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10 OF 10 SKULLS "...STRONG, DYNAMIC SONG ARRANGEMENTS ... HYPERBLAST
DOUBLE KICK DRUM WORK ..." IT'S CALLED DIABOLIC . THE OPINION OF
FADELESS RECORDS, FOLLOWING IS MINE. 100% SATANIC DEATH METAL
ASSAULT MASTERED BY JIM MORRIS . INC. 2 BONUS TRACKS, SURE DEATH
METAL FREAKS WILL BE SATISFIED. - "TERMINATOR"
"BRUTAL DEATH METAL EXECUTED WITH FLORIDIAN POWER, BUT THERE IS
NOTHING ON THIS MCD TO PUNISH ME TO GIVE 10 SKULLS, 8,5 FOR
BRUTALITY, 7 FOR ORIGINALITY NO MORE" - GRINDCOREFAN
Based out of the Death Metal capital of the world, DIABOLIC formed
in Tampa, FL with the intent to become extreme metal elite! The very
earliest beginnings of the band started early in 1996, when drummer
Aantar Coates (formerly of EXMORTIS, HORROR OF HORRORS) teamed up
with guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (PESSIMIST) to record the very first
4-song DIABOLIC Demo. Although this demo was never officially
released and only sent to a few labels, it marked the beginning of
something Evil...
By January 1997, drummer/founder Aantar Coates had relocated to
Tampa, FL and after forming the first complete DIABOLIC lineup,
recorded and released the landmark demo "City of the Dead". This
highly-successful demo, described by critics as "The Best Death
Metal Demo Ever!", immediately got the band noticed in the worldwide
underground press and was later released as MCD on Fadeless Records.
By 1998, DIABOLIC made their debut live appearance opening for VADER
in Tampa, FL and then Milwaukee Metalfest XII. The lineup was soon
solidified to include Aantar Coates on Drums, Paul Ouellette on Lead
Guitars and Vocals, Brian Malone on Lead Guitars, and Ed Webb on
Bass.
In 1999, DIABOLIC recorded their debut full length album "Supreme
Evil". This CD, which was mastered at the legendary Morrisound
Studios in Tampa, FL and featured the artwork of Joe Petagno (MOTORHEAD,
MARDUK, KRISIUN), was released on Conquest/Hammerheart Records and
received a multitude of excellent reviews and established an
enormous international underground following for the band. More live
shows soon followed, and the band continued gaining notoriety and
writing for their next release.
The following year in 2000, DIABOLIC forged their 2nd full length
album "Subterraneal Magnitude", again released on Conquest/Hammerheart
Records. Produced by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (MORBID ANGEL,
TERRORIZER), this over-the-top destructive force expanded the unique
DIABOLIC sound to new extremes. By this time, Vocalist Paul
Ouellette had switched to Bass, and the band had recruited Brian
Hipp (BRUTALITY, ACHERON) on Lead Guitars. Again featuring the art
of Joe Petagno, it was clear that DIABOLIC were destined for
success.
Soon after, DIABOLIC were enlisted to support the "Death Metal
Massacre Tour 2000" with CANNIBAL CORPSE, GOD DETHRONED and HATE
ETERNAL, playing to sold out venues across North America for four
weeks. In 2001, DIABOLIC were honored to be chosen to tour with
MARDUK and AMON AMARTH, followed by the prestigious METAL MANIACS "Xmass
Ball Tour 2001" with ENSLAVED and MACABRE (which included a one-off
with LACUNA COIL). That same year, DIABOLIC were hand-picked to tour
several US dates with Death Metal pioneers MORBID ANGEL.
In 2002, DIABOLIC signed to Century Media/Olympic Records and
surpassed all earlier releases with their 3rd breakthrough CD,
"Vengeance Ascending". Once again produced by Juan "Punchy"
Gonzalez, this devastating attack redefined extreme metal in a
relentless onslaught of anger, vengeance, and victory. Again this CD
featured the art of Joe Petagno, and new Lead Guitarist recruit
Jerry Mortellaro. The band then departed on a month-long, sold-out
US Tour supporting DIMMU BORGIR, CRYPTOPSY, and KRISIUN, further
solidifying the band as one of the underground's most ferocious
upcoming Death Metal acts. In November of 2002 DIABOLIC made their
European debut, for a month-long tour of 10 countries in support of
BEHEMOTH, DESTROYER 666, and DEICIDE.
By 2003, and after the European Tour, the band had gone through
several major lineup changes. Gone was the original lineup, who had
all been replaced by temporary musicians. Led by sole remaining
original member Brian Malone, the band recorded their fourth
full-length CD, "Infinity Through Purification". Produced by Neil
Kernon (CANNIBAL CORPSE, NILE, JUDAS PRIEST) and released on Century
Media Records, this album had great potential, but without the
trademark DIABOLIC sound that the band had developed, mostly
garnered lackluster reviews. The band had even secured an opening
slot on DEICIDE's upcoming US Tour, but soon after the album's
release, Brian announced that the band was being dissolved
permanently. It seemed that this would be the end of DIABOLIC.
Meanwhile, DIABOLIC original members Aantar Cotes (Drums), Paul
Ouellette (Vocals, Bass) along with guitarists Kelly McLauchlin
(PESSIMIST) and Jerry Mortellaro (also formerly of DIABOLIC) had
joined together to form a new band, UNHOLY GHOST. The band signed to
Century Media/Olympic Recs, and released the blistering debut CD,
"Torrential Reign", produced by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (MORBID
ANGEL, TERRORIZER). The band recorded a video for "Under Existence"
which was released on DVD through Century Media Europe. A flood of
positive reviews, interviews and radio airplay soon followed,
establishing UNHOLY GHOST as leaders amongst the newest generation
of bands in the Black/Death Metal underground. The band went on to
play several hi-profile fests such as "Sun 'n' Steel" Fla Metalfest,
Snakenet.com "Metal Nation" Fest 2003, Las Vegas Metalfest, and
"Gathering of the Bestial Legions" Metalfest in L.A. Despite its
apparent success, UNHOLY GHOST soon disbanded in 2005, and drummer
Aantar Coates went on to form yet another new band, BLASTMASTERS.
By 2006, and against all odds, DIABOLIC had re-formed. Amidst legal
battles over the rights to use the name, original drummer Aantar
Coates and parts of the BLASTMASTERS lineup along with UNHOLY
GHOST/PESSIMIST Guitarist Kelly McLauchlin recorded their comeback
EP, "Possessed By Death". Then in 2008, after re-enlisting original
Bassist/Vocalist Paul Ouellette, the band recorded yet another new
EP, "Chaos in Hell". Both EPs were recorded at DOW studios in Tampa,
FL again with longtime producer Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez.
In 2008 DIABOLIC signed to Deathgasm Records, and released both EPs
on one CD, "Chaos in Hell/Possessed by Death". The band has
continued to play select live dates including Tampa, FL shows with
MONSTROSITY and SIX FEET UNDER, plus festivals including "Gathering
of the Bestial Legions III" Metalfest in Hollywood, CA, "Mayhem in
May" 2008 and the 2009 Michigan Deathfest.
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