Stigmata (band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Stigmata

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Origin = Sri Lanka
Genre = Progressive metal
Death metal
Thrash metal
Years_active = 1999 – present
Label = Rock Company
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Current_members = Suresh De Silva
Andrew Obeysekara
Tennyson Napolean
Vije Dhas
Ranil Senerath
Past_members =
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Stigmata is a heavy metal band based in Colombo, Sri Lanka originally formed in 1999.

Biography

Suresh De Silva, "Andrew Obeysekara" and "Tennyson Napolean" formed the band in 1999 at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia, where they were schoolmates. They chose the name "Stigmata" after the 1998 album by melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. The band's style is generally considered a mix hybrid of thrash metal along with some death metal, and hard rock influences, laced with nuances of Classical, Latin, Jazz, Blues, Baila, and Eastern Rhythms.

With Bass player "Shehan Gray" and drummer "Anik Jayasekara" they released their first single, 'Fear' after months of practice, which topped the local radio rock-chart show. In 2000 they recorded their breakthrough single Voices, which was a sensation in the stagnant local music industry, and was a chart topping hit. In 2001 the band took on drummer "Dilukshan Jayawardena" following the departure of Anik due to personal reasons. The band released their first EP titled "Morbid Indiscretion" in 2002, containing the singles "The Dying Winter Sleeps," "Thicker Than Blood," and the instrumental "Andura". Their first major gig was at 'Circle of Life' in 2001, and at the Colombo Rock Cafe. "Thicker Than Blood" was also the soundtrack at a locally produced drama by the same name. In addition to their originals, at the time the band also covered music by international bands such as Deep Purple, Metallica and Led Zeppelin, as well as bands not so popular in the country at that time such as Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, Judas Priest, Cradle of Filth and System of a Down, which made them revolutionary by exposing Sri Lankans to music many in the country had never heard before.

In 2003, drummer Nisho Fernando joined the band following the departure of Dilukshan for higher education. The success of the original singles released up to this point culminated in the band launching their first album, "Hollow Dreams" in August 2003 on the local Rock Company label, crossing all musical boundaries in the country's English music industry hitherto starved of originality. The band continued to influence many youth in the country to form their own Heavy Metal bands and carve a unique Sri Lankan Heavy Metal sound.

In 2004, "Vije Dhas" (Whirlwind) assumed the role of Stigmata's bass guitarist, filling the void created by the departure of Shehan Gray to Australia. Former drummer Dilukshan temporarily stepped in after Nisho Fernando left the band earlier that year. In 2005 the band found permanent drummer "Osanda Wangeesa" (Soul Skinner) and the range of the band was further increased, with the addition of double bass drumming to Stigmata's repertoire. In late 2004 the band also recorded the highly successful acoustic track titled Lucid which made innovative use of the Indian tabla played by Sri Lankan percussionist Jananath Warakagoda. This was a prelude to the heavier, electric version of this song released in the bands' second studio album titled Silent Chaos Serpentine in February 2006. This was followed up by concerts in the Maldive Islands in June 2006. Drummer Ranil Senarath (formerly of Picasso Recess) joined the band in August 2005 after the departure of Osanda.

Among a few of the individual band members' primary influences are a variety of bands from the Progressive, Death and Thrash metal subgenres such as Nevermore, Death, Tool, Iron Maiden, early Metallica, early Sepultura, Testament, Evergrey, and many others. They are also influenced by musicians such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Billy Sheehan, and musical productions by Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. The lyrical themes of the band are generally from poetry by the bands' vocalist cum lyricist Suresh and cover topics such as apathy, child abuse, politics, and inner struggle.

Discography

Studio releases

* 2003: "Hollow Dreams"
* 2006: "Silent Chaos Serpentine"

EPs

* 2002:" Morbid Indiscretion"

Singles

*"Fear" - (1999)
*"Redemption" - (1999)
*"Voices" - (2000, the first version of this song with "Anik" on drums)
*"Thicker than Blood" - (2002)
*"The Dying Winter Sleeps" - (2002)
*"Extinction" - (2003)
*"Lucid" (Acoustic) - (2005)
*"Solitude" - (2007)

Line-up

*"Suresh De Silva" - Vocals/Lyrics (1999- )
*"Tennyson Napolean" - Rhythm Guitar (1999- )
*"Andrew Obeysekara" - Lead Guitar (1999- )
*"Vije Dhas" - Bass Guitar (2004- )
*"Ranil 'Jackson' Senerath" - Drums (2005-)

Former members

Members who have played with Stigmata in the stated capacities for recordings are:

*"Shehan Gray" - Bass Guitar (2000-2004)
*"Anik Jayasekara" - Drums (1999-2001)
*"Dilukshan Jayawardena" - Drums (2001-2003), (2004)
*"Nisho Fernando" - Drums (2003-2004)
*"Osanda Wangeesa" - Drums (2004-2005)

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/stigmatasrilanka Stigmata on MySpace]
* [http://www.stigmata.us Stigmata.us Official Website] (requires Macromedia Flash)
* [http://www.rock.lk/index.php?ind=articoli&op=entry_view&iden=2 Stigmata on Rock.LK]