Nocturnus
Encyclopedia
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. Although they were (and still are) relatively obscure, notable bands such as Necrophagist
, Theory in Practice
, and Children of Bodom
have cited Nocturnus as an influence.
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 of 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 band's tours were over.
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 (formerly 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.
One theory is that 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.
Another theory is that Panzer, McNenny, and Davis all agreed to copyright Nocturnus' name and keep Browning out of it because Browning was into practicing extreme Satanism, and none of the members of the band wanted any sort of affiliation with his activities. By signing a copyright without Browning, it allowed the 3 to kick him out of the band and suffer no payouts from royalties to him in the future.
In any case, 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 early 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.
. 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 now plays guitar in Rob Halford
's solo band, Halford
. 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 bears 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.
The band returned in late 2008 with the legendary Mike Browning(Morbid Angel) back on drums (actually it was BC/AD line up), for two exclusive UK dates one at BUSK in Birmingham and the other in London plus some European gigs.
Guitars
Bass
Drums
(the band may have also had drummers after Bizarro whose names are not known)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
progressive death metal band formed in 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....
in 1987 by drummer/vocalist Mike Browning
Mike Browning
Mike Browning is an American metal drummer and vocalist.-Career:He is perhaps best known for being the former drummer/vocalist for death metal pioneers Morbid Angel. He played in the band from 1984 to 1986 and made one official recording with them, the Abominations of Desolation album, which was...
(formerly of 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...
). They were known for their science-fiction themed lyrics and use of keyboards, both of which were virtually unknown in extreme metal. Although they were (and still are) relatively obscure, notable bands such as Necrophagist
Necrophagist
Necrophagist is a German death metal band, founded and fronted by Muhammed Suiçmez; a German-born, Turkish guitarist and vocalist. The band is known for its rapid and technical compositions....
, Theory in Practice
Theory in Practice
Theory in Practice is a Swedish technical death metal band founded in 1995, which borrows heavily from progressive metal. The band writes technical and complex songs consisting of a lot of time and tempo changes. After a year of rehearsals and gigs, they recorded a demo called Submissive in the...
, and Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
have cited Nocturnus as an influence.
Formation and The Key
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 SteelAgent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
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
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...
) and was replaced by then-unknown 18-year old guitar prodigy Mike Davis
Mike Davis (guitarist)
Mike Davis is an American metal guitarist. He is best known for his work in the progressive death metal band Nocturnus. He joined the band around 1988, and eventually became the bands' standout lead guitarist. He joined the band when he was just 18 years old and is widely regarded as an underrated...
. Bateman quit shortly afterwards to join Nasty Savage
Nasty Savage
Nasty Savage was a thrash metal band originating from Brandon Florida, USA. The band rose to popularity primarily due to lead vocalist "Nasty" Ronnie Galetti's over-the-top stage show performances The first album featuring the hit single "XXX" was recorded at Progressive Music in Tampa...
.
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
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...
guitarist Trey Azagthoth
Trey Azagthoth
Trey Azagthoth is an American musician best known as founder and guitarist of the Florida death metal band Morbid Angel. Azagthoth began playing at the age of 16...
, the band signed to Earache Records
Earache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
. The band recorded their debut album, The Key with Tom Morris
Tom Morris
Tom Morris may refer to:*Old Tom Morris , early golf champion*Young Tom Morris , son of the above, also a golf champion*Tom Morris footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the 1890s and 1900s...
, which was released in 1990. The album, filled with a unique occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
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
Kam Lee
Kam Lee is an American singer. He is best known for his vocal contributions to an early incarnation of Death in 1983–84, and later joined Massacre in 1985, founded and formed by Bill Andrews....
.
Jeff Estes began developing a major drinking
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
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 of Bolt Thrower, and then embarked on the Grindcrusher tour with 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...
, 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 Godflesh
Godflesh
Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...
. O'Sullivan ended up not working out and he was fired as soon as the band's tours were over.
Thresholds
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 SoulsTortured Souls
Tortured Souls, also known as Clive Barker's Tortured Souls, is a series of six action figures and a novelette starring the characters of the series. Distributed by McFarlane Toys on July 2001, the series included six monsters designed by horror author Clive Barker...
vocalist Dan Izzo was brought in on lead vocals. The band drafted Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson may refer to:* Chris Anderson , founder of Future Publishing and curator of the TED Conference* Chris Anderson , author, journalist, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine, popularized "The Long Tail"* Chris Anderson , football player, educator, former Vice-Chairman of Aberdeen F.C.*...
to play bass on their new album, Thresholds
Thresholds
Thresholds is the second full-length studio album from Florida death metal band Nocturnus. It was released in 1992 by Earache Records and follows the band's debut album The Key....
.
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
Shred guitar
Shred guitar or shredding is lead electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast guitar solos. While some critics argue that shred guitar is associated with "... sweep-picked arpeggios, diminished and harmonic minor scales, finger-tapping and ... whammy-bar abuse", several guitar...
, 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
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...
. The band also got a new permanent bassist Emo Mowery (formerly of Malediction
Malediction
Malediction is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or unhappiness will befall another person or persons, a magical phrase or word uttered with the intention of bringing about evilMalediction may also refer to:...
) 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.
One theory is that 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.
Another theory is that Panzer, McNenny, and Davis all agreed to copyright Nocturnus' name and keep Browning out of it because Browning was into practicing extreme Satanism, and none of the members of the band wanted any sort of affiliation with his activities. By signing a copyright without Browning, it allowed the 3 to kick him out of the band and suffer no payouts from royalties to him in the future.
In any case, 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
Nocturnus (EP)
Nocturnus is a two-track EP from Florida death metal band, Nocturnus. It was released in 1993 on Moribund Records and follows the full-length studio album, Thresholds...
in 1993, which featured a recycled early 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
Trey Azagthoth
Trey Azagthoth is an American musician best known as founder and guitarist of the Florida death metal band Morbid Angel. Azagthoth began playing at the age of 16...
that was eventually scratched.
Ethereal Tomb
In 2000 Mowery and Davis reunited with McNenney and Panzer, along with new drummer Rick Bizarro and released their comeback album Ethereal TombEthereal Tomb
Ethereal Tomb is the third and final full-length studio album from Florida death metal band, Nocturnus. It was released in 2000 on Season of Mist Records – after an absence of nearly seven years since the band's last material, the Nocturnus EP was released...
. 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
Leash Law
Leash Law was an American power metal band formed by ex-members of various other groups. It was formed in 2003 by Wade Black, once a member of the band Seven Witches, Rick Renstrom, Emo Mowery, Stephen Elder, and Richard Christy, who was once a member of the influential bands Death and Iced Earth...
. Mike Davis now plays guitar in Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
's solo band, Halford
Halford
Halford may refer to:Places:*Halford, Shropshire, England*Halford, Warwickshire, England*Halford Island, Nunavut, CanadaPeople:* Alison Halford , Welsh former senior police officer and politician...
. 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
After Death
After Death is an Italian zombie movie made during the height of the zombie craze. Released in the United States under the title Zombie 4: After Death and in the United Kingdom as Zombie Flesh Eaters 3, the movie has no connections to the other official or unofficial Zombi films...
, which bears 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.
The band returned in late 2008 with the legendary Mike Browning(Morbid Angel) back on drums (actually it was BC/AD line up), for two exclusive UK dates one at BUSK in Birmingham and the other in London plus some European gigs.
Last Known Lineup
- Mike DavisMike Davis (guitarist)Mike Davis is an American metal guitarist. He is best known for his work in the progressive death metal band Nocturnus. He joined the band around 1988, and eventually became the bands' standout lead guitarist. He joined the band when he was just 18 years old and is widely regarded as an underrated...
- 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 AndersonChris AndersonChris Anderson may refer to:* Chris Anderson , founder of Future Publishing and curator of the TED Conference* Chris Anderson , author, journalist, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine, popularized "The Long Tail"* Chris Anderson , football player, educator, former Vice-Chairman of Aberdeen F.C.*...
(1992) (session only)
Drums
- Mike BrowningMike BrowningMike Browning is an American metal drummer and vocalist.-Career:He is perhaps best known for being the former drummer/vocalist for death metal pioneers Morbid Angel. He played in the band from 1984 to 1986 and made one official recording with them, the Abominations of Desolation album, which was...
(1987–1992) - James Marcinek (1992–1993)
- Rick Bizarro (2000)
(the band may have also had drummers after Bizarro whose names are not known)
Discography
- 1987 Nocturnus (demo)
- 1988 The Science of Horror (demo)
- 1990 The Key
- 1992 ThresholdsThresholdsThresholds is the second full-length studio album from Florida death metal band Nocturnus. It was released in 1992 by Earache Records and follows the band's debut album The Key....
- 1993 Nocturnus (EP)Nocturnus (EP)Nocturnus is a two-track EP from Florida death metal band, Nocturnus. It was released in 1993 on Moribund Records and follows the full-length studio album, Thresholds...
(EP) - 2000 Ethereal TombEthereal TombEthereal Tomb is the third and final full-length studio album from Florida death metal band, Nocturnus. It was released in 2000 on Season of Mist Records – after an absence of nearly seven years since the band's last material, the Nocturnus EP was released...
- 2004 The Nocturnus Demos (Compilation)
- 2004 Farewell to Planet Earth (DVD)