Eumeria

History

Eumeria was originally conceived as a solo project by Bobby Williamson, who intended to bring in different singers and musicians for an album. After hearing demo tracks from Jonny Tatum and Reece Fullwood, Williamson felt the project had greater potential. The three agreed to drop the solo idea and form a permanent band. Shawn Kascak, who had played with Williamson in Outworld, joined on bass, and Adam Sagan, formerly of Into Eternity, took over drums.

Recording for the first album started at Origin Sound studio in Texas. Williamson, Tatum, and Fullwood decided Sagan’s drumming did not fit the music well, so they looked for a replacement. Kevin Bartlett, a local friend of Fullwood’s, was brought in. In 2010, Bartlett recorded new drum parts at The Smash Room studio in Telford, England. Around that time, Kascak hurt his right hand and could only play bass on two tracks. Derek Blakley and Michael Millsap were brought in to cover bass duties while Kascak recovered.

The debut album, Rebel Mind, was released in 2011, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen. The band turned down several record label offers, choosing instead to market and distribute the music independently through digital platforms. The physical CD was released on their own label, Rebel Tide Entertainment, with licensing deals through Century Media in the US and Code 7/Plastic Head in the UK and Europe.

In December 2013, former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy invited Eumeria to play at the Progressive Nation at Sea Festival in February 2014. The lineup also included Pain of Salvation, Periphery, Haken, Animals as Leaders, Transatlantic, King’s X, Devin Townsend Project, Jon Anderson, Tony Harnell, and Bumblefoot, among others.

On February 24, 2014, the band announced that Derek Blakley had become their permanent bassist, replacing Shawn Kascak. In July 2014, American keyboardist Matt Guillory joined the band, replacing Bobby Williamson, who left due to health issues.