The Story Of Noisecult

1. End Of Days Full-length                                                                (2005)

2. One From None Full-length                                                           (2006)

3. Volume III – Vociferous Full-length                                              (2007)

4. Live Raw Noise DVD                                                                    (2008)

5. My War, My Enemy Full-length                                                    (2009)

6. Psychedelic Death Trip Full-length                                               (2012)

7. All Around The World b/w Santa’s Lament Full-length               (2013)

8. Burial Hymns Full-length                                                              (2016)

9. Seraphic Wizard Full-length                                                          (2022)

 

Current lineup:

 

Don Carr - guitars, backing vocals, organ, bass guitar                       (2003- )

Sean Kay - bass guitar                                                                        (2008- )

Mike Liffick - lead vocals                                                                   (2010- )

Patrick Nickell - drums                                                                       (2018- )

 

Ex-members:

 

Bo Heyward - lead vocals, bass guitar                                               (2003-2010)

Kurt Pietro - drums                                                                             (2003-2004, 2016-2017)

Matt McElroy - drums                                                                        (2004)

Kelly Stephens - drums                                                                      (2005)

Vinnie Doody - drums                                                                        (2006)

Ben Bomlitz - drums                                                                          (2007-2008)

Will Logan - drums                                                                            (2010, 2013-2016)

Don Berger - drums                                                                            (2011-2012)

Chris Hightower - lead vocals                                                            (2003)

 

This Nashville institution has stayed true to their charter with the only musical changes being evolution. What I mean is that Noisecult has stuck to their guns only gradually and naturally changing by tweaking, altering and adding small pieces along the way. This is no more apparent than on their new album ‘Seraphic Wizard’, released on January 21st, 2022, some 19 years after the band was formed. Like most long-living bands, however, there have been trials and tribulations along the way but Noisecult has always weathered any storm and has always come out stronger and better. The old adage “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” applies to them a thousandfold. And that is a sign of a great band. No matter what comes at them, they deal with it and shake it off emerging rejuvenated and hungrier each time.

 

Noisecult came to life in 2003 when guitarist and chief songwriter Don Carr and bassist Bo Heyward finally decided to form the band they kicked around with in college in the mid 1990’s. It was a start-stop process at first but when drummer Kurt Pietro was brought in things started to take shape. Pietro left in 2004 to join Skinny Molly and Matt McElroy joined in his stead and would become a fixture within the band in a couple of aspects, but more on that in a little bit. Singer Chris Hightower joined as well. A four-song demo was recorded whose songs would eventually end up on the debut CD. Matt moved to the producer/engineering role, which he holds to this day, making him Noisecult's permanent extra member of the band, and Kelly Stephens briefly replaced him. Work began on what would become ’End Of Days’ but all was not right. Hightower was fired and Stephens simply disappeared, so it was decided Bo would sing as well as playing the bass and the man with the unfortunate surname, Vinnie Doody took over the drum stool. In 2006, on a tight budget, the trio recorded two albums worth of material in three days! The debut ’End Of Days’ was culled from these sessions and was released not long after. ’One From None’, the sophomore CD came out in 2007 but stickman Doody was a loose cannon, however, and even though he appears in parts on both CDs, he was fired not long after that intense recording session. McElroy returned to help out with live shows but not only that, this lineup began to work on full-length number three.

 

’Volume III – Vociferous’ came out in 2007 with McElroy pulling double duty as engineer and session drummer. A live DVD, ’Live Raw Noise’, was filmed in 2007 with this trio lineup. Ben Bomlitz was recruited to man the drum throne upon the album’s release. After a accident that left Heyward with a difficult time playing bass, the group asked Cretin Grims bassist extraordinaire Sean Kay to take up the vacant bass spot. This new 4 piece revisited the 'One From None' tracks and decided to re-record most of that album and add an additional 3 songs. This new version hit the streets in 2009 as the band began to work on full-length number four, ’My War My Enemy’. Halfway through these sessions, Noisecult’s drummer dilemma reared it’s ugly head when Ben left to pursue a job opportunity out of state and McElroy returned to the skins to complete the session. Will Logan from local metal band VooDoo Prophet was brought in for live shows in support of the 'My War My Enemy' album. A big change happened in 2010, when founding member Bo Heyward suffered a spinal cord injury which forced him to retire since his vocals were impaired after surgery. Longtime friend of the band, Mike Liffick of Mindsplitter jumped into the fray taking his place. The drummer issues continued with Logan returning to VooDoo Prophet for an album project. With Logan’s departure entre vous Don Berger. However, about halfway through the work on the 2012 album, ’Psychedelic Death Trip’, Berger moved to New York City. Noisecult once again turned to McElroy to complete the album. Again, he can’t commit live so Will Logan returns. From then on for a couple of years Will and Matt take turns performing live Noisecult to help them promote 'Psychedelic Death Trip'. Both Matt and Will continue to split drum duties on the next CD, 2016’s ’Burial Hymns’. The Spinal Tap situation regarding drummers continues though and a familiar face returns. No, not Matt McElroy but Kurt Pietro, the band’s original drummer, comes back in 2016. Leaving in 2018 he never appears on an album since Noisecult didn’t record for over 5 years, Patrick Nickell was drafted in 2018 and has been with them since and plays on ’Seraphic Wizard* which was released in January 2022. Perhaps their drummer jinx has been lifted!


 

During their long time of existence, Noisecult has performed with a plethora of great, well-known bands. Far from complete the following is a brief yet impressive and celebratory mention of some the combos they’ve shared stages with: Paul Di’Anno, Corrosion Of Conformity, Fear, Trouble, Mothership, Doro, Mondo Generator, Joey Belladonna, Death Angel, DRI, Agent Orange, Icarus Witch, Yawning Man, Zoroaster, Howling Giant, Skeletonwitch, Weedeater and The Hazytones. You can’t argue with this and it shows that Noisecult fits in just about anywhere. And that’s another sign of a great talented band. No show is too small or too big, instead they jump at each show with the same gusto regardless whom they perform with.

 

-Swedebeast

 

 


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