Immolation (band)
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Immolation is an American death metal band from Yonkers, New York. They are considered one of the leaders of the New York death metal scene along with Incantation, Mortician and Suffocation.
History
Immolation was founded after the demise of Rigor Mortis (NY), a band formed in May 1986 by Andrew Sakowicz (bass guitar, vocals) Dave Wilkinson (drums), and Robert Vigna (guitar). After recording the Decomposed and Warriors of Doom demos, Sakowicz left the band in early 1988 and was replaced by Ross Dolan, and the band's name was changed to "Immolation". The new lineup put out two studio demos, in 1988 and 1989, and gained a worldwide following in the underground death metal scene. Immolation signed a record deal with Roadrunner Records and released their debut album Dawn of Possession in 1991. After leaving Roadrunner, the band released "Stepping on Angels," a compilation of demo releases and live tracks. In 1995 the band was signed by Metal Blade Records and released three albums: Here in After, Failures for Gods, and Close to a World Below. After their second album, drummer Craig Smilowski left the band and was replaced by Alex Hernandez. Their next three albums, Unholy Cult, Harnessing Ruin, and Shadows in the Light were released by French label Listenable Records and Century Media in the US.
In May 2001, Immolation were the headliners for a tour in Europe with supporting bands: Deranged, Deströyer 666, Decapitated and Soul Demise.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Unholy Cult saw the departure of guitarist Thomas Wilkinson and the addition of ex-Angelcorpse guitarist Bill Taylor. Steve Shalaty replaced Hernandez on Harnessing Ruin. In February 2008, Immolation toured the US alongside bands such as Rotting Christ, Belphegor and Averse Sefira.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In January and February 2010, Immolation toured with headliner Nile along with Krisiun, Rose Funeral, and Dreaming Dead.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In March 2010, Immolation released Majesty and Decay through Nuclear Blast. In 2011, they released the 5-track Providence EP through Scion A/V as a free download.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 2013, Immolation released Kingdom of Conspiracy, again via Nuclear Blast, and toured with Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death on a tour sponsored by Decibel Magazine. At the end of 2016, Bill Taylor left the band for personal reasons, and was replaced by Alex Bouks. In 2017 Immolation released their tenth full-length album Atonement. In 2022, Immolation released their eleventh full-length album Acts of God.<ref name="album11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Artistry
Musical style and instrumentation
Immolation uses riffs written in dissonant harmonic patterns, often dueling between the two guitars, typically over complex rhythm and drum patterns.<ref name="Purcell2003">Template:Cite book</ref> Their riffs are often a combination of tremolo picking, rapid power chord changes and pinched harmonics to create a wall of sound that many other bands have attempted to emulate. The band's guitar parts are often complex and technically proficient; drum parts are often written to follow the guitar riffs in a way that is unusual for most death metal.<ref name="Purcell2003"/>
Guitarist Robert Vigna and vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan have been the only constant members throughout the band's history. Vigna is considered to be one of the most talented death metal guitarists<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and is well known for his complex riffing and wailing solos.
Lyrics
Immolation's lyrics from Dawn of Possession to Unholy Cult are explore themes of anti-religion, namely anti-Christianity.<ref name="Purcell2003"/> Beginning with Harnessing Ruin, there are more lyrics touching on other subjects such as politics. Bassist Ross Dolan explained that the band's shift in lyrical content was motivated by current events. He said:
The band once again explored themes of anti-religion on their eleventh album Acts of God. Dolan elaborated: Template:Quote
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Legacy and influence
Immolation, along with Incantation, helped bring the New York death metal scene to the attention of the underground, and are noted for their contributions to the genre as a whole. Hence, they are considered one of the most influential American death metal bands.<ref name="Purcell2003" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band's debut album is frequently cited as being an important and highly influential album in the genre, having laid down the blueprint that bands such as Cryptopsy and Suffocation would follow with their respective debuts.<ref name="About.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Members
- Robert Vigna – lead guitar (1986–present)
- Ross Dolan – bass, vocals (1988–present)
- Steve Shalaty – drums (2003–present)
- Alex Bouks – rhythm guitar (2016–present)
Former
- Andrew Sakowicz – bass, vocals (1986–1988)
- Dave Wilkinson – drums (1986–1988; died 2018)
- Thomas Wilkinson – rhythm guitar (1988–2001)
- Neal Boback – drums (1988–1989)
- Craig Smilowski – drums (1989–1996)
- Alex Hernandez – drums (1996–2003)
- Bill Taylor – rhythm guitar (2001–2016)
Live musicians
- John McEntee – rhythm guitar (2001)
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id:Bass value:red legend:Vocals,_bass id:Lead value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:Rhythm value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.9)
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layer:back color:studio at:07/19/1991 at:02/13/1996 at:06/01/1999 at:11/07/2000 at:10/28/2002 at:02/05/2005 at:05/08/2007 at:03/09/2010 at:05/10/2013 at:02/24/2017 at:02/18/2022
BarData =
bar:Andrew text:"Andrew Sakowicz" bar:Ross text:"Ross Dolan" bar:Robert text:"Robert Vigna" bar:Thomas text:"Thomas Wilkinson" bar:Bill text:"Bill Taylor" bar:AlexB text:"Alex Bouks" bar:Dave text:"Dave Wilkinson" bar:Neal text:"Neal Boback" bar:Craig text:"Craig Smilowski" bar:AlexH text:"Alex Hernandez" bar:Steve text:"Steve Shalaty"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Andrew from:05/01/1986 till:01/01/1988 color:Bass bar:Ross from:01/01/1988 till:end color:Bass bar:Robert from:05/01/1986 till:end color:Lead bar:Robert from:05/01/1986 till:01/01/1988 color:Rhythm width:3 bar:Thomas from:01/01/1988 till:05/01/2001 color:Rhythm bar:Bill from:05/01/2001 till:10/01/2016 color:Rhythm bar:AlexB from:10/01/2016 till:end color:Rhythm bar:Dave from:05/01/1986 till:01/01/1988 color:Drums bar:Neal from:01/01/1988 till:10/01/1989 color:Drums bar:Craig from:10/01/1989 till:07/01/1996 color:Drums bar:AlexH from:07/01/1996 till:03/01/2003 color:Drums bar:Steve from:03/01/2003 till:end color:Drums
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
- Dawn of Possession (1991)
- Here in After (1996)
- Failures for Gods (1999)
- Close to a World Below (2000)
- Unholy Cult (2002)
- Harnessing Ruin (2005)
- Shadows in the Light (2007)
- Majesty and Decay (2010)
- Kingdom of Conspiracy (2013)
- Atonement (2017)
- Acts of God (2022)<ref name="album11" />
EPs
DVD
- Bringing Down the World (DVD, 2004)
Compilation
- Stepping on Angels... Before Dawn (1995)
Book
- Into Everlasting Fire: The Official History of Immolation (2024)