Bio

Broken Hope was formed in 1988 by guitarist/chief-lyricist-songwriter, Jeremy Wagner and original vocalist, Joe Ptacek as friends in high school. In 1989 and 1990, Broken Hope recorded two demo tapes and secured a recording contract with an independent record label. In 1991, Broken Hope’s debut album, “Swamped In Gore” was released worldwide, launching the band out of the underground and into the mainstream. *Swamped In Gore was the first digitally-recorded death-metal album.

By 1993, Broken Hope broke away from their first record label and quickly signed to Metal Blade Records. Broken Hope released four albums with Metal Blade Records: The Bowels of Repugnance, Repulsive Conception, Loathing, and the re-release of Swamped In Gore. 1995′s Repulsive Conception, reached CMJ New Music Monthly’s Metal Top 25 chart, as did the follow-up, 1997′s Loathing. The first four albums are stellar examples of Broken Hope’s fury, and they are the albums that etched Broken Hope’s place in death-metal history. Broken Hope’s first decade filled with non-stop writing, touring, and constant visibility with each album. Broken Hope’s music has received praise from bands such as Slipknot, Devildriver, The Black Dahlia Murder, Dying Fetus, and many more.

By the end of the ‘90’s, Broken Hope produced and released their fifth album: 1999’s, Grotesque Blessings. After North American and European tours for this album, BH founder—Jeremy Wagner—cleaned house and put Broken Hope into “metal hibernation” in 2002.

In 2007, Broken Hope’s original Loathing lineup sat down face-to-face to discuss reuniting and doing a world tour. Due to personal scheduling conflicts, the guys were unable to make anything happen after this special meeting.

On January 20, 2010, original Broken Hope vocalist Joe Ptacek committed suicide. He was only 37 years old. Before his death, Ptacek met with Jeremy Wagner and Shaun Glass and discussed the resurrection of Broken Hope. With Ptacek’s death, Wagner and Glass took time off to reconsider their next moves.

In 2012, Jeremy Wagner and Shaun Glass resurrected Broken Hope and vowed to make Broken Hope a full-time monster—forever. Broken Hope marked their return on the highly successful Carnival of Death tour. BH’s high-intensity COD concerts received top-praise, and confirmed BH was back, and more rabid than ever.

Broken Hope performed at the 2013 editions of Extremefest (Germany) and Maryland Death Fest to stellar reviews. Broken Hope signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. Their sixth album, OMEN of DISEASE, is slated for an October 2013 release. The album features new members, Damian Leski (vocals), Mike Micezek (drums), and Chuck Wepfer (lead guitar). Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder makes a guest appearance on backing vocals for the track, “Rendered Into Lard.” Omen of Disease also features the artwork and return of Broken Hope’s former (and brilliant) album cover artist, Wes Benscoter (Slayer, Kreator, Mortician, more). Broken Hope have absolutely delivered their sickest, most ferocious to date with Omen of Disease…and they’re just getting started.