Soulseller Records is thrilled to announce the signing of Chicago’s Metal extremists USURPER!
Their blend of 80's inspired Thrash Metal, classic Heavy Metal anthems, over-the-top chaos and hints of dark, melodic atmosphere has been a trademark of the band since day one.
USURPER will record their 6th - yet untitled - full-length album during April/May 2018.
Beware! Metal is back!
ONLINE
LINEUP
Rick Scythe: Guitars/Backing Vocals
Joe Warlord: Drums/Percussion
Dan Tyrantor: Vocals
Scott Maelstrom: Bass
BIOGRAPHY
1992: Guitarist Rick Scythe and vokillist, General Diabolical Slaughter and Joe "Apocalyptic" Warlord began writing some songs, to simply create music inspired by the early-mid 80's thrash/black/underground heavy metal, for their listening pleasure only. The band was a concept and ideas were still being worked out.
1993, Usurper became a full time band; the three spent many hours in Joe's patio crafting their songs and by 1994, entered Eaton Records to record their first demo...
1994: The classic "Visions From the Gods" 4 song demo cassette tape was pressed and 1,300 were sold and distributed worldwide.
1995: Jon Necromancer (bass) joins the band. Usurper sign a European deal with the cult Norwegian label HEAD NOT FOUND, run by Metalion of Slayer Magazine fame, who released their debut album Diabolosis on CD.
1996: Usurper sign with The newest, most metal label on the planet, RIP Records (USA), who release Diabolosis on gatefold vinyl.
1997: Usurper signs to Necropolis Records (USA) who released their classic Usurper MCD "Threshold of the Usurper" - which sold over 10,000 copies on 4 different labels on CD, Vinyl, Picture Disc, and cassette tape.
Later that year Usurper headline their first show and also appear at Chicago's EXPO of the Extreme. Apocalyptic Warlord leaves Usurper. Usurper tours US with Dark Funeral with drummer Andy Von Chaos. Later that year, Dave Hellstorm joins the band.
1998: Usurper tour Europe for the first time with Enthroned and Hecate Enthroned. Usurper record Skeletal Season.
1999: Skeletal Season is released on Necropolis Records. Usurper tour West Coast with Sadistic Intent and Exhumed supporting and US and Canada supporting Cradle of Filth and Rotting Chrst. Visions From the Gods [re-issue] is released on digi-pack CD. Merciless Records (Germany) releases Skeletal Season on gatefold vinyl.
2000: Usurper record Necronemesis at Nomad Studios, Texas. The album features guest vocals by Proscriptor of ABSU and KING DIAMOND on the title track. Later that year Usurper support Cradle of Filth and Christian Death on a 26 date tour of Europe. Usurper enlisted 2nd guitarist (for live shows only), Carcass Chris. Later that year Merciless Records (Germany) releases Necronemesis and Visions from the Gods on Vinyl.
2001: Usurper sign with Earache Records. Earache re-issues both Visions from the Gods and Necronemesis on CD. Usurper headline a show at the legendary New York club, CBGB's
2002: Usurper tour US supporting Manowar. Usurper record TWILIGHT DOMINION.
2003: Twilight Dominion released by Earache Records. Dave Hellstorm leaves the band and is replaced live by Cleveland Stever for US tour the with Enslaved. Joe Warlord rejoins Usurper, General D. Slaughter leaves the band. Dan Tyrantor joins Usurper on vocals.
2004: Usurper records CRYPTOBEAST for Earache Records.
2005: CRYPTOBEAST is released by Earache. Usurper play various headlining mini-tours in 3 countries to promote the release.
2006: Usurper headline mainstage day 1 at INFERNO FEST (Norway) and headline Minneapolis Metal fest.
2007: Usurper disbands. Primitive Reaction (Finland) re-issues "Threshold of the Usurper on CD and Vinyl.
2014: Usurper (original line-up) first started rehearsing again for a possible appearance at the R.I.P. Records 20th Anniversary Concert. This line-up of Usurper however disbanded shortly before the show could happen, due to certain members inability to rehearse or ability to perform.
2015: Joe Warlord, along with Rick Scythe assemble a new version of Usurper. The two original founding members (Rick and Joe) decided that Usurper fans deserve better than just assembling the original line-up simply for nostalgia sake, who were not dedicated or not up to par musically with what Rick and Joe demand. Instead, the duo thought it was better to enlist Die-Hard members with 100% conviction, desire and ability to join Usurper. Long-time Cryptobeast era vocalist Dan Tyrantor rejoined the band. Shortly after Joe enlisted Project: Tsunami bassist & long-time Usurper fan: Scott Maelstrom to step in as the newest member of Usurper.
The current line-up of Usurper is stronger than before and musically superior to any past line-ups. Usurper will perform for the first time in 10 years at the 2015 Holiday of Horror Festival in Chicago.
DISCOGRAPHY
Diabolosis... Full-length 1995
Skeletal Season Full-length 1999
Necronemesis Full-length 2000
Twilight Dominion Full-length 2003
Cryptobeast Full-length 2005