Psychotic Waltz
Also known asAslan (1985–1988)
OriginEl Cajon, California, United States
GenresProgressive metal
Years active1988–1997
2010–present
LabelsInside Out Music
Metal Blade
Rising Sun Productions
Dream Circle Records
Zardoz Music
Members
  • Devon Graves (aka Buddy Lackey)
  • Dan Rock
  • Brian McAlpin
  • Ward Evans
  • Norman Leggio
Past members
  • Phil Cuttino
  • Steve Cox
Websitepsychoticwaltz.com

Psychotic Waltz is a progressive metal band formed in El Cajon, California in 1988.[1]

Biography

The first incarnation of the band was under the name Aslan,[2] after a character in the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. With money earned from local shows and T-shirt sales, they recorded a self-titled demo tape in 1986. The European metal tape trading community took notice of the demo and the band received some enthusiastic reviews from fanzines and from German metal fans. After discovering another band with the same name, they changed theirs to Psychotic Waltz and recorded a new four-song demo in 1988. This new demo also found its way to the European metal tape trading community and the band began to build their loyal European fanbase.

In 1990, they debuted with their independently financed debut A Social Grace, which was released in Europe via a licensing deal with the German label Rising Sun Productions.[3] The album was very well received in Europe, being named album of the month in some European magazines. The situation in the US was more difficult, as the album was released under the band's own Sub Sonic Records label. With practically no promotion and minimal distribution, it remained an extremely underground item. In May 1991, the band appeared at the Dynamo Festival in the Netherlands.

After the tour, the band's guitarist, Dan Rock, suffered a near-fatal accident after falling 40 feet (12 m) from the underside of a bridge while rappelling.[3] The band went on to record their second album, Into the Everflow.[4] The album was recorded from August–October, 1992, at Phoenix Studios in Herne, Germany, and was produced by Mekong Delta's main man, Ralph Hubert. The CD was released in Europe on Dream Circle Records, and was very well received, getting album of the month honors in many European magazines. After Rock recovered, the band was nominated as the Best Hard Rock band at the 1992 San Diego Music Awards.[5]

By that time, the band was at the peak of its popularity. They signed a deal with Intercord in Europe for their third album, Mosquito. Recording took place in late 1994 in Record Plant and Mad Hatter studios in Los Angeles, with the help of the famous metal producer Scott Burns. The initial response for this album was mixed, as the more conventional songwriting that the band followed divided some fans who preferred their more technical approach from earlier albums. This was the last album that was recorded with their original lineup. A few months after the completion and initial release of Mosquito, original bassist Ward Evans left the band.

They entered the studio once again in 1996, for what proved to be their last studio work together, Bleeding. This time, Scott Burns did the engineering, but the record was mixed by Dan Rock and engineered by Woody Barber. Before the band started touring in support for the new album, guitarist Brian McAlpin announced that he would not be able to follow the band due to familial obligations. He was replaced by Steve Cox for the band's final two European tours. New bass player Phil Cuttino filmed a promotional video for the track "Faded". This proved to be disastrous for the band, as an actress who appeared in the video sued the band in April 1998,[6] claiming that a light on the set caused her partial blindness.

The lengthy court battle that followed, coupled with the different musical interests that the band members had contributed to the band's initial demise. Buddy Lackey was the next to leave the band. For a short while, the remaining band members tried to continue with the band, but eventually each went his own way. Rock recorded two instrumental albums with his project Darkstar. Norm Leggio and Steve Cox created the band Teabag, and Buddy Lackey formed the bands Deadsoul Tribe and then The Shadow Theory, where he performed under the name Devon Graves.

Psychotic Waltz reunited with its original line-up in 2010, touring Europe in support of Nevermore and Symphony X on The Power Of Metal tour, and have played various festival shows. Century Media Records released each of the band's four albums on vinyl individually, and also created a 6–LP box set titled "The Architects Arise: The First Ten Years" (limited to 500 copies) which contained the four albums plus demo recordings. The band also started to write material for a fifth studio album, which would be their first release in two decades.

In July 2019, Psychotic Waltz signed to Inside Out Music and entered the studio to record their first album in 23 years.[7] The album, The God-Shaped Void, was released on February 14, 2020.

Band members

Current

  • Devon Graves (aka Buddy Lackey) – vocals, flute (1986–1996, 2010–present)
  • Dan Rock – guitars, keyboards (1985–1996, 2010–present)
  • Brian McAlpin – guitars (lead and acoustic) (1985–1996, 2010–present)
  • Ward Evans – bass (1985–1994, 2010–present)
  • Norman Leggio – drums (1985–1996, 2010–present)

Former

  • Phil Cuttino – bass (1995–1996)
  • Steve Cox – guitars

Discography

Demos

  • Aslan (1986)
  • Psychotic Waltz (1988)

Studio albums

  • A Social Grace (1990)
  • Into the Everflow (1992)
  • Mosquito (1994)
  • Bleeding (1996)
  • The God-Shaped Void (2020)

Supplemental releases

  • Live & Archives (1998)
  • Dark Millennium (1999)
  • The Architects Arise: The First Ten Years (6-LP box set) (2011)

References

  1. ↑ Arkush, Hael. (August 24, 1990) Los Angeles Times Saturday Night Fever, '90s-Style. Music: Club-hopping around the Valley produces a gamut of sounds. Section: CA-Calendar; Page 25A.
  2. ↑ Churnin, Nancy. (December 16, 1987) Los Angeles Times Pop. Section: Calendar; Page 6.
  3. 1 2 D'agostino, John. (November 20, 1991) Los Angeles Times Psychotic Waltz's Vocalist Makes Hay of Group Hiatus. Section: CA-Calendar; Pg. 2.
  4. ↑ D'agostino, John. (May 27, 1992) Los Angeles Times Cardiff-Based Guitar Maker Scores a Hit on Rock Scene Section: CA-Calendar; Pg. 2.
  5. ↑ D'agostino, John. (June 24, 1992) Los Angeles Times Music Awards Nominations Contain Many New Names Section: CA-Calendar; Pg. 2.
  6. ↑ Superior Court of San Diego County (April 3, 1998) Lazzarini v. Psychotic Waltz Archived 2010-10-27 at the Wayback Machine Case Type: Civil; Case Location: San Diego; Case Number: 719462; Filing Date: 04/03/1998. The case records are located at San Diego County Courthouse, Older Records, 220 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 531-3244.
  7. ↑ "PSYCHOTIC WALTZ To Release First Studio Album In More Than Two Decades". Blabbermouth. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
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