Crimson Thorn
American Christian death metal band formed in 1991.
Crimson Thorn is a Christian death metal band from the United States. AllMusic describes them as "surely one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal bands." They have played at both Cornerstone Festival and Sonshine Festival, and have been covered by HM Magazine.
The group started in 1991 with Luke Renno, Dave Quast, Dylan Paul Jenniges, Paul Jongeward, and Miles Sunde. Just before recording their first demo, Jenniges left, and Renno switched to bass. That demo, *Plagued*, was cut in 1992 at Blue Moon Studios in Minneapolis. After Quast departed, Kevin Sundberg took over drums, and the band shifted from thrash to death metal. Their debut full-length, *Unearthed*, came out in 1994 on Atomic Records and was later re-released by R.E.X. Records. Jongeward left before the 1997 album *Dissection* (on Morphine Records), replaced by Andy Kopesky; Little Rose Records re-released it in 1999. *Purification* followed after the band built a home studio in Sundberg’s basement.
At Cornerstone Festival 2007, Crimson Thorn announced they were working on a new album and played unreleased tracks that were more melodic than earlier work, though they promised the rest of the album would be heavier. On July 6, 2019, they came off an unofficial hiatus for a week of shows in March 2020 on the Hasten Revelation Tour with Broken Flesh, Abated Mass of Flesh, Taking the Head of Goliath, and Cardiac Rupture. Broken Flesh dropped out due to health concerns, replaced by My Place Was Taken.
Former members include Dylan Paul Jenniges (bass, 1991–1992), Dave Quast (drums, 1991–1993), Jeff Anderson (drums, 1993–1994), Kevin Sundberg (drums, vocals, 1994–2003), Paul Jongeward (guitar, 1991–1997), Andy Kopesky (guitar, keyboards, 1997–2005), Collin Anderson (keyboards, 2005–2006), and Brett Wilson (bass, vocals, 2005–2007). Former live member Billy Frazer played drums.
Discography: studio albums *Unearthed* (1995), *Dissection* (1997), *Purification* (2002); demo *Plagued* (1993); compilations *Unearthed for Dissection* (2005) and *Anthology of Brutality: 1992-2002 The Complete Collective Works* (3-CD set, 2017); compilation appearance "Anorexia Spiritual" on *A Tribute to Living Sacrifice* (2001); and DVD *Live in Minneapolis* (2005).
- Formed
- 1991
- Origin
- United States
- Field
- Christian death metal
- Known for
- Extreme-sounding Christian metal, albums Unearthed, Dissection, Purification
- Labels
- Atomic Records, R.E.X. Records, Morphine Records, Little Rose Records
Lore & Background
Crimson Thorn was founded in 1991 by Luke Renno, Dave Quast, Dylan Paul Jenniges, Paul Jongeward, and Miles Sunde. Their first demo, Plagued, was recorded in 1992 at Blue Moon Studios in Minneapolis after Dylan left and Luke took over bass. After Quast left, Kevin Sundberg joined as drummer, shifting the band's style from thrash metal to death metal. The band signed to Atomic Records and released their first full-length CD, Unearthed, in 1994, later re-released by R.E.X. Records. Paul Jongeward left and was replaced by Andy Kopesky before the release of Dissection in 1997 on Morphine Records, later re-released by Little Rose Records in 1999. Purification was released after the band built their own studio in Kevin's basement.
Reader's Guide
Crimson Thorn's significance lies in their extreme sound within the Christian metal scene, as noted by AllMusic. Their discography includes three studio albums—Unearthed, Dissection, and Purification—and a demo, Plagued. The band's legacy includes appearances at major Christian festivals and in HM Magazine. After an unofficial hiatus, they announced a return for the Hasten Revelation Tour in March 2020, alongside other bands. Their style evolved from thrash to death metal, and later works showed a more melodic feel, though heavier elements were promised. The band's timeline includes multiple member changes, with former members including Dylan Paul Jenniges, Dave Quast, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Sundberg, Paul Jongeward, Andy Kopesky, Collin Anderson, and Brett Wilson.
Did You Know?
- The band's style changed from thrash metal to death metal after Kevin Sundberg joined as drummer.
- Crimson Thorn performed unreleased tracks with a more melodic feel at Cornerstone Festival 2007.
- The band came out of unofficial hiatus for the Hasten Revelation Tour in March 2020.
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