Torn Asunder

Springfield, MA-based death metal band Torn Asunder released their debut album, Recollections, in late 2005, but bandmembers Rusty Kupyar (vocals), Micah London (guitar), Johnny Bendezu (bass), and Jimmy Bendezu (drums) actually formed the band in Hartford, CT, all the way back in 1996! In other words, they spent nearly a decade playing local gigs, financing their own demos (and an EP: 1999's In Painful Remembrance), and even split up momentarily in 2004. Luckily, that decision finally jolted underground metal cognoscenti to realizing what they'd let slip away, and prompted a reunion which quickly resulted in the recording of said album. Boasting crunchy death metal spiced with inevitable nuances of the region's prevalent metalcore style, Recollections announced the arrival of second guitarist "Metal" Steve Ghazil, and preceded the departure of founding member London, replaced by Sean Gaura) (ex-End-Time Illusion) for subsequent touring in 2005.