Asphyx is a Dutch

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

band that was formed in

Overijssel Overijssel (, ; nds, Oaveriessel ; german: Oberyssel) is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the eastern part of the country. The province's name translates to "across the IJssel", from the perspective of the ...

in 1987.

History

The band was formed in 1987 by Bob Bagchus and Tony Brookhuis. Joost was picked up for vocals and bass, but was replaced by Chuck Colli after the release of the first demo ''Carnage Remains''. This line-up released the ''Enter the Domain'' demo after which Eric Daniels was found as a second guitarist. In March 1989, Colli was replaced by Theo Loomans and the band recorded the ''Crush the Cenotaph'' demo. Brookhuis then left the band and the remaining three recorded ''Embrace the Death'', an album which was never released because of label problems. After leaving Pestilence in the early 1990s, Martin van Drunen joined Asphyx and the band signed to

Century Media Records Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label with offices in the United States, Germany and London. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million. Background Century Media was founded by Robert Kampf and Oli ...

. After the release of their first album, ''The Rack'', they went on a European tour with Entombed, followed by a tour with

Bolt Thrower Bolt Thrower were an English death metal band from Coventry. They formed in 1986 and released their first album with Vinyl Solution in 1988. The band then shifted to a new record label, Earache Records, soon becoming one of the best selling b ...

and

Benediction A benediction (Latin: ''bene'', well + ''dicere'', to speak) is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service. It can also refer to a specific Christian religious service including the expositio ...

in 1992. Shortly after the recording of the second album, ''Last One on Earth'', van Drunen left the band, to be replaced by Ron van der Pol. Eventually Bagchus left the band as well and was replaced by Sander van Hoof. In 1994, the band released its third, self-titled album, but broke up shortly afterward. In 1995, Loomans and Bagchus reformed Asphyx and recorded ''God Cries''. Around the same time, the ''Embrace the Death'' album, recorded in 1990, was released. Nevertheless, the band split up again after the release. In 1998, Loomans died when a train hit his car. The circumstances suggest it was an act of suicide. Some time later, Soulburn was founded by Bagchus and Daniels and, together with Pentacle singer and bass guitarist Wannes Gubbels, they recorded ''Feeding on Angels''. In 1999, they renamed the project Asphyx and recorded the ''On the Wings of Inferno'' album with the same line up. However, Asphyx disbanded again in 2000. In January 2007, the band re-united with van Drunen, Gubbels, Paul Baayens and Bagchus. They did not intend to record a new album, but focused only on live performances. However, in January 2008, they recorded a cover of a

Celtic Frost Celtic Frost () was a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich. They are known for their strong influence on the development of extreme metalBukszpan, Daniel. ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2003. p.43 and avant-ga ...

song and a new song called "Death...The Brutal Way". In July 2008, they announced that new material was being prepared. '' Death...The Brutal Way'' was released in June 2009 by Century Media. It was released in North America by Ibex Moon Records on 18 August 2009, quickly becoming the distributor's best seller. On 30 November 2011 Asphyx finished recording on their eighth studio album entitled ''

Deathhammer ''Deathhammer'' is the eighth studio album by Dutch death-doom band Asphyx. The album was released on February 27, 2012 in Europe and February 28, 2012 in USA through Century Media A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered or ...

'' which was set to be released on 27 February 2012 in Europe and 28 February 2012 in North America via Century Media Records. In March 2014, founding member Bob Bagchus parted ways from the band and leaving the band with no original members. He was replaced by Stefan Hüskens as the new drummer. On 14 October 2015, Asphyx made an announcement they are working on a new album at the end of November for the long-awaited ''Deathhammer'' follow up and begin their first tour at Latin America.

Members

;Current members *

Martin van Drunen Martin van Drunen (born 1966) is a Dutch death metal vocalist who started out in the band Pestilence. In this band, he also performed the bass duties live. He recorded two albums with them, ''Malleus Maleficarum'' and ''Consuming Impulse''. Af ...

– vocals (1990–1992, 2007–present), bass (1990–1992) *Paul Baayens – guitar (2007–present) *Alwin Zuur – bass (2010–present) *Stefan Hüskens – drums (2014–present) ;Former members *Tony Brookhuis – guitar (1987–1989) *Bob Bagchus – drums (1987–1993, 1995–1996, 1997–2000, 2007–2014) *Eric Daniels – guitar (1989–1995, 1996, 1997–2000) *Joost – vocals, bass (1987–1988) *Chuck Colli – vocals, bass (1988–1989) *Theo Loomans – vocals, bass, guitar (1989–1990, 1995–1996; died 1998) *Ron van Pol – vocals, bass (1992–1994) *Heiko Hanke – keyboards (1994) *Sander van Hoof – drums (1993–1994) *Heiko Hanke – keyboards (1994) *Ronny van der Wey – guitar (1988–1989, 1995) *Wannes Gubbels – bass, vocals (1997–2000, 2007–2010)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums * ''

The Rack The rack is a torture device consisting of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one or both ends. The victim's ankles are fastened to one roller and the wrists are chained to the other. As the in ...

'' (1991) * ''

Last One on Earth ''Last One on Earth'' is the second album by Asphyx Asphyx is a Dutch death metal band that was formed in Overijssel in 1987. History The band was formed in 1987 by Bob Bagchus and Tony Brookhuis. Joost was picked up for vocals and bass, ...

'' (1992) * ''

Asphyx Asphyx is a Dutch death metal band that was formed in Overijssel in 1987. History The band was formed in 1987 by Bob Bagchus and Tony Brookhuis. Joost was picked up for vocals and bass, but was replaced by Chuck Colli after the release of ...

'' (1994) * ''

God Cries ''God Cries'' is the fourth album by Asphyx. It was released in 1996 by Century Media Records Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label with offices in the United States, Germany and London. In August 2015, Century Media was acquir ...

'' (1996) * ''

Embrace the Death ''Embrace the Death'' is a rough mix and the fifth studio album by Asphyx. It was recorded in 1990 and intended as their first album, but it was not released. In 1996, Century Media Records Century Media Records is a heavy metal record label ...

'' (1996; recorded in 1990) * ''

On the Wings of Inferno ''On the Wings of Inferno'' is the sixth album by Asphyx. It was released in 2000 by Century Media Records. Short after its release, Asphyx disbanded again, and ''On the Wings of Inferno'' would be their final studio album until they reunited in 2 ...

'' (2000) * '' Death...The Brutal Way'' (2009) * ''

'' (2012) * ''

Incoming Death Asphyx is a Dutch death metal band that was formed in Overijssel in 1987. History The band was formed in 1987 by Bob Bagchus and Tony Brookhuis. Joost was picked up for vocals and bass, but was replaced by Chuck Colli after the release of th ...

'' (2016) * ''Necroceros'' (2021) Live albums * ''Live Death Doom'' (2010 double live album and DVD) Extended plays (EPs) * ''

Crush the Cenotaph ''Crush the Cenotaph'' is an EP by Asphyx. It was released in 1992 by Century Media Records. Track listing :Tracks 1, 2 and 3 were recorded at Woodhouse Studio, Dortmund, 1991. :Tracks 4 and 5 were recorded live on November 30, 1991, in Stockho ...

'' (1992) * ''Servants of Death'' (2016) Singles * ''Mutilating Process'' (1989) * ''Death the Brutal Way'' (2008) * ''Reign of the Brute'' (2012) * ''Deathibel'' (2016) Demos * ''Carnage Remains'' (1988) * ''Enter the Domain'' (1989) * ''Crush the Cenotaph'' (1989) * ''Promo '91'' (1991) * ''Promo '95'' (1995)

References

External links

Asphyx bio on angelfire
{{Authority control Dutch death metal musical groups Dutch doom metal musical groups Dutch heavy metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1987 Musical groups disestablished in 1994 Musical groups reestablished in 1995 Musical groups disestablished in 2000 Musical groups reestablished in 2007 Musical quartets