Cryptopsy

Cryptopsy
Performing at 2017's Party.San Metal Open Air festival in Germany.
Background information
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Technical death metal, brutal death metal
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Century Media, Regain, Displeased, Nuclear Blast, Season of Mist
Members	Flo Mounier Christian Donaldson Matt McGachy Olivier Pinard
Website	cryptopsy.ca

Cryptopsy is a Canadian death metal band from Montreal, formed in 1988.

History

Pre-Cryptopsy days (1988–1992)

Canadian death/thrash metal band Necrosis was formed in April 1988 by drummer Mike Atkin, guitarist Steve Thibault and vocalist Dan "Lord Worm" Greening, initially under the name Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. John Todds later joined on bass. The band released several demos, including Mastication and Heterodontism (1989), Realms of Pathogenia (1991) and Necrosis (1992). Atkin left the band and was replaced by Flo Mounier, at which time the band rebranded under the name Cryptopsy, where the members collectively wanted to play even heavier material. Todds left shortly thereafter, retiring from music to focus on his family; he was replaced by Kevin Weagle; Dave Galea also joined the band.

Ungentle Exhumation and Blasphemy Made Flesh (1993–1995)

In 1993, Cryptopsy released their debut demo, Ungentle Exhumation. This demo caught the attention of local label Gore Records, which re-released the demo and, for a brief period, managed the band. The demo garnered 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By 1994, bassist Kevin Weagle had been replaced by Martin Fergusson, and Dave Galea was replaced by lead guitarist Jon Levasseur. This line-up recorded their debut album, Blasphemy Made Flesh, which at first was independently released and later licensed to Germany's Invasion Records. The album gained them a wide following in the Canadian underground.

Due to the dissolution of Invasion Records, Cryptopsy was left without a label to support their tour, but the album would be picked up by Dutch label Displeased Records. After successfully touring in support of Blasphemy Made Flesh, Steve Thibault left the band. 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 Worm, Mounier, Levasseur, and Langlois released the album None So Vile on the Swedish label Wrong Again Records. 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.

In 1997, after the tour in support of None So Vile, Lord Worm left the band, citing health issues. The band hired the Boston native Mike DiSalvo, vocalist of death metal band Infestation, (with the personal approval of Lord Worm). In July 1997, Cryptopsy's appearance at the Milwaukee Metalfest XI gained the attention of many American metalheads, as well as that of 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 criticized the vocals of Mike DiSalvo, stating his style was too resminiscent of hardcore rather than the typical extreme metal vocalizations of Lord Worm. The tour in support of Whisper Supremacy took the band on their first tour through the United States, increasing their fan-base.

…And Then You'll Beg (2000–2002)

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 considered not-as-heavy as Cryptopsy's previous albums, but embraced further experimentations when compared to previous releases. After the first portion of the supporting tour, Mike DiSalvo departed the band. Martin LaCroix took over the position as singer for the European and Japanese tours. His style was viewed as being in between the styles of Lord Worm and Mike DiSalvo.

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, in 2003, released as a live album, None So Live. This release was LaCroix's only contribution to Cryptopsy's discography; he was not fluent enough in English to write lyrics on the same level as his predecessors.

Lord Worm rejoined the band and through summer 2004, Cryptopsy played shows in the Montreal area, and began a full Canadian tour in September, with former guitarist Miguel Roy filling in for the unavailable Jon Levasseur. In October, Martyr and former Gorguts guitarist Dan Mongrain took over second guitar duties for the live dates. The setlist for this tour began with the entire None So Vile album, 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 independently in 2005. The band sold the DVD at gigs.

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 album also showed a heightened experimentation in the band's songwriting, introducing some slight elements of avant-garde, mathcore and others. The band toured North America with Suffocation, Despised Icon, and Aborted. 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, then toured America and Australia. Following their second tour of Europe, UK, and Scandinavia, guitarist Christian Donaldson became a permanent member of the band.

The Unspoken King (2007–2011)

Once Was Not (2005) is original vocalist Lord Worm's final album with the band. He departed shortly before The Unspoken King (2008) was conceptualized.

In 2007 Cryptopsy had announced plans for their sixth studio album, however after this 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 April 23, 2007, Cryptopsy announced that they were looking for a new vocalist.

The new album was originally to be called The Book of Suffering, and was to be a double album, this plan ended up being canceled, but the band would eventually pursue this concept several years later by releasing two EP's titled The Book of Suffering (subtitled as Tome I and Tome II in 2015 and 2018 respectively).

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, Maggy Durand. The band released a new studio album, The Unspoken King, on June 24, 2008. This album saw the inclusion of previously-unheard elements such as breakdowns and melodic riffs. The album has been widely regarded as being a deathcore release instead of the band's usual technical death metal style, and as such was met with mostly negative reception by fans but mixed reception by 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.

Self-titled album and The Book of Suffering EPs (2011–2022)

On May 25, 2011, the band announced on their Facebook page that former lead guitarist and major contributor Jon Levasseur had 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.

On September 14, 2012, Cryptopsy released Cryptopsy, which turned away from the experimentation witnessed on The Unspoken King, in favour of a more technical death metal sound.

On May 8, 2015, it was announced that Cryptopsy would release The Book of Suffering - Tome I 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.

On August 31, 2018, the band announced the second part of The Book of Suffering on their Facebook page. Pre-sales of the EP began on September 7 along with a music video of their new song "Sire of Sin", which was to appear on Tome II. The EP was released on October 26.

As Gomorrah Burns (2023–present)

On May 8, 2023, Cryptopsy announced that they signed with Nuclear Blast Records and revealed the art and details of their eighth album entitled As Gomorrah Burns, the band's first full-length in 11 years. It was released on September 8, 2023. The album was the album of the month on Metallian.com. The band began touring in support of the album upon its release. In 2023 Cryptopsy performed a show Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the performance was the first time a metal band from the western hemisphere had ever performed in the country.

Style

Daniel Gioffre of AllMusic describes Cryptopsy's sound as having "sacrificed" melody, harmony, rhythmic clarity and song structure in pursuit of "one overriding goal [...] extreme brutality." James Christopher Monger of AllMusic made note of Cryptopsy's "uncompromising sonic attack" and "technical acuity". The band's music is characterized by "about-to-fall-off-the-edge playing." Cryptopsy drummer Flo Mounier has been called "one of the fastest drummers to play death metal," and is known for his "eccentric" accents with his cymbal work.

Members

Current

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

Former guitarist Jon Levasseur live in Austin, Texas (2003)

Former

• Mike Atkin – drums (1988–1992)
• John Todds – bass, backing vocals (1988–1992)
• Steve Thibault – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1988–1995), lead guitar (1988–1992)
• Lord Worm – lead vocals (1988–1997, 2003–2007) (ex-Rage Nucléaire, ex-Necrosis)
• Dave Galea – lead guitar (1992–1993)
• Kevin Weagle – bass (1992–1994)
• Jon Levasseur – lead guitar (1993–2005, 2011–2012)
• Martin Fergusson – bass (1994)
• Miguel Roy – rhythm guitar (1995–1999)
• Eric Langlois – bass (1995–2011)
• Mike DiSalvo – lead vocals (1997–2001) (Coma Cluster Void, Akurion, Conflux, ex-Infestation, ex-Mabbus)
• Alex Auburn – rhythm guitar, vocals (1999–2009)
• Martin Lacroix – lead vocals (2001–2003, died 2024) (ex-Serocs, ex-Spasme)
• Daniel Mongrain – lead guitar (2004-2005 touring)
• Maggy Durand – keyboards (2007–2008)
• Youri Raymond – rhythm guitar (2009–2011), bass (2011), backing vocals (2009–2011)
• Dominic Grimard – bass (2018–2019)

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)
• As Gomorrah Burns (2023)

EPs

• The Book of Suffering – Tome I (2015)
• The Book of Suffering – Tome II (2018)

Live albums

• None So Live (2003)

Demos

• Ungentle Exhumation (1993)

Compilations

• The Best of Us Bleed (2012)

External links

• Official website
• Facebook
• Cryptopsy at AllMusic