Formed in early 2004 by bassist Juan Alvarado, guitarist Sergio Sanchez, and guitarist Kris Cana, Stillborn Portrait took shape in a garage on the south side of San Jose California. With the addition of drummer Mike Lomas the Portrait was beginning to take shape. Shortly thereafter Sanchez took a hiatus from the group, leaving a hole that would not be easily filled. Under the original moniker of Cryptic, the threesome put in countless garage hours writing, and preparing their craft for the one day they could finally be heard.
After several shows as an instrumental piece, they put their vocalist search into full swing by cutting an instrumental demo in October of 2004. It was soon thereafter that vocalist John Groom showed up that following January to start the new year off right, and almost instantaneously the music took on a whole new dimension. The addition of guitarist Jake Wright in the middle of that year put the project into full swing. Cryptic began to gain significant local support with the old fashioned approach of "play anywhere, anytime, and for anyone who would listen." After opening for several national acts, and finishing 2ND in a local battle of the bands, the group decided the only place left to go was the studio. A grueling five month recording process ensued and they emerged with, "In the Year of the Moth," their first full length album in mid 2006.
Adopting the name Stillborn Portrait, and with album in hand the group was ready to take on the world, however studio time had taken its toll on the band, and Jake Wright took leave soon after the completion of the album. Despite personal differences, lack of media coverage, and the closure of many bay area venues, the Portrait is still as in tact and strong as ever. Petr Oplatka would step in to fill the final guitar slot and Stillborn Portrait then headed east to Wisconsin. After gracing the stage of the legendary “Milwaukee Metalfest,†and a swing of southern California in summer of 2007, the gears were in full motion, however, in 2008 vocalist John Groom parted ways with the band. After months of auditioning, Jeff Miller finally stepped to the plate. Now with a solid lineup, Stillborn is ready to induce auditory destruction everywhere. Spearheading the new age of bay area metal, the Portrait is ready for anyone brave enough to turn their ears their direction. See you in the pit.
