vaporized" while writing a new album and announced a planned concert DVD entitled Live At Your Mom's House.
, in May 2010. It was released August 31, 2010 by Relapse Records
. Cephalic Carnage is reissuing Lucid Interval with a planned release date of September 13, 2011.
, technical death metal
, occasional surf rock, instrumental, to flamenco
interludes or violin-and-sax ambient jams. Their early style is typically progressive and technically proficient, with some comedic songs. Their later work developed into a more experimental, complex direction.
Cephalic Carnage is also known for its humorous songs. Popmatters
points out some examples: "On past albums, the band has taken satirical swipes at the overtly image-oriented black metal
("Black Metal Sabbath") and the oversaturated, angst-ridden metalcore
sound ("Dying Will Be the Death of Me"), and even in live settings, they’re not above taking the odd spontaneous piss-take to bring some levity to a situation. One notorious YouTube clip has a fight starting in the pit at a Cephalic show in Toronto, and in an inspired moment, the band launches into a rousing excerpt from "Eye of the Tiger
", to a raucous ovation from the kids."
Former members
Extended plays
Demos
Splits
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos. Cephalic Carnage has released six studio albums and toured in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Cephalic Carnage play a technically proficient deathgrind
Deathgrind
Deathgrind is a musical genre that fuses death metal and grindcore. The genre, along with pornogrind, is related to the goregrind subgenre...
style, progressively experiment with other genres, and incorporate songs of joke nature into their albums, such as parodies of black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
or metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
. They refer themselves as "rocky mountain hydro grind".
Conforming to Abnormality, Exploiting Dysfunction (1992–2001)
Cephalic Carnage formed in Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, in 1992 by vocalist Lenzig Leal and guitarist Zac Joe. The duo recorded a demo EP titled Scrape My Lungs in 1993, but then took a break until 1996, when they recruited drummer John Merryman, guitarist Steve Goldberg and bassist Doug Williams. Merryman also collaborated with Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3 is an instrumental rock group led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance . Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music,...
. Soon after the reformation, their second demo EP Fortuitous Oddity was released. During 1997, Cephalic Carnage financed its own tour across the United States.
In 1998, the band caught the attention of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
record label Headfucker Records, which released the band's debut album Conforming to Abnormality
Conforming to Abnormality
Conforming to Abnormality is Cephalic Carnage's first full-length album. It was first released in 1998 on Italy's Headfucker Records. In 2002 the album was re-released on Hybrid Records. In 2006 Subordinate Records from Italy re-released the album without the band's permission on CD and 12" vinyl...
that year. After this release, Williams left in 1999 and joined Origin
Origin (band)
Origin is an American death metal band from Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1998. They have been recognized by music critics and metal fans alike for combining a harsh sound with a high level of technical skill....
. After he was replaced by Jawsh Mullen, the band toured at the Milwaukee Metalfest in 1998, the Dallas Grindfest, the Ohio Deathfest and the Denver Hatefest in 1999.
In 2000, Cephalic Carnage signed to the American heavy metal record label Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
and released its second album Exploiting Dysfunction
Exploiting Dysfunction
- Track listing :- Personnel :* Lenzig Leal - vocals* Zac Joe - guitar* John Merryman - drums* Steve Goldberg - guitar* Jawsh Mullen - bass...
, which included a tour with Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
.
Lucid Interval and Anomalies (2002–2006)
Lucid IntervalLucid Interval
Lucid Interval is the third full-length album released by Cephalic Carnage. It was released in 2002 via Relapse Records. The album is being reissued with a bonus track on September 13, 2011.- Track listing :- Personnel :Cephalic Carnage...
, the band's third album, was recorded in early 2002 and released in August that year. The band toured a month later in Canada and subsequently in the U.S. with German thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
veterans Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
and Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
. In May 2003, the band undertook the "North American Contamination" tour alongside Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
and others. That September, Cephalic Carnage and Madball
Madball
Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...
supported Hatebreed
Hatebreed
- History :Hatebreed was formed in 1994 in Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. They began by recording a three song demo and selling it to locals. Those three songs would eventually be released on a split seven inch with New York's Neglect in 1995...
on the North American "Rise of Brutality" tour.
In September 2004, the band recorded its next album, Anomalies, with producer Dave Otero. Darren Doane
Darren Doane
Darren Doane is a Christian filmmaker and music video director. In 2007, Darren formed a new commercial, music video and branded content production company called LEVEL4 with Executive Producer Josh Karchmer...
directed a promotional music video for "Dying Will Be the Death of Me", which premiered at MTV's Headbanger's Ball. The song parodies American metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
with its music, lyrics and vocals. In March 2005, Anomalies was released, and the band toured in North America once again.
Mullen exited in January 2006 to prioritize his education and other acts, and the band soon found replacement Nick Schendzielos. In March, the band's recording studio was robbed. They played several shows in the United States in April, and an extensive European tour followed in June with Darkest Hour.
Xenosapien (2007–2009)
The band recorded its next studio album between November and December 2006, and its release was set for May 2007 under the title XenosapienXenosapien
Xenosapien is the fifth full-length album by Cephalic Carnage. It was released May 28, 2007 on Relapse Records. "Endless Cycle of Violence" is the first single, and is available on the band's MySpace page. The album has received strong reviews, and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Heatseekers...
. In March 2007, the band supported Brujeria
Brujeria (band)
Brujeria is an extreme metal band formed in Tijuana, Mexico in 1989. Their name comes from the Spanish word for "witchcraft". Their songs, which are sung in Spanish, are focused on Satanism, anti-Christianity, sex, immigration, narcotics smuggling, politics....
on U.S. dates and subsequently embarked on "Xenosapien World Tour", which started in continental Europe on May 4, continued in United Kingdom and Ireland in May and resumed in the "Summer Slaughter" trek (dubbed the "Summer’s Laughter" by band members) across the U.S. throughout June and July along with Decapitated
Decapitated (band)
Decapitated is a death metal band that formed in Krosno, Poland in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski and Austrian drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner. Decapitated have gained recognition as one of the genre's most widely respected...
among others. The band also filmed a music video for the song "Endless Cycle of Violence". On November 20, 2007, the band's van was robbed. Their "recent earnings from the tour (close to $4,000), a laptop with more than $2,000 in music-software programs loaded, an iPod and various personal items" were stolen.
Cephalic Carnage reissued Conforming to Abnormality under Relapse Records on April 29, 2008. Cephalic Carnage participated in a "mini-tour" of Japan in May 2009, performing in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Nagoya and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In June 2009, Cephalic Carnage, along with Cattle Decapitation
Cattle Decapitation
Cattle Decapitation is an American deathgrind band from San Diego, California, formed in 1996.-History:Originally founded in 1996, Cattle Decapitation's songs protest the mistreatment and consumption of animals as well as the abuse of the environment. Lyrics may also focus on subjects such as...
and Withered
Withered
Withered is an American extreme metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, founded by Chris Freeman and Mike Thompson. Both members also participate in a crust punk/grindcore band, Social Infestation, which also features Mastodon bassist Troy Sanders.-Overview:...
, pulled out of the Blackenedfest tour due to organization problems and said they were "getting on with writing the next full length, (...) as well as finishing construction of our late night poutine stand, where we will serve country-fried giraffe eggs and your favorite French-Canadian specialty." In October 2009, the band released a music video for the song "Vaporized" while writing a new album and announced a planned concert DVD entitled Live At Your Mom's House.
Misled by Certainty (2010–present)
Cephalic Carnage began recording their new album, Misled by CertaintyMisled by Certainty
Misled by Certainty is the sixth studio album by the Colorado-based deathgrind band Cephalic Carnage. The album was released on August 31, 2010, via Relapse Records, and had 1300 copies sold in the United States in its first week, appearing at the #24 position on Billboard Heatseekers. This is the...
, in May 2010. It was released August 31, 2010 by Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
. Cephalic Carnage is reissuing Lucid Interval with a planned release date of September 13, 2011.
Musical style
Allmusic describes the style of Cephalic Carnage as "crazy concoction of truly experimental grindcore, death metal, and jazz". Their music varies from death-grindDeathgrind
Deathgrind is a musical genre that fuses death metal and grindcore. The genre, along with pornogrind, is related to the goregrind subgenre...
, technical death metal
Technical death metal
Technical death metal is a musical subgenre of death metal that focuses on complex rhythms, riffs and song structures. Technical experimentation in death metal began in the late '80s and early '90s by bands such as Death, Atheist and Cynic...
, occasional surf rock, instrumental, to flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
interludes or violin-and-sax ambient jams. Their early style is typically progressive and technically proficient, with some comedic songs. Their later work developed into a more experimental, complex direction.
Cephalic Carnage is also known for its humorous songs. Popmatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
points out some examples: "On past albums, the band has taken satirical swipes at the overtly image-oriented black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
("Black Metal Sabbath") and the oversaturated, angst-ridden metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
sound ("Dying Will Be the Death of Me"), and even in live settings, they’re not above taking the odd spontaneous piss-take to bring some levity to a situation. One notorious YouTube clip has a fight starting in the pit at a Cephalic show in Toronto, and in an inspired moment, the band launches into a rousing excerpt from "Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites...
", to a raucous ovation from the kids."
Members
Current members- Lenzig Leal – vocals (1992–present)
- John Merryman – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1996–present) - Steve Goldberg – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(1996–present) - Nick Schendzielos – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2006–present) - Brian Hopp – guitar (2009–present)
Former members
- Zac Joe – guitar (1992–2010)
- Doug Williams – bass guitar (1996–1998)
- Jawsh Mullen – bass guitar (1998–2006)
Discography
Studio albums- Conforming to AbnormalityConforming to AbnormalityConforming to Abnormality is Cephalic Carnage's first full-length album. It was first released in 1998 on Italy's Headfucker Records. In 2002 the album was re-released on Hybrid Records. In 2006 Subordinate Records from Italy re-released the album without the band's permission on CD and 12" vinyl...
(1998) - Exploiting DysfunctionExploiting Dysfunction- Track listing :- Personnel :* Lenzig Leal - vocals* Zac Joe - guitar* John Merryman - drums* Steve Goldberg - guitar* Jawsh Mullen - bass...
(2000) - Lucid IntervalLucid IntervalLucid Interval is the third full-length album released by Cephalic Carnage. It was released in 2002 via Relapse Records. The album is being reissued with a bonus track on September 13, 2011.- Track listing :- Personnel :Cephalic Carnage...
(2002) - Anomalies (2005)
- XenosapienXenosapienXenosapien is the fifth full-length album by Cephalic Carnage. It was released May 28, 2007 on Relapse Records. "Endless Cycle of Violence" is the first single, and is available on the band's MySpace page. The album has received strong reviews, and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Heatseekers...
(2007) - Misled by CertaintyMisled by CertaintyMisled by Certainty is the sixth studio album by the Colorado-based deathgrind band Cephalic Carnage. The album was released on August 31, 2010, via Relapse Records, and had 1300 copies sold in the United States in its first week, appearing at the #24 position on Billboard Heatseekers. This is the...
(2010)
Extended plays
- Halls of AmentiHalls of AmentiHalls of Amenti is a one-song EP by Cephalic Carnage released by Willowtip Records, which is 19 minutes in length. This was an experimental song done in a doom metal style and using some death metal style vocals....
(2002) - Digital Carnage (2005)
Demos
- Scrape My Lungs (1994)
- Fortuitous OddityFortuitous OddityFortuitous Oddity is a 1996 self-released demo EP by the band Cephalic Carnage. In 1997, the band released it again with different artwork.- Track listing :# "Analytical" # "Chelsea" # "Waiting for the Millennium"...
(1996) - Promo 1997 (1997)
Splits
- Cephalic Carnage / Adnauseam (1998)
- Impaled / Cephalic CarnageImpaled / Cephalic CarnageThis is a split 7" released by Impaled and Cephalic Carnage on Headfucker Records.- Track listing :Impaled# "Flesh and Blood" # "With Shit I am Adorned" Cephalic Carnage# "Observer of the Obliteration of Planet Earth"...
(1999) - Perversion... and the Guilt After / Version 5.Obese (2002)
- HF Seveninches Collection Vol. 1 (2008)