Psycho Synner
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Jeremy Spencer |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Psycho Synner was an alternative metal group originating from Las Vegas, Nevada, established in 2020 under the original name Psychosexual. The band was created by Jeremy Spencer, who had previously served as the drummer for Five Finger Death Punch until his departure in 2018 due to spinal surgery. Over time, the project expanded with additional members and incorporated a fusion of heavier metal elements alongside new wave influences. In 2021, Spencer rebranded the band as Psycho Synner to better represent this musical transition.
The definitive roster featured Jeremy Spencer (also known as Devil Daddy or Grym Synner) on lead vocals, Crucifier handling guitar duties, Astaroth on bass, and Volac behind the drums. Notably, Jason Hook, ex-guitarist of Five Finger Death Punch, contributed guitar work on two cover songs for their 2020 EP Songs to Stalk You By. The band became recognized for provocative lyrics, explicit music videos incorporating softcore pornographic themes, and an ambitious release strategy that included nine albums launched simultaneously. Although Spencer characterized their genre as hard rock and heavy metal, their sound encompassed a range of styles including alternative metal, gothic metal, gothic rock, industrial metal, and nu metal.
During 2020, under the Psychosexual name, they issued the album Torch the Faith along with the EP Songs to Stalk You By, both of which were later withdrawn from streaming platforms due to negative reception. After adopting the Psycho Synner identity in 2021, they unveiled nine albums at once: 666 B.C., Vol. 1: The Burning Years, 666 A.D., Vol. 2: The Scorched Years, As the Demon Dances Under the Blood Red Sky, Bite the Snake, Dying to See You, Fuck in the Fire, Killing You Softly, The Devil Made You Do It, and Unholy Hymns for the Children. In 2022, two further albums—Demondelic and Eat the Flame—were released but similarly met with unfavorable critiques. Ultimately, Spencer concluded the Psycho Synner endeavor in 2023 to dedicate his efforts fully to his death metal outfit Semi-Rotted.
Jeremy Spencer’s exit from Five Finger Death Punch and Psychosexual’s inception (2018–2020)
Jeremy Spencer, who was a founding member and drummer of Five Finger Death Punch, performed on every album up through And Justice for None (2018). During a fall 2018 tour supporting Breaking Benjamin, Charlie Engen took over drumming responsibilities so Spencer could undergo spinal surgery. On December 18, 2018, Spencer officially parted ways with Five Finger Death Punch. In a 2020 interview, he confirmed no plans to rejoin due to physical constraints impacting touring capabilities.
Prior to his departure from the band, Spencer had developed a solo act called Devil Daddy that embraced a sound inspired by 1980s pop and new wave styles—distinct from what he later pursued with Psychosexual. Additionally, he explored acting roles and co-directed a softcore pornographic horror parody series titled Lady Killer TV. Motivated by a desire to produce music that was "darker, heavier, more aggressive," Spencer formed Psychosexual drawing artistic influence from acts such as Kiss (band), Ghost (Swedish band), David Bowie, Type O Negative, and elements of gothic rock.
Release of Torch the Faith and EP Songs to Stalk You By (2020)
The lineup of Psychosexual—comprising Devil Daddy on vocals, Crucifier on guitar, Astaroth playing bass, and Volac on drums—debuted with the album Torch the Faith on July 31, 2020 via Spencer’s independent label 6ex Records. The record was co-produced alongside Shawn McGhee, known for collaborations with Drowning Pool. It generated three singles: "Let the Sin Begin," "Lady Killer," and "Baby on Fire," collectively amassing over 340,000 views on YouTube. Their inaugural live appearance occurred concurrently with the album launch during a livestream event organized by Kilpop. Subsequently, a music video for the album’s title track was released on August 8.
Later that year, on November 27, Psychosexual issued an EP titled Songs to Stalk You By, consisting of six cover versions originally performed by Kiss, Stone Temple Pilots, Queensrÿche, Type O Negative, David Bowie, and The Police. Spencer described this collection as "a fun compilation" unified by a dark thematic tone. This EP also featured guest performances from former Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook on two tracks.
Rebranding and "Devil from Hell" (2021)
After the modest impact and unfavorable feedback of Psychosexual's initial two projects, Spencer opted to revitalize the band. Early in 2021, he withdrew their debut album, Torch the Faith, from streaming platforms, expressing a desire for a stronger introduction that more accurately represented the group's evolving style. The band was relaunched as Psycho Synner, with Spencer updating his Devil Daddy persona to Grym Synner. He clarified this transformation by noting that "Psychosexual" was closely linked to sexually themed lyrics, whereas the new guitar-centric sound embraced a darker and more menacing atmosphere. Psycho Synner’s inaugural release, "Devil From Hell" (March 2021), embodied this fresh direction and was regarded by Spencer as the definitive debut.
Releasing Nine Albums in One Day (2021)
On November 5, 2021, Psycho Synner unveiled nine albums simultaneously, each showcasing a variety of musical styles: Bite The Snake explored electronic rock; As The Demon Dances Under The Blood Red Sky adopted a psychedelic vibe; Fuck The Fire delivered straightforward heavy rock; Killing You Softly featured acoustic arrangements; 666 BC Volume 1: The Burning Years and 666 AD Volume 2: The Scorched Years comprised a double album; Dying to See You presented heavy metal tracks; and The Devil Made You Do It combined rock and roll with themes of Satanism.
All nine albums were released on both CD and vinyl formats. Spencer attributed this prolific burst of creativity to pandemic-related restrictions: "With live shows off the table... we secluded ourselves and wrote and recorded without pause." He noted that this approach helped them find their rhythm. The single "Lady Killer" became the second most added track on radio in early April 2022. Following this, Psycho Synner embarked on a tour, with Spencer promising fans an engaging visual experience for those eager to return to live performances.
Demondelic, Eat the Flame, and Disbandment (2022–2023)
On April Fool’s Day, Psycho Synner briefly adopted the name The Light, releasing the single "I Surrender All". Subsequently, they launched two albums on September 16, 2022: Demondelic and Eat the Flame. Demondelic maintained their industrial metal sound reminiscent of artists like Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. However, critical response remained unfavorable, and these releases were largely eclipsed by Spencer’s death metal venture Semi-Rotted, which debuted in August with the EP Deader Than Dead accompanied by a video for "Hammer Teeth". As a result, Psycho Synner’s outputs received minimal attention despite new visual content.
On July 17, 2023, Jeremy Spencer announced the dissolution of Psychosexual. Over three years, the band experienced several reinventions, removed earlier albums from streaming services, and encountered predominantly negative reviews. Although they achieved seven number-one rock radio hits, commercial success eluded them. Spencer confirmed that Semi-Rotted would be his primary focus going forward and reflected that Psychosexual/Psycho Synner’s early releases included "some cheesy and boneheaded songs" that impeded progress. Consequently, all Psycho Synner albums were withdrawn from streaming platforms, and their YouTube channel was taken down.
Critical reception
Despite its short lifespan, Psycho Synner earned a reputation as one of the least respected acts within hard rock and heavy metal circles. Initial reactions were doubtful; Axl Rosenberg of MetalSucks described their debut single "Let the Sin Begin" as only "slightly better" than Spencer’s previous material but still dismissed it as a watered-down version of ’90s arena rock.
Criticism grew harsher as more material was released. Diazable’s review of Torch the Faith labeled it an album capable of "destroying any remaining hope for music," highlighting awkward lyrics, strange vocal delivery, and weak instrumentation while rating it 3/10. Bring The Noise awarded Demondelic a single star, condemning its artwork, lyrical content, and vocal performance.
Spencer—familiar with criticism from his time with Five Finger Death Punch and his Devil Daddy solo efforts (which he removed from streaming upon forming Psychosexual)—found himself overwhelmed by Psycho Synner’s negative reception. He withdrew both albums from streaming services and established a dedicated social media presence for Psycho Synner. Reflecting on their rapid creative output, he admitted that early releases were independent throwaways. Although he worked hard to improve the band’s quality over time, he acknowledged they remained an easy target for harsh critiques.
Band members
Final roster
- Jeremy Spencer – lead vocals (2020–2023)
- Crucifier – guitar (2020–2023)
- Astaroth – bass guitar (2020–2023)
- Volac – drums (2020–2023)
Featured guests
- Kenny Hickey – guitar (2020; "I Wanna Be the Blood in Your Cut (Alternate Mix)")
- Jason Hook – guitar (2020; tracks "Watchin' You" and "Gonna Get Close to You")
- Dave Wyndorf – vocals (2022; on "Demondelic")
Discography
Albums
- Torch the Faith (2020)
- 666 B.C., Vol. 1: The Burning Years (2021)
- 666 A.D., Vol. 2: The Scorched Years (2021)
- As the Demon Dances Under the Blood Red Sky (2021)
- Bite the Snake (2021)
- Dying to See You (2021)
- Fuck in the Fire (2021)
- Killing You Softly (2021)
- The Devil Made You Do It (2021)
- Unholy Hymns for the Children (2021)
- Demondelic (2022)
- Eat the Flame (2022)
EPs
- Songs to Stalk You By (2020)
Singles
- "Let the Sin Begin" (2020)
- "Lady Killer" (2020, 2022)
- "Baby on Fire" (2020)
- "I Wanna Be the Blood in Your Cut (Japanese Anime Video Version)" (2020)
- "Devil from Hell" (2021)
- "Unholy" (2021)
- "On Your Grave" (2021)
- "Love on the Grave" (2021)
- "Rebels of The Underground" (2021)
- "I Surrender All" (2022)