Killing Addiction

Killing Addiction

Killing Addiction logo / by Brent Milby
Background information
Origin Ocala, Florida, United States
Genres Grindcore, death metal
Years active 1989–1994, 2006-present
Labels Seraphic Decay, JL America, XTREEM Music, Inverse Dogma
Website killingaddiction.bandcamp.com
Members
  • Chris Wicklein
  • Chad Bailey
  • Chris York
  • Pat Bailey

Killing Addiction is a deathgrind band hailing from the Ocala, Florida music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s that spawned dozens of bands in the death metal genre. Their style is based in politically and philosophically charged themes combined with musical influences that span death metal (Death, Possessed, Morbid Angel, Atheist), grindcore (Napalm Death, Carcass), and thrash (Slayer, Sacred Reich, Kreator).

Biography

(1989-1992)

In 1989, Chris Wicklein and brothers Chad and Pat Bailey formed Killing Addiction, in Ocala, Florida, and thus became one of the few bands of the time to help introduce death metal to the central Florida area. In 1990, they were joined by drummer Chris Ballina, and their first official studio recording was underway. This recording was entitled Legacies of Terror,[1] the four-song demo tape, recorded at Titan Studios, which played a fundamental roll in establishing their presence in the underground tape-trading and fanzine scene.

Shores of Oblivion cover art, by Adam Woodworth, 2016
When Death Becomes An Art cover art, by Costin Chioreanu, 2015

As a result of the Legacies recording, the following year saw the release of their Necrosphere 7" vinyl EP, on Seraphic Decay records - a label responsible for initiating many early, successful death metal bands, such as Incantation, Gorephobia, Derketa, Sinister, and many more.[2] Like Legacies, this next recording was also made at the local Titan Studios, but included some atmospheric keyboard arrangements that nudged their style forward in new directions. Necrosphere was the final recording with Chris Ballina, who left the band to pursue other interests.

In 1992, Chris York joined as the band's new drummer, and after only two months with York, Killing Addiction recorded the full-length, debut Omega Factor, for the short-lived JL America Records.[3] Although Omega Factor was recorded in 1992, it was originally intended to be released on a start-up death metal label from the UK. However, after the recording was complete, all contact from the label ceased and nothing more was ever heard from them. The band was then left with a full-length album and no label to release it.

(1993-1994)

Soon after recording Omega Factor, the band established contact with the new label JL America, and a deal was quickly made. After being worked into the production schedule, Omega Factor was released in early 1993, and distributed by Relativity. To support this recording, the band performed live throughout the north, central, and south Florida areas, with death metal legends such as Obituary, Atheist, Incantation, and Resurrection, and early genre underground favorites such as Assuck, Paineater, Incision, and Equinox. After the demise of JL America came the band's independent 1994 release, Dark Tomorrow, which was a split EP with fellow Floridians Eterne De Sade. This became Killing Addiction's last recording during the formative years of Floridian death metal, as Chris York parted ways for personal reasons, and the remaining members decided, at the time, the band had run its course. However, before their departure in early 1994, Killing Addiction was voted the Best North Florida Band at the 4th Annual Tampa Bay Metal Awards (September, 1993).[4]

Omega Factor cover art, by Nick Curri, 1993

(2006- )

In early 2006, after 12 years of silence, Killing Addiction reformed ready to pick up where they left off. Their first studio effort to return to the scene was Fall of the Archetypes, released as a full-length album on Xtreem Music (Spain), and as a limited-edition, six-song EP. Archetypes was recorded at DOW Studios (which also produced Morbid Angel's Heretic album), in Sefner, Florida, and Aeon Studios, in Ocala, Florida. This recording included Gabriel Lewandowski as the band's new drummer. Although some of their music's basic elements remained, there was a deliberate effort to modernize some aspects of their sound. The result was a faster, more aggressive style and songs that demonstrated improved musicianship and arrangement.

No live performances were undertaken until November 2013, which also saw the return of former drummer Chris York. Since then, the band has shared the stage with others such as Druid Lord, Nocturnus A.D., Ebullition, Ulcer, Mindscar, Sons of Ragnar, Secrets She Kept, Gravewurm, Sathanas, and many others. In September 2014, Killing Addiction recorded a two-song EP entitled When Death Becomes An Art, set to be released as a 7" EP on Inverse Dogma Records (Italy) in early 2015.[5] This venture was recorded and produced by Ray Helton at Helton Music, Ocala, Florida, and demonstrates a return to a musical style closer to the trademark sound of Omega Factor, albeit with the improved musical aspects of Fall of the Archetypes.[6]

In 2016, Xtreem Music will release Killing Addiction's Shores of Oblivion four-song EP,[7] and a re-issue of Omega Factor is scheduled for 2017.

Discography

Fall of the Archetypes cover art, by Brent Milby, 2010

Studio albums

Extended plays

Compilations

Demos

Line-up

Current members

Past members

References

  1. ↑ "Killing Addiction: Legacies of Terror". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Seraphic Decay Records". Seraphic Decay Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Killing Addiction: Omega Factor". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tampa Bay Metal Awards 1990-1994.". Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Inverse Dogma Records News". Inverse Dogma Records. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Killing Addiction Biography". LastFM.com. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Killing Addiction To Release New EP". MetalUnderground.com. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
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