Artist description Ninth Level is a San Diego-based metal band with infulences ranging from Morbid Angel and Emperor to Frank Zappa and Bela Bartok. Ninth Level was conceived with the idea that music can achieve a greater level of emotion and creation than that which has been previously attempted. Blending styles such as death and black metal with classical orchestration, progressive structures, and creative spirit, Ninth Level's goal is to reset the standards of extreme music into a higher level of emotion and innovation without losing the ominous spectrum of the most intense of metal music.

Music Style ultra-progressive death/black metal

Musical Influences Emperor, Meshuggah, Yes, Igor Stravinsky, Dream Theater, ELP, Frank Zappa, Morbid Angel, Cynic, Bela Bartok

Similar Artists Emperor, Dream Theater, Coroner, Cynic, Emerson Lake & Palmer

Artist History Ben Richardson and Lorenzo Kemp conceived Ninth Level in the summer of 1998. Ninth Level auditioned many musicians during their early days, but failed to find players with the skill and creativity demanded by the music. The members resigned themselves to being a studio band for the forseeable future. They booked time at Studio West in Rancho Bernardo, CA, where they produced and recorded their self-financed and self-titled 6 song demo. After recording, Ninth Level gained a reputation among zines and record labels as a band daring to push the limits of metal. They ultimately joined with The End Records during the summer of 2001 and were in the midst of preparing their first full length album when problems arose. Due to the difficulty of finding suitable band members, Richardson and Kemp parted company in 2001. It wasn't until early 2003 that they realized that the skill of one was only complemented by the skill of the other, and Ninth Level has now resurfaced to be a creative force within the extreme metal genre. Since their resurrection, Kemp and Richardson have located members Mark Flyge on guitar and vocals, and Dusty Mulkey on keyboards and vocals. With a more complete lineup, Ninth Level is finally in position to unleash their brand of progressive extreme metal on the world.

Group Members Lorenzo Kemp: Lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars; death and clean vocals. Ben Richardson: bass; death, black, and clean vocals; orchestration and arrangements. Mark Flyge: Lead and rhythm guitars; death and clean vocals. Dusty Mulkey: keyboards; clean and black vocals.

Instruments guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals

Albums Ninth Level

Press Reviews "...the songs on the disc are certainly of an accomplished nature. The trio drops props to the likes of Cynic, Emperor, Yes, Coroner's Tommy T. Baron and Dream Theater inside the disc, and you could find some source of inspiration from every one of those outfits in their songs." -Ula Gehret, Metal Maniacs, vol. 17 #7 "All you lovers of ATHIEST, CYNIC, Spheres era PESTILENCE had better listen up, because this disc was made especially for you! ... 'Lysergic Passageways' is definitely death metal's answer to those 70's prog albums where the group would just jam and make music flow from their souls." -Tom Wren, Metal Nightmare, #9 "I love this CD. ... The San Diego based band's influences of death/black metal, classical music and progressive rock shine through on this six-song set. Their goal of reaching a new peak in musical emotion and innovation (hence the name Ninth Level) is in sight here, with lots of potential for the future. ... [Ninth Level] are very talented musicians and this is one of the most imaginative discs that I've heard in a long time." -Jon "K" Konjoyan, Pit Magazine, Spring 2000, #

Location San Diego, CA - USA

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