Biography
Rings of Saturn formed as a progressive technical deathcore unit based in Texas. The group surfaced in 2009, and their first full-length release, Embryonic Anomaly, arrived in 2010 to acquaint listeners with an intricate fusion of thrash and technical death metal whose themes centered on extraterrestrial beings. They labeled the approach “Aliencore,” resulting in rapid, intense, and forceful tracks whose pristine digital production highlights intricate details within compositions shaped by video-game aesthetics. Following Embryonic Anomaly and Dingir in 2013, the outfit cultivated a devoted underground audience. More elaborate conceptual territory appeared on the 2017 album Ultu Ulla, while 2022’s self-titled record eliminated vocals entirely to become an all-instrumental statement.
Lucas Mann established the band, performing on guitar, bass, and keyboards as its only uninterrupted participant across the years. While still in high school in Northern California’s Bay Area, Mann searched online for collaborators and connected with vocalist Peter Pawlak and drummer Brent Silletto; the trio soon performed locally. Their initial recordings consisted of the digital single “Abducted,” quickly followed by “Invasion” and “Seized and Devoured.” The self-released Embryonic Anomaly emerged in 2009, coinciding with Mann’s graduation, and was tracked by engineer Bob Swanson at Mayhemeness in Sacramento. Unique Leader noticed the material, signed the group, and reissued the album in 2010. During ensuing tours Joel Omans joined on guitar, becoming one of the longest-serving members aside from Mann. By late 2011 both Pawlak and Silletto had departed; bass and drum roles turned over repeatedly thereafter, with Mann frequently programming those elements in the studio while live players handled them onstage.
Ian Bearer joined in early 2012 and recorded the follow-up Dingir, again engineered and produced by Swanson. Originally slated for December 2012, an unmixed leak led Bearer to post the finished version on YouTube and prompted Unique Leader to stream it early via Total Deathcore; the physical edition surfaced in February 2013. Despite the incident the album charted and expanded the band’s international profile through subsequent touring. Lugal Ki En, the third album, was announced in July 2014, produced by Brette Ciamarra, and issued in October on Unique Leader after the video single “Senseless Massacre.” It debuted at number three on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, reached the Top Five on multiple metal lists, and entered the Top 200. The group maintained a rigorous touring schedule for the next eighteen months.
In July 2016 Rings of Saturn confirmed they had completed writing for a new record and would enter the studio. Ultu Ulla and its lead video “Inadequate” appeared in early June 2017. Mann described the concept: “The album name Ultu Ulla means ‘Time Immemorial’ in Sumerian Cuneiform. Ultu Ulla is about aliens transcending space and time and uncovering an ancient incomprehensible entity that threatens the fabric of universal existence.” Mark Cooper’s cover formed a triptych extending the narrative from Lugal Ki En; he noted that “the general idea was to create a scene where gods from beyond time and space are invading 3-D reality and taking over. They are chaotic beings that can take any form at will and manifest anything with their imaginations.” Nuclear Blast released Ultu Ulla in July, marking the band’s highest-charting effort. The 2019 album Gidim sustained the sci-fi mythology with guest contributions from Enterprise Earth vocalist Dan Watson, Berried Alive’s Charles Caswell, drummer Marco Pitruzzella, and Japanese shredder Yo Onityan. Mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, it peaked at number 22 on the Top Current Albums Chart.
Gidim closed the Nuclear Blast chapter; after departing the label the band chose independence and self-released subsequent material. Around that period vocalist Ian Bearer exited, allowing Mann to convert Rings of Saturn into an instrumental project. In 2021 they issued the self-released Embryonic Anomaly Remake, featuring mixing and mastering by Sammy Morales plus Pitruzzella’s return on drums. Morales remained for 2022’s Rings of Saturn, the first fully instrumental album, which incorporated world-music elements, choral vocals, piano, and strings into the technical death-metal and electronic framework. Pianist, orchestral producer, and composer Virginia Leo and producer-composer Jake Bratrude appeared alongside the core duo of Mann and Omans. Following release the group launched the Cyber Shred Tour 2022, presenting both new material and reimagined instrumental versions of earlier catalog tracks.
Lucas Mann established the band, performing on guitar, bass, and keyboards as its only uninterrupted participant across the years. While still in high school in Northern California’s Bay Area, Mann searched online for collaborators and connected with vocalist Peter Pawlak and drummer Brent Silletto; the trio soon performed locally. Their initial recordings consisted of the digital single “Abducted,” quickly followed by “Invasion” and “Seized and Devoured.” The self-released Embryonic Anomaly emerged in 2009, coinciding with Mann’s graduation, and was tracked by engineer Bob Swanson at Mayhemeness in Sacramento. Unique Leader noticed the material, signed the group, and reissued the album in 2010. During ensuing tours Joel Omans joined on guitar, becoming one of the longest-serving members aside from Mann. By late 2011 both Pawlak and Silletto had departed; bass and drum roles turned over repeatedly thereafter, with Mann frequently programming those elements in the studio while live players handled them onstage.
Ian Bearer joined in early 2012 and recorded the follow-up Dingir, again engineered and produced by Swanson. Originally slated for December 2012, an unmixed leak led Bearer to post the finished version on YouTube and prompted Unique Leader to stream it early via Total Deathcore; the physical edition surfaced in February 2013. Despite the incident the album charted and expanded the band’s international profile through subsequent touring. Lugal Ki En, the third album, was announced in July 2014, produced by Brette Ciamarra, and issued in October on Unique Leader after the video single “Senseless Massacre.” It debuted at number three on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, reached the Top Five on multiple metal lists, and entered the Top 200. The group maintained a rigorous touring schedule for the next eighteen months.
In July 2016 Rings of Saturn confirmed they had completed writing for a new record and would enter the studio. Ultu Ulla and its lead video “Inadequate” appeared in early June 2017. Mann described the concept: “The album name Ultu Ulla means ‘Time Immemorial’ in Sumerian Cuneiform. Ultu Ulla is about aliens transcending space and time and uncovering an ancient incomprehensible entity that threatens the fabric of universal existence.” Mark Cooper’s cover formed a triptych extending the narrative from Lugal Ki En; he noted that “the general idea was to create a scene where gods from beyond time and space are invading 3-D reality and taking over. They are chaotic beings that can take any form at will and manifest anything with their imaginations.” Nuclear Blast released Ultu Ulla in July, marking the band’s highest-charting effort. The 2019 album Gidim sustained the sci-fi mythology with guest contributions from Enterprise Earth vocalist Dan Watson, Berried Alive’s Charles Caswell, drummer Marco Pitruzzella, and Japanese shredder Yo Onityan. Mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, it peaked at number 22 on the Top Current Albums Chart.
Gidim closed the Nuclear Blast chapter; after departing the label the band chose independence and self-released subsequent material. Around that period vocalist Ian Bearer exited, allowing Mann to convert Rings of Saturn into an instrumental project. In 2021 they issued the self-released Embryonic Anomaly Remake, featuring mixing and mastering by Sammy Morales plus Pitruzzella’s return on drums. Morales remained for 2022’s Rings of Saturn, the first fully instrumental album, which incorporated world-music elements, choral vocals, piano, and strings into the technical death-metal and electronic framework. Pianist, orchestral producer, and composer Virginia Leo and producer-composer Jake Bratrude appeared alongside the core duo of Mann and Omans. Following release the group launched the Cyber Shred Tour 2022, presenting both new material and reimagined instrumental versions of earlier catalog tracks.
Albums
Singles
