Winds of Plague

Winds of Plague
Background information
Also known as Bleak December (2002–2005)
Origin Upland, California, USA
Genres Deathcore, symphonic metal, Metalcore
Years active 2002present
Labels Recorse, Century Media, Life Sentence
Website Winds of Plague on Myspace
Winds of Plague on Facebook
Members Jonathan Cooke
Alana Potocnik
Art Cruz
Davey Oberlin
Michael Montoya
Justin Bock
Past members Chris Cooke
Matt Feinman
Corey Fine
Kevin Grant
Brandon Pitcher
Kristen Randall
Jeff Tenney
Brandon Galindo
Nick Eash
Andrew Glover
Nick Piunno

Winds of Plague is an American deathcore band from Upland, California, formed in 2002. They are best known as one of the only deathcore bands to incorporate symphonic elements into their music.

The band's name is derived from a section of lyrics in the Unearth song "Endless"; "Growing wings of sorrow/have brought you to the winds of plague."

History

Formation, name change, and debut release (non studio album) (2002-2005)

Winds of Plague was founded in 2002 in Upland, California. During the time of the band's inception, its name was originally Bleak December. However, they changed their name in April of 2005, to Winds of Plague, being named after a lyric from the Unearth song, "Endless".[1] They released their demo A Cold Day In Hell in late 2005 independently. Several of the songs would subsequently be re-recorded for the following album.

Decimate the Weak (2006-2009)

Decimate the Weak, the band's first major label album, was released in 2008 through Century Media Records. The album included several re-recorded tracks from A Cold Day In Hell.

The Great Stone War and line-up changes (2009-2011)

Winds of Plague's second release on a major label and third album overall, The Great Stone War, was released on August 11, 2009. The album features two singles, "Approach the Podium" and "Chest and Horns", though no music videos were ever shot for any songs on the album. On October 14, 2009, keyboardist Kristen Randall stated that she would be leaving the band and did so days afterward.[2] The band approached musician Lisa Marx to fill in on keyboard for their Australian/New Zealand tour. Afterwards the band found Alana Potocnik who has since been inducted as Winds of Plague's keyboardist.

Against the World (2011-2013)

The third album, Against the World, was released in 2011 to widespread critical acclaim. "Refined in the Fire" and "California" have been released as singles, and music videos for "Drop the Match", "California" and "Refined in the Fire" have also been released. The band also appeared on the soundtrack for the game Homefront performing a cover of the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth". A cover of "Zombie" by The Cranberries was included in an iTunes extended play for "California", but the EP was later removed from the iTunes store for unknown reasons.

Resistance (2013-present)

Winds of Plague's fourth studio album, Resistance, was recorded in early to mid-2013. The album is slated for release on October 29, 2013.

In December 2015, while playing the Affliction Metal Show at The Observatory in Santa Ana with Suicide Silence, vocalist Johnny Plague announced that after going through a brief hiatus, Winds of Plague would resume touring and working on a new album in 2016.

Tours

The band has toured with Despised Icon, Parkway Drive, Impending Doom,[3][4] Danzig, Dimmu Borgir, Veil of Maya,[5] With Dead Hands Rising, and As Blood Runs Black.[6] Most recently, they played at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival,[7] toured the US on the "Blackest of the Black" tour[8] and finished a 2010 Japan tour with Parkway Drive, 50 Lions, Despised Icon, The Warriors, and Terror.[9] They were featured on The Atticus Metal Tour with Emmure, All Shall Perish, Abacabb, Terror, and The Ghost Inside. In the summer of 2009 was in the Summer Slaughter tour with Necrophagist, Suffocation, Darkest Hour and others. After the Summer Slaughter tour, they joined Hatebreed, Chimaira, Dying Fetus, and Toxic Holocaust on the Decimation of the Nation tour. On January 20, 2010, it was announced that Winds of Plague would be playing on the Jägermeister Stage at the 2010 Rockstar Mayhem Festival in July and August. During April 2010, Winds of Plague toured with Despised Icon, The Warriors, Parkway Drive, and 50 Lions for Parkway Drive's UK and Europe Tour. During February 2011, Winds of Plague toured in the US with After the Burial and headliners As I Lay Dying. They played several songs from their then upcoming new album. They played the entire Warped Tour 2011 on the Advent Clothing stage along with The Acacia Strain, Set Your Goals, We Came As Romans and others. They will also be headlining the 2011 "Thrash and Burn" tour with Chelsea Grin, As Blood Runs Black, and numerous others. They replaced All Shall Perish at the Caliban's "Get Infected" Tour 2012 with support of We Butter The Bread With Butter, Eyes Set To Kill and Attila which started off on February 2 in Karlsruhe, Germany. For their 2014 tour supporting Bleeding Through, with Scars of Tomorrow and Lionheart, Johnny Plague was unable to perform due to undisclosed circumstances. Rather than leave the tour, the band opted to have Mike Milford (of Scars of Tomorrow) fill in on vocals.

Members

Current members
  • Johnny Plague – lead vocals (2002–present)
  • Art Cruzdrums (2008–2012, 2015–present)
  • Alana Potocnik – keyboards (2009–present)
  • Davey Oberlin – guitar (2015–present)
  • Michael Montoya – guitar (2015–present)
  • Justin Bock – bass (2015–present)

Former members
  • Nick Eash – lead guitar (2002–2014)
  • Nick Piunno – rhythm guitar (2002–2014)
  • Corey Fine – drums (2002–2005)
  • Raffi – drums (2002–2003)
  • Brandon Pitcher – keyboards (2002–2003)
  • Josh Blackburn – guitar (2002)
  • Paul Salem – bass (2003)
  • Jeff Tenney – drums (2004–2008)
  • Chris Cooke – keyboards (2004–2006)
  • Kevin Grant – bass (2004–2005)
  • Andrew Glover – bass (2006–2014)
  • Matt Feinman – keyboards (2007–2008)
  • Kristen Randall – keyboards, vocals (2008–2009)
  • Brandon Galindo – drums (2012–2014)

Live members
  • Lisa Marx – keyboards (2009)
  • Mike Milford – vocals (2014)
  • Riley Tyler - guitar (2013-2014)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10]
US
Heat.

[11]
US
Indie.

[12]
US
Rock
[13]
US
Hard Rock
[14]
Decimate the Weak
  • Released: February 5, 2008
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, digital download
9
The Great Stone War
  • Released: August 11, 2009
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, digital download
72 25 9
Against the World
  • Released: April 19, 2011
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, digital download
60 6 13 3
Resistance
  • Released: October 29, 2013
  • Label: Century Media
  • Formats: CD, digital download
165 29 50 18
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Demos
Album Title Date of Release Label
A Cold Day in Hell June 19, 2005 Recorse

Videography

Title Date of Release Album Director
The Impaler July 30, 2008 Decimate The Weak
Drop the Match May 19, 2011 Against The World
California June 28, 2011 Against The World
Refined In Fire October 20, 2011 Against The World Jeremy Schott
Open The Gates Of Hell October 02, 2013 Resistance Shan Dan
Say Hello To The Undertaker October 31, 2013 Resistance Shan Dan

References


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