Dismember (band)
Encyclopedia
Dismember was a Swedish
death metal
band that formed in 1988. They are well known in the death metal
underground. They split up in October 2011.
in 1988
. After a hiatus, during which several members joined Carnage
, the band began recording in earnest in 1991 and released their debut, Like an Ever Flowing Stream
in 1991
. The album is today heralded as a milestone for the burgeoning Swedish death metal scene and established the band's fanbase, which was further bolstered by the controversy surrounding one song in particular, "Skin Her Alive." The song prompted an obscenity
charge in the United Kingdom
, against which the band successfully defended themselves.
In 1992
, Dismember released the Pieces
EP, and the following year
continued with second full-length Indecent & Obscene
which featured their song "Dreaming in Red"; the "Dreaming in Red" videoclip was shown in MTV
's Headbanger's Ball. According to an interview with fellow Nuclear Blast group Benediction
in metallian.com, Dismember and the said band got into a business dispute and eventually a fisticuff at this stage over tour arrangements and moneys owed.
Like many of the other Scandinavian death metal
bands, Dismember began softening their sound in the mid-1990s, with 1995
's Massive Killing Capacity
more melodic approaches, which had a good public response. Nevertheless, they attempted a return to style with 1997
's Death Metal, which ultimately became a sales disappointment.
Dismember set a new path and signed for Karmageddon Records. In 2004
, they released their sole album with that label titled Where Ironcrosses Grow
which some thought sounds close to Hate Campaign and was inspired by Iron Maiden
and Autopsy
.
They switched record companies again in 2005, signing to Regain Records
, which bought the rights to their earlier albums as well and released them as luxury digipak
editions. In 2006, Dismember released their seventh album The God That Never Was
continuing in the style of its predecessor. The band spent February on the road in Europe. In November 2006, Dismember toured Europe as part of the Masters of Death tour, with Grave
, Unleashed
, Entombed
and Exterminator.
After the release of 'The God That Never Was' and some touring, Estby left the band "after long and careful consideration". In a posting on the official site on April 20, 2007, Estby cites the demands of touring and the needs of his family as key reasons for him leaving the band. His statements appears as "My decision to put my family in first hand makes it impossible to keep on touring and commit to the band full time. I want to thank all the fans, friends, bands and all the other cool people i've met through the years and I wish Dismember all the best in the future. Fred."
In April 2008, they released their eighth album, "Dismember
".
Dismember released a two-disc DVD titled Under Bloodred Skies in late July 2009. The live concerts were filmed in the Netherlands and at the 2008 Party San Open Air Festival in Bad Berka, Germany. The DVD also included a documentary and interviews with band members. The cover art was created by Erik Danielsson of Trident Art.
Bassist Tobias Cristiansson has released the following statement: "After 23 years, Dismember have now decided to quit. We wish to thank all our fans for your support."
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
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 that formed in 1988. They are well known in the 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....
underground. They split up in October 2011.
History
The band formed in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1988
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
. After a hiatus, during which several members joined Carnage
Carnage (band)
Carnage was a Swedish death metal band whose members later went on to found Dismember, Arch Enemy and the Grindcore band Carcass. The band was formed by Michael Amott and Johan Liiva in 1988. They released only one album before dissolving in 1991.-History:...
, the band began recording in earnest in 1991 and released their debut, Like an Ever Flowing Stream
Like an Ever Flowing Stream
Like an Ever Flowing Stream is the debut album by Swedish death metal band Dismember, released in May 1991. The title may refer to the Biblical Book of Amos 5:24, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream"...
in 1991
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
. The album is today heralded as a milestone for the burgeoning Swedish death metal scene and established the band's fanbase, which was further bolstered by the controversy surrounding one song in particular, "Skin Her Alive." The song prompted an obscenity
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
charge in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, against which the band successfully defended themselves.
In 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
, Dismember released the Pieces
Pieces
"Pieces" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian alternative rock group Sum 41. It was released in February 2005 as the second single from the album, Chuck.-Content:...
EP, and the following year
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
continued with second full-length Indecent & Obscene
Indecent & Obscene
Indecent & Obscene is the second album by Dismember. The album is accompanied by two music videos for the tracks "Skinfather" and "Dreaming in Red". It's also their best selling album to this day.-Track listing:...
which featured their song "Dreaming in Red"; the "Dreaming in Red" videoclip was shown in MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Headbanger's Ball. According to an interview with fellow Nuclear Blast group Benediction
Benediction (band)
Benediction is a British death metal band from Birmingham, England. They were formed in February 1989.-Biography:The Birmingham-based death metal band Benediction were formed in February 1989 by Paul Adams , Peter Rew , Darren Brookes , and Mark "Barney" Greenway...
in metallian.com, Dismember and the said band got into a business dispute and eventually a fisticuff at this stage over tour arrangements and moneys owed.
Like many of the other Scandinavian 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....
bands, Dismember began softening their sound in the mid-1990s, with 1995
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
's Massive Killing Capacity
Massive Killing Capacity
Massive Killing Capacity is the third album by Dismember. It was re-released by Regain Records in 2006. A music video was made for the track "Casket Garden".-Track listing:-Personnel:* Matti Kärki - Vocals* Fred Estby - Drums...
more melodic approaches, which had a good public response. Nevertheless, they attempted a return to style with 1997
1997 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
's Death Metal, which ultimately became a sales disappointment.
Dismember set a new path and signed for Karmageddon Records. In 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
, they released their sole album with that label titled Where Ironcrosses Grow
Where Ironcrosses Grow
-Track listing:...
which some thought sounds close to Hate Campaign and was inspired by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
and Autopsy
Autopsy (band)
Autopsy is a death metal band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.-Biography:...
.
They switched record companies again in 2005, signing to Regain Records
Regain Records
Regain Records is a Swedish based independent record label. The label predominantly releases death metal and black metal albums. Regain Records was founded from what remained of the former label, Wrong Again Records, by Per Gyllenbäck in 1997...
, which bought the rights to their earlier albums as well and released them as luxury digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
editions. In 2006, Dismember released their seventh album The God That Never Was
The God That Never Was
The God That Never Was is the seventh album by Dismember. A music video was made for the track "Trail of the Dead".-Track listing:-Personnel:Dismember* Fred Estby - drums, producer, engineering, mixing* David Blomqvist - guitar, Bass...
continuing in the style of its predecessor. The band spent February on the road in Europe. In November 2006, Dismember toured Europe as part of the Masters of Death tour, with Grave
Grave (band)
Grave is a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1986 by vocalist and guitarist Ola Lindgren, who is their only constant member. The band had particular success in the early 1990s, and their first four albums, Into the Grave, You'll Never See..., Soulless and Hating Life, cemented their...
, 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...
, Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
and Exterminator.
After the release of 'The God That Never Was' and some touring, Estby left the band "after long and careful consideration". In a posting on the official site on April 20, 2007, Estby cites the demands of touring and the needs of his family as key reasons for him leaving the band. His statements appears as "My decision to put my family in first hand makes it impossible to keep on touring and commit to the band full time. I want to thank all the fans, friends, bands and all the other cool people i've met through the years and I wish Dismember all the best in the future. Fred."
In April 2008, they released their eighth album, "Dismember
Dismember (album)
Dismember is the eighth and final studio album by death metal band Dismember. It was released April 1, 2008...
".
Dismember released a two-disc DVD titled Under Bloodred Skies in late July 2009. The live concerts were filmed in the Netherlands and at the 2008 Party San Open Air Festival in Bad Berka, Germany. The DVD also included a documentary and interviews with band members. The cover art was created by Erik Danielsson of Trident Art.
Bassist Tobias Cristiansson has released the following statement: "After 23 years, Dismember have now decided to quit. We wish to thank all our fans for your support."
Demos
- Dismembered (1988)
- Last Blasphemies (1989)
- Rehearsal (1989)
- Reborn in Blasphemy (1990)
Full-lengths
- Like an Ever Flowing StreamLike an Ever Flowing StreamLike an Ever Flowing Stream is the debut album by Swedish death metal band Dismember, released in May 1991. The title may refer to the Biblical Book of Amos 5:24, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream"...
(1991) - Indecent & ObsceneIndecent & ObsceneIndecent & Obscene is the second album by Dismember. The album is accompanied by two music videos for the tracks "Skinfather" and "Dreaming in Red". It's also their best selling album to this day.-Track listing:...
(1993) - Massive Killing CapacityMassive Killing CapacityMassive Killing Capacity is the third album by Dismember. It was re-released by Regain Records in 2006. A music video was made for the track "Casket Garden".-Track listing:-Personnel:* Matti Kärki - Vocals* Fred Estby - Drums...
(1995) - Death Metal (1997)
- Hate CampaignHate Campaign-Track listing:-Personnel:* Fred Estby - Drums* Matti Kärki - Vocals* David Blomqvist - Guitars* Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass* Magnus Sahlgren - Guitar...
(2000) - Where Ironcrosses GrowWhere Ironcrosses Grow-Track listing:...
(2004) - The God That Never WasThe God That Never WasThe God That Never Was is the seventh album by Dismember. A music video was made for the track "Trail of the Dead".-Track listing:-Personnel:Dismember* Fred Estby - drums, producer, engineering, mixing* David Blomqvist - guitar, Bass...
(2006) - DismemberDismember (album)Dismember is the eighth and final studio album by death metal band Dismember. It was released April 1, 2008...
(2008)
Singles and EPs
- Skin Her Alive (Single, 1991)
- PiecesPieces (Dismember album)Pieces is an EP released by Dismember. It was released in 1992 by Nuclear Blast. In 2005 it was re-issued by Regain Records with eight live tracks recorded in Stockholm, 1993.-Track listing:#"Intro" – 0:13#"Pieces" – 3:07#"I Wish You Hell" – 2:22...
(EPExtended playAn 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...
, 1992) - Casket GardenCasket GardenCasket Garden is an EP released by Dismember. It was released in 1995 by Nuclear Blast. The song "Casket Garden" is also the ninth track on Dismember's third album Massive Killing Capacity.-Credits:* Matti Kärki - Vocals* Fred Estby - Drums...
(EP, 1995) - MisanthropicMisanthropic (album)Misanthropic is an EP by Dismember released as an appetizer for the Death Metal album.-Track listing:# "Misanthropic" # "Pagan Saviour" # "Shadowlands" # "Afterimage"...
(EP, 1997)
DVDs and videos
- Under Bloodred Skies (DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, 2009) - Live Blasphemies (DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, 2004) - Soon to Be Dead (promo)
- Skinfather (promo)
- Dreaming in Red (promo)
- Casket Garden (promo)
- Trail of the Dead (promo)
Final line-up
- Matti KärkiMatti KärkiMatti Kärki, born December 13, 1972, is a Swedish singer who is best known for his work with Dismember. Before he joined Dismember in 1991, he was the singer in the Swedish band Carnage . The first band fronted by Kärki was Therion in 1989. He also appears with the Autopsy-inspired Murder Squad...
- Vocals - David Blomqvist - Guitars
- Martin Persson - Guitars
- Tobias Cristiansson - Bass
- Thomas Daun - Drums
Former members
- Fred EstbyFred EstbyFred Estby is a Swedish drummer. He is best known as the drummer and main songwriter of the Swedish death metal band Dismember. Before he played drums in the band Carnage...
- Drums - Johan Bergebäck - Bass
- Sharlee D'AngeloSharlee D'AngeloSharlee D'Angelo is the bassist for Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, as well as the Swedish hard rock band Spiritual Beggars.Sharlee has also been in various bands in the past, either as a studio session player or full member. Some of these include IllWill and Mercyful Fate as well as...
- Bass - Richard CabezaRichard CabezaRichard Cabeza is a Swedish musician. He played the bass guitar in various death metal bands, including Unanimated, Dismember, Carbonized, Murder Squad. He was also the singer of the band General Surgery. In 2002 Cabeza was the touring bassist of Dark Funeral. He currently resides in Texas with...
(aka Richard Diamon/Daemon) - Bass - Magnus SahlgrenMagnus SahlgrenMagnus Sahlgren is a Swedish musician. He was the lead guitarist of the metal band Lake of Tears, whom his name is most associated with, until 2009. He also played with Dismember from 1998 to 2003 and with Tiamat during the recording of the acclaimed Wildhoney album in 1994...
- Guitar - Robert Sennebäck - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
- Erik Gustafsson - Bass