SEVERANCE
In May of 1989, five individuals set out to form a band with intentions of creating extreme and aggressive music. Frank Sariņana, Lee Sariņana, Oliver Gutierrez, Ralph Gutierrez and Jaime Perez were collectively known as Severance. Below is a discography of the band that spans over a decade of perseverance through adversity and change. JP
SEVERANCE- "PROCREATION" REHEARSAL DEMO (1990)
This demo was recorded in the living room of a friend's house. It was recorded on a four-track mixer and came out pretty decent. Several hundred were sold and even more were acquired through tape trading. "Procreation" contained three songs: "Entombed", "Decimation" and "Eternally Possessed". This self-produced rehearsal demo put Severance on the map, not only in the U.S., but abroad as well. At the time of this recording, Severance consisted of: Frank Sarinaņa-guitars, Lee Sariņana-vocals, Oliver Guterrez-bass, Ralph Gutierrez-guitars and Jaime Perez-drums.
SEVERANCE- "AFTERBIRTH OF INFAMY" (1991)
This release was our first studio effort. It was an extension of our rehearsal demo. It contained the same three songs as "Procreation" as well as an additional two songs, "Beyond Bleeding" and "Cycle of Torture". This five-song demo continued to gain Severance world wide recogntion which ultimately led to a recording deal with Drowned Productions in Spain. During this era, Severance had the same members as it did during "Procreation"
SEVERANCE-"ABYSMAL ASCENT" (1992)
As mentioned above, Drowned Productions showed interest in Severance from hearing the "Afterbirth of Infamy" demo. Severance recorded two new songs for a 7" record to be financed and distributed through Drowned Productions. The two songs were "...and then Silence." and "The Beholder". This was our only release on vinyl, and it sold out of the initial pressing of 2000 copies. This was the first time Severance would undergo a line-up change. Severance, during "Abysmal Ascent" was Frank Sariņana-guitars, Lee Sariņana-vocals, Ariel Menchaca-guitars, Oliver Gutierrez-bass and Jaime Perez-drums.
SEVERANCE-"SALVATION DENIED" (1996)
Because of multiple line-up changes, it would be 4 years before our next release. This leads us to the self-financed, 4-song CD, "Salvation Denied". This release contained all new material and the global notoriety continued. Only 600 copies of this disc were pressed, and they were all sold through various distributors as well as through the band. Many more were acquired through the tape trading underground. The songs on this release were: "Dominant Conscience", "Painfully Reborn", "Holocausto Obscurro (Espiritos en Guerra)" and "Cross-Breeding". During this recording, Severance was: Ralph Gutierrez-guitars, Ariel Menchaca-guitars, Joe Vasquez-vocals, Oliver Gutierrez-bass and Jaime Perez-drums.
SEVERANCE-"WHAT LIES AHEAD..."(2001)
After over 10 years of existence, Severance would finally release their first full-length album, "What Lies Ahead...". This effort was financed through Repulse Records in Spain and distributed in Europe through Black End Records and World War III Records in the U.S. This 8-song release was Severance's most widely distributed effort. No actual tally of sales was given to the band, but WWIII Records sold out of their initial pressing. As of now, it is only available as an import through Black End Records in Europe. An American re-issue is in the works. This disc contained the songs: "When the Time Comes", "Damned at Birth", "Agonizing Ecstasy", "Inferior Superiors", "As I Wait", "Without Light", "Cross-Breeding" and "Foreseen Emptiness". Part of Severance's inactivity was due primarily to even more line-up changes. The members during this recording were: Ralph Gutierrez-guitars, Lupe Duque-guitars, Abel Barrera-bass, Joe Vasquez-vocals and Jaime Perez-drums.
SEVERANCE-Suffering in Humanity (2006)
With a new label and new line-up, Severance has
continued to add to their death metal legacy with 2006's "Suffering In
Humanity". Goregiastic Records out of New York took the
initiative to sign the band for this release. Artwork was done by
a good friend, Larry Lyannas, and studio work was done, again, by Ernie
B. at the Sound Playground. It took a long while to get this disc
recorded and finalized (approximately one year) because Ernie B.
suffered a heart attack before the recordings were completed.
Severance has undergone many obstacles, but never one quite like
this. Of course, things eventually reached completion, and the
disc was a realization. This line-up featured two newcomers to
the family, Joe Dan de la Rosa on guitars, and Mike Mena on vocals, as
well as previous members, Ralph Gutierrez on guitars, Abel Barrera on
bass, and Jaime Perez on drums. This disc contains 12 tracks (
which include a Pentagram cover ) and a bonus video at the end of the
disc. If you notice, it was approximately 5 years between the
last two releases,efforts will be made to avoid this lengthy duration between releases. JP
