Divine Heresy
Encyclopedia
Divine Heresy is an American metal
band formed by founder of Fear Factory
, guitarist Dino Cazares
and Devolved
, drummer John Sankey. Although the band's origins trace back to 2002, Divine Heresy was officially formed in 2006. The band currently consists of guitarist Cazares, former Vital Remains
drummer and current World Under Blood
drummer Tim Yeung
, former Nile
bassist Joe Payne
and vocalist Travis Neal. Tommy "Vext" Cummings was fired from Divine Heresy following an onstage altercation on April 26, 2008. After holding auditions for a new frontman for the band, it was announced on August 14 that The Bereaved vocalist Travis Neal is to fill the position.
The band's debut album Bleed the Fifth
was released on August 28, 2007, and sold 2,700 copies in its first week. Receiving generally positive reviews, Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic commented the album "strikes a near-perfect balance between confirmation and innovation", while Dom Lawson of Metal Hammer
commented "All in all, the portly pioneer [Cazares] has hit the bull's-eye".
in 2002, guitarist Dino Cazares
was looking for a drummer that "fit in" with the band. First he tried drummers John Sankey from Devolved
and Nicholas Barker
from the bands Cradle of Filth
and Dimmu Borgir
. But both drummers had to return to their homelands of Australia and England respectively due to visa issues. He then met former Vital Remains
drummer Tim Yeung
. Cazares and Yeung recorded the material they wrote and sent tapes to Cummings for his vocal audition. Cazares comments "We heard passion and anger in his voice, which was something we wanted. It was also very aggressive."
Divine Heresy held auditions for a permanent bassist — Tony Campos
of Static-X
played bass on three songs and Cazares acted as bassist on the remaining songs. Following unsuccessful auditions, Cazares was contacted by former Nile
bassist Joe Payne
. Cazares knew Joe Payne from seeing him play live with Nile. After auditioning Joe Payne joined Divine Heresy as the permanent bass guitarist.
in early 2007 with production duties handled by former Machine Head
guitarist Logan Mader
. The title of the album is a play on words, Cazares comments "You have the right to keep your mouth shut, but on this record we believe we’re saying a lot". Cummings wrote the majority of the lyrics, which are about personal strifes and how people overcome them. Much of the lyrical content was influenced by the Book of Revelation
, natural disasters, war, and terrorism. Cazares stated the album is a "big fuck you" to the people who want his projects to fail.
Released on August 28, 2007, in the United States, Bleed the Fifth sold 2,700 copies in its first week. Dom Lawson of Metal Hammer
summarized his review by saying "All in all, the portly pioneer has hit the bull's-eye and it's going to be fascinating to see what happens next", awarding an 8 out of a possible 10. Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic felt the album "strikes a near-perfect balance between confirmation (reminding fans of Cazares' abilities and unique vision) and innovation (he even plays a few guitar solos!)". Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net
summarized his review claiming the album is "one tough son of a bitch that may still have you humming melodies long after you've ejected the disc." Chad Bowar of About.com
commented "Great musicianship, good songs and excellent production make this a very respectable debut."
After recording was completed, Cazares announced the band signed a North American deal with Century Media Records
, and a licensing deal with Roadrunner Records
in Europe. His decision to choose Century Media was based on the creative freedom the label gave him, whereas Roadrunner would ask him to produce radio and commercial songs when he was in Fear Factory. However, Yeung claims Roadrunner were not interested and said he did not want to be on a label that is "sort of interested".
went out during the show. Cazares, however, continued to play after what Vext thought was to be the last song, forcing him, Joe and Tim to step in at the last minute. Confronted by Vext about only performing as a complete band, Cazares responded by telling him to "just deal with it".
, was released on July 28 release via Century Media Records. Dino co-produced the album with the acclaimed producing team Dirty Icon (Logan Mader and Lucas Banker).
As of November 25, 2010, Divine Heresy cannot be found on the Century Media Records website.
Dino has also given interviews that during breaks from the current Fear Factory tour, Dino and drummer Tim Yeung have started writing new material for the next Divine Heresy record.
On January 26, 2011, it was announced that bassist Joe Payne had left Divine Heresy. It is still unknown whether anybody has been found to replace him.
On 10 May 2011, Dino announced via Divine Heresey's Facebook page and through his own personal account that Divine Heresy are still together and that there will be a new album in 2012. He also said that they were planning a tour along the US east coast.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band formed by founder of Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, guitarist Dino Cazares
Dino Cazares
Dino Cazares, born in El Centro, California, is a Mexican-American musician and the guitarist for Los Angeles-based industrial metal group Fear Factory. He also plays in the metal bands Divine Heresy and Asesino.-Biography:...
and Devolved
Devolved (band)
Devolved is a technical death metal band originally from the Gold Coast, Australia but based in Los Angeles, California since 2005. Led by founding member John Sankey the band has so far released three full-length albums with a fourth studio album scheduled for 2012, and toured throughout...
, drummer John Sankey. Although the band's origins trace back to 2002, Divine Heresy was officially formed in 2006. The band currently consists of guitarist Cazares, former Vital Remains
Vital Remains
Vital Remains is an American death metal band from Providence, Rhode Island formed in 1988.- History :Created in 1988 by guitarist Paul Flynn, Vital Remains' first line-up consisted of guitarist Butch Machado, vocalist Mike Flynn, bassist Tom Supkow, and drummer Chris Dupont. Searching for better...
drummer and current World Under Blood
World Under Blood
World Under Blood is a melodic death metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in late 2006 by CKY frontman Deron Miller and Divine Heresy drummer Tim Yeung.-Early Years:...
drummer Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung is a prominent extreme metal drummer. He was born on November 27, 1978 in Rochester, New York and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Tim started playing drums when he was 11 years old.-Biography:...
, former Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
bassist Joe Payne
Joe Payne
Joseph "Joe" Payne was born in Tampa, Florida in 1984. He is a heavy metal bassist and guitarist. Until 2011, Joe Payne played bass in the metal band Divine Heresy with Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, vocalist Travis Neal and ex-Vital Remains and Hate Eternal drummer Tim Yeung.Joe Payne joined...
and vocalist Travis Neal. Tommy "Vext" Cummings was fired from Divine Heresy following an onstage altercation on April 26, 2008. After holding auditions for a new frontman for the band, it was announced on August 14 that The Bereaved vocalist Travis Neal is to fill the position.
The band's debut album Bleed the Fifth
Bleed the Fifth (album)
Bleed the Fifth is the debut studio album by Divine Heresy, released in the United States on August 28, 2007. The album sold approximately 2,700 copies in its first week of release. The album name is a play on the American judicial system Fifth Amendment...
was released on August 28, 2007, and sold 2,700 copies in its first week. Receiving generally positive reviews, Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic commented the album "strikes a near-perfect balance between confirmation and innovation", while Dom Lawson of Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
commented "All in all, the portly pioneer [Cazares] has hit the bull's-eye".
Formation (2002-2007)
Following his departure from Fear FactoryFear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
in 2002, guitarist Dino Cazares
Dino Cazares
Dino Cazares, born in El Centro, California, is a Mexican-American musician and the guitarist for Los Angeles-based industrial metal group Fear Factory. He also plays in the metal bands Divine Heresy and Asesino.-Biography:...
was looking for a drummer that "fit in" with the band. First he tried drummers John Sankey from Devolved
Devolved (band)
Devolved is a technical death metal band originally from the Gold Coast, Australia but based in Los Angeles, California since 2005. Led by founding member John Sankey the band has so far released three full-length albums with a fourth studio album scheduled for 2012, and toured throughout...
and Nicholas Barker
Nicholas Barker
Nicholas Howard Barker is an extreme metal drummer .- Biography :He was the original drummer for British metal band Cradle of Filth, playing on the first three albums. After leaving in 1999, he joined Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir...
from the bands Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
and Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
. But both drummers had to return to their homelands of Australia and England respectively due to visa issues. He then met former Vital Remains
Vital Remains
Vital Remains is an American death metal band from Providence, Rhode Island formed in 1988.- History :Created in 1988 by guitarist Paul Flynn, Vital Remains' first line-up consisted of guitarist Butch Machado, vocalist Mike Flynn, bassist Tom Supkow, and drummer Chris Dupont. Searching for better...
drummer Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung is a prominent extreme metal drummer. He was born on November 27, 1978 in Rochester, New York and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Tim started playing drums when he was 11 years old.-Biography:...
. Cazares and Yeung recorded the material they wrote and sent tapes to Cummings for his vocal audition. Cazares comments "We heard passion and anger in his voice, which was something we wanted. It was also very aggressive."
Divine Heresy held auditions for a permanent bassist — Tony Campos
Tony Campos
Tony Campos is a Mexican American musician. He is the bass guitarist for the heavy metal band Soulfly and former bass guitarist of industrial metal band Static-X and frontman/bassist for Asesino. Campos was the final bassist for Ministry, which retired in 2008, though he rejoined when the band...
of Static-X
Static-X
Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California. They were formed in 1994. They are signed to Warner Bros. Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Cult of Static, which was released on March 17, 2009....
played bass on three songs and Cazares acted as bassist on the remaining songs. Following unsuccessful auditions, Cazares was contacted by former Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
bassist Joe Payne
Joe Payne
Joseph "Joe" Payne was born in Tampa, Florida in 1984. He is a heavy metal bassist and guitarist. Until 2011, Joe Payne played bass in the metal band Divine Heresy with Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, vocalist Travis Neal and ex-Vital Remains and Hate Eternal drummer Tim Yeung.Joe Payne joined...
. Cazares knew Joe Payne from seeing him play live with Nile. After auditioning Joe Payne joined Divine Heresy as the permanent bass guitarist.
Bleed the Fifth (2007-2008)
The band recorded its debut album, Bleed the FifthBleed the Fifth (album)
Bleed the Fifth is the debut studio album by Divine Heresy, released in the United States on August 28, 2007. The album sold approximately 2,700 copies in its first week of release. The album name is a play on the American judicial system Fifth Amendment...
in early 2007 with production duties handled by former Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
guitarist Logan Mader
Logan Mader
Logan Mader was born on November 16, 1970 in Montreal, Canada. Logan is best known for his work as a guitarist in the heavy metal band Machine Head, who formed in Oakland, California in 1992. Their 1994 debut, Burn My Eyes, was released by Roadrunner Records and quickly became the top-selling...
. The title of the album is a play on words, Cazares comments "You have the right to keep your mouth shut, but on this record we believe we’re saying a lot". Cummings wrote the majority of the lyrics, which are about personal strifes and how people overcome them. Much of the lyrical content was influenced by the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
, natural disasters, war, and terrorism. Cazares stated the album is a "big fuck you" to the people who want his projects to fail.
Released on August 28, 2007, in the United States, Bleed the Fifth sold 2,700 copies in its first week. Dom Lawson of Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
summarized his review by saying "All in all, the portly pioneer has hit the bull's-eye and it's going to be fascinating to see what happens next", awarding an 8 out of a possible 10. Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic felt the album "strikes a near-perfect balance between confirmation (reminding fans of Cazares' abilities and unique vision) and innovation (he even plays a few guitar solos!)". Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net is a website dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. Blabbermouth.net was founded and is run by Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was officially launched in March 2001...
summarized his review claiming the album is "one tough son of a bitch that may still have you humming melodies long after you've ejected the disc." Chad Bowar of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
commented "Great musicianship, good songs and excellent production make this a very respectable debut."
After recording was completed, Cazares announced the band signed a North American deal with 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 :...
, and a licensing deal with Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
in Europe. His decision to choose Century Media was based on the creative freedom the label gave him, whereas Roadrunner would ask him to produce radio and commercial songs when he was in Fear Factory. However, Yeung claims Roadrunner were not interested and said he did not want to be on a label that is "sort of interested".
Departure of Tommy Vext (2008)
Lead singer Tommy Vext left the band following an on-stage altercation on April 26, 2008. Cause of the altercation remains controversial. Cazares explained "We felt that he wanted to end the show early to go hang out at the New England Metal Fest, which we were supposed to be performing at the next day" coming with all sorts of excuses to make this happen. In a video interview Vext explained that he wanted to prevent ruining his voice for the next show by ending the set early because the PA systemPublic address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
went out during the show. Cazares, however, continued to play after what Vext thought was to be the last song, forcing him, Joe and Tim to step in at the last minute. Confronted by Vext about only performing as a complete band, Cazares responded by telling him to "just deal with it".
Bringer of Plagues (2009-present)
Divine Heresy's follow-up to 2007's Bleed the Fifth was the group's first release with new vocalist Travis Neal, formerly of Pushed. He is also currently a member of the Swedish band The Bereaved and the band Hate Times Nine from San Diego/LA. The album, titled Bringer of PlaguesBringer of Plagues
Bringer of Plagues is the second album by Divine Heresy, released in the United States on July 28, 2009. It's their first album to feature new vocalist Travis Neal and the only one to feature bassist Joe Payne....
, was released on July 28 release via Century Media Records. Dino co-produced the album with the acclaimed producing team Dirty Icon (Logan Mader and Lucas Banker).
As of November 25, 2010, Divine Heresy cannot be found on the Century Media Records website.
Dino has also given interviews that during breaks from the current Fear Factory tour, Dino and drummer Tim Yeung have started writing new material for the next Divine Heresy record.
On January 26, 2011, it was announced that bassist Joe Payne had left Divine Heresy. It is still unknown whether anybody has been found to replace him.
On 10 May 2011, Dino announced via Divine Heresey's Facebook page and through his own personal account that Divine Heresy are still together and that there will be a new album in 2012. He also said that they were planning a tour along the US east coast.
Current
- Travis Neal – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2008–present) - Dino CazaresDino CazaresDino Cazares, born in El Centro, California, is a Mexican-American musician and the guitarist for Los Angeles-based industrial metal group Fear Factory. He also plays in the metal bands Divine Heresy and Asesino.-Biography:...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2005–present), bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2007) - Tim YeungTim YeungTim Yeung is a prominent extreme metal drummer. He was born on November 27, 1978 in Rochester, New York and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Tim started playing drums when he was 11 years old.-Biography:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2005–present)
Former
- Tommy "Vext" Cummings – vocals (2005–2008)
- Joe Payne – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2007–2011) - Risha Eryavac - live bass (2005–2007)
Music videos
- "Failed Creation" (The only video with Tommy "Vext" Cummings)
- "Bleed The Fifth" (This track is on the first album with Tommy. However due to his early departure before the video was complete, Travis Neal appeared instead and recorded his vocals over Tommy's, marking his first appearance as their new vocalist)
- "Facebreaker"