Phinehas is an American
metalcore
Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...
band formed in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, in 2001. The group consists of vocalist Sean McCulloch, guitarist Daniel Gailey, bassist Bryce Kelley and drummer Isaiah Perez. They are currently signed to
Solid State Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle where it is today.
History
Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott backe ...
and have released five studio albums.
Their most recent studio album, ''
The Fire Itself'', was released on August 27, 2021.
History
Formation, line-up changes and ''Thegodmachine'' (2001–2012)
Phinehas formed in 2001 in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
. The band recorded and released a demo in 2005 with the line-up of Matt Yriarte (lead vocals), Glenn Gizzi (lead guitar, backing vocals), Michael Ruffino (rhythm guitar), Phil Killpatrick (bass), and Michael Killpatrick (drums). The band went through a few line-up changes following the demo's release before settling on Sean McCulloch (vocals), Scott Whelan (rhythm guitar), Ryan Estrada (bass) and Lee Humerian (drums) in addition to Gizzi. The band recorded and independently released a
self-titled EP on December 15, 2009; Gizzi, the band's only remaining original member, left shortly after the EP's release and was replaced by Jason Combs. After the release, the band went on a 10-day tour before beginning work on their debut album ''
Thegodmachine
''Thegodmachine'' is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Phinehas. The band was signed to the independent Christian metal label, Red Cord Records, shortly after the album's production was finished. The album was physically released ...
''.
After finishing production of the album, the band looked at many labels, before being signed to Red Cord Records in 2011. ''Thegodmachine'' was released on September 30, 2011, through Red Cord, and received acclaim from music critics.
Most of the praise came from the band's "uncompromising blast of metalcore" and the
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...
-style riffs. The band toured extensively to promote the album, including a spot at the
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival was a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around July 4 near Bushnell, Illinois, drawing some 20,000 attendees each year. In a given year, many artists that played at Cornerstone also playe ...
in 2011, with bands such as
P.O.D.,
For Today,
Close Your Eyes and
Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice is an American Christian metal band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1989. The band has released eight studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren John ...
among others.
''The Last Word Is Yours to Speak'' (2013–2014)
In early 2013, their second EP, ''
The Bridge Between'', was released featuring updated versions of songs from their self-titled EP and acoustic renditions of songs from ''Thegodmachine''. Shortly after the release of ''The Bridge Between'', Phinehas began work on their second studio album. On May 17, the first single, "Fleshkiller", was released along with the album's title, ''
The Last Word Is Yours to Speak''.
The band's second studio album, ''The Last Word Is Yours to Speak'', was released on July 23, 2013, through Red Cord Records. The album proved to be successful as it gained the band their first charting positions on ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'', charting on the
Top Heatseekers
The Heatseekers charts were "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The Heatseekers Albums and the Heatseekers Songs charts were introduced by ''Billboard'' in 1991 with the purpose of highlighting the sales b ...
chart and the
Top Christian Albums
Top Christian Albums is a weekly chart published in ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the best-performing Christian albums in the United States. Like the ''Billboard'' 200, the data is compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly ...
chart.
The album features guest vocals from Brennan Chaulk of the band
Haste the Day
Haste the Day is an American metalcore band formed in Carmel, Indiana in 2001 and signed to Solid State Records. Their name is derived from a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul" by Horatio Spafford. The band released an EP titled '' T ...
. It has also a slight change in sound, with Sean McCulloch's vocals being more clean and less gruff. Also, the album features a strong influence from
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals.
History 1950s and 1960s: origin ...
, similar to their self-titled EP.
After the production of the release, Phinehas toured in support of the album. The band was featured on the "March Make a Mess Tour!" with headliner
Close to Home. This tour included stops at
South by Southwest
South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and Convention (meeting), conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas. It began in 1987 and has conti ...
and
South by So What?!. Guitarist Jason Combs left the band in 2014, being replaced by Daniel Gailey of
Becoming the Archetype.
''Till the End'' (2014–2016)
At the end of 2014, Phinehas announced they would begin working on their third studio album after concluding their tour for ''The Last Word Is Yours to Speak''. On February 17, 2015, the band announced they had signed to
Artery Recordings after their previous label, Red Cord Records, dissolved into
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several record labels. It has featured many prominent artists including Thu ...
. On May 4, Phinehas released the first single "Dead Choir" and announced that their third studio album, ''
Till the End'', would be released on July 10, 2015. On June 9, the band released the live music video for the song "Tetelestai". On July 13, three days after the album's release, the band unveiled a music video for the third single, "White Livered".
''Dark Flag'' (2016–2019)
On December 16, 2016, the band released their third EP, titled ''
Fight Through the Night'' featuring guest vocals from Garrett Russell of
Silent Planet.
On January 10, 2017, drummer Lee Humerian announced his departure from the band and performed his last show on January 21. Phinehas supported
Erra on tour in the Spring of 2017. On September 13, the band signed to
Solid State Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle where it is today.
History
Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott backe ...
.
On September 22, the band announced their fourth studio album titled ''
Dark Flag'' would be released on November 17, 2017. Along with the announcement, they also released the album's title track.
Drums for the album were recorded by their former drummer, Lee Humerian, according to the band. On April 18, 2018, Phinehas announced that the session drummer of their past tour, Isaiah Perez, would be taking over the formerly vacant drums permanently. The band supported
Within the Ruins in the Summer of 2018 alongside Great American Ghost and Sentinels while also supported
As I Lay Dying
''As I Lay Dying'' is a 1930 Southern Gothic novel by American author William Faulkner. Faulkner's fifth novel, it is consistently ranked among the best novels of the 20th century.The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Lit ...
on tour in the Spring of 2019. They then embarked on a small tour in the Summer of 2019.
''The Fire Itself'' (2020–present)
On August 1, 2020, Phinehas announced that it had begun writing for its fifth studio album, expecting to release it in 2021. On March 27, 2021, the band posted a photo on its official
Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
page, announcing that production of the album had begun. On July 8, Phinehas released a brand new single "In the Night" and announced that their upcoming fifth studio album, ''
The Fire Itself'', is set for release on August 27, 2021. At the same time, the band revealed the album cover and the track list. On July 29, they debuted the second single "Eternally Apart". On August 20, one week before the album release, the band unveiled the third single and title track "The Fire Itself".
Musical style
Phinehas have primarily been classified as
metalcore
Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...
,
a mixture of
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
and
extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...
. They have also been considered to incorporate elements of
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal, or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band-members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...
and
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals.
History 1950s and 1960s: origin ...
into their style,
and to be especially influenced by
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...
.
Members
Current
* Sean McCulloch – lead vocals
(2007–present); rhythm guitar
(2011–2012); drums
(2017–2018)
* Bryce Kelley – bass, backing vocals
(2012–present)
* Daniel Gailey – guitars, backing vocals
(2014–present)
* Isaiah Perez – drums
(2018–present; touring member 2017)
Former
* Phil Killpatrick – bass
(2001–2005)
* Michael Angelo Ruffino – rhythm guitar
(2001–2007)
* Michael Kevin Killpatrick – drums
(2001–2007)
* Matt Yriarte – lead vocals
(2003–2007)
* Glenn Gizzi – lead guitar, backing vocals
(2001–2010)
* Scott Whelan – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
(2006–2011)
* Ryan Estrada – bass
(2006–2012)
* Dustin Saunders – rhythm guitar
(2011–2012)
* Jason Combs – lead guitar
(2010–2014); rhythm guitar
(2012–2014)
* Lee Humerian – drums, backing vocals
(2007–2017); rhythm guitar
(2011–2012)
Session and touring musicians
* Chris Deets – drums
(2013, 2014)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Music videos
References
{{Authority control
2001 establishments in California
Metalcore musical groups from California
American Christian metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 2001
Musical quartets from California
People from La Mirada, California