The Human Abstract (band)
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The Human Abstract was an American
progressive metalcore Progressive metalcore (also called technical metalcore or ambient metalcore) is a fusion of progressive metal and metalcore characterized by highly technical lead guitar, "atmospheric" elements, and complex instrumentation. Some notable practiti ...
band from
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. Formed in 2004, the group was originally signed to the independent label
Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an American independent record label in Van Nuys, California. History Hopeless Records was founded in 1993 by Louis Posen. The label's artists are generally considered to fall under the genres of punk rock, pop punk, post-ha ...
, the band then released the two albums ''
Nocturne A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. History The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' "of the night") was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensembl ...
'' (2006) and ''
Midheaven Most horoscopic traditions of astrology systems divide the horoscope into a number (usually twelve) of houses whose positions depend on time and location rather than on date. The houses of the horoscope represent different fields of experience ...
'' (2008) before signing to
eOne Music MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch"), formerly known as Koch Records and Entertainment One (eOne) Music/Records, is an American independent record label and music management company based in New York City. It was formed in 1987 as a music div ...
and releasing '' Digital Veil'' (2011). The Human Abstract went through several lineup changes over the years, with the final consisting of founding members Dean Herrera, A.J. Minette and Brett Powell, in addition to Henry Selva and
Travis Richter Travis Brandon Richter (born November 3, 1981, in Albany, Georgia) is an American musician, Singing, singer and record producer. He is known for being a vocalist and guitarist in the band From First to Last and the lead vocalist of The Color of Vi ...
.


History


Formation and ''Nocturne'' (2004–2007)

The Human Abstract formed in Los Angeles, California in 2004 with guitarists Dean Herrera and A.J. Minette, drummer Brett Powell, bassist Kenny Arehart, and vocalist Nick Olaerts. The group's name was derived from the title of a
William Blake William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake has become a seminal figure in the history of the Romantic poetry, poetry and visual art of the Roma ...
poem published in ''
Songs of Experience ''Songs of Innocence and of Experience'' is a collection of illustrated poems by William Blake. Originally, Blake illuminated and bound ''Songs of Innocence'' and ''Songs of Experience'' separately. It was only in 1794 that Blake combined the t ...
'' in 1794. The band soon released a two-track demo to sell at live performances. They would later record additional demos with Jonny Santos of
Spineshank Spineshank is an American nu metal / industrial metal band from Los Angeles. The band released four studio albums: '' Strictly Diesel'' (1998), ''The Height of Callousness'' (2000), '' Self-Destructive Pattern'' (2003), and ''Anger Denial Accept ...
and Silent Civilian, and
Logan Mader Logan Conrad Mader (born November 16, 1970) is a Canadian record producer and musician. He is a guitarist for melodic death metal band Once Human and a former lead guitarist for heavy metal band Machine Head. Mader is most famous for his time ...
formerly of
Machine Head A machine head (also referred to as a tuning machine, tuner, or gear head) is a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension. Machine heads are used on mandolins, guitars, double basses, and others, and ...
,
Soulfly Soulfly is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 1996. To date the band has release ...
and
Medication Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to medical diagnosis, diagnose, cure, treat, or preventive medicine, prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmaco ...
. The Human Abstract signed to the independent record label
Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an American independent record label in Van Nuys, California. History Hopeless Records was founded in 1993 by Louis Posen. The label's artists are generally considered to fall under the genres of punk rock, pop punk, post-ha ...
in 2005. In late 2006, Nick Olaerts was replaced by Nathan Ells before heading into the studio to record the band's first full-length release, ''
Nocturne A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. History The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' "of the night") was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensembl ...
''. They released their debut album on
Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an American independent record label in Van Nuys, California. History Hopeless Records was founded in 1993 by Louis Posen. The label's artists are generally considered to fall under the genres of punk rock, pop punk, post-ha ...
on August 22, 2006.


''Midheaven'' (2008–2009)

Their album ''
Midheaven Most horoscopic traditions of astrology systems divide the horoscope into a number (usually twelve) of houses whose positions depend on time and location rather than on date. The houses of the horoscope represent different fields of experience ...
'' was released on August 19, 2008. In the past they have toured with bands such as All That Remains, The Devil Wears Prada,
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 ...
,
God Forbid God Forbid is an American metalcore band formed in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey, East Brunswick, New Jersey in 1996. Initially breaking up in 2013, they have been semi-active since reuniting in 2022. History Early career (1996–2004) ...
,
Misery Signals Misery Signals was an American-Canadian metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. History Formation (2002–2003) Misery Signals was formed after the disbanding of several bands, including 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Hamartia, and Compromise. Having ...
,
Every Time I Die Every Time I Die was an American metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. For most of the band's career, the line-up was centred on brothers Keith (vocals) and Jordan Buckley (guitar), as well as rhythm guitarist Andy Williams, ...
,
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, August Burns Red,
Shai Hulud Shai Hulud is an American metalcore band formed in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 1995, and later based in Poughkeepsie, New York. The band is named after the giant sandworms in Frank Herbert's novel ''Dune''. The two mainstay members of Shai Hulu ...
,
Folly In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or of such extravagant appearance that it transcends the range of usual garden buildings. Eighteenth-cent ...
, Drop Dead Gorgeous,
Protest the Hero Protest the Hero is a Canadian progressive metal band from Whitby, Ontario. Originally named Happy Go Lucky, the band changed their name to Protest the Hero, then released their debut EP, '' Search for the Truth'', in 2002. In 2005, the band re ...
, It Dies Today,
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, Look What I Did,
Arsis Arsis is an American death metal band from Virginia Beach, Virginia, formed in 2000. The band is currently signed to Nuclear Blast. History Demos and Willowtip era (2000–2006) Arsis was started by James Malone and Michael "Mike" Van Dyn ...
, and The Chariot. The Human Abstract performed on 2007's
Vans Warped Tour The Warped Tour is a touring rock music festival that toured the United States and Canada each summer from 1995 until 2019, and returned in 2025 for its 30th anniversary. By 2015, Warped was the largest traveling music festival in the United S ...
and 2008's Take Action Tour featuring
Every Time I Die Every Time I Die was an American metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. For most of the band's career, the line-up was centred on brothers Keith (vocals) and Jordan Buckley (guitar), as well as rhythm guitarist Andy Williams, ...
,
From First To Last From First to Last is an American post-hardcore band formed in Tampa, Florida by Matt Good, Scott Oord, and Parker Nelms in November 1999. The current line-up consists of Matt Good (lead vocals and lead guitar), Travis Richter (rhythm guitar an ...
,
The Bled The Bled is an American post-hardcore/metalcore band from Tucson, Arizona, formed in 2001. They released four albums ('' Pass the Flask'', '' Found in the Flood'', '' Silent Treatment'' and '' Heat Fetish'') before disbanding in 2012. History ...
, and August Burns Red. In fall 2008, they toured with the Japanese band
Dir En Grey Dir En Grey (stylized as DIR EN GREY and previously as Dir en grey) is a Japanese Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in February 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. With a consistent lineup of guitari ...
. Nathan Ells addressed a situation regarding A.J. Minette in an interview stating, "A.J. was tired of playing metal, plain and simple, and the rest of the band wants to continue the high-energy live shows and hard edged sound that we have fashioned and developed over the past two years." Minette was quoted as saying "I don't feel like I can get onstage and feel honest about playing metal anymore. The rest of the band felt that totally changing the sound would have been "like a smack in the face to all those that had been coming out and supporting the shows." As of January 9, 2009, Henry Selva was named permanent bass player for the group. Selva originally filled in after Kenny Arehart's departure in 2006.


E1 and ''Digital Veil'' (2009–current)

In September 2009, the band began co-writing material for the new album, ''Digital Veil'', with A.J. Minette. Minette also served as producer on the album. It was also announced that the band would be parting ways with vocalist Nathan Ells and they had begun a search for a new vocalist. On March 29, 2010, it was announced the band had found a new vocalist, and on April 7 it was announced that The Color of Violence and former
From First to Last From First to Last is an American post-hardcore band formed in Tampa, Florida by Matt Good, Scott Oord, and Parker Nelms in November 1999. The current line-up consists of Matt Good (lead vocals and lead guitar), Travis Richter (rhythm guitar an ...
guitarist Travis Richter had become Ells' replacement. In November 2009, Herrera confirmed through a Myspace blog that Leonard was no longer in the band, "Sean is not technically in the band anymore... However, we have not ruled out the possibility of him having some sort of presence on the next record. He decided that touring wasn't for him, and wanted to go to music school." In April 2010 Travis Richter revealed to
Absolutepunk.net ''AbsolutePunk'' was a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate (the most recent CEO). The website mainly focused on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it was known to featur ...
in his first interview since becoming The Human Abstract's new frontman that A.J. Minette had officially returned. The Human Abstract released their first single "Faust" from ''Digital Veil'' on November 16, 2010. On January 10, 2011, The Human Abstract announced that they had signed to E1 Music, and that their new album ''Digital Veil'' would be released through E1 on March 8, 2011. The song "Patterns" was released January 18, 2011, followed by "Complex Terms" on February 15, 2011. ''Digital Veil'' was produced and written by A.J. Minette, engineered by
Will Putney Will Putney (born May 29, 1983) is an American record producer and musician based in New Jersey. He is the guitarist and co-founder of deathcore band Fit for an Autopsy, as well as the guitarist of metalcore supergroup End, and hardcore punk su ...
(Lamb of God, Chiodos), and mastered by Jamie Fergus-Jean. There was some speculation that Andrew Tapley is not in the band anymore, as he is no longer listed as a member on the band's Facebook profile. On February 9, 2011, Tapley confirmed this speculation via Facebook with the public message: A few weeks after ''Digital Veil''s release, they announced that they would embark on what would be called the "Pull Me From The Gallows" Tour with
Scale the Summit Scale the Summit is an American instrumental progressive metal band formed in Houston, Texas in 2004. The band comprises guitarist Chris Letchford, bassist Kilian Duarte and drummer Charlie Engen. They were signed to Prosthetic Records before t ...
. Its name comes from a line in their latest album's title track. The band has posted an update via Facebook on 31 May that the remaining dates will be canceled "...due to a sudden and devastating loss to the THA family." As of 24 August 2011,
Travis Richter Travis Brandon Richter (born November 3, 1981, in Albany, Georgia) is an American musician, Singing, singer and record producer. He is known for being a vocalist and guitarist in the band From First to Last and the lead vocalist of The Color of Vi ...
parted ways with the band, citing a desire to focus on his girlfriend and amateur electronic music side of his career. It has been announced that Ryan Devlin, frontman from the band Corelia, will be filling in for the "Frak the Gods Tour" headlined by
Periphery Periphery or peripheral may refer to: Music *Periphery (band), American progressive metal band * ''Periphery'' (album), released in 2010 by Periphery *"Periphery", a song from Fiona Apple's album '' The Idler Wheel...'' Gaming and entertainme ...
. On December 29, 2011, bassist Henry Selva, when questioned over why he was selling equipment, announced that the band was calling it quits. "Folks, we are not looking for a new vocalist. We are not touring anytime soon. I think it's only fair you guys know that we're on "break or hiatus if you will." I don't know why we haven't said anything. I guess it's because there is always that "maybe if something happens, etc..etc..." Or maybe it's hard for us to realize the reality of our situation, the bands situation, to finally let go. I'll be honest when I say the following: Periphery and Never Say Die were our last tours together as a band." On February 8th, 2012 guitarist Dean Herrera was asked on his
Formspring Spring.me was a social networking service. Until a rebranding in 2013, it was known as Formspring, a question-and-answer-based social network launched in 2009 by Ade Olonoh, the founder of online form builder Formstack. As of August 1, 2015, t ...
page whether they would've broken up even if Richter hadn't left the band. Herrera had replied stating that the band had never actually come together to decide the fate of the band. "as far as I'm concerned we aren’t broken up, that was Henry going out and spewing the inner workings of the band. We never actually came together and decided anything. I’m still real pissed at him for that. Sure we’re taking time, but that doesn’t mean anything other than that... Taking time.. As far as Travis.... who knows... can’t say what might have happened." On July 16, 2012, via his personal Facebook profile, vocalist Travis Richter expressed a desire to return and make another album with the band if the other members reconciled their differences. Richter said, "Life would be a lot easier if we could just make another human abstract record - music for me is only alive when there are releases - even touring is second when you create art on that level."
/ref> On February 14, 2012, The Human Abstract released a Moonlight Sonata (EP), cover EP of
Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...
's 3-movement "
Moonlight Sonata The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, marked ''Quasi una fantasia'', Op. 27, No. 2, is a piano sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven, completed in 1801 and dedicated in 1802 to his pupil Countess Julie "Giulietta" Guicciardi. Although known throu ...
". All guitars were recorded by Dean Herrera during the ''Digital Veil'' recording sessions with engineer Will Putney in 2010. The EP is available on iTunes and Xbox music. In 2013, E1 dropped the band.


Band members

;Final line-up * Dean Herrera – guitars, backing vocals (2004–2013) * Brett Powell – drums (2004–2007, 2008–2013) * A.J. Minette – guitars, keyboards (2004–2007, 2010–2013) *
Travis Richter Travis Brandon Richter (born November 3, 1981, in Albany, Georgia) is an American musician, Singing, singer and record producer. He is known for being a vocalist and guitarist in the band From First to Last and the lead vocalist of The Color of Vi ...
– lead vocals (2010–2011, 2012–2013) * Henry Selva – bass (2006–2007, 2008–2013) ;Former members * Nick Olaerts – lead vocals (2004–2005) * Kenny Arehart – bass (2004–2006) * Nathan Ells – lead vocals (2006–2009) * Mike Nordeen – bass (2007–2008) * Sean Leonard – keyboards (2007–2009) * Andrew Tapley – guitars (2007–2011) * Trevor Taylor – drums (2007–2008) ;Touring members * Ryan Devlin (Corelia) – lead vocals (2011)


Timeline


Discography


Studio albums


Extended plays


Music videos


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Human Abstract, The Heavy metal musical groups from California Musical groups from Los Angeles American musical quartets Musical groups established in 2004 Metalcore musical groups from California American mathcore musical groups American progressive metal musical groups Hopeless Records artists Progressive metalcore musical groups