Monstrosity

Biography (exclusive update underneath)

Copyright © 2002 - Conquest Music

As one of the front runners in the Florida extreme metal scene, international artists, Monstrosity began their course in late 1990. With the infamous “Horror Infinity” demo, the band was signed to Nuclear Blast Records. The first effort was to be called “Imperial Doom” and is now considered a metal classic. The album went on to sell 50,000 worldwide and received excellent ratings in the world press. A triumphant tour of Europe was accomplished by traveling to Austria, Switzerland, Holland and Germany. While in Germany the group shot a video clip for the song “Final Cremation” and was later released on a video compilation “Death is the Beginning” by Nuclear Blast Records, Germany. Upon the release of “Imperial Doom” in the States, the album rose to #25 on the US CMJ college radio charts and to #21 in Sales.

With the second release, “Millennium”, the band signed with Conquest Music in the US and left Nuclear Blast because of a contract dispute. Monstrosity showcased stronger playing techniques with more focused arrangements with their second album. The album release was launched with the “Extremities Tour”, a seven week tour of North America. The editor of Metal Maniacs Magazine selected “Millennium” number one on his play list and the album placed #19 on the CMJ college radio charts and stayed in the top 20 for many weeks. The band then concentrated on conquering Latin America with shows in Mexico City, Lima, Peru and Bogota, Columbia. Monstrosity then followed up with a European tour taking Monstrosity to nine countries in four weeks.

In 1999, the band then recorded their third album “In Dark Purity” at Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida. The album contained 14 songs, including a cover of Slayer’s “Angel of Death”. The European release was distributed by Sony in Germany,Switzerland and Austria and Hammerheart in the rest of Europe, as well as a Japanese version released in Japan on Avalon Records. The extremities of “Imperial Doom” and the precision accuracy of “Millennium” were combined to create what is surely a true metal masterpiece. “In Dark Purity” went to #9 on the CMJ Loudrock, US college radio charts. Monstrosity also toured in support of Dimmu Borgir and Samael in the US for six weeks and then flew to Germany to play the Fuck the Commerce Festival.

In May of 2001. Monstrosity were back offering a double dose of mayhem with a double cd entitled “Enslaving the Masses”. Disc one has an array of songs remixed and remastered from their previous albums. Disc two is a monumental “Live” album. The release was followed by an 80 date tour in the U. S .and Canada. The album was released in Europe Nov 2001 on Hammerheart Records.

2002 has already taken the band to Mexico in February for a three week tour leaving nothing but chaos in their path. In March they flew to Brazil to headline a show in Sao Paulo with sold out crowds squeezing only 1,300 people into the venue and the rest were turned away at the door. In Recife, Brazil they again had a sold out crowd with 1,000 people. With calls from the public for the album, “Millennium”, Monstrosity’s label has reissued the album May 7, 2002 in the US. This was the last album with vocalist, George Fisher, now with Cannibal Corpse. In support of the reissue Monstrosity has completed a 4 week US tour and is preparing for a six week onslaught of Europe in the fall.

In the January 2002 issue of Metal Maniacs, (the premiere metal magazine in the US), Monstrosity was featured with a remarkable 6 page interview. “.....1999’s “In Dark Purity, a hybrid of Power Metal melodicism crossed with Slayer and early Morbid Angel. It was “In Dark Purity” that achieved the unthinkable: the expansion of Death Metal’s parameters.” (Rob Aloi, Metal Maniacs Magazine). An interview also appears in the April/May 2002 issue of Pit Magazine and now presently on the streets is a drum feature in the new issue of Pit Magazine of drummer, Lee Harrison.





- Silvia Deurwaarder -

After the record "In Dark Purity" it was a bit silent around the band. They did some shows in South America, but after that nobody really knew what was happening. Suddenly was there the upcoming Morbid Angel tour to promote "Heretic" (2004) and like I said before it was Tony Norman who helped Trey out during the metalfesttour, but also after that when the band did an European tour with Steve Tucker. After a long break they also did a tour with Soulfly in America, but this time with David. Well in the meanwhile the new record from Monstrosity came out. "Rise To Power" finally came out in Europe and it was amazing to see that it was well received by a lot of people, because there was not very much promotion. Because of that it was not clear if there should come a promotiontour. Also because Tony was still on the road with MA. Then suddenly some dates were confirmed in America and also some European dates were add in august 2004. Call it 'bad luck' but the band had to cancel the shows due to transportproblems.  It's sad that the band had no change to promote such a good record.

january 2006: Officialy announced that Tony Norman is no longer member and they found a replacement in Mark English. Also a new vocalist Brian Werner. Also a new tour is programmed.


Line-up

Brian Werner  - Vocals
Lee Harrison - Drums
Mark English - Leadguitar
Sam Molina - Guitar
Mike Poggione - Bass

Ex-members:
(information how it was on their last record "Rise To Power")
Jason Avery - vocals
Tony Norman - leadguitar


Photos
copyright: Monstrosity and Kelly Milliman (http://www.darkphotography.net)




Discography

1992 - Imperial Doom
1996 - Millennium
1999 - In Dark Purity
2003 - Live Extreme Brazilian Tour 2002 [Live]
2003 - Rise To Power