History
Formed by drummer John Sankey and guitarist Brett Noordin the band released the demo "Truth" in 2000 with a line-up consisting of vocalist Nik Carpenter, Mark Walpole on guitar and bass player Joel Graham. The demo was followed in 2001 by the album Technologies that found nationwide distribution through Sydney's MGM.
The band's live performances included a light show that featured heavy use of strobe lighting. After a fan suffered an epileptic seizure during a performance, Devolved was given a court order requiring a warning about the possible dangers of this effect to be included on all the band's promotional material including advertising and even album artwork.
Shortly after the release of Technologies, Devolved was voted Australian Metal Band of the Year by both listeners and staff of radio network Triple J. The Roadrunner Records-affiliated magazine Outsider judged Technologies the Australian metal album of the year.
In early 2002, Wayde Dunn joined on bass, formerly of death metal band called Excruciate. The group then embarked on an extensive tour of the UK and Europe and Japan. In 2002 Devolved released an EP entitled Automation 001.
During 2003 Devolved was less prevalent as a live band as they began work on a second album. At the same time drummer/lyricist John Sankey wrote and recorded some songs with former Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares and became the original drummer for Divine Heresy. Sankey also played with Melbourne based band Frankenbok for several months on tours with Soilwork and Skinlab while that band's drummer Mick Morley recovered from an injury. Patrick Brown was added to the Devolved live line-up during this time to provide samples.
Devolved's second album Calculated was released in September, 2004, Following this, Devolved relocated to Los Angeles in early 2005 due to John Sankey's comitments with Divine Heresy and various other ongoing projects which included contributing a song to the Roadrunner All-Stars album co-written with Dino Cazares entitled 'no Mas Control'. Vocalist Kyle Zemanek (formerly of Five Finger Death Punch and Deadsett) completed the new line-up.
In November 2008, Devolved embarked on small tour opening for Divine Heresy. In May/June 2009, Devolved embarked on their first headlining tour of the United States.
Devolved signed to Unique Leader Records in early 2009 and re-released the 'Calculated' album internationally. This new version was released world-wide on January 19, 2010.
Devolved's third full-length LP, Oblivion, was a noticeable departure from the bands previous sound. Where Technologies and Calculated were heavily rooted in atonal and complex rhythm playing, Oblivion featured the addition of never before present clean vocal melodies and far simpler rhythmic concepts. The album was released world-wide on May 24, 2011. John Sankey continues to be the driving force behind the band and only remaining original member since the departure of Brett Noordin, who returned to Australia. The current Devolved line-up is John Sankey, Kyle Zemanek, Hal Berkstresser, and Anthony Sabatino.
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