Biography
In mid-2002 the Sacramento-based black metal outfit With Passion assembled around vocalist Samuel McLeod, guitarists Shaun Gier and Jeff Morgan, bassist Michael Nordeen, and percussionist Jacob Peete. Each musician already carried experience from the northern California metal circuit, so the five-piece issued their first demo, The First Battalion: Battle Ensues, within months. By year’s end Jeff Morgan had stepped away, Andrew Burt took the vacant guitar chair, and keyboardist Brandon Guadagnolo expanded the lineup to six.
Reflections of Ruins Records released the six-song EP In the Midst of Bloodied Soil in fall 2004. Earache Records subsequently offered a contract and reissued the EP with two added tracks in spring 2005. Prolonged touring followed, yet the schedule proved punishing; the roster fractured until only Gier and Nordeen remained.
Gier had been moonlighting in Conducting from the Grave, and when that band ended he and Nordeen rebuilt With Passion from earlier associates. Gier moved to lead vocals, Jeff Morgan rejoined on guitar, John Abernathy was added on second guitar, Greg Donnelly handled drums, and Nordeen stayed on bass. Without keyboards the sound grew less melodic, its character now shaped by the exacting guitar interplay of Morgan and Abernathy.
Early in 2006 the band launched another American tour, after which Gier departed once more and Fidel Campos assumed vocal duties. The revised group then recorded its first full-length album, What We See When We Shut Our Eyes, issued by Earache in early 2007.
Reflections of Ruins Records released the six-song EP In the Midst of Bloodied Soil in fall 2004. Earache Records subsequently offered a contract and reissued the EP with two added tracks in spring 2005. Prolonged touring followed, yet the schedule proved punishing; the roster fractured until only Gier and Nordeen remained.
Gier had been moonlighting in Conducting from the Grave, and when that band ended he and Nordeen rebuilt With Passion from earlier associates. Gier moved to lead vocals, Jeff Morgan rejoined on guitar, John Abernathy was added on second guitar, Greg Donnelly handled drums, and Nordeen stayed on bass. Without keyboards the sound grew less melodic, its character now shaped by the exacting guitar interplay of Morgan and Abernathy.
Early in 2006 the band launched another American tour, after which Gier departed once more and Fidel Campos assumed vocal duties. The revised group then recorded its first full-length album, What We See When We Shut Our Eyes, issued by Earache in early 2007.