{{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{short description|American heavy metal band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Benedictum | image = | caption = | alias = Bound | origin = San Diego, California, U.S. | genre = Heavy metal, power metal | years_active = 2005–present (on hold since 2014) | label = Frontiers, Locomotive | website = {{url|benedictum.net}} | current_members = Veronica Freeman<br />Pete Wells<br />Rikard Stjernquist<br />Aric Avina | past_members = Blackie Sanchez<br />Jesse Wright<br />Chris Morgan<br />Paul Courtois<br />Chris Shrum<br />Tony Diaz<br />Mikey Pannone }}
'''Benedictum''' is an American heavy metal band formed in 2005 in San Diego, California that now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Their current lineup consists of vocalist Veronica Freeman, guitarist Pete Wells, bassist Aric Avina, and drummer Rikard Stjernquist. Since their formation the band released four studio albums, debuting with ''Uncreation'' in 2006, followed by ''Seasons of Tragedy'' in 2008, both through Spain-based label Locomotive Music, before signing with Italian label Frontiers Records for their third album, ''Dominion'', issued in 2011. Their fourth and most recent album, ''Obey'', was released on Frontiers Records in 2013.
== History ==
=== Band formation === Benedictum was formed originally as Bound by vocalist Veronica Freeman and guitarist Pete Wells in San Diego, California in 2005.<ref name="MusicMight">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/san+diego/benedictum1|title=Benedictum: MusicMight Biography|last=Sharpe-Young|first=Garry|publisher=MusicMight|accessdate=August 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195223/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/california/san+diego/benedictum1|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two founding members had been in the band known as Malady for over ten years.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/usa/california/san+diego/malady | title = Malady | accessdate = January 31, 2014 | last = Sharpe-Young | first = Garry | date = 2009 | publisher = MusicMight | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202120139/http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/usa/california/san+diego/malady | archive-date = February 2, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Freeman and Wells recruited drummer Blackie Sanchez and keyboardist Chris Morgan,<ref name="Locomotive">{{cite web | url = http://www.locomotivemusic.com/index.php?option=com_artist_browser&func=detail&anzeige=12 | title = Benedictum – Info | accessdate = January 31, 2014 | publisher = Locomotive Records | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070619123302/http://www.locomotivemusic.com/index.php?option=com_artist_browser&func=detail&anzeige=12 | archivedate = June 19, 2007}}</ref> whom Freeman had played with in the Dio tribute band Evilution.<ref name="UT">{{cite web | url = http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060507/news_lz1a07view.html | title = Heavy-metal thunder, from a new source | accessdate = January 31, 2014 | last = Varga | first = George | date = May 7, 2006 | publisher = U-T San Diego | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202130216/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060507/news_lz1a07view.html | archivedate = February 2, 2014 }}</ref> Freeman's acquaintance with Dio's guitarist Craig Goldy, brought the band to meet the former Dio and Dokken bass player Jeff Pilson, who produced their first three-track demo and contributed playing bass guitar.<ref name="Locomotive" /> In late 2005, they signed a record deal with the Spanish label Locomotive Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=39049|title=Benedictum Sign with Locomotive Records|date=July 9, 2005|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 22, 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428080338/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=39049|archivedate=April 28, 2006}}</ref>
=== History === After signing with Locomotive Records, Benedictum entered in the studio to record their debut album with production by Jeff Pilson and mixing by Pilson and former Warlock member Tommy Henriksen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40479|title=Benedictum Complete Work on Debut Album|date=August 15, 2005|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 22, 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029200516/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40479|archivedate=October 29, 2005}}</ref> The band recorded eleven songs including the covers of Black Sabbath′s songs "Heaven and Hell" and "The Mob Rules", songs the group members had played for years in tribute bands.<ref name="Locomotive" /> Both the former Rainbow and Dio member Jimmy Bain and Craig Goldy played as guests on the album. ''Uncreation'' was initially due to be released on October 17, 2005, but was delayed to January 20, 2006, according with statement of vocalist Veronica Freeman:
{{cquote|While we were all really looking forward to having ''Uncreation'' in stores this year rather than next this move is actually better are all parties involved. This is our inaugural release, which makes it all the more important that things are set up properly. Pushing the album back to January gave us a chance to tweak a few things and is giving the staff at Locomotive more time to put everything in motion. As they say, everything happens for a reason, so it's all good.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=42868|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202025218/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=42868|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-02|title=Benedictum: Debut Album Due in January|date=2005-10-13|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-08-22}}</ref>}}
Garnering strong reviews for ''Uncreation'', including a "bands to watch in 2006" pick by the British magazine ''Classic Rock'', the band toured Europe for the first time in the summer of that same year, kicking things off at Italy's massive Gods of Metal festival near Milan.<ref name="UT" /> Benedictum also landed a slot on the Winter 2006 Doro European tour.
Their 2008 sophomore release, ''Seasons of Tragedy'', saw the group continue their close working relationship with mentor/producer Jeff Pilson who brought in former Dokken bandmate George Lynch to contribute guest guitar solos on "Bare Bones" and a cover of the Accept track "Balls to the Wall". Long-time friend, guitarist Craig Goldy, also made an appearance on the album. The band supported the album in Europe with several festival shows and completed a fall tour with NWOBHM veterans Girlschool.
With regard to ''Seasons of Tragedy'', Allmusic reviewer Stewart Mason stated that "Singer Veronica Freeman has a powerful, hectoring voice, similar at times to Grace Slick's potent bellow from the Jefferson Starship days, and keyboardist Chris Morgan prefers to add subtle coloration and powerful drone parts rather than lame Keith Emerson-style twiddling."<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r825237|pure_url=yes}}|title=Uncreation – Review|last=Mason|first=Stewart|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=August 22, 2008}}</ref>
Prior to commencing work on their third album, ''Dominion'', the band underwent significant lineup changes with only core members Veronica Freeman and Pete Wells remaining. Benedictum would also leave their original record company, Locomotive Music, and sign a new deal with Frontiers Records.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/benedictum-signs-with-frontiers-records/ | title = BENEDICTUM Signs With FRONTIERS RECORDS | accessdate = January 31, 2014 | date = July 6, 2010 | publisher = Blabbermouth.net}}</ref> Due to Jeff Pilson's commitments with Foreigner, main producing duties for the new album were handled by Grammy Award winning engineer/producer, Ryan Greene, whose credits include Megadeth and NOFX. Pilson and Craig Goldy would make guest appearances on the album as did legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo on the song "Bang". Continuing the tradition of covering at least one cover track on each album, the band cut "Overture" / "The Temples of Syrinx" / "Grand Finale" off of ''2112'' by Rush, which is featured as a bonus track.
New members Rikard Stjernquist (ex-Jag Panzer) on drums and Aric Avina on bass were recruited in 2012 to record their latest album ''Obey'', released in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/benedictum-to-release-obey-in-november/ | title = BENEDICTUM To Release 'Obey' In November | accessdate = January 31, 2014 | date = October 8, 2013 | publisher = Blabbermouth.net}}</ref>
The band toured to promote the album, including supporting Y&T in their 40th Anniversary Tour in 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/benedictum-to-support-y-t-in-tempe-az/|title=BENEDICTUM To Support Y&T In Tempe, AZ|website=BraveWords|access-date=February 7, 2026}}</ref> though there is no known activity from the band since then.
== Members ==
=== Current members === *Veronica Freeman – vocals *Pete Wells – guitar *Aric Avina – bass *Rikard Stjernquist – drums
=== Former members === *Blackie Sanchez – drums *Jesse Wright – bass *Chris Morgan – keyboards *Paul Courtois – drums *Chris Shrum – bass *Tony Diaz – keyboards *Mikey Pannone – drums
=== Timeline === {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:16 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:60 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2005 till:06/23/2014 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2005 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2005
Colors = id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:lines value:black legend:Studio_album id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Other_releases
LineData = at:01/27/2006 color:black layer:back at:01/11/2008 color:black layer:back at:02/18/2011 color:black layer:back at:11/29/2013 color:black layer:back
BarData = bar:Freeman text:"Veronica Freeman" bar:Wells text:"Pete Wells" bar:Jesse text:"Jesse Wright" bar:Shrum text:"Chris Shrum" bar:Aric text:"Aric Avina" bar:Blackie text:"Blackie Sanchez" bar:Paul text:"Paul Courtois" bar:Mikey text:"Mikey Pannone" bar:Rikard text:"Rikard Stjernquist" bar:Chris text:"Chris Morgan" bar:Tony text:"Tony Diaz"
PlotData= width:10 bar:Freeman from:start till:end color:vocals bar:Wells from:start till:end color:guitar bar:Jesse from:start till:12/31/2008 color:bass bar:Shrum from:01/01/2009 till:06/15/2012 color:bass bar:Aric from:06/16/2012 till:end color:bass bar:Blackie from:start till:12/31/2008 color:drums bar:Paul from:01/01/2009 till:06/15/2010 color:drums bar:Mikey from:06/15/2010 till:06/15/2012 color:drums bar:Rikard from:06/15/2012 till:end color:drums bar:Chris from:12/01/2005 till:06/15/2006 color:keys bar:Tony from:01/01/2011 till:06/15/2011 color:keys }}
== Discography ==
;Studio albums *''Uncreation'' (2006) *''Seasons of Tragedy'' (2008) *''Dominion'' (2011) *''Obey'' (2013)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825100353/http://www.benedictum.net/ | date=August 25, 2018 | title=Benedictum}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Heavy metal musical groups from California Category:Musical groups from San Diego Category:Musical groups established in 2005 Category:Frontiers Records artists Category:Locomotive Music artists Category:American power metal musical groups