Immolation (band)
Encyclopedia
History
The band formed in May 1986 by Andrew Sakowicz (bass guitar, vocals) and Dave Wilkinson (drums) under the name Rigor Mortis (NY). 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. The band signed a record deal with Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and released their debut album Dawn of Possession
Dawn of Possession
Dawn of Possession is the debut album by Immolation. Released in 1991, it was their first and last album released on Roadrunner Records.-Track listing:# "Into Everlasting Fire" – 5:10# "Despondent Souls" – 4:13# "Dawn of Possession" – 3:04...
through them. They were dropped when the label controversially dropped nearly all of their death metal bands. Later, they were picked up by 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...
and released the three succeeding albums through them: Here in After
Here in After
Here in After is the second album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 1996 after the band was dropped from Roadrunner Records...
, Failures for Gods
Failures for Gods
Failures for Gods is the third album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 1999.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Immolation.# "Once Ordained" – 5:21# "No Jesus, No Beast" – 4:41# "Failures for Gods" – 6:25...
, and Close to a World Below
Close to a World Below
Close to a World Below is the fourth album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 2000. The album is very highly regarded in the death metal community, and is widely considered to be a modern classic in the genre.-Track listing:...
. After their second album Here in After
Here in After
Here in After is the second album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 1996 after the band was dropped from Roadrunner Records...
, drummer Craig Smilowski left the band and was replaced by Alex Hernandez. Their next three albums, Unholy Cult
Unholy Cult
Unholy Cult is the fifth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2002. It is the band's last album to feature Alex Hernandez behind the drum kit.-Track listing:# "Of Martyrs and Men" – 5:25# "Sinful Nature" – 3:16...
, Harnessing Ruin
Harnessing Ruin
Harnessing Ruin is the sixth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2005.-Track listing:# "Swarm of Terror" – 3:14# "Our Savior Sleeps" – 3:36# "Challenge the Storm" – 3:56# "Harnessing Ruin" – 4:30...
, and Shadows in the Light were released by French label Listenable Records, the same label which released an album by Hernandez's previous band Fallen Christ years before.
In May 2001, the band were the headliners for a tour in Europe with supporting bands: Deranged, Deströyer 666
Destroyer 666
Deströyer 666 is a black/death/thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe.- History :...
, Decapitated
Decapitated (band)
Decapitated is a death metal band that formed in Krosno, Poland in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski and Austrian drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner. Decapitated have gained recognition as one of the genre's most widely respected...
and Soul Demise
Soul Demise
Soul Demise is a German death metal band from Neumarkt in Bavaria, founded in 1993 as Inhuman. Their musical style is mainly influenced by Swedish band At The Gates and their Göteborg sound....
. Unholy Cult
Unholy Cult
Unholy Cult is the fifth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2002. It is the band's last album to feature Alex Hernandez behind the drum kit.-Track listing:# "Of Martyrs and Men" – 5:25# "Sinful Nature" – 3:16...
saw the departure of guitarist Thomas Wilkinson and the installation of ex-Angelcorpse
Angelcorpse
Angelcorpse was a blackened death metal band born on the ashes of Pete Helmkamp's previous band, Order from Chaos, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and relocated to Tampa, Florida. They formed in 1995, with a line-up of Helmkamp, guitarist Gene Palubicki, and drummer John Longstreth, and...
guitarist Bill Taylor. Steve Shalaty replaced Hernandez on Harnessing Ruin
Harnessing Ruin
Harnessing Ruin is the sixth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2005.-Track listing:# "Swarm of Terror" – 3:14# "Our Savior Sleeps" – 3:36# "Challenge the Storm" – 3:56# "Harnessing Ruin" – 4:30...
. In February 2008, Immolation toured the US alongside bands such as Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ is a Greek black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.- Line-up :...
, 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 :...
and Averse Sefira
Averse Sefira
- Biography :Averse Sefira was formed in 1996 by guitarist and vocalist Sanguine Mapsama and bassist Wrath Sathariel Diabolus. Their demo, Blasphomet Sin Abset, was released later that year. It featured a drum machine in lieu of a live drummer...
. During January and February 2010, Immolation toured with headliner Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
along with 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...
, Rose Funeral, and Dreaming Dead.
In March 2010 Immolation released their eighth full-length album, Majesty and Decay
Majesty and Decay
Majesty and Decay is Immolation's eighth full length album, released March 9, 2010. It was recorded at New York's Millbrook Sound Studios and was produced by Paul Orofino and mixed by Zack Ohren.-Track listing:#"Intro" – 1:19#"The Purge" – 3:19...
through Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
. In 2011 they released the 5-track Providence EP through Scion A/V as a free download.
Musical style and lyrical themes
Immolation relies on riffs written in dissonant harmonicHarmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
patterns, often dueling between the two guitars, to progress songs, typically over complex rhythm and drum patterns. Drum parts are often written to follow the guitar riffs in a way that is unusual for most death metal. They and fellow New York death metal band, Incantation
Incantation (band)
Incantation is an American death metal band that was formed by John McEntee and Paul Ledney in 1989. They are one of the leaders in the New York Death Metal scene along with fellow bands Suffocation and Immolation, even though the band is currently located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.The band has...
, helped bring the New York death metal scene to the attention of the underground.
Robert Vigna has been the band's only constant guitarist and is also the only constant member throughout the band's history along with vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan. Robert Vigna is considered to be one of the most talented death metal guitarists and is well known for his complex riffing and wailing solos.
Their lyrics are almost entirely anti-religion, especially Anti-Christianity. On the band's 2005 album, Harnessing Ruin
Harnessing Ruin
Harnessing Ruin is the sixth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2005.-Track listing:# "Swarm of Terror" – 3:14# "Our Savior Sleeps" – 3:36# "Challenge the Storm" – 3:56# "Harnessing Ruin" – 4:30...
, there are more lyrics touching on other subjects such as politics. This lyrical direction is further explored on the band's 2007 album, Shadows in the Light
Shadows in the Light (Immolation album)
Shadows in the Light is Immolation's seventh full length album.-Track listing:#"Hate's Plague" – 2:50#"Passion Kill" – 3:41#"World Agony" – 3:55#"Tarnished" – 3:36#"The Weight of Devotion" – 4:20#"Breathing the Dark" – 4:00...
and the EP Hope and Horror
Hope and Horror
Hope and Horror is an EP from the band Immolation. The album was released four days before their seventh full length album Shadows in the Light...
, which preceded the album. On later albums, the lyrics are considerably less explicit.
studio albums
- Dawn of PossessionDawn of PossessionDawn of Possession is the debut album by Immolation. Released in 1991, it was their first and last album released on Roadrunner Records.-Track listing:# "Into Everlasting Fire" – 5:10# "Despondent Souls" – 4:13# "Dawn of Possession" – 3:04...
(1991) - Here in AfterHere in AfterHere in After is the second album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 1996 after the band was dropped from Roadrunner Records...
(1996) - Failures for GodsFailures for GodsFailures for Gods is the third album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 1999.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Immolation.# "Once Ordained" – 5:21# "No Jesus, No Beast" – 4:41# "Failures for Gods" – 6:25...
(1999) - Close to a World BelowClose to a World BelowClose to a World Below is the fourth album by Immolation. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 2000. The album is very highly regarded in the death metal community, and is widely considered to be a modern classic in the genre.-Track listing:...
(2000) - Unholy CultUnholy CultUnholy Cult is the fifth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2002. It is the band's last album to feature Alex Hernandez behind the drum kit.-Track listing:# "Of Martyrs and Men" – 5:25# "Sinful Nature" – 3:16...
(2002) - Harnessing RuinHarnessing RuinHarnessing Ruin is the sixth album by Immolation. It was released on Listenable Records in 2005.-Track listing:# "Swarm of Terror" – 3:14# "Our Savior Sleeps" – 3:36# "Challenge the Storm" – 3:56# "Harnessing Ruin" – 4:30...
(2005) - Shadows in the LightShadows in the Light (Immolation album)Shadows in the Light is Immolation's seventh full length album.-Track listing:#"Hate's Plague" – 2:50#"Passion Kill" – 3:41#"World Agony" – 3:55#"Tarnished" – 3:36#"The Weight of Devotion" – 4:20#"Breathing the Dark" – 4:00...
(2007) - Majesty and DecayMajesty and DecayMajesty and Decay is Immolation's eighth full length album, released March 9, 2010. It was recorded at New York's Millbrook Sound Studios and was produced by Paul Orofino and mixed by Zack Ohren.-Track listing:#"Intro" – 1:19#"The Purge" – 3:19...
(2010)
other releases
- Stepping on Angels... Before DawnStepping on Angels... Before DawnStepping on Angels... Before Dawn is a compilation album by Immolation. It was released by Repulse Recordsin January 1995.-Track listing:# "Relentless Torment" – 2:09# "Holocaust" – 4:58# "Rigor Mortis" – 2:26# "Warriors of Doom" – 5:18...
(1995) - Bringing Down the World (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) - Hope and HorrorHope and HorrorHope and Horror is an EP from the band Immolation. The album was released four days before their seventh full length album Shadows in the Light...
(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...
+ 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....
, 2007) - Scion A/V Presents Providence (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...
, (2011)
Line-up
- Ross Dolan - Bass, Vocals
- Bill Taylor - Guitar (ex-AngelcorpseAngelcorpseAngelcorpse was a blackened death metal band born on the ashes of Pete Helmkamp's previous band, Order from Chaos, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and relocated to Tampa, Florida. They formed in 1995, with a line-up of Helmkamp, guitarist Gene Palubicki, and drummer John Longstreth, and...
) - Robert Vigna - Guitar
- Steve Shalaty - Drums (Odious Sanction, ex-Gutted)
Former members
Guitars- John McEntee - Guitar (Incantation, Funerus, ex-Mortician, live-only member. Performed live shows between Thomas leaving the band and Bill joining)
- Thomas Wilkinson - Guitar
Drums
- Neal Boback - Drums
- Craig Smilowski - Drums (RELLIK, ex-Goreaphobia)
- Alex Hernandez - Drums (ex-Fallen Christ)