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Key Information

Control Denied was a progressive metal band formed by death metal musician and Death co-founder Chuck Schuldiner.

History

[edit]

Background

[edit]

Schuldiner, in a 1993 Terrorizer interview with Borivoj Krgin, mentioned that he had entertained the possibility of ending Death and forming a more melodic band after he returned from Europe following the 1992 tour, as he was fed up with it, though he decided that he did not want to "get off track" with Death and instead put the idea "on hold".[1] Schuldiner mentioned the general idea of teaming up with a Rob Halford-esque singer in a September 1993 interview with Guitar School[2] and expanded on it in the Terrorizer interview, explaining that it would allow him to do "things that ... can't be totally expressed through this band".[1] He would discuss the idea further in multiple 1995 interviews, including Guitar World,[3] the Italian magazine Metal Shock,[4] and the Dutch magazine Watt,[5] mentioning Ronnie James Dio as another example of the type of singer he would like to partner with.[3] He had already started working on Control Denied riffs by the time Death was touring in Japan for the album Symbolic,[6] which took place in September 1995.[7] Death drummer Gene Hoglan has stated that after the Symbolic tour, Schuldiner broke up Death as he was unhappy with Roadrunner Records, which had released the album.[8]

Formation

[edit]

B.C Richards joined the band in 1995 as vocalist, though he temporarily left the same year to focus on his band, Wicked Ways.[9] Schuldiner attempted to get Andy LaRocque as a lead guitarist, but the lack of a label hindered it.[6] He asked Death guitarist Bobby Koelble to join, though he declined.[10] Drummer Chris Williams joined around this time; Williams recruited Shannon Hamm on guitar and Scott Clendenin on bass.[11] By 1996, Richards had rejoined;[12] the following year he had left the band again, while Clendenin was replaced by Brian Benson. The name of the album at the time was The Moment of Clarity; other tracks from the album included What If and Cut Down to Size.[6] Psycho Scream guitarist Jim Dofka had sent Schuldiner demo material and was interested in joining Control Denied alongside his bandmate, singer Tim Aymar. However, Schuldiner had already selected Hamm as the guitarist.[13] After a brief audition, and demo, (which included the tracks What If, Believe and Cut Down),[14] Aymar was chosen as the new singer, while Rob Halford of Judas Priest was also considered for the position.[15] Earlier, Warrel Dane of Nevermore was almost selected as the singer, though the scheduling did not work out[16] as Dane was dedicated to Nevermore and didn't have the time.[17] Williams left the band as he couldn't "hang around waiting" any longer[18] and went on to form Beyond Unknown.[14]

The Fragile Art of Existence

[edit]
Main article: The Fragile Art of Existence

Schuldiner signed with the record label Nuclear Blast in 1997, though the label required that another Death album be released before a Control Denied album could be issued. This led to the release of Death's The Sound of Perseverance in 1998.[19]

It was announced in early April 1999 that the recording of the debut album was completed by the TSOP lineup (with the addition of Aymar). However, Schuldiner let Clendenin go in April[20] and brought on DiGiorgio.[21] The band's debut album, The Fragile Art of Existence, was released in 1999.[20] The Fragile Art of Existence was reissued in October 2010 by Relapse Records in a 2-disc standard format, with one hour of bonus material, and a 3-disc deluxe version, with two hours of bonus material.[22]

When Man and Machine Collide

[edit]

Schuldiner completed writing the last song for the second Control Denied album in March 2000[23] and signed with Hammerheart Records in December 2000.[24]

The second album (which began to be recorded at Morrisound with Jim Morris under the initial title of When Hate Strikes Down,[15] but which was later tentatively titled When Man and Machine Collide), was partly recorded in November 2000.[25] According to an interview with Hamm originally done in the Tampa Metal Music Examiner, Schuldiner and Christy had completed their tracks, while Hamm recorded three of his tracks before the funds were diverted to pay for Schuldiner's medical bills.[26] The death of Schuldiner in 2001 put the recordings on hold. Remaining band members had expressed a wish to complete and release the material.[27] However, there existed a longstanding legal dispute over the rights of the material with Hammerheart Records[note 1], further postponing the completion and release of the album.[29]

Schuldiner's mother, Jane, affirmed in January 2003 that the album would be released.[30] Hammerheart indicated in a 2003 press release that it would release the "incomplete recordings",[31] to which Schuldiner responded that it would be "sacrilege."[32] Schuldiner initially announced in March 2004 that they would be uploaded and made available for free download.[33] The following month, she indicated that rather than release the rehearsal tracks, the entire completed album should be released instead.[34] Part of these incomplete recordings were released without authorization on the Zero Tolerance album,[35] which was announced as the title by Karmageddon Media in March 2004.[36] Schuldiner estate lawyer[37] and Death manager Eric Greif settled all matters with the label by 2009, allowing for the possibility of completing the album.[38]

On December 4, 2010, Aymar released a statement saying that plans were being made to record and release the album, stating that Jim Morris of Morrisound Studios (with whom Chuck Schuldiner recorded several albums during his career) had been in contact with Greif to begin planning and booking studio time to record the remaining parts of When Man and Machine Collide.[39] Plans were cut short by a break-in at Morrisound in the spring of 2011 that saw much of their equipment stolen, pushing back the completion of the album.[40] An exploratory meeting between producer Jim Morris and guitarist Shannon Hamm was held in December 2012.[41] Greif stated in October 2016 that the recordings would not be completed.[42] The progressive metal band Black Water Sunset released a tribute album featuring re-recorded versions of the four leaked tracks in May 2024, marking what would have been Schuldiner's birthday.[43] Di Giorgio stated in June 2025 interview that the band is still hoping to complete the album, though Aymar's death was a setback.[44]

Discography

[edit]
  • 1996 demo (1996)
  • 1997 demo (1997)
  • 1999 demo (1999)[22]
  • The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)
  • Unreleased Themes from Control Denied (bootleg) (2004)
  • The Fragile Art of Existence (reissue, two formats) (2010)

Members

[edit]

Line-ups

[edit]
Period Members Studio releases
1995 None
ca. 1995
  • Chuck Schuldiner - guitar, vocals
  • Chris Williams - drums[45]
 None
ca. 1995
  • Chuck Schuldiner - guitar, vocals
  • Chris Williams - drums
  • Shannon Hamm - guitars[11]
 None
1995-1996
  • Chuck Schuldiner - guitar, vocals
  • Scott Clendenin - bass
  • Chris Williams - drums
  • Shannon Hamm - guitars[9]
 1996 demo[11]
ca. April 1996
  • Chuck Schuldiner - guitars
  • B.C. Richards - vocals[12]
 None
1997
  • Chuck Schuldiner - guitar
  • Brian Benson - bass
  • Chris Williams - drums
  • Shannon Hamm - guitars[6]
 None
1997
  • Chuck Schuldiner - guitar
  • Tim Aymar – vocals
  • Scott Clendenin - bass
  • Chris Williams - drums
  • Shannon Hamm - guitars
 1997 demo[46]
Inactive from 1998 – 1999
April 1999
  • Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals
  • Scott Clendenin - bass
  • Tim Aymar – vocals
  • Richard Christy – drums
  • Shannon Hamm – guitar[20]
April 1999-2001
  • Chuck Schuldiner – guitar, vocals
  • Steve Di Giorgio - bass
  • Tim Aymar – vocals
  • Richard Christy – drums
  • Shannon Hamm – guitar
 1999 demo
The Fragile Art of Existence (1999)

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Control Denied

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Control Denied was an American band formed in the mid-1990s by , the founder and leader of the influential band , as a to explore more melodic and traditional heavy metal sounds with progressive elements. The band released a single studio album, , in 1999 on Nuclear Blast Records, featuring eight tracks that blended technical guitar work, clear vocals, and themes of humanity and society, marking a departure from Death's extreme style toward European-inspired power and influences. Efforts on a follow-up album, When Man and Machine Collide, began around 2000 but were left unfinished following Schuldiner's diagnosis with brain cancer in 1999 and his death on December 13, 2001, at age 34, effectively ending the project. Schuldiner conceived Control Denied as early as 1993, envisioning a band with a high-pitched, Rob Halford-like vocalist to contrast Death's growled vocals, though development accelerated after Death's 1995 European tour and the band's temporary disbandment. The lineup solidified by 1997 with (who died in 2023) on lead vocals—recruited after Schuldiner heard his work with Psycho Scream—alongside on guitar, on bass, and on drums, all of whom had prior ties to Schuldiner through Death or related sessions. Demos were recorded starting in , but progress paused in for Death's final album, , allowing Control Denied's debut to emerge as a showcase of Schuldiner's evolving compositional versatility, incorporating complex arrangements and melodic hooks while retaining his signature technical prowess. Despite the band's short lifespan and sole release, received acclaim for its ambitious songwriting and production, influencing circles and highlighting Schuldiner's broader artistic range beyond death metal's confines. Partial recordings from the second album, including guitar and drum tracks, surfaced in bootlegs and fan discussions but were never officially completed or released; as of , band members continue efforts to finish the project despite challenges including legal issues and the death of vocalist Aymar, underscoring the original truncation by illness rather than creative intent. Control Denied remains a notable footnote in heavy metal history, emblematic of Schuldiner's unfulfilled potential and his push toward melodic innovation in the genre.

History

Background and Formation

Following the release of Death's album Symbolic in 1995 and the subsequent European tour, decided to form Control Denied as a means to explore a new musical direction, shifting from the growls that defined toward a style emphasizing melodic with clean vocals. This vision stemmed from Schuldiner's desire to evolve beyond the constraints of Death's vocal approach, which he described as feeling like a "tight shoe" that limited further progression, allowing him to incorporate more straightforward heavy metal elements inspired by European acts. He had expressed interest in such a project as early as 1993, envisioning collaboration with a singer in the vein of to create songs that retained Death's technical complexity but prioritized and . Initial recording sessions for Control Denied took place between 1995 and 1996 at Morrisound Recording in , a studio closely associated with Schuldiner's prior work on albums. These early efforts featured vocalist B.C. Richards, formerly of Wicked Ways, and Chris Williams, laying down foundational material that highlighted Schuldiner's guitar work alongside emerging progressive structures. In 1996, self-released a demo tape comprising four tracks, including "Expect the Unexpected," "What If...," "Cut Down," and "Believe," which showcased a complex sound incorporating keyboards for atmospheric depth and intricate arrangements blending progressive and influences. By 1997, the project advanced with bassist Brian Benson joining for additional demo recordings, refining several tracks such as "Believe" to further emphasize melodic hooks and dynamic shifts. This period culminated in Schuldiner signing Control Denied to Nuclear Blast Records in late 1997 or early 1998, a deal motivated by his aim to realize the band as a dedicated European-style power and endeavor, complete with professional production and distribution. Throughout these formative years, Control Denied encountered early challenges, including frequent lineup changes due to the project's side status relative to Death commitments, as well as Schuldiner's growing frustration with the exhaustive touring schedule of Death, which delayed full focus on the new band. These obstacles underscored the transitional nature of the endeavor, as Schuldiner balanced his established legacy with aspirations for broader melodic expression.

The Fragile Art of Existence

In 1998, recruited vocalist to provide clean, operatic vocals that aligned with his vision for a more melodic and progressive sound, distinct from the growls of his primary band . Aymar, previously known for his work in the band Psycho Scream, was invited to for an audition where he recorded three demo tracks, securing his role in the project. This choice emphasized Schuldiner's intent to explore soaring, theatrical vocal lines to complement intricate guitar work and rhythmic complexity. The album was recorded at Morrisound Recording in , from late 1998 through early 1999, with production handled by studio owner , who also contributed keyboards to enhance the symphonic elements. The full lineup featured Schuldiner and on guitars, Steve DiGiorgio on bass, on drums, and Aymar on vocals, marking the first time the band operated as a cohesive unit during sessions. The recording process highlighted Schuldiner's evolving compositional style, incorporating layered harmonies, dynamic shifts, and atmospheric keyboards to create a sense of grandeur and . The Fragile Art of Existence was released on May 13, 1999, in Europe through Nuclear Blast Records, comprising 8 tracks including "Breaking the Broken" and "Consumed." The album's , penned primarily by Schuldiner, delved into themes of fragility, existential , and societal , as evident in songs like the title track, which pondered the transient nature of and . This thematic focus reflected a philosophical depth, drawing from personal and universal struggles without overt aggression. Critics lauded the album's progressive complexity, intricate song structures, and melodic richness, with outlets praising its fusion of drive and technical prowess as a bold evolution from Schuldiner's era. However, some reviews critiqued it for diluting the raw intensity of , describing the clean vocals and symphonic flourishes as occasionally overwrought or less visceral. It achieved modest chart performance in , peaking outside the top 100 but gaining traction in specialized metal markets through Nuclear Blast's distribution. Promotional activities were constrained by Schuldiner's emerging health issues, including a diagnosis in mid-1999, limiting the band to sporadic appearances and no extensive tour in 1999-2000. Despite these challenges, the release solidified Control Denied's identity as a vehicle for Schuldiner's melodic ambitions, showcasing symphonic keyboards and orchestral textures that added emotional depth to tracks like "Expect the Unexpected." In 2010, Relapse Records issued a deluxe featuring remastered audio, expanded , and over an hour of bonus material, including previously unreleased demos and rehearsal tracks that highlighted the album's developmental stages.

When Man and Machine Collide

Following the release of their debut album , Control Denied began work on a follow-up in early 2000, with frontman completing the writing of the final song by March of that year. The project, tentatively titled When Man and Machine Collide, drew thematic inspiration from concepts, particularly the tension between humanity and technology, as reflected in its title and Schuldiner's compositional sketches exploring man-machine interfaces. Schuldiner composed the material during a period of relative health recovery after his 1999 tumor surgery, focusing on intricate guitar work and structural complexity to evolve the band's sound. Recording commenced later in 2000 at Morrisound Recording in , under producer , who had helmed the debut sessions. The band, featuring its core lineup of Schuldiner and on guitars, Steve DiGiorgio on bass, on drums, and on vocals, produced rough mixes and demos of at least four tracks during pre-production rehearsals that summer, including instrumentals that showcased extended song structures reaching up to eight minutes in length. These sessions captured Schuldiner's vision for a more aggressive and technically demanding style compared to the debut, with emphasis on dynamic riffing, melodic interludes, and virtuosic interplay among the instruments. Progress halted abruptly in early 2001 when Schuldiner's recurred, causing severe headaches and rendering further work impossible as his condition deteriorated rapidly. The sessions were abandoned, leaving only demo material—such as a 2000 pre-production tape featuring rough takes of tracks like "Intricacy," "The Number Speaks," "," and "Evanescent Misery"—which never advanced to full production. These demos leaked online around 2004, circulating among fans in low-quality bootleg form and sparking widespread interest in the unfinished project, though no official release occurred. Post-Schuldiner's , legal disputes arose over ownership of the masters, primarily between his family and Hammerheart Records (later rebranded as Karmageddon Media), which had signed in 2000 and claimed to the material. Complications intensified following a 2011 break-in at Morrisound Recording, where equipment was stolen, further delaying any potential completion efforts. As of 2023, the album remained unreleased officially, with surviving members citing ongoing legal entanglements and the need to honor Schuldiner's intent as barriers to finalization.

Later Developments and Legacy

Following the death of founder and primary songwriter on December 13, 2001, from complications related to pontine , Control Denied entered an indefinite hiatus, with the band widely regarded as defunct by 2002 due to the absence of its driving creative force. The loss halted all ongoing work on the band's second album, leaving behind a collection of unfinished demos and rough tracks that would later become focal points for fan preservation efforts. Tributes to Schuldiner and Control Denied emerged prominently in the years after his passing, including fan-led campaigns and events organized through the Empty Words website, a dedicated resource for Death and Control Denied that facilitated global remembrance activities throughout the . More recent homages include the 2024 EP When Man and Machine Collide: A to Control Denied by Black Water Sunset, which re-recorded four leaked demo tracks originally intended for the unfinished second album, released for free on May 13 to honor Schuldiner's legacy. The band's challenges intensified with the death of Tim Aymar on February 15, 2023, at age 59, which his bandmates in confirmed via and further dimmed prospects for any revival or completion of archival material. In 2024 and 2025, surviving members bassist Steve DiGiorgio, guitarist , and drummer reaffirmed their commitment to finishing the second , tentatively titled When Man and Machine Collide, potentially incorporating guest vocalists to realize Schuldiner's vision; DiGiorgio expressed continued determination as of July 2025 in an interview, noting persistent efforts despite legal and logistical obstacles. Control Denied's legacy endures through its influence on the progressive metal genre, blending intricate compositions with melodic elements that inspired subsequent acts in the style, as evidenced by its role in Schuldiner's evolution from roots. Archival efforts, such as the deluxe reissue of by , included over an hour of previously unreleased demos and rehearsals, helping to sustain interest among metal enthusiasts. The band's exploration of themes like human fragility and existential struggle gained deeper resonance following Schuldiner's illness and , with fan communities actively preserving and sharing demo recordings online to maintain access to its unreleased material.

Musical Style and Influences

Genre Characteristics

Control Denied's music is primarily classified as progressive power metal, incorporating riffs with clean, soaring vocals and polished production that emphasizes melodic harmony over raw brutality. The band's sound features dynamic shifts, blending aggressive, tremolo-picked guitar sections with emotive choruses, supported by intricate bass lines and adaptable drumming that highlight instrumental virtuosity. Structurally, the songs exhibit progressive complexity through odd time signatures, multi-section compositions often spanning 7-8 minutes, and abrupt transitions between heavy verses and melodic hooks, creating an unpredictable yet cohesive flow. Dual guitar work, including solos from rhythm and lead players, alongside prominent bass solos, underscores the technical prowess, while the production delivers a crisp, balanced mix that allows each element to shine without overwhelming aggression. Vocally, Tim Aymar's high-range, emotive delivery—drawing from classic heavy metal styles with added edge through precise shrieks—contrasts sharply with the band's riffing intensity, prioritizing soaring melodies and harmony. Thematically, the lyrics explore philosophical questions of , personal struggles, conveyed through metaphorical language that avoids or gore. This introspective approach, centered on emotional depth and life's fragility, aligns with the progressive framework, using anthemic structures to amplify conceptual weight. For the intended second album, When Man and Machine Collide, Schuldiner envisioned a continuation with potentially more futuristic elements, as implied by the title's focus on human-machine interaction, though it remained unfinished due to his illness.

Key Influences

Chuck Schuldiner formed Control Denied in the mid-1990s as a means to explore melodic and progressive heavy metal beyond the constraints of Death's framework, driven by his frustration with the genre's emphasis on growled vocals and unrelenting aggression. In a interview, Schuldiner expressed his intent to pursue a "more melodic, straightforward metal with a singer in the style," reflecting his desire for cleaner, more emotive expression after years of vocal strain in Death. This shift was influenced by his admiration for traditional metal acts like and , whose smooth leads and anthemic structures informed Control Denied's guitar harmonies and songwriting. The band's sound incorporated 's technical complexity, evident in extended solos and intricate arrangements reminiscent of Dream Theater's virtuosic approach, as noted in contemporary reviews praising the album's multi-textured tracks and harmony shifts. Schuldiner's evolving tastes also drew from Queensrÿche's melodic operatics, blending operatic vocal lines with heavy riffs to create accessible yet sophisticated compositions, a direction that allowed for emotional depth absent in Death's later works. European further shaped Control Denied's anthemic structures and high-speed, echoing European 's epic choruses and neoclassical flair, contributing to the project's self-described "European-style" vision of power/ infused with elements. Reviews highlighted this Euro metal feel, with crisp production enhancing symphonic undertones and avoiding pure aggression. Broader roots influenced the band's conceptual storytelling and harmonic complexity, akin to Rush's narrative-driven epics and Yes's layered instrumentation, which manifested in thematic explorations of human fragility and machine-human collision on . The impact of Cynic introduced elements, particularly through bassist Steve DiGiorgio's fluid, improvisational style that added rhythmic sophistication and textural depth to the tracks. Overall, Control Denied's blend proved more accessible than Death's progressive phase, serving as a bridge to modern acts like by merging technical prowess with melodic accessibility.

Personnel

Final Line-up

The final lineup of Control Denied, active from 1999 to 2001, consisted of on guitars, on vocals, on guitars, Steve DiGiorgio on bass, and on drums. This configuration represented the band's most stable period, marked by a shift toward more progressive and melodic elements in their sound. served as the band's founder, primary songwriter, and handled both rhythm and duties from its in 1995 until his in 2001. As the driving creative force behind Control Denied—having formed it as an outlet distinct from his project —Schuldiner composed intricate riffs and structures that blended technical precision with emotional depth, influencing the band's sole released album and early work on its follow-up. He passed away on , 2001, at age 34, due to complications from pontine , a rare form of brain cancer. Tim Aymar provided lead vocals from 1998 to 2001, delivering clean, powerful performances that contrasted with the growls typical of Schuldiner's prior work and added a soaring, melodic dimension to the band's progressive style. His contributions were central to the vocal arrangements on the debut , emphasizing lyrical themes of existential struggle and resilience. Aymar died on February 13, 2023, at age 59. Shannon Hamm contributed lead guitar from 1999 to 2001, drawing from his prior experience in Death to add harmonized solos and shredding techniques that enhanced the band's layered guitar interplay. His role focused on complementing Schuldiner's compositions with dynamic leads, bringing a sense of urgency and virtuosity to tracks developed during this era. Steve DiGiorgio handled bass from 1999 to 2001, incorporating technical lines and occasional solos informed by his tenure in Death and Sadus, which provided a robust, fretless foundation to the band's complex rhythms. Known for his innovative playing in extreme metal, DiGiorgio's involvement extended to early sessions for the second album. He participated in discussions about potentially completing and releasing those materials earlier in 2025, but as of November 2025, the estate has confirmed the album will not be released. Richard Christy delivered drums from 1999 to 2001, supplying dynamic and progressive patterns that supported the band's shifting time signatures and atmospheric builds. His precise, energetic style—honed through prior s—added propulsion to the ensemble's sound. Following Control Denied, Christy joined and has participated in tribute and promotional efforts honoring Schuldiner's legacy, including unboxings and interviews about unreleased material. Collectively, this lineup solidified Control Denied's direction by recording portions of a planned second album, tentatively titled When Man and Machine Collide, which featured demo sketches and rough tracks emphasizing tight ensemble interplay and thematic continuity from the debut. Their highlighted a mature evolution in Schuldiner's vision, blending progressive metal's intricacy with accessible melodies, though the project remained unfinished due to his illness and, as of November 2025, will not be released per the estate.

Former Members

B.C. Richards served as the initial vocalist for Control Denied from 1995 to 1996, providing lead vocals on the band's 1996 demo recordings. He departed the group to prioritize commitments with his own band, Wicked Ways. Brian Benson joined as bassist in 1997 and contributed to the band's 1997 demo. He left prior to the recording sessions for the debut album. Chris Williams handled drums for Control Denied from 1996 to 1997, performing on the first two demos and helping establish the project's rhythmic foundation. Williams died in a car accident on December 12, 2000, at the age of 29. Scott Clendenin played bass for the band during 1996–1997 and returned for a brief session stint in 1999, laying down tracks for the debut album before being replaced by Steve DiGiorgio. Clendenin later became a member of and died by on March 24, 2015, at age 47. The early lineup had no permanent , though the debut featured guest keyboard contributions to enhance its progressive elements. These transient members played a key role in developing the demo material that defined Control Denied's initial sound, but their replacements allowed for a more polished and stable configuration during the recording of .

Discography

Studio Albums

Control Denied released its sole studio album, , on May 13, 1999, through Nuclear Blast Records. The album features ten tracks and runs for approximately 54 minutes, showcasing the band's style with complex instrumentation and melodic elements. It was recorded, engineered, mixed, and mastered by at Morrisound Recording in , with co-production by band founder and Morris. The track listing is as follows:
  1. "Consumed" (7:25)
  2. "Breaking the Broken" (5:41)
  3. "Expect the Unexpected" (7:17)
  4. "What If...?" (4:30)
  5. "When the Link Becomes Missing" (5:15)
  6. "Believe" (5:40)
  7. "Cut Down" (4:33)
  8. "The Fragile Art of Existence" (5:58)
  9. "Spirit Divider" (5:05)
  10. "Unforsaken" (6:49)
Key tracks include the opener "Consumed," the dynamic "Breaking the Broken," the ballad-like "Unforsaken," and the technically intricate "Spirit Divider." The album's artwork was created by Travis Smith, featuring abstract imagery that aligns with the thematic title. In 2010, reissued The Fragile Art of Existence in remastered form, available as a two-disc or three-disc edition. The two-disc version adds three bonus demo tracks from 1997: "What If...?" (4:35), "Consumed" (7:35), and "Breaking the Broken" (5:48). The three-disc deluxe edition expands this with additional unreleased demos and rehearsal material, totaling over an hour of extras, along with previously unseen photographs and enhanced packaging.

Demos and Unreleased Material

Control Denied produced several demo recordings in the mid-to-late 1990s to develop their sound and secure a . The 1996 demo consisted of four tracks, including "Expect the Unexpected," and lasted approximately 20 minutes, marked by raw production values and preliminary vocal performances that showcased the band's evolving style. The 1997 demo featured notable bass contributions from Brian Benson, reflecting further refinement in songwriting and instrumentation. A 1999 pre-production demo contained rough mixes of tracks intended for the band's debut album, serving primarily to obtain label approval and finalize arrangements before studio recording. The band's planned second album, tentatively titled When Man and Machine Collide, remained unfinished following Chuck Schuldiner's death in 2001, with roughly 30 minutes of material recorded. Partial tracks, such as "Intricacy," "The Number Speaks," "Chameleon," and "Evanescent Misery" (each approximately 7 minutes), have leaked online, originating from 2000 sessions, but no official release has occurred due to ongoing legal disputes involving Schuldiner's estate and former labels. As of 2025, efforts continue to finalize and release the unfinished material, according to bassist Steve DiGiorgio. Additional unreleased material includes outtakes from the 2000 sessions, which have circulated informally among fans. In 2024, the progressive death metal project Black Water Sunset paid tribute by re-recording four of the leaked tracks as a mini-album, providing a polished interpretation of the unfinished work. These demos have been bootlegged since the late 1990s through underground channels, though as of 2025, no standalone official compilation of the demo material has been issued beyond inclusions in album reissues.

References

  1. https://www.loudersound.com/features/chuck-schuldiner-death-the-story-of-control-denied-1999
  2. https://www.discogs.com/artist/405326-Control-Denied
  3. https://blabbermouth.net/news/will-second-control-denied-album-ever-see-light-of-day-we-havent-stopped-thinking-about-it-says-steve-digiorgio
  4. http://chroniclesofchaos.com/articles/chats/1-189_death.aspx
  5. https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Control_Denied/549
  6. https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-fragile-art-of-existence-deluxe-reissue/393880671
  7. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Brian_Benson/5559
  8. https://www.metal-rules.com/1999/08/22/chuck-schuldiner-the-pain-of-a-genius/
  9. http://www.emptywords.org/GuitarWorld04-2007.htm
  10. https://metalinjection.net/news/steve-digiorgio-on-control-denieds-unreleased-second-album-we-havent-stopped-trying
  11. https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathBand/comments/186qjjt/control_denied_4_songs_bootleg_desperately/
  12. https://www.neogaf.com/threads/the-story-behind-the-unreleased-2nd-control-denied-album-when-man-and-machine-collide.1653159/
  13. https://worldofmetal.fandom.com/wiki/Control_Denied
  14. https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1666
  15. http://www.emptywords.org/
  16. https://bravewords.com/news/chuck-schuldiner-a-day-of-remembrance/
  17. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Black_Water_Sunset/When_Man_and_Machine_Collide_-_A_Tribute_to_Control_Denied/1237629
  18. https://www.blackwatersunset.net/about
  19. https://blabbermouth.net/news/control-denied-and-pharaoh-vocalist-tim-aymar-dead-at-59
  20. https://www.revolvermag.com/music/tim-aymar-vocalist-chuck-schuldiners-final-project-control-denied-dead-59
  21. https://www.progarchives.com/album-reviews.asp?id=7851
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/2566647-Control-Denied-The-Fragile-Art-Of-Existence
  23. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Control_Denied/The_Fragile_Art_of_Existence/437251
  24. https://www.reddit.com/r/DeathBand/comments/1idkziy/control_denied_death_spirit_crusher_1997_demo/
  25. https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Control_Denied/The_Fragile_Art_of_Existence/2013/stickyshooZ/9043
  26. https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Control_Denied/The_Fragile_Art_of_Existence/2013/lord_ghengis/89436
  27. http://www.emptywords.org/SentinelSteel-spring1997.htm
  28. https://www.metalkingdom.net/review/15789
  29. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/66340/Control-Denied-The-Fragile-Art-Of-Existence/
  30. https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/control-denied/
  31. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Shannon_Hamm/3079
  32. https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=7851
  33. https://metalinjection.net/news/bummer-alert/youll-never-hear-the-second-control-denied-death-etc-album
  34. https://arrowlordsofmetal.nl/digiorgio-about-second-control-denied-album/
  35. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/B.C._Richards/66589
  36. https://www.metalkingdom.net/band/control-denied-133
  37. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Chris_Williams/5570
  38. https://www.discogs.com/artist/2028617-Chris-Williams-21
  39. https://lambgoat.com/news/24447/ex-death-bassist-scott-clendenin-dies/
  40. https://www.loudersound.com/news/death-scott-clendenin-dead-47
  41. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Control_Denied/The_Fragile_Art_of_Existence/2013
  42. https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/band/Control_Denied
  43. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/control-denied/the-fragile-art-of-existence/
  44. https://www.discogs.com/release/6611269-Control-Denied-The-Fragile-Art-Of-Existence
  45. https://www.relapse.com/products/control-denied-fragile-art-of-existence-reissue-2xcd
  46. https://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Art-Existence-Control-Denied/dp/B0041X90EO
  47. https://blabbermouth.net/news/control-denied-the-fragile-art-of-existence-reissue-track-listing-revealed
  48. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Control_Denied/The_Fragile_Art_of_Existence/437297
  49. https://lostmediawiki.com/When_Man_and_Machine_Collide_(lost_production_material_of_unfinished_Control_Denied_album;_2001)
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