Control Denied

Control Denied

Company type	Project
Industry	Music
Founded	1995
Founder	Chuck Schuldiner
Fate	Inactive after 2001 due to Schuldiner's death
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Chuck Schuldiner, Tim Aymar, Shannon Hamm, Steve Di Giorgio, Richard Christy
Products	Progressive metal music albums and demos
Number of employees	N/A (band project)

Control Denied was a progressive metal project initiated by death metal artist and Death co-founder Chuck Schuldiner.

Origins

During a 1993 interview with Terrorizer, Schuldiner disclosed intentions to conclude Death and establish a band with a more melodic focus following his 1992 European tour. However, he postponed this plan to maintain concentration on Death. His vision involved working with a vocalist reminiscent of Rob Halford, aiming to pursue musical styles unattainable within Death's framework. Schuldiner elaborated on this idea in multiple 1995 interviews, mentioning singers such as Ronnie James Dio as influences. By September 1995, while Death toured Japan supporting the album Symbolic, Schuldiner had started crafting riffs for Control Denied. According to Death’s drummer Gene Hoglan, Schuldiner dissolved Death after the Symbolic tour due to dissatisfaction with the album’s label, Roadrunner Records.

Band Formation

In 1995, B.C. Richards joined as vocalist but departed within the same year to dedicate time to his own band, Wicked Ways. Schuldiner sought to bring Andy LaRocque on board as lead guitarist but lacked backing from the record label. He also reached out to Death’s guitarist Bobby Koelble, who declined the offer. Around this period, drummer Chris Williams became part of the lineup and introduced Shannon Hamm (guitar) and Scott Clendenin (bass). Richards rejoined in 1996 but exited again the following year; Brian Benson replaced Clendenin on bass. The album, initially titled The Moment of Clarity, featured songs such as "What If" and "Cut Down to Size."

Jim Dofka of Psycho Scream submitted demo tracks expressing interest in joining Control Denied alongside vocalist Tim Aymar, but Schuldiner had already selected Hamm for guitar duties. After a brief audition and demo recordings of "What If," "Believe," and "Cut Down," Aymar was chosen as the new frontman; Judas Priest’s Rob Halford was also considered for the role. Warrel Dane from Nevermore was nearly selected but scheduling conflicts prevented his involvement. Frustrated by delays, Williams left and later formed Beyond Unknown.

The Fragile Art of Existence

In 1997, Schuldiner signed with Nuclear Blast, which required him to produce another Death album before releasing Control Denied material, leading to Death's The Sound of Perseverance in 1998.

By April 1999, the debut Control Denied album was completed featuring the TSOP lineup with Aymar on vocals. That same month, Schuldiner replaced Clendenin with DiGiorgio on bass. The Fragile Art of Existence came out in 1999 and was reissued by Relapse Records in 2010, including bonus tracks across standard and deluxe editions.

When Man and Machine Collide

By March 2000, Schuldiner had finished composing the final song for Control Denied’s sophomore album and secured a deal with Hammerheart Records in December that year.

Recording sessions commenced at Morrisound Studios in November 2000 under the working title When Man and Machine Collide, originally named When Hate Strikes Down. Schuldiner and producer Christy completed their parts while Hamm recorded three tracks before financial resources were redirected toward Schuldiner's medical expenses. Progress ceased following Schuldiner’s passing in 2001. Although remaining members wished to finalize the album, legal issues concerning rights with Hammerheart Records caused delays.

In 2003, Jane Schuldiner, Chuck’s mother, confirmed intentions for an eventual release but opposed Hammerheart’s plan to distribute incomplete recordings, calling it "sacrilege." Initially considering free downloads, she later supported issuing a fully completed version. Unauthorized partial tracks surfaced on the Zero Tolerance compilation announced by Karmageddon Media in 2004. By 2009, estate lawyer and manager Eric Greif resolved legal complications enabling potential completion.

In December 2010, Aymar revealed plans to record and release the unfinished album with Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios coordinating sessions. However, a burglary at Morrisound in 2011 delayed efforts. Producer Morris met with guitarist Shannon Hamm in December 2012. By 2016, Greif stated that completing the recordings was unlikely.

In May 2024, progressive metal act Black Water Sunset issued a tribute album replicating leaked Control Denied demos coinciding with what would have been Schuldiner’s birthday. In June 2025, Di Giorgio expressed continued optimism about finishing the album despite challenges including Aymar’s passing.

Discography

• Demo (1996)
• Demo (1997)
• Demo (1999)
• The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)
• Unreleased Themes from Control Denied (bootleg) (2004)
• The Fragile Art of Existence (reissued in two formats) (2010)

Members

Last lineup

• Chuck Schuldiner – guitar (1995–2001), vocals (1996–1997, 1999); deceased 2001
• Steve Di Giorgio – bass guitar (1999–2001)
• Shannon Hamm – guitar (1996–2001)
• Tim Aymar – lead vocals (1997–2001); deceased 2023
• Richard Christy – drums (1997–2001)

Previous members

• B.C. Richards – lead vocals (1995, 1996)
• Brian Benson – bass guitar (1997)
• Chris Williams – drums (1996–1997); deceased 2000
• Scott Clendenin – bass guitar (1996–1997, 1999); deceased 2015

Line-ups

Timeframe	Band Members	Studio Releases
1995	B.C. Richards – vocals Chuck Schuldiner – guitar	None
circa 1995	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals Chris Williams – drums	None
circa 1995	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals Chris Williams – drums Shannon Hamm – guitar	None
1995–1996	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals Scott Clendenin – bass guitar Chris Williams – drums Shannon Hamm – guitar	1996 demo
circa April 1996	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar B.C. Richards – vocals	None
1997	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar Brian Benson – bass guitar Chris Williams – drums Shannon Hamm – guitar	None
1997	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar Tim Aymar – vocals Scott Clendenin – bass guitar Chris Williams – drums Shannon Hamm – guitar	1997 demo
Hiatus from 1998 to 1999
April 1999	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals Scott Clendenin – bass guitar Tim Aymar – vocals Richard Christy – drums Shannon Hamm – guitar
April 1999–2001	Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals Steve Di Giorgio – bass guitar Tim Aymar – vocals Richard Christy – drums Shannon Hamm – guitar	1999 demo The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)