Breakdown of Sanity

Breakdown of Sanity

Breakdown of Sanity is a metalcore and deathcore group from Bern, Switzerland, formed in 2007 and active since then. The group is made up of Christoph Gygax, Carlo Knöpfel and Oliver Stingel, and its sound is described through a mix of heavy guitar riffs, breakdowns and melodic instrumental passages. Knöpfel’s vocals move between deep growls and cleaner singing, and the lyrics focus on social issues and personal experience.

History

The band forms in spring 2007 around guitarist and songwriter Oliver Stingel, after the split of his earlier band, and singer Carlo Knöpfel, who had played guitar in Nerp. The two begin working with a drum machine before adding other musicians. Bass player César Gonin joins first, followed by drummer Thomas Rindlisbacher in December 2007. In early 2008 the group begins rehearsing, and Sandro Keusen joins as second guitarist. Keusen is later replaced by Christoph Gygax in spring 2009.

The band’s first album, The Last Sunset, appears in 2009 as a self-financed and self-produced release. Their second album, Mirrors, follows in 2011 and is also produced in-house, with Stingel handling production. The group releases the single “Chapters” in 2011. In 2012 they continue touring across Switzerland, Italy and Germany, and play festivals including Impericon Festival II in Leipzig and Mair1 Festival in Montabaur.

In 2013 the group releases Perception, which appears in the United States through We Are Triumphant, with support from Victory Records. The same year they are announced for With Full Force and play the Hard Bowl Stage there. Their fourth album, Coexistence, follows in 2016. The band plays its last concert in 2017 in Bern.

DIY approach and activity

Breakdown of Sanity is closely associated with a DIY approach. The group handles production, cover design, merchandise, and booking itself, and bassist César Gonin looks after finances and technology. Stingel produces two of the band’s albums. The British magazine Rock Sound describes the group as following a DIY way of working. Breakdown of Sanity is also a registered member of SUISA.

Live work and collaborations

The band plays with acts including August Burns Red, Salt the Wound, Aborted, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cataract, Sylosis, Neaera and Youth of Today. Its first concert outside Switzerland takes place in Germany in 2009. In 2011 the group tours Europe with support from acts including Breathing While Buried, Sequoia Shade, Resurrection, Scream Your Name, Sense of a Divination and Penguins on Extasy, and the tour is supported by Fuze Magazine, Monster Energy and Macbeth Footwear. During that period the band plays in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Austria.

Style and themes

The band’s name is intended to reflect the aggression of the music and the gloomy mood of contemporary society. Its style combines classic metalcore elements with melodic breaks, and the group describes metalcore as the best way to express emotion in a varied form. The lyrics are written by Knöpfel and Stingel and deal with personal experience and critical social topics.

Discography

Breakdown of Sanity releases the albums The Last Sunset (2009), Mirrors (2011), Perception (2013) and Coexistence (2016).