View source for Ultimatum (American band)

{{Short description|American christianthrash metal band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Ultimatum
| image           =
| caption         =
| image_size      =
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], U.S.
| genre           = [[Christian metal]], [[thrash metal]], [[speed metal]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
| years_active    = 1992–present
| label           = [[Retroactive Records|Retroactive]], [[Massacre Records|Massacre/Gutter]], [[Rowe Productions|Rowe]], Juke Box Media
| associated_acts = [[Once Dead]], Moshketeers, Angelic Force
| website         = {{URL|ultimatum.net}}
| current_members = Scott Waters<br/>Robert Gutierrez<br/>Sean Griego<br/>Rob Whitlock<br/>Alan Tuma
| past_members    = Steve Trujillo<br/>Tom Michaels<br/>Augustine Ortiz<br/>Greg Dingess<br/>Mike Lynch<br>Justin Frear
}}
'''Ultimatum''' is an American [[thrash metal]] band from [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]].
==History==
Ultimatum was formed in 1992 in [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]] by Robert Gutierrez, John Carroll and Greg Dingess. The band's name is taken from concept of the ultimatum given by Joshua in {{bibleref|Joshua|24:15|NIV}} which states, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." Robert's former Angelic Force guitar player Steve Trujillo joined soon after. Vocalist Scott Waters joined the band in January 1993 and their first public performance together was at the Sonshine Festival in Albuquerque, NM in 1993.
From 1992-1995 the band performed regularly locally and recorded three demos, ''Fatal Delay'' (1993), ''Symphonic Extremities by Ultimatum'' (1994), and then ''Symphonic Extremities'' (1995). The later two demos were later combined and released on CD by indie label Juke Box Media and released on CD with a new song that was mixed by [[Whitecross (band)|Whitecross]] guitarist [[Rex Carroll]].
Drummer Sean Griego joined the band in 1995, whose more aggressive style helped the band morph from traditional [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] to a more aggressive [[speed metal|speed]] and [[thrash metal]] style. That same year the band opened up for [[Mortification (band)|Mortification]] on their [[Blood World]] tour. Mortification bassist [[Steve Rowe]] liked the band's performance and purchased all their demo tapes to sell through his new indie distribution company, [[Rowe Productions]]. In 1996, the band was signed to a three-album contract with Rowe, releasing ''Puppet of Destruction'' in 1998, which was distributed by [[Diamante Music Group]] in the US.<ref name="HM Mag">Heaven's Metal, Feb/Mar 2008, Issue No. 73, p18 {{ISSN|1066-6923}}</ref>
''Puppet of Destruction'' received mixed reviews.<ref name="HM Mag 72 No. 1">HM Magazine, July/August 1998, Issue No. 72, p81-82 {{ISSN|1066-6923}}</ref><ref name="HM Mag 72">
HM Magazine, July/Aug 1998, Issue No. 72, "Ultimatum" p50 (article written by John DeLaurentis about Ultimatum's ''Puppet of Destruction'') {{ISSN|1066-6923}}</ref> Within a year the band used the same line-up on their second album for Rowe Productions, ''Mechanics of Perilous Times''. The album was scheduled to be released in early 2000 on Rowe. During this time, the band also released two songs for Dwell records, including a cover of [[Testament (band)|Testament's]] [[Practice What You Preach|"Sins of Omission"]].<ref name="NM Mag">NM Magazine, Mar/Apr 2000, Issue No. 82, "Ultimatum" p54 {{ISSN|1066-6923}}</ref> Due to the success of the Testament cover, [[Massacre Records]] approached Ultimatum about being on their label.  Rowe Productions allowed the band to release the album on their new label in March 2001.
Bassist Tom Micheals left Ultimatum in 2001 following the band's performance at the second Stryper Expo in Anaheim, CA. The band put up an ad on their website searching for a bassist and Rob Whitlock answered the advertisement and became their new bassist.<ref name="White Throne">{{cite web|url=http://whitethronereviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/rob-whitlock-of-ultimatum-brings.html |title=Rob Whitlock Brings the Thunder |publisher=Whitethronereviews.blogspot.com |date=June 5, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2012}}{{Verify source|date=February 2012|reason=blogs are not reliable sources, but this appears to be an interview}}</ref>
The band began recording demos again in 2004 to shop to record labels. They recorded a four-song demo that caught the attention of [[Retroactive Records]] who signed the band. In the meantime, the four song demo was released on CD with a couple of bonus tracks as the '''Til the End'' EP on Roxx Productions (2006).<ref name="Blabbermouth">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=59201 |title=Blabbermouth.Net - Ultimatum Signs With Retroactive Records |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref> It was re-released in 2016 on Stone Groove Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimatum1.bandcamp.com/album/til-the-end|title=...'Til the End!, by Ultimatum|website=Ultimatum1.bandcamp.com}}</ref>{{better source|date=September 2017|reason=This is a primary source and a secondary source should be found}}
In 2006 guitarist Steve Trujillo left the band and was replaced by Augustine Ortiz.<ref name="Metal Metropolis">{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-metropolis.com/ultimatum.htm |title=Ultimatum Article at Metal Metropolis |publisher=Metal-metropolis.com |access-date=February 8, 2012}}{{Verify source|date=February 2012|reason=Fan site. Not reliable}}</ref>
''[[Into the Pit (Ultimatum album)|Into the Pit]]'' was recorded with producer Ysidro Garcia at Sight 16 Studios. During the recording, longtime drummer Sean Griego was replaced by former [[Moshketeers]] drummer Alan Tuma. Alan recorded drums on four of the album's eleven tracks. ''Into the Pit'' was released by Retroactive Records on October 30, 2007<ref name="Blabbermouth Again">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82718 |title=Blabbermouth.net, ULTIMATUM: 'Into The Pit' Finally Sees Light Of Day - Oct. 13, 2007 |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref> to positive reviews.<ref name="Unrestrained Mag">Unrestrained Magazine Issue No. 37, p. 98  {{ISSN|1715-2453}}</ref><ref name="Outburn Mag">Outburn Magazine, Issue No. 43, p. 43 {{ISSN|1542-1309}}</ref><ref name="HM Again">Heaven's Metal, Aug/Sep 2005, Issue No. 59, p. 6 {{ISSN|1066-6923}}</ref>
In 2007, Retroactive reissued ''Symphonic Extremities'' and ''Mechanics of Perilous Times'', remastered and containing bonus tracks.<ref name="Metal Metropolis" />
In 2008 Ultimatum recorded a [[cover version|covers]] album featuring songs that were at least partially chosen by fan suggestions on the band's discussion board.<ref name="Metal Metropolis" /> ''Lex Metalis'' was released on Retroactive Records on July 21, 2009.<ref name="Blabbermouth yet again">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122850 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - ULTIMATUM To Release 'Lex Metalis' In July |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref>
In 2009, ''Puppet of Destruction'' was remastered and re-released on Roxx Records with bonus tracks. A limited edition run of 1000 copies were pressed as a two-CD set with the 1993 ''Fatal Delay'' demo on the bonus disc.<ref name="Metal Metropolis" />
Their sound has been compared to [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]] and [[Metal Church]].<ref name="Metal Maniacs">Metal Maniacs, Superstar Special, February 1997, Vol 13, No 6, p59-60 {{ISSN|1054-0180}}</ref><ref name="BNR Metal Pages">{{cite web |url=http://www.bnrmetal.com/v3/band/band/Ulti |title=The BNR Metal Pages |publisher=Bnrmetal.com |access-date=February 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830081753/http://www.bnrmetal.com/v3/band/band/Ulti |archive-date=August 30, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The singles "World of Sin" from their 1995 debut album ''Symphonic Extremities'' and "Never" from their second studio 1998 album ''Puppet of Destruction'' reached the top ten on the Pure Rock Report's chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/ultimatum_interview200804/index.php |title=HM - Internet Exclusives |access-date=2012-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613034501/http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/ultimatum_interview200804/index.php |archive-date=June 13, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} {{ISSN|1066-6923}}</ref> The band has continued to tour up to the present day.<ref name="Columbia News Service">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=71JIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IP4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1765,9477515&dq=ultimatum&hl=en Lakeland Ledger, June 20, 2005] via Columbia News Service.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2022}}
==Discography==
''''Demos''''
* ''Fatal Delay'' (1993)
* ''Symphonic Extremities by Ultimatum'' (1994)
* ''Symphonic Extremities'' (1995)
* ''Never'' (1996)
''''Studio albums''''
* ''Symphonic Extremities'' (1995) - Juke Box Media
* ''Puppet of Destruction'' (1998) - [[Rowe Productions]]
* ''The Mechanics of Perilous Times...'' (2001) - Gutter Records, an imprint of [[Massacre Records]]
* ''Into the Pit'' (2007) - [[Retroactive Records]]
* ''Lex Metalis'' (2009) - Retroactive Records
''''Compilations''''
* ''Heart of Metal - 20 Years of Ultimatum'' (2012) - Roxx<ref name="Roxx">{{cite web|url=http://www.roxxproductions.com/?page_id=30|title=Discography - Roxx Productions|access-date=August 9, 2016}}</ref>
''''EPs'''
* ''Til' the End'' (2006) - Roxx
==Members==
<!--Do not edit the time the members were in the band without a reference--->
'''Current line up'''
* Scott Waters – vocals (1993–present)
* Robert Gutierrez – guitar (1992–present)<ref name="NLTM">{{cite web|url=http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/ultimatum.htm|title=Ultimatum|publisher=No Life Til Metal|access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref>
* Rob Whitlock – bass (2002–present)
* Alan Tuma – drums (2007–present)
'''Former members'''
* Steve Trujillo – guitar (1992–2006)
* Mike Lynch – drums (1993–1997)
* Greg Dingess – bass (1993–1995)
* Joey Anaya – bass (1994–1995)
* Tom Michaels – bass (1995–2002)
* Sean Griego – drums (1997–2006)
* Augustine Ortiz – guitar (2006)
* Justin Frear – guitar (2008; died 2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themetalonslaught.com/post/former-ultimatum-guitarist-justin-frear-passes-away|title=Former Ultimatum Guitarist Justin Frear Passes Away|website=The Metal Onslaught|first=Mason|last=Beard|date=February 26, 2020|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref>
* Fabian Aguilar – guitar (2010–2011)
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
* [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p437035|pure_url=yes}} Ultimatum's page] on [[AllMusic]]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimatum}}
[[Category:American Christian metal musical groups]]
[[Category:American thrash metal musical groups]]
[[Category:American speed metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Heavy metal musical groups from New Mexico]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1992]]
[[Category:Rowe Productions artists]]