- Destrophy
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Destrophy Origin Des Moines, Iowa, USA Genres Alternative metal
Heavy metalYears active 2002–present Labels Inner Light Records, Victory Records Associated acts OTEP, Bury Your Dead, Kareem Salama, Taproot Website destrophy.com Members Ari Mihalopoulos
Phil Tschechaniuk
Joe Fox
Erik TisingerPast members Bruce Swink
Ryan Berrier
Kevin SmithDestrophy is an alternative metal band from Des Moines, Iowa City, Iowa, formed in 2002 by singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer Ari (Aristotle Mihalopoulos).[1] Bassist Phil Tschechaniuk, drummer Joe Fox and (former The Autumn Offering) guitarist Erik Tisinger round out the current line-up. The band has released two studio albums and one EP on Inner Light Records and are currently signed with Victory Records releasing two studio albums and three singles with the label.
Destrophy are currently managed world-wide by the Inner Light Agency, and have performed with artists such as OTEP, Type O Negative, Drowning Pool, Korn, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Stone Temple Pilots, Saliva, Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach, Soilwork, and Buckcherry, among others. The band's MySpace[2], Facebook[3] and Inner Light Agency[4] portfolio pages keeps an accurate account of their current tours and shows.
The song Reconnect from their 2009 self-titled Victory Records debut was used by TNA Wrestler Jesse Neal as his entrance theme song. Jesse Neal is featured in the music video for the song as well.[5]
For October and November 2011 tour dates, some Destrophy members perform as the live backing band for OTEP[6] as a supporting act along with Earth Crisis, for Cavalera Conspiracy who are on the North American stint of their current tour.[7]
Contents
History
1999 - 2002: Formation
Destrophy began as a project created by Ari while attending High School in the 1990's in Iowa City, Iowa. Ari began to focus on the direction and identity of the project he had created, and began writing and recording songs under the Destrophy moniker. Ari worked with Phil Tschechaniuk (bass guitar) and began seeking out talented musicians to complete the bands line up for live shows. The live version of Destrophy for 2002 through 2005 would be Ari on vocals and guitar, Tschechaniuk on bass, Kevin Smith on guitars, and Ryan Berrier on drums.
2002 - 2004: Chrysalis
In 2003, Destrophy worked with Curt Smith as part of their management team and won the Rock 108 Battle of the Bands competition. March 2004 saw the official release of their first self-produced album, Chrysalis, on Inner Light Records.[8] The 12-track album featured a cover of Send Me an Angel by Real Life and an extended version of Let It Go. The lead track, Let It Go was featured on compilations and helped provide the band with exposure. A video for Why I Hate Goodbye (Directed by Chad Calek) was released in 2004.
2005 - 2006: Pray EP
The Pray 5-song EP was recorded and produced by Ari and released in 2005 on Inner Light Records. The EP featured a cover of the The Rolling Stones song Paint It, Black. [9] Destrophy released a video for the title track Pray (Directed by Ben Hill) that same year. Ari and Tschechaniuk were soon joined by Joe Fox on Drums, and guitarist Bruce Swink (ex-Downthesun and Stone Sour) for live shows and touring in support of the Pray release, as well as introducing new songs that would be featured on their next album.
2007 - 2008: The Way Of Your World
In January 2007, the band signed a management deal with Damon Moreno at the Inner Light Agency (iLA). Bruce Swink would later step down as a guitarist in the band and join Moreno at iLA to aid in managing Destrophy and other promising artists. In February of 2007, Ari an avid weight-lifter, suffered an umbilical hernia while weight training, forcing the band to go on hiatus for the first part of the year. Ari continued to write and record new music throughout the year. October 20, 2007 (a week before the Destrophy sophomore release) Ari performed with Kareem Salama at Wembley Arena in London opening for Sami Yusuf at A Concert for Peace in Darfur.[10]
Ari returned state-side in time to release the bands second full-length album The Way Of Your World, which was be released on Saturday October 27, 2007. The album featured new music as well as re-recorded versions of selected songs off both the Chrysalis and Pray EP. A video for This Is Not My Life (Directed by Ben Hill) was released to help promote the album. In late 2007, Destrophy embarked upon a US tour in support of the new album throughout much of 2008.
2009 - 2010: Victory Records, Destrophy
2009 saw Destrophy sign a multi-album deal with Victory Records (home of Emmure, Taproot, Ill Nino, and others). With a brand new record deal, the band released their eponymous major label debut on Tuesday October 27, 2009.[11] The first single The Way Of Your World was released to radio stations nationwide and a video was also released to promote the album. While the single experienced plays on radio, streaming, and on-demand services, the video made it on to MTV2 and Fuse TV.
The albums second single Reconnect was licensed to TNA Wrestler Jesse Neal as his entrance music. The official video for the single, features Jesse Neal himself. The live version of the song was featured on the VicTorV Live video podcast.[12].
Destrophy's self-titled album was added to TouchTunes Interactive Networks, making the album available on Jukeboxes in various clubs, bars, and restaurants.[13]
Ari was featured on the June 2010 cover of the MAX Sports & Fitness magazine (published by Muscle and Strength), with a multi-page article on Ari's kettlebell training, as well as a discussion on Destrophy in the studio recording their latest release Cry Havoc.[14]
2011-present: Cry Havoc, OTEP
Victory Records released a sample of the song Closer[15] prior to the release of the bands new album, Cry Havoc, which was released on Tuesday April 26, 2011. The album was produced by Ari except the song Still Bleeding which was produced by Ari and co-produced by Corey Lowery (of Eye Empire, ex-Stuck Mojo) who also performs guitar solos on Cry Havoc and Still Bleeding. Closer became the bands first radio single, accompanied by an official video release.[16] Once again, the bands single experienced exposure on radio, streaming, and on-demand services with the video seeing frequent airplay on MTV2 and Fuse TV. The video was also featured on the VicTorV video podcast.
According to Ari, The phrase, "Cry Havoc" comes from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and at least for "our album basically means go kick some as". The title track and much of the album was influenced by the Spartan stand at Thermopylae, "which to me is the perfect example of holding true to one's way of life at any cost".[17]
Currently, Destrophy members Ari on guitar, Fox on drums, and Tisinger on guitar[18] have been playing as the backing band for Otep Shamaya (OTEP) during the October and November 2011 tour dates.
Band Name
A Greek-history teacher introduced Ari to the word diastrophe[19] (Greek meaning: something or someone who is not behaving as it should; to distort), which was anglicized to Destrophy.
Discography
- Chrysalis (2004)
- Pray EP (2005)
- The Way Of Your World (2007)
- Destrophy (2009)
- Cry Havoc (2011)
Band Members
- Current members
- Ari Mihalopoulos – lead vocals, guitar, programming (2002–present)
- Phil Tschechaniuk – bass (2002–present)
- Joe Fox – drums (2005–present)
- Eric Tisinger – guitar (2010–present)
- Past members
- Ryan Berrier – drums (2002–2004)
- Kevin Smith – guitar (2002–2004)
- Bruce Swink – guitar (2002–2010)
References
- ^ Destrophy Overview allmusic.com
- ^ Destrophy on MySpace
- ^ Destrophy on Facebook
- ^ Destrophy on Inner Light Agency
- ^ Jesse Neal/TNA Video Performed By Destrophy
- ^ New Otep Tour Begins - New Otep Tour Begins
- ^ Cavalera Conspiracy North American Tour Stint - Otep joins Cavalera Conspiracy
- ^ Chrysalis - Destrophy - reviewed by Paul Hanson at The Daily Vault, May 5, 2004
- ^ Destrophy - Paint It, Black (Rolling Stones Cover)
- ^ A Concert for Peace in Darfur Ari performs with Kareem Salama
- ^ Destrophy - Destrophy allmusic.com
- ^ Destrophy - Reconnect Live on VicTorV Live
- ^ Destrophy on TouchTunes
- ^ Destrophy's Ari Mihalopoulos Talks To Muscle and Strength
- ^ Destrophy Posts Sample Of New Song - "Closer" From 2011 Album "Cry Havoc"
- ^ Closer Official Video on YouTube
- ^ Interview with Ari of Destrophy
- ^ Destrophy members serve as Otep Live band
- ^ diastrophe on MyEtymology
External links
- Official website
- Destrophy on Victory Records website
- Destrophy on the Inner Light Agency website
- Destrophy's Facebook page
- Destrophy's Myspace page
Categories:- American hard rock musical groups
- Musical groups from Iowa
- Victory Records artists
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