Sympathy is a

blackened death metal Blackened death metal (also known as black death metal) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal that fuses elements of black metal and death metal. The genre emerged in early 1990s when black metal bands began incorporating elements of death met ...

band from Canada, formed in 1991. Sympathy got some notable attention in the Benelux, Germany and Switzerland as those are the countries where their previous label Fear Dark is usually marketing its bands. The band is known for its professional musicianship. Sympathy's albums are distributed in the United States, Europe and Canada through

Displeased Records Displeased Records was a Dutch independent record label, founded by Lars Eikema and Ron Veltkamp. The label had many Dutch and other extreme metal bands on its roster, but has also re-released albums by Agathocles, Cryptopsy, Infernäl Mäjesty, ...

, Deadsun Records,

Megarock Records Megarock Records was a Swedish record label which focused on heavy metal music. It was located in Stockholm. Bands * Abstrakt Algebra * Ace's High * Alien * Backyard Babies * Bad Habit * Candlemass * Criss * Crossroad Jam * It's Alive * Je ...

Facedown Records Facedown Records is a Christian rock record label based in Fallbrook, California that is devoted to hardcore punk and metalcore bands (Christian and secular) with a few death metal acts such as Immortal Souls and Indwelling. Founded by No In ...

and The Omega Distribution. Their lyrical themes tend to revolve around subjects such as

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

, philosophy, and

death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

. They have released three albums, ''

Invocation An invocation (from the Latin verb ''invocare'' "to call on, invoke, to give") may take the form of: *Supplication, prayer or spell. *A form of possession. * Command or conjuration. * Self-identification with certain spirits. These forms a ...

'', '' Arcane Path'' and an EP titled '' Abyssal Throne''. On February 19, 2008, the band was signed to Bombworks Records. The third album titled '' Anagogic Tyranny'' was released on November 11, 2008. The band remained a one-man project from 1995, until 2004.

Biography

Sympathy started out as a five-piece

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band in vein of

Celtic Frost Celtic Frost () was a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich. They are known for their strong influence on the development of extreme metalBukszpan, Daniel. ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2003. p.43 and avant-gard ...

and produced its first demo in 1991. One by one the other musicians left Sympathy and eventually it ended up being Dharok's solo project. During the years 1993–1997, the musical style took a more technical death metal direction, and Dharok released the recordings ''Arrogance and Ignorance'' (1993), ''Age of Darkness'' (1995) and ''Realms of Chaos'' (1996). The band's influences include:

Suffocation Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to the body which arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects primarily the tissues and organs. There are many circumstances that can ...

Morbid Angel Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist, primary composer and sole remaining original member Trey Azagthoth, vocalist and bassist Dallas Ward, and drummer Mike Browning. Widely considered ...

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( e ...

Kreator Kreator is a German thrash metal band from Essen, formed in 1982. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Miland "Mille" Petrozza, drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, and bassist Fréd� ...

Cannibal Corpse Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band formed in Buffalo, New York in 1988, now based out of Tampa, Florida. The band has released fifteen studio albums, two box sets, four video albums, and two live albums. The band has had little rad ...

, and

Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir () is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic ...

. In 2001, Sympathy signed a record deal with the Dutch extreme metal label Fear Dark and soon recorded its first commercially available studio album titled ''

''. The album received positive feedback in underground metal circles, magazines such as '' BW & BK'', and was mentioned in ''Metal Maniacs'' magazine as one of the "reader's albums of the year for 2002". On the following releases,

Tim Roth Timothy Simon Roth (born 14 May 1961) is an English actor and producer. He began acting on films and television series in the 1980s. He was among a group of prominent British actors of the era, the " Brit Pack". He made his television debut ...

of Into Eternity, as well as other members from that particular band, and other bands began to fill in the spot. In 2004, Sympathy released its second album titled '' Arcane Path'' which took a more technical

direction and showcased a more polished production. ''Arcane Path'' featured frontcover artwork as well as a new logo design by the reputive Belgian (Flemish) artist Kris Verwimp. The album was well received and brought them more exposure. The album was compared to

Nile The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin language, Nobiin: Áman Dawū is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered ...

, being primarily a

brutal death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, featu ...

album. In late 2005, Sympathy released an EP titled '' Abyssal Throne'' which featured two re-recorded songs from ''Invocation'', two new songs and a cover of

's "Torn into Enthrallment". ''Abyssal Throne'' was released on the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia, and the packaging artwork was done by the Swedish graphic designer Samuel Durling. Later in 2005, a fellow Canadian, Jeff Lewis, known from his work in Australian band

Mortification Mortification can refer to: * Mortification (theology), theological doctrine *Mortification of the flesh Mortification of the flesh is an act by which an individual or group seeks to mortify or deaden their sinful nature, as a part of the proc ...

and his solo project Abolishment of Hate, would join forces with Sympathy, as would Jim Austin, formerly of Into Eternity. On February 19, 2008, the band was signed to

Bombworks Records Bombworks Records is a record label from McKinney, Texas, that formed in January 2004. The label would sign several bands, including Seventh Angel, A Hill to Die Upon, Grave Declaration and Crimson Thorn. The label started careers for bands suc ...

. The third album titled '' Anagogic Tyranny'' was released November 11, 2008. Sounds of Dead gave it 10 out of 10 points and Lords of Metal gave it 83 out of 100. Tracks from the album were included on the sampler CD's of such magazines as ''Metal Maniacs'' and ''Terrorizer''. In April 2009 the band announced that they have written 12 new songs and are currently recording them, The fourth Sympathy album is tentatively entitled ''Beast''.Album and disc titles + other news
Sympathy's MySpace. 2009-04-25.

Members

*Derek "Dharok" James From – vocals, rhythm guitars (1991–present) *Jeff Lewis – lead and rhythm guitars (formerly of

, Abolishment of Hate, formerly of Incursion) (2005–present) *Jim Austin – drums (formerly of Into Eternity) (2005–present)

Discography

Studio albums * ''Arrogance and Ignorance'' (1993) * ''Age of Darkness'' (1995) * ''Invocation'' (2002) * ''Arcane Path'' (2004) * '' Anagogic Tyranny'' (2008) Demos * ''Covenant'' (1991) * ''Realms of Chaos'' (1996) EPs * ''Abyssal Throne'' (2005)

References

External links

Sympathy on Facebook
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1991 Musical groups from Saskatchewan Canadian technical death metal musical groups 1991 establishments in Saskatchewan