Janissary

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Band Bio

Along with their contemporaries Rattus Rattus Rattus who invented the genre, Janissary is at the forefront of a musical style known as "Plague Rock". An amalgam of early heavy metal/hard rock and fuzzed-out blues sludge, Plague Rock is characterized by its slow, leaden riffs, morbid imagery, and the tendency of its bands to look like heroin addicts at death's door [which is not an altogether inaccurate summation for many of them]. Plague Rock singers usually have pale, clammy complexions; stringy, greasy long hair; thin, anorexic figures; and red-rimmed, dark-circled, or otherwise sunken eyes. There's always lots of coughing and staggering at plague rock shows, as if the lead singers were about to cough up a lung [or, more accurately, pass out from heavy drug use]. Will Wormwood, singer for Janissary, is no different.

Janissary refuses to release any of their music on CD, choosing instead to champion the vinyl format. The band broke onto the metal scene with their self-titled 12" EP, which would go on to sell out through several re-pressings. With the sales of their debut, Janissary then recorded their first full LP. Titled "ashes of a witch burned at the stake," the album is a reference to an allegedly super-powerful ingredient used in only the rarest and blackest of occult rituals.

With a striking similarity to a scimitar, the crossed "J" in the band's name is often used by itself on stickers and t-shirts as their logo.

Current Lineup:

William Wormwood: vocals, hacking coughs
Gary Tansy: guitars
Don Hemlock: bass
Johnny Stavesacre: drums

Past Members:

Nick Nightshade [guitars; deceased, overdose]
Rob Bloodroot [drums; deceased, tuberculosis]

Band Gear

This band doesn't own any gear!

Albums / EPs

my torture chamber 12" ep Date Released: 10/20/2011   Tracks: 4 Sales: 6   Listens: 10 Janissary return from their successful "plague rock" album and tour with goth-metal gods ZV with a new 12" EP of tracks that seem to openly celebrate crude medieval implements of torture. That W.Wormwood works sexual imagery into these macabre settings only heightens the overt sleaziness and uncomfortable tone of this EP: in "laid out on the rack," he admires his date in shackles as he turns the stretching wheel; in "sexy spanish boots," he leers about how much sexier his lover's walk will be after being hobbled by the gruesome metal footwear. The B-side is better left to one's imagination. The vinyl is 180-gram audiophile picture vinyl featuring a hand wielding a cat o' nine tails on both sides of the record. Side A has "long slog" etched into the runout groove. Side B has "flesh flog" etched into the runout groove. Produced by Remy Brecht. Released by Formerwageslave Records.

plague rock LP Date Released: 9/2/2011   Tracks: 8 Sales: 10   Listens: 20 Janissary celebrate the end of their U.S. tour with goth metal legends ZV in the form of a new album, "plague rock"! The vinyl itself is 180-gram audiophile picture vinyl highlighting a different detail on either side from Bruegel's plague-themed painting "The Triumph of Death" from 1562. Side A has "plague rock" etched into the runout groove. Side B has "rattus nest" etched into the runout groove. Produced by Remy Brecht. Released by Formerwageslave Records.

death's head 10" ep Date Released: 6/2/2011   Tracks: 4 Sales: 12   Listens: 17 This super-rare item, the "death's head ep," was originally unveiled at the MoM V: Prime Evil festival. The band's trademark crossed "J" is the only hint that the record is Janissary-related product! Featuring white & black 180-gram 10" vinyl cut into the shape of a skull, the EP's four tracks capture plague rock at its loudest & filthiest. The few remaining copies are being sold by the band on their tour with ZV-- grab it! Produced by Remy Brecht. Released by Formerwageslave Records.

ashes from a witch burned at the stake LP Date Released: 3/31/2011   Tracks: 8 Sales: 17   Listens: 29 First long-player album by Janissary. Issued on 180 gram white vinyl with blood-red and ash-grey splatter. Side A has "execution" etched into the runout groove. Side B has "transmutation" etched into the runout groove. Produced by Remy Brecht. Released by Formerwageslave Records.

janissary 12" ep Date Released: 3/25/2011   Tracks: 4 Sales: 11   Listens: 19 Debut EP by plague rock band Janissary. Issued on 180 gram black wax w/ white cross outline embedded in the vinyl. On side B, cross is inverted in relation to the position of the label. Produced by Remy Brecht. Released by Formerwageslave Records.