Editor’s note: The days of tape-trading are long gone, but that doesn’t mean the bands of yesteryear should be doomed to garage sales and memory boxes. Where I come from, the early 90s were rife with area metal, and though I may have been too young and “grunge” to appreciate them then, I figure it’s time they receive their due. So… from time to time, we’re going to be profiling some of the Midwest’s long-lost metal bands, and helping you rediscover what you might’ve missed.

Ah, Dementox. The name alone brings a smile to my face.

I’m not sure where it originated, but for some reason my friends and I were aware of a dance called The Dementox (something of a cross between the pinwheel spin and plunging the toilet). Whether or not this originated with the band or in our imagination remains to be seen, but as a kid (and as a grown man) I thought it was awesome.

What I didn’t realize at the time, was how great the band was. Amazing riffs, sick vocals, and a classic thrash approach… not bad for a bunch of dudes who were between 17 – 20 at the time:

Dementox was founded in 1989 by brothers Roderick (bass, vox) and John (guitar, vox) Valdez, who were at the time barely even teenagers. The original lineup was rounded out by Chris DelaRosa (guitar), and James Kowalski (drums). This lineup played numerous basements, parties, and talent shows, earning the boys some well-deserved recognition and respect in their local scene. After some serious shaking-up of the band in 1991, the lead guitar position was filled by a ‘new kid in town’, Markus Launsburry, and the drum throne was taken over by Rob Pauly. The new blood allowed the D-TOX crew to escalate their audio-violence with increased speed, ferocity, and absurdity. Rehearsing intensely, throwing out-of-control parties, drinking cheap beer and expensive booze, throwing eggs at innocent pedestrians, and beating the shit out of neo-nazi skins were the ‘way of the walk’ for Dementox (AKA The Screaming Chicken Neck Posse, or SCN).

 

Like a band of hilariously sociopathic brothers, these four pissed off teenagers raged like true metal hellions, and this second incarnation proved to be productive, intense, and volatile. For the next two years, this lineup played shows throughout the region, sharing the stage with acts such as Demented Ted, Broken Hope, Agamas, Num Skull, Prisoner, Jungle Rot, Left Path, Morbid Corpses, Gainsay, Sarcophagus, Jeckyll (NOT Jackyll), Suspiria,Fleshold, Sarcoma, and many others. In 1993, Markus left the band to pursue other musical ventures, and was replaced by John Camella, a shredder from the NYDM scene. While Tom’s playing was exceptional, the band never really gelled again, and despite another year or two of effort, Dementox was essentially inactive by 1994.”

According to guitarist Markus Launsburry:

The demo was recorded on 8-track tape at Curved Air Studio in Crystal Lake, Illinois in December of ‘92 by some dude who’s name I don’t remember. Too bad, ‘cuz he was definitely proficient. All tracks, with the exception of vocals and one or two solos, were recorded live in one take. The super-sick cover art was done long after the fact by one of my best bro’s Putrid… he just loves Dementox so much he insisted on drawing an ‘old school’ cover for it. Hard to say ‘no’ to a wicked talent and yer best bud – and it pretty much sums up the D-TOX vibe – hellish metal and beating the living shit out of the neo-nazi scum who used to plague our turf!”

Markus has gone on to play in a variety of notable bands, including Tub Ring, Nachtmystium & his current project, Avantgarde/Black Metalers Blood of Martyrs (featuring Chris Wozniak (Lair of the Minotaur) on drums, Isamu Sato (Yob) on bass, and Jarboe (of Swans) on vocals).

For more Dementox info and tunes, be sure and check out their myspace page. THRASH ON!

Have A Listen:

Dementox – Playing With Skulls:

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