Artist description A grindcore band that is also heavily influenced by death metal, CEPHALIC CARNAGE thrives on integrating various experimental aspects into their forward-thinking, unique style. "Exploiting Dysfunction" sounds like a trainwreck somewhere in the nether reaches of Alice's psychedelic wonderland. Heavy, fast and undoubtedly creative, Cephalic Carnage is on their way to super-stardom or a cover of "Hightimes," which ever comes first...

Music Style Death Metal with pyschedelic infusions

Musical Influences grind, jazz and, of course, mary jane

Similar Artists Slipknot (but HEAVIER), Human Remains, Dillinger Escape Plan (technically speaking)

Artist History Formed in Denver, Colorado in 1992, CEPHALIC CARNAGE set out to break down barriers of musical commercialism and traditionalism by raising both the expectations and standards of extremism in heavy music through the construction of uninhibited “ultra-grindcore”. A grindcore band that is also heavily influenced by death metal, CEPHALIC CARNAGE thrives on integrating various experimental aspects into their forward-thinking, unique style. In 1993, founding members Leonard (vocals) and Zak (guitar) recorded and released their first demo, titled Scrape My Lungs. Although the recording was well-circulated in the underground, the band split up soon afterwards. In 1996, however, CEPHALIC CARNAGE reformed and added new members John (drums) and Steve (guitar), formerly of the Denver unit MOLESTER, and their friend Doug on bass. The infusion of new blood into the CEPHALIC ranks kicked things into high-gear for the band and only two months after the new lineup had been together, a second demo was recorded and released, titled Fortuitous Oddity. A four-piece at the time of the recording, the band was stronger than ever as the duel-guitar onslaught merged with highly technical drumming, moving basslines and Leonard’s wildly schizophrenic vocal attack. The word was out: CEPHALIC CARNAGE were making a name for themselves...in a big way. The band hit the road for a self-financed U.S. tour in the fall of 1997, alerting many to the unbelievable CEPHALIC CARNAGE live show...something that must be witnessed to be believed.Soon after the release of Fortuitous Oddity, the band caught the attention of Italy’s Headfucker Records and in the summer of 1998 CEPHALIC released their debut album Conforming To Abnormality. Conforming... confounded many as it unveiled a style of extreme music that was completely original in it’s makeup, blending mind-melting guitar technicality with inhuman drumming, varied vocal assaults, sub-bass drops (?!) and smatterings of jazz sensibilities. The level of musicianship displayed on Conforming... was critically-acclaimed immediately upon the album’s release. CEPHALIC CARNAGE then added a new bassist by the name of Jawsh to the fold and hit the road in support of the album. The band criss-crossed the United States twice more, hitting every major market along the way and again doing so completely on their own accord. A crushing set at the 1998 Milwaukee Metalfest cemented the band’s name in the minds of music fans and journalists and verified all accounts of their (now) legendary live performances as the band layed waste to Metalfest attendees with one of the best sets of the entire festival. The band also appeared at the 1998 Dallas Grindfest, the 1999 March Metal Meltdown, the 1999 Ohio Deathfest and the 1999 Denver Hatefest, stopping at nothing to bring their futuristic ultra-grind to the masses.Having witnessed the CEPHALIC CARNAGE live experience many times over and marveling at the complete and utter extremity displayed by the band, the grinding death fiends at Relapse Records became friends with CEPHALIC and shortly thereafter invited them to become the newest members of the Relapse family. A slew of split 7” releases are planned for release in late 1999 (on a variety of labels), with the second full-length CEPHALIC CARNAGE album slated to annihilate sometime in the year 2000. CEPHALIC CARNAGE will be playing select dates on the Relapse Contamination Tour 1999 (with SOILENT GREEN, TODAY IS THE DAY, EXHUMED and MORGION) and will continue to perform regularly throughout the remainder of 1999 and beyond. Prepare for the carnage...

Group Members Lenzig - vocalsJohn - DrumsZac - GuitarsSteve - GuitarsJawsh - vocals/bass

Instruments guitars, bass, drums, bong

Albums Conforming To Abnormality (1998); Exploiting Dysfunction (2000); Lucid Interval (2002)

Location Denver, CO - USA

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