Early Man is a three-piece heavy metal band from Columbus, Ohio, but now based in Brooklyn, New York. Mike Conte is the guitarist, bassist and vocalist. Adam Bennati plays the drums. The story is that Conte and Bennati were shielded from the world by their Pentecostalist parents until age 19, when they discovered rock music. Drawing heavily from bands such as Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, Judas Priest, Kreator, Celtic Frost, and early Metallica, their traditional approach quickly gained the attention of the independent music scene and they were signed by Monitor Records, who released their first EP in early 2005. Larger label, Matador, quickly signed them to a better deal and agreed to release their debut LP, Closing In, in the fall of the same year. A 2nd guitarist, Pete Macy, was added to the band's lineup in 2005. Although they never had an official bassist, they have been known to tour with one, currently Tim Ramage.