Defeated sanity
Encyclopedia
Defeated Sanity is a German death metal
band from Dachsbach
, Bavaria
, that was formed in 1994, originally as a side project of guitarist Wolfgang Teske and his son, drummer Lille Gruber. Gruber is the only original remaining member left in the band, following the departure of Teske in July 2008. The other members are Christian Kühn (guitar), and Jacob Schmidt (bass guitar). For almost a year the band was looking for a new vocalist, due to Jens Staschel leaving the band shortly before Teske; Staschel replacement, A.J. Magana from Disgorge, was announced in June 2009.
Since their formation, Defeated Sanity has released two studio albums, Prelude to the Tragedy (2004), and Psalms of the Moribund (2007); both through the United Kingdom-based label Grindethic Records. Defeated Sanity also released numerous promos
, demos
and splits
. Influenced by bands such as Cannibal Corpse
and Suffocation
, their music is mostly based on the American death metal style. On 2 May 2009, the band announced their signing to Willowtip Records
; they will enter at Soundforge Studios in Berlin this summer to record its third full-length album, Chapters of Repugnance, for a late 2009/early 2010 release.
s. This line-up recorded the first two demos, Devoured by the Black in the same year, followed by Withdrawn from Beauty in 1998. After undergoing a line-up change, Defeated Sanity sought the expertise of more capable musicians, eventually recruiting guitarist Christian Müenzner
and bassist Tino Köhler. After recording a demo in 2000, the departure of vocalist Robert Colnik followed shortly afterward. He was replaced by Markus Keller, who re-recorded a track from the demo; included on the split
shared with Poppy Seed Grinder, released through the Czech Grodhaisn label in 2001. Later that year, guitarist Christian Münzner left the band to join Necrophagist
. Through Merciless Records, Defeated Sanity released a 7-inch split EP with the Brazilian death metal band Imperious Malevolence in 2003.
, Germany, the band produced the record and Andreas Hilbert handled the engineering and mastering. Prelude to the Tragedy was released in November that same year. The album received mixed reviews, "Diabolical Conquest" webzine wrote:
festival in The Netherlands), along with bands such as Suffocation
, Visceral Bleeding
, and Vomit Remnants
.
. In the meantime, Lille Gruber played drums for Austrian blackened death metal band Belphegor
, on their North American tour with Unleashed
and Krisiun
. Psalms of the Moribund was released through Grindethic Records, in March 2007. Like its predecessor, the album received mixed reviews, with Erik Thomas of webzine Teeth of the Divine saying: "With ultra deep, almost grindcore
styled burps layered over complex yet savage riffs, Defeated Sanity, unlike some of their US peers, do manage to throw in some nice grooves and lurches amid the blasting carnage, hence the Suffocation
and Devourment
comparisons, but otherwise, Psalms of the Moribund is a pretty breakneck assault of squealing, pinch harmonics and ravenous blast beat
s." Chronicles of Chaos reviewer Kostas Sarampalis criticized the vocal style of Jens Staschel, stating: "The constant low guttural growling is completely unintelligible, used more like a (very blunt) instrument rather than a means to convey lyrics."
The band played on the Maryland Deathfest
at the Sonar in Baltimore
, Maryland
in May 2008, along with Anaal Nathrakh
and Monstrosity
. In early July 2008, two members left Defeated Sanity; firstly the vocalist Jens Staschel and shortly afterward, the guitarist Wolfgang Teske. Since then, the band has been looking for a new vocalist to replace Staschel; which was found in A.J. Magana from Disgorge, who recorded the vocals on the band's third full-length album, Chapters of Repugnance, released through Willowtip Records
on 4 May 2010. The album was recorded at Soundforge Studios in Berlin
. According to Cosmo Lee of Decibel magazine, Chapters of Repugnance is the first album cover on Willowtip that the printer has refused to print. "It's a so-bad-it's-good Hieronymus Bosch-esque depiction of hell in which everyone is nude and bald."
. The drummer Lille Gruber admitted the fact in an interview saying: "Blues
and rock music
was developed in the U.S., that means it all goes back to this country. The roots are there and I think the best musicians will always be there." When asked about the difference in terms of sound and direction between Psalms of the Moribund and Prelude to the Tragedy, Gruber stated:
Defeated Sanity's main influences are the early work of Cannibal Corpse
, Immolation
, and Suffocation
. Lille Gruber also cited "newer" bands like Disgorge and Devourment
as a source of inspiration. Regarding the lyrics, Brodequin
was cited by their "awesome concept". Gruber described the band's lyrics as "dark and brutal", that fit with Defeated Sanity gore
imagery, typical in the artwork of death metal genre.
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 Dachsbach
Dachsbach
Dachsbach is a so called "Marktgemeinde" , a municipality in the district of Neustadt -Bad Windsheim, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia in northern Bavaria in Germany....
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, that was formed in 1994, originally as a side project of guitarist Wolfgang Teske and his son, drummer Lille Gruber. Gruber is the only original remaining member left in the band, following the departure of Teske in July 2008. The other members are Christian Kühn (guitar), and Jacob Schmidt (bass guitar). For almost a year the band was looking for a new vocalist, due to Jens Staschel leaving the band shortly before Teske; Staschel replacement, A.J. Magana from Disgorge, was announced in June 2009.
Since their formation, Defeated Sanity has released two studio albums, Prelude to the Tragedy (2004), and Psalms of the Moribund (2007); both through the United Kingdom-based label Grindethic Records. Defeated Sanity also released numerous promos
Promotional recording
A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available...
, demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
and splits
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
. Influenced by bands such as 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...
and Suffocation
Suffocation (band)
Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
, their music is mostly based on the American death metal style. On 2 May 2009, the band announced their signing to Willowtip Records
Willowtip Records
Willowtip Records is an independently owned and distributed heavy metal record label headquartered in Zelienople, Pennsylvania.-Background:Willowtip Records was founded in 2000 by Jason Tipton with a partner named Willosin, who is no longer involved with the label. The combination of the two names...
; they will enter at Soundforge Studios in Berlin this summer to record its third full-length album, Chapters of Repugnance, for a late 2009/early 2010 release.
History
Defeated Sanity was formed in Dachsbach, Germany in 1994 by guitarist Wolfgang Teske and his son, drummer Lille Gruber, initially as a side project. In 1996, bassist Jonas Gruber and vocalist Robert Colnik joined the band as session musicianSession musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s. This line-up recorded the first two demos, Devoured by the Black in the same year, followed by Withdrawn from Beauty in 1998. After undergoing a line-up change, Defeated Sanity sought the expertise of more capable musicians, eventually recruiting guitarist Christian Müenzner
Christian Müenzner
Christian Muenzner is a German metal guitarist, best known for playing for technical death metal band Necrophagist from 2002 until 2006, appearing on their 2004 release Epitaph. Prior to being in Necrophagist, he was in the German death metal act Defeated Sanity, featuring on their debut promo,...
and bassist Tino Köhler. After recording a demo in 2000, the departure of vocalist Robert Colnik followed shortly afterward. He was replaced by Markus Keller, who re-recorded a track from the demo; included on the split
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
shared with Poppy Seed Grinder, released through the Czech Grodhaisn label in 2001. Later that year, guitarist Christian Münzner left the band to join 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....
. Through Merciless Records, Defeated Sanity released a 7-inch split EP with the Brazilian death metal band Imperious Malevolence in 2003.
Prelude to the Tragedy
In 2004, Defeated Sanity signed with UK label Grindethic Records to release their full-length debut. The album was recorded at Soundforge Studios in RhauderfehnRhauderfehn
Rhauderfehn is a municipality in the Leer district, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
, Germany, the band produced the record and Andreas Hilbert handled the engineering and mastering. Prelude to the Tragedy was released in November that same year. The album received mixed reviews, "Diabolical Conquest" webzine wrote:
The negative criticism of the album, was mostly about the higher technical style of their music. "Lords of Metal" reviewer said: "This is only interesting for the real die hard trash (not thrash!) lovers, and mathematicians, of course." To promote the album, the band toured during 2005, appearing at Rotterdam Deathfest (an extreme metal
Prelude to the Tragedy is a gleaming chrome harpoon of immaculate technical death metalTechnical death metalTechnical 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...
, deftly interweaving cryptic riff-tangles with convolutional percussive violence to surprisingly comprehensible and utterly enjoyable results. Drumwork, relentless in its complexity, enhances both the progressive and barbaric elements of the tracks, nailing ambitious patterns to them with satisfying snare punch, lucid cymbals and expert fills.
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
festival in The Netherlands), along with bands such as Suffocation
Suffocation (band)
Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
, Visceral Bleeding
Visceral Bleeding
Visceral Bleeding is a technical death metal band from Sweden.-Biography:Visceral Bleeding was formed sometime in the late nineties by Peter Persson and Niklas Dewerud. Influenced by bands such as Suffocation and Monstrosity, they performed what they thought the death metal scene was lacking...
, and Vomit Remnants
Vomit Remnants
Vomit Remnants is a Japanese death metal band, founded in 1997. In December 1997 they recorded the demo In the Name of Vomit, and a year later recorded Brutally Violated. In 1999, they played at the Ohio Deathfest and did various European shows...
.
Psalms of the Moribund and Chapters of Repugnance
Defeated Sanity underwent further line-up changes with Jens Staschel joining on vocals, Christian Kuehn on guitar and Jacob Schmidt filling in on bass. In August 2006, the band recorded their second studio album at Soundlodge Studios. It was produced and engineered by Jörg Ukenand, and mastered by Robbert Kok of DisavowedDisavowed
Disavowed is a death metal band from Amsterdam, Netherlands and Esbjerg, Denmark.-Biography:Inspired by bands like Suffocation, Pyrexia, Vader and Dying Fetus, Disavowed was formed in 2000 from the remnants of Nocturnal Silence. With the goal to write music that is brutal, yet well structured,...
. In the meantime, Lille Gruber played drums for Austrian blackened death metal band Belphegor
Belphegor (band)
Belphegor is a blackened death metal band from Salzburg, Austria. They originally formed in 1991 under the name Betrayer before changing their name in 1993. They are named after the demon Belphegor.-Early years :...
, on their North American tour with Unleashed
Unleashed (band)
Unleashed is a Swedish death metal band that was formed in 1989 by Johnny Hedlund. Viking culture, recollection of a pre-Christian world, and Norse folklore are common themes found in the band's songs. A number of their recent songs also contain references to J. R. R. Tolkien.-Biography:Unleashed...
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...
. Psalms of the Moribund was released through Grindethic Records, in March 2007. Like its predecessor, the album received mixed reviews, with Erik Thomas of webzine Teeth of the Divine saying: "With ultra deep, almost grindcore
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....
styled burps layered over complex yet savage riffs, Defeated Sanity, unlike some of their US peers, do manage to throw in some nice grooves and lurches amid the blasting carnage, hence the Suffocation
Suffocation (band)
Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
and Devourment
Devourment
Devourment is a death metal band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1995, the band has split up and reformed three times and none of the original members remain. The current lineup is Mike Majewski , Ruben Rosas , Chris "Captain Piss" Andrews and Eric Park...
comparisons, but otherwise, Psalms of the Moribund is a pretty breakneck assault of squealing, pinch harmonics and ravenous blast beat
Blast beat
A blast beat is a drum beat often associated with extreme metal and grindcore, although its usage predates the genres, and is utilised by many different styles of metal...
s." Chronicles of Chaos reviewer Kostas Sarampalis criticized the vocal style of Jens Staschel, stating: "The constant low guttural growling is completely unintelligible, used more like a (very blunt) instrument rather than a means to convey lyrics."
The band played on the Maryland Deathfest
Maryland Deathfest
Maryland Deathfest is an annual extreme music festival held in or near Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The festival mostly features death metal and grindcore bands. It has always occurred during Memorial Day weekend each year....
at the Sonar in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in May 2008, along with Anaal Nathrakh
Anaal Nathrakh
Anaal Nathrakh are a British extreme metal band formed in 1999 who fuse black metal, grindcore, death metal and industrial music. They are currently signed to Candlelight Records....
and 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...
. In early July 2008, two members left Defeated Sanity; firstly the vocalist Jens Staschel and shortly afterward, the guitarist Wolfgang Teske. Since then, the band has been looking for a new vocalist to replace Staschel; which was found in A.J. Magana from Disgorge, who recorded the vocals on the band's third full-length album, Chapters of Repugnance, released through Willowtip Records
Willowtip Records
Willowtip Records is an independently owned and distributed heavy metal record label headquartered in Zelienople, Pennsylvania.-Background:Willowtip Records was founded in 2000 by Jason Tipton with a partner named Willosin, who is no longer involved with the label. The combination of the two names...
on 4 May 2010. The album was recorded at Soundforge Studios in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. According to Cosmo Lee of Decibel magazine, Chapters of Repugnance is the first album cover on Willowtip that the printer has refused to print. "It's a so-bad-it's-good Hieronymus Bosch-esque depiction of hell in which everyone is nude and bald."
Style and influences
Although the band is of German origin, their music is based on the American style of death metalDeath 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....
. The drummer Lille Gruber admitted the fact in an interview saying: "Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
was developed in the U.S., that means it all goes back to this country. The roots are there and I think the best musicians will always be there." When asked about the difference in terms of sound and direction between Psalms of the Moribund and Prelude to the Tragedy, Gruber stated:
We got our own style on Psalms to the Moribund where Prelude to the Tragedy had very obvious hints of the bands we idolized. Psalms of the Moribund splits in two extremes, it went more chunky, brutal, thick and deep, but at the same time that math-approach and the technicality went up a lot!
Defeated Sanity's main influences are the early work of 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...
, Immolation
Immolation (band)
-History:The band formed in May 1986 by Andrew Sakowicz and Dave Wilkinson under the name Rigor Mortis . The name was changed to Immolation in April 1988, after the Warriors of Doom demo which was recorded as Rigor Mortis and Demo I which was recorded as Immolation...
, and Suffocation
Suffocation (band)
Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
. Lille Gruber also cited "newer" bands like Disgorge and Devourment
Devourment
Devourment is a death metal band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1995, the band has split up and reformed three times and none of the original members remain. The current lineup is Mike Majewski , Ruben Rosas , Chris "Captain Piss" Andrews and Eric Park...
as a source of inspiration. Regarding the lyrics, Brodequin
Brodequin
Brodequin is a death metal band from Knoxville, Tennessee. Formed in 1998 by brothers Mike and Jamie Bailey, the band has released three full-length albums to date.-The band's music:...
was cited by their "awesome concept". Gruber described the band's lyrics as "dark and brutal", that fit with Defeated Sanity gore
Graphic violence
Graphic violence is the depiction of especially vivid, brutal and realistic acts of violence in visual media such as literature, film, television, and video games...
imagery, typical in the artwork of death metal genre.
Members
- Lille Gruber – 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 ....
(1994–present) - Christian Kühn – 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...
(2005–present) - Jacob Schmidt – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2005–present) - Konstantin Lühring – 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...
(2011–present)
Former members
- A.J. Magana - vocals (2009–2011)
- Wolfgang Teske – guitar (1994–2008)
- Jonas Gruber – bass (1996–1998)
- Robert Colnik – vocals (1998–2000)
- Tino Köhler – bass (1998–2005)
- Christian MüenznerChristian MüenznerChristian Muenzner is a German metal guitarist, best known for playing for technical death metal band Necrophagist from 2002 until 2006, appearing on their 2004 release Epitaph. Prior to being in Necrophagist, he was in the German death metal act Defeated Sanity, featuring on their debut promo,...
– guitar (1999–2002) - Markus Keller – vocals (2000–2004)
- Jens Staschel – vocals (2004–2008)
Split albums
- Talk Evolution/The Parasite (2001), Grodhaisn – split with Poppy Seed Grinder
- Collapsing Human Failures (2003), Merciless – split with Imperious Malevolence
Studio albums
- Prelude to the Tragedy (2004), Grindethic Records
- Psalms of the Moribund (2007), Grindethic Records
- Chapters of Repugnance (2010), Willowtip