History & Biography Early deathrash metal band Prime Evil was active based out of New York from 1986 to 1992. The band was an early example of an underground band promoting itself in the underground and the tape trading scene to some success. Singer Andy Eichhorn and guitarists Gary Day and Mike Usifer were the early members and were completed with the recruitment of bassist Mary Ciullo and drummer Tad Leger. Mike and Gary had been operating as Mutilator since 1984 and changed the monicker due to the Brazil-based Mutilator. The earlier incarnation had started with cover versions of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden before graduating to Slayer and Motörhead. Gary Day would leave and return intermittently. Mutilator opened for Savage Choir. Prime Evil issued a self-titled demo in 1987. The Manifestation demo followed the year after. Todd Gukelberger drummed here. An industry only demo was issued in 1991 called 1990. Kraze Records was signing the band, but went broke in 1991, something which happened to the band again with another label in 2011. Rage Records issued the band’s 7” in 1992. The band broke up after playing a NYC show opening for Incantation, Brutal Truth and Pungent Stench in 1992 and Ciullo played on a Malicious Onslaught demo in 1995 and played shows with Incantation in 1996. Usifer recorded and toured with Demolition Hammer. Prime Evil and Demolition Hammer had played at least four shows together prior to Usifer’s joining. Steve of Demolition Hammer had also advocated unsuccessfully at Century Media for the band. Leger would go on to play with Sons Of Celluloid, The Great Kat, Toxik and Blood Farmers. Eichhorn and Gary Day would be in Fear Within after Prime Evil. Battlezone Records of King Fowley of Deceased compiled everything unto Unearthed in 2002.
Todd had started a Prime Evil Facebook page, which caught the attention of the other former members. After initially reuniting in 2010 with its 1987 line-up, New York’s Prime Evil had a 2012 demo called Evilution in mid-July. Todd had already departed in 2011 after the band’s Suckfest appearance. Original members left since the band’s heydays and 2011 were singer Andy Eichorn and guitarist Mike Usifer. The EP was also pressed by Inferno Records. Blood Curse Resurrection was supported through a video for Soul Shattered, which was edited by Lara Usifer, Mike’s daughter. The demo material was again released as Underground Origins by Floga Records in 2017. Evilution X was a 2024 EP, which featured self-cover versions from the Evilution EP and two new songs. It was released through CDN Records. There was not any bassist and Antonio Padilla was the drummer since 2023. The group was writing material for a new album.
Among others, Prime Evil opened for Morbid Angel, Death, Deceased, Gothic Slam, Forbidden, Sacred Reich, Cannibal Corpse and Death Angel.
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