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Hailing from Syracuse, NY, Godbelow is an aggressive outfit whose music is an infectious juxtaposition of bluesy, down-tuned metal with elements of hardcore, giving it a classic rock swagger. The result? A band whose sheer heaviness envelops you and is capable of making you forget everything except the overwhelming urge to shake the long hair in front of your eyes. In 1998, the seeds of the band were sown when Kris Wiechmann (formerly of Earth Crisis) began jamming with drummer Joe Murphy and Syracuse scene veterans Chuck Kahl (bass) and Brian “Slider†Azzoto (guitar); both fresh from their stint in the band The Farthest Man. Shortly thereafter, the foursome enlisted the services of close friend Dan Johnson (formerly of Syracuse’s own Blood Runs Black), whose impassioned lyrics and gut-wrenching vocals perfectly completed the lineup.
Not wasting any time, the foursome recorded a four-song demo that quickly became a hot commodity and helped establish them as a musical force to be reckoned with. Their live shows became an intense display of burly guitar riffs and throat-lacerating cries delivered with stop-on-a-dime accuracy. By early 1999 the band had inked a deal with Rochester’s Surface Records (who had re-released the four-song demo as a 7-inch single) and were preparing to record their first full-length album.
Soon after, Wiechmann amicably departed the band and was replaced by Ken Dunham (formerly of Syracuse death metal act Demomophile). In August of 1999, Godbelow entered Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, NY, to record their eagerly-anticipated debut album Painted Images with the Blood of … – an impressive twelve-song masterpiece of bludgeoning, groove-laden metal. A few months later, Wiechmann (whose stellar fretwork is featured on the album) rejoined the band, making Godbelow a three-guitar lineup, which added a dense, yet orchestral quality to their sound.
The band toured non-stop, gaining experience and the praise of metal and hardcore heavyweights alike, including King Diamond, Shadows Fall, Crisis, All Out War, Every Time I Die, Skarhead, and more. The band also began garnering some attention from big labels as well as mainstream press. In October 2000, CMJ New Music Report’s Amy Sciarretto wrote of the band, “God Below (sic) is the talk of the metalcore scene, and with three guitarists, they are the self-proclaimed ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd of metal.’ The band is tighter than Chasey Lain’s pants… Trust me, this band is going to do big things, so remember you read it here first.†This was all accentuated by regular airplay in the Syracuse area thanks to Silent Bob Staffa and Backstage Live on WKRL-FM. While on the road, the band also developed a close relationship with Surface Records brothers 100 Demons and Ringworm – the latter of which would lead to their next foray into the studio.
Hot on the heels of their amazing 1999 debut album Painted Images with the Blood of …, Godbelow returned with two brand new studio tracks and a cover of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets,†on Hollowed Soul, a six-song split EP with Cleveland’s own Ringworm. They further established their unique brand of groove-laden, melodic metal with two original tracks – the bombastic “Rehearsal for Tragedy†and beautiful harmonic-oriented “Take and Name Your Poison.â€
Godbelow continued to tour feverishly, including their first gigs into the middle Atlantic Coast, mesmerizing heavy music fans away from the comforts of home. They were making a name for themselves around the country, and getting attention from major metal labels eager to snatch the band up before their reputation shot completely through the roof. But it wasn’t meant to be. After parting ways with Murphy and replacing him behind the kit with Mike Rafferty the band carried on into late 2001 before a rift split Johnson from the band as well.
Not wanting to carry on as a shell of their former self, the band retained Rafferty on drums and began to evolve. They filled the hole up front with Joe Altier, changed their name to Brand New Sin, and began to move a little away from the metal scene in favor of churning out dirty rock and roll anthems. Since their formation in 2002 they’ve changed drummers (Kevin Dean now pounds the skins), but little else. The solidified band members just released their fourth album Tequila on Century Media Records, continue to tour with big names like Black Label Society and Mushroomhead, and don’t show any signs of slowing down.
Johnson and Murphy have found thevelves collaborating together again, this time in Unholy. The band also features ex-members of Another Victim, Santa Sangre, and The Promise. Additionally, Johnson can be found manning the mic for Devil His Due (formerly known as Assassin) with ex-members of Word As A Virus. Since leaving Brand New Sin, Slider has been pursuing an MBA and can be found weilding an ax for the Syracuse-based outfit Ledyard. A demo will be in the works soon.
Edited from various sources by Brian Ferry.
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