Abysmal Torment

Abysmal Torment is a death metal band from Malta formed in 2000 by Nick Farrugia. The current line-up includes Nick Farrugia (vocals), David Depasquale (guitars), Max Vassallo (drums), Karl Romano (bass) and Melchior Borg (vocals). They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Maltese Extreme Death metal genre.

History

Early years (2000-2002)

Abysmal Torment hails from the island of Malta, and emerged in 2000 as a violent death metal band under the name Molested. Although undergoing various line up changes, Abysmal Torment performed their first notable stage gig for the first time in 2002. The band writes music reliant on speed stimulated tempos, breakdowns, technical riffing and a dual assault of varying gurgling vocals. Their music also features dark lyrical content, often including themes of death and gore.

Incised Wound Suicide (2002-2005)

Abysmal Torment began recording at Temple Studios for the first time in 2004 to record their debut album entitled Insiced Wound Suicide, which was described as consisting of five “drum kit mashing, guitar shredding, vocal chord wrecking ultra fucking brutal death metal” tracks.^[1] The album received many encouraging reviews and signed a 3-year album deal with the underground label Brutal Bands in the United States. Their first release under Brutal Bands was the re-release of Incised Wound Suicide.

Epoch Of Methodic Carnage (2005-2007)

The band released their second studio album, Epoch of Methodic Carnage, in February 2006 on Brutal Records. The album included 10 brand new tracks which were recorded once again at Temple Studios with producer David Vella, and featured artwork from Tony Koehl. The album was distributed through major labels in Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world. Summer 2006 was a huge disappointment for Abysmal Torment as they were forced to cancel a full blown American tour with Beneath the Massacre, Neuraxis and Victimas plus well known festivals such as The Gathering of the Sick and Central Illinois Metal Fest.

In August 2007, Abysmal Torment traveled to Italy for the South Extreme Noise Festival and later traveled Europe with a 23 date tour throughout 12 countries together with Sanatorium, headlining fests such as the Ludwigshafen Deathfest, Slovak Deathfest and Luzern Deathfest. A short while after this tour, the band flew to the Netherlands to headline yet another deathfest, the Drachten Deathfest.

Omnicide (2008-2010)

The band recorded their 3rd and highly anticipated album, Omnicide, this time at SpineSplitter Studios. In addition, they appeared in a number of European shows and also headlined the Hellvetia Festival in Switzerland. Omnicide was then released and distributed worldwide under Brutal Bands in April 2009. The band embarked on a second European Tour in 2009 supporting the release of Omnicide together with Insidious Discrepancy and Cerebral Bore. During this period, Abysmal Torment played what some consider to be their best shows to date at the NRW Deathfest in Germany with Sinister and Ghoul, Meh Suff metal-fest in Switzerland together with Belphegor and Debauchery and the Way of Darkness festival in Germany, together with death metal bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Marduk, Dying Fetus and Malevolent Creation. In 2010 the band also performed at various European Festivals, namely the renowned Open Air Deathfest in Hunxe, Germany and Neurotic Deathfest in the Netherlands in 2010.

On 17 August 2010, Abysmal Torment received the news that former drummer Wayne Vella died in an accident at his place of work. He was featured on all three Abysmal Torment releases. The band immediately issued a statement on their official pages confirming the tragedy;

Today is a sad day for us all. Unfortunately we have lost our brother Wayne Vella (Drummer in Abysmal Torment from 2001–2008) who had just turned 25. He will be remembered by us as a great friend & excellent drummer. We will never forget the great times we shared together & all the awesome experiences. May he rest in peace... & hope he is in a better place. Condolences to all his loved ones! Much respect, Abysmal Torment!

2011 - Present

Abysmal Torment headlined two tours in 2011, Buthers on the Road tour in Russia and the Supreme Tyrant in Europe tour. Later in the year, Gordon Formosa decided to leave the band after being a member for upwards of 10 years. The band recruited Melchoir Borg as a vocalist, and added a second guitarist named Kurt Pace. Abysmal Torment went on to play at numerous festivals in Europe, including Mountains of Death in Switzerland, the first annual Malta Deathfest and returned once again to The Way of Darkness.

Discography

• Incised Wound Suicide (mini-CD, Self Released, 2004)
• Incised Wound Suicide (mini-CD, Brutal Bands (re-issue), 2004)
• Epoch of Methodic Carnage (CD, Brutal Bands, 2006)^[2]
• Omnicide (CD, Brutal Bands, 2009)^[3]
• Cultivate the Apostate (CD, Willowtip Records, 2014)^[4][5]

Band members

Current members

• Nick Farrugia; vocals - (2000–present)
• David Depasquale; guitars - (2003–present)
• Kurt Pace; guitars - (2011–present)
• Max Vassallo; drums - (2008–present)
• Karl Romano; bass - (2009–present)
• Melchoir Borg; vocals - (2011–present)

Former members

• Gan Pawl Bartolo; guitars - (2000-2005)
• Wayne Vella; drums - (2001-2008) (deceased)
• Tim Vella Briffa; bass - (2000-2005)
• Ben Aquilina; bass - (2006-2009)
• Pascal Bartolo; bass
• Mario Buhagiar; vocals - (2000-2001)
• Gordon Formosa; vocals - (2001-2011)

^[6]

References

External links

• Abysmal Torment on MySpace
• Abysmal Torment page on Facebook
• Abysmal Torment on Twitter