Sympathy (band)
Encyclopedia
Sympathy is a technical death metal
band from Canada
, formed in 1991. Sympathy got some notable attention in the Benelux
, Germany
and Switzerland
as those are the countries where their previous label Fear Dark is usually marketing its bands. The band is known for its professional musicianship. Sympathy's albums are distributed in the United States, Europe and Canada through Displeased Records
, Deadsun Records, Megarock Records, Facedown Records
and The Omega Distribution
. Their lyrical themes tend to revolve around subjects such as theology
, philosophy
, and death
. They have released three albums, Invocation
, Arcane Path
and an EP titled Abyssal Throne
. On February 19, 2008, the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled Anagogic Tyranny
was released on November 11, 2008.
band in vein of Celtic Frost
and produced its first demo in 1991. One by one the other musicians left Sympathy and eventually it ended up being Dharok's solo project. During the years 1993–1997, the musical style took a more technical death metal direction, and Dharok released the recordings Arrogance and Ignorance (1993), Age of Darkness (1995) and Realms of Chaos (1996).
The band's influences include: Spawn of Possession
, Suffocation
, Morbid Angel
, Death, Emperor
, Kreator
, Cannibal Corpse
, and Dimmu Borgir
. In 2001, Sympathy signed a record deal with the Dutch extreme metal label Fear Dark and soon recorded its first commercially available studio album titled Invocation
. The album received positive feedback in underground metal circles, magazines such as BW & BK
, and was mentioned in Metal Maniacs magazine as one of the "reader's albums of the year for 2002".
On the following releases, Tim Roth of Into Eternity, as well as other members from that particular band, and other bands began to fill in the spot. In 2004, Sympathy released its second album titled Arcane Path
which took a more technical blackened death metal direction and showcased a more polished production. Arcane Path featured frontcover artwork as well as a new logo design by the reputive Belgian (Flemish) artist Kris Verwimp. The album was well-received and brought them more exposure.
In late 2005, Sympathy released an EP titled Abyssal Throne
which featured two re-recorded songs from Invocation, two new songs and a cover of Suffocation
's "Torn into Enthrallment". Abyssal Throne was released on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia, and the packaging artwork was done by the Swedish graphic designer Samuel Durling. Later in 2005, a fellow Canadian, Jeff Lewis, known from his work in Australian band Mortification
and his solo project Abolishment of Hate, would join forces with Sympathy.
On February 19, 2008 the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled Anagogic Tyranny
was released November 11, 2008. Sounds of Dead gave it 10 out of 10 points and Lords of Metal gave it 83 out of 100. Tracks from the album were included on the sampler CD's of such magazines as Metal Maniacs and Terrorizer.
On April 2009 the band announced that they have written 12 new songs and are currently recording them, The fourth Sympathy album is tentatively entitled Beast.
Technical death metal
Technical 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...
band from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, formed in 1991. Sympathy got some notable attention in the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
as those are the countries where their previous label Fear Dark is usually marketing its bands. The band is known for its professional musicianship. Sympathy's albums are distributed in the United States, Europe and Canada through Displeased Records
Displeased Records
Displeased Records is a Dutch independent record label, founded by Lars Eikema and Ron Veltkamp. The label has many Dutch and other extreme metal bands on its roster, but has also rereleased many classic albums, including albums by Agathocles , Cryptopsy, Infernäl Mäjesty, Sadus, Toxik and Whiplash...
, Deadsun Records, Megarock Records, Facedown Records
Facedown Records
Facedown Records is a Christian record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to hardcore punk and metalcore bands . Founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn, the label started off small with a number of 7" record releases by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born...
and The Omega Distribution
The End Records
The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...
. Their lyrical themes tend to revolve around subjects such as theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, and death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. They have released three albums, Invocation
Invocation (Sympathy album)
Invocation is the 2002 debut album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy. The album was published by Fear Dark, a Dutch record label....
, Arcane Path
Arcane Path
Arcane Path is the second studio album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released in 2004 on the Dutch label Fear Dark. This album features guest appearances by Tim Roth and Rob Doherty, both members of the fellow Canadian metal band Into Eternity. The album features an improved...
and an EP titled Abyssal Throne
Abyssal Throne
Abyssal Throne is an EP by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released in 2005 on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia. The EP was released in a strictly limited edition of only 850 with an 8-page, 5-colour booklet with gold print...
. On February 19, 2008, the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled Anagogic Tyranny
Anagogic Tyranny
Anagogic Tyranny is an album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released on November 11, 2008 on Bombworks Records. The album features lead guitar work by the new member Jeff Lewis, and drumming work by Into Eternity member Jim Austin. The cover artwork was done by Jeff Arwadi of...
was released on November 11, 2008.
Biography
Sympathy started out as a five-piece thrash metalThrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band in vein of Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
and produced its first demo in 1991. One by one the other musicians left Sympathy and eventually it ended up being Dharok's solo project. During the years 1993–1997, the musical style took a more technical death metal direction, and Dharok released the recordings Arrogance and Ignorance (1993), Age of Darkness (1995) and Realms of Chaos (1996).
The band's influences include: Spawn of Possession
Spawn of Possession
Spawn of Possession is a death metal band from Kalmar, Sweden, founded in 1997.-Biography:Spawn of Possession formed in February 1997, consisting of Jonas Bryssling , Jonas Karlsson , and Dennis Röndum ....
, 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...
, Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
, Death, Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
, Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
, 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 Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
. In 2001, Sympathy signed a record deal with the Dutch extreme metal label Fear Dark and soon recorded its first commercially available studio album titled Invocation
Invocation (Sympathy album)
Invocation is the 2002 debut album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy. The album was published by Fear Dark, a Dutch record label....
. The album received positive feedback in underground metal circles, magazines such as BW & BK
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
-External links:* *...
, and was mentioned in Metal Maniacs magazine as one of the "reader's albums of the year for 2002".
On the following releases, Tim Roth of Into Eternity, as well as other members from that particular band, and other bands began to fill in the spot. In 2004, Sympathy released its second album titled Arcane Path
Arcane Path
Arcane Path is the second studio album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released in 2004 on the Dutch label Fear Dark. This album features guest appearances by Tim Roth and Rob Doherty, both members of the fellow Canadian metal band Into Eternity. The album features an improved...
which took a more technical blackened death metal direction and showcased a more polished production. Arcane Path featured frontcover artwork as well as a new logo design by the reputive Belgian (Flemish) artist Kris Verwimp. The album was well-received and brought them more exposure.
In late 2005, Sympathy released an EP titled Abyssal Throne
Abyssal Throne
Abyssal Throne is an EP by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released in 2005 on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia. The EP was released in a strictly limited edition of only 850 with an 8-page, 5-colour booklet with gold print...
which featured two re-recorded songs from Invocation, two new songs and a cover of 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...
's "Torn into Enthrallment". Abyssal Throne was released on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia, and the packaging artwork was done by the Swedish graphic designer Samuel Durling. Later in 2005, a fellow Canadian, Jeff Lewis, known from his work in Australian band Mortification
Mortification (band)
Mortification is an Australian Christian extreme metal band which was formed in 1987 as a heavy metal group, Lightforce, by mainstay Steve Rowe on bass guitar and vocals. By 1990, in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin, they were renamed as Mortification with the line-up of Rowe, Michael Carlisle on...
and his solo project Abolishment of Hate, would join forces with Sympathy.
On February 19, 2008 the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled Anagogic Tyranny
Anagogic Tyranny
Anagogic Tyranny is an album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released on November 11, 2008 on Bombworks Records. The album features lead guitar work by the new member Jeff Lewis, and drumming work by Into Eternity member Jim Austin. The cover artwork was done by Jeff Arwadi of...
was released November 11, 2008. Sounds of Dead gave it 10 out of 10 points and Lords of Metal gave it 83 out of 100. Tracks from the album were included on the sampler CD's of such magazines as Metal Maniacs and Terrorizer.
On April 2009 the band announced that they have written 12 new songs and are currently recording them, The fourth Sympathy album is tentatively entitled Beast.
Current line up
- Dharok - vocals, rhythm guitars
- Jeff Lewis - lead and rhythm guitars (MortificationMortification (band)Mortification is an Australian Christian extreme metal band which was formed in 1987 as a heavy metal group, Lightforce, by mainstay Steve Rowe on bass guitar and vocals. By 1990, in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin, they were renamed as Mortification with the line-up of Rowe, Michael Carlisle on...
, Abolishment of Hate) - Jim Austin - drums (Into Eternity)
Albums
- Arrogance and Ignorance (1993)
- Age of Darkness (1995)
- InvocationInvocation (Sympathy album)Invocation is the 2002 debut album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy. The album was published by Fear Dark, a Dutch record label....
(2002) - Arcane PathArcane PathArcane Path is the second studio album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released in 2004 on the Dutch label Fear Dark. This album features guest appearances by Tim Roth and Rob Doherty, both members of the fellow Canadian metal band Into Eternity. The album features an improved...
(2004) - Anagogic TyrannyAnagogic TyrannyAnagogic Tyranny is an album by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released on November 11, 2008 on Bombworks Records. The album features lead guitar work by the new member Jeff Lewis, and drumming work by Into Eternity member Jim Austin. The cover artwork was done by Jeff Arwadi of...
(2008) - TBA
Other
- Covenant (demo, 1991)
- Realms of Chaos (demo, 1996)
- Abyssal ThroneAbyssal ThroneAbyssal Throne is an EP by the Canadian technical death metal band Sympathy, released in 2005 on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia. The EP was released in a strictly limited edition of only 850 with an 8-page, 5-colour booklet with gold print...
(EP, 2005)