Carnivore (band)
Encyclopedia
Carnivore was an American crossover thrash
band formed in Brooklyn, New York by Peter Steele
(later of Type O Negative
fame), and was formed out of the ruins of the Brooklyn
hard rock group Fallout
in 1982.
in January 1986. For the first album, the band spelled their names in what they thought were "exotic" ways. For instance, Louis Beateaux instead of Beato. In September 1987 they released Retaliation
. Soon after the second album was released, the band broke up and Peter Steele
formed a new band called Subzero, which would later be renamed Type O Negative
. According to the sleeve notes of the "Top Shelf Edition" of their second album, the first Type O Negative album, Slow Deep and Hard
was composed largely from material originally written for Carnivore.
in 2006 at the request of the promoters and subsequently undertook an extensive international tour.
Peter Steele died April 14, 2010, thus ending the reunion.
and 1970s Judas Priest
, whereas the second album had significant crossover
influences. The 'post-apocalyptic' theme that dominated the first album and was carried onto parts of the second album, was apparently inspired by a dream Pete Steele had and which became the basis for the lyrics of "Predator", the first song from the original album. The lyrical theme was then expanded on to describe human society (or the lack of one) between imaginary World Wars 3, 4 and possibly 5 (as referenced in the song 'World Wars 3 & 4'). Other lyrical themes included nihilism
, anti-religious sentiment, cynicism
, and explicit but tongue-in-cheek depictions of gore and despair. Song titles such as "Jesus Hitler", "Race War", and "God is Dead" reflect these themes.
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
band formed in Brooklyn, New York by Peter Steele
Peter Steele
Peter Thomas Ratajczyk , better known by his stage name Peter Steele, was the lead singer, bassist, and composer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative...
(later of Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
fame), and was formed out of the ruins of the 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...
hard rock group Fallout
Fallout (band)
Fallout was a heavy metal band formed in 1979 based out of Brooklyn, New York, USA. The band contained future Type O Negative members Peter Steele on bass and vocals and Josh Silver on keyboards, as well as John Campos on guitars and Agnostic Front drummer Louie Beateaux on drums...
in 1982.
History
The band released CarnivoreCarnivore (album)
Carnivore is the debut album by the Brooklyn crossover thrash band of the same name. It was released in 1985 by Roadrunner Records. It was released on CD in 1991 without track 5, but with most of Retaliation....
in January 1986. For the first album, the band spelled their names in what they thought were "exotic" ways. For instance, Louis Beateaux instead of Beato. In September 1987 they released Retaliation
Retaliation (Carnivore album)
Retaliation is the second and final album by the Brooklyn crossover thrash band Carnivore. It was released in 1987 by Roadrunner Records, and later released on CD in 1991 without tracks 4 and 9....
. Soon after the second album was released, the band broke up and Peter Steele
Peter Steele
Peter Thomas Ratajczyk , better known by his stage name Peter Steele, was the lead singer, bassist, and composer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative...
formed a new band called Subzero, which would later be renamed Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
. According to the sleeve notes of the "Top Shelf Edition" of their second album, the first Type O Negative album, Slow Deep and Hard
Slow Deep and Hard
Slow, Deep and Hard is Type O Negative's debut album, released in 1991 on Roadrunner Records.-Overview:The album, originally titled None More Negative, launched the band's career...
was composed largely from material originally written for Carnivore.
Reformation
Despite being disbanded for many years, the band has been reactivated on several occasions, including a brief tour in 1996 and a longer one (which included a European leg) in 2006-2007. The former members of Carnivore performed sporadic concerts in New York during the 1990s, but no formal tours or new releases were undertaken. However, a new lineup of the band performed at the Wacken Open AirWacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
in 2006 at the request of the promoters and subsequently undertook an extensive international tour.
Peter Steele died April 14, 2010, thus ending the reunion.
Musical style
The first Carnivore album was heavily influenced by the contemporary New York metal scene. It also drew inspiration from Black SabbathBlack Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and 1970s 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,...
, whereas the second album had significant crossover
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
influences. The 'post-apocalyptic' theme that dominated the first album and was carried onto parts of the second album, was apparently inspired by a dream Pete Steele had and which became the basis for the lyrics of "Predator", the first song from the original album. The lyrical theme was then expanded on to describe human society (or the lack of one) between imaginary World Wars 3, 4 and possibly 5 (as referenced in the song 'World Wars 3 & 4'). Other lyrical themes included nihilism
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
, anti-religious sentiment, cynicism
Cynicism
Cynicism , in its original form, refers to the beliefs of an ancient school of Greek philosophers known as the Cynics . Their philosophy was that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health, and...
, and explicit but tongue-in-cheek depictions of gore and despair. Song titles such as "Jesus Hitler", "Race War", and "God is Dead" reflect these themes.
Original line-up
- Peter SteelePeter SteelePeter Thomas Ratajczyk , better known by his stage name Peter Steele, was the lead singer, bassist, and composer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative...
− vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Louie Beato − 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 ....
- Stan Pillis − 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...
(1982–1983)
- Keith Alexander - 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...
(1984–1986) "Carnivore" the 1986 LP studio release.
From Retaliation until split-up
- Peter Steele − vocals, bass guitar
- Louie Beato − drums
- Marc Piovanetti − guitar, vocals (CrumbsuckersCrumbsuckersCrumbsuckers was a 1980s crossover/thrash band that formed in 1982 on Long Island by bass player Gary Meskil in their home town of Baldwin.-History:...
)
2006 reunion line-up
- Peter Steele − vocals, bass guitar (Type O Negative)
- Paul Bento − guitar (Metal Health Association)
- Steve Tobin − drums (Metal Health Association, Mike Orlando's Sonic Stomp, Dust to Dust)
- Joey Z. − guitar, additional vocals (Life of AgonyLife of Agony-Formation and River Runs Red :The band was formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Keith Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. After playing with several drummers, they enlisted Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato before recording the debut album River Runs Red after they signed to...
/StereomudStereomudStereomud was an alternative metal band from New York/Georgia. They were active from years 2001 to 2003 before breaking up, releasing two albums - Perfect Self and Every Given Moment.-History:...
)
Studio albums
- CarnivoreCarnivore (album)Carnivore is the debut album by the Brooklyn crossover thrash band of the same name. It was released in 1985 by Roadrunner Records. It was released on CD in 1991 without track 5, but with most of Retaliation....
(1985) - RetaliationRetaliation (Carnivore album)Retaliation is the second and final album by the Brooklyn crossover thrash band Carnivore. It was released in 1987 by Roadrunner Records, and later released on CD in 1991 without tracks 4 and 9....
(1987)
External links
- Official website
- Album review in Rock Hard issue 16 (in German)
- Album review in Rock Hard issue 22 (in German)