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Draft:Externus

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Externus is an American progressive, black metal, and dubbed girly pop band based in Wichita, Kansas. The four main members are Zac Cypert on vocals and synth, J.D. Ream on bass guitar, Sean Weaver on lead guitar, and Devin Chesky on drums. The band began early in 2020 before lockdown as a five-piece with a second guitarist named Trevor Rankin.

Biography

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Background

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The band itself has a long history with music in its background. JD and Sean had known each other since middle school when they first developed their love for the genre and skills in music. Around this time, they played with other friends, learning how to jam together and find the sounds they loved. Later, the two met Zac and Devin

Formation

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Externus Band Members R-L (Zac Cypert, Sean Weaver, JD Ream, Devin Chesky)Museum of world Treasures

The group originally came together from discussions between JD and Zac, who were both playing in different bands at the time. Zac was with the band Perigean Tide, and JD was with Parthian, both local bands in the scene. At an Enslaved show, the group began discussing music, and shortly afterwards, they began playing together.

Early on, the band started with Zac, Devin, Trevor, and JD jamming together. JD eventually brought Sean into the band, and that is when they all began their first EP. The album itself took about six months to record, and they finished and released it on March 13th, 2020, just before the COVID lockdown hit. Trevor left the band for personal reasons, and the band continued to play and grow as a four-piece.

After Lockdown

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Once lockdown restrictions began to lift, the band began playing again; around this time, Zac introduced playing the synth into their sound. The group started to play more shows and develop their stage presence. They have played multiple shows at local venues, including WAVE, Temple LIVE, Barleycorns, and Rock Island.

Some of their favorite shows were opening for death metal bands Gatekreeper, Goatwhore, and Ringworm. They also enjoyed one of their more recent shows at WAVE, opening for Vimur, a Georgia-based band, and Sacramentum, a band hailing from Gothenburg, Västra Götaland.

Future

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The band itself is working on their new concept album that revolves around the cosmic themes of time repeating itself. They are currently working on producing and recording the entire album themselves. The band also works with local artists and touring bands in Wichita. Recently they held a show at the local Museum of World Treasures downtown where they themselves played a Halloween show. Matt Dwier, the museum's education manager, spoke highly of working with the band and brought a significant amount of attention to the local museum, where Zac brought attention to the museum's fundraiser they were running at that time.

The band maintains a strong presence within the local metal scene, and they intend to keep working on their sound, playing their shows, having fun, and enjoying producing new and progressive music. The band has a fantastic stage presence and really gets the crowds going with its music. The band jokingly refers to themselves as Girly Pop in metal because you can dance to it.

Members

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Zac Cypert - Vocals and Synth

Jonathan David (J.D.) Ream - Bass

Sean Weaver - Lead Guitar

Devin Chesky - Drums

Trevor Rankin (Former) - Guitar

Discography

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Externus

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  • Temple of Rot (2020)
  • Above the Tomb (2020)
  • Blood, Sweat, Misery (2020)
  • Winter Exile (2020)
  • Dominion of Transparency (2020)
  • Abysmal Rift (2020)

References

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  1. Ream, Jonathan David (JD) - Bassist. In person interview. 31 October, 2024
  2. Cypert, Zac - Vocalist. Phone interview. 1 November, 2024
  3. Weaver, Sean - Guitar. In person interview. 2 November 2024
  4. Chesky, Devin – Drums. Phone interview 1 November 2024
  5. Matt Dwier. In person interview. 2 November 2024
  6. Cokorilo, Vladimir - November 4, 2024 Ecylcapida Metallium, Sacrementum