After the release of their first two LPs Rhymes of Lunacy and Life Death and Other Morbid Tales, singer Messiah Marcolin and drummer Snowy Shaw exited the power doom metal band Memento Mori, leaving songwriter/guitarist Mike Wead to start the group over from scratch. La Danse Macabre, the third overall Memento Mori album and the first to feature Wead's new band of vocalist Kristian Andren, guitarist Nikkey Argento, bassist Marty Marteen, keyboardist Miguel Robaina, and drummer Billy St. John, came out in 1996. Apocalypse 4 followed in 1998. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide