Augury

AUGURY began in the winter of 2001/2002 when lead/classical guitarist Mathieu Marcotte left his band Spasme and started auditioning a string of drummers to seriously start a complete outfit. Shortly after, he was joined by soprano vocalist Arianne Fleury and demented bass wizard Dominic “Forest” Lapointe and started to jam complete songs.

In the mean time, vocalist Patrick Loisel had pledged to join and, in February 2002, left his band Kralizec to become the band’s other lead guitarist as well. In June of 2002, former Adenine’s drummer Mathieu Groulx completed the line-up and helped the band shape their first six songs and play its first show. However, lack of time and different musical tastes led him to depart Augury.

For a few months, the drummer-less outfit spent time writing more songs, focusing on strings instruments arrangements. Then, to the relief of everyone, the final missing piece fell in the puzzle as drummer Étienne Gallo took over the seat. After months of arranging and rehearsing the songs, AUGURY finally commit their work into an album. Concealed was recorded by Yannick St-Amand and mixed by Jean-François Dagenais.

Following the album release, a wave of praise came toward Augury from all around the world. The band played selected shows, opening for world class acts like Cryptopsy, Decapitated and Children of Bodom and toured Canada twice over the following couple of years. In the summer 2005, they fired soprano vocalist Arianne Fleury over musical and personnal differences, then for the first time crossed the country with Quo Vadis. This wasn’t enough and Augury were at it again the following spring, spreading their message from coast to coast along co/headliners Unexpect.

Sadly, at the end of the tour, drummer Etienne Gallo left Augury to concentrate on other projects. The band then spent the summer 2006 searching for a new skin basher, while not knowing then that the solution to their problem was right across the corridor from their rehearsal room. Mesmerism’s drummer Philippe Cousineau was approached by the guys, tried…and ended being the perfect one. Augury therefore resumed live activities during fall 2006 and will devote the following winter to the creation of their next album

AUGURY doesn’t identify itself with any pre-established school of music, but it can be fit into the extreme metal category since they favor fast playing, low tuning and rough vocals. A further link can be made with the Norwegian symphonic Black Metal scene, for the use of classical, Celtic and medieval overtones and the lush vocal harmonies that embellish about half of the songs. Triplet feels and guitar/bass dual and triple harmonies are indeed a staple of Augury’s music. Yet, there is no keyboard, no fake vampire image and a totally different lyrical concept.

Also, the musicians add influences from a lot of other sources. All members are big fans of progressive rock, classical baroque and jazz and there is a big flamenco influence (Strunz & Farrah, Paco de Lucia, Don Ross) in the playing. Strings players alone total almost 50 years of practicing their instruments and Patrick started singing in the late 80’s while Arianne is classically trained. Yet, everyone still yearns to widen his or her horizon...

Members:

- Pat Loisel
Vocals/ lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars.

Born in Montreal on 1970-05-26, Patrick spent most of his life in Valleyfield.

- Mathieu Marcotte
Lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars.

Born in Val d’Or in Abitibi (Northern Quebec) on 1976-04-17

- Dominic “Forest” Lapointe
6 strings bass guitar

Born in Forestville, Eastern Quebec, on 1976-02-19

- Phil Cousineau
Drums.

Born on 1983-10-09

Discography:

Concealed" (2004) - Galy Records

From: http://www.augurymetal.com