Out of the depths of the Metro Detroit area, accompanied by fire and several small explosions, came Imminent Sonic Destruction. I could go into more detail about those early days, but it’s not as interesting as you might think. WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY. Ok, not TODAY today, but we’re not trying to bore you with the pains of watching a young band live/laugh/love their way to where they are now. Imminent Sonic Destruction (ISD) consists of Pat DeLeon (drums), Pete Hopersberger (keyboards/vocals), Bryan Paxton (bass/vocals), Tony Piccoli (guitars/vocals) and Scott David Thompson (guitars/vocals). The band has been described as PROGRESSIVE SUPER METAL, which seems to fit nicely among the 53,426 sub genres currently in circulation. This label was bestowed upon ISD sometime in 2012 during preparation for their first full length album, RECURRING THEMES, which was produced by renowned producer/guitarist ROY Z (Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, Tribe of Gypsies). On the strength of that album, the band embarked on their first national tour, supporting PAIN OF SALVATION and KINGCROW. Now things are getting interesting, right? A little intrigue, a little name-dropping, next thing you know we’re talking about more albums and more touring! ISD’s second album, TRIUMPHIA, was a concept album that I will now try to explain in excruciating detail in less than 84,000 words. But on second thought, you’re probably just a robot, and the nuances of that scintillating tale would go right over your metal head. You can’t fool me. Let’s just say it was critically acclaimed, and the release coincided with a tour supporting prog metal legends FATES WARNING, and not long after that, more touring with Norway’s CIRCUS MAXIMUS. All of these bands are now lifelong friends of ISD, and would happily co-sign on loans if needed.* INTERMISSION (insert boilerplate pandemic nonsense) Once the world decided to get back to normal (at least in theory), ISD teamed up with Michigan-based producer and guitarist for ENTRANSIENT, Nick Hagen, to release their third full length album THE SUN WILL ALWAYS SET. Let me tell you, boys and girls, this was universally regarded as ISD’s best effort to date, and garnered reviews that made at least two grown men shed a tear. That’s one tear each, not like, two guys teaming up to shed A tear. I mean, I’m not even sure how you would do that. Well, I mean, YOU wouldn’t do it at all, you overgrown tin can. Robots don’t have tear ducts, EVERYONE knows that. Where was I? Ah yes, grown men reduced to puddles of goo from the emotional highs and lows of the incomparable third album released by our heroes (come on, if you’re still reading, you HAVE to consider them the heroes of this story, right?) The expressive range on THE SUN WILL ALWAYS SET showed a level of growth that encouraged ISD to forge on and see what was over the horizon. 2025 will see the release of the aforementioned fourth album, which was again produced by Nick Hagen and features further explorations into the nooks and crannies of progressive metal songwriting. ISD4 features concise songs, heavy songs, epic songs full of lush vocal harmonies, and standout performances by all the members. These guys love pushing themselves, and they HATE robots. THE END(?) *ISD has agreed under advice from legal counsel never to ask another band to co-sign on a loan.
TONY PICCOLI (lead vocals/guitar)
PAT DELEON (drums)
PETE HOPERSBERGER (keys/vocals)
BRYAN PAXTON (bass)
SCOTT THOMPSON (guitar/vocals)
