Promise appeared in 1993 through Incision, and Ringworm went on to tour and release several 7"s before lineup fluctuations and inertia sent them on hiatus. But the band returned in 2001 with Birth Is Pain, this time on Victory, and stayed with the label for the 2005 effort Justice Replaced by Revenge. Touring between albums became increasingly sporadic due to personal obligations; Ringworm vocalist Human Furnace (aka James Bulloch) owns a chain of tattoo shops called 252 Tattoo and guitarist Frank Novinec also performs with Terror. While Human Furnace has been the only consistent member over the years, at various points the band has also included guitarist Matt Sorg, bassists Aaron Ramirez and Mike Lare, and drummers Danny Zink and Chris Dora. On the road in 2006, Ringworm played shows in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Europe alongside bands like Most Precious Blood, Damnation A.D., and Terror. After 2007's The Venomous Grand Design, the band took another short break before recording 2011's Scars in Ohio's Spider Studios with Walls of Jericho producer Ben Schigel. In 2013, it was announced that Ringworm had signed with veteran indie Relapse Records. After teasing with a new EP that same year, they issued 2014's Hammer of the Witch, which charted at number 14 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, ushering in a new era of success for the veteran band. Continuing their collaboration with Schigel as producer, Ringworm delivered Snake Church two years later. ~ Eleanor Ditzel