Morpheus Descends

The band performed their first rehearsal on October 31, 1990, with a lineup consisting of bassist Ken Faggio, drummer Sam Inzerra, vocalist Craig Campbell, and guitarists Rob Yench and Steve Hanson. Before the formation of Morpheus Descends (who at this point were called Morpheus, a name inspired by the comic Sandman{{cite web|last1=Cariosca|first1=Anthony|title=Interview: Morpheus Descends Bassist Talks Maryland Deathfest & New Album|url=http://archive.alternativenation.net/morpheus-descends-bassist/|website=archive.alternativenation.net|publisher=Alternative Nation|accessdate=February 5, 2015}}), Faggio and Yench were in the band Volatile Zylog, while Campbell, Hanson and Inzerra were in the band Infectious Waste. The two bands played a show together the previous summer.{{cite web|last1=Stevens|first1=Brett|title=Interview: Morpheus Descends (Rob Yench)|url=http://www.deathmetal.org/news/interview-morpheus-descends-rob-yench/|website=deathmetal.org|publisher=deathmetal.org|accessdate=June 13, 2013}} The band's early musical influences included Napalm Death, Black Sabbath, Death, and Morbid Angel. The band recorded their first demo tape, Accelerated Decrepitude, in 1991. It contained tracks that would later be rereleased as a 7" record under the title Adipocere in 1992 through Seraphic Decay Records.

The group was signed to JL America in 1992 and released their first full-length album, Ritual of Infinity, the same year. Composed of tracks recorded during different sessions,{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Chronicle of the Shadowed One: An Interview with Rob Yench of Morpheus Descends|url=http://peopleoftheblackcircle.blogspot.com/2012/07/chronicle-of-shadowed-one-interview.html|website=peopleoftheblackcircle.blogspot.com|date=July 18, 2012|publisher=People of the Black Circle|accessdate=July 18, 2012}} the album was released under the band name Morpheus Descends—the first recording by the group to be released under that name. It was also the first recording by the group to feature vocalist Jeff Riemer, who had joined the group after Campbell left. According to Yench, the band name change was made at the request of JL America since an electronic group with the name Morpheus already existed. The band financed and booked the ensuing tour for the album themselves.

The group independently released the extended play Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones in 1994, which Yench described as "much darker and more doom-laden." For this recording, the band spent extra time in the studio instead of the "rushed" schedule they had with their previous recordings. Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones is the only release by the group to feature guitarist Bryan Johnston, who replaced Steve Hanson when he left the group after the release of Ritual of Infinity. It is also the group's last album to feature vocalist Jeff Riemer. The group issued their third extended play, The Horror of the Truth, in 1997 through Angel Dust Records, the only release by the group to feature vocalist/guitarist Tom Stevens and bassist Andy Newton.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Tom Stevens Interview|url=http://www.metalcorefanzine.com/ts.html|website=metalcorefanzine.com|publisher=MetalCore Fanzine|accessdate=December 17, 2016}} The group eventually broke up in 1998 due to creative differences, personal issues, and an overall lack of interest in the project.

After the band's break-up in 1998, members of the group went on to work on other projects. Both Stevens and Yench would go on to perform in Incantation.{{cite web|last1=Rivadavia|first1=Eduardo|title=Morpheus Descends Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/morpheus-descends-mn0000929267/biography|website=allmusic.com|publisher=AllMusic Guide|accessdate=December 17, 2016}} Yench is currently a member of the Mausoleum, Typhus, and Engorge groups. Inzerra plays in the bands Mortician and Funerus and was once a member of the crossover thrash group Generation Kill. Faggio plays in Rooms of Ruin and Cabal 34. Andy Newton joined the black metal band Fog under the nickname "Lord Typhus Mirinor."

Former vocalist Jeff Riemer died on August 30, 2005, of a heroin overdose.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Former Morpheus Descends Vocalist Passes Away|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-morpheus-descends-vocalist-passes-away/|website=blabbermouth.net|date=September 12, 2005|publisher=Blabbermouth|accessdate=September 12, 2005}}{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Joe|title=Interview with Morpheus Descends|url=http://metalforeveryone.com/2015/05/interview-with-morpheus-descends/|website=metalforeveryone.com|publisher=Metal For Everyone|accessdate=May 30, 2015}}

The band performed their first show since their break-up in 1998 with a lineup of founding members Yench, Inzerra, Faggio, and Campbell, and newly recruited guitarist Ed Winners in 2013. The idea to reunite had stuck with the band since their initial dissolution. However, it was not until 2012, when Inzerra and Yench met at Maryland Deathfest, that the idea was taken seriously.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Interview with Rob Yench, Morpheus Descends|url=http://toughriffs.weebly.com/interviews/interview-with-rob-yench-morpheus-descends|website=toughriffs.weebly.com|publisher=Tough Riffs|accessdate=June 5, 2015}} To celebrate the band's 25th anniversary in 2015, Dark Descent Records released the three-disc anthology box set From Blackened Crypts that contained the band's entire recorded discography, a DVD Visage of Malady containing live footage and interviews, and two newly recorded tracks. The two new tracks, "Oozing of the Urn" and "The King's Curse," were released as their own separate 7" record that same year under the same name. Webzine Metal Rules named From Blackened Crypts as the best box set of 2015.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Best of 2015 - Infamous Butcher|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2016/01/02/best-of-2015-infamous-butcher/|website=metal-rules.com|date=January 2, 2016|publisher=Metal Rules|accessdate=2016-01-02}} The 7" was mentioned in Death Metal Undereground's "Best Albums of 2015" feature.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Death Metal Underground's Best Albums of 2015|url=http://www.deathmetal.org/meta/death-metal-undergrounds-best-albums-of-2015/|website=deathmetal.org|publisher=Death Metal Underground|accessdate=January 3, 2016}}

The group has been touring regularly since their reunion and has announced plans to write and record more new material in the future.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Tim Rocheny – vocals (2015–present)
• Rob Yench – guitar (1990–1998, 2013–present)
• Ken Faggio – bass (1990–1993, 2013–present)
• Adam Kegg – guitar (2015–present)
• Sam Inzerra – drums (1990–1998, 2013–present)

{{col-2}}

• Craig Campbell – vocals (1990–1991, 2013–2015)
• Ed Winter – guitar (2014–2015)
• Tom Stevens – guitar, vocals (1995–1998)
• Andy Newton – bass (1993–1998)
• Bryan Johnston – guitar (1993–1995)
• Jeff Riemer – vocals (1992–1995; died 2005)
• Steve Hanson – guitar (1990–1993)

{{col-end}}

{{#tag:timeline|

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• Ritual of Infinity (1992)

• Adipocere (1992)
• Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones (1994)
• The Horror of the Truth (1997)
• From Blackened Crypts (2015)

• From Blackened Crypts (2015)

• Accelerated Decrepitude (1991)
• Corpse Under Glass (1992)
• Cairn of Dumitru (1993)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.discogs.com/artist/379327-Morpheus-Descends Morpheus Descends on Discogs]
• [https://www.facebook.com/morpheusdescends/ Morpheus Descends on Facebook]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Musical groups established in 1990

Category:Death metal musical groups from New York (state)