Monstrosity is an American
death metal band which originated in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the
Florida death metal
Florida death metal is a regional scene and stylistic subdivision of death metal. Some of the most significantly pioneering and best-selling death metal acts emerged in Florida, especially in the Tampa Bay area. As a result, Tampa is unofficiall ...
scene of the early 1990s.
History
Vocalist
George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher
George Fisher (born July 8, 1970), better known by his stage name Corpsegrinder, is an American death metal vocalist who is the lead singer of Cannibal Corpse, Paths of Possession and the supergroup Serpentine Dominion. He recorded two al ...
and drummer Lee Harrison and bass player Mark Van Erp were the founders of Monstrosity. Harrison had just left the band
Malevolent Creation
Malevolent Creation is an American death metal band formed in Buffalo, New York in 1987 and later based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band's original members were rhythm guitarist Phil Fasciana, vocalist Brett Hoffmann, lead guitarist Jim ...
and George Fisher gave up a band in his hometown of Maryland and came to Florida in 1990.
Jon Rubin
Jon Rubin is a contemporary artist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
Projects
Fruit and Other Things
''Fruit and Other Things'' (2018-2019) is a project created in collaboration with artist Len ...
who had played guitar in Malevolent Creation also joined to form Monstrosity. Mark Van Erp played bass in the band
Cynic and he left Cynic to join Monstrosity. The four members of Monstrosity signed with
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is a record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label mov ...
(Germany).
Jason Gobel
Jason Göbel is an American musician.
He is best known for being a member of the technical metal band Cynic and playing guitar on their album ''Focus''.
Life and career
Gobel joined Cynic in 1988, playing guitar on their demos and album ''Fo ...
who was a member of Cynic helped Monstrosity record ''
Imperial Doom'' when they entered the recording studio. He was never a member of Monstrosity. The album was released in 1992 by Nuclear Blast. Monstrosity toured Europe in support of the band
Pestilence for this album.
After a number of problems with the label, Lee Harrison formed his own music label, Conquest Music, in 1996.
Now signed to Conquest Music, the band entered the studio again to record ''
Millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
''. Guitarist Jon Rubin was replaced by
Jason Morgan and bassist Mark Van Erp, by
Kelly Conlon Kelly Conlon (born 20 March 1969) is an American bass guitarist. He has been a hired musician with Death and Monstrosity. Conlon currently performs with Pessimist.
Career
Conlon was part of the Florida underground metal scene until 1994 when Orla ...
. George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher performed vocals and Lee Harrison was on drums. The album was licensed to Nuclear Blast Germany in 1996 for Europe and later re-released in 2002 by
Hammerheart Records
Hammerheart Records (known as Karmageddon Media between 2004 and 2010) is a Dutch independent record label specializing in death metal, black metal, doom metal and folk metal bands from around the world. The label was founded in 1995 and is current ...
(Netherlands) for Europe. After completing the recording of the album ''Millennium'', Fisher joined
Cannibal Corpse. Jason Avery (Eulogy) replaced Fisher on vocals.
In 1999, Monstrosity went back in the studio and this time they recorded ''
In Dark Purity
''In Dark Purity'' is the third studio album by American death metal band Monstrosity. The first version of this album was released by German Metal Age Recordings (Turbo Rec. follow-up label). However, the label was a rip-off label and theref ...
''. The album was produced by Monstrosity and recorded at
Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida. Conquest Music licensed the album to Olympic/Slip Disc/
Century Media
A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
A centennial or ...
for better distribution in the US and licensed the album to Metal Age and then Hammerheart Records in Europe. Jason Avery was the vocalist, Lee Harrison, the drummer, Tony Norman, the guitarist and Kelly Conlon, the bassist.
In 2001, Conquest Music released a two-CD Monstrosity package. One CD was a live album Monstrosity recorded while on tour in the US. Included in the CD was Monstrosity's infamous ''Horror Infinity'' demo and their ''Slaves and Masters'' demo. CD two features slightly different re-recordings of songs from their first album. The double CD was licensed to Hammerheart Records in Europe.
By 2004, Monstrosity was in the process of recording ''
Rise to Power'' with members Jason Avery (vocalist), Lee Harrison (drums), Tony Norman (guitar), Sam Molina (guitar) and Mike Poggione (bass). The album was recorded at Audio Hammer Studio, Sanford, Florida. It was produced by Lee Harrison and Monstrosity and engineered by
Jason Suecof
Jason Suecof (born April 3, 1980) is an American record producer, audio engineer and guitarist best known for his work with heavy metal bands such as Trivium, Battlecross, Death Angel, All That Remains, Bury Your Dead, The Black Dahlia Murder ...
. Conquest Music licensed the album to
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 distr ...
in Europe. Monstrosity toured the US in support of the album and they were invited by the Bogotá, Colombia government to headline a musical festival in Bogotá. 85,000 people were in attendance.
Avery was replaced in December 2005 by Brian Werner (Infernaeon). Werner performed vocal duties on the band's 2006 European tour, and subsequent U.S. shows.
In December 2006, Werner was replaced by Mike Hrubovcak (Divine Rapture, Imperial Crystalline Entombment, Vile) and Mark English (guitar) joined Monstrosity. Monstrosity is now Mike Hrubovcak (vocals), Lee Harrison (drums), Mark English (guitar) and Mike Poggione (bass). They returned to Morrisound Studios. This time to record ''
Spiritual Apocalypse
''Spiritual Apocalypse'' is the fifth full-length album by Floridian death metal band Monstrosity. Critics were overwhelmingly positive. The album cover art is by David Ho.
Track listing
All lyrics by Lee Harrison.
Personnel
;Monstrosity
* ...
''. Conquest Music licensed the album to Metal Blade in Europe and it was released in 2007. Additional solos on ''Spiritual Apocalypse'' were done by Matt LaPorte (
Jon Oliva's Pain
Jon Oliva's Pain (sometimes referred to as JOP) was the latest project of Savatage co-founder Jon Oliva.
Band history
Originally, the project consisted entirely of solo recordings by Oliva, but after several months of work he was joined by for ...
). The ending solo on "Bloodline Horror" was performed by Jason Suecof and James Malone. Back-up vocals on "Inhuman Race" and "Firestorm" were provided by Kelly Schaefer of
Atheist. The album was released in the US in 2008.
In the summer of 2009, Monstrosity spent six weeks touring Peru and Chile and then flew to Europe to do the Brutal Assault festival in Czech Republic and Party San festival in Germany. On November 22, 2011, the band announced in their Facebook that they were to release a live DVD, ''Live Apocalypse'', in early 2012. On October 2, 2015, the band played its first show in Central Florida for nearly fifteen years at West End Trading Company in Sanford Florida. During the show it was announced that the band had begun writing a new record. Released on September 7, 2018 was the band's sixth and first studio album in eleven years, ''
The Passage of Existence''.
Band members
;Current members
* Lee Harrison – drums (1990–present)
* Mike Poggione – bass (2001–present)
* Mark English – guitars (2006–present)
* Mike Hrubovcak – vocals (2006–present)
* Matt Barnes – guitars (2010–present)
;Former members
* Jon Rubin – guitars (1990–1994)
* Mark van Erp – bass (1990–1995)
*
George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher
George Fisher (born July 8, 1970), better known by his stage name Corpsegrinder, is an American death metal vocalist who is the lead singer of Cannibal Corpse, Paths of Possession and the supergroup Serpentine Dominion. He recorded two al ...
– vocals
* Tony Norman – guitars (1999–2005)
* Jason "Tux" Morgan – guitars (1994–1999)
*
Kelly Conlon Kelly Conlon (born 20 March 1969) is an American bass guitarist. He has been a hired musician with Death and Monstrosity. Conlon currently performs with Pessimist.
Career
Conlon was part of the Florida underground metal scene until 1994 when Orla ...
– bass (1995–1999)
* Sam Molina – guitars (2003–2006), vocals
* Jason Avery – vocals (1996–2001, 2003–2005)
;Touring members
*
Pat O'Brien Pat O'Brien may refer to:
Politicians
* Pat O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1948), member of the Canadian House of Commons
*Pat O'Brien (Irish politician) (c. 1847–1917), Irish Nationalist MP in the United Kingdom Parliament
Others
*Pat O'Br ...
– guitars (1996–1997)
* Jay Fernandez – guitars (1998-1999)
* Bobby Earl – vocals (2001)
* Patrick Hall – guitars (2002)
* Brian Werner – vocals (2006)
* J.J. Hrubovcak – guitars (2007)
* Ben Kuzay – bass (2008)
* Andrew Guthrie - bass (2012)
* Jamie Harris - guitars (1998)
* Jamie Osburne - guitars (1998)
* Matt Moore - guitars (2009)
* Steve Bailey - guitars (2000)
* Chuck Amos - guitars (1994)
* Adam Bollenbach - guitars (1993)
* Jason Gobel - guitars (1991)
Timeline
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Period =from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/2022
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Colors=
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id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar
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id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album
id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Demo
id:bars value:gray(0.95)
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at:08/01/1994 color:other layer:back
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at:09/23/2003 color:black layer:back
at:04/05/2007 color:black layer:back
at:09/07/2018 color:black layer:back
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bar:Jason text:"Jason Avery"
bar:Sam text:"Sam Molina"
bar:Mike text:"Mike Hrubovcak"
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bar:Tux text:"Jason Morgan"
bar:Tony text:"Tony Norman"
bar:Mark text:"Mark English"
bar:Matt text:"Matt Barnes"
bar:Mark2 text:"Mark van Erp"
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bar:Sam from:06/01/2001 till:05/01/2003 color:vocals
bar:Sam from:05/01/2003 till:06/01/2006 color:guitar
bar:Jason from:05/01/2003 till:12/01/2005 color:vocals
bar:Mike from:03/01/2006 till:end color:vocals
bar:Jon from:01/01/1990 till:04/01/1994 color:guitar
bar:Tux from:04/01/1994 till:03/01/1999 color:guitar
bar:Tony from:03/01/1999 till:12/01/2005 color:guitar
bar:Mark from:01/01/2006 till:end color:guitar
bar:Matt from:01/01/2010 till:end color:guitar
bar:Mark2 from:01/01/1990 till:06/01/1995 color:bass
bar:Kelly from:06/01/1995 till:09/01/1999 color:bass
bar:Mike2 from:01/01/2001 till:end color:bass
bar:Lee from:01/01/1990 till:end color:drums
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Imperial Doom'' (1992)
*''
Millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
'' (1996)
*''
In Dark Purity
''In Dark Purity'' is the third studio album by American death metal band Monstrosity. The first version of this album was released by German Metal Age Recordings (Turbo Rec. follow-up label). However, the label was a rip-off label and theref ...
'' (1999)
*''
Rise to Power'' (2003)
*''
Spiritual Apocalypse
''Spiritual Apocalypse'' is the fifth full-length album by Floridian death metal band Monstrosity. Critics were overwhelmingly positive. The album cover art is by David Ho.
Track listing
All lyrics by Lee Harrison.
Personnel
;Monstrosity
* ...
'' (2007)
*''
The Passage of Existence'' (2018)
EPs and singles
*''Burden of Evil'' (1991)
*''Darkest Dream'' (1992)
Compilations
*''Enslaving the Masses'' (2001)
Live albums
*''Live Extreme Brazilian - Tour 2002'' (2003)
*''10 Years of Nuclear Blast'' (1997)
*''Stages Of Decay'' (2001)
DVDs
*''Live Apocalypse'' (2012)
Demo albums
*''Horror Infinity'' (1990)
*''Slaves And Masters'' (1994)
External links
Official websiteInterview at Swampfoot RecordsMonstrosityat
Encyclopaedia 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. En ...
Monstrosityon
MyspaceMonstrosityon
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monstrosity
1990 establishments in Florida
American technical death metal musical groups
Death metal musical groups from Florida
Metal Blade Records artists
Musical groups established in 1990
Musical groups from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Musical quintets