Diabolic
Encyclopedia
Diabolic is an American death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....

 band from Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, founded in 1998 by drummer Aantar Lee Coates and guitarist Brian Malone.

Biography

The very earliest beginnings of Diabolic started in 1996, when drummer Aantar Coates (Exmortis, Horror of Horrors, Unholy Ghost, Blastmasters)
teamed up with guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (Pessimist, Unholy Ghost, Possessed
Possessed (band)
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre...

) to record the very first 4-song DIABOLIC Demo.

Although this demo was never officially released, and sent only to select contacts in the underground, it marked the beginning of something Evil...

By January 1997, Diabolic drummer/founder Aantar Coates had relocated to Tampa, FL and after forming the first complete lineup, recorded and released the landmark demo "City of the Dead". This highly-successful demo, described by critics as "The Best Death Metal Demo Ever!", immediately got the band noticed in the worldwide underground press and was later released as MCD on Fadeless Records. By 1998, DIABOLIC made their debut live appearance opening for Vader
Vader (band)
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...

 in Tampa, FL followed by Milwaukee Metalfest XII. The lineup was soon solidified to include Aantar Coates on Drums, Paul Ouellette on Lead Guitars and Vocals, Brian Malone on Lead Guitars, and Ed Webb on Bass.

In 1999, Diabolic recorded their debut full length album Supreme Evil
Supreme Evil
- Track listing :# "Insacred" – 0:25# "Sacrament Of Fiends" – 3:01# "Ancient Hatred" - 2:25# "Treacherous Scriptures" – 3:03# "Grave Warnings" – 3:11# "Rack Of Torment" – 4:33# "View With Abhorrence" – 3:15# "Dwelling Spirits" – 4:57...

. This CD, which was mastered at Morrisound Recording
Morrisound Recording
Morrisound Recording is an audio recording facility in Temple Terrace, Florida, owned and operated by brothers Jim and Tom Morris. Since its opening in 1981, Morrisound has been responsible for the popularization of genres such as heavy metal and death metal, but of course caters to every genre of...

 Studios in Tampa, FL and featured the artwork of Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Marduk
Marduk (band)
Marduk is a black metal band from Norrköping, Sweden. The band formed in 1990 and released their first record in 1991. Their name is derived from the Babylonian god Marduk, patron deity of Babylon.-Musical style:...

, Krisiun
Krisiun
Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by Alex Camargo , Moyses Kolesne , and Max Kolesne . Since its formation, in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991, and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play titled Unmerciful Order in 1993...

), was released on Conquest/Hammerheart Records and received a multitude of excellent reviews and established an enormous international underground following for the band. More live shows soon followed, and the band continued gaining notoriety and writing for their next release.

The following year in 2000, Diabolic forged their 2nd full length album Subterraneal Magnitude, again released on Conquest/Hammerheart Records.
Produced by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...

, Terrorizer
Terrorizer
Terrorizer is an American grindcore and death metal band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. After disbanding, its members gained recognition by playing in influential extreme metal bands, such as Morbid Angel , Napalm Death and Nausea...

), this over-the-top destructive force expanded the unique Diabolic sound to new extremes. By this time, Vocalist Paul Ouellette had switched to Bass, and the band had recruited Brian Hipp (Brutality
Brutality (band)
Brutality is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida. " Brutality" formed in 1986 and soon after released their first demo called "Abomination". In 1988, they released their second demo "Brutality" that led them into the fanzine underground. The band's third demo "Dimension Demented" was...

, Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...

, Acheron
Acheron (band)
Acheron are an American black/death band, originally based in Florida.-History:Founded in 1988 by vocalist/bassist/songwriter Vincent Crowley , Acheron's musical output is almost exclusively Satanic and anti-Christian in content. Early albums featured interludes by Peter H. Gilmore...

) on Lead Guitars. Again featuring the art of Joe Petagno, it was clear that DIABOLIC were destined for success.

Diabolic were soon enlisted for the "Death Metal Massacre Tour 2000", opening for Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...

, God Dethroned
God Dethroned
-Biography:God Dethroned was formed in 1991 by singer and guitar player Henri Sattler, with Hans Leegstra and Ard de Weerd. Sattler and Leegstra had previously been in Dysentery; Leegstra, quickly after the band formed, left the music scene altogether. They recorded a demo, Christ Hunt, in 1991,...

 and Hate Eternal
Hate Eternal
-Biography:Hate Eternal was formed in 1997. The group's original line-up included Erik Rutan - guitars/vocals, bassist and co-vocalist Jared Anderson, drummer Tim Yeung, and guitarist Doug Cerrito of the band Suffocation...

, playing to sold-out venues for four weeks, all across the USA. In 2001, DIABOLIC were honored to be chosen for the prestigious Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs was a heavy metal magazine founded in 1989 by Mike G. and Katherine Ludwig of Metal Shop. It was focused largely on covering extreme metal, with emphasis on the black and death metal genres...

 "Xmass Ball Tour 2001", opening for Enslaved
Enslaved (band)
Enslaved is a progressive black metal band formed in June 1991 in Sveio, Norway, and currently based out of Bergen, Norway.-History:Enslaved was formed in June 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson when they were 13 and 17 years old, respectively. The band name was inspired by an Immortal demo...

 and Macabre
Macabre (band)
Macabre is an extreme metal band from Illinois. They were formed in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, and have never had a line-up change. They blend thrash metal, death metal, and grindcore to form their own unique style dubbed murder metal...

 (which included a one-off with Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...

!), followed by a 3-week North American Tour of the US and Canada, supporting Marduk
Marduk (band)
Marduk is a black metal band from Norrköping, Sweden. The band formed in 1990 and released their first record in 1991. Their name is derived from the Babylonian god Marduk, patron deity of Babylon.-Musical style:...

 and Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...

. Later that same year, DIABOLIC were hand-picked to open several dates across the Southern US with death metal pioneers Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...

.

In 2002, Diabolic signed to Century Media/Olympic Records and surpassed all earlier releases with their 3rd CD, Vengeance Ascending. Once again produced by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez, this devastating attack redefined extreme metal in a relentless onslaught of anger, vengeance, and victory. Again this CD featured the art of Joe Petagno, and new Lead Guitarist recruit Jerry Mortellaro. The band then departed on a month-long, sold-out US Tour supporting Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...

, Cryptopsy
Cryptopsy
Cryptopsy is a Canadian technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1988. The band has sold over 300,000 records.-Necrosis :...

, and Krisiun
Krisiun
Krisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by Alex Camargo , Moyses Kolesne , and Max Kolesne . Since its formation, in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991, and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play titled Unmerciful Order in 1993...

, further solidifying the band as one of the underground's most ferocious upcoming death metal acts.

In November 2002 Diabolic made their European debut, for a month-long tour of 10 countries in support of Behemoth
Behemoth (band)
Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....

, Destroyer 666
Destroyer 666
Deströyer 666 is a black/death/thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe.- History :...

, and Deicide
Deicide (band)
Deicide is an American death metal band formed in 1987. Their first two albums, Deicide and Legion, are ranked second and third place in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScan era.-As Amon/Carnage :...

.

By 2003, and after the European Tour, the band had gone through several major lineup changes. Gone was the original lineup, who had all been replaced. Led by sole remaining original member Brian Malone, the band recorded their fourth full-length CD, Infinity Through Purification. Produced by Neil Kernon (Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...

, Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...

, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

) and released on Century Media Records, this album had great potential, but without the trademark Diabolic sound that the band had developed mostly garnered lackluster reviews. The band had even secured an opening slot on Deicide's upcoming US Tour, but soon after the album's release, it was announced that the band was being dissolved permanently. It seemed that this would be the end of Diabolic.

Meanwhile, Diabolic original members Aantar Cotes (Drums), Paul Ouellette (Vocals, Bass) along with guitarists Kelly McLauchlin (Pessimist, Unholy Ghost, Possessed
Possessed (band)
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre...

) and Jerry Mortellaro (also formerly of DIABOLIC) had joined together in 2003 to form a new band, Unholy Ghost. The band signed to Century Media/Olympic Recs, and released the debut CD Torrential Reign, produced by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...

, Terrorizer
Terrorizer
Terrorizer is an American grindcore and death metal band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. After disbanding, its members gained recognition by playing in influential extreme metal bands, such as Morbid Angel , Napalm Death and Nausea...

) as well as recorded a video for "Under Existence", released on Century Media Europe DVD. The band went on to play several hi-profile fests such as "Sun 'n' Steel" Florida Metalfest, Snakenet.com "Metal Nation" Fest, Las Vegas Metalfest, and "Gathering of the Bestial Legions" Metalfest in L.A. Despite its apparent success, UNHOLY GHOST soon disbanded in 2005, lead guitarist Kelly McLauchlin went back to work with Pessimist, and drummer Aantar Coates went on to form yet another new band, Blastmasters.

By 2006, and amidst legal battles over the rights to use the name, Diabolic had re-formed. Original drummer Aantar Coates along with Unholy Ghost/Pessimist Guitarist Kelly McLauchlin and parts of the Blastmasters lineup (RJ/Guitars and Jesse Jolly/Bass, Vox) recorded their comeback EP, Possessed By Death in 2007. Then after re-enlisting original Bassist/Vocalist Paul Ouellette in 2008, the band recorded yet another new EP, Chaos in Hell. Both self-produced EPs were recorded at DOW studios in Tampa, FL again with longtime producer Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez. The band then signed to Deathgasm Records in 2008, and released both EPs on one CD, Chaos in Hell/Possessed by Death.

Diabolic continued by playing select shows in Tampa, FL with Monstrosity
Monstrosity (band)
Monstrosity is a death metal band originating from Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the death metal scene of the early 1990s. Vocalist, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and drummer, Lee Harrison, were the founders of Monstrosity. Harrison had just left the band Malevolent Creation and George Fisher...

 and Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under (band)
Six Feet Under is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1993. The band was originally a side project by Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes with guitarist Allen West of Obituary...

, and festivals including "Mayhem in May" in Louisville, KY and "Gathering of the Bestial Legions III" Metalfest in Hollywood, CA.

The band returned once again to DOW Studios and longtime producer Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...

, Terrorizer
Terrorizer
Terrorizer is an American grindcore and death metal band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. After disbanding, its members gained recognition by playing in influential extreme metal bands, such as Morbid Angel , Napalm Death and Nausea...

, Unholy Ghost) and in 2010, DIABOLIC has unleashed their newest slaying, Excisions of Exorcisms on Deathgasm Records with a return to a core lineup that features original members Drummer Aantar Coates (Unholy Ghost, Exmortis, Horror of Horrors, Blastmasters), original Bassist/Vocalist Paul Ouellette (Unholy Ghost), and Lead Guitarists Kelly McLauchlin (Unholy Ghost, Pessimist, Possessed
Possessed (band)
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre...

) and Jeff Parrish (Blastmasters).

In April 2010, Diabolic was hand-selected to open the first several dates of the Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...

 "Evisceration Plague" Tour (in place of 1349
1349 (band)
1349 is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1997. Their name comes from the year the Black Death reached Norway.- History :1349 formed in 1997 and comprises several former members of the band Alvheim...

), including shows in Atlanta GA, Raleigh NC, Washington DC and Long Island, NY. The band then made festival appearances at "Las Vegas Deathfest II" and "Hostile City Death Fest
Hostile City Death Fest
Hostile City Deathfest is an annual extreme music festival held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The festival mostly features death metal and black metal bands. It occurs on the third weekend in August each year...

 II" in Philadelphia, PA.

In June 2011, Diabolic had gone through another lineup change, they en-listed,the returning, RJ on Guitar, and John Hall III on Bass and Vocals. DIABOLIC is currently writing new music for the next CD.

Lineup

  • John C. Hall III - vocals, bass (2011–present)
  • RJ Reinagle - guitars (2006–2007, 2011–present)
  • Jeff Parrish - guitars (2007–present)
  • Aantar Lee Coates - drums (1998–2001, 2004–present)

Former members

  • Jesse Jolly - vocals, bass (2004–2007)
  • Paul Ouellette - vocals, bass (1998–2001, 2007–2010)
  • Brian Malone - guitars (1998–2004)
  • Ed Webb - vocals, bass (1998–2001, 2003–2004)
  • Bryan Hipp
    Bryan Hipp
    Bryan Hipp was an extreme metal guitarist. He played in the bands Brutality , Cradle of Filth , Acheron , Unholy Ghost, Diabolic and Blastmasters....

     - guitars (2001)
  • Jerry Mortellaro - guitars (2001–2003)
  • Eric Hersemann - guitars (2003–2004)
  • Gael Barthelemy - drums (2003–2004)
  • Kelly McLauchlin - guitars (2004–2011)

Discography

  • Supreme Evil
    Supreme Evil
    - Track listing :# "Insacred" – 0:25# "Sacrament Of Fiends" – 3:01# "Ancient Hatred" - 2:25# "Treacherous Scriptures" – 3:03# "Grave Warnings" – 3:11# "Rack Of Torment" – 4:33# "View With Abhorrence" – 3:15# "Dwelling Spirits" – 4:57...

    (1998)
  • City of the Dead - EP
    Extended play
    An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...

    (1999)
  • Subterraneal Magnitude (2001)
  • Vengeance Ascending (2001)
  • Infinity Through Purification (2003)
  • Shellfire and Tombstones (2006)
  • Possessed By Death EP (2007)
  • Chaos In Hell EP (2007)
  • Excisions of Exorcisms (2010)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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