Believer (band)

Believer
Also known asDeceiver (1985-1986)
OriginColebrook Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresThrash metal, progressive metal, Christian metal, symphonic metal
Years active1986–1994, 2005–2017 (on hiatus)
LabelsMetal Blade, R.E.X., Roadrunner
MembersKurt Bachman
Joey Daub
Jeff King
Kevin Leaman
Past membersDave Baddorf
Howe Kraft
Scott Laird
Wyatt Robertson
Jim Winters
Elton Nestler
Websitewww.believerband.com

Believer is an American technical thrash metal band from the late 1980s and early 1990s, that plays a hybrid of thrash and progressive metal.[1] Believer is known for its innovative use of symphonic elements in thrash metal, featuring some of the earliest examples of symphonic metal.[2][3] Their lyrics deal with topics of philosophy, theology and social issues.[4]

The two primary members of the band are vocalist/bassist/guitarist Kurt Bachman and drummer Joey Daub, who were joined by several others after their 1989 debut album, Extraction from Mortality. The band was jointly signed to Roadrunner Records, and the Christian label R.E.X. Music. According to Allmusic, several mainstream magazines praised the second album Sanity Obscure.[5] The title track of Sanity Obscure was covered by Robert Prince for the video-game Doom as the track "On the Hunt".[6] The band toured the US and Europe with Bolt Thrower the following year. Believer disbanded in 1994; however, in March 2005, Daub announced that he and Bachman reformed the band.

On November 18, 2008, Blabbermouth.net announced Believer's signing with Metal Blade Records. The fourth album titled Gabriel was released on March 17, 2009. An unmastered version of the song "Medwton" premiered on Bam Margera's Radio Bam show on November 17,[7] with the singles "Focused Lethality" and "Stoned" released later. The album features musicians Rocky Gray of Living Sacrifice and Deron Miller of CKY performing guest guitar solos and Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) contributing guest vocals. The band's fifth studio album, Transhuman, was released in 2011.

  1. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 76. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  2. ^ Wagner 2010, p. 155
  3. ^ Treppel, Jeff (November 9, 2012). "The Lazarus Pit: Believer's Sanity Obscure". Decibel. Alex Mulcahy. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Wagner 2010, p. 154-155
  5. ^ Torreano, Bradley (April 30, 2005). "Sanity Obscure". AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  6. ^ Treppel, Jeff (November 9, 2012). "The Lazarus Pit: Believer's Sanity Obscure". Decibel. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Believer signs with Metal Blade Records Archived May 26, 2012, at archive.today. Blabbermouth.net