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From Rochester, NY, Psyopus create heart attack-inducing, grinding metal, that conjures up whirlwinds and tidal waves of absurd guitar work, harsh vocal onslaughts and hypersonic rhythm bombardment that takes the term 'tech' to an entirely new level. It's hard to believe that they have only been a band for 2 years!
Crushing and outlandish yet perfectly concise, Psyopus gives us a glimpse into the calamity and anguish of a tortured psyche. Both eccentric and unprecedented, Psyopus may be Steve Vai's answer to tech-metal, coalescing equal parts metallic grindcore and speed metal mixed with all-out shred.
This project was conceived during the fall of 2002. Beginning with the unorthodox guitar work of Christopher "Arpmandude" Arp, Rochester's regional winner of 2001's Limp Bizkit Guitarist Search, and the technical absurdness of grind drummer Greg Herman who was later replaced by Jason Bauers. Rounding out the lineup is new bass player Mike Horn, a 24 years old freak of nature from just outside of the Washington, DC area. Mike graduated from The Shenandoah Conservatory with a degree in Arts Management with a minor in jazz bass along with two years of classical bass training at the institution. Mike will now be being institutionalized into the Psyopus School of Music alongside the relatively new talent in the form of University of Buffalo's Percussion Major, Buffalo, NY's own Jason Bauers, and the acid fucked persona of The Jefferson Plane Crash's vocalist, Fredericksburg, VA's own Harrison Christie.
Since the release of Ideas of Reference, released on Blackmarket Activities on October 19th 2004, Psyopus has joined the Metal Blade roster. Guitarist Arpmandude has an Ibanez endorsement and a column in Decibel Magazine. Guitarist Arpmndude also performs in a band called Assjack alongside Hank Williams III of Superjoint Ritual fame. Vocalist Adam Frappoli has managed to cut his hair into a now infamous, sick mullet, but I'm pretty sure it's since grown back.
The promisingly revamped Psyopus line up will be showcased on the road coming this November (2007). Psyopus has four dates in the North East United States area supporting Japan's own noise rockers Melt Banana along with the band’s first date in Canada with Misery Index.
Composed of bi-polar dynamics, radical arrangements, avant-garde instrumentation and a melting force of pure speed, Psyopus set out to destroy the molds of extreme metal with unprecedented attitude and conviction. Judge for yourself by listening to Our Puzzling Encounters Considered in stores now.
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