Psyopus

Psyopus (alternative spelling PSYOPUS ) is a mathcore band from Rochester, United States. Their music combines elements of style index Grindcore, Technical Death Metal, Progressive Rock and Free Jazz and is characterized by extreme speed, frequent breaks and tempo changes, dissonant intervals, as well as highly complex song structures. Catchy melodies and hooks are rare. The song includes roared and gekreischte, but also spoken passages. Characteristic of the band 's virtuosity and technical skill of the instrumentalists. This is especially true for the guitarist Christopher Arp ( " Arpmandude " ), which is the only remaining founding member and currently followed by nearly all the compositions of the band writes alone.

History

Psyopus went from Arp's one-man project " Stranglefuck " out. Under this name a demo in 2002 recorded, the instrumental version (guitar, drum machine) of 4 pieces ( Anomaly, Death, I ..., Bones To Dust, The Long Road To The Fourth Dimension ), which later on the first Psyopus album " Ideas Of Reference " published. In the autumn of the actual band's formation, and was renamed in Psyopus. In addition to Christopher Arp 's line-up includes bassist Fred DeCoste, Greg Herman was on drums and singer Adam Frappolli.

The formation in 2003 brought another demo ( " 3003 " ) out and finally got a contract with Metal Blade. The first studio album was released in March 2004 and very controversial. While some critics turned out the technical skill of the musicians and comparisons with genre greats such as The Dillinger Escape Plan covered the band in other reviews was inaccessibility and Quirk attested and criticized the quality of the songwriting. In summer 2004, Psyopus toured the United States in order to promote the album.

After the tour Herman left the band, allegedly because he did not like the tour stress and wanted to spend more time with his wife. In the following years there were repeated changes on drums. Lee Fisher and Corey Barnes have each been replaced after a short time, the two were said to have a problematic drug use.

Published in 2007 the second album " Our Puzzling Encounters Considered ". From the original cast only Christopher Arp and Adam Frappolli remained. After the release of the album it came to the following reassignments: Jason Bauer replaced Jon Cole on drums, Harrison Christie took over the vocals and Michael Horn bass. Compared to the debut album, the complexity of the compositions and arrangements was further increased. This is due primarily to the artistry and versatility in drumming of Bauer. From the context of the instrumental piece Siobhan 's Song, which is dominated by acoustic and clean guitars falls.

In the following years the line-up remained relatively stable. Only on the position of the singer, there were changes. So Christie was initially replaced by Brian Woodruff, who was again represented in the meantime by Matt Dalberth. In 2009, the third studio album " Odd Senses " was released.

This and that

In 2001, Christopher Arp participated in the nationwide competition for the replacement of the vacant guitarist posts some Limp Bizkit. At this time he worked in a factory for plastic processing and involved primarily at the urging of his colleagues. He won the local competition in Rochester and received as a prize a guitar. But to a contact by Fred Dust, there was not.

Arp applied at various manufacturers of guitars and amplifiers to sponsorship deals. The company Ibanez concluded such a contract only with him from when he was able to demonstrate via video that he was really able to play so fast.

Discography

Demos

• Stranglefuck (5 -song demo, Independent, 2002 )
• 3003 (4 -song demo, Independent, 2003)

Albums

• Ideas Of Reference, ( Metal Blade, 2004)
• Our Puzzling Encounters Considered ( Metal Blade, 2007)
• Odd Senses ( Metal Blade, 2009)