Azusa (band)
Progressive extreme metal supergroup formed by former Extol cousins.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Azusa is a progressive extreme metal supergroup that began in 2018 as a collaboration between cousins Christer Espevoll and David Husvik, both formerly of Extol. After the duo started demoing material, Liam Wilson, then bassist for The Dillinger Escape Plan, expressed his admiration for Extol and joined the project. The lineup was completed by pop vocalist Eleni Zafiriadou of Sea + Air, and the band recorded their debut album, *Heavy Yoke*. Azusa is signed to Solid State Records.
The project originated when Espevoll and Husvik met at a show for Espevoll’s previous band, Benea Reach, in 2014. They began demoing and held a contest for band logos. After Wilson joined, the three recorded the debut album, later adding Zafiriadou, whom Husvik had seen perform with the project Jumbo Jet, which featured both clean and harsh vocals. Following several singles, *Heavy Yoke* was released through Solid State Records in the U.S. and Indie Recordings in Europe. On June 20, 2019, Espevoll and Husvik were nominated for an Edvardprisen award. The band announced their first tour with The Contortionist in mid-2019.
In 2020, Azusa released singles from their second album, *Loops of Yesterday*, which came out on April 10, 2020. The first single was “Memories of an Old Emotion,” followed by “Monument” on February 8, and “Detach” on February 27, the latter featuring a guitar solo by Alex Skolnick of Testament.
Musically, Azusa has been compared to Extol and Cynic, as well as to Death mixed with Annette Peacock, and Slayer mixed with Kate Bush. The lyrics contain Christian themes, though less explicitly than in the members’ earlier work.
Current members are vocalist Eleni Zafiriadou, guitarist Christer Espevoll, bassist Liam Wilson, and drummer David Husvik. Live guitarist Eirik Kråkenes joined in 2019.
The band’s discography includes the studio albums *Heavy Yoke* (2018) and *Loops of Yesterday* (2020), along with singles “Heavy Yoke,” “Interstellar Islands,” “First Lines,” “Heart of Stone,” “Memories of an Old Emotion,” “Monument,” and “Detach.”
- formed
- 2018
- origin
- Not specified in article
- field
- Progressive extreme metal
- genre
- Progressive extreme metal
- label
- Solid State Records
- known_for
- Supergroup featuring members of Extol, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and pop vocalist Eleni Zafiriadou
Lore & Background
Azusa began between cousins Christer Espevoll and David Husvik, who had originally formed the progressive metal band Extol. The band began to form when the two met up at a show for Espevoll's former band, Benea Reach in 2014. The two began demoing material and put out a contest to begin creating logos for the band. Shortly after, Liam Wilson (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan) expressed admiration for Extol to the two, and they hired him into the band. The three then added pop vocalist Eleni Zafiriadou of Sea + Air, whom Husvik had previously seen perform with a project called Jumbo Jet.
The band recorded and released several singles, then debuted their album Heavy Yoke with Solid State Records in the United States and Indie Recordings in Europe. They were nominated for an Edvardprisen award on June 20, 2019, specifically for Espevoll and Husvik. The band announced their first tour with The Contortionist in mid-2019. In 2020, they began releasing singles from their next album, Loops of Yesterday, including 'Memories of an Old Emotion', 'Monument', and 'Detach', the latter featuring a guitar solo by Alex Skolnick of Testament.
Reader's Guide
Azusa represents a notable fusion of progressive extreme metal with pop vocals, bridging the gap between heavy and accessible music. Their formation as a supergroup brought together members from acclaimed acts Extol and The Dillinger Escape Plan, along with vocalist Eleni Zafiriadou, whose clean singing contrasted with the band's aggressive instrumentation. The band's lyrical content contains Christian themes, though less explicitly than the members' earlier work. Their debut album Heavy Yoke and subsequent singles garnered attention in the metal community, and their nomination for the Edvardprisen award highlighted their compositional merit. Azusa's significance lies in their ability to blend disparate styles—death metal, progressive rock, and pop—into a cohesive sound, and their association with Solid State Records positioned them within the Christian metal scene while reaching a broader audience. Their 2020 album Loops of Yesterday continued this trajectory, with guest appearances like Alex Skolnick adding further credibility.
Did You Know?
- Azusa was formed in 2018 as a project between cousins and former Extol members Christer Espevoll and David Husvik.
- Bassist Liam Wilson joined after expressing admiration for Extol to Espevoll and Husvik.
- The band was nominated for an Edvardprisen award on June 20, 2019, specifically for Espevoll and Husvik.
- The single 'Detach' features a guitar solo by Alex Skolnick of Testament.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Azusa (band)?
Azusa is a progressive extreme metal supergroup that came together in 2018. The project unites former Extol members with a bassist from The Dillinger Escape Plan and a pop vocalist from Sea + Air.
Who are the members of Azusa?
The lineup consists of cousins Christer Espevoll and David Husvik (both ex-Extol), Liam Wilson (bassist from The Dillinger Escape Plan), and Eleni Zafiriadou, a pop vocalist known from Sea + Air.
How did Azusa get started?
The project traces back to 2014, when Espevoll and Husvik met at a show for Espevoll's band Benea Reach. They began demoing material together in 2018, and Liam Wilson joined after expressing his admiration for Extol's work.
What is Azusa's debut album?
Their first full-length release is called Heavy Yoke, recorded with the full four-piece lineup.
What record label does Azusa release on?
Azusa is signed to Solid State Records, which handles the distribution of their material.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record