Enforsaken
Epitaph/Biography
Enforsaken officially broke up August
19th, 2006.
Chicago’s
Enforsaken were formed in early 1998. Influences ranged from Melodic Death/Black Metal, Traditional 70’s, 80’s,
90’s and present day Heavy Metal/Thrash, Progressive Rock, Classical and Jazz. However, the band’s primary sound
did lean strongly towards the more extreme side of this musical spectrum. At the
same time, the band would rarely focus on just one genre within each song. It is common to hear traces of melodic death metal,
black metal, the classic NWOBHM style and 70’s Prog all within the same Enforsaken song. Trends come and go, but
Enforsaken were never ones to jump on any bandwagons. They were among the first American bands to be heavily influenced by
extreme European metal and throughout their career, always remained a completely underground act. They were much, much more
than just your average "Metalcore" band. Enforsaken drew influences from many different sources, and this always gave the
band a unique edge over the hordes of mallcore acts currently over-saturating the scene. Enforsaken's goal was always just
to put out the highest quality metal music possible, not to be the next Hot Topic posterboys. Mission accomplished.
Enforsaken's music
can be found on iTunes and MySpace. Please steal Enforsaken's music for free whenever possible. Illegal downloading is strongly encouraged.
Over
their 8 year history, ENFORSAKEN shared the stage with: SHADOWS FALL, LAMB OF GOD, VADER, SATYRICON, MORBID
ANGEL, DISMEMBER, ARCH ENEMY, KATAKLYSM, GOD FORBID, DARKEST HOUR, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, BURNT BY THE SUN, ALL THAT REMAINS,
THE CROWN, DYING FETUS, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, ORIGIN, EXODUS, KRISIUN, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, ENSLAVED, NAGLFAR, DEAD TO FALL,
THE KILLER, THE BERZERKER, FLESHGRIND, THE CHASM, BODY COUNT w/ ICE T and many, many more. The band also
played numerous metal fests including THE NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL, MINNESOTA MAYHEM and MILWAUKEE METALFEST.
Random
ENFORSAKEN facts:
ENFORSAKEN have
had their music featured on numerous episodes of MTV’S “Viva La Bam” TV show.
ENFORSAKEN'S first
CD, "Embraced By Misery," was originally released on SHADOWS FALL guitarists Matt Bachand's indie label "Lifeless Records."
ENFORSAKEN have appeared
on many compilation albums including the widely popular METAL FOR THE MASSES (A HOT TOPIC exclusive) and IN THE EYES OF DEATH
(The European version of Metal For The Masses) cds.
James Murphy (Disincarnate,
Death, Testament, Obituary guitarist) played a guitar solo on ENFORSAKEN'S "The Forever Endeavor" album. James also mastered
the album at his home studio in Florida.
ENFORSAKEN'S largest fanbases are in The U.K and Germany.
The band has appeared
in many print magazines such as METAL MANIACS, REVOLVER, PIT, TERRORIZER, UNRESTRAINED, SOD, DECIBEL and many more.
The bands final show was @ The Metro in Chicago on August
19th, 2006.
Discography:
First release:
Demo 1999 (self released)
Second release:
2001. Embraced By Misery MCD/EP ( Released on Lifeforce Records in Europe and Lifeless Records in USA)
The re-issue of this cd was released in 2005 by Cartel Media Records.
Third release:
2004. The Forever Endeavor. Full length CD. (Released on Century Media Records in Europe, Olympic Recordings
in USA and Soundholic Records in Japan.)
Fourth and final
release: 2006. Sinner’s Intuition. Full length cd. (Released on Crash Music Inc. worldwide.)
Enforsaken
cover artwork
Over the years,
Enforsaken had the privilege of working with great artists when it came to their cd covers. Credits are as follows.
Sinner’s Intuition album art: TRAVIS SMITH (Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork, Nevermore)
The Forever Endeavor album art: NIKLAS SUNDIN (Dark Tranquillity guitarist. Has also done art for Arch Enemy, Dark
Tranquillity, Strapping Young Lad, Naglfar and more)
Embraced By Misery original MCD release art: CARLOS DEL OLMO HOLMBERG (Former Soilwork keyboardist. Has done
art for many underground bands.
Embraced By Misery original re-release art: ENRICO LONGHIN. Guitarist for Italy’s
Bleed In Vain.
Enforsaken were
sponsored by:
CAPARISON GUITARS, GIBSON GUITARS and MADISON AMPLIFIERS.
Band
line up 1998-2000:
Steve Stell - Guitar,
bass, vocals
Patrick O'Keefe - Drums, vocals
Band line up 2000-2002:
Steven Sagala –
Vocals
Joe DeGroot –
Guitar
Steve Stell –
Guitar
Eric Kava –
Bass
Patrick O'Keefe -
Drums
Band line up 2002-2006:
Steven Sagala - Vocals
Joe DeGroot - Guitar
Steve Stell - Guitar
Eric Kava - Bass
Dave Swanson - Drums
Contact:
Steve Stell
(Guitar) can still be contacted at the address below.
Email: EnforsakenCult@Hotmail.com
