Bird of Ill Omen

Lore & Background

Bird of Ill Omen was formed in 1996 by Damien Zev Moyal following his departure from Shai Hulud and his firing from Morning Again. The band played a style described as sludge-metallic hardcore. Moyal left the project before any studio material could be recorded, and the band continued with a second vocalist who used Moyal's lyrics for material that was eventually released by Eulogy Recordings.

Reader's Guide

Bird of Ill Omen represents a brief transitional phase in Damien Moyal's career, bridging his work in melodic metallic hardcore with later projects. Though Moyal left before any studio recordings were made, his lyrical contributions were preserved and released by Eulogy Recordings, ensuring the band's legacy as a footnote in the hardcore scene of the late 1990s. The band's existence highlights the interconnected nature of the Florida hardcore scene, with members moving between multiple projects.

Did You Know?

• Damien Moyal formed Bird of Ill Omen after quitting Shai Hulud and being fired from Morning Again.
• Moyal left the band before any studio material could be tracked.
• Moyal's lyrics were later used by Bird of Ill Omen's second vocalist for material released by Eulogy Recordings.
• The band was active from 1996 to 1997.

Roots in the Florida Hardcore Scene

Joseph Lee Simmons, born June 18, 1978, in Houston, Texas, found his musical home in Coral Springs, Florida, where he became a fixture in the mid-1990s hardcore punk circuit. He played in two local hardcore bands, Dinner Time and Lock Down, before his path crossed with a newly formed sludge metal/metalcore group in North Miami. In August 1996, he joined Fork in the Road, which quickly rebranded as Bird of Ill Omen. The lineup featured vocalist Damien Moyal, guitarist José Martinez, bassist Thomas Rankine, and drummer George Rios. During late 1996 and early 1997, the band wrote a full-length's worth of material and played local shows alongside acts like Shai Hulud, Morning Again, Earth Crisis, and Vision of Disorder. The membership shifted when Peter Bartsocas replaced Martinez in November 1996 and a second vocalist, Rob Ogman, was added. By March 1997, Simmons had been removed from the group after being recruited by Morning Again, a decision that also prompted Moyal's departure from the band.

The Morning Again Chapters

Simmons' relationship with Morning Again was turbulent and spanned multiple stints. He first filled in as bass guitarist on December 26, 1996, in Atlanta, following Peter Bartsocas' departure. In March 1997, he was formally recruited as the band's new guitarist, replacing Ryan Stafford, and this recruitment directly caused his dismissal from Bird of Ill Omen. Despite Stafford having recorded guitar tracks in February 1997, guitarist John Wylie credited Simmons in the liner notes of the album Martyr. The band promoted Martyr with a U.S. and Canadian tour alongside Bird of Ill Omen in June 1997, including stops at Syracuse 3-Day Super Festival and Indianapolis Hardcore Festival. They then toured Europe twice, first with Belgian bands Congress and Hitch, and later with Agnostic Front, Vision, and Maximum Penalty. During a European stop, they recorded the track "Dictation of Beauty" with producer Tony De Block for a split release with 25 ta Life. In February 1998, the band recorded their debut album As Tradition Dies Slowly with producer Jeremy Staska, but just three weeks later, Simmons was fired and replaced by Stephen Looker.

Sound Study Recordings and the Gainesville Era

After his departure from Morning Again in 1998, Simmons relocated to Gainesville, Florida, where he joined the metallic hardcore bands Culture and As Friends Rust, taking up the positions vacated by his former bandmate. He later played in the emotional hardcore and post-hardcore band Salem and currently performs in the black metal band Rot in Coffins. From 2007 to 2013, Simmons served as co-owner of the independent record label Sound Study Recordings, which he founded alongside former Bird of Ill Omen, As Friends Rust, and Salem bandmate Thomas Rankine and recording engineer Matthew Finch. The label put out music from a roster that included Burning Love, Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves, Comadre, Coliseum, Off with Their Heads, and Ruiner. This period cemented his role not just as a performer but as a steward of the Florida hardcore and metal scene, giving a platform to both established and emerging acts in the underground.

Behind the Tap: A Career in Brewing

Beyond his decades of guitar work and label ownership, Simmons built a parallel career in the brewing industry. He held the position of head brewer at both Swamp Head Brewery and First Magnitude Brewing Company, each based in Gainesville, Florida. In 2019, he partnered with Matthew Juaire to open their own brewery, Bay Cannon Beer Company, in Tampa, Florida. After Bay Cannon closed its doors in 2023, Simmons returned to Gainesville and opened Grand Scheme Brewing. This trajectory, from head brewer at established shops to founding his own ventures, mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit he brought to the music world through Sound Study Recordings. His brewing career demonstrates a consistent pattern of hands-on craft work, whether shaping riffs in a rehearsal room or perfecting a recipe in a brewhouse, and reflects a life deeply rooted in the Florida communities he has called home since his teenage years in Coral Springs.