Review Summary: Ceremony - was a 1989-93(?) technical death/speed/thrash metal band from Cincinnati, Ohio/Northern Kentucky. Members included (guitar) Pat O'brien + Greg Reed, (bass + vocals) Steve Tucker, (drums) Shannon Purdon.
First, the mini-album "The Days Before The Death" is a classic metal release. Lots of different styles and influences can be heard in the music, but overall it could simply be classified as heavy technical/thrash/death metal. Way before its time. As I was playing in bands around the same area at that time and was friends with these guys I can say that Cincinnati wasn't ready for this kind of music, that is for sure! haha Nobody was doing anything similar at the time and without the internet way back then, I don't think they could have been influenced by any other death metal bands really. Death metal was still in its infancy and very underground. So I give this a 5 star rating for originality and of course the actual music is killer too. My band recorded at the same studio with the same engineer in Cincinnati (Audiocraft/Jeff Higgins) and I was told these guys did all of these songs live in one take! Talk about tight.
As far as the other review on this website, from memory I will try to make a few corrections: The band was from/based in Cincinnati, Ohio and northern Kentucky (not Texas or Florida). The drummers name is Shannon Purdon. I believe Ceremony was formed in 1989 by Shannon Purdon and Greg Reed, later asking Pat O'brien to audition for second guitar duties. Originally they had a different singer/bass player (Aaron Thomas) who they recorded a 5 song demo with. Aaron left the band to work on another project and so Steve Tucker was asked to join to complete the lineup. Steve's vocals really took them to another level. They were known as the super group of musicians from the area. I saw them play at a couple of rehearsals and a live show. From what I remember, I think Greg and Shannon wrote most of the songs, with Pat writing a couple and filling in bits and pieces as well as playing co-lead on the tracks. Steve wrote all of the lyrics. As I recall they had something like 25 songs they would run through at practice. Both Greg and Pat played lead on every song. You can hear the slightly different playing styles on this record.
From what I heard, the band broke up due to a combination of them getting frustrated with having trouble finding a decent label to support an album release and tour and then other well known bands poaching members after they got some national press in a metal magazine (see: Nevermore/Morbid Angel). Ceremony briefly became Internecine with Shannon and Greg at the core, which Jared Anderson (RIP), another local to Cincinnati and friend of Shannon's, joined and years later released an album using the same name. Also, Greg briefly played in Vital Remains and Shannon with Sicarii. I believe that Steve And Greg also worked together during his break from Morbid Angel, like around 2003 or something.
Anyway, Ceremony definitely was a killer band and the music on "The Days Before The Death" certainly represents this. It's a shame they split up. Hopefully someday the original demo will be released too. I had a copy on tape, but unfortunately wore that out long ago. I've also recently heard rumors of a potential reunion... given what these guys have gone on to do in the metal industry, now that would be amazing to hear and see!
You can still find this album for sale in some record stores and on a few websites like Amazon and Discogs.
