"Feast For The Hated "
SF Bay Area’s Imagika was formed in 1993 by original members Steven Rice (guitar), Henry Moreno (drums) and David Michael (vocals). After a 1994 demo recording as a 3 piece, bassist Michael Dargis was brought in to help record the bands debut album in ’95. The band self released the debut and met with a lot of critical acclaim for keeping Bay Area Thrash relevant in those lean years of Grunge and Alternative Rock. The CD was also licensed by Crazy Life/ Shark records for release in Europe the following year. Imagika spent the next 2 years on regional touring and the writing of their sophomore album “Worship”. By this time the band had come in contact with Chris Boltendahl’s then promotion company Flying Dolphin who helped secure distribution through Nuclear Blast/Indigo for the 1998 release of the CD. Imagika toured with Grave Digger and Iron Savior in 1999 to support the release and the tour marked the bands first ever dates in Europe. The following year the band recorded their “…And So It Burns” album which was the first for a new licensing deal with Massacre Records. By the time of release bassist Michael Dargis had left the band and it took over 6 months to find a suitable replacement in Elena Luciano. The unfortunate time off quelled any touring activity, but saw this first ever US release of any Imagika album through now defunct WW3 records in 2000. The band was able to follow the US release with tour and festival dates that help the bands profile in North America as metal revivalist. Personal life pursuits made the next 4 years tough, but the band was able to record the “Devils on Both Sides” (Mausoleum Records) CD in 2004. Again things would change and founding member David Michael left the band to pursue other musical styles. This time the band was able to recruit vocalist Norman Skinner keeping the momentum achieved with the recording and release the next chapter in the bands evolving style. Norman’s versatility allowed the band to write more diverse and challenging material and made for a refreshing change that was rewarded with some of the bands best reviews ever. The band fresh with ideas wrote and recorded their next CD “My Bloodied Wings” the next year and this time utilized the production talents of King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque. The CD was released by Crash in the US, but unfortunately never saw a release in Europe.
Bringing us to the present with the new “Feast For The Hated” CD the band has once again changed and challenged themselves with writing some of their best material to date. The album was again mixed by Andy LaRocque in his new Sonic Train studios. The songs range from classic Thrash (Waking A Dead Man) to modern Power Metal (Feast For The Hated) to melodic epics (Succubus) showing the bands commitment to not follow trends or limiting their creativity. Of course with all change things fall by the wayside and long time bassist Elena quit the band after laying her tracks down to be replaced by Jim Pegram. Second guitarist Corey Krick was also brought in post recording to help the band achieve the sonic assault demanded by the new material. 2008 looks to be another long chapter in the bands long commitment to Metal!
Imagika Releases:
1995
"Imagika"
1998
"Worship"
2001
"And So It Burns"
2005
"Devils On Both Sides"
2006
"My Bloodied Wings"
2008
"Feast For The Hated"