CRYOGENiC

Cryogenic’s career can be divided into three distinct periods, each categorised by significantly different musical directions. In their formative period between 1992 and early 1996, the band displayed a dense and traditional thrash metal style similar to early Metallica and Slayer. At this time the line-up consisted of Essa, Henning and Russell Player on rhythm guitar and vocals. Chad Bartosik was an early drummer and his and Player’s work with the band can now only be found on early demos and a couple of exquisitely rare compilation albums. Cryogenic's self-titled demo sold well but instability in the drumming department almost forced the band to split. It wasn't until former Mortality guitarist Jenk (being a close friend of Essa and big on the music) joined as the permanent drummer in 1995. The band took off and after an opening support with Fear Factory the following year, Cryogenic’s second period began when Player was ousted late in 1997 and Jenks' former Mortality bandmate Sloane took over the vocalist role. The debut album Suspended Animation originally featured Player's vocals but Sloane’s were used on the final release. The album displayed a move towards a style hinting more at the likes of Pantera and Meshuggah but the immense death metal vocals of Sloane made Cryogenic a particularly formidable act. Important supports to Strapping Young Lad, Cradle of Filth, Cathedral and Entombed followed the release of the album and all of these elements saw Cryogenic go from strength to strength. With successful tours of Europe and South Africa and a national tour with Slayer in 1998, plus an appearance at the 1999 Sydney Big Day Out put Cryogenic even further ahead of the pack. Further festival appearances in 1999 were followed by the release of their very much anticipated second album Ego-Noria, that displayed the heightened aggression of the first album with subtle elements of the rising nu-metal sound here and there. This was followed by a national tour which included a headlining appearance at Metal for the Brain (the only Sydney band to headline in it's 15 year history) and a second Big Day Out showing in January 2000. Cryogenic toured nationally with Alchemist and Psi.Kore from March to May 2000 on the World War Three tour, the biggest all-Australian metal tour for many years with attendance figures that topped those of subsequent tours by some foreign bands. Cryogenic played the Sydney Big Day Out again in 2001 and then were quiet for most of the rest of the year. Cryogenic’s third incarnation began when Sloane was sent packing after his alcohol consumption began affecting his performance and in October 2001 was replaced by Steve Simmons, formerly of Henry's Anger. Unsurprisingly, the band’s sound had changed yet again, now taking on something of a more accessible aspect with hardcore stylings and melodic vocals, but still very heavy and aggressive. Simmons was seriously injured in a car accident in early September 2002 and left the band just as they were due to spend some time in the U.S. With their usual resolve, the rest of the band headed to Los Angeles anyway and began auditioning singers.In December 2003, Cryogenic relocated permanently to the United States.