Asphyx
Encyclopedia
Asphyx is a Dutch
death/doom
band that was formed in Overijssel
in 1987.
After leaving Pestilence
in the early 1990s, Martin van Drunen joined Asphyx and the band signed to Century Media Records
. After the release of their first album, The Rack, they went on a European tour with Entombed
, followed by a tour with Bolt Thrower and Benediction
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 Baghus 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 Baghus 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 in a car accident. Some time later, Soulburn was founded by Baghus 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 Baghus. 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
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 August 18, 2009, quickly becoming the distributor's best seller.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
death/doom
Death/doom
Death/doom, sometimes writes as death-doom or deathdoom, is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It combines the slow tempos and pessimistic or depressive mood of doom metal with the deep growling vocals and double kick drumming of death metal...
band that was formed in Overijssel
Overijssel
Overijssel is a province of the Netherlands in the central eastern part of the country. The region has a NUTS classification of NL21. The province's name means "Lands across river IJssel". The capital city of Overijssel is Zwolle and the largest city is Enschede...
in 1987.
Biography
The band was formed in 1987 by Bob Bagchus and Tonny Brookhuis. Eric Daniels was found as a second guitarist and Chuck Colli joined on vocals and bass guitar; this line up released the Enter the Domain demo. 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
Pestilence (band)
Pestilence is a death metal band from the Netherlands founded in 1986. Later they incorporated more jazz and fusion elements into their music. After disbanding in order to pursue other musical directions in 1994, Pestilence has reunited in 2008...
in the early 1990s, Martin van Drunen joined Asphyx and the band signed to Century Media Records
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
. After the release of their first album, The Rack, they went on a European tour with Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
, followed by a tour with Bolt Thrower and Benediction
Benediction (band)
Benediction is a British death metal band from Birmingham, England. They were formed in February 1989.-Biography:The Birmingham-based death metal band Benediction were formed in February 1989 by Paul Adams , Peter Rew , Darren Brookes , and Mark "Barney" Greenway...
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 Baghus 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 Baghus 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 in a car accident. Some time later, Soulburn was founded by Baghus 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 Baghus. 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
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
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
Death...The Brutal Way
Death...The Brutal Way is the seventh album by Asphyx. It was released in June 2009 in Europe by Century Media Records. and in the US by Ibex Moon...
was released in June 2009 by Century Media. It was released in North America by Ibex Moon Records on August 18, 2009, quickly becoming the distributor's best seller.
Current members
- Martin van DrunenMartin van DrunenMartin van Drunen 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. After his departure from Pestilence, he joined Asphyx as the singer and bass...
– vocals (1990–1992 and since 2007), bass guitar (1990–1992) - Alwin Zuur – bass guitar (2010–present)
- Bob Bagchus – drums (1987–1993, 1995–1996, 1997–2000, 2007–present)
- Paul Baayens – guitar (2007–present)
Former members
- Eric Daniels – guitar (1989–1995, 1997–2000)
- Theo Loomans – vocals, bass guitar (1989–1990, 1995–1996)
- Ron van der Pol – vocals, bass guitar (1992–1994)
- Wannes Gubbels – bass guitar, vocals (1997–2000, 2007–2010)
- Ronny van der Wey – guitar (1996)
- Sander van Hoof – drums (1994)
- Tonny Brookhuis – guitar (1987–1989)
- Chuck Colli – vocals, bass guitar (1988–1989)
- Heiko Hanke – keyboards (1994)
- Roel Sanders – drums
Discography
- Carnage Remains (demo, 1988)
- Enter the Domain (demo, 1989)
- Crush the Cenotaph (demo, 1990)
- Mutilating ProcessMutilating ProcessMutilating Process is a single by Asphyx. It was released in 1989.-Credits:*Theo Loomans - vocals, bass guitar*Eric Daniels - guitar*Bob Bagchus - drums*Tonny Brookhuis - guitars...
(single, Gore Records/Nuclear BlastNuclear BlastNuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
, 1989) - The Rack (album, Century Media, 1991)
- Crush the CenotaphCrush the CenotaphCrush the Cenotaph is an EP by Asphyx. It was released in 1992 by Century Media Records.-Track listing:# "Crush the Cenotaph" – 3:55# "Rite of Shades" – 3:08# "The Krusher" – 5:59# "Evocation" – 5:38# "Wasteland of Terror" – 2:50...
(EP, Century, 1992) - Last One on EarthLast One on EarthLast One on Earth is the second album by Asphyx. It was released in 1992 by Century Media Records.-Track listing:# "M.S. Bismarck" – 5:03# "The Krusher" – 5:52# "Serenade in Lead" – 3:28# "Last One on Earth" – 7:10...
(album, Century, 1992) - AsphyxAsphyx (album)Asphyx is the third album by Asphyx. It was released by Century Media Records in 1994.-Track listing:# "Prelude of the Unhonoured Funeral" – 3:54# "Depths of Eternity" – 7:01# "Emperors of Salvation" – 4:59# "'Til Death Do Us Apart" – 6:17...
(album, Century, 1994) - Embrace the DeathEmbrace the DeathEmbrace the Death is a rough mix studio album by Asphyx. It was recorded in 1990 and intended as their first album, but it was not released...
(album, 1996, Century; recorded in 1990) - God CriesGod CriesGod Cries is the fourth album by Asphyx. It was released in 1996 by Century Media Records. Shortly after the release of the album, Theo Loomans was killed in a car accident, which was probably suicide.-Track listing:# "God Cries" – 3:57...
(album, Century, 1996) - Feeding on AngelsFeeding on AngelsFeeding on Angels is the fifth album by Soulburn. Soulburn is a name Asphyx temporarily used during the late 1990s, before returning to Asphyx...
(album, 1998, as Soulburn) - On the Wings of InfernoOn the Wings of InfernoOn the Wings of Inferno is the sixth album by Asphyx. It was released in 2000 by Century Media Records.-Track listing:# "Summoning the Storm" – 5:18# "The Scent of Obscurity" – 2:56# "For They Ascend..." – 2:50# "On the Wings of Inferno" – 4:26...
(album, Century, 2000) - Death...The Brutal WayDeath...The Brutal WayDeath...The Brutal Way is the seventh album by Asphyx. It was released in June 2009 in Europe by Century Media Records. and in the US by Ibex Moon...
(album, Century, June 2009) - Live Death Doom (double live album and DVD, Century, August 2010)