ULCERATE
Bio:
Originally a concept of Jamie Saint Merat and Michael Hoggard, together with the addition of vocalist Mark Seeney in late 2000, the foundation of Ulcerate was formed. Then under the moniker 'Bloodwreath', this line-up remained intact for all of 2001 whilst the band struggled to find a 'sound' both stylistically and compositionally.
Early 2002 brought a line-up change with the enlisting of guitarist Jared Commerer, and James Wallace to fill the now vacant vocal position - Mark having left to pursue his drumming. This new line-up brought a new level of focus to the band and work quickly began in constructing material that would later become the four tracks of the band's first recording effort. It was with this release that the decision was made for a clean slate beginning and so came the demise of Bloodwreath, and the subsequent rise of Ulcerate.
In 2004 the band set about tracking material for a second demo, entitled 'The Coming Of Genocide'. Entirely self-produced and funded, this ethos paved the way for subsequent releases to come. Reactions to the release were humbling on all fronts, the first indication that perhaps the band was not destined for complete failure...
Since the initial DIY pressing, both The Flood Records and Deepsend Records consecutively have re-released both 'The Coming of Genocide' and the eponymous demo as a single package.
In April 2006 Ulcerate signed with Dutch extreme metal label Neurotic Records, whose roster at the time included such notable acts as Spawn of Possession, Psycroptic, Visceral Bleeding and Panzerchrist among others. The band prepared the eventual release of the debut album 'Of Fracture and Failure'...
Ulcerate's debut full-length 'Of Fracture and Failure' is available now on Neurotic Records. The album comprises 9 tracks of crushing dark death metal, with more than a few surprises in store. The culmination of 2 years of writing, 'Of Fracture...' brings new meaning to the phrase 'linear song-writing', mixing pure rhythmic and dissonant extremity with an unnerving sense of melody and atmosphere...
The departure of long-time vocalist James 'Slippy' Wallace in early 06 presented the band with a dilemma - an album to track with no vocalist. A long time friend of the band Ben Read was found as the replacement, and brought with him a far different, more higher-register vocal approach and an extremely unique lyric style that would allow the band to evolve the sound even further. The album was recorded and mixed by Jamie Saint Merat and Michael Hoggard, and mastering took place at West West Side in NY with Alan Douches. The album artwork and conceptual design was (as always) handled by Jamie Saint Merat.
Of Fracture and Failure garnered some incredible critical response for the band and solidified in the minds of the extreme metal listeners that here was a band to keep an eye on. In support of the album, Ulcerate landed several high profile supports for the likes of Suffocation, Behemoth, Decapitated, Nile, The Black Dahlia Murder, Psycroptic, The Amenta, Cephalic Carnage.
In 2008 the band's line-up changed considerably - after much consideration the decision was made to opt for a return to the lower pitched vocals utilised during the band's demo period, and so bassist Paul Kelland stepped up to take over the vocal duty from Ben Read. With a new, streamlined line-up, the band prepared for album no.2 with writing and recording taking place in the later months of 2008. In early 2009 new live guitarist Oliver Goater was found to replace Michael Rothwell after a more-than-amicable split.
Scheduled for an early 2009 release, Ulcerate's second full-length album further refines and expands their work on 2007's 'Of Fracture and Failure'. Punishing, churning dissonance mixed with their trademarked sense of melody and textured rhythm work, coupled with a greater foray into mood and atmosphere. An entirely bleaker effort than anything ever realised by the band, guitar lines swirl and evolve into one another, percussive patterns work in and around the melody lines while the band further develops the linear style of writing they've come to be known for. Frantic, desolate and emotive, 'Everything is Fire' straddles the divide between pure chaotic density and raw, natural tones, marking a breath of fresh air in the climate of over-produced, stagnant and clinical metal.
'Everything is Fire' represents a band with a wholly unified musical and aesthetic direction.
'Ulcerate will release their third full-length album The Destroyers of All on January 25 2011 through Willowtip Records. Ambitious, oppressive and expansive, with a strict adherence to the tradition of total bleakness the band is becoming known for, The Destroyers of All presents the most atmospheric and challenging listen from the band to date.'
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