{{Short description|American blackened death metal band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Angelcorpse | image = Angel Corpse Paris 280408 03.jpg | caption = Angelcorpse performing in Paris, 2008 | image_size = 250 | landscape = yes | alias = | origin = [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], U.S. | genre = [[Blackened death metal]], [[blackened thrash metal]] | years_active = 1995&ndash;2000, 2006&ndash;2009, 2015–2017 | label = [[Osmose Productions]]<br />[[The End Records]] | spinoff_of = [[Order from Chaos]] | website = | current_members = Pete Helmkamp<br />Gene Palubicki<br />Andrea Janko | past_members = Bill Taylor<br />Steve Bailey<br />Tony Laureano<br />John Longstreth<br />Paul Collier }}

'''Angelcorpse''' was a [[blackened death metal]] band formed after the demise of Pete Helmkamp's previous band, [[Order from Chaos]]. Originally from [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], they relocated to [[Tampa]], [[Florida]].

''[[Metal Injection]]'' described the band's style of death metal as "blindingly fast".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-19 |title=15 Metal Bands That Need To Reunite |url=https://metalinjection.net/lists/15-metal-bands-that-need-to-reunite |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref> Some journalists consider Angelcorpse to be an overlooked band in the history of extreme metal. In 2025, ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' wrote: "Angelcorpse wrote some of the best thrashy, unholy death metal to ever be unleashed from the [[Everglades]]. The band’s debut album, ''Hammer of Gods'' is a must-listen, as is their second full-length, ''Exterminate''."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-13 |title=4 Underrated Death Metal Bands From The 90s |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/4-underrated-death-metal-bands-from-the-90s/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History== Angelcorpse formed in 1995, with a line-up of Helmkamp, guitarist Gene Palubicki, and drummer John Longstreth, and recorded a demo, ''Goats to Azazael'', which led to a contract with [[Osmose Productions]].<ref name="Huey">Huey, Steve [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p289642/biography|pure_url=yes}} "Angel Corpse Biography"], ''[[Allmusic]]'', Macrovision Corporation</ref> The band's debut album, ''Hammer of Gods'', was released in 1996, after which rhythm guitarist Bill Taylor joined, playing on second album ''Exterminate'' (1998).<ref name="Huey" /> Drummer Tony Laureano joined shortly after its release but Taylor left.<ref name="Huey" /> The band's third album, ''The Inexorable'', was released in the fall of 1999, after which Taylor rejoined.<ref name="Huey" /> While on tour with [[Immortal (band)|Immortal]], [[Satyricon (band)|Satyricon]], and [[Krisiun]], in support of ''The Inexorable'', the band had an accident in their tour van, in which Helmkamp was injured.<ref name="Bennett">Bennett, J (2007) "Angelcorpse - Back From the Grave", ''[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]'', August 2007, p.34</ref> On the same tour, Helmkamp's girlfriend was stabbed, and he decided to leave the band.<ref name="Bennett" /> The rest of the band continued for a while but decided to split up.

In 2006, the band reformed and recorded a new album.<ref name="Bennett" /> Helmkamp said of the reunion: "It just seems like the planets realigned. It's not like we didn't get along or that there were any bridges to mend."<ref name="Bennett" />

The band was involved in a number of [[United States|American]] and [[Europe]]an tours involving other metal acts such as [[Immortal (band)|Immortal]], [[Krisiun]], Cianide, and [[Watain]]. An East Coast USA tour was completed in May 2007. In 2008 the band embarked on a larger European tour with Revenge and Arkhon Infaustus throughout Europe, this tour included a performance at the United Metal Maniacs Open Air Festival in Bitterfeld Germany. Upon returning to the US, live dates on the West Coast with Cemetery Urn, Sanguis Imperum, Gospel of the Horns, and Ares Kingdom were completed. On April 7, 2009, the members announced disbandment, citing "musical differences" as the reason.<ref>[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=117725 "Angelcorpse calls it quits"]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Blabbermouth.net, 7 April 2009</ref>

Helmkamp claimed that the band is fueled by "the constant struggle, strife, camaraderie, and unified will that forged the iron, blood, and blasphemy of our music and lyrics".<ref name="Purcell">Purcell, Natalie J. (2003) ''Death Metal Music'', McFarland, {{ISBN|978-0-7864-1585-4}}, p.73-74</ref>

As of 2015, the band temporarily reformed for select live dates, though it was repeatedly stressed that it was a one-time live reunion that would not produce new material. Upon concluding their reunion live dates in 2017, the band split up permanently.

== Other projects == Angelcorpse guitarist Gene Palubicki has also played with a [[Death metal|death]]/[[thrash metal]] project called [[Blasphemic Cruelty]]. Their debut album is called ''Devil's Mayhem''. Gina Ambrosio played drums in the band and Alex Blume played bass and did vocals. Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez engineered the album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2008-08-07 |title=ANGELCORPSE Guitarist Issues Update On BLASPHEMIC CRUELTY Project |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/angelcorpse-guitarist-issues-update-on-blasphemic-cruelty-project/ |access-date=2026-02-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> They signed to [[Hells Headbangers Records]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2012-12-10 |title=BLASPHEMIC CRUELTY And PERDITION TEMPLE Sign To HELLS HEADBANGERS |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/blasphemic-cruelty-and-perdition-temple-sign-to-hells-headbangers/ |access-date=2026-02-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography== * ''Goats to Azazel'' (demo, 1995) * ''Hammer of Gods'' (1996) * ''Nuclear Hell'' (EP, 1997) * ''Wolflust'' (single, 1997) * ''Exterminate'' (1998) * ''Winds of Desecration'' (EP, split with Martire, 1999) * ''The Inexorable'' (1999) * ''Iron, Blood and Blasphemy'' (compilation of singles, EPs, live songs and original demo, 2000) * ''Death Dragons of the Apocalypse'' (live CD, 2002) * ''[[Of Lucifer and Lightning]]'' (2007)

While Angelcorpse's main material is released on [[Osmose Productions|Osmose]], the singles, EPs, and live albums were released on Gene Palubicki's Evil Vengeance Records.

==Members== ===Final lineup=== * Pete Helmkamp – bass, vocals (1995–2000, 2006–2009, 2015–2017) * Gene Palubicki – guitars (1995–2000, 2006–2009, 2015–2017) * Andrea Janko – drums (2016–2017)

===Former members=== * [[Tony Laureano]] – drums (1998–2000) * Bill Taylor – guitars (1996–1998, 1999-2000) * John Longstreth – drums (1995–1998, 2006–2007) * Paul Collier – drums (2008) * Terry "Warhead" – drums (2008–2009) * Ronnie Parmer – drums (2015–2016) * Ken Phillips – guitars (1999)

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:95 bottom:80 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/2017 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1995 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1995 Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals,_bass id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:bars value:gray(0.95) id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Demo/EP/Live_album

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData = layer:back

at:06/01/1995 color:other at:10/31/1996 color:studio at:01/01/1997 color:other at:06/01/1997 color:other at:01/01/1998 color:studio at:01/01/1999 color:other at:09/14/1999 color:studio at:01/01/2000 color:other at:01/01/2002 color:other at:01/01/2007 color:studio

BarData = bar:Pete text:"Pete Helmkamp" bar:Gene text:"Gene Palubicki" bar:Bill text:"Bill Taylor" bar:Ken text:"Ken Phillips" bar:John text:"John Longstreth" bar:Tony text:"Tony Laureano" bar:Paul text:"Paul Collier" bar:Terry text:"Terry "Warhead"" bar:Ronnie text:"Ronnie Parmer" bar:Andrea text:"Andrea Janko"

PlotData = width:11 bar:Pete from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/2000 color:vocals bar:Pete from:01/01/2006 till:04/17/2009 color:vocals bar:Pete from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2017 color:vocals

bar:Gene from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/2000 color:guitar bar:Bill from:01/01/1996 till:01/31/1998 color:guitar bar:Ken from:02/01/1998 till:12/31/1998 color:guitar bar:Bill from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:guitar bar:Gene from:01/01/2006 till:04/17/2009 color:guitar bar:Gene from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2017 color:guitar

bar:John from:01/01/1995 till:01/31/1998 color:drums bar:Tony from:02/01/1998 till:01/01/2000 color:drums bar:John from:01/01/2006 till:12/31/2007 color:drums bar:Paul from:01/01/2008 till:06/30/2008 color:drums bar:Terry from:07/01/2008 till:04/17/2009 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/01/2015 till:06/30/2016 color:drums bar:Andrea from:07/01/2016 till:01/01/2017 color:drums }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.geocities.com/angelcorpse2003 Old official website] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20031026062225/http://www.geocities.com/angelcorpse2003/ Archived] 2009-10-25) * [http://www.myspace.com/angelcorpse666 Official Angelcorpse @ Myspace] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140222042716/http://www.hmmdb.com/2014/02/angel-corpse-discography.html Live Angel Corpse Reviews]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Angelcorpse}} [[Category:1995 establishments in Missouri]] [[Category:American black metal musical groups]] [[Category:American blackened death metal musical groups]] [[Category:Death metal musical groups from Florida]] [[Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Missouri]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1995]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000]] [[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2006]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009]] [[Category:Musical trios from Florida]] [[Category:Musical groups from Kansas City, Missouri]]