Oppressor

All Music Guide:

Chicago death metal band Oppressor was formed in 1991 by bassist/vocalist Tim King and guitarist Adam Zadel, who went on to add guitarist Jim Stopper and drummer Tom Schofield. They quickly recorded a demo tape, World Abomination, but it was their second, As Blood Flows, that got them signed to Red Light Records in 1993. Oppressor's official debut album, Solstice of Oppression, was released the following year, and the band embarked on a heavy touring schedule in support. Unfortunately, Red Light went bankrupt and Oppressor compiled European Oppression Live + As Blood Flows from their concert tapes (and early demo), which was put out by Megalithic and kept their name in the public eye. Eventually, they caught on with Olympic, which released their second studio album Agony in 1996; featuring more structured compositions and improved production, it became the group's breakthrough, expanding their audience and netting the opening slot on Cannibal Corpse's American tour. Follow-up Elements of Corrosion appeared in 1998, by which time Zadel, King, and Schofield were performing in an alternative metal side project called Soil with vocalist Ryan McCombs and guitarist Shaun Glass (of fellow Chicago death metal band Broken Hope). By 1999, Soil had become a successful full-time venture, spelling the end of Oppressor.

Wikipedia:

Oppressor was a technical death metal band from Chicago, Illinois, which formed in 1991 and finished in 1999. They released three albums. Three of the band's members went on to form alternative metal band Soil.

History

Oppressor was started in May 1991 by Tim King and Adam Zadel. A month later, they found another guitarist in Jim Stopper and a drummer in Tom Schofield. They recorded their first demo, World Abomination, in 1991. A second demo, As Blood Flows, recorded in 1992, got them a record deal with Red Light Records, who released their first full-length album, Solstice of Oppression, in 1994. Shortly after the album's release, Red Light went bankrupt and the band was forced to find another label. In the meantime, the band released a one-off live album/compilation album with Megalithic Records, entitled Oppression Live/As Blood Flows. Megalithic, a Milwaukee, WI label, also went bankrupt after a few months of activity. They managed to score a record deal with Olympic Recordings and released Agony. In 1995, three-quarters of the band, bar Jim Stopper, started an alternative metal side project called Soil, with Broken Hope guitarist Shaun Glass and Ryan McCombs. In 1998, Oppressor released their final album, Elements of Corrosion. When in 1999 Soil become more popular than Oppressor, the band decided to part ways.

Musical style

Oppressor played death metal in a style that came to be known as technical death metal. They were influenced by bands like Morbid Angel, Death, Gorguts, and Suffocation. Their lyrical themes usually centred on conventional themes such as death, suffering, and moral depravity.