Formed in 1997 by guitarist/vocalist J. Michael, In Ruins first came onto the scene with the release of its "Haunted Moon" demo, recorded under the group's original name, Black Thorns. The band's sound fused elements of Black/Death/Doom metal with a gothic touch to create a dark and eerie atmosphere, heavy yet melodic.
Eventually signing with Metal Blade Records, Michael assembled a full band lineup with the additions of Sean, Hans and Matt. While in the studio recording its debut, the band was renamed In Ruins. The disc was met with an extremely positive response from both fans and critics alike who appreciated the band's unique, dark sound. Gaining considerable exposure through various metal radio programs, the band routinely found itself topping playlists worldwide.
"The Curse of Decay," originally recorded in 2006 for the JMT Music label , (which subsequently went bankrupt prior to its intended release) is now set to be released through CD Maximum in early 2009.
In Ruins' current 2008 3-song demo shows where the band is currently at, musically speaking. The songs, more stripped-down and aggressive, still retain the dark atmosphere and catchy melodies of the band's previous work.
