Breakdown of Sanity
{{Short description|Swiss metalcore band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Breakdown of Sanity
| image = Breakdown_of_Sanity_–_Wacken_Open_Air_2015_01.jpg
| landscape = yes
| caption = The band at Wacken Open Air in 2015
| origin = Bern, Switzerland
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = {{flatlist|
- 2007–present
}}
| website = {{url|www.breakdownofsanity.com}}
| current_members = {{ubl|César Gonin|Christoph Gygax|Oliver Stingel|David Stutzer}}
| past_members = {{ubl|Sandro Keusen|Carlo Knöpfel|Thomas Rindlisbacher}}
}}
Breakdown of Sanity is a Swiss metalcore/deathcore band from Bern, formed in 2007.
History
In early 2007, after the break-up of his previous band Paranoia, guitarist and lyricist Oliver "Oly" Stingel began writing new songs from home.{{cite web | url=https://www.impericon.com/blogs/magazine/breakdown-of-sanity-the-swiss-metalcore-band-in-portrait | title=Breakdown Of Sanity: The Swiss Metalcore Band In Portrait | work=impericon.com | date=26 January 2024 | accessdate=14 September 2024}} Singer Carlo Knöpfel, who was then guitarist of the band Nerph, joined, followed by bassist César Gonin, also of Paranoia. In December, they recruited drummer Thomas Rindlisbacher, followed by rhythm guitarist Sandro Keusen. Keusen, however, decided to leave the band in early 2009 and was replaced with Christoph Gygax.{{cite web |title=Breakdown of Sanity Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/breakdown-of-sanity-mn0003553886/biography |work=AllMusic}}{{cite web |title=Breakdown of Sanity Artist Profile AAE Music |url=https://www.aaemusic.com/artist/breakdown-of-sanity |work=AAE Music}}
In early 2009, the band released their debut studio album, The Last Sunset, which was entirely produced and self-financed by Stingel.{{cite web |title=Breakdown Of Sanity : The Last Sunset |url=https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/fr/album/The_Last_Sunset/174420 |work=spirit-of-metal.com }} The band refers to this album more as a demo.
They released their second album, Mirrors in 2011, which was again self-released and produced by Stingel. On 23 December 2011, they released their first single, "Chapters".
In 2013, the band toured with August Burns Red and Architects and played at the With Full Force festival.{{cite web |lang=de |title=With Full Force 2013 |url=https://www.twilight-magazin.de/festivals/festivalberichte/item/with-full-force-2013.html |work=Twilight Magazin}}{{cite web |title=Progression Tour 2013 Präsentation In-Your-Face.de |url=http://www.in-your-face.de/tourdaten/praesentation/progression-tour-2013 |work=in-your-face.de |date=16 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516100924/http://www.in-your-face.de/tourdaten/praesentation/progression-tour-2013 |archive-date=16 May 2013 }} In October of the same year, they released their third self-produced album Perception.
They released their fourth self-produced album Coexistence in 2016, which peaked at 28th on the Swiss Hitparade{{cite web|title=Breakdown Of Sanity - Coexistence - hitparade.ch |url=https://hitparade.ch/album/Breakdown-Of-Sanity/Coexistence-312752 |work=hitparade.ch}}.
The band took a break in 2017, before returning in 2020, releasing the single "Traces" in September, followed by "Black Smoke" the following year.{{cite web | url=https://www.strifemag.com/uncategorized/breakdown-of-sanity-call-it-quits-announce-goodbye-tour/ | title=Breakdown Of Sanity Call It Quits, Announce Goodbye Tour | work=strifemag.com | date=11 May 2017 | accessdate=14 September 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2020/09/25/breakdown-of-sanity-returm-with-new-song-traces/ | title=Breakdown Of Sanity Return With New Song 'Traces' | work=wallofsoundau.com | date=25 September 2020 | accessdate=14 September 2024 | author=Aarons, Ricky}} In 2023, they released the single "Collapse", followed by "Echoes of the Void" in July 2024 and "Perfect Enemy" in December 2024. All singles were self-produced and released. In 2024, the band also released the single Purge in collaboration with the Czech metalcore band Abbie Falls.
In 2024, the band also started touring again, with their stage comeback taking place at the Impericon Festivals in spring 2024. Drummer Thomas Rindlichsbacher was unable to return to the stage for health reasons and was replaced by David Stutzer, who had already filled in as drummer for some Breakdown of Sanity shows in the past. The band later introduced Stutzer as the band's new official drummer.
At the end of 2024, singer Carlo Knöpfel left the band for his own reasons, with his last concert with the band taking place in December 2024 at Bierhübeli Bern. In October 2024, the band launched a public singer audition.
Members
=Current=
- César Gonin – Bass (2007–present)
- Christoph Gygax – Guitar (2008–present)
- Oliver Stingel – Guitar (2007–present)
- David Stutzer – Drums (2025–present)
=Past=
- Sandro Keusen – Rhythm guitar (2007–2008)
- Carlo Knöpfel – Vocals (2007–2017; 2020–2025)
- Thomas Rindlisbacher – Drums (2007–2017; 2020–2025)
Discography
=Albums=
- The Last Sunset (2009)
- Mirrors (2011)
- Perception (2013)
- Coexistence (2016)
=Singles=
- "Chapters" (2011)
- "My Heart In Your Hands (re-recorded)" (2014)
- "Traces" (2020)
- "Black Smoke" (2021)
- "Collapse" (2023)
- "Echoes of the Void" (2024)
- "Perfect Enemy" (2024)
- "Purge" (with Abbie Falls, 2024)