Atrophy (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Tucson, Arizona , United States |
| Products | Music albums, demos |
Atrophy is a thrash metal group originating from Tucson, Arizona, in the United States.
Career
The band Atrophy, initially called Heresy, was established in 1986 by Chris Lykins, James Gulotta, and Brian Zimmerman. Subsequently, Tim Kelly and Rick Skowron became part of the lineup.
After releasing two cassette demos in 1987, they secured a contract with the heavy metal label Roadrunner Records. Under this label, they issued two albums: Socialized Hate in 1988 and Violent by Nature in 1990. These albums were supported by tours across the United States and Europe, sharing stages with notable acts such as Slayer, Exodus, Suicidal Tendencies, Testament, and Sacred Reich. Following their 1990 European tour alongside Sacred Reich and Venom, Chris Lykins departed to attend medical school. This led to Roadrunner Records dropping Atrophy from their roster. Efforts to continue without Lykins faltered, culminating in the band's breakup by 1993. Brian Zimmerman later identified the loss of the label contract as a significant reason for the disbandment.
In 2015, Atrophy reunited with three founding members—Zimmerman, Gulotta, and Kelly—alongside new guitarists Casper Garret and Rich Olsen (who was eventually succeeded by Bobby Stein). By the time their third album, Asylum, was released in 2024, Brian Zimmerman remained the only original member involved. As of March 2024, Atrophy is actively composing new material for a fourth studio album and organizing tours across North America and Europe.
Current members
- Brian Zimmerman – lead vocals
- Mark Coglan – guitar
- Nathan Montalvo – guitar
- Josh Gibbs – bass guitar
- Kris Kerby – drums
Former members
- Rick Skowron – guitar
- Chris Lykins – guitar
- Jesse Callin – guitar
- Rich Olsen – guitar
- Bobby Stein – guitar
- Denny Seefieldt – guitar
- Casper Garrett – guitar
- James Gulotta – bass
- Scott Heller – bass
- Tim Kelly – drums
- Jonas Schütz – drums
- Sage Johnson – drums
- Alex Bosson – drums
Studio albums
- Socialized Hate (1988)
- Violent by Nature (1990)
- Asylum (2024)
Demos
- Chemical Dependency demo (1987)
- "Advanced Promo" demo (1987)
- Chemical Dependency demo (2020)
Compilations
- Demolition – Scream Your Brains Out! (1988) – a Metal Forces compilation featuring "Chemical Dependency" and "Preacher, Preacher"
- Stars on Thrash (1988) – a Roadrunner Records compilation including the track "Chemical Dependency"