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	2002–present
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 Cruz – drums (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

1. Century Media official Winds of Plague Biography Archived December 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
2. "Winds of Plague Keyboardist Kristen Randall Parts with the Band". 2009-10-14. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
3. "Impending Doom and Dead to Fall Reveal Tour Dates". MetalUnderground.com. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
4. "Winds Of Plague - "Decimate the Weak" (CD)". Retrieved 2010-12-31.
5. "Winds of Plague Embark On US Tour". 2008-03-28. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
6. "WINDS OF PLAGUE Checks In From 'Metal For The Masses' Tour". BlabberMouth.net. 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
7. Complete New England Metal and Hardcore Festival 2008 Lineup Confirmed
8. "Blackest of the Black". Retrieved 2010-12-31.
9. "WINDS OF PLAGUE、まもなく来日！". Retrieved 2010-12-31.
10. "Winds of Plague – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
11. "Winds of Plague – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
12. "Winds of Plague – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
13. "Winds of Plague – Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
14. "Winds of Plague – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 December 2013.