Cryptopsy

Cryptopsy
Lord Worm performing live in Århus
Background information
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Technical death metal
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Century Media, Regain, Displeased
Members	Flo Mounier Christian Donaldson Matt McGachy Olivier Pinard
Website	Official website

Cryptopsy is a Canadian technical death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1992. The band has sold over 300,000 records.

History

Necrosis (1988–1992)

Cryptopsy was formed in May 1988 by drummer Mike Atkin, guitarist Steve Thibault and vocalist Dan Greening, initially under the name Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The band then changed their name to Necrosis, opting for a "more metal" name. The band's name was then briefly changed to Gomorra, but after discovering a band with the same name via a fanzine, they reversed the change back to Necrosis. John Todds later joined on bass. The band released several demos, including Mastication and Heterodontism (1989), Realms Of Pathogenia (1991) and Necrosis (1992). The band made their first live appearance in 1992, and changed their name to "Cryptopsy" the same year.

Atkin later left the band and was replaced by Flo Mounier, who had been introduced to the band by Todds. Todds also left Necrosis shortly thereafter, retiring from music to focus on his family. Guitarist Dave Galea also joined the band.

Blasphemy Made Flesh (1993–1995)

Cryptopsy recruited Kevin Weagle to play bass, and in 1993 released their debut demo, Ungentle Exhumation. This demo caught the attention of local label Gore Records. Gore Records would proceed to re-release the demo and would, for a brief period, manage the band as well. Cryptopsy's first demo release earned them some attention in the Canadian death metal underground, as well as from the German label Invasion Records.

By 1994, bassist Kevin Weagle had been replaced by Martin Fergusson, and Dave Galea left and was replaced by lead guitarist Jon Levasseur. This line-up recorded their debut album, Blasphemy Made Flesh, which at first was independently released in 1994 and later licensed to Invasion Records. The album gained them a wide following in the Canadian underground.

Despite recent recognition, difficulties ensued with their label Invasion Records. Invasion was collapsing because of financial problems and as a result Cryptopsy was now without a label to support their tour and album activities. Despite setback, the album would later come in the possession of Dutch label Displeased Records. After successful touring in support of Blasphemy Made Flesh, guitarist Steve Thibault left the band but remained manager for a few months. Bassist Martin Fergusson was replaced by Eric Langlois. The addition of Langlois incorporated funk-style bass slaps into the Cryptopsy sound.

None So Vile (1996–1997)

In 1996, the line-up of Lord Worm, Flo Mounier, Jon Levasseur, and Eric Langlois released the album None So Vile on the Swedish label Wrong Again Records. This album took the extreme and technical elements further and is now considered a benchmark of technical death metal. By this time, Levasseur was a very prominent songwriter in the band. His guitar leads consisted of very fast yet complex shreds, which were usually played in short bursts. Although Levasseur handled all the guitar parts on the album, the band would add Miguel Roy as a second touring guitarist.

After the tour in support of None So Vile, Lord Worm departed the band, focusing his career as an English teacher. The band had reached some musical differences, as the rest of the band wanted to evolve and expand more, and Lord Worm expressed a dislike for the experimental path that Cryptopsy's music was then taking.

In early 1997, the band hired the Boston-native Mike DiSalvo, of a death metal band named Infestation, with the personal approval by Lord Worm to be the new vocalist. In July 1997, Cryptopsy’s appearance at the Milwaukee Metalfest XI gained the attention of many American metalheads as well as the label Century Media.

Whisper Supremacy (1998–1999)

Cryptopsy's next album, Whisper Supremacy, was released on Century Media in 1998, and featured Miguel Roy on second guitar. It took Cryptopsy's style further, incorporating some jazz and fusion elements. Some fans criticised Mike DiSalvo's vocal style, citing that it was too similar to that of hardcore vocalists and preferred the more extreme death metal style of Lord Worm, whereas others welcomed the more intelligible lyrics and vocal presence of DiSalvo. The tour in support of Whisper Supremacy also took the band on their first tour through the United States, increasing their fan-base significantly.

…And Then You'll Beg (2000–2001)

Cryptopsy released their fourth studio effort, …And Then You'll Beg, in 2000. The album featured a new guitarist, Alex Auburn, who replaced Miguel Roy. And Then You'll Beg was viewed as being less extreme than Cryptopsy's previous albums. The album also incorporated even more progressive elements and was still considered to be very technical and experimental. After the first portion of the supporting tour, Mike DiSalvo departed from the band to pursue a family life with his girlfriend in Montreal and with a daughter on the way.

In 2001, Montreal–area Cryptopsy fan Martin LaCroix took over the position as Cryptopsy's singer for the Europe and Japan tours. His style was viewed by many fans as being in between the styles of Lord Worm and Mike DiSalvo, making him a convenient choice to front the band.

None So Live (2002–2004)

In June 2001, Cryptopsy played their first concert in their hometown of Montreal in four years and attracted an audience of more than 2,000. The concert was recorded and released as a live album, None So Live, in May 2003. This release was LaCroix's only contribution to Cryptopsy's discography. The band soon realised that the French-speaking LaCroix was not fluent enough in English, which prevented him from writing lyrics on par with his predecessors.

Later in 2003, it was announced that Lord Worm, Cryptopsy's original vocalist, had rejoined the band. Throughout summer 2004, Cryptopsy played shows in the Montreal area, and continued a full Canada tour in September, with former guitarist Miguel Roy filling in for the unavailable Jon Levasseur. Beginning on October 9, Martyr and former Gorguts guitarist Dan Mongrain took over second guitar duties for the live dates. The setlist for this tour began the entire None So Vile album played straight through, and then followed by songs from Blasphemy Made Flesh and Whisper Supremacy. The Canada 2004 tour ended at Cryptopsy's performance on November 6 at the Trois-Rivieres Metalfest IV, which was filmed for a live DVD. The DVD Live at Trois-Rivieres Metalfest IV was released in 2005.

Once Was Not (2005–2006)

On January 31, 2005, Jon Levasseur announced that he had lost interest in extreme music and amicably departed Cryptopsy. Dan Mongrain remained on guitar duties for the Back to the Worms tour through the United States from February to May. After the tour's completion Mongrain also departed in order to continue his work with Martyr. It was then announced that Cryptopsy's next album, Once Was Not, would be released on October 18, 2005. The album features original vocalist Lord Worm, Flo Mounier, Eric Langlois, and Alex Auburn handling all guitar duties except the intro track "Luminum". On September 28 it was announced that the new touring guitarist would be Christian Donaldson of Mythosis. The band toured North America with Suffocation, Despised Icon, and Aborted. Advanced copies of the new album were available at the shows. After a break, and the release of Flo Mounier's instructional drumming DVD Extreme Metal Drumming 101, the band toured Europe with Grave, Aborted, Dew-Scented, and others, followed by tours in America and Australia. Following their second tour of Europe, UK, and Scandinavia; guitarist Christian Donalson was hired as a permanent member of the band.

The Unspoken King (2007–2011)

The new album was originally to be called The Book of Suffering, and was to be a double album, but on April 23, 2007, Cryptopsy announced that Lord Worm had been fired from the band and that they were looking for a new vocalist. After the announcement, Lord Worm stated that he left the group earlier than planned for health reasons, which contradicted the band's statement that he was kicked out. Lord Worm also stated that there were creative differences with the other band members over the direction the band would eventually take on their subsequent studio outing.

On December 4, 2007, Cryptopsy revealed the addition of vocalist Matt McGachy, of fellow Montreal heavy metal band 3 Mile Scream; and a new keyboard player, Maggie Durand, to the band. The band hence released a new studio album, titled The Unspoken King, on June 24, 2008. This album saw the inclusion of previously-unheard elements such as the incorporation of a clean vocal style. Thus, the album was largely met with a mixed-to-negative reaction from both fans and critics.

In early February 2009, guitarist Alex Auburn announced his departure from the band, saying that there were numerous reasons for his leaving, and that he and the rest of the band agreed with the departure.

Cryptopsy (2011–present)

On May 25, 2011, the band announced on their official Facebook page that former lead guitarist and major contributor Jon Levasseur returned to the band. Additionally, bassist Eric Langlois decided to take a break from Cryptopsy, and Youri Raymond took his place on bass. On December 9, 2011, Raymond announced his departure from the band. On January 15, 2012, Cryptopsy announced that Olivier Pinard, from Neuraxis and Vengeful, would be the new bassist for the band.

Cryptopsy later released Cryptopsy on September 14, 2012, which eschewed from the experimentation witnessed on The Unspoken King in favour of a return to a more technical death metal sound.

On May 8, 2015, it was announced that Cryptopsy would release The Book of Suffering - Tome 1 in mid-2015, the first in a series of EPs. An Indiegogo campaign was launched the same day. Regarding the recording process, it was stated that Jason Suecof would handle mixing duties, while Alan Douches would handle the mastering process.

Musical Style

Cryptopsy is renowned for its fast-paced style of technical death metal, with nuances of jazz and progressive music. Nonetheless, on the band's 2008 offering, The Unspoken King, the band eschewed this style, with the incorporation of previously-unheard musical traits such as a clean vocal delivery and keyboard-effects; which was hence met with a mixed-to-negative reception from fans and critics alike. The band later opted for an abandonment of this approach on later releases.

Members

Current members

• Flo Mounier – drums, backing vocals (1992–present)
• Christian Donaldson – lead & rhythm guitars (2005–present)
• Matt McGachy – lead vocals (2007–present)
• Olivier Pinard – bass guitar (2012–present)

Former members

Vocals

• Lord Worm – lead vocals (1992–1997, 2003–2007)
• Mike DiSalvo – lead vocals (1997–2001)
• Martin Lacroix – lead vocals (2001–2003)

Rhythm guitar

• Steve Thibault – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1992–1995)
• Miguel Roy – rhythm, lead guitars (1995–1998)
• Alex Auburn – rhythm guitar, lead, backing vocals (1999–2009)
• Youri Raymond – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2011, 2012-2013)
• Konrad Rossa - guitar (2013)

Bass guitar

• Kevin Weagle – bass guitar (1992–1994)
• Martin Fergusson – bass guitar (1994)
• Eric Langlois – bass guitar (1995–2011)
• Youri Raymond – bass guitar (2011)

Lead guitar

• Dave Galea – lead, rhythm guitars, vocals (1992–1993)
• Jon Levasseur – lead, rhythm guitars (1993–2005, 2011–2012)
• Dan Mongrain – lead guitar (2004-2005)

Keyboards

• Maggy Durand – keyboards (2007–2008)

Timeline

 

Discography

Studio albums

• Blasphemy Made Flesh (1994)
• None So Vile (1996)
• Whisper Supremacy (1998)
• ...And Then You'll Beg (2000)
• Once Was Not (2005)
• The Unspoken King (2008)
• Cryptopsy (2012)

EPs

• The Book of Suffering – Tome 1 (2015)

Live albums

• None So Live (2003)

Demos

• Ungentle Exhumation (1993)

Compilations

• The Best of Us Bleed (2012)

References

External links

• Official website
• Official Facebook page
• Official Cryptopsy Merch on IFmerch.com
• Cryptopsy biography at AllMusic
• Cryptopsy discography at MusicBrainz
• Cryptopsy discography at Discogs
• MTV News article about the band's new record
• Interview with Flo Mounier on Chronicles of Chaos
• Interview with Flo Mounier on Morgzine (ukraine)