System Divide
Encyclopedia
System Divide is an extreme modern metal/melodic death metal
band, formed by the couple Sven de Caluwé (of Aborted
) and Miri Milman (of Distorted), and originating and featuring members from Israel
, Belgium
and the US.
band Aborted
and Miri Milman of progressive
gothic metal
outfit Distorted in summer 2008, resulting in Miri leaving her position as lead vocalist in Distorted. Though, kept under a low profile in the beginning, the other band members and new information about the project was revealed later. Other members in the band included Cole Martinez on guitar, Andew Lenthe on bass and Mike Heller of Malignancy
on drums, all from the US.
In late 2008, the band entered Conquistador Recordings in Cleveland, Ohio
to record their debut 4 track EP with guitarist Cole Martinez as producer. The EP was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Denmark
in April and May 2009. The EP, entitled The Collapse
was self-released by the band on May 17, 2009.
Shortly after the release of the EP, the band started writing material for their first full-length album. Shorty after, the band was signed to Metal Blade Records
for a major label contract to release their debut full-length album in 2010. The band entered the studio to record the album The Conscious Sedation
In November 2009, the band shot a music video for the first single from the EP - "The Apex Doctrine" with director Kevin James Custer
in Brooklyn
, New York
. A trailer for the music video was uploaded by the band on November 17, 2009, promoting the soon to be released video, which wasn't released until August 2010 to coincide with the release of their debut album.
During the recording of their debut full-length album, The Conscious Sedation
, the band recruited a lead guitarist - ex-Abigail Williams
guitarist Michael Wilson, and changed producer to famed heavy metal
producer and guitarist James Murphy.
On June 2, 2010, it was announced that the mixing of the album was completed and that the album is being mastered and set for release on September 14, 2010.
The band had its debut live show on July 21, 2010, in Tel Aviv
, Israel
at the Summer Carnage Fest alongside bands such as Aborted
, The Fading
, Whorecore, Missing In Action, Phantom Pain and more. Following their one-off Israeli show, the band went a Canadian cross-country tour in support of Aborted
along with Augury
, from August 19, 2010, up until September 6, 2010. Around the same time, guitarist Cole Martinez has decided to leave the band. Gregory Macklin was recruited to be the band's touring guitarist for the 2011 tours.
On November 17, 2010, it was announced the band will be going on a 20 date full North American tour between February 1–26, 2011, in support of Eluveitie
, along with 3 Inches of Blood
and Holy Grail. During April 22–May 15, 2011, the band toured as part of Revolver Magazine
's Hell Hath No Fury Tour with In This Moment
, Straight Line Stitch
and Sister Sin
.
, gothic metal
, groove metal
and alternative metal
with touches of metalcore
, and elements taken from doom metal
, symphonic metal
, progressive metal
and even electronic music
. The band's debut EP The Collapse
was promoted as extreme modern metal, comparing the band to such bands as Slipknot
, Killswitch Engage
, Soilwork
, Opeth
, Strapping Young Lad
, Lacuna Coil
, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir
, Whitechapel
, Katatonia
and Morbid Angel
.
Former members
Touring members
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band, formed by the couple Sven de Caluwé (of Aborted
Aborted
Aborted is a Belgian death metal band formed in Waregem, Belgium in 1995. The group comprises vocalist and founder Sven de Caluwé, guitarists Eran Segal and Mike Wilson, bassist J.B. Van Der Wal, and drummer Ken Bedene. The band members of Aborted are from Belgium, France, Israel, United Kingdom,...
) and Miri Milman (of Distorted), and originating and featuring members from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the US.
History
The band was started as project by newlyweds Sven de Caluwé of Belgian deathgrindDeathgrind
Deathgrind is a musical genre that fuses death metal and grindcore. The genre, along with pornogrind, is related to the goregrind subgenre...
band Aborted
Aborted
Aborted is a Belgian death metal band formed in Waregem, Belgium in 1995. The group comprises vocalist and founder Sven de Caluwé, guitarists Eran Segal and Mike Wilson, bassist J.B. Van Der Wal, and drummer Ken Bedene. The band members of Aborted are from Belgium, France, Israel, United Kingdom,...
and Miri Milman of progressive
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
outfit Distorted in summer 2008, resulting in Miri leaving her position as lead vocalist in Distorted. Though, kept under a low profile in the beginning, the other band members and new information about the project was revealed later. Other members in the band included Cole Martinez on guitar, Andew Lenthe on bass and Mike Heller of Malignancy
Malignancy (band)
Malignancy is a technical death metal band from Yonkers, New York formed in 1992.-Overview:Malignancy is recognized as one of the longest standing and well-known death metal bands in the New York death metal scene along with Incantation, Mortician and Suffocation.-History:Malignancy formed in...
on drums, all from the US.
In late 2008, the band entered Conquistador Recordings in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to record their debut 4 track EP with guitarist Cole Martinez as producer. The EP was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in April and May 2009. The EP, entitled The Collapse
The Collapse (EP)
The Collapse is the debut EP by gothic/melodic death metal band System Divide, released on May 17, 2009.The EP was self-recorded at the Conquistador Recordings in Cleveland, Ohio and produced by the band's own guitarist Cole Martinez. It was self-released on May 17, 2009, and released on iTunes on...
was self-released by the band on May 17, 2009.
Shortly after the release of the EP, the band started writing material for their first full-length album. Shorty after, the band was signed to Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
for a major label contract to release their debut full-length album in 2010. The band entered the studio to record the album The Conscious Sedation
The Conscious Sedation
The Conscious Sedation is the debut full-length studio album by gothic/melodic death metal band System Divide, released on September 14, 2010...
In November 2009, the band shot a music video for the first single from the EP - "The Apex Doctrine" with director Kevin James Custer
Kevin James Custer
Kevin James Custer is a music video and commercial director, photographer, drummer, and financial analyst. In 2001, Kevin formed a production company called Toaster In The Tub...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. A trailer for the music video was uploaded by the band on November 17, 2009, promoting the soon to be released video, which wasn't released until August 2010 to coincide with the release of their debut album.
During the recording of their debut full-length album, The Conscious Sedation
The Conscious Sedation
The Conscious Sedation is the debut full-length studio album by gothic/melodic death metal band System Divide, released on September 14, 2010...
, the band recruited a lead guitarist - ex-Abigail Williams
Abigail Williams (band)
Abigail Williams is an American metal band, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but now based in Los Angeles. Formed in 2004, the group would suffer constant changes to their line-up...
guitarist Michael Wilson, and changed producer to famed heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
producer and guitarist James Murphy.
On June 2, 2010, it was announced that the mixing of the album was completed and that the album is being mastered and set for release on September 14, 2010.
The band had its debut live show on July 21, 2010, in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at the Summer Carnage Fest alongside bands such as Aborted
Aborted
Aborted is a Belgian death metal band formed in Waregem, Belgium in 1995. The group comprises vocalist and founder Sven de Caluwé, guitarists Eran Segal and Mike Wilson, bassist J.B. Van Der Wal, and drummer Ken Bedene. The band members of Aborted are from Belgium, France, Israel, United Kingdom,...
, The Fading
The Fading
The Fading is an Israeli based melodic death/thrash metal band, founded in 2000 under the name Excessum. The band released two EPs before winning the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle contest, earning them a contract with Wacken Records, where they released their debut album In Sin We'll Find Salvation...
, Whorecore, Missing In Action, Phantom Pain and more. Following their one-off Israeli show, the band went a Canadian cross-country tour in support of Aborted
Aborted
Aborted is a Belgian death metal band formed in Waregem, Belgium in 1995. The group comprises vocalist and founder Sven de Caluwé, guitarists Eran Segal and Mike Wilson, bassist J.B. Van Der Wal, and drummer Ken Bedene. The band members of Aborted are from Belgium, France, Israel, United Kingdom,...
along with Augury
Augury (band)
Augury is a progressive death metal band from Montreal, Canada who released their debut album, Concealed in September 2004 on Galy Records, and a follow-up, Fragmentary Evidence, in July 2009 on Nuclear Blast Records.-History:...
, from August 19, 2010, up until September 6, 2010. Around the same time, guitarist Cole Martinez has decided to leave the band. Gregory Macklin was recruited to be the band's touring guitarist for the 2011 tours.
On November 17, 2010, it was announced the band will be going on a 20 date full North American tour between February 1–26, 2011, in support of Eluveitie
Eluveitie
Eluveitie is a folk metal band from Winterthur, Switzerland. The band formed in 2002 and their first EP, Vên came out in 2003. The band then released a full-length album, Spirit in June 2006. In November 2007, Eluveitie was signed by Nuclear Blast....
, along with 3 Inches of Blood
3 Inches of Blood
3 Inches of Blood is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in 2000 in Vancouver, British Columbia, currently consisting of Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, and Ash Pearson...
and Holy Grail. During April 22–May 15, 2011, the band toured as part of Revolver Magazine
Revolver (magazine)
Revolver is a bi-monthly rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. Before covering heavy metal, rock & hard rock solely, it was a more mainstream oriented magazine. The magazine is structured in a manner similar to publications such as Spin while covering many avenues within the heavy...
's Hell Hath No Fury Tour with In This Moment
In This Moment
In This Moment is an American metalcore band from North Hollywood , California. Formed in 2005, the group has released three albums to date, all through Century Media Records.-Founding:...
, Straight Line Stitch
Straight Line Stitch
-History:Straight Line Stitch initially formed around 2000 and issued an EP and a demo album before adding female vocalist Alexis Brown from Clarksville, Tennessee to the band in 2003. Brown sang on their self-released 2006 effort To Be Godlike, for which they filmed a video for the single...
and Sister Sin
Sister Sin
Sister Sin is a female-fronted "old-school metal" band from Gothenburg, Sweden.- History :Formed in 2002 and releasing various recordings via smaller indie labels they came out with their first non-indie debut via Victory Records in October 2008. Switchblade Serenades reached number 107 on Top...
.
Musical style and Influences
System Divide's musical style is mostly regarded as a combination of melodic death metalMelodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
, gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
, groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
and alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
with touches of 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...
, and elements taken from doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
, symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
, progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
and even electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
. The band's debut EP The Collapse
The Collapse (EP)
The Collapse is the debut EP by gothic/melodic death metal band System Divide, released on May 17, 2009.The EP was self-recorded at the Conquistador Recordings in Cleveland, Ohio and produced by the band's own guitarist Cole Martinez. It was self-released on May 17, 2009, and released on iTunes on...
was promoted as extreme modern metal, comparing the band to such bands as Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
, Soilwork
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...
, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
, Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing...
, 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...
, Arch Enemy, 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...
, Whitechapel
Whitechapel (band)
Whitechapel is an American deathcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee. The group comprises vocalist Phil Bozeman, guitarists Ben Savage, Alex Wade, Zach Householder; bassist Gabe Crisp and drummer Ben Harclerode. Their band name is derived from a district in the built-up inner city of London, known...
, Katatonia
Katatonia
Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström .-1991-1993:The early Katatonia releases, such as the EP Jhva Elohim Meth.....
and 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...
.
Band members
Current members- Sven de Caluwé - lead vocals (2008–present)
- Miri Milman - lead vocals (2008–present)
- Michael Wilson - lead & rhythm guitars (2009–present)
- Mike Heller - drums, percussion (2008–present)
Former members
- Cole Martinez - rhythm guitar (2008–2010)
- Andrew Lenthe - bass (2008–2011)
- Joseph Spiller - lead guitar (2009)
Touring members
- Gregory Macklin - lead & rhythm guitars (2011–present)
- Andrei Aframov - Bass Guitars (2011–present)
- Mendel Bij de Leij - lead & rhythm guitars (2011–present)
Albums
- 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
- The CollapseThe Collapse (EP)The Collapse is the debut EP by gothic/melodic death metal band System Divide, released on May 17, 2009.The EP was self-recorded at the Conquistador Recordings in Cleveland, Ohio and produced by the band's own guitarist Cole Martinez. It was self-released on May 17, 2009, and released on iTunes on... - 20102010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
- The Conscious SedationThe Conscious SedationThe Conscious Sedation is the debut full-length studio album by gothic/melodic death metal band System Divide, released on September 14, 2010...
Links
- Official site
- System Divide at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....