In Ruins

In Ruins began as some basement demos documented by founder/mastermind J. Michael in 1994, as the Reading, PA, indigenous was still fronting the neighborhood metal outfit Internal Sanctum. Focusing on his personal having a sequencer, Michael laid the sonic foundations for In Ruins with an EP of textural, gothic dark metal that premiered beneath the moniker Dark Thorns in 1996. The demonstration, which bred the impact of traditional brutal metallic (Venom, Celtic Frost) with an increase of classically tilted Western european steel atmospherics, received a significant amount of compliment in the underground steel press, including Steel Maniacs and Noises of Loss of life. The record also eventually drew the eye of Metal Edge records, who agreed upon Dark Thorns (today re-christened In Ruins) to some multi-album offer in 1998. Michael, mainly a guitarist and vocalist, set up a live music group, including bassist Jason and drummer Sean Adam, and got into a Reading studio room to record In Ruins’ full-length debut. The record, titled Four Periods of Grey, premiered by Metal Edge in August of 1998. It included revamped variations of each from the Dark Thorns originals, such as for example “Vampire, Backyard of Thorns” and “Beyond the Dark Lake,” and appended three brand-new tracks. Over time of comparative inactivity, including just sporadic live shows, In Ruins divide with Metal Edge in 2001.