Katagory V
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Founder | Dustin Mitchell, Curtis Morell, Matt Suiter |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dustin Mitchell (bassist), Al Rybka (vocalist), Mathew "Bizzaro" LeFevre (drummer), Marc Hanson (guitarist), Kris Krompel (guitarist) |
| Products | Studio albums: Present Day (2001), A New Breed of Rebellion (2004), The Rising Anger (2006), Hymns of Dissension (2007), Resurrect the Insurgence (2015), Awaken a New Age of Chaos (2025) |
| Owner | Katagory V |
Katagory V is a progressive and power metal group originating from Salt Lake City, Utah, established in 1999. They are currently signed to Nightmare Records and have produced five studio albums, starting with their debut Present Day in 2001 and most recently releasing Awaken a New Age of Chaos in May 2025.
Formation and first album (1999–2002)
The band Katagory V was created in early 1999 by bassist Dustin Mitchell, guitarist Curtis Morell, and drummer Matt Suiter, who connected at a local rock venue in Salt Lake City. By the end of that year, vocalist Lynn Allers and guitarist Ryan Taylor joined the lineup, initiating the composition of their first album, Present Day, which they independently released in 2001. The album attracted attention within the underground metal scene and was subsequently distributed by Nightmare Records in 2002.
During 2001 and 2002, Katagory V performed extensively across Northern Utah and took part in Classic Metal Festival II held in Cleveland, Ohio, sharing the bill with bands such as Seven Witches, Anvil, and Omen. Shortly before this event, Ryan Taylor departed from the band, leading Katagory V to perform as a four-piece ensemble. In early 2002, they began crafting material for their sophomore album A New Breed of Rebellion. Later that year, guitarist Trevor Asire joined to fill the vacancy left by Taylor. The band also appeared at Classic Metal Festival III in Chicago Heights, Illinois, alongside Twelfth Gate, Nasty Savage, and Meliah Rage.
A New Breed of Rebellion era (2003–2004)
In 2003, Katagory V took part in ProgPower USA IV while facing delays in releasing their second album. A New Breed of Rebellion was eventually launched in January 2004 through Metal Ages Records featuring cover artwork by German artist Rainer Kalwitz. Shortly after the release, Trevor Asire exited for personal reasons and was succeeded by Marc Hanson.
The album received mixed reactions; critics pointed out its thinner production quality and greater emphasis on technicality compared to their debut record. Rather than touring during 2004, the band focused on developing new songs and rehearsing extensively. By October 2004, they entered the studio with producer Mike Fowkes to record their third album, The Rising Anger.
The Rising Anger period (2004–2006)
After finishing recording in spring 2005, Katagory V resumed live shows, opening for Metal Church and performing at Chicago Powerfest with Imagika and Tad Morose. They also participated in the Monsters of Metal event in Salt Lake City alongside Helstar and Agent Steel; this show included a guest spot from Leatherwolf guitarist Geoff Gayer.
In early 2006, bassist Dustin Mitchell temporarily substituted for Pete Perez of Riot due to injury. Later that year, Katagory V signed a deal with Nightmare Records and released The Rising Anger, once again featuring artwork by Rainer Kalwitz. This album marked a return to a more direct metal approach and received positive critical acclaim, reinvigorating support from both new listeners and loyal fans. The band promptly began composing their fourth album but paused briefly to perform a one-off show with Leatherwolf in Las Vegas before entering the studio early in 2007 to record Hymns of Dissension.
Hymns of Dissension (2007–2008)
In the spring of 2007, Katagory V finalized their fourth studio album, Hymns of Dissension, followed by a series of select performances, including co-headlining tours alongside Vicious Rumors and Agent Steel. The band secured a distribution agreement with Burning Star Records to launch the album across Europe, a crucial region due to their extensive fan support there. The album's artwork was created by Swedish illustrator Mattias Norén. A CD release event was scheduled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the band performed without their longtime vocalist Lynn Allers, who was temporarily replaced by Norman Skinner, lead singer of Imagika. This substitution fueled rumors regarding Allers' future with the band, which intensified after Katagory V appeared on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas featuring Metal Church frontman Ronny Munroe.
The album debuted in October 2007 to positive reviews from both fans and critics. However, the group remained quiet about internal developments until January 2008, when they announced the exits of vocalist Lynn Allers and guitarist Marc Hanson. Founding bassist Dustin Mitchell assured supporters that Katagory V would persist despite these changes. On June 8, 2008, Al Rybka—previously the lead singer for Chicago-based Bavmorda—was introduced as the new vocalist, with Mike Theriot joining on guitar. This revised lineup made its live debut in Salt Lake City on August 8, 2008.
After nearly ten years as drummer and co-founder, Matt Suiter retired from both the band and the music industry on November 30, 2008.
Resurrect the Insurgence and breakup (2009–2015)
Following several months of inactivity, founding bassist Dustin Mitchell revealed on February 23, 2009, that he was the sole remaining original member after co-founder Curtis Morrell and guitarist Mike Theriot had departed. Despite a brief disbandment, Mitchell decided to keep Katagory V active with vocalist Albert Rybka and new drummer Matthew "Bizzaro" Lefevre. By May 2009, the band had completed writing material for their untitled fifth album and expanded their lineup by adding guitarists Darrin Goodman and Kris Krompel.
In December 2009, Goodman exited the group and former guitarist and songwriter Marc Hanson returned. Katagory V performed live again in January 2010 in Salt Lake City. Recording sessions for their fifth album—tentatively named Resurrect the Insurgence—commenced in April 2010 with Dustin Mitchell serving as producer. The album was finished by January 2011, with mixing and mastering completed by producer Dennis Ward.
Although initially slated for release in late 2011, Resurrect the Insurgence faced a four-year delay caused by personal challenges and lack of label interest. In June 2014, Katagory V initiated a Kickstarter campaign to independently finance the album's release. The campaign only reached 56% of its funding goal, prompting Mitchell to officially dissolve Katagory V. As a final offering to fans, the band released Resurrect the Insurgence digitally on Bandcamp on May 1, 2015.
Members
- Final lineup
- Dustin Mitchell – bass (1999–2015)
- Al Rybka – vocals (2008–2015)
- Mathew "Bizzaro" LeFevre – drums (2008–2015)
- Marc Hanson – guitars (2004–2007, 2009–2015)
- Kris Krompel – guitars (2009–2015)
- Former members
- Ryan Taylor – guitars (1999–2002)
- Curtis Morrell – guitars (1999–2008)
- Trevor Asire – guitars (2003–2004)
- Mike Theriot – guitars (2008)
- Darrin Goodman – guitars (2009)
- Matt Suiter – drums (1999–2008)
- Lynn Allers – vocals (1999–2007)
Discography
- Present Day (2001)
- A New Breed of Rebellion (2004)
- The Rising Anger (2006)
- Hymns of Dissension (2007)
- Resurrect the Insurgence (2015)
- Awaken a New Age of Chaos (2025)