Control Denied

Schuldiner, in a 1993 Terrorizer interview with Borivoj Krgin, mentioned that he had entertained the possibility of ending Death and forming a more melodic band after he returned from Europe following the 1992 tour, as he was fed up with it, though he decided that he did not want to "get off track" with Death and instead put the idea "on hold".{{cite web |author=Borivoj Krgin |date=1993 |title=Individual Thought Patterns |url=http://www.emptywords.org/Terrorizer_early%2793.htm |accessdate=June 25, 2024|work=Terrorizer}} Schuldiner mentioned the general idea of teaming up with a Rob Halford-esque singer in a September 1993 interview with Guitar School{{cite web |author=Jeff Kitts |date=September 1993 |title=Dead Again |url=http://www.emptywords.org/GuitarSchool09-1993.htm |accessdate=January 25, 2024 |work=Guitar School}} and expanded on it in the Terrorizer interview, explaining that it would allow him to do "things that ... can't be totally expressed through this band". He would discuss the idea further in multiple 1995 interviews, including Guitar World,{{cite web |author=Jeff Kitts |date=April 1995 |title=At Death's Door |url=http://www.emptywords.org/GuitarWorld04-95Profile.htm |accessdate=December 29, 2023 |work=Guitar World}} the Italian magazine Metal Shock,{{cite web |author=Francesca Fabi |date=October 1995 |title=Death, Symbol of Perfection |url=http://emptywords.org/MetalShock10-95.htm |accessdate=December 29, 2023 |work=Metal Shock}} and the Dutch magazine Watt,{{cite web |author=Robert Heeg |date=April 1995 |title=Het keurmerk uit Florida|trans-title=Death The Florida Hallmark |url=http://www.emptywords.org/Watt4-95DeathTheFloridaHallmark.htm |accessdate=February 18, 2025|translator=Yvonne Kluitman}} mentioning Ronnie James Dio as another example of the type of singer he would like to partner with. He had already started working on Control Denied riffs by the time Death was touring in Japan for the album Symbolic,{{cite journal |author=Dennis Gulbey |date=Spring 1997 |title=Death No More! Control Denied is Here!! |url=http://www.emptywords.org/SentinelSteel-spring1997.htm |journal=Sentinel Steel|accessdate=January 5, 2024}} which took place in September 1995.{{cite web |title=Metal To The Masses Tour - 1995 |url=http://www.emptywords.org/ScheduleMetalToTheMasses1995.htm |accessdate=January 7, 2024 |work=Empty Words}} Death drummer Gene Hoglan has stated that after the Symbolic tour, Schuldiner broke up Death as he was unhappy with Roadrunner Records, which had released the album.{{cite web |date=April 12, 2018 |title=GENE HOGLAN Says CHUCK SCHULDINER Was 'Always Uncomfortable' With Being Called 'Godfather Of Death Metal' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/gene-hoglan-says-chuck-schuldiner-was-always-uncomfortable-with-being-called-godfather-of-death-metal |accessdate=February 19, 2025 |work=Blabbermouth.net}}

===Formation===

B.C Richards joined the band in 1995 as vocalist, though he temporarily left the same year to focus on his band, Wicked Ways.{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/MetalCrusadevol2no6.htm|title=The Metal Crusade Vol. 2 no.6|volume=2|number=6|date=1995}} Schuldiner attempted to get Andy LaRocque as a lead guitarist, but the lack of a label hindered it. Drummer Chris Williams also joined around this time; Williams recruited Shannon Hamm on guitar and Scott Clendenin on bass.{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/MM05-2002PreciousMemories.htm|title=Precious Memories of Chuck Schuldiner|date=May 2002|accessdate=February 19, 2025|author=Perry Grayson|work=Metal Maniacs}} By 1996, Richards had rejoined;{{cite journal|date=April 1996 |title=Fuzz Box |journal=Guitar School|url=http://www.emptywords.org/GuitarSchool_FuzzBox.htm|accessdate=January 29, 2024|author=Jeff Kitts}} the following year he had left the band again, while Clendenin was replaced by Brian Benson. The name of the album at the time was The Moment of Clarity; other tracks from the album included What If and Cut Down to Size. Psycho Scream guitarist Jim Dofka had sent Schuldiner demo material and was interested in joining Control Denied alongside his bandmate, singer Tim Aymar. However, Schuldiner had already selected Hamm as the guitarist.{{cite journal |date=October 1999|title=Control Denied|journal=Scream Magazine|url=http://www.emptywords.org/ScreamMagazine10-1999.htm|accessdate=May 12, 2024|author=Håkon Grav|translator=Jens Remi Karlsen}} After a brief audition, and demo, (which included the tracks What If, Believe and Cut Down),{{cite web |date=October 13, 2013 |title=Interview with Tim Aymar of Control Denied (2011)|journal=The Metal Magdalene|url=https://mmrjet.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/interview-with-tim-aymar-of-control-denied-2011/|accessdate=February 22, 2025}} Aymar was chosen as the new singer, while Rob Halford of Judas Priest was also in the running.{{cite journal |date=December 2001 |title=Tim Aymar On His Mettle|journal=True Metal/Mettle|url=http://www.emptywords.org/MettleinterviewTimAymar12-2001.htm|accessdate=January 27, 2024|author=Damian Smoklo}} Earlier, Warrel Dane of Nevermore was almost selected as the singer, though the scheduling did not work out{{cite journal|url=http://www.emptywords.org/LotFP_2.htm|title=Chuck Schuldiner: guitar player first|journal=Lamentations of the Flame Princess|accessdate=January 5, 2024|date=March 1999|author=Jim Raggi}} as Dane was dedicated to Nevermore and didn't have the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-811|title=A Transcendent Endeavor|work=Chronicles of Chaos|accessdate=February 25, 2024|date=November 7, 2005|author=Jackie Smit}} Williams left the band as he couldn't "hang around waiting" any longer{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/EmptyWords12-2010.htm|title=Tim Aymar Speaks Out|work=Empty Words|date=December 2010|accessdate=February 22, 2025}} and went on to form Beyond Unknown.

{{Mainarticle|The Fragile Art of Existence}}

Schuldiner signed with the record label Nuclear Blast in 1997, though the label required that another Death album be released before a Control Denied album could be issued. This led to the release of Death's The Sound of Perseverance in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/BAND.htm|title=Empty Words - Bands|accessdate=December 30, 2023}}

It was announced in early April 1999 that the recording of the debut album was completed by the TSOP lineup (with the addition of Aymar). However, Schuldiner let Clendenin go in April{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/NEWS1999.htm|title=NEWS 1999|work=Empty Words}} and brought on DiGiorgio.{{cite journal |date=January 2000 |title=Talk About Perseverance|journal=Metal Maniacs|url=http://www.emptywords.org/MetalManiacs01-2000.htm|accessdate=May 24, 2025|author=Jeff Wagner}} The band's debut album, The Fragile Art of Existence, was released in 1999. The Fragile Art of Existence was reissued in October 2010 by Relapse Records in a 2-disc standard format, with one hour of bonus material, and a 3-disc deluxe version, with two hours of bonus material.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/control-denied-the-fragile-art-of-existence-reissue-streaming-online|title=CONTROL DENIED: 'The Fragile Art of Existence' Reissue Streaming Online|date=November 18, 2010|accessdate=January 18, 2024|work=Blabbermouth.net}}

Schuldiner completed writing the last song for the second Control Denied album in March 2000{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/NEWS2000.htm|title=Monday March 13 2000|work=Empty Words|accessdate=February 12, 2025}} and signed with Hammerheart Records in December 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/NEWS2000.htm|title=Friday December 1 2000|work=Empty Words|accessdate=February 12, 2025}}

The second album (which began to be recorded at Morrisound with Jim Morris under the initial title of When Hate Strikes Down, but which was later tentatively titled When Man and Machine Collide), was partly recorded in November 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/ASmemorial03-2002MemoriesofChuck.htm|title=Memories of Chuck|accessdate=December 24, 2022|author=Robbie Woning|work=Aardschok|date=March 2002}} According to an interview with Hamm originally done in the Tampa Metal Music Examiner, Schuldiner and Christy had completed their tracks, while Hamm recorded three of his tracks before the funds were diverted to pay for Schuldiner's medical bills.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-death-guitarist-chuck-schuldiner-was-my-best-friend-my-brother|title=Ex-DEATH Guitarist: CHUCK SCHULDINER 'Was My Best Friend, My Brother'|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 18, 2010|accessdate=January 6, 2024}} The death of Schuldiner in 2001 put the recordings on hold. Remaining band members had expressed a wish to complete and release the material.{{cite web|url=http://www.emptywords.org/VoicesFromTheDarkside.htm|title=A Tribute To Chuck Schuldiner|accessdate=October 12, 2008|author=Laurent Ramadier|publisher=SNAKEPIT MAGAZINE # 10|year=2008}} However, there existed a longstanding legal dispute over the rights of the material with Hammerheart Records{{refn|group=note|name=first|Hammerheart Records changed its name to Karmageddon Media in 2003, but changed it back in 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.metal1.info/interviews/hammerheart-records-label-special/?lang=english|title=Interview mit Guido Heijnens von Hammerheart Records|work=Metal1.info|date=January 12, 2020|accessdate=January 18, 2024}}}}, further postponing the completion and release of the album.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/chuck-schuldiner-s-estate-involved-in-legal-dispute-with-hammerheart-records|title=CHUCK SCHULDINER's Estate Involved In Legal Dispute With HAMMERHEART RECORDS|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=February 24, 2003|accessdate=January 18, 2024}}

Schuldiner's mother, Jane, affirmed in January 2003 that the album would be released.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/jane-schuldiner-new-control-denied-album-will-definitely-be-released|title=JANE SCHULDINER: New CONTROL DENIED Album Will 'Definitely' Be Released|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 21, 2003|accessdate=January 18, 2024}} Hammerheart indicated in a 2003 press release that it would release the "incomplete recordings",{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/control-denied-unfinished-album-to-see-light-of-day|title=CONTROL DENIED: Unfinished Album To See Light Of Day|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=November 24, 2003|accessdate=May 1, 2024}} to which Schuldiner responded that it would be "sacrilege."{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/chuck-schuldiner-s-mother-says-plan-to-release-incomplete-control-denied-album-is-sacrilege|title=CHUCK SCHULDINER's Mother Says Plan To Release Incomplete CONTROL DENIED Album Is 'Sacrilege'|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=November 24, 2003|accessdate=January 4, 2024}} Schuldiner initially announced in March 2004 that they would be uploaded and made available for free download.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/chuck-schuldiner-s-mother-control-denied-album-to-made-available-for-free-download|title=CHUCK SCHULDINER's Mother: CONTROL DENIED Album To Made Available For Free Download|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=March 3, 2004|accessdate=January 4, 2024}} The following month, she indicated that rather than release the rehearsal tracks, the entire completed album should be released instead.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/jane-schuldiner-chuck-s-last-masterpiece-deserves-to-be-heard|title=JANE SCHULDINER: CHUCK's Last Masterpiece Deserves To Be Heard|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 4, 2004|accessdate=January 18, 2024}} Part of these incomplete recordings were released without authorization on the Zero Tolerance album,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/zero-tolerance-mw0000633137|title=Zero Tolerance Review by Alex Henderson|work=AllMusic|accessdate=January 18, 2024|author=Alex Henderson}} which was announced as the title by Karmageddon Media in March 2004.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/chuck-schuldiner-s-zero-tolerance-due-at-the-end-of-the-month|title=CHUCK SCHULDINER's 'Zero Tolerance' Due At The End Of The Month|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=February 1, 2024|date=March 5, 2004}} Schuldiner estate lawyer{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/10/31/r-i-p-eric-greif-1962-2021-death-manager/|title=R.I.P. Eric Greif (1962-2021) (Death manager)|work=Decibel|accessdate=January 5, 2024|date=October 31, 2021|author=Albert Mudrian}} and Death manager Eric Greif settled all matters with the label by 2009, allowing for the possibility of completing the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.noise-web.com/interviews/2013/0113_death.htm|title=Interview parue également dans le Metallian 75 de janvier 2013 (en version éditée)|work=NoiseWeb|accessdate=December 31, 2023}}

On December 4, 2010, Aymar released a statement saying that plans were being made to record and release the album, stating that Jim Morris of Morrisound Studios (with whom Chuck Schuldiner recorded several albums during his career) had been in contact with Greif to begin planning and booking studio time to record the remaining parts of When Man and Machine Collide.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/control-denied-frontman-issues-update-on-long-awaited-second-album|title=CONTROL DENIED Frontman Issues Update On Long-Awaited Second Album|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 8, 2023|date=January 25, 2024}} Plans were cut short by a break-in at Morrisound in the spring of 2011 that saw much of their equipment stolen, pushing back the completion of the album.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/legendary-recording-studio-morrisound-burglarized|title=Legendary Recording Studio MORRISOUND Burglarized|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=April 13, 2011}} An exploratory meeting between producer Jim Morris and guitarist Shannon Hamm was held in December 2012.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/work-begins-on-long-awaited-sophomore-control-denied-album|title=Work Begins On Long-Awaited Sophomore CONTROL DENIED Album|date=December 17, 2012|accessdate=January 25, 2024|work=Blabbermouth.net}} Greif stated in October 2016 that the recordings would not be completed.{{cite news|url=https://www.metalinsider.net/sad-news/deaths-manager-eric-grief-shuts-down-possibility-of-releasing-new-control-denied-album|title=Death's manager Eric Grief (sic) shuts down possibility of releasing new Control Denied album|accessdate=January 25, 2024|date=October 10, 2016|author=Alix Vallecillo|newspaper=Metal Insider}} The progressive metal band Black Water Sunset released a tribute album featuring re-recorded versions of the four leaked tracks in May 2024, marking what would have been Schuldiner's birthday.{{cite web|url=https://metaladdicts.com/black-water-sunset-release-complete-recreation-of-lost-control-denied-chuck-shuldiner-demos/|title=BLACK WATER SUNSET Release Complete Recreation Of Lost CONTROL DENIED (CHUCK SHULDINER) (sic) Demos|work=Metal Addicts|accessdate=July 20, 2024|date=May 13, 2024|author=Reeder}}

• 1996 demo (1996)
• 1997 demo (1997)
• 1999 demo (1999)
• The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)
• Unreleased Themes from Control Denied (bootleg) (2004)
• The Fragile Art of Existence (reissue, two formats) (2010)

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Final lineup

• Chuck Schuldiner – guitars (1995–2001), vocals (1996–1997, 1999); died 2001
• Steve Di Giorgio – bass (1999–2001)
• Shannon Hamm – guitars (1996–2001)
• Tim Aymar – vocals (1997–2001); died 2023
• Richard Christy – drums (1997–2001)

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Former members

• B.C. Richards – vocals (1995), 1996
• Brian Benson - bass (1997)
• Chris Williams – drums (1996–1997); died 2000
• Scott Clendenin – bass (1996–1997, 1999) ; died 2015

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{{Reflist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

• [http://www.emptywords.org Death/Control Denied official website]
• {{discogs artist|Control Denied}}

{{Death (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1995 establishments in Florida

Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Florida

Category:Musical groups established in 1995

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001

Category:Musical groups from Orlando, Florida

Category:Musical quintets from Florida