Embers (Californian band)

Metal band from Oakland, USA

Embers

Embers

Background information
Origin| Oakland, California, United States
Genres| Black Metal
Doom Metal
Crust Punk
Years active| 2004–present
Members| Steven DeCaprio
Kelly Nelson
Jerry Buchanan
Timm Kennedy
Past members| Nine Katechis
Lillian Phaeton
Website| http://embers-music.com/

Embers is an American dark ambient heavy metal band, with male and female vocals and a black metal influence from Oakland, California, United States.[1]

## History

[edit]

Embers was formed in 2004 by Kelly Nelson on bass and vocals, Steven DeCaprio on guitar, and Jerry Buchanan on drums.

Kelly and Steve are the former members of the political hardcore/metal band, Lesser of Two, formed in 1990 and dissolved in 2002. Lesser of Two released three CDs, and two singles.

Jerry Buchanan has played in a number of Bay Area bands over the last 15 years including Fields of Shit and Abandon featuring members from the seminal "East Bay hardcore" band Filth. He also plays drums in a tribute band called I Yearn for Maiden.

Nine plays viola with over 15 years of experience and has performed with various artist including current Bay Area bands Rivers Run Black and Six Billion Dead. She now has only an occasional performance based relationship with Embers.

Lillian a classically trained pianist has not played keys in a band prior to Embers. She has been part of the SF punk scene for many years.

Timm has played guitar in Neoni Eagal, Background to Malfunction, and a number of other music projects over the years and is a vocalist for Embers.

Embers has been noted as one of a number of prominent San Francisco Bay Area metal acts to feature women. The fact that three members of the band are female is notable due to the historic lack of female representation in heavy metal.[2]

## Ideology

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Embers has been referred to as a Red and Anarchist Black Metal group.[by whom?] This is partially because Kelly Nelson and Steven DeCaprio's previous band Lesser of Two was an anarchist punk rock band noted for their independent D.I.Y. ethic.[3] This is also partially due to the radical lifestyle of the band members.

Guitarist, Steven DeCaprio is a squatter and housing rights activist featured in the movie Shelter: a squatumentary.[4][5][6][7][8]

Drummer, Jerry Buchanan's project, I Yearn for Maiden has played numerous events and political actions in support of radical community projects including, in part, squatter's rights as well as defending People's Park by performing while activists resisted police while rebuilding a "free box".[9][10][11]

Keyboardist, Lillian Phaeton is a former member of the board of directors of the California League of Conservation Voters a major environmental organization.[12][13]

## Musical style

[edit]

Embers blends punk and black metal, but also have a unique melancholic sound similar to other Bay Area peers such as Ludicra and Saros.[14]

Embers has received positive reviews for their music including Heathen Harvest webzine,[15] Profane Existence[16] magazine, and Decibel Magazine.[14]

## Current members

[edit]

* Steven DeCaprio - guitar
* Kelly Nelson - bass guitar and vocals
* Jerry Buchanan - drums
* Timm Kennedy - guitar and vocals

## Past members

[edit]

* Nine Katechis - viola
* Lillian Phaeton - keyboards

## Discography

[edit]

* 2007: Memoria In Aeterna
* 2009: Wrath (split album with Book of Belial)
* 2011: Shadows[17]

## References

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1. ^ "Noisecreep - Rock and Heavy Metal Videos, News and More". Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
2. ^ "Metal maidens | San Francisco Bay Guardian". Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
3. ^ "MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL » Back Issues". September 5, 2012. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
4. ^ "Shelter: A Squatumentary | Political Media Review – PMR". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
5. ^ "Shelter: A Squatumentary (Video 2008) - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
6. ^ "San Francisco Bay Guardian | Uh oh". Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
7. ^ "Shane Bauer". Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
8. ^ [1]
9. ^ "Little Boy Blue - News". Littleboyblue.org. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
10. ^ "Welcome to the People's Park Home Page...Enjoy". Peoplespark.org. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
11. ^ "Welcome to the People's Park Home Page...Enjoy". Archived from the original on September 9, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
12. ^ . May 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080513065357/http://www.ecovote.org/scorecards/2003/2003clcv.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2020. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
13. ^ Wayback Machine
14. ^ a b Decibel Magazine, March 2010, issue number 065
15. ^ "Heathen Harvest - Reviews: Embers - Memoria in Aeterna". Archived from the original on October 7, 2012.
16. ^ "Reviews". Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
17. ^ "Embers". Embers.bandcamp.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.

## External links

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* Official website
* Bandcamp

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

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