Decembers Cold Winter | METALSITES.net

Biography

Since their humble beginnings in mid 2000 December’s Cold Winter has endeavored to be an innovative and dynamic band within the underground metal scene. Starting as a melodic Black Metal band with some Death Metal influences, the band was characterized by their rich keyboard arrangements to which all other instrumentation served as an accompaniment. With this musical approach the band managed to win their first Battle of the Bands (2000). Soon after this accomplishment DCW had their first line-up change as then bassist Esteban Monestel left the band and was soon replaced by Johnathan Leon.

In 2001 DCW played their first gig outside their home country, playing in the province of Chiriqui, Panama, where the band made a made a very good impression, as well as a series of successful concerts in Costa Rica. Inspired by this momentum, DCW decided to record a 5 song Demo. This would prove to be a failed project and would lead to the departure of then drummer Christian Rodriguez. Out of the band’s first incursion into the studio only one song was deemed “listenable” and was then released as a promo for free distribution: “In Aqua Scribis”. The song was later included in a local compilation CD titled “Rock Sin Fronteras I”.

Finding a suitable candidate for the skins in Allan Chavez, DCW’s musical horizons were suddenly broadened. The band shifted their keyboard-oriented sound to a riff driven approach where the guitars took center stage. DCW effectively shifted to a style more akin to Melodic Death Metal while maintaining many of the black metal musical themes that characterized their early sound.

During this process the band took part in their second Battle of the Bands (2001) where they would attempt to defend the previous year’s title. The band came in Fourth place, perhaps as a byproduct of their as-yet-unfinished reinvention process. Shortly after this, bass player Johnathan Leon would leave the band to be replaced by current member Esteban Gonzales. The following year would be spent on streamlining the band’s new musical approach with a few gigs to gauge audience reaction.

The year 2003 marked the last time DCW would partake in a local Battle of the Bands, this time they took the First spot for the second time out of three participations, proving that their new sound was on the right track. This year would also be one the most important in the band’s history as they would be the first extreme metal band to ever play the Rock Fest, arguably the biggest Rock Festival of the Central American area. The band’s presentation was an utter success. As a fruit of this, the band was signed a few weeks later by upstart indie label Filthy Glass Records (Now Freakworld Entertainment). In September of that year DCW began the production of what would be their debut album. As the perfect ending to a banner year DCW were booked to open for Sepultura’s back-to-back gigs in their visit to Costa Rica.

Being finished with all recording endeavors in early 2004 the band is informed by the label that the record would be mixed and mastered by Steve Austin (Today is the Day), a well known musician and producer in the US metal scene, having worked with greats such as Lamb of God and Voivod among many others. The year would end with a long string of gigs and DCW being the opening act for both Dismember and Behemoth.

2005 would prove to be yet another momentous year for the band as their long time Synth-man and co-founding member Jorge Chacon would leave the band to focus on his career. The band quickly found a new man for the job in Allen Obando. The Awakening Tour, put together by the band along with fellow purveyors of metal Pneuma, was a critical success, setting the bar for all local metal acts to follow. Lastly, Freakworld Entertainment would finally release Decaying Recollections, the band’s first formal record. Undoubtedly DCW’s most important step to date!

Starting 2006, DCW was invited to headbang with the Hardcore US band Death by Stereo. DCW also performed with the legendary Fear Factory in the middle of the year.

After a rather quiet year struggling with many situations pertaining to the band members but foreign to DCW itself, the band has regrouped and is currently working on the pre-production of their upcoming, yet to be titled, sophomore offering.

Line-up:
Alfredo - Vocals
Isak Arroyo - Guitar
Esteban González - Bass
Max Gutiérrez - Guitar
Alex Ovares - Drums

Former Members:
Alberto Montero - Vocals
Allen Obando - Keyboard
Allan Chaves - Drums

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/decemberscoldwinter