Gentry Densley
Encyclopedia
Gentry Densely is an American singer, guitarist and composer. A longtime fixture on Salt Lake City, Utah
's punk, metal and experimental music scenes, Densely has been involved in numerous bands but is best-known for leading the groups Iceburn
, Ascend
and Eagle Twin
. Critic Gregory Heaney describes him as "One of music's great scientists"
in music composition. His first notable group was Iceburn
(1991–2001), which initially started as a punk/metal power trio
with progressive rock
flourishes before moving into free jazz
and free improvisation
. During the Iceburn era, Densley became friends with Greg Anderson
; Iceburn released a split e.p. with Anderson's group Engine Kid before Anderson formed of Goatsnake
and Sunn0))). The pair later collaborated in the experimental doom metal project Ascend
.
In 2007 Densley formed Eagle Twin, who released their debut on Southern Lord Recordings in 2009.
His younger brother, Tyler Densley, was the singer for hardcore band Lewd Acts
.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
's punk, metal and experimental music scenes, Densely has been involved in numerous bands but is best-known for leading the groups Iceburn
Iceburn
Iceburn, known later as the Iceburn Collective, was a musical group formed in 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A., by guitarist/vocalist/composer Gentry Densley, the sole constant member through multiple personnel changes. They were known for their unique style that combined elements of jazz,...
, Ascend
Ascend (band)
Ascend is an American experimental doom metal collaboration between singer/guitarist Gentry Densley and Greg Anderson . Their album Ample Fire Within was released by Southern Lord Records and featured a guest appearance by Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil...
and Eagle Twin
Eagle Twin (band)
Eagle Twin is an American metal band formed in Salt Lake City, Utah by singer/guitarist Gentry Densley and drummer Tyler Smith. Eagle Twin's music could be broadly classified as doom metal or sludge metal, but also touches on progressive rock, blues rock, jazz fusion and psychedelic rock, featuring...
. Critic Gregory Heaney describes him as "One of music's great scientists"
Biography
A Salt Lake City native, Densley is a graduate of the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in music composition. His first notable group was Iceburn
Iceburn
Iceburn, known later as the Iceburn Collective, was a musical group formed in 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A., by guitarist/vocalist/composer Gentry Densley, the sole constant member through multiple personnel changes. They were known for their unique style that combined elements of jazz,...
(1991–2001), which initially started as a punk/metal power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
with progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
flourishes before moving into free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
and free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
. During the Iceburn era, Densley became friends with Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson (musician)
Greg Anderson is an American musician and co-founder of Southern Lord Records.Anderson is the guitarist in the doom/stoner metal outfit Goatsnake, but is also well known for his collaborations with Stephen O'Malley....
; Iceburn released a split e.p. with Anderson's group Engine Kid before Anderson formed of Goatsnake
Goatsnake
-Biography:Goatsnake was formed in 1996 after the disbanding of The Obsessed. After The Obsessed's disbanding, the rhythm section consisting of Guy Pinhas on bass and Greg Rogers on drums began jamming with guitarist Greg Anderson )))...
and Sunn0))). The pair later collaborated in the experimental doom metal project Ascend
Ascend (band)
Ascend is an American experimental doom metal collaboration between singer/guitarist Gentry Densley and Greg Anderson . Their album Ample Fire Within was released by Southern Lord Records and featured a guest appearance by Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil...
.
In 2007 Densley formed Eagle Twin, who released their debut on Southern Lord Recordings in 2009.
His younger brother, Tyler Densley, was the singer for hardcore band Lewd Acts
Lewd Acts
Lewd Acts was an American hardcore punk band from San Diego, CA currently signed to Deathwish Inc.. The band released their debut album, Black Eye Blues, on September 1, 2009....
.