Draft:Cognizance

The band was initially formed as a studio project by guitarist Alex Ballie and vocalist Henry Pryce in 2012. They self-released their first EP Inquisition in 2013 followed by their second EP _Inceptum in 2014, which included session drummer Alex Rüdinger.{{Cite web |last=wonderboxmetal |first=Author |date=2014-02-22 |title=Cognizance – Inquisition (Review) |url=https://wonderboxmetal.com/2014/02/22/cognizance-inquisition-review/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Wonderbox Metal |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=COGNIZANCE |url=https://www.dan-mumford.com/cognizance |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=DAN MUMFORD |language=en-US}} In 2016, they were joined by drummer David Diepold and self-released their third EP, Illusory.{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Austin |date=2016-08-16 |title=Tech-Death Tuesday: COGNIZANCE Strike Gold Yet Again on Illusory |url=https://metalinjection.net/av/full-album-stream/tech-death-tuesday |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}

In 2018 they were joined by bassist Chris Binns and after signing with Prosthetic Records, released their debut full-length album Malignant Dominion.{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Austin |date=2019-09-17 |title=Tech-Death Tuesday: COGNIZANCE's Long-Awaited Album Is A Malignant Dominion Worth Getting Lost Inside |url=https://metalinjection.net/av/tech-death-tuesday/cognizances-long-awaited-album-is-a-malignant-dominion-worth-getting-lost-inside |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}} In early 2020, Apostolis Karydis (aka Paul Yage) joined as their second guitarist and in 2021 the band released their second full-length album Upheaval.{{Cite web |last=Noizze |date=2021-09-22 |title=Cognizance - Upheaval {{!}} Album Review |url=https://www.noizze.co.uk/cognizance-upheaval-album-review/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Noizze UK {{!}} Live Music {{!}} Reviews {{!}} Interviews {{!}} Podcasts |language=en}} The band took a slightly more intense approach with this album and is known for its technical guitar work and high tempos, with some tracks reaching as high as 280 bpm.{{Cite web |title=Cognizance - Upheaval |url=https://metal-temple.com/review/cognizance-upheaval/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Metal Temple Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-17 |title=VoS {{!}} Cognizance - Upheaval |url=https://veilofsound.com//2021/09/17/cognizance-upheaval.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=veilofsound.com |language=en}}

In 2023 the band announced that they had ended their relationship with Prosthetic Records and that they would release their next album through Willowtip Records. Phantazein, the band's third full-length album, was released through Willowtip Records in January of 2024.{{Cite web |title=Willowtip {{!}} Releases > Cognizance - Phantazein |url=https://willowtip.com/releases/details/cognizance-phantazein.aspx |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=willowtip.com}}{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2024-01-25 |title=Phantazein |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/phantazein |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}} This time the band took a slightly different approach again, choosing to focus more on Groove (music), Harmony and creating a more intricate sonic soundscape with the production of the album.{{Cite web |title=COGNIZANCE Releasing Concept Album 'Phantazein' in January on Willowtip! |url=https://www.planetmosh.com/cognizance-releasing-concept-album-phantazein-in-january-on-willowtip/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=PlanetMosh |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=2024-01-23 |title=COGNIZANCE Streams Crushing, Blindingly Technical New Album Phantazein |url=https://metalinjection.net/av/full-album-stream/cognizance-streams-crushing-blindingly-technical-new-album-phantazein |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}

Through the years the band has received coverage by various online and print publications{{Cite web |title=Cognizance - Phantazein |url=https://metal-temple.com/review/cognizance-phantazein/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Metal Temple Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=James |date=2023-12-13 |title=Cognizance announce new album 'Phantazein' |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/cognizance-announce-new-album-phantazein/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}}, such as Terrorizer (magazine){{Citation |title=Various - Fear Candy 163 |date=2017 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10422740-Various-Fear-Candy-163 |access-date=2025-06-19 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Various - Terrorizer Magazine - Lost Souls Domain |url=https://www.zenial.nl/html/varioust.htm |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.zenial.nl}}, Revolver (magazine){{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Revolver |title=Hear Cognizance's New Tech-Death Ripper Featuring Job for a Cowboy Singer |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-cognizance-new-song-strychnine-shift-featuring-job-cowboy-jonny-davy/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Revolver |language=en-US}} and Decibel (magazine).{{Cite web |last=Andrew |first=J. |date=2021-08-04 |title=Video Premiere: Cognizance - "Aeon Sickness" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/08/04/video-premiere-cognizance-aeon-sickness/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}

• Alex Baillie - lead guitar
• Apostolis "Paul Yage" Karydis - lead guitar
• Chris Binns - bass
• David Diepold - drums
• Henry Pryce - vocals

• Philip Archbold - bass

• Alex Rüdinger{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxEE9RvqNM |title=Alex Rudinger - Cognizance - "The Succession Of Flesh" |date=2015-01-22 |last=Alex Rüdinger |access-date=2025-06-19 |via=YouTube}} - drums
• Romain Goulon - drums

• Inquisition (2013)
• _Inceptum (2014)
• Illusory (2016)

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