FLESHCRAWL
Sven Gross - vocals
Mike Hanus - guitar
Bastian Herzog - drums
Oliver Grbavac - guitar
Tobias Schick - bass
Fleshcrawl came to life in spring 1987 by Stefan Hanus
and Bastian Herzog. The band worked under the name
Morgöth until the year 1990, when they changed
their moniker to Suffocation and decided to become
much more extreme concerning the musical direction.
After their first demo tape "Festering Flesh"
they were again forced to change their band name because
of the upcoming US Suffocation and their first vinyl
appearance. After having found a constant band name
in FLESHCRAWL they released their first 7" EP
"Lost in a Grave" in 1991 on Morbid Records.
One year later FLESHCRAWL inked a record contract
with Black Mark Production. In June 1992 they recorded
their debut album "Descend into the Absurd"
at Montezuma Studio, Stockholm. Shortly after, Mike
Hanus replaced Gero Schmitt on guitar. In 1993 Fleshcrawl's
second album "Impurity" was produced in
Dan Swanö's Unisound Studio. FLESHCRAWL received
great reviews from the international press for their
brutal and uncompromising Death Metal sound, not to
mention their highly powered live shows. They proved
their power at the Easter Bash Tour '95 where they
were joined by Deicide, Cathedral and Brutal Truth.
In
December '95 FLESHCRAWL recorded their third album
"Bloodsoul" being followed by their fourth
album "Bloodred Massacre" in 1997 - both
recorded at Abyss Studios by Peter Tägtgren.
Having been the debut for the new singer Sven Gross
who took over the place of Alex Pretzer, "Bloodred
Massacre" earned the best reviews since their
first album in 1992.
In
1998 Tobias Schick occupied the long time vacant bassist
slot. After the release of "Bloodred Massacre",
FLESHCRAWL cut the ties with Black Mark and went on
a four week European Tour with Vader and Kataklysm,
also participating in festivals with Cannibal Corpse
and Dark Funeral. Back from the tour, FLESHCRAWL signed
a contract with Metal Blade Records. In January 2000
"As Blood Rains from the Sky - We Walk The Path
Of Endless Fire" - produced at Fredman Studios
in Gothenburg - was released. A top class production
with killer riffs and vocals that penetrate to the
bone made "As Blood Rains from the Sky - We Walk
The Path Of Endless Fire" an absolute must have
item for all Death Metal Fans. Press reactions and
reviews for this album turned out to be the best since
the band came together in 1987.
In
June 2000 FLESHCRAWL went out to tour Europe together
with Vader and Vital Remains for a 25-show trek. Several
single shows and festivals followed throughout the
summer (e.g. Czech Dynamo Festival, Summer Breeze
Festival). In the meantime, FLESHCRAWL started preparing
their new song material for their 2nd album on Metal
Blade. In January 2001 they supported Bolt Thrower
on a warm-up tour of Germany and Holland followed
by the Torture-Tour in June 2001 supporting Six Feet
Under. That same year FLESHCRAWL performed live on
the Party-San Open Air. In September 2001 the band
entered Studio Underground in Västeras, Sweden,
to produce album No. 6 - "Soulskinner".
After having returned from the studio with the best
feeling ever, the band went out to promote "Soulskinner"
supporting Bolt Thrower and Benediction on a 4 week
European Tour in January 2002.
Having
played a few single shows in Germany and Europe throughout
spring and early summer 2002, FLESHCRAWL performed
on Wacken 2002, which turned out to be a really successful
experience. This also was the first appearance of
new guitarist Oliver Grbavac substituting founding
member Stefan Hanus, who quit the band for personal
and private reasons. In fall 2002 the band appeared
on the Westfalenfestival in Dortmund amongst other
things. Another premiere took place in November 2002:
FLESHCRAWL played their first tour of Japan supporting
Hypocrisy from Sweden. This was a very intense and
huge experience in the band's career. In retrospect,
the year 2002 became the most successful since the
band's foundation.
After
having returned from Japan, FLESHCRAWL started writing
for the next album. During the year 2003 the band
made itself scarce concerning live shows in order
to intensely prepare the new song material for the
follow-up to "Soulskinner". In November
2003, FLESHCRAWL again headed up to Studio Underground
in Sweden to record album No. 7, entitled "MADE
OF FLESH", which musically kicks off where "Soulskinner"
ended. "MADE OF FLESH" features 10 songs
of extreme variety and deadliness - having something
in store for every die-hard death metal fan!
