The Funeral Pyre
Encyclopedia
The Funeral Pyre is an American blackened death metal band from La Habra, California
, United States
. The band has released three studio albums, two EP
s, and two split 7" albums, and consists of guitarists James Joyce and Justin Garcia, vocalist John Strachan, drummer Alex Hernandez, and bassist Adam Campbell.
and entered the underground extreme music scenes in both LA
and Orange
counties. The Funeral Pyre has gained acclaim amongst metal internet press outlets for its Swedish-style melody, ethereal keyboards, and blackened vocals.
Several demos and an early EP
were released under the bands former moniker, Envilent, until the independent release of the 2003 EP, October, when the band changed their name to The Funeral Pyre. Soon, the band released its first full length album, Immersed by the Flames of Mankind
in 2004, and a merger between Oregon's Leech and The Funeral Pyre was released in 2006, with limited quantities as a split 7" called The First Book Of The Kings, released through Forest Moon Special Products.
The band released their second full length album The Nature of Betrayal
on August 22, 2006, recorded at Ulug studios in Costa Mesa, California through Creator-Destructor Records, an independent California based recording studio. In a distribution deal with Prosthetic Records
, The Nature of Betrayal was re-released on March 20, 2007, due to decent success on the internet.
Recorded in January and February with producer John Haddad, Wounds
was mixed by Erik Rutan and mastered by Alan Douches and was released on May 27, 2008. This was the first album to not feature long time keyboardist, Daniella Jones, who was released by the band for "musical differences", and was in turn replaced by a second guitarist, Justin Garcia. However, the band suffered another loss when Garcia left the band, but soon was replaced by Lanny Perelman, formally of Cerberus, who, left the band as well. The band has more closely embraced black metal
entirely with the release of Wounds, as well as later works.
The band released December, mixed and mastered by Ryan Butler at Arcane Digital Recording during December 2008, a limited EP
distributed by Creator-Destructor on March 10, 2009. A 7" split with Landmine Marathon was released shortly after through Forest Moon Special Products, showcasing a cover of short lived German act, ACME's song "Attempt", as well as another original song.
The band's fourth studio album, Vultures at Dawn was released June 8, 2010. It was generally well received, much of the praise coming from the more experimental songs "Monolith" and "To Watch the Earth Rot", both being further from their normal genre of songwriting.
EPs
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The band has released three studio albums, two EP
Extended play
An 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...
s, and two split 7" albums, and consists of guitarists James Joyce and Justin Garcia, vocalist John Strachan, drummer Alex Hernandez, and bassist Adam Campbell.
History
Formed under the name Envilent in 2001, The Funeral Pyre was formed in La Habra, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and entered the underground extreme music scenes in both LA
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
and Orange
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
counties. The Funeral Pyre has gained acclaim amongst metal internet press outlets for its Swedish-style melody, ethereal keyboards, and blackened vocals.
Several demos and an early EP
Whispering to the Shadows
Whispering to the Shadows is a 2002 EP by the band Envilent, now known as The Funeral Pyre.Unlike most of their later albums, Whispering to the Shadows had a much more black metal feel to it...
were released under the bands former moniker, Envilent, until the independent release of the 2003 EP, October, when the band changed their name to The Funeral Pyre. Soon, the band released its first full length album, Immersed by the Flames of Mankind
Immersed by the Flames of Mankind
- Personnel :*Adam Campbell - bass guitar*Daniella Jones - keyboards*James Joyce - guitar*Alex Hernandez - drums*Jason Dunn - guitar*John Strachan - vocals...
in 2004, and a merger between Oregon's Leech and The Funeral Pyre was released in 2006, with limited quantities as a split 7" called The First Book Of The Kings, released through Forest Moon Special Products.
The band released their second full length album The Nature of Betrayal
The Nature of Betrayal
- Personnel :* James Joyce - all guitars* Adam Campbell - bass guitar* Alex Hernandez - drums* Daniella Jones - keyboards* John Strachan - vocals...
on August 22, 2006, recorded at Ulug studios in Costa Mesa, California through Creator-Destructor Records, an independent California based recording studio. In a distribution deal with Prosthetic Records
Prosthetic Records
Prosthetic Records is a record label specializing in heavy metal recordings. Founded by E.J. Johantgen and Dan Fitzgerald both former employees of Columbia Records, in Los Angeles, California in 1998...
, The Nature of Betrayal was re-released on March 20, 2007, due to decent success on the internet.
Recorded in January and February with producer John Haddad, Wounds
Wounds (Album)
- Personnel :James Joyce - guitarJustin Garcia - guitarAlex Hernandez - drumsJohn Strachan - vocalsAdam Campbell - bass guitar...
was mixed by Erik Rutan and mastered by Alan Douches and was released on May 27, 2008. This was the first album to not feature long time keyboardist, Daniella Jones, who was released by the band for "musical differences", and was in turn replaced by a second guitarist, Justin Garcia. However, the band suffered another loss when Garcia left the band, but soon was replaced by Lanny Perelman, formally of Cerberus, who, left the band as well. The band has more closely embraced black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
entirely with the release of Wounds, as well as later works.
The band released December, mixed and mastered by Ryan Butler at Arcane Digital Recording during December 2008, a limited EP
Extended play
An 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...
distributed by Creator-Destructor on March 10, 2009. A 7" split with Landmine Marathon was released shortly after through Forest Moon Special Products, showcasing a cover of short lived German act, ACME's song "Attempt", as well as another original song.
The band's fourth studio album, Vultures at Dawn was released June 8, 2010. It was generally well received, much of the praise coming from the more experimental songs "Monolith" and "To Watch the Earth Rot", both being further from their normal genre of songwriting.
Current members
- Chris Brock - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Alex Hernandez - 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 ....
- John Strachan - 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...
- Adam Campbell - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Justin Garcia - guitar
Discography
Studio albums- 2004: Immersed by the Flames of MankindImmersed by the Flames of Mankind- Personnel :*Adam Campbell - bass guitar*Daniella Jones - keyboards*James Joyce - guitar*Alex Hernandez - drums*Jason Dunn - guitar*John Strachan - vocals...
- 2006: The Nature of BetrayalThe Nature of Betrayal- Personnel :* James Joyce - all guitars* Adam Campbell - bass guitar* Alex Hernandez - drums* Daniella Jones - keyboards* John Strachan - vocals...
- 2008: WoundsWounds (Album)- Personnel :James Joyce - guitarJustin Garcia - guitarAlex Hernandez - drumsJohn Strachan - vocalsAdam Campbell - bass guitar...
- 2010: Vultures at Dawn
EPs
- 2002: Whispering to the Shadows EPWhispering to the ShadowsWhispering to the Shadows is a 2002 EP by the band Envilent, now known as The Funeral Pyre.Unlike most of their later albums, Whispering to the Shadows had a much more black metal feel to it...
- 2003: October EP
- 2009: December EP
- 2006: The First Book of the Kings (Split EP)
- 2009: The Funeral Pyre/Landmine Marathon (Split EP)