| Necromandus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Egremont, Cumberland, England |
| Genres | Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Rock |
| Years active | 1970 - 1973, 2017 - Present |
| Labels | Audio Archives, Black Widow Records, Rise Above Relics, Mandus Music |
| Associated acts | Violinski, Hammerhead, Nerves |
| Website | Necromandus Official |
Necromandus are a rock band originating from Egremont, Cumberland, England. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath in 1972, having been a regular support for both Sabbath and their pre-Sabbath incanation Earth. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999, gaining the band a cult status. In 2007 they were mentioned by Classic Rock magazine as a "lost pioneer" of heavy metal.[1] Author Ian Christe has cited the band as one of the earliest doom metal groups.[2]
In 2017 Necromandus would reunite with a new lineup and compose a second studio album to honor the legacy of the original band.
History[]
Orexis of Death (1970 - 1973)[]
In 1968, two West Cumbrian bands, Jug and Heaven, broke up. Members from both bands, Barry "Baz" Dunnery (lead guitar), Dennis McCarten (bass), Frank Hall (drums), and singer Bill Branch, formed a heavy progressive blues outfit they called Hot Spring Water. They were briefly renamed Taurus before settling on Necromandus after a radio show asked their audience for name suggestions. In 1972, after extensive gigging and a failure to release a record, they caught the ear of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who began managing the group.[3]
In early 1973, Necromandus, under Iommi's guidance, recorded the album Orexis of Death at London's Morgan Studio with Iommi adding some guitar to the title track. A deal was arranged with Vertigo and the band began opening for Sabbath as well as Tony Kaye's Badger. Dunnery left the band in 1973, and as a result the album was shelved by Vertigo.[4] Necromandus continued to receive praise and support, with Ozzy Osbourne initially wanting Necromandus's guitarist, bassist and drummer for his Blizzard of Ozz project.[5] Dennis McCarten, Barry Dunnery, and Frank Hall were in fact the Original Blizzard Of Ozz with Osbourne in 1977.
Dunnery and Hall founded the cover band Nerves, with Dunnery leaving to join the ELO offshoot Violinski in 1976.[6] Dunnery and Hall also played together in the new wave of British heavy metal band Hammerhead, although Dunnery's stint was brief.
The only surviving member of Necromandus is Frank Hall. Vocalist Bill Branch (Born 21 March 1950) would pass away circa June 1995.[7] Bassist Dennis McCarten (Born 1950) died of a kidney illness in December 2004.[8] Guitarist Barry Dunnery died on 29 May 2008 from cancer.[9]
Reissues[]
Orexis of Death would see a proper issue through independent UK reissue label Audio Archives in 1996, followed by the compilation Necrothology in 1998, a collection of alternate mixes and unreleased tracks.
Italian label Black Widow Records would issue Orexis of Death for it's first vinyl release in 2000. Audio Archives would reissue Orexis of Death on CD with bonus tracks in 2005, along with Live in 2005, a recording circa 30th March 1973 at The Casino in Blackpool.
English label Rise Above Records, under their retro imprint Rise Above Relics, would release Orexis of Death and Live as a single CD and 2LP set in 2010.
Reunion and Self-Titled Album (2017 - Present)[]
In the summer of 2015 John Marcangelo found some recordings he had made with Baz Dunnery back in 1975. As these recordings were on a multi track recorder we were able to take off Bazz’s guitar parts, clean and edit them so we could construct new songs. Frank Hall ,the original drummer with Necromandus, would take care of the drum parts while Dean Newton was recruited on guitar. With Banjo Cunanan taking the bass duties together with former lead singer’s son John Branch on vocals. The band would be unsure as to how close they could replicate the band's original sound but were pleased with the end results.[10]
The band would re-record three songs from the original album and wrote eight brand new songs, using authentic keyboard sounds from “73/74” era and Dean using Baz’s SG guitar on most of the tracks. The eponymous Necromandus would see release via Mandus Music on 21 July 2017 to positive reviews.[11][12] The album would be dedicated to the three original members of the band in Billy Branch, Baz Dunnery & Denis McCarten.
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- Orexis of Death (1996, Audio Archives) (Recorded 1973)
- Necromandus (2017, Mandus Music)
Other Releases[]
- Necrothology (Compilation) (1998, Audio Archives)
- Live (Live Album) (2005, Audio Archives)
- Orexis of Death & Live (Compilation) (2010, Rise Above Relics)
Members[]
Current Members[]
- Frank Hall - Drums (1970 - 1973, 2016 - Present)
- Dean Newton - Guitar (2016 - Present)
- John Marcangelo - Keyboards (2016 - Present)
- John Branch - Vocals (2016 - Present)
- Paul Spedding - Bass (2017 - Present)
Former Members[]
- Bill Branch - Vocals (1970 - 1973) (Died 1995)
- Dennis McCarten - Bass (1970 - 1973) (Died 2004)
- Barry Dunnery - Guitar (1970 - 1973) (Died 2008)
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ [Sleazegrinder (March 2007). "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal". Classic Rock.]
- ↑ [Christe (2003), pg. 345, "Beginning with the overlooked Lucifer's Friend and Necromandus in the early 1970s, Doom crawled through the 1980s with Trouble, Witchfinder General, The Obsessed, Candlemass, Pentagram, and Saint Vitus, then into the 1990s with Cathedral, Sleep, and Burning Witch."]
- ↑ Necromandus via Wayback Machine
- ↑ ["Cumbrian Bands & Groups of The 60's". Fenderstrat.co.uk.]
- ↑ News and Star
- ↑ Nerves via Wayback Machine
- ↑ News and Star via Wayback Machine
- ↑ The Dead Rock Stars Club
- ↑ The Dead Rock Stars Club
- ↑ Necromandus Official
- ↑ Necromandus Bandcamp
- ↑ Progressive Music Planet