Paramaecium

In 1993, Paramaecium released their debut album, Exhumed of the Earth. The band consisted of Andrew Tompkins on vocals and bass, Jason De Ron on guitar, and Jayson Sherlock on drums.{{cite web|url=http://members.ziggo.nl/kemman/interview64.htm|title=Interview with Jayson Sherlock|date=4 June 2007|accessdate=7 October 2016}} The music was inspired by Cathedral, early My Dying Bride and Anathema. The band incorporated flute and violin sounds as well as a soprano alongside the usual musical offerings of death and doom metal.

Paramaecium added rhythm guitarist Chris Burton in 1995 and released their second album, Within the Ancient Forest, which was accompanied by a fantasy novel of the same name written by Tompkins. The album was more diverse and technical, and involved female vocalists, harpsichord, piano, flute and cello.

Sherlock left the band in 1996.

The third album, A Time to Mourn, was released in 1999 and marked the departure of all previous band members except Tompkins. The band no longer had a touring lineup, so guest musicians were used, including guitarist Ian Arkley (formerly of Seventh Angel, Ashen Mortality and My Silent Wake). After a five-year break, Paramaecium returned in 2004 with Echoes from the Ground. The album again featured Tompkins as the only original member, but held firmly to the band's doom and death metal roots while again incorporating soprano and violins.

In 2005, Tompkins started working again with guitarist De Ron on songs for a new album. Early in 2006, drummer Sherlock rejoined the band and they played a series of concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, and NordicFest in Oslo, Norway. The NordicFest appearance in November 2006 marked the official end of Paramaecium, but it was also the official launch of the band under its new name, InExordium. InExordium's name is derived from a Paramaecium song off of Within the Ancient Forest. After InExordium broke up, Sherlock and guitarist Sheldon D'Costa formed Revulsed.{{cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-the-story-grows/id962812433|title=Jayson Sherlock of Revulsed, Mortification|publisher=As the Story Grows|first=Jayson|last=Sherlock|interviewer=Stephen Sarro and Trav Turner|date=25 October 2015|access-date=22 July 2016}}

All of Paramaecium's albums have a concept that generally revolves around Christianity and Christian life. Exhumed of the Earth was based around the narrative of the New Testament, particularly the canonical gospels and the Book of Acts. Within the Ancient Forest is based on how Andrew Tompkins became a Christian,[http://www.paramaecium.com/show_item.php?item=809 Within the Ancient Forest] CD at the Paramaecium website. Retrieved on 22 July 2016. and A Time to Mourn is about a life in Christ, addressing the sorts of issues one might face as a modern Christian. Echoes from the Ground is about a young man's journey through the Holy Lands to find a justification for his faith.

Last known lineup

• Andrew Tompkins - bass, vocals, programming (1991–2006){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QK3JCQAAQBAJ|title=Encyclopedia of Australian Heavy Metal|first=Brian|last=Griffin|date=April 2015|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9780994320612|accessdate=7 October 2016}}
• Jason De Ron - guitar (1992–1996, 2006)
• Jayson Sherlock - drums (1993–1996, 2006)

Former

• Collin "Mosh" Mynard - guitar (1991–1992){{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sweetslyrics.com/bio-Paramaecium.html |date=* |title=Jason's biography }}. Retrieved on 8 October 2016.
• Ian Arkley - guitar (1999)
• Mark Orr - drums (1999)
• Mark Kelson - guitar (1997–1999)
• Chris Burton - rhythm guitar (1995–1996){{cite web|url=http://passzio.hu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6286|title=Paramaecium - Within the Ancient Forest|publisher=Passzio|language=hu|accessdate=8 October 2016}}
• Steve Palmer - drums (1991–1993){{cite web|url=http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/membre_groupe/membre_groupe-nom-Andrew_Tompkins-id-13271-l-en.html|title=Biography: Andrew Tompkins|publisher=Spirit of Metal|author=Tompkins, Andrew|author-link=Andrew Tompkins|accessdate=9 October 2016}}

Timeline

{{Original research section|date=October 2016|reason=That the dates of events are all on the first of the month, or worse, first of the year shows that the actual dates are not known.}}

Studio albums

• Exhumed of the Earth (1993)
• Within the Ancient Forest (1996)
• A Time to Mourn (1999)
• Echoes from the Ground (2004)

Demos

• Silent Carnage (1991)

EPs

• Repentance (1996)

Studio albums

• InExordium (2008)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080612154932/http://www.paramaecium.com/news.php Paramaecium's official website (Archived)]

{{Paramaecium}}

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Category:Victoria (state) musical groups

Category:Australian doom metal musical groups

Category:Australian Christian metal musical groups

Category:Australian musical quartets

Category:Musical groups established in 1991

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2006

Category:1991 establishments in Australia