Abysmal Torment

Biography :

Abysmal Torment is a Deathmetal band from Malta formed in 2000 consisting of Nick Farrugia - Vocals, David Depasquale - Guitars, Max Vassallo - Drums, Karl Romano - Bass and Gordon Formosa - Vocals. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Maltese extreme metal underground.


History :

Rising out of the island of Malta, Abysmal Torment emerged as a violent death grind bullet destined to spread ear crushing brutality. Proud to stick to its roots, Abysmal Torment started late 2000 though under the name Molested. Although undergoing various line up changes, Abysmal Torment hit the stage for the first time in 2002. After a massive response, the band never looked back and shared the stage with various local and foreign bands. With a burning ambition to spread their sick music to a wider audience Abysmal Torment hit the studios for the first time in 2004 to record their debut MCD entitled INSICED WOUND SUICIDE, consisting of five “drum kit mashing, guitar shredding, vocal chord wrecking ultra fucking brutal death metal” tracks. Teufels tomb.

This proved to be a new fresh start for Abysmal Torment as they started building up a positive reputation world wide, receiving many encouraging reviews and nothing less than a 3 year album deal with underground label Brutal Bands (US). Their first release under brutal bands was the re-release of Incised Wound Suicide. Musically Abysmal Torment relies on speed stimulated tempos, breakdowns and a dual assault of varying gurgling vocals. A glance at the lyrical content illustrates that there is no ordinary gory mentality at work here and the knowledgeable treatment of the subject matters add more depth to the Abysmal Torment mix. The band had been writing new material since the recording of their MCD and 2005 proved to be no exception but another hard-working year for the band as they came up with 10 brand new tracks which were recorded at Temple Studios (Malta) together with producer/engineer David Vella. This 45 minute assault of aural butchery was to be the bands first full length album entitled EPOCH OF METHODIC CARNAGE, featuring artwork from extremely talented Tony Koehl. The album was released through Brutal Bands in February 2006. This was to be distributed through all major labels in Europe, US and the rest of the world destined to take the band to the next level.

Summer 2006 was a huge disappointment for Abysmal Torment as we had to cancel our full blown American tour w/BENEATH THE MASSACRE, NEURAXIS and VICTIMAS were we also had festivals such as THE GATHERING OF THE SICK and CENTRAL ILLINOIS METAL FEST. These all had to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control!!

New material began to take shape throughout early 2006/7, as well as opportunities for touring. After heading to Italy for the SOUTH EXTREEM NOISE FESTIVAL in Summer 2007, Abysmal Torment invaded Europe with a 23 date tour in nothing less than 12 COUNTRIES together with Sanatorium in Oct/Nov, exposing the band to many new fans and headlining fests such as the LUDWIGSHAFEN DEATHFEST, SLOVAK DEATHFEST and LUZERN DEATHFEST. A short while after this tour Abysmal Torment flew to Holland to headline yet another deathfest, the DRACHTEN DEATHFEST.

2008 was another hardworking year which saw the band record their 3rd and highly anticipated album, OMNICIDE, plus appearing in a number of shows and also headlining the HELLVETIA FESTIVAL in Switzerland. Omnicide was then released and distributed world wide under Brutal Bands in April 2009.

Abysmal Torment are currently writing new explosive material which will be recorded early 2010. Another European Tour was also set in order to support the release of OMNICIDE which saw Abysmal Torment perform in various countries, with appearances at the NRW DEATHFEST in Germany with Sinister and Ghoul, MEH SUFF metal-fest in Switzerland together with BELPHEGOR and DEBAUCHERY and the WAY OF DARKNESS festival in Germany, where they will be supporting death metal juggernauts such as CANNIBAL CORPSE, VADER, MARDUK, DYING FETUS and MALEVOLENT CREATION. They have also performed at the renowned OPEN AIR DEATHFEAST in Hunxe, Germany and NEUROTIC DEATHFEST in Holland in 2010.

On 17th August 2010, drummer Wayne Vella died in an accident after being trapped under the 'bucket' of a small bulldozer in an industrial zone near Blata l-Gholja in Mosta.

The band immediately issued a statement on their official pages confirming the tragedy:

"Today is a sad day for us all. Unfortunately we have lost our brother Wayne Vella (Drummer in Abysmal Torment from 2001 - 2008) who had just turned 25 .He will be remembered by us as a great friend & excellent drummer. We will never forget the great times we shared together & all the awesome experiences. May he rest in peace... & hope he is in a better place. Condolences to all his loved ones! MUCH RESPECT, ABYSMAL TORMENT"


Band Members :

Current members :

* Nick Farrugia - Vocals (2000-Present)
* Gordon Formosa - Vocals (2001-Present)
* David Depasquale - Guitar (2003-Present)
* Karl Romano - Bass (2009-Present)
* Max Vassallo - Drums (2008-Present)

Former Members :

Guitar

* Gan Pawl Bartolo - 2000-2005

Drums

* Wayne Vella(deceased) - 2001-2008

Bass

* Tim Vella Briffa - 2000-2005
* Ben Aquilina - 2006-2009

Vocals

* Mario Buhagiar - 2000-2001


Discography :

* Abysmal Torment - Incised Wound Suicide (mini-CD, Self Released, 2004)
* Abysmal Torment - Incised Wound Suicide (mini-CD, Brutal Bands (re-issue), 2004)
* Abysmal Torment - Epoch of Methodic Carnage (CD, Brutal Bands, 2006)
* Abysmal Torment - Omnicide (CD, Brutal Bands, 2009)