Goatsnake was formed in 1996 after the disbanding of
The Obsessed. After The Obsessed's disbanding, the rhythm section consisting of bassist Guy Pinhas (also former of the Dutch
Beaver) and drummer Greg Rogers began jamming with guitarist
Greg Anderson (
Thorr's Hammer,
Burning Witch,
Sunn O)))). They soon found a vocalist in
Pete Stahl (
Scream,
Wool,
Earthlings?,
The Desert Sessions). Goatsnake recorded and released two 7-inch EPs in 1998 and were featured on several metal compilations. They released their debut full-length,
1, in 1999 on
Man's Ruin Records/
Rise Above Records. Goatsnake toured Europe in support of their debut album and played with bands such as
Unida,
Fatso Jetson, and
Electric Wizard. They returned in 2000 for a UK tour with
Orange Goblin and
Sunn O))), another Anderson project. In 2000 Pinhas left Goatsnake to join
Acid King and was replaced by Stuart Dahlquist of
Burning Witch. Later that year Goatsnake released a split album with Burning Witch on
Hydra Head Records. They also released the
Dog Days EP on Anderson's
Southern Lord Records that same year. They went on to release their second album,
Flower of Disease on Man's Ruin Records/Rise Above Records. The band split up in 2001 and Anderson continued with Sunn O))) and played in
Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine. In 2004 the band reformed with Anderson and Stahl being joined by bassist
Scott Reeder (The Obsessed,
Kyuss) and drummer JR Conners (
Cave In). They recorded three songs which were released on the
Trampled Under Hoof EP along with two previously vinyl-only tracks. This same year also saw the release of the compilation
1 + Dog Days by Southern Lord Records, which combines the first album and the
Dog Days EP as well as a track from the
Man of Light EP. Goatsnake reunited in 2010 with the original line up to headlining the
Roadburn Festival on Thursday April 15. To coincide with the reunion a re-issue of
Flower of Disease came out around the same time. On June 16, 2011, the band played another rare reunion show as special guests to
Godflesh at The Forum in London, England. Original members Anderson, Stahl, and Rogers, along with new bassist Scott Renner, and acclaimed record producer Nick Raskulinecz began working on a new full-length album, Black Age Blues, which was released in 2015. The current Goatsnake line up also played shows in October 2014 including the Southern Lord Records showcase in Los Angeles and the Southwest Terror Fest in Tucson, Arizona. ==Band members==