About Sorrow
Formed
1991
Genre
Rock
A death metal band given to exploring slower, semi-doom tempos, New York's Sorrow evolved from an earlier, thrashier outfit named Apparition, which had been formed in 1988 and actually recorded two demos and a 7" single (1990's Eternally Forgotten, for Relapse Records) before changing their name. By that point, the newly rebaptized Sorrow -- featuring vocalist/bassist/guitarist Andy Marchione, guitarist Brett Clarin, and drummer Mike Hymson -- had unequivocally progressed into the stylistic realms of death metal, and was duly snapped up by Roadrunner Records, home to most of the genre's elite bands (Sepultura, Obituary, Suffocation, etc.). Sorrow had every intention of standing alongside these luminaries with the release of their first album, but recording plans had to be delayed when Marchione was involved in a freak accident in which carbon monoxide leaked into his parked car, putting him into a week-long coma and killing his female companion. While he recovered, Roadrunner issued four previously recorded songs as the Forgotten Sunrise EP, and Clarin and Hymson worked with guitarist Billy Rogan as they waited for Marchione's return the following year. When he felt ready enough (while still finding it difficult to write lyrics, if not compose music), the new, four-piece Sorrow set about recording 1992's Hatred & Disgust LP, but it seemed that Roadrunner had lost faith in them by its release. Among many issues, rumor has it that the band turned down the opportunity of a European tour simply because certain members didn't want to miss a semester of college! It didn't take long for Sorrow to be dropped by the label, and they chose to go their separate ways soon after. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
