- Oneiroid Psychosis
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Oneiroid Psychosis Origin Wisconsin Genres Progressive Darkwave Years active 1991–present Labels Psylab Studios Members Lars Hansen, Leif Hansen Oneiroid Psychosis, originally a duo between brothers Lars and Leif Hansen, is now a darkwave solo-project from Wisconsin. Originally known simply as Psychosis, they were discovered by Decibel Records in 1993 and have been making music using the name Oneiroid Psychosis since.
Contents
Psychosis
In 1991, Lars started a project called Psychosis. Leif began to contribute so much to this project that he eventually became an official member. They made two demo tapes, Death in Utero in 1992 and The Time Spent Dead in 1993. Through a friend named Kevin Gayton, Psychosis got a tape to Tom Muschitz, who was starting up a record label and was looking for bands. Shortly after, Tom contacted them to start planning for a first CD.
Oneiroid Psychosis
Because a band called Psychosis already existed, it was necessary for the brothers to change their name to avoid confusion or legal conflict, hence the addition of the word "Oneiroid," which comes from the Greek word "oneiros" which means "dream".
OP's first album, Stillbirth was released in 1995. Four songs from The Time Spent Dead were included on the album, two after being re-recorded entirely, and two after being remastered. Stillbirth was re-released on COP International in 2003.
After Stillbirth, OP released two more CDs on Decibel in 1996: A single, called Assuage and the album Fantasies About Illness. After these two releases, however, Decibel and Psylabs (OPs recording studio) both moved, which resulted in a number of complications regarding the next album, Garden of Remembrance. OP was forced to separate from Decibel, but after some time, they found a new home with Nilaihah Records. The album features guest appearances by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic and Shikhee of Android Lust.
The fourth album, DREAMS (with pollutions when virile) was released in 2001 by COP International. OP decided to go with this label to try and gain more recognition overseas. And a re-release of 1995's Stillbirth followed a year later.
At this point, working together on music became more difficult for the brothers: they no longer lived together, Leif had a new baby, and both were involved with Albion Swords, a sword-making company that took up a great deal of their time. So with the fifth full-length album, Forever is Forgotten (also released on COP International), Lars had taken on writing all the music and Leif all the lyrics and was released in 2004.
On June 26, 2008 Lars announced that Oneiroid Psychosis had become a solo project through this message:
This is Lars of Oneiroid Psychosis. Leif and I have had several discussions about this and we feel it's time to face the facts. The days of us two brothers writing together are gone. And rather than end OP and start up something new, I decided to take full rein of it and continue it as a solo project. Leif will still be contributing lyrics and may one day add musical influences. But for now he is spending his days with his family and raising his daughter. I have nothing but respect for him and I wouldn't want him anywhere else. As I have mentioned, I am writing some new material and am very excited about it. I may be posting samples of it on myspace when I feel it gets to a point that I am comfortable with. But until then I will keep you posted on progress. OP will also have a new look.
— Lars Hansen
2008 made for even more changes and Lars began his own record record company Psylab Studios and released Sentient completely written and recorded by Lars with lyrics by Leif on three of the tracks.
On April 24, 2009 while helping his stepfather cutting trees in the woods, a gust of wind tore a tree down, which fell on Lars, about as directly on his head as could be. After three hours of surgery the doctors removed a massive hematoma that nearly took his life. Ten more minutes with the hematoma in his brain and he would be dead. They had to literally cut a huge chunk of his skull out to get to the hematoma, so he had a lot of hair to grow back, and a lot head pain to get through. His recovery has been long and difficult, but we all understand that it's an amazing thing that he's even alive.
Lars has been doing better and is active with music and back to making swords. He has been investing money and time into an amazing light show for live performances and is planning on a new release for 2011.
Side projects
Lars and Leif, while working with Oneiroid Psychosis, also made different kinds of music using the following names. It is uncertain whether or not the projects will be continued after Leif's departure.
- Signal 12
- NoOne
- Ascent
Discography
Albums
- Stillbirth (1995, re-released in 2003)
- Fantasies About Illness (1996)
- Garden of Remembrance (1999)
- Dreams (With Pollutions When Virile) (2001)
- Forever is Forgotten (2004)
- Sentient (2008)
Singles
- Assuage (1996)
External links
Categories:- Darkwave
- American musical groups
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