Psyopus

{{Short description|American mathcore band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Multiple issues|{{Fan POV|date=February 2026}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2026}} {{Unreliable sources|date=February 2026}}}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Psyopus | image = | caption = | image_size = 250 | alias = Stranglefuck | origin = Rochester, New York, United States | genre = Avant-garde metal, mathcore, grindcore, progressive metal | years_active = 2002–2010, 2012 | label = Metal Blade Black Market Activities | website = [http://www.myspace.com/psyopus www.myspace.com/psyopus Official MySpace] | past_members = Christopher Arp Jason Bauer Adam Frappolli Fred Decoste Greg Herman Brian Woodruff Brian Kelly Lee Fisher Corey Barnes Jon Cole Harrison Christie Michael Horn Matt Dalberth Brent Glover }}

'''Psyopus''' (sometimes written as '''PsyOpus''') was an American mathcore band from Rochester, New York. Christopher Arp is the founding member and the only member to remain in the band throughout its history.

==History== Formed in 2002, the band was noted for the unorthodox and extremely technical guitar techniques of Christopher Arp, often referred to as "Arpmandude". To get endorsement deals from various guitar and amp companies, Arp had to send a live video of himself playing to prove that he could play as fast as he does. Arp stated "I understand people not understanding us so by default the music comes across as noise but, the music makes sense to us all too much and every 16th note was scrutinized."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musik.terrorverlag.de/interviews.php?id=454 |title=Musik Interviews | Künstler, Musiker und Band Interviews |website=Musik.terrorverlag.de |date= |accessdate=2016-03-08}}</ref> Regarding learning to play guitar, Arp said: "I learned to play guitar in my bedroom. I got my first guitar in eighth grade. I bought Metallica tablature books, Megadeth books, guitar magazines, didn’t do homework, and just played guitar all night."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grindheadrecords.com/ausgrind/?p=141 |title=Reprinted Interview with Arpmandude from PsyopusAusGrind: Australian underground grindcore, punk, doom and DIY culture |website=Grindheadrecords.com |date=2007-10-24 |accessdate=2016-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723092913/http://www.lesstalkrecords.com/grindcore/?p=141 |archive-date=2012-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The band released their 2nd album, ''Our Puzzling Encounters Considered'', in February 2007. The techniques Arp used made it even more difficult to receive any endorsement. Arp said, "Mesa Boogie has not done very much to sponsor me because I do too much of this," as he raised his guitar by the whammy bar shaking it up and down. The band released their third studio album ''Odd Senses'', on February 17, 2009.

The band entered an extended hiatus in 2010. In 2011, Christopher Arp posted several videos of himself on YouTube explaining the history and eventual hiatus of Psyopus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/Arpmandude |title=Arpmandude |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2016-03-08}}</ref>

In October 2012, ''Metal Injection'' revealed that Psyopus would reunite with three of the four original members: Chris Arp, Adam Frappolli, and Fred Decoste. They were joined by drummer Jason Bauers, who was a member until the hiatus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/yes/psyopus-forging-a-comeback |title=PSYOPUS Forging A Comeback? |publisher=Metal Injection |date=2012-10-05 |accessdate=2016-03-08}}</ref>

On July 17, 2015, a YouTube account named The Infamous Arpmandude posted a video titled ''5/21/2013 Chris Arp Imogen's Puzzle and Lecture at the U of R''. In the hour and ten-minute video, Arp played Imogen's Puzzle Pt. 2 and talked about himself, playing guitar, and the history of Psyopus. He explained that Psyopus is no longer an active band due to frustrations and hardships.<ref>{{Citation|last=The Infamous Arpmandude|title=5/21/2013 Chris Arp Imogen's Puzzle and Lecture at the U of R|date=17 July 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCnjdyRVHLw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/RCnjdyRVHLw |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-12-07}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Members== ===Final lineup=== * Adam Frappolli - lead vocals (2002–2007, 2012) * Christopher Arp - guitar (2002–2012) * Fred DeCoste - bass (2002–2007, 2012) * Jason Bauers - drums, percussion (2007–2012)

===Former members=== * Brian Woodruff - vocals (2008–2010) * Greg Herman - drums, percussion (2002–2004) (Shield Your Eyes, Valpurga, Inertia, Kalibas, Low Ton, North American Wildlife) * Lee Fisher - drums, percussion (2004–2005) (Commit Suicide, Overlord Exterminator, Fawn Limbs) * Corey Barnes - drums, percussion (2005–2006) (Paria) * Jon Cole - drums, percussion (2006–2007) (POWERWOLVES, FINISHER) * Harrison Christy - lead vocals (2007–2008) (The Jefferson Plane Crash) * Michael Horn - bass (2007–2009) (The Osedax, Mod Flanders Conspiracy) * Travis Morgan - bass (2009 touring) (Atheist) * Brian Kelly - bass (2009 touring) (AD.UL.T) * Brent Glover - bass (2009 touring) (Bellicist, Reciprocal)

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:170 bottom:80 top:5 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2002 till:12/31/2012 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2002 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2002 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

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PlotData = width:11 bar:Adam from:01/01/2002 till:06/01/2007 color:vocals bar:Adam from:10/01/2012 till:end color:vocals bar:Harrison from:06/01/2007 till:06/01/2008 color:vocals bar:Brian from:06/01/2008 till:12/01/2010 color:vocals bar:Chris from:01/01/2002 till:12/01/2010 color:guitar bar:Chris from:10/01/2012 till:end color:guitar bar:Fred from:01/01/2002 till:06/01/2007 color:bass bar:Fred from:10/01/2012 till:end color:bass bar:Michael from:06/01/2007 till:04/01/2009 color:bass bar:Greg from:01/01/2002 till:12/01/2004 color:drums bar:Lee from:12/01/2004 till:06/01/2005 color:drums bar:Corey from:06/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 color:drums bar:Jon from:06/01/2006 till:06/01/2007 color:drums bar:Jason from:06/01/2007 till:12/01/2010 color:drums bar:Jason from:10/01/2012 till:end color:drums }}

==Discography== *2003: ''3003'' (Demo EP) *2004: ''Ideas of Reference'' (Metal Blade/Black Market Activities) *2007: ''Our Puzzling Encounters Considered'' (Metal Blade) *2009: ''Odd Senses'' (Metal Blade)

==References== <references/>

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090228222947/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=130&csid2=4&fid1=36724 Psyopus article] March 2009 *[http://www.rocknworld.com/thrashpit/reviews/07/PsyopusInterview.shtml Interview with Arp of Psyopus] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090611132545/http://www.waytooloud.com/2009/01/29/psyopus-chris-arpmandude-arp/ Way Too Loud interview] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090228224127/http://www.hardcoresounds.net/modules.php?name=Interviews&func=view&id=141 hardcoresounds.net interview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Psyopus}} Category:Musical groups established in 2002 Category:Heavy metal musical groups from New York (state) Category:American avant-garde metal musical groups Category:American progressive metal musical groups Category:American musical quartets Category:Metal Blade Records artists Category:Black Market Activities artists Category:2002 establishments in New York (state)