Element Eighty
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Tyler, Texas , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | elementeighty |
Element Eighty is a nu metal group originating from Tyler, Texas in the United States, established in the year 2000. The band disbanded in 2006 but reunited a year later in 2007. Vocalist David Galloway has explained that the band's name draws inspiration from both Metallica and the Periodic Table of the Elements. He stated, "Metallica got their name from the periodic table, so I looked up the heaviest metal—mercury, which is element number 80. That's how Element Eighty came to be."
Formation and Mercuric (2000–2003)
Element Eighty came together in May 2000 and quickly made a name as a hard rock and metal band, performing extensively across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Oklahoma, and Texas. Their debut album, Mercuric, was recorded in 2001 with Denton-based producer Eric Delegard and self-released on June 23, 2001 through Pale Star Records. The album title references mercury (element 80), complementing their heavy metal sound. The band supported this release with widespread touring. Their single "Echo Song" received frequent airplay and became one of the most requested tracks on Dallas’s KEGL 97.1 The Eagle. By late 2002, work had begun on their next record. In February 2003, their song "Goodbye" started regular rotation on 97.1 The Eagle, marking the first local track added since Drowning Pool’s "Tear Away."
Element Eighty (2003–2004)
Although initially intending to produce their follow-up album Summerstar with Eric Delegard, the band delayed recording after drawing attention from major labels such as Wind-Up and Atlantic. On March 22, 2003, they secured a deal with Universal/Republic Records. Beginning March 28, 2003, Element Eighty toured alongside Mudvayne and In Flames while working on their major label debut with producer Scott Humphrey. Their self-titled album Element Eighty was released on October 28, 2003. In December, they supported Flaw during 40 Below Summer's The Mourning After tour and later joined Sevendust and Ill Nino for the Seasons tour in 2004. Their touring roster also included notable bands like Sevendust, Mudvayne, 3 Doors Down, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Staind, Shinedown, Korn, Hellyeah, among others. Their song "Broken Promises" appeared on the soundtrack for Need for Speed: Underground and reached number 36 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts.
Despite their touring achievements, Element Eighty experienced minimal promotional backing from Universal/Republic Records—receiving no music video production or marketing efforts—and consequently parted ways with the label by late 2004. In October of that year, original member Roon departed to focus on molecular biology studies and later earned a Ph.D. He was succeeded by Zack Bates from Bullet Ant in November 2004.
The Bear (2005–2009)
November 2005 saw the independent release of their third album The Bear, issued through their own Texas Cries Records label. Distribution was confined to their website, live performances, and digital outlets. Element Eighty performed their final concert on December 31, 2009 at Fort Worth’s Ridglea Theater before announcing their breakup in 2010 due to personal reasons. Following the split, members engaged in various musical endeavors and continued collaborating with other groups.
Reunion and A.D. Era (2021–Present)
Following a 12-year break, Element Eighty came back together in 2021 to revive the band. In December of that year, they produced a heavier rendition of their track "Ego," and subsequently unveiled the single "Mountain" on September 9, 2022. The sessions for their fourth studio album wrapped up in 2023, leading to the launch of A.D. on June 23, 2023, which represents their first full-length release in over a decade.
Members
- Current members
- David Galloway – lead vocals (2000–2010, 2021–present)
- Matt Woods – guitar (2000–2010, 2021–present)
- Zack Bates – bass guitar (2005–2010, 2021–present)
- Ryan Carroll – drums (2000–2010, 2021–present)
- Past members
- Roon – bass (2000–2005)
Discography
| Release Date | Album Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Hold On/Dig Up Her Bones | Independent |
| June 21, 2001 | Mercuric | Pale Star |
| October 28, 2003 | Element Eighty | Universal/Republic |
| November 5, 2005 | The Bear | Texas Cries |
| June 23, 2023 | A.D. | Element Eighty |
External links
- Official website
- Element Eighty on Facebook
- Element Eighty on Spotify
- Element Eighty on Instagram