Akkolyte

Akkolyte first started in 1998 as a solo project on behalf of Stefan Gonzalez. Over time he decided it would remain impossible to play live if Akkolyte solely remained a home studio project. Aaron Gonzalez the older brother of the two decided to take up bass duties in early 1999 and by late July of 1999 the brothers started playing live on a regular basis, the first few shows being at Oak Cliff Coffee House and Moontunes Industries. Between 1999 and 2000 they began compiling home recordings and making piss poor quality demos. In late 2000 their debut 7" was released by Chode Brand Music, a split with manic Oklahoman thrashers, Septic Tumor. In 2001 they released a 7" entitled "Future Fascists of America". It was released by both Chode Brand Music and F.T.F. Productions(Stefan's label/distro at the time). They went on a few mini tours up through the mid-west as far reaching as Chicago, IL and Des Moines, IA. A few of them in conjunction with their family free jazz trio Yells at Eels and one with D/FW thrashers Terminal Dysentery and League of Struggle. Between 1999 and 2001 they began to play many shows with both local and inter/national touring bands including: Damad, Suicide Nation, Subtracttozero, Bread and Water, Phobia, Like Flies on Flesh, Harq al Ada, Defacto Oppression, Quiet Earth, Septic Tumor, Resigned to Fate, League of Struggle, Manchurian Candidates, Garuda, PLF, Diskonto, Resist and Exist, Ofdeath, Bred on Deception, Hawg Jaw, Deadbodieseverywhere, Catheter, Demon Hammer, Black Market Fetus, Systemic Infection, Reaccion, Los Jodidos etc. As international correspondence began to take place Akkolyte was approached by Krogh of Attack! Fanzine and Blindead Productions based out of Sweden asking if they would take part in a four way split with two Filipino crust/grindcore bands Endless Struggle, and Insurrection and one more project of their choice which ended up being their good friend from Dallas, Davina Rhine doing sex positive/feminist spoken word. It was released sometime during 2002. The same year they were also included on yet another cassette release from Blindead Productions which was a tribute to Mob 47, including their cover of "Krigshot". Mob 47 agreed to the tribute and contributed some unheard demos and live recording on the flipside of the cassette. Between 2002 and 2004 many more shows were played with bands such as E.O.S., Race Against Time, Cripple Bastards, Noisear, Bodies Lay Broken, Forced Instinct, Against Me, Fiya, Wake up on Fire, Fall of the Bastards, Abiku, Magrudergrind, Coldera, Kakistocracy, Resolve, Expresion Clandestina, Discider, Reason of Insanity, Nuclear Addicts. Around the same time they went on to release a split 7" with E.O.S. from Houston(2003) as well as a split cassette/cd with Magrudergrind(2004). During the summer of 2004 Akkolyte and Houston grindcore legends P.L.F. embarked on a full U.S. tour going up as far North as Vancouver, B.C. and as far south as Ciudad Juarez, MX. Some very important shows and connections took place on that particular tour: In Denver, CO they played the Grind Your Mind Fest with Entrails Massacre, Catheter, Cephalic Carnage, and Apocalyptic Christ. In Vancouver they played with Mass Grave. In Phoenix, AZ they played with Warfair? and Wasteoid and in Albuquerque they played with Wasteoid and Baroness. A few days after the tour with PLF ended Akkolyte drove to Lawrence, KS for the Two Days of Terror Fest with Oroku, Human Order and Forca Macabra. Having made the connection with Mass Grave while on tour in 2004, a 2005 tour was set up between the two bands taking place on the west coast. Although not all of the shows were as solid as they could've been the highlights were playing L.A. with old school crusty grinders Nausea(ex Terrorizer) and once again with Warfair? in Phoenix, AZ. Two tours between Yells at Eels and Akkolyte took place on the east coast and Portugal during the summers of 2005 and 2006. Yells at Eels and Akkolyte were playing shows on either of the bands off days during both tours. Akkolyte got a chance to travel down to the Algarve, southern region of Portugal playing alongside Portuguese hardcore band The Highest Cost. On the east coast Akkolyte got to brutalize alongside Syszlak, Chainsaw to the Face, Insect Warfare, Endless Blockade, Iron Lung, Mind Eraser, Spoonful of Vicodin, Selfish, and Hellshock. Between the years of 2007 and 2011 much frustration occurred out of struggling to get one foot in the door in terms of releasing their debut lp. Regardless, countless local shows took place as well as two tours: a mid west tour with Resigned to Fate and the other: a Texas tour with The Skuds and Man the Conveyors. During the same four year stretch they had the opportunity of playing with many bands such as Rigor Mortis, Unholy Grave, Nibiru, Infernal Stronghold, Manias aka Sala Sangre, Embolization, Nux Vomica, Enemies of Inertia, Tolar, Terror Management Theory, Dissent, Till Death, Doom Siren, Wormrot, Life Erased, Vorvadoss, Skarp, Hellbastard, Resistant Culture, Varix, Agitate, Scaphe, Tyrannosorceress, Baring Teeth, Shitstorm, Goatwore, Thrones, Watain etc. Akkolyte went into the studio between mid 2008 and mid 2009 recording the bulk of their lp with James Delgado of Kill the Client but also recorded the more abstract intros and soundscapes with Jay Journegan and Jimi Bowman at Klearlight Studio. Finally getting it adequately mixed and mastered it will soon be released by Time Killer records and Tofu Carnage Records, both out of Dallas, TX. Extensive touring will be taking place upon the release of "Clues in the Chaospile". Get ready! The Brothers Gonzalez grindcore duo since 1998! www.tofucarnage.com