Biography
Nocturnus, a revered death metal ensemble from Tampa, Florida, first surfaced toward the end of the 1980s and rapidly earned acclaim for lyrics steeped in forward-thinking science fiction themes alongside a ferocious sound that fused keyboard textures with progressive metal structures. After releasing three landmark extreme metal albums, the group shut down in 1999 only to reactivate in 2015, this time operating as Nocturnus AD.
Mike Browning, previously the vocalist and drummer for Morbid Angel, assembled the original lineup in 1987 alongside guitarists Mike Davis and Gino Marino, bassist Jeff Estes, and keyboardist Louis Panzer. Once the demo Science of Horror circulated, Marino departed and guitarist Sean McNenney joined before the band delivered its 1991 debut The Key on Earache. Dan Izzo assumed vocal duties on the follow-up Thresholds in 1992, at which point bassist Chris Anderson stepped in for Estes; Emo Mowery then took the bass chair for the self-titled 1993 Moribund release, an album that also marked the exit of Browning in favor of drummer James Marcinek. The band dissolved soon after but regrouped in 1999 with Davis, McNenney, Panzer, Mowery, and drummer Rick Bazzaro to produce Ethereal Tomb for Season of Mist. Another breakup followed in 2002, though two archival sets appeared in 2004: the unreleased-material collection The Nocturnus Demos and the live recording Farewell to Planet Earth.
Browning, who had launched After Death after his initial departure, revived live performances in 2015 under the Nocturnus AD banner, enlisting his After Death colleagues to complete the lineup. The resulting fourth studio album, Paradox, arrived in 2019 as the first full-length issued under the expanded name.
Mike Browning, previously the vocalist and drummer for Morbid Angel, assembled the original lineup in 1987 alongside guitarists Mike Davis and Gino Marino, bassist Jeff Estes, and keyboardist Louis Panzer. Once the demo Science of Horror circulated, Marino departed and guitarist Sean McNenney joined before the band delivered its 1991 debut The Key on Earache. Dan Izzo assumed vocal duties on the follow-up Thresholds in 1992, at which point bassist Chris Anderson stepped in for Estes; Emo Mowery then took the bass chair for the self-titled 1993 Moribund release, an album that also marked the exit of Browning in favor of drummer James Marcinek. The band dissolved soon after but regrouped in 1999 with Davis, McNenney, Panzer, Mowery, and drummer Rick Bazzaro to produce Ethereal Tomb for Season of Mist. Another breakup followed in 2002, though two archival sets appeared in 2004: the unreleased-material collection The Nocturnus Demos and the live recording Farewell to Planet Earth.
Browning, who had launched After Death after his initial departure, revived live performances in 2015 under the Nocturnus AD banner, enlisting his After Death colleagues to complete the lineup. The resulting fourth studio album, Paradox, arrived in 2019 as the first full-length issued under the expanded name.
Albums
Singles
