Kambrium

Kambrium is a German death metal, melodic death metal and progressive metal group from Helmstedt, Germany. The band forms in late autumn 2005 and remains active.

Formation and early line-up

The original line-up includes Nils Peter Töpfer on vocals, Marc Brunke on drums, Julian Schenke on guitar, Jan Hein on guitar, and Martin Simon on bass and vocals. The group first rehearses cover songs in this configuration. In 2006, Nils Peter Töpfer leaves and Philipp Engel replaces him in March, but he departs after the second performance because of stylistic differences. Martin Simon then continues on bass and takes over lead vocals, while Karsten Simon joins on guitar in September 2006 and Jan Hein moves to keyboard.

After the band moves to a new rehearsal space, Jan Hein starts writing original material, which is first performed publicly in November 2006. The group then establishes a more stable line-up and continues playing live.

Early releases and live activity

At Waldbrand Open Air in 2007, organised by Marc Brunke and Jan Hein, Kambrium performs only original songs and releases its first mini-demo in October. In 2008 the band develops more material and issues a second demo in April. Marc Brunke leaves in November 2008 and Fabien Chmiel becomes the drummer in 2009.

The band’s first performance takes place on 17 June 2006 in a band battle, which it wins. In January 2012, Kambrium takes part in the Devil’s Wall Trophy competition in Osterode, wins the audience award, and earns a place at Walpurgis Rock Festival in Bad Grund.

Albums and record deals

Kambrium records its debut album Shadowpath at Metalsound Studio in Osterode im Harz starting on 25 February 2011, completing the work after nine days. The band signs with Massacre Records in August 2011 and releases the ten-track album later that year. Its second album, Dark Reveries, follows in 2013 and includes guest contributions from Amanda Somerville and Thomas Winkler. In 2016, the band signs a record deal with NoiseArt Records.

Discography

The group releases the studio albums Kambrium (2007), From Treason to Death (2008), A Silent Moon (2010), Shadowpath (2011), Dark Reveries (2013), The Elders' Realm (2016), Dawn of the Five Suns (2018) and Synthetic Era (2021).

Other activity

Since 2010, Martin Simon also plays bass and sings in the death metal band Sariel.