User:Undercode-Bob/sandbox

Undercode is a Croatian-Australian heavy metal band notable for providing part of the soundtrack for the Serious Sam video-game series.

Formation and early years (1997-2001)
Undercode was formed in 1997 in Zagreb by Australian-born Damir "Damien" Ljubičić (vocalist of Drinking Skull), Alen Jurišinac, Vedran Čolak, Davor Keranović and Krešo Kovačević. Prior to Undercode, they were members of various Croatian musical groups.

In 1998 the band started work on their debut EP Before the Sunrise, which was released in demo form in 1999.

First album, Serious Sam: The Second Encounter and hiatus
In 2002 the band released their debut album “Enlightening The World” which quickly gained a cult status among European heavy metal fans. That same year, instrumental rearrangements of three tracks from the album ended up as part of the soundtrack for Croteam's first-person shooter Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, marking the start of Croteam's cooperation with Undercode.

After the release of Enlightening the World on September 19, 2002, the band went touring in Croatia an Europe, serving as an opening act for Grave Digger, Paul Di'Anno, Gamma Ray and other metal bands.

In 2004, bassist Dario Sabo and drummer Davor Keranović left the band, their positions filled later in the year by Marko "Karo" Karačić and Marijo "Brko" Jakopović. However, due to personal and financial obligations, the band went on hiatus late in 2005, with the band-members pursuing other musical projects.

Reunion, second album and Serious Sam 3
Early in 2011, at the insistence of Russian fans of both the band and the Serious Sam franchise, Croteam contacted Undercode and successfully secured the rights to use two songs of the upcoming second album,  Post-Apocalyptic, for the Serious Sam 3: BFE soundtrack. Post-Apocalyptic itself was released after several delays on July 13, 2015.

Second line-up change and Serious Sam 4
In 2020, Brko parted ways with the band, with the band recruiting Siniša "Sin" Vasilić to fill the gap, soon recording a video for their third single release, Dominate the Battlefield. The video leaned heavily on Undercode's cooperation with Croteam, featuring a young Serious Sam prowling armed through an abandoned hospital and hunting one of the enemies from Serious Sam 2. Instrumental versions of this track, along with Foreverwar and Panopticon ended up as part of the Serious Sam 4 soundtrack.

Due to his ongoing performances with Prljavo Kazalište, after recording the video for Karo could no longer regularly perform with Undercode and departed. In 2023, Veki invited Boris Matešin to join the band.

The band is currently working on a new album to be released in 2024.

Members
Current members Former members
 * Damir 'Damien' Ljubičić - vocals (1997-present)
 * Ivan 'Jitz' Špeljak - guitars (1997-present)
 * Vedran 'Veki' Čolak - guitars (1997-2003, 2021-present)
 * Siniša 'Sin' Vasilić - drums (2020-present)
 * Boris Matešin - bass (2023-present)
 * Alen Jurišinac (1997-2000)
 * Danko Lukačević - guitars (2003)
 * Dario Sabo - bass (1999-2003)
 * Davor Keranović - drums (1997-2003)
 * Krešo Kovačević - bass (1997-1999)
 * Marko 'Karo' Karačić - bass (2015-2020)
 * Marijo 'Brko' Jakopović - drums (2015-2020)

Albums

 * Enlightening the World (2002)
 * Post-Apocalyptic (2015)

EPs and singles

 * Before the Sunrise (EP, 1999)
 * Driven/Final Fight (AA-single, 2015)
 * Dominate the Battlefield (Single, 2020)