Black

About

Formed in Los Angeles, California, Black (later known as Substance D) was a heavy-hitting underground metal outfit that perfectly blended the technical post-thrash groove of Prong with the gritty, industrial aggression of Ministry, Die Krupps, and White Zombie. The band was comprised of seasoned veterans from the L.A. rock and metal scene: * **Todd Chaisson (Vocals/Bass):** Hailing from a prominent musical family (his brother Greg Chaisson played bass for the legendary band Badlands alongside Jake E. Lee), Todd was originally the bassist for the popular glam metal band Tuff before shifting to a much heavier, more aggressive musical direction. * **Tod "T" Burr (Drums):** A powerhouse drummer who previously locked down the rhythm section with Chaisson in Tuff. Together, they traded the polished 1980s rock aesthetic for the raw, down-tuned sonic brutality of the late 1990s. * **Michael Parnin (Guitars):** Aside from playing guitar, Parnin was a highly accomplished Hollywood studio engineer and producer. Over his career, he worked behind the mixing console for massive industry giants like Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit, and Coal Chamber. ### The Legendary "Guerilla" Late-Night Sessions The production value of Black's 1997 self-titled debut album is a true sonic marvel for its time. While most underground metal records of the late '90s suffered from flat, low-budget garage mixes, *Black* boasts a massive, hi-fi "wall of sound." This premium production was achieved entirely under the radar. Lacking the budget to book expensive Hollywood studios, guitarist and engineer Michael Parnin used his industry access to smuggle the band into world-class recording facilities late at night. Sneaking into the studios around 3:00 AM—just as major pop and rock stars were wrapping up their daytime sessions—the band recorded their tracks for free using multi-million dollar mixing consoles (such as SSL and Neve) and elite studio microphones. What was initially intended to be a raw demo tape turned out so remarkably heavy and polished that it caught the attention of the Danish extreme metal label **Diehard Music Worldwide**. The label officially released the material as a full-length album in 1997 (Catalog No. PCD-32), distributing limited cardboard promo sleeves to metal zines and radio stations. Due to the band's highly generic name, the album remained a fiercely guarded secret among underground collectors for decades, predating the commercial wave of American groove and alternative metal that dominated the early 2000s. In 1999, the group rebranded as **Substance D** and released their follow-up album, *Addictions*, through Noise International.

via Last.fm