Winter's Bane
Encyclopedia
Winters Bane are a heavy
/power metal
band, formed in 1990.
They have gone through extensive line-up changes throughout their history with only guitarist and sometime-vocalist Lou St. Paul featuring as an ever-present.
In their first incarnation with Tim "Ripper" Owens (who would later join Judas Priest
and Iced Earth
), they released the Heart of a Killer
album in 1993, a concept piece based on the murderous exploits of a character called Judge Cohagen. This album was re-released in 2000 by Century Media Records
as a 2-CD set, featuring a bootlegged live gig as a bonus disc.
After the departure of Owens, St. Paul took over the vocal duties for both the unreleased Season of Brutality and Girth
, arguably Winters Bane's heaviest work to date.
Following the release of Girth, Winters Bane went into a period of semi-activity while searching for a full-time vocalist. By 2003, German
Alexander Koch (ex-Spiral Tower, Powergod) was recruited and a demo
was cut. Two years later St. Paul, Koch and veteran drummer
Mark Cross entered the studio to record Redivivus
, a full-length album released in 2006.
After the release of the album, Koch and Cross were replaced by locally-based Jeff Zaigen and former touring drummer Jeff Curenton and there are plans for a sequel to Heart of a Killer
to be released in 2007.
Former members Tim Owens and Dennis Hayes would later form their own band, Beyond Fear, and they released their debut album in 2006. The next year, Hayes would also join Owens in Iced Earth
as their new bassist.
As early as December 2007, it was rumored that due to Matt Barlow
's reunion with Iced Earth (thus the booting of Tim Owens), Tim Owens would return to Winters Bane as its vocalist. These rumors were confirmed, as it was announced that talks of said reunion are under way. "If the right conditions are met," said guitarist Lou St. Paul, "we would put forth our best effort, making of course a 'killer' album, and do a major tour." The rumors also state this follow-up would be a direct sequel to Heart of a Killer
.
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...
/power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band, formed in 1990.
They have gone through extensive line-up changes throughout their history with only guitarist and sometime-vocalist Lou St. Paul featuring as an ever-present.
In their first incarnation with Tim "Ripper" Owens (who would later join Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
and Iced Earth
Iced Earth
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Originally formed under the name "Purgatory" in 1984, Iced Earth has released a total of ten studio albums, one live album, three EP's, two compilations and boxsets...
), they released the Heart of a Killer
Heart of a Killer
Heart of a Killer is Winters Bane's debut album, released in 1993. It is a partial concept album, with the first six songs detailing the story of a judge who sentences a murderer to death, and soon afterwards has his heart replaced with the killer's in a transplant operation.Heart of a Killer was...
album in 1993, a concept piece based on the murderous exploits of a character called Judge Cohagen. This album was re-released in 2000 by 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 :...
as a 2-CD set, featuring a bootlegged live gig as a bonus disc.
After the departure of Owens, St. Paul took over the vocal duties for both the unreleased Season of Brutality and Girth
Girth (album)
Girth is Winters Bane second album. It was released in 1997 as an independent recording. It was later re-released by DCA Recordings with the artist as "Kill Procedure".-Track listing:#"C4" - 2:48#"Kill Procedure" - 3:26#"Away" - 5:19#"Color" - 3:17...
, arguably Winters Bane's heaviest work to date.
Following the release of Girth, Winters Bane went into a period of semi-activity while searching for a full-time vocalist. By 2003, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Alexander Koch (ex-Spiral Tower, Powergod) was recruited and a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
was cut. Two years later St. Paul, Koch and veteran drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Mark Cross entered the studio to record Redivivus
Redivivus
Redivivus is Winters Bane third album, released on April 11th 2006 by DCA Recordings.-Track listing:#"Seal the Light" - 4:53#"Spark to Flame" - 5:29#"The World" - 4:19#"Dead Faith" - 4:24#"Catching the Sun" - 4:50#"Remember to Forget" - 4:17...
, a full-length album released in 2006.
After the release of the album, Koch and Cross were replaced by locally-based Jeff Zaigen and former touring drummer Jeff Curenton and there are plans for a sequel to Heart of a Killer
Heart of a Killer
Heart of a Killer is Winters Bane's debut album, released in 1993. It is a partial concept album, with the first six songs detailing the story of a judge who sentences a murderer to death, and soon afterwards has his heart replaced with the killer's in a transplant operation.Heart of a Killer was...
to be released in 2007.
Former members Tim Owens and Dennis Hayes would later form their own band, Beyond Fear, and they released their debut album in 2006. The next year, Hayes would also join Owens in Iced Earth
Iced Earth
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Originally formed under the name "Purgatory" in 1984, Iced Earth has released a total of ten studio albums, one live album, three EP's, two compilations and boxsets...
as their new bassist.
As early as December 2007, it was rumored that due to Matt Barlow
Matt Barlow
Matthew Barlow is an American heavy metal singer and police officer. He is the former lead singer for Iced Earth. He is Jon Schaffer's brother-in-law.-History:...
's reunion with Iced Earth (thus the booting of Tim Owens), Tim Owens would return to Winters Bane as its vocalist. These rumors were confirmed, as it was announced that talks of said reunion are under way. "If the right conditions are met," said guitarist Lou St. Paul, "we would put forth our best effort, making of course a 'killer' album, and do a major tour." The rumors also state this follow-up would be a direct sequel to Heart of a Killer
Heart of a Killer
Heart of a Killer is Winters Bane's debut album, released in 1993. It is a partial concept album, with the first six songs detailing the story of a judge who sentences a murderer to death, and soon afterwards has his heart replaced with the killer's in a transplant operation.Heart of a Killer was...
.
Kill Procedure
Lou St. Paul and Jeff Welch also perform with Mike Roberts on drums as Kill Procedure. Songs from Season of Brutality and Girth are performed and both albums are now considered Kill Procedure releases (Girth has now been re-released with the Kill Procedure logo on the cover). Kill Procedure is seen as a parallel project to Winters Bane used to perform heavier music.Discography
- Demo '91 (1991)
- Heart of a Killer Demo (1991)
- Heart of a KillerHeart of a KillerHeart of a Killer is Winters Bane's debut album, released in 1993. It is a partial concept album, with the first six songs detailing the story of a judge who sentences a murderer to death, and soon afterwards has his heart replaced with the killer's in a transplant operation.Heart of a Killer was...
(1993) - Season of Brutality (unreleased album) (1995)
- GirthGirth (album)Girth is Winters Bane second album. It was released in 1997 as an independent recording. It was later re-released by DCA Recordings with the artist as "Kill Procedure".-Track listing:#"C4" - 2:48#"Kill Procedure" - 3:26#"Away" - 5:19#"Color" - 3:17...
(1997) - Demo 2003 (2003)
- RedivivusRedivivusRedivivus is Winters Bane third album, released on April 11th 2006 by DCA Recordings.-Track listing:#"Seal the Light" - 4:53#"Spark to Flame" - 5:29#"The World" - 4:19#"Dead Faith" - 4:24#"Catching the Sun" - 4:50#"Remember to Forget" - 4:17...
(2006)
Current line-up
- Lou St. Paul - Guitar, Vocals
- Tyler Valendza - Guitar
- Bryan G. Morris - Bass
- Jeff Curenton - Drums
Former members
- Vocals:
- Tim "Ripper" Owens (Heart of a Killer)
- B.C. Richards (Demo '91)
- Alexander Koch (Redivivus)
- GuitarsGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
:- Duane DavisDuane DavisDuane Davis, the son of NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis, is an American actor who has been in such films as Ghosts of Mars and Paparazzi. He played Joe Louis in a made-for-TV movie about Rocky Marciano, James "Buster" Douglas in the HBO original movie Tyson and as ESU football star...
(Heart of a Killer Demo) - David Hayes (Girth tour)
- John "Doomsday" Stevens (Season of Brutality)
- Duane Davis
- BassBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
:- Dave Holder (Demo '91 & Heart of a Killer Demo)
- John Comprix (Season of Brutality tour)
- Ken Stadelman (Season of Brutality)
- Dennis HayesDennis Hayes (bassist)Dennis Hayes is an American bass guitarist, currently playing for Beyond Fear.Hayes began his career with the heavy metal band Wretch. Later he was a founding member of the Progressive Heavy Metal band Castle Black with other former members of Wretch, Nick Giannakos and Drummer, Jeff Currenton...
(Heart of a Killer & Girth)
- DrumsDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
:- Hama Hart
- Terry Salem (Demo '91 - Heart of a Killer)
- Todd Bertolette (Season of Brutality & Girth)
- Mark Cross (Redivivus)
- KeyboardsKeyboardistA keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
:- Gerhard Magin (Heart of a Killer (session))