Optimum Wound Profile were formed in 1991 by Roki (guitar) and Phil Vane (vocals). The pair quickly recruited Simon Finbow (vocals), Ian Barnard (bass) and Dom Cattermole (drums). The band's first gig came at a party, shortly after getting together. At this point they only had five songs, but they were enough to spark interest from a local promoter, who offered to put the band in the recording studio to record an EP. These demos earned Optimum Wound Profile a deal with Roadrunner Records, to whom they signed in 1992 having still not played a proper gig.
Optimum Wound Profile's first album, Lowest Common Dominator, was released in the summer of 1992, and received positive reviews in Kerrang! and other music press. Featuring Niall Corr on drums, who had replaced the departed Dom Cattermole, the bands sound at this point was a hybrid of hardcore punk and industrial metal. A successful European tour, with Jason Whittaker of Whiteslug replacing Snapa Harvey, followed the release before the band returned to the UK to begin work on the follow-up.
Silver Or Lead was released in mid-1993 to much critical acclaim, and entered the Rock Chart at number 11, where it stayed for several weeks. This album saw the band's sound take a much more metal turn. By this stage all of the drums were programmed. The album was produced by Colin Richardson, who has worked with Slipknot, Machine Head and Bullet For My Valentine among a host of others. Another successful European tour followed, but Roadrunner Records declined the option of a third album.
In 1994 OWP signed to We Bite Records and in January 1995 released Asphyxia. Having parted company with Phil Vane, all vocals were provided by Simon Finbow. The album was the band's most critically acclaimed release to date.
Optimum Wound Profile spent two years after the release of Asphyxia writing a fourth album, Cult Of Saints 1425. Only demo versions of these songs currently exist as the band ceased activity for several years in 1996.
In 2007 Metal Mind Productions licensed the first two OWP albums from Roadrunner Records for rerelease in August the same year.
Late in 2007 Optimum Wound Profile regrouped with Simon, Roki and Jason being joined by Barnie Mills (bass), Malcolm Peck (drums) and Mark Schorah (brass), to concentrate on the unreleased Cult Of Saints album. The band enter the recording studio for the first time in twelve years in spring 2008.
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