title: Tortured Conscience
text: # Tortured Conscience
  
  Tortured Conscience is a Christian extreme metal band from San Francisco, California.
  
  ## History
  
  Tortured Conscience formed in 2000 with the lineup of just two members, Jeff Lenormand on guitars and bass and Shannon Frye on drums and vocals. In 2001, the band released their first demo, titled Faces of God. The demo was re-released through The Collection Vol. 1: Tools of the Trade, a split release with Royal Anguish and Soul of the Savior in 2002.
  
  In 2002, Sounds of the Dead (SOTD) Records, released A Brutal Christmas: The Season in Chaos, a compilation of Christmas songs covered by Christian metal bands. Tortured Conscience appeared on the compilation, alongside bands Kekal, Frost Like Ashes, Royal Anguish and Death Requisite, recording the song "The Little Drummer Boy". Tarantula Promotions released a sampler, titled Arachnid Terror Sampler for to promote some artists they had worked with, including Tortured Conscience, Soul Embraced, Frosthardr, and Sanctifica.
  
  In 2006, the band released their debut album, Every Knee Shall Bow, via Bombworks Records. By this time, the lineup was Lenormand on guitars and bass, John Gotelli on drums and Berto Salas on vocals.
  
  The band is currently working on new material with Lenormand on guitar, bass, and drum programming. The band stated that it will most likely be an EP and it will be released through Battlefrost Productions. In 2020, it was announced that their debut album was remixed and remastered and was to be re-released through Battlefrost Productions.
  
  ## Christianity
  
  The band is uncompromisingly Christian. In an interview, Lenormand stated;
  
     Yes, blatantly Christian...This band was made strictly for God. We will not water down the message to try and "fit in." There are too many bands that are ambigious [sic] about their faith, and if that's what they want to do, fine. But for us, it's all about Christ.
  
  When asked about his ambitions for the band in another interview, he responded;
  
     [For Tortured Conscience] It was always about the message. I wanted a band that put glorifying God first and wanted to have songs that were deep into theology.
  
  ## Members
  
  Current
  
  * Jeff Lenormand - Guitars/Bass (2000–present)
  
  Former
  
  * Berto Salas - Vocals (2004-2010)
  * Paul Pontikoff - Vocals (2002)
  * Shannon Frye - Drums/Vocals (2000-2002)
  * John Gotelli - Drums (2002-2015)
  
  ## Discography
  
  Studio albums
  
  * Every Knee Shall Bow (2006; Bombworks)
  
  Demos
  
  * Faces of God (2001)
  
  Splits
  
  * The Collection Vol. 1: Tools of the Trade (2002; w/ Royal Anguish and Soul of the Savior)
  
  Compilation appearances
  
  * A Brutal Christmas: The Season in Chaos (2002; SOTD)
  * Arachnid Terror Sampler (2002; Tarantula)
  * Christian Brutal Death Metal: Vol. 1 (2015)
  