Anterior (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Tredegar , Wales, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums |
Anterior was a heavy metal group originating from Tredegar, Wales. The band was signed under Metal Blade Records and also attracted interest from Joey DeMaio of Manowar. Their discography with Metal Blade includes two albums: This Age of Silence released in 2007, and Echoes of the Fallen which came out in 2011.
History
Established in 2003 as a quartet, Anterior began by performing cover songs before progressing to original compositions. In 2004, they independently produced a demo that helped them secure local gigs and eventually opened for DragonForce. Their live performances expanded to sharing stages with acts such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Himsa, and 3 Inches Of Blood. Once they had new material prepared, they recorded their debut album at Sonic One studios with producer Tim Hamill. Posting two songs on MySpace generated label interest, culminating in a global contract with Metal Blade Records.
While writing their debut, vocalist Luke Davies encountered health issues that prevented him from playing guitar; consequently, guitarist Leon Kemp handled all guitar parts on the album. The 10-track record, This Age of Silence, featured nine original songs and a cover of Racer X. Shortly after finishing the album, the band toured the UK alongside 3 Inches of Blood, with Davies concentrating solely on vocals while a friend filled in on rhythm guitar.
Bassist James Britton departed in May 2007 but returned by September. The band performed alongside As I Lay Dying and Sanctity during this period. Following the June 2007 release of This Age of Silence, they embarked on a UK tour with labelmates The Black Dahlia Murder and The Ocean. The album was well-received by publications including Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, and Rocksound.
Due to Davies' medical condition limiting his guitar playing, Anterior sought an additional full-time guitarist and recruited Steven Nixon, formerly lead guitarist for Mendeed, after that band's dissolution in summer 2007.
In 2008, Anterior engaged in extensive touring, highlighted by a five-day headline stint at "AVALANCHE" held at Netaji Subhas University of Technology in New Delhi, along with appearances at East Wind Festival. Their European tour included dates supporting Himsa and DevilDriver, followed by a UK tour backing Dying Fetus. They also supported Children Of Bodom during UK and Ireland shows in June.
Drummer Ross Andrews announced his exit in March 2008 to pursue a different career but officially left by year’s end without an immediate successor. Andrew Cairns joined as drummer in January 2009 to work on the forthcoming album; James Cook was later announced in February 2010 to continue drum duties for the same project.
After several delays, Echoes of The Fallen was released on 26 August 2011.
On 30 January 2012, Anterior declared their breakup through Facebook. Their final performance occurred on 2 March 2012 in London.
Discography
- This Age of Silence (2007)
- Echoes of the Fallen (2011)
Band members
- Luke Davies – vocals (2003–2012)
- Leon Kemp – guitar (2003–2012)
- Steven Nixon – guitar (2007–2012)
- James Britton – bass (2003–2012)
- James Cook – drums (2010–2012)
- Ross Andrews – drums (2003–2008)
- Andrew Cairns – drums (2009–2010)
Timeline