Angelcorpse was a blackened death metal band formed after the demise of Pete Helmkamp's previous band, Order from Chaos. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, they relocated to Tampa, Florida.
Some journalists consider Angelcorpse to be an overlooked band in the history of extreme metal. In 2025, Vice wrote: "Angelcorpse wrote some of the best thrashy, unholy death metal to ever be unleashed from the Everglades. The band’s debut album, Hammer of Gods is a must-listen, as is their second full-length, Exterminate."[2]
They formed in 1995, with a line-up of Helmkamp, guitarist Gene Palubicki, and drummer John Longstreth, and recorded a demo, Goats to Azazael, which led to a contract with Osmose Productions.[3] The band's debut album, Hammer of Gods, was released in 1996, after which rhythm guitarist Bill Taylor joined, playing on second album Exterminate (1998).[3] Drummer Tony Laureano joined shortly after its release but Taylor left.[3] The band's third album, The Inexorable, was released in the fall of 1999, after which Taylor rejoined.[3] While on tour with Immortal, Satyricon, and Krisiun, in support of The Inexorable, the band had an accident in their tour van, in which Helmkamp was injured.[4] On the same tour, Helmkamp's girlfriend was stabbed, and he decided to leave the band.[4] The rest of the band continued for a while but decided to split up.
In 2006, the band reformed and recorded a new album.[4] Helmkamp said of the reunion: "It just seems like the planets realigned. It's not like we didn't get along or that there were any bridges to mend."[4]
Their lyrical themes are generally concerned with warfare. The band has been involved in a number of American and European tours involving other metal acts such as Immortal, Krisiun, Cianide, and Watain. An East Coast USA tour was completed in May 2007. In 2008 the band embarked on a larger European tour with Revenge and Arkhon Infaustus throughout Europe, this tour included a performance at the United Metal Maniacs Open Air Festival in Bitterfeld Germany. Upon returning to the US, live dates on the West Coast with Cemetery Urn, Sanguis Imperum, Gospel of the Horns, and Ares Kingdom were completed. On April 7, 2009, the members announced disbandment, citing "musical differences" as the reason.[5]
Helmkamp claimed that the band is fueled by "the constant struggle, strife, camaraderie, and unified will that forged the iron, blood, and blasphemy of our music and lyrics".[6]
As of 2015, the band temporarily reformed for select live dates, though it was repeatedly stressed that it was a one-time live reunion that would not produce new material. Upon concluding their reunion live dates in 2017, the band split up permanently.
While Angelcorpse's main material is released on Osmose, the singles, EPs, and live albums were released on Gene Palubicki's Evil Vengeance Records.
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