Devourment

Devourment was formed in 1995 following the breakup of Dallas death metal band Necrocide.{{Cite web |title=Official Devourment Biography |url=http://www.devourment.us/bio.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317103656/http://www.devourment.us/bio.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2008 |access-date=September 16, 2007 |publisher=Devourment official site}} Necrocide's drummer, Brad Fincher, and guitarist, Braxton Henry, met up with former Meatus vocalist Wayne Knupp to play brutal death metal. However, the newly formed band achieved little—Knupp moved back to his hometown of Chicago, and Fincher moved to San Antonio for educational reasons. Months later, when the two of them had moved back to Dallas, Henry had formed his own band—Dead Industry. Knupp got in contact with someone he had known years earlier, Brian "Brain" Wynn, and they reformed the band.{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2005 |title=Devourment Bassist to Take Over Vocal Duties |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devourment-bassist-to-take-over-vocal-duties/ |access-date=September 16, 2007 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} This lineup is often cited as the "original".{{Cite web |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Gary |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Devourment Biography and Discography |url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/texas/dallas/devourment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920101350/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/texas/dallas/devourment |archive-date=September 20, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2011 |publisher=MusicMight}} The band then developed its first promo, featuring two songs, "Shroud of Encryption" and "Festering Vomitous Mass", which was produced by former and future guitarist Braxton Henry.

Over the next few months, Kevin Clark (formerly of Sintury) joined the band as a secondary guitarist, and Mike Majewski joined on bass. Majewski had previously worked publicizing the band and providing artwork. He had first seen Devourment when the band's only song was "Shroud of Encryption".{{Cite web |last=Xul |first=Rabishu |title=Interview with Mike Majewski of Devourment |url=http://metalwhore.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=58 |access-date=September 16, 2007 |publisher=MetalWhore |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714075123/http://metalwhore.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=58 |url-status=dead }} The band recorded "Choking on Bile" which they added to their original demo. This was released in 1997 by Corpse Gristle Records under the name of Impaled. Knupp later left the band "due to some internal problems". He was replaced by Ruben Rosas, who played guitars and provided vocals in a local band called Detrimental.

In 1999, Devourment signed a record deal with United Guttural and started developing its first album, Molesting the Decapitated, again produced by Braxton. The album was released later that year. Reviews were positive, with Blas, of Global Domination, who praised the album for being so brutal, claiming that "if you look up the word 'Brutal' in the dictionary right now, you'd see Devourment's logo right next to the definition".{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2004 |title=Devourment: Molesting the Decapitated |url=http://www.globaldomination.se/reviews/devourment-molesting-the-decapitated |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814111808/http://www.globaldomination.se/reviews/devourment-molesting-the-decapitated |archive-date=August 14, 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2007 |publisher=Global Domination}} He praised the vocals, but said that the drums, in places, let the album down due to them being too fast. Dan Staige, of Metal Review, said that the instruments were "remarkably balanced and crisp", and his only criticism was that the "ultra heavy breakdowns" "may sound a little monotonous", but that "you will still bang your head".{{Cite web |last=Staige |first=Dan |title=Review of Devourment - Molesting the Decapitated/138 |url=http://metalreview.com/reviews/224/devourment-molesting-the-decapitated-138 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601033052/http://www.metalreview.com/reviews/224/devourment-molesting-the-decapitated-138 |archive-date=June 1, 2012 |access-date=September 18, 2007 |publisher=Metal Review}}

The band had a release show for the album in Colorado. Although Majewski claimed that this was in 1998,{{Cite web |last=Thorne |first=Josh |date=April 16, 2006 |title=Interview - Mike Majewski - Devourment |url=http://www.fourteeng.net/devourment.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720145929/http://www.fourteeng.net/devourment.html |archive-date=July 20, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2007 |publisher=fourteen g}} the album was apparently released in 1999, so he was probably mistaken. This show was alongside Macabre and Cephalic Carnage, among others. Shortly afterwards, Rosas was arrested and jailed for two and a half years, meaning the members of the band went their separate ways. Rosas's arrest was described by Majewski as the "last straw", as the band was becoming more and more business-like, with Wynn and his wife arranging concerts without consulting the rest of the band.

Devourment reformed during Rosas's incarceration, with Knupp taking Rosas's place on vocals, and Braxton Henry rejoining the band in the place of Brian Wynn. The band recorded a single song, named "Babykiller", which was featured on a compilation album named Southern Uprising. The song was also featured on the band's own compilation album, 1.3.8., the title of which represents the one song, "Babykiller", with the three songs from Impaled, and the eight songs from Molesting the Decapitated.{{Cite web |last=Bogers |first=Stijn |date=October 1, 2000 |title=Devourment (USA) 1.3.8 |url=http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=35330 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070421165904/http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=35330 |archive-date=April 21, 2007 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |website=Vampire Magazine}} The compilation was released four times—once on Corpse Gristle Records while Rosas was in jail, once on Unmatched Brutality in 2004,{{Cite web |title=Devourment - 1.3.8. |url=http://cursedproductions.com/catalog/view/2164/devourment-138 |access-date=February 10, 2008 |publisher=Cursed Productions}} once after Rosas's release while the band was working on new material, including the band's first DVD, on Displeased Records,{{Cite web |last=Mouwen |first=Ricardo |date=October 26, 2004 |title=Devourment (USA) 1.3.8 (Rerelease) |url=http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=37057 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070421165904/http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=37057 |archive-date=April 21, 2007 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |website=Vampire Magazine}} and finally as a limited edition record by the label Night of the Vinyl Dead.{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2006 |title=Devourment: '1.3.8.' Vinyl to Include Demo Cuts, Previously Unreleased Material |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devourment-1-3-8-vinyl-to-include-demo-cuts-previously-unreleased-material/ |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} Upon Rosas's release in 2002, he reformed the band with new members, featuring himself on vocals, guitarists Robert Moore and Kevin Clark, Jeremy Peterson on drums and Joseph Fontenot (later of Jacknife) on bass. Clark was then replaced by Chris Hutto of Ingurgitate. Rosas's new lineup played a few shows, but then split up again. Majewski later referred to the time between the band's two full-length albums, explaining that "Ruben and I both made attempts to get the band going again but both failed".

A few years later, Knupp, Rosas, and Majewski finally properly reformed Devourment. Eric Park, formerly of Suture, filled out the lineup which would record the second Devourment album. The band entered the studio in August 2005 to begin recording Butcher the Weak, and the completed album was released in November 2005. For this album, Majewski performed vocals, Rosas provided guitars and bass, and Park was on drums.{{Cite web |title=Brutal Isn't Just a Way of Life... It's Also Stupid! |url=http://www.teufelstomb.com/reviews/devourment-butchertheweak_brutalbands/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213102749/http://www.teufelstomb.com/reviews/devourment-butchertheweak_brutalbands.html |archive-date=February 13, 2008 |access-date=February 19, 2008 |publisher=Teufel's Tomb}} According to Josh Thorne of fourteen g, the "production is a lot better" than it was on Molesting the Decapitated, but Majewski explained that both albums had been recorded in the same studio. The album contained artwork by Majewski,{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2006 |title=Devourment - Butcher the Weak |url=http://metalpedia.com/reviews/devourment-butcher-the-weak/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207074454/http://metalpedia.com/reviews/devourment-butcher-the-weak/ |archive-date=February 7, 2008 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=Metalpedia}} who works for a special effects company.

Felix Schoonen of Vampire Magazine said it was odd that the album was self-released by the band, asking, "why should a band like Devourment release their own album... every week countless useless releases are thrown on the market by bands that nobody will ever care for and Devourment is somehow forced to release its own album."{{Cite web |last=Schoonen |first=Felix |date=December 30, 2005 |title=Devourment (USA) Butcher the Weak |url=http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=40656 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070421165904/http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=40656 |archive-date=April 21, 2007 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |website=Vampire Magazine}} In 2005, former Kill the Client drummer Chris Andrews joined the band on bass to round out the lineup for live shows. In 2006, the band signed a two-album deal with label Brutal Bands,{{Cite web |last=Mouwen |first=Ricardo |date=May 31, 2006 |title=Devourment (USA) Signed Deal with Brutal Bands |url=http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=41742 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070421165904/http://www.vampire-magazine.com/article.php?aid=41742 |archive-date=April 21, 2007 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |website=Vampire Magazine}} and proceeded to re-record and re-release Butcher the Weak. The new release's cover was yellow, while the self-released version sported a green cover, though they bore the same design.

On September 15, 2007, Wayne Knupp died of multiple organ failure due to alcohol abuse. Despite no longer being with Devourment, his links with the band were widely reported, including his guest appearance with Devourment at the Central Illinois Metalfest earlier in the year.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2007 |title=Original Devourment Vocalist Wayne Knupp Passes Away |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/original-devourment-vocalist-wayne-knupp-passes-away/ |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} Knupp's girlfriend posted a message on his Myspace profile confirming his death and thanking people for their support and messages.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2007 |title=Ex-Devourment Vocalist Wayne Knupp Passes Away Due to Multiple Organ Failure |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2007/09/15/devourment-vocalist-wayne-knupp-passes-away-due-to-multiple-organ-failure/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006051246/http://www.smnnews.com/2007/09/15/devourment-vocalist-wayne-knupp-passes-away-due-to-multiple-organ-failure/ |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=SMNnews.com}} In an interview with SMNnews.com, Majewski spoke of the impact of the death on the band, saying,

It had a big impact. He was a founding member and really created the vocal style we are known for. Just felt like part of the band died too. Like when he died, it was just weird to think about doing shows or recording without him around, even if he was no longer in the band. He was a good person and definitely deserves to be remembered.

Since Butcher the Weak, Devourment recorded new material for compilation albums and continued to tour. The band appeared at various festivals, including Central Illinois Metalfest,{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2008 |title=Brutal Truth Confirmed for Central Illinois Metalfest |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/brutal-truth-confirmed-for-central-illinois-metalfest/ |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} The Goregrowler's Ball{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2007 |title=Devourment, Disfigured to Perform at San Antonio's The Goregrowler's Ball |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devourment-disfigured-to-perform-at-san-antonio-s-the-goregrowler-s-ball/ |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} and Germany's Fuck the Commerce.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2007 |title=Denial Fiend, Prophecy, Devourment Confirmed for Germany's F*ck the Commerce Festival |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/denial-fiend-prophecy-devourment-confirmed-for-germany-s-f-ck-the-commerce-festival/ |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} Devourment also released its second DVD in January 2007.{{Cite web |title=Devourment DVD 2 Out in January! |url=http://www.devourment.us/news.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116100956/http://www.devourment.us/news.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2008 |access-date=February 9, 2008 |website=Devourment news |publisher=Devourment official site}} In an interview with SMNnews.com in October 2007, Majewski said that the band aimed to complete a third studio album by mid-2008 which saw them performing less in 2008.{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Interview with Mike Majewski |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2007/10/22/devourment-mike-majewski-vocals/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006051427/http://www.smnnews.com/2007/10/22/devourment-mike-majewski-vocals/ |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |access-date=February 15, 2008 |publisher=SMNnews.com}}

File:Devourment live in SPb, 2016 (2).jpg

Devourment's third full-length studio album, Unleash the Carnivore, was released in 2009 through Brutal Bands. The cover features artwork by artists Dan Seagrave and Pär Olofsson. Unleash the Carnivore was followed in 2010 with the "Unleash the Carnivore tour". On July 14, 2010, Devourment announced that the band had signed with Relapse.{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2010 |title=Devourment's Myspace blog |url=http://www.myspace.com/devourment/blog |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726122933/http://www.myspace.com/devourment/blog |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |publisher=MySpace}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2021}}

Devourment began writing new material in 2011, and traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida in June 2012 to record its fourth album.{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2012 |title=Devourment Begins Recording New Album |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devourment-begins-recording-new-album/ |access-date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} In January 2013, Devourment released a promotional single for the song "Fifty Ton War Machine".{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2013 |title=DEVOURMENT: 'Fifty Ton War Machine' Lyric Video Released |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devourment-fifty-ton-war-machine-lyric-video-released/ |access-date=November 3, 2013 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} The new album, titled Conceived in Sewage, was recorded with Erik Rutan, and was released on February 19, 2013.{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2013 |title=Devourment: New Album Track Listing Revealed |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/devourment-new-album-track-listing-revealed/ |access-date=June 2, 2013 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}}

The band intended to play a 2013 fall US tour headlined by Dying Fetus and supported by Exhumed, Waking the Cadaver and Abiotic, but dropped off the tour roughly three months in advance.{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2013 |title=Devourment Drop Off Dying Fetus and Exhumed Fall Tour |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2013/09/26/devourment-drop-off-dying-fetus-and-exhumed-fall-tour/ |website=MetalSucks}} This caused speculation that the band had broken up or would be breaking up due to it being Devourment's second planned line of concert appearances that year that went abandoned.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2013 |title=Have DEVOURMENT Broken Up? |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/rumors/have-devourment-broken-up |website=Metal Injection}} However, these concerns were dispelled by Majewski, with the statement, "Just to squash rumors, Your ol pals Devo are not broken up!"{{Cite web |title=Devourment rumors [Archive] - SMNnews Forums |url=http://forums.smnnews.com/archive/index.php/t-251881.html |website=forums.smnnews.com}}

On May 19, 2014, Devourment announced that Majewski and drummer Eric Park quit the band. Ruben Rosas moved from his position from guitar to vocals while bassist Chris Andrews moved to playing guitar. Brad Fincher (who quit Devourment in 2001) rejoined the band on drums, and Meshiha bass player Dave Spencer joined on bass.{{Cite web |title=Devourment |url=https://www.facebook.com/DevourmentOfficial/ |via=Facebook}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2021}}{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.relapse.com/label/devourment-announce-lineup-reformation-us-and-south-american-tour-dates.html |date=* |title=Devourment Announce Lineup Reformation + US and South American Tour Dates }}. Relapse Records. May 19, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2016.

Devourment began writing new songs with the revamped line-up in late 2014. They entered the studio in late-2018 to record their fifth full-length album, Obscene Majesty, with Producer D. Braxton Henry. The first single, "Cognitive Sedation Butchery", launched online June 18, 2019. This is their first album in six years and first with Ruben Rosas on vocals and Brad Fincher on drums since Molesting the Decapitated in 1999. The album was released on August 16 through Relapse Records. Loudwire named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019.{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2019 |title=The 50 Best Metal Albums of 2019 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-metal-albums-2019/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media}}

File:Devourment in SPb, 2016 (2).jpg

• Ruben Rosas – vocals (1998–1999, 2002, 2014–present), guitars (2005–2014)
• Chris Andrews – guitars (2014–present), bass (2005–2014)
• Brad Fincher – drums (1995–1999, 2001, 2014–present)
• Dave Spencer – bass (2014–present)

• Braxton Henry – guitars (1995, 2001)
• Wayne Knupp – vocals (1995–1998, 2001; died 2007)
• Brian Wynn – guitars (1996–1999)
• Kevin Clark – guitars (1996–1999, 2001)
• Mike Majewski – bass (1997–1999, 2001), lead vocals (2005–2014)
• Robert Moore – guitars (2002)
• Chris Hutto – guitars (2002)
• Joseph Fontenot – bass (2002)
• Jeremy Peterson – drums (2002)
• Eric Park – drums (2005–2014)

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• Impaled – Corpse Gristle Records (1997)
• Promo 1997 (1997)
• Promo 1999 (1999)

• "Kill That Fucking Bitch" (rehearsal, 2002)
• "Fifty Ton War Machine" (promo, 2012)

• 1.3.8. – Corpse Gristle Records (2000), Unmatched Brutality (2004), Displeased Records (2004), Night of the Vinyl Dead (2006)

• Music of Dallas

{{Reflist}}

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{{wikiquote}}

• [https://www.devourmentofficial.com/ Official website]
• {{allmusic}}
• {{discogs artist}}

{{Devourment}}

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Category:American death metal musical groups

Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Texas

Category:Musical groups established in 1995

Category:Musical groups from Dallas