Biography

Ringworm is a metallic hardcore act with thrash, black, and death metal underpinnings that grew out of the fertile Cleveland underground punk scene of the early '90s. Led by vocalist and sole constant member James "Human Furnace" Bulloch, the band's earlier works embraced the pit-inducing fury of classic hardcore. Later efforts like 2005's Justice Replaced by Revenge, 2014's Hammer of the Witch, and 2023's Seeing Through Fire saw the group lean hard into their thrash tendencies while retaining an immovable foundation of brutalist hardcore. Formed in 1989, Ringworm joined contemporaries like Integrity in a brutal musical community that blended purist hardcore with heavy metal influences and punishing live shows. They played constantly for four years all over Ohio and West Virginia, securing a rabid fan base who embraced their 1991 self-titled demo and bolstered their renown among the thrash underground in the continental U.S. Their debut full-length Promise appeared in 1993 on Incision, and garnered enough interest to tour the U.S., following the release with several singles that cemented their reputation for sonic malevolence. After the inevitable round of lineup changes throughout the decade, the band went on hiatus, re-emerging in 2001 with Birth Is Pain on Victory, where they remained through 2005's unrelenting Justice Replaced by Revenge. Touring between albums became even more difficult as vocalist Human Furnace started a chain of tattoo shops called 252 Tattoo, while guitarist Frank Novinec joined Terror, precipitating another break. They reunited for 2011's hard-hitting Scars with a new lineup. In 2013, it was announced that Ringworm had signed with Relapse Records. After teasing fans with an EP that same year, they issued 2014's Hammer of the Witch, which reached number 14 on the US Heatseekers chart, ushering in a new era of success. Ringworm delivered Snake Church two years later and resumed a grueling international tour schedule in clubs, theaters, and on festival stages. In the spring of 2019, they unveiled their third long-player for Relapse. Entitled Death Becomes My Voice, it was recorded by longtime collaborator/engineer Ben Schigel and Noah C. Buchanan. They made a lateral move to Nuclear Blast ahead of the release of 2023's Seeing Through Fire, an urgent and uncompromising set of metallic hardcore brutality built on themes of discord and social conflict. ~ Eleanor Ditzel & James Christopher Monger, Rovi