{{Short description|American Christian death metal band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Aletheian | image = | landscape = yes | caption = Aletheian at Cornerstone in 2008 | alias = Crutch | years_active = 1997–present | genre = Progressive death metal<ref name=AM>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dying-vine-mw0000785420|title=Aletheian - ''Dying Vine''|website=AllMusic|first=Greg|last=Prato|accessdate=December 20, 2015}}</ref><ref name=MS>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2008/05/13/aletheian-suffer-from-add-with-dying-vine/|title=ALETHEIAN SUFFER FROM A.D.D. WITH ''DYING VINE''|publisher=MetalSucks|first=Vince|last=Neilstein|date=May 13, 2008|accessdate=December 20, 2015}}</ref> | origin = Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S. | label = IronClad, Hope Prevails, Burning | current_members = Alex Kenis<br>Joel Thorpe<br>Joe Walmer | past_members = Travis Turner<br> Keith Isenberg<br>Vinnie Aldrege<br>Bryan Clarkson<br>Travis Wagner<br>Donny Swigart | website = {{URL|http://www.aletheian.com}} }}
'''Aletheian''' are a Christian progressive/melodic death metal band. They formed in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1997 under the name Crutch, and then changed their name to "Aletheian" prior to the 2003 album ''Apolutrosis''. Guitarist Alex Kenis joined Becoming the Archetype in 2007. In the early 2007, Aletheian signed to IronClad Recordings, an imprint of Metal Blade Records.
== Biography == Aletheian was originally formed under the name Crutch in 1997. With the lineup of Alex Kenis on guitars, Keith Isenberg on bass, Vinnie Aldrich on vocals, and Bryan Clarkson on drums, the band began writing material. The early material was very metalcore oriented rather than what the band became known for later.<ref name="Discuss">{{cite web|url=https://podcast.discussmetal.com/e/discuss-metal-episode-018-travis-turner-of-the-satire/|title=Discuss Metal Episode 018: Travis Turner of The Satire|website=Discography Discussion Podcast|interviewer=Daniel Terry|first=Travis|last=Turner|date=June 18, 2020|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Aldrich did not remain in the band for very long, with the position being filled by Joel Thorpe who would record on the band's debut album, ''Crutch''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Crutch-Crutch/release/6147985|title=Crutch - Crutch|website=Discogs|date=September 22, 1998 |accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Following that, an EP was being written, initially titled ''Annealed by Animosity'', which they changed to ''Transitions''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com:80/pa/crutch1/main.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991115210707/http://www.angelfire.com/pa/crutch1/main.html|title=Homepage of the independent band Crutch|archive-date=November 15, 1999|access-date=February 22, 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> Clarkson would leave the band, with Travis Turner taking over the position.<ref name="Discuss"/> Donny Swigart would also join the band at this time, in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aletheian.com/aletheian%20band%20members.html|title=ALETHEIAN - Band Members|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Turner joined the band by recommendation of his cousin, Stephen Sarro of Tantrum of the Muse, which led to him and Kenis speaking over the phone about his influences which included Cephalic Carnage and Damn the Machine.<ref name="ATSG">{{cite web|url=https://asthestorygrows.com/episodes/cf8c3652|title=Travis Turner of As The Story Grows|website=As The Story Grows Podcast|interviewer=Jeremy Hunt|first=Travis|last=Turner|date=July 1, 2018|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Influenced by Death, Cynic, Carcass, Emperor, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Meshuggah, and At the Gates,<ref name="sonicbids"/> the band began to shift their style in that direction.<ref name="Discuss"/><ref name="ATSG"/> They later released their debut, ''...Hope Prevails'', independently in 2001.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} The album was re-released on Burning Records, a label created by Mike Fealko of the hardcore punk and metalcore band Vessel, in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/124625-Burning-Records-5|title=Burning Records|website=Discogs|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref>
The group changed its name to Aletheian, a derivation of the Greek word for "truth", in the sense of "discovering", in 2003 when the band underwent a major line-up change acquiring two new members and made the decision to take the band to the touring level for the first time.<ref name="ATSG"/> Isenberg had departed from the band due to family matters, as had Turner, whose wife was pregnant with twins at the time.<ref name="ATSG"/> The style and material of the band did not change with the name, combining elements of technical, progressive, Scandinavian, and melodic death metal. ''Apolutrosis'', a full-length Concept album, pre-release made available independently in 2003.<ref name="Discuss"/> The album was initially supposed to be released as an EP, however, Century Media Records was interested in the band at the time, but only if they recorded a full-length.<Ref name="Discuss"/> This led the band to record several instrumental tracks in addition to the four tracks they had finished.<Ref name="ATSG"/> Following the album being recorded, Century Media was no longer interested.<Ref name="Discuss"/> It was re-mixed and re-mastered for full-release in 2004 on Hope Prevails Productions.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} The same year ''...Hope Prevails'' was partially re-recorded, re-mixed, re-mastered, and re-released with updated artwork and the name Aletheian on Hope Prevails Productions. ''Dying Vine'' was Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Studio Insomnia.<ref name="DV"/> The album was delayed severely due to Kenis injuring his hand with a box-cutter knife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/interviews/4057/Aletheian.html|title=Aletheian|website=The Gauntlet|first=Joel|last=Thorpe|date=May 20, 2008|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Kenis also produced, sound teched, engineered, mixed, and mastered the album on top of performing guitars and bass on it.<ref name="DV">{{cite web|url=http://aletheian.com/aletheian%20dv.html|title=ALETHEIAN - Dying Vine|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}</ref> The album was released in July 2005 by Hope Prevails Productions.<ref name="DV"/> In 2005, the band released ''Aletheian Live'' DVD, featuring two hours of edited live concert footage, concept music video, behind-the-scenes recording documentary, and more.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} Aletheian has contributed two songs, "Break in the Clouds" and "Exaleipheian", recorded live in Ohio for Spindust Records' DVD compilation video ''10/20 Underground Rock Show'' in 2004.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
Aletheian has played festivals such as March Metal Meltdown, MACRoCk, Sick as Sin, Metal Mindrage, Ichthus, and Cornerstone Festival as well as with bands such as Cephalic Carnage, Becoming the Archetype, Biohazard, Buried Alive, Antithesis, Withered Earth, Disgorge, Zao, Living Sacrifice, Society's Finest, Tantrum of the Muse, and Underoath, among others.<ref name="sonicbids">[http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=13416 Aletheian biography]. Sonicbids.com</ref> In early 2007, Aletheian signed to IronClad Recordings, an imprint of Metal Blade Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aletheian.com/aletheian%20dv.html|title=ALETHEIAN|last=|first=|date=|website=www.aletheian.com|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref> In 2008, the band performed at Cornerstone with a lineup of Thorpe, Kenis, a returning Turner, Chris Keeney on guitar, and Andy High on bass.<ref name="ATSG"/> Following that show, however, the band embarked on an indefinite hiatus.<ref name="ATSG"/>
In 2016, Alex Kenis did an interview on Shoot the Shred Podcast, stating he had written all of the songs for an upcoming album but has been unable to record it due to "life happening".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-shred/id1000314302?mt=2&i=367481743|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923201815/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-shred/id1000314302?mt=2&i=367481743|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=EP 24 – Alex Kenis (Solamors/Aletheian)|publisher=Shoot the Shred Podcast|author=Eric|date=April 25, 2016|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}</ref> According to Turner, who remains in contact with Kenis, the new material is not likely to be finished, but he cannot confirm it will never happen.<Ref name="ATSG"/>
== Members == {{BLP unsourced section|date=October 2016}} {| class="wikitable" |+ style="text-align: left;" |Current members |- ! Name ! Instrument ! Years ! Other groups |- | Alex Kenis | lead guitar, keyboards, clean vocals | 1997–present | Becoming the Archetype, Solamors, Synoptic Rise |- | Joel Thorpe | unclean vocals | 1998–present | |- | Josiah "Joe" Walmer | drums | 2003–present | Solace of Requiem, Blind Influence |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ style="text-align: left;" |Former members |- ! Name ! Instrument ! Years ! Other groups |- | Travis Turner | drums | 1999–2003, 2008 | Solamors, UnTeachers, Mid-Evil, The Satire, the Houselights, Half Bomber, My Brother the Woodmaker |- | Keith Isenberg | bass | 1997–2002 | |- | Vinnie Aldrich | vocals | 1997–1998 | |- | Bryan Clarkson | drums | 1997–1999 | |- | Donny Swigart | guitar | 1999–2006 | Enshrouded by Despair |}
{| class="wikitable" |+style="text-align: left;"|Live musicians |- ! Name ! Instrument ! Years ! Other groups |- | Travis Wagner | bass | 2003–2007 | Dirtfedd |- | Andy High | bass | 2007–2008 | Blind Influence |- | Derek Corzine | guitars | 2007 | Bloodline Severed, Quester, Solarian, Whisper from Heaven, Blood Thirsty, Cosÿns, Crowned in Sorrow, Syringe, Vials of Wrath |- | Chris Keeney | guitar, clean vocals | 2007–2008 | Blind Influence |- | Amy Lynn Corzine | female vocals | 2007 | Whisper from Heaven, Bloodline Severed |}
'''Timeline''' <div style="text-align:left;"> <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:90 top:0 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1997 till:09/30/2016 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors = id:UVocals value:claret legend:Unclean_vocals id:LGuitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar,_clean_vocals,_keyboards,_piano id:RGuitar value:green legend:Rhythm_guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:spacer value:white legend: id:Album value:black legend:Studio_album id:EP value:gray(0.55) legend:Other_release id:bars value:gray(0.95)
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 BackgroundColors=bars:bars ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1997 ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1997
LineData = layer:back at:06/01/1999 color:EP at:01/01/2001 color:EP at:09/01/2001 color:Album at:01/01/2003 color:Album at:01/01/2005 color:Album at:01/01/2008 color:EP
BarData = bar:Vinnie text:"Vinnie Aldrich" bar:Joel text:"Joel Thorpe" bar:Alex text:"Alex Kenis" bar:Donny text:"Donny Swigart" bar:Keith text:"Keith Isenberg" bar:Bryan text:"Bryan Clarkson" bar:Travis text:"Travis Turner" bar:Joe text:"Joe Walmer" PlotData= width:11 bar:Alex from:01/01/1997 till:end color:LGuitar bar:Alex from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1999 color:RGuitar width:3 bar:Alex from:01/01/2006 till:end color:RGuitar width:7 bar:Alex from:03/01/2003 till:end color:Bass width:3 bar:Vinnie from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:UVocals bar:Joel from:01/01/1998 till:end color:UVocals bar:Donny from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2006 color:RGuitar bar:Keith from:01/01/1997 till:03/01/2003 color:Bass bar:Bryan from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1999 color:Drums bar:Travis from:01/01/1999 till:03/01/2003 color:Drums bar:Joe from:03/01/2003 till:end color:Drums </timeline> </div>
== Discography == '''As Crutch''' *''Crutch'' (1998) *''Transitions'' (1999) *''Awe and Disbelief'' (2000) *''Hope Prevails'' (2001; Hope Prevails Productions)
'''As Aletheian''' *''Apolutrosis'' (2003; Hope Prevails Productions)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tollbooth.org/2003/reviews/aletheian.html|title=Aletheian - ''Apolutrosis''|publisher=The Phantom Tollbooth|first=Len|last=Nash|date=August 31, 2003|accessdate=December 20, 2015}}</ref> *''Dying Vine'' (2005; Hope Prevails Productions)<ref name=AM/><ref name=MS/> *''Live'' (2005) *''Dying Vine'' (re-release) (2008; Ironclad Recordings/Metal Blade Records)<ref name=AM/><ref name=MS/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/dying-vine/|title=Aletheian - ''Dying Vine''|work=Blabbermouth.net|first=Ryan|last=Ogle|accessdate=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://yourlastrites.com/reviews/1879/aletheian-dying-vine|title=Aletheian - ''Dying Vine''|publisher=Lastrit.es|first=Erik|last=Thomas|date=August 2005|accessdate=August 12, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
'''Other songs''' * "Breathing Murder" originally performed by Living Sacrifice on ''Living Sacrifice Tribute'' (2001; Clenched Fist Records)
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == <!-- Per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> * {{Official website|http://www.aletheian.com}} * [http://www.thegauntlet.com/interviews/4057/Aletheian.html Aletheian Interview on The Gauntlet] * {{cite journal|title=Metal Tracks: Aletheian Rising|publisher=HM Magazine|first=Chris|last=Gatto|issue=76|date=August 2008}}
{{Aletheian}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aletheian}} Category:American Christian metal musical groups Category:American melodic death metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1997 Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Pennsylvania Category:American progressive metal musical groups Category:American technical death metal musical groups Category:Metal Blade Records artists