Anacrusis (band)

Anacrusis was a progressive/melodic thrash metal band from St. Louis, MO. Anacrusis was one of the first bands that attempted to blend thrash and progressive metal.

History
Anacrusis' first demo, Annihilation Complete was voted Best Demo of 1987 by the readers of Metal Forces magazine and was later included in the publication's Demolition... Scream Your Brains Out! compilation album. This led to a deal with England-based indie Active Records, for whom the group created their first album, Suffering Hour, the following year on a meagre 1,200-dollar budget in just under a week. The following Reason album began revealing signs of the band's popular sound. Anacrusis toured in support of the band D.R.I., but without an album released on an American label, the drummer Mike Owen quit to join the Navy shortly after they returned home. Former Heaven's Flame member Chad Smith took over the drums, while the band eventually got signed to the American label Metal Blade records.

In 1991, Manic Impressions was their first album proper studio recording, recorded at Royal Recorders in Lake Geneva, WI. A tour supporting Overkill and Galactic Cowboys followed, and the band finished the year on a high note, opening a set of Midwestern dates for Megadeth. After the tour, on returning to St. Louis, they devoted the next few months to writing new material, and after replacing Smith with drummer Paul Miles, work finally began on their 1993 album Screams & Whispers. This would remain their final album, as the band broke up after its release.

Last known members

 * Kenn Nardi - Guitars, Vocals
 * Kevin Heidbreder - Guitars
 * John Emery - Bass
 * Paul Miles - Drums

Former/past members

 * Chad Smith - Drums
 * Mike Owen - Drums

(Note: Chad Smith is not to be confused with the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer of the same name).

Albums

 * Suffering Hour (1988)
 * Reason (1990)
 * Manic Impressions (1991)
 * Screams and Whispers (1993)

Demos

 * Annihilation Complete (1987)
 * Quick To Doubt (1989) - unauthorized demo

Compilations

 * Demolition... Scream Your Brains Out (1988) - Metal Forces compilation with the songs "Annihilation Complete" and "Imprisoned"