Internal Bleeding is an American death metal band formed in Long Island, New York in 1991. As a part of New York's death metal scene, the band pioneered the genres of slam death metal and brutal death metal alongside Suffocation and Pyrexia. Prior to their disbandment in 2005, Internal Bleeding released four studio albums, and went through an extensive number of lineup changes. Since their 2011 reunion, they have released two additional studio albums.
History
In the early 1990s, guitarist Chris Pervelis was a member of the doom metal band Autumn Reign. During Autumn Reign's career the band's music became increasingly heavy until they were playing a style similar to death metal. When this band disbanded, Pervelis began searching out musicians to form a new band. Internal Bleeding's founding lineup consisted of Pervelis and Anthony Miola on guitar, vocalist Brian Richards, bassist Tom Slobowski and drummer Bill Tolley. In the same year, Richards and Slobowski departed from the group, with bassist John Colucco and Autumn Reign vocalist Eric Wigger taking up their roles. This lineup recorded their debut self-titled demo tape. Soon after, Wigger was replaced by Wallace Milton, and Colucco was replaced by Brian Hobbie. With these members, the band recorded their second demo tape Invocation of Evil. After Milton departed from the band, Tolley briefly took on vocal duties to record their 1994 EP Perpetual Degradation.
Frank Rini was the band's subsequent vocalist, recording their debut album Voracious Contempt, which was released nationally through Pavement Records in 1995. The band released their second album The Extinction of Benevolence in 1997. Around this time Pavement Records began to experience financial difficulties, leading to the album having little promotion and Internal Bleeding rarely touring. Following this, Rini departed from the group and was replaced by Ryan Schimmenti. Schimmenti and Miola then departed soon after, with their roles being filled by Ray Lebron and Guy Marchais, respectively. This lineup released the band's 1999 album Driven to Conquer. In 2000, Jason Carbon replaced Brian Hobbie. In December of the same year, Jerry Lowe became the band's vocalist. In mid-2002, Marchais was replaced by guitarist Frank Buffalino. In July 2003, Pervelis briefly departed from the group, with his role being filled by Matt Ferrara. It was originally announced that the band's fourth album would be titled Hatefuel and released during summer 2003. The album's release was subsequently pushed back, and in May 2004 it was announced it would instead be titled Onward to Mecca. Following a tour opening for Six Feet Under, the album was eventually released on September 7, 2004. A month after the album's release, Pervelis rejoined the band when Ferrara departed. The band then toured the United States for two months in mid-2005, with support from Bodies in the Gears of the Apparatus and Strong Intention, before announcing their breakup.
In 2011, founding members Tolley, Pervelis and Hobbie reunited Internal Bleeding, accompanied by bassist Jason Liff and vocalist Keith DeVito. The band's fifth studio album, and their first since reuniting, Imperium was released on September 30, 2014. On February 9, 2016, the band announced Joe Marchese had replaced DeVito, and Shaun Kennedy had replaced Liff. On April 20, 2017, founding drummer and the band's sole consistent member, Bill Tolley, died in a fire while working his job as a firefighter in Queens. His role was subsequently filled by Kyle Eddy. The following day, the band released a music video for their song "Final Justice". On November 2, 2018, they released their sixth studio album Corrupting Influence. In 2019, Marchese and Kennedy departed from the group with Steve Worley and Ryan Giordano filling their respective rolls. On August 3 of the same year, the band released the single "Overthrow Creation".
Musical style
Internal Bleeding play a style of death metal which puts an emphasis on stark tempo changes, prominent bass guitar parts and rhythmic, palm-muted guitar riffs. One of the earliest pioneers of the slam death metal subgenre, their music incorporates elements of hardcore punk and hip hop into a death metal template. The band make heavy use of breakdowns, and integrate riffs that are less technical and vocals that are less intelligible than prior death metal bands. Blabbermouth.net writer Jay H. Gorania described the music as "Tough guy guitar chugging... layered atop mid-tempo pummeling, spiced up with occasional bursts of blasting belligerence." Their lyrics often discuss dark, socio-political issues, and some songs reference literature, such as "Anthems for Doomed Youth" referencing Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum est". They have also been cited by Decibel as pioneers of brutal death metal.
History
In the early 1990s, guitarist Chris Pervelis was a member of the doom metal band Autumn Reign. During Autumn Reign's career the band's music became increasingly heavy until they were playing a style similar to death metal. When this band disbanded, Pervelis began searching out musicians to form a new band. Internal Bleeding's founding lineup consisted of Pervelis and Anthony Miola on guitar, vocalist Brian Richards, bassist Tom Slobowski and drummer Bill Tolley. In the same year, Richards and Slobowski departed from the group, with bassist John Colucco and Autumn Reign vocalist Eric Wigger taking up their roles. This lineup recorded their debut self-titled demo tape. Soon after, Wigger was replaced by Wallace Milton, and Colucco was replaced by Brian Hobbie. With these members, the band recorded their second demo tape Invocation of Evil. After Milton departed from the band, Tolley briefly took on vocal duties to record their 1994 EP Perpetual Degradation.
Frank Rini was the band's subsequent vocalist, recording their debut album Voracious Contempt, which was released nationally through Pavement Records in 1995. The band released their second album The Extinction of Benevolence in 1997. Around this time Pavement Records began to experience financial difficulties, leading to the album having little promotion and Internal Bleeding rarely touring. Following this, Rini departed from the group and was replaced by Ryan Schimmenti. Schimmenti and Miola then departed soon after, with their roles being filled by Ray Lebron and Guy Marchais, respectively. This lineup released the band's 1999 album Driven to Conquer. In 2000, Jason Carbon replaced Brian Hobbie. In December of the same year, Jerry Lowe became the band's vocalist. In mid-2002, Marchais was replaced by guitarist Frank Buffalino. In July 2003, Pervelis briefly departed from the group, with his role being filled by Matt Ferrara. It was originally announced that the band's fourth album would be titled Hatefuel and released during summer 2003. The album's release was subsequently pushed back, and in May 2004 it was announced it would instead be titled Onward to Mecca. Following a tour opening for Six Feet Under, the album was eventually released on September 7, 2004. A month after the album's release, Pervelis rejoined the band when Ferrara departed. The band then toured the United States for two months in mid-2005, with support from Bodies in the Gears of the Apparatus and Strong Intention, before announcing their breakup.
In 2011, founding members Tolley, Pervelis and Hobbie reunited Internal Bleeding, accompanied by bassist Jason Liff and vocalist Keith DeVito. The band's fifth studio album, and their first since reuniting, Imperium was released on September 30, 2014. On February 9, 2016, the band announced Joe Marchese had replaced DeVito, and Shaun Kennedy had replaced Liff. On April 20, 2017, founding drummer and the band's sole consistent member, Bill Tolley, died in a fire while working his job as a firefighter in Queens. His role was subsequently filled by Kyle Eddy. The following day, the band released a music video for their song "Final Justice". On November 2, 2018, they released their sixth studio album Corrupting Influence. In 2019, Marchese and Kennedy departed from the group with Steve Worley and Ryan Giordano filling their respective rolls. On August 3 of the same year, the band released the single "Overthrow Creation".
Musical style
Internal Bleeding play a style of death metal which puts an emphasis on stark tempo changes, prominent bass guitar parts and rhythmic, palm-muted guitar riffs. One of the earliest pioneers of the slam death metal subgenre, their music incorporates elements of hardcore punk and hip hop into a death metal template. The band make heavy use of breakdowns, and integrate riffs that are less technical and vocals that are less intelligible than prior death metal bands. Blabbermouth.net writer Jay H. Gorania described the music as "Tough guy guitar chugging... layered atop mid-tempo pummeling, spiced up with occasional bursts of blasting belligerence." Their lyrics often discuss dark, socio-political issues, and some songs reference literature, such as "Anthems for Doomed Youth" referencing Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum est". They have also been cited by Decibel as pioneers of brutal death metal.