Engage The Manifesto (unreleased) Personnel: Ken Berquist AKA Kreepa Cancer Joe Reinhard AKA Reimhard Shawn Williams AKA Surgeon This album was the first collective effort by the group, recorded in the year of 2001. All of the music and vocals were written and arranged by the three MC’s; thus giving the album a steady stylistic flow throughout - this reflected the influences at the time, which included Bootleg, Bone, Esham and Spice 1. Of The Deceased -Recorded from Fall 2002 until Spring 2003 -Mastered by Rick Pennington in Spring 2003 -Released in Spring 2003 Personnel: Ken Berquist AKA Kreepa Cancer (Production, Vocals, Keys) Dan Bomar (Percussion) Jeff Brink (Guitar, Percussion) Frank D’Agnillo (Production, Bass, Synth) John Severin (Turntables) Joe Reinhard AKA Lunalilo Da Vinci (Production, Vocals, Keys) Shawn Williams AKA Surgeon (Production, Vocals) Of The Deceased featured a guest appearance from one of the biggest early influences of Surmen, Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs and Harmony. Aside from featuring this notable guest appearance, this album also featured development in the group’s music as well. Surmen effectively combined the Hip-Hop formula of the past with the progressive ideals of modernity. There is no doubt that this step forward was accelerated by the addition of new members (see above). Mutants on Display -Recorded and Mixed in Fall of 2004 -Remixed and Mastered in Spring of 2005 by IBM at Grand Sound Studios -Released in January 2006 Personnel: Ken Berquist AKA Kreepa Cancer AKA Ormus Lepht (Vocals, Keys) Dan Bomar (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Album Art) Jeff Brink (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys) Frank D’Agnillo (Bass, Guitar, Synth) John Severin (Turntables) Joe Reinhard AKA Lunalilo Da Vinci (Vocals) Shawn Williams AKA Surgeon (Vocals) The material on this album was the first effort of Surmen as a band, rather than a Hip-Hop group. Therefore, the sound on this album ranged from carnival-like to reggae/dub to pseudo bonehead jazz (ha ha ha) and featured lyrics of unusual depth and introspection. Dues Ex Machina -Recorded from Summer 2005 to Winter 2006 -Mixed and Mastered by Egg and Surmen -Released in Spring 2007 Personnel: Ormus Lepht (Vocals, Keys, Production) Dan Bomar (Production, Bass, Guitar, Percussion) Jeff Brink (Percussion, Guitar, Keys) Frank D’Agnillo (Production, Bass, Guitar, Synth) Mitch Seeman (Guitar, Keys) John Severin (Turntables) Shawn Williams (Vocals) Also Featuring: Scott Braley (Keys) Jeff Pulley (Vocals) Surmen hit some roadblocks in 2005 as one vocalist was MIA and another was seeking artistic gratification elsewhere. Given that the remainder of the band had a lot of time to fill, they jammed constantly and recording songs in the same fashion as thier earlier album, Of The Deceased. When one of the aforementioned vocalists returned, it was agreed that he would participate in the completion of the album. Conceptually, Dues Ex Machina is an album involving abstract verbiage, haunting melodies, and apocalyptic themes. It was not representational what Surmen sounded like live, but it was an effective album nonetheless.