Anacrusis was an American
progressive
Progressive may refer to:
Politics
* Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform
** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context
* Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...
/
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band from
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
. Anacrusis was one of the first bands to attempt to blend thrash and progressive metal. Their albums ''
Manic Impressions'' and ''
Screams and Whispers'' are considered as classics of the progressive thrash metal / prog metal genre.
History
Anacrusis' first demo, ''Annihilation Complete'', was voted Best Demo of 1987 by the readers of ''
Metal Forces
''Metal Forces'' is a British publication founded in 1983 which promotes the music genres heavy metal and hard rock. ''Metal Forces'' was well known for its coverage of unsigned bands through its ''Demolition'' feature and championed the likes of ...
'' magazine and was later included in the publication's ''Demolition... Scream Your Brains Out!'' compilation album. This led to a deal with England-based indie
Active Records
Active Records was a record sublabel of RCA Records founded in 1980. The label focused mainly on heavy metal music. The label was dissolved in 1994.
Bands
* Anacrusis
* Atheist
* Budgie
* Candlemass
* Merciless
* Destiny
* Therion
See also
...
, for whom the group created its first album, ''
Suffering Hour'', the following year on a meager $1,200 budget in just under a week. The following ''Reason'' album began revealing signs of the band's popular sound. Anacrusis toured in support of the band ''
D.R.I.'', but without an album released on an American label, the drummer Mike Owen left to join the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
shortly after they returned home. Former Heaven's Flame member Chad Smith took over the drums, while the band was eventually signed to the American label
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is an American independent record label founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The US office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distrib ...
.
In 1991, ''
Manic Impressions'' was their first proper studio recorded album, recorded at Royal Recorders in
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in Walworth County and situated on Geneva Lake, it is home to an estimated 8,105 people as of 2019, up from 7,651 at the 2010 census. It is located about 40 miles southwest of Milwa ...
. A 38-city U.S. tour supporting
Overkill
Overkill may refer to:
* Overkill (term), the use of excessive force or action to achieve a goal
* Surplus killing, when a predator kills more prey than it can eat
* Overexploitation, depletion of a natural resource through overharvesting
** Ove ...
and
Galactic Cowboys
Galactic Cowboys are an American heavy metal band based in Houston, Texas. They combine progressive metal with a vocal style influenced by The Beatles and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax. They have been described as "pos ...
followed a handful of Midwestern dates opening for
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...
earlier in the year. After the tour, on returning to St. Louis, they devoted the next few months to writing new material, and after replacing Smith with drummer Paul Miles, work finally began on their 1993 album ''
Screams and Whispers''. This was their final album, as the band broke up after its release.
In 2009, the band announced that the original lineup of Kenn Nardi, Kevin Heidbreder, John Emery and Mike Owen would reunite for a performance at the 2010 Keep It True XIII Festival in Germany. Also in 2009, the band released a CD/DVD anthology of early material on Stormspell Records. The package included their 1987 "Annihilation Complete" demo along with other demos, rehearsal recordings and early live footage.
In preparation for their first festival appearance in 17 years, Anacrusis played a reunion gig at T. Billy Buffet's, St. Louis, on April 18, 2010. The show was recorded and filmed for a later release on DVD.
Also in 2010, they released a two-disc set titled ''Hindsight: Suffering Hour & Reason Revisited'', which contains re-recorded versions of their first two albums.
On April 23, 2010, Anacrusis gave a performance at Germany's Keep It True XIII festival at Tauberfrankenhalle in
Lauda-Königshofen
Lauda-Königshofen is a town in the Main-Tauber district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the river Tauber, 7 km southeast of Tauberbischofsheim, and 30 km southwest of Würzburg. Most of the roughly 300 houses in the ...
. Later that year, the band announced they had decided to play more shows.
During the year 2010 the band worked on some new material, but by now just one new song "This Killer in my House" was released on the "Silver Ag47 – Best of Anacrusis" CD.
On February 26, 2011, the band played a headliner show at the Firebird in St. Louis.
On June 12, 2011, Anacrusis played at "Rock Hard Festival" in Germany. The whole festival was filmed by German TV – WDR Rockpalast –, to be broadcast on German television.
The band last played at Skullfest, St. Louis, on June 24–25, 2011, and Alcatraz festival in Belgium, on August 27, 2011.
On July 11, 2019, it was announced that Anacrusis would play a one-off reunion show in December in their home state of Missouri to celebrate the reissue's of all four of their albums with one part of the show being with drummer Mike Owen, one part with Chad Smith, and the last with Paul Miles. Guitarist Mike Henricks will not take part in the reunion. The reunion show was held on December 7, 2019, at Delmar Hall in St. Louis, MO. Tickets were general admission.
Members
Last lineup
* Kenn Nardi – guitars, vocals (1986–1994, 2009–2013)
* John Emery – bass (1986–1994, 2009–2013)
* Mike Owen – drums (1986–1990, 2009–2013)
* Mike Henricks – guitars (2011–2013)
Former members
* Kevin Heidbreder – guitars (1986–1994, 2009–2010)
* Chad Smith – drums (1990–1992)
* Paul Miles – drums (1992–1994)
(Note: Chad Smith is not to be confused with the
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea (musician), Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates element ...
drummer of the same name.)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
Suffering Hour'' (1988)
+
* ''Reason'' (1990)
+
* ''
Manic Impressions'' (1991)
+
* ''
Screams and Whispers'' (1993)
+
* ''HINDSIGHT: Suffering Hour & Reason Revisited'' (2010)
+ = Available for download on band website.
Compilation albums
* ''Annihilation Complete: The Early Years Anthology'' (2009)
* ''Hindsight: Suffering Hour & Reason Revisited'' (2010)
* ''Silver'' (2012)
EPs
* ''Excerpts from Reason'' (1991)
Demos
* ''Annihilation Complete'' (1986)
* ''Demo I'' (1986)
* ''Quick to Doubt'' (1989) – unauthorized demo
Splits
* ''Metal Forces Presents... Demolition – Scream Your Brains Out'' (1988)
DVD
* ''Live @ Mississippi Nights 1993'' (2010)
* ''Our Reunion – Live at St. Louis 2010'' (2011)
References
External links
Official websiteOfficial Facebook*
Anacrusisat
Encyclopedia Metallum
Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives (commonly known as Metal Archives per the URL or abbreviated as MA) is an online encyclopedia based upon musical artists who predominantly perform heavy metal music along with its various sub-genres. E ...
{{Authority control
Heavy metal musical groups from Missouri
American thrash metal musical groups
American progressive metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1986
Musical groups disestablished in 1993
1986 establishments in Missouri
Musical groups from St. Louis
Metal Blade Records artists