Sympathy (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sympathy


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Origin = Caronport, Sasketchewan, Canada
Genre = Technical death metal
Years_active = 1991–present
Label = Bombworks Records (2008-) Fear Dark (2002-2005)
Monumentum Scandinavia (2005)
Associated_acts = Mortification
Into Eternity
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/realmofdisease Sympathy's MySpace page]
Current_members = Dharok Jeff Lewis
Past_members =

Sympathy is a technical death metal band from London, Ontario, Canada, formed in 1991. Sympathy has gotten some notable attention in the Benelux, Germany and Switzerland as those are the countries where their label Fear Dark is usually marketing its bands. The band is known for its professional musicianship. Sympathy's albums are distributed in the United States, Europe and Canada through Displeased Records, Deadsun Records, Megarock Records, Facedown Records and The Omega Distribution. Their lyrical themes tend to revolve around subjects such as Christianity, Philosophy, and Death. They have released two albums, "Invocation" and "Arcane Path" and an EP titled "Abyssal Throne". In February 19, 2008, the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled "Anagogic Tyranny" is expected to be released by mid 2008.

Biography

Sympathy started out as a five-piece thrash metal band in vein of Celtic Frost and produced its first demo in 1991. [cite web | last = Morrow | first = Matt | url = http://www.hmmagazine.com/oe/archives/000493.php | title = Sympathy | format = | work = HM Magazine | publisher = Hmmagazine.com | accessdate = ] One by one the other musicians left Sympathy and eventually it ended up being Dharok's solo project. During the years 1993–1997, the musical style took a more technical death metal direction, and Dharok released the recordings "Arrogance and Ignorance" (1993), "Age of Darkness" (1995) and "Realms of Chaos" (1996).

The band's influences include: Spawn of Possession, Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Death, Emperor, Kreator, Cannibal Corpse, and Dimmu Borgir. In 2001, Sympathy signed a record deal with the Dutch extreme metal label Fear Dark and soon recorded its first commercially available studio album titled "Invocation". The album received positive feedback in underground metal circles, magazines such as "BW & BK", and was mentioned in "Metal Maniacs" magazine as one of the "reader's albums of the year for 2002".

On the following releases, Tim Roth of Into Eternity, as well as other members from that particular band, and other bands began to fill in the spot. [http://myspace.com/realmofdisease Sympathy Biography, the official MySpace site] ] In 2004, Sympathy released its second album titled "Arcane Path" which took a more technical blackened death metal direction and showcased a more polished production.cite web | last = Morrow | first = Matt | url = http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/sympathyinterview.htm | title = Sympathy Interview | format = | work = The Whipping Post | publisher = Thewhippingpost.tripod.com | accessdate = 2004-09-08] "Arcane Path" featured frontcover artwork as well as a new logo design by the reputive Dutch artist Kris Verwimp. The album was well-received and brought them more exposure.cite web | last = | first = Shannon | url = http://www.metalreigns.com/reviews/148.html | title = Sympathy - Arcane Path Review | format = | work = Metal Reigns | publisher = Metalreigns.com | accessdate = 2004-07-28 ]

In late 2005, Sympathy released an EP titled "Abyssal Throne" which featured two re-recorded songs from "Invocation", two new songs and a cover of Suffocation's "Torn into Enthrallment". "Abyssal Throne" was released on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia, and the packaging artwork was done by the Swedish graphic designer Samuel Durling. Later in 2005, a fellow Canadian, Jeff Lewis, known from his work in Australian band Mortification and his solo project Abolishment of Hate, would join forces with Sympathy.

Currently the band is working on two different albums, the other being a more black metal influenced release while the other continues on the technical blackened death metal direction heard on "Arcane Path".

In February 19, 2008 the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled "Anagogic Tyranny" is expected to be released by mid 2008. [ [http://www.bombworksrecords.com/ Sympathy Signs with Bombworks Records] . Retrieved on 2008-02-20]

Current line up

*Dharok - vocals, rhythm guitars
*Jeff Lewis - lead and rhythm guitars (Mortification, Abolishment of Hate)
*Jim Austin - drums (Into Eternity)

Discography

Albums

* "Arrogance and Ignorance" (1993)
* "Age of Darkness" (1995)
* "Invocation" (2002)
* "Arcane Path" (2004)
* "Anagogic Tyranny" (2008)

Other

* "Covenant" (demo, 1991)
* "Realms of Chaos" (demo, 1996)
* "Abyssal Throne" (EP, 2005)

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/realmofdisease Official MySpace]
* [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/sympathyinterview.htm Interview in The Whipping Post]
* [http://www.godcore.com/music/bands/index.php?BANDNAME=sympathy Godcore's page for Sympathy]
* [http://www.fear-dark.com/ Fear Dark Records]