Name: Necrophagist

Genre: Metal

Formed: 1992

At the Webster Theatre: 06/08/2009

Show Info: Doors: 3:00pm | Buy Tickets

Origin: Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Website: necrophagist.de/

Myspace Page: /necrophagistde

‘Technical’ is a word that gets thrown around quite a bit in the world of extreme music. More often than not it’s a misnomer; a term thrown around all too loosely by those trying to describe a band that differs ever so slightly from the norm. In the case of Germany’s NECROPHAGIST it’s an understatement.

Their name literally translated from the Latin means “eater of the dead” and their music certainly gives the listener the uneasy feeling similar to being a witness to a wild beast tormenting and then feasting on its prey. Formed in 1992, NECROPHAGIST spent several years working the underground metal circuit in Europe. They released two highly sought after demos in 1992 & 1995 (the former of which, “Requiems of Festered Gore”, was only released by the band for promotional purposes therefore making it nearly impossible to find) and in 1999 released their first full length album, “Onset of Putrefaction.” At this point NECROPHAGIST was beginning to make a name for themselves in the metal world with their brutality and technical prowess which harkened back to the heydays of classic tech death bands such as Suffocation, Death and early Morbid Angel.

Although it would be another five years before the band would secure a proper record deal those five years were not wasted. The band spent time refining and honing their line-up while touring all over Europe, making appearances at some of the massive festivals that only Europe can produce as well as touring with such metal legends as Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death. Finally 2004 saw the band catch not one, but two huge breaks that would propel them to the head of the death metal class. Firstly, their “Onset of Putrefaction” album would be rereleased in the U.S. by Willowtip Records, thus affording it not only a proper distribution deal but putting it the hands of thousands of unsuspecting fans across the globe. Based partly on the strength of this release and partly on their rigorous tour schedule, 2004 also saw the band sign with metal giant Relapse Records. Relapse would then quickly turn around and release the bands next full length effort, “Epitaph” the same year. Finally in 2007 the band unleashed their vicious live shows on the U.S., co-headlining the first Summer Slaughter Tour.

Most bands today who wear the ‘technical’ label are nothing more than riff machines spewing out semi-catchy chunks of trifle guitar work while inadvertently reducing the rest of the band to nothing more than filler. NECROPHAGIST however have mastered the art of crafting brutal slabs of classic death metal around the technical prowess of guitar hero Muhammed Suicmez. Incorporating seven string guitars with an amazing 27 frets the band plans on releasing their newest album (sure to be considered Malmsteen meets Mortician) later this summer, again on Relapse Records. NECROPHAGIST also once again visit the US co-headlining the 2009 version of the Summer Slaughter Tour, which this time is making a stop at The Webster Theater on June 8th.