Formation

At inception, Arma Angelus was originally called Novena, but this was changed not long after playing their first show. The band formed shortly after the dissolution of Wentz and Miller’s former band, Firstborn. Miller called Wentz on the phone, asking if the latter wanted to start a new band. From there, they formed what eventually became Novena/Arma Angelus.⁸ One of Wentz’s biggest musical inspirations for Arma Angelus was Damnation AD.⁹

It is currently unknown how the band spent their time from 1998 to March 2000, as there is very little record of it, and the original lineup of members–sans Miller–are difficult to contact for information. It is also unknown exactly when Hurley, Ingebrigtson, and Hlavinka joined the band, and if they had any influence on the band’s early sound. Presumably, Wentz and Miller wrote materials and practiced for some time before acquiring other members.³

On March 16th, 2000, Arma Angelus played their first known show under the name Novena at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL. Footage of this show exists on YouTube, but is dated as April 16th, 2000. A Fireside Bowl flyer shows that Novena was booked for a show on March 16th, 2000, so it is likely this is the correct date.^2,10,11 This show featured Hlavinka and Ingebrightson’s first and only known appearances in the band, as well as Hurley on bass (Also the only known time he played bass for this band live).^3,6

Active Years

The Personal Is Political EP

Some time soon after the show in March of 2000, a demo EP was recorded featuring Wentz, Miller, and Hurley.^8,12 It is unknown who else played on this recording, if anyone did. Not much is known about this EP, including how many copies were made. There is also an Arma Angelus “demo” release shrouded in mystery, which may actually just be The Personal Is Political in different packaging, but ultimately that is currently unclear.^3,13

Either before or right after this recording, Hurley, Ingebrigtson, and Hlavinka were replaced with Tim McIlrath, Adam Bishop, and Daniel Binaei, respectively.^6,13

The Grave End Of The Shovel EP

McIlrath explains his experience as the band’s bassist in the Take This To Your Grave Oral History book, saying, “I was like their fifth or sixth bass player. I wasn’t doing anything musically when they hit me up to play bass, so I said, ‘Of course.’… We were rehearsing, playing a few shows here and there, with an ever-revolving cast of characters.”⁶ McIlrath’s claim of being the band’s fifth or sixth bass player could theoretically be true, and not just hyperbole, but Hurley was their first documented bassist, and McIlrath followed him. 

The Grave End Of The Shovel features Wentz on vocals and “propaganda” (presumably referring to the lyrics), Bishop and Binaei on guitar, McIlrath on bass and clean vocals, and Miller on drums.^14. McIlrath’s vocals give the album a more melodic sound compared to the later-released harsher Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares. While still a Metalcore/Hardcore album, it emanates a butt-rock-influenced sound.  

With this iteration of the line-up, the band called up local producer Sean O’Keefe, who would eventually produce Fall Out Boy’s debut album, to record at Rosebud Studios. O’Keefe had freshly graduated from high school and was recording several bands out of the office space that also doubled as his apartment. O’Keefe knew of Wentz, likely from one of his prior bands. In a 2024 interview with FOBAT, O’Keefe describes how he was intimidated by Wentz’s reputation as a tough, hardcore kid. O’Keefe agreed to record Arma Angelus over the phone, not realizing Wentz was in the band. When Wentz showed up at his door, O’Keefe recalls, “…I called my best friend. I was like, ‘Dude, the band I’m recording is actually Pete Wentz’s band, and I’m scared!’ I was like, ‘I think he might not like me,’ and he’s like, ‘You’re going to be fine.’ And it turned out Pete didn’t even know who I was and didn’t care, and he was nice.”¹⁵ In Where Are Your Boys Tonight, he elaborates on the cause of his worry– there was a small conflict between Wentz and O’Keefe’s friend over a girl they both dated.¹

McIlrath, for a period of time, did double duty as bassist for Arma Angelus and the frontman of Rise Against, as evidenced by a picture of his schedule he posted of a week in August/September 2000.¹⁶ It seems likely that the times carved out in the schedule at Rosebud Studios are to do with recording for Arma Angelus, but it’s unclear for what release.

Tim McIlrath’s schedule while he was splitting his time between Rise Against and Arma Angelus in Fall 2000. Rosebud Studios was Sean O’Keefe’s, who recorded not only Arma Angelus, but, eventually, Fall Out Boy.

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Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares

After The Grave End Of The Shovel EP, McIlrath eventually left the band to focus on Rise Against and was replaced by Chris Gutierrez.⁶ Gutierrez first befriended Wentz through Jim Grimes of Extinction. He knew of Wentz as they ran in the same circles in the Chicago hardcore scene, but disliked him until he was won over by a story of Wentz crashing a frat party and peeing on their curtains.¹ Gutierrez loved the music he heard from Arma Angelus because of its similarities to Damnation AD and Despair. Upon hearing of an opening for a bass player following McIlrath’s departure, Gutierrez enthusiastically joined the band and would remain a member for the rest of its existence, save for Joe Trohman filling in for part of a tour.^6,17

Similar to McIlrath, following the release of their second EP, guitarist Binaei began playing in Arma Angelus less and less as he was living between Chicago and California, until being replaced by fill–in recruit Jay Jancetic. Jancetic also had a stint in Extinction, like Bishop and Wentz. Jancetic recalls the following of the time:  

… it was all very incestuous, Arma always had members kind of coming and going…For a time, we technically had three guitarists. Although we never performed live this way, we often practised and made road trips in this manner when Dan was in town. We’d rotate who was playing that night and there are some rare promo photos I have of Arma with all six of us that are funny to see now. It was a bit of a clusterfuck actually, but we made it work.¹⁷ 

The three guitarists he is referring to were himself, Bishop, and Binaei. All three end up being credited on Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares as members of Arma Angelus, alongside Wentz as the sole vocalist, Miller on percussion, and new member Gutierrez on bass. From this point, it becomes difficult to track the lineup of guitarists simply because it changed so frequently.¹⁸

Before the recording of that album, Arma went on a 2001 Summer tour with 7 Angels 7 Plagues. Joe Trohman attended as a roadie and eventually filled in on guitar and bass at various points. Trohman’s parents were worried about letting their 16-year-old son go on tour with Arma. Wentz stopped by his house and charmed his parents into allowing him to go.^5,17

Being far younger than everyone else he toured with, Trohman endured “relentless” hazing from both members of 7 Angels 7 Plagues and Arma Angelus. He details this in his memoir, None of This Rocks:

What made this initial jaunt most jarring for me was the hazing I received from some of the other guys in the group… Strangely, I look back upon it all and feel that it was necessary for my own growth. I truly hold no grudges… I was pissed on more than all the toilet seats in the continental United States. I was also berated, punched once, slapped a few times, pushed around, made to carry a lot of the gear, and basically forced through the punk version of what frat bros do to new pledges.⁵

Most notably, during this tour, the bands spent the night at a girl’s house. In the Solid Gold Uncertainty Unofficial Documentary, Matthew Matera and Jared Logan of 7 Angels 7 Plagues detail this night. They reference urinating in condoms and throwing them at each other, wet tissues, and blood omens with tampons. Some of these shenanigans align with Trohman’s tales of hazing. Matera references a “spitball incident” without much context.¹⁹

When the band’s stay at the house was over, Wentz and the other Arma Angelus members left in their van. Meanwhile, members of 7 Angels 7 Plagues stayed behind because “two conscientious members wanted to get in the girls’ pants and clean up the house.”¹⁹

On a separate winter tour in 2000 that Arma Angelus embarked on without Trohman, another “panty raid” occurred. Gutierrez details in his 2007 book A Life Deliberate that they stayed at a girls’ dormitory. He recalls them ransacking the panty drawers and trying on the garments, all while adult films played on the television. Photos of various members of Arma Angelus wearing the sorority girl’s underwear were published in Gutierrez’s book.²⁰

In 2001, Arma Angelus released their album Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares under Eulogy Records. The recording of the album was done in Boston with Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage. The recording of this album coincided with 9/11.¹

Gutierrez arrived for the recording on September 20th, while Miller was set to leave on 9/11. Because of the attacks on the World Trade Center, he ended up not leaving. Gutierrez recounts the band watching the towers fall on television. He was awoken by Binaei when he first heard the news. Wentz had lied to his parents about where he would be during the recording of the album, saying that he would be apartment-sitting in Chicago during this time. When they heard that Wentz was in Boston, they immediately became concerned. His parents later confirmed that Wentz was safe through another member’s parents.^3,8,20

Covered In Blood (Slayer Cover Album)

The last song Arma Angelus ever recorded was for the Slayer tribute album, Covered In Blood. They covered the Slayer track “Piece by Piece.”²¹

Miller departed from the band during his period. He was not a big fan of the metalcore direction the band was heading in. He much preferred the traditional hardcore roots of other bands such as Firstborn.²² At this point, Andy briefly returned, now as a drummer.^21,23 Wentz seemingly mentions Todd Mohney from The Killing Tree being a member of Arma Angelus at this point, though it is not completely clear if that is exactly what he is implying. It can be assumed at this point that Binaei had moved on from the band, since he is not listed as a member, but Bishop is.²⁴

Breakup/Hiatus

Arma was set to play the 2002 Orlando Magic Fest, but broke up right before and dropped off.²⁵ Fall Out Boy had formed in the spring of 2001, as Wentz had grown frustrated with the Hardcore scene. He felt it had become less about the politics or activism and more about the moshing. Both he and Trohman desired to leave the scene and start something that a wider audience of people could get into.⁶

The final Arma Angelus show took place on November 16th, 2002.^23,26 It was a birthday celebration for Jim Grimes, who was a notable figure in the Chicago Hardcore scene and played in Extinction with Wentz years prior.²⁷  An announcement for the show and a goodbye message from the band were posted to the Arma Angelus Livejournal about a week before. The lineup for this final show consisted of Wentz on vocals, Gutierrez on bass, Bishop on guitar, Trohman on guitar, and Patrick Stump on drums as a fill-in.^23,26

Controversies

The band found themselves in trouble for the multiple panty raid incidents that occurred while on tour. What this “trouble” exactly entails is not entirely clear.^19,30

Although Trohman holds no grudges against the band, it can be noted that the “hazing” he endured was unusually cruel at times.⁵

Reunions

The band has not reunited; however, in 2025, Gutierrez created an official Instagram account for the band. He posted a reel with a tape of theirs soon after the creation, implying a teaser of some sort.²⁸

In 2021, Anxious and Angry re-released an Arma Angelus t-shirt with Gutierrez to raise profits for his current business, The Catcade.²⁹

Musical Style

Arma Angelus was heavily inspired by Damnation AD, and it reflected in their music. They often had sludgy parts, paired with pretty guitar portions. It mixes influences of hardcore and metal.^9,19

Discography

The Personal Is Political EP (Summer 2000)³¹

1. Before Christ, There Were Cowboys
2. Sacrifice Births Miracles
3. Breaching The Contract On A Suicide Pact

Arma Tour Support Series Sampler ( Fall/Winter 2000)³²

1. Misanthrope
2. Solutions

Grave End Of The Shovel EP (12/15/2000)³³

1. Intro    
2. Misanthrope    
3. The Moral Escapist    
4. Victoria    
5. The Death Of Sociopath Americana    
6. The Depression Fidelity

Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares (November 2001)³⁴

1. An Anthem For Those Without Breath And Heart
2. We Are The Pale Horse
3. For The Expatriates Of Human Civilization
4. To Feel No More Bitterness Forever
5. Misanthrope 2.0
6. Cold Pillows And Warm Blades
7. I’m Every Broken Man
8. Surrender

Discography (Comps, etc.)

1. Ya Basta! A Benefit For Food For Chiapas – Unknown
2. Ascend From The Darkness (A Dark Vision Records Compilation)  (2001)
3. Chicago Arise From The Ashes  (2001)
4. Eulogy Recordings / One Day Savior Recordings Sampler  (2001)
5. Arma Angelus & Until The End (2001)
6. Redline Distribution Volume 1 (Fall 2001)
7. Shit We Don’t Like We Destroy (2002)
8. Covered In Blood (2002)
9. Transcend: Eulogy + Alveran (2003)
10. Chicago Bootleg Vol. 1 (2005, recorded 2001)

Touring

Trivia

• The person pictured on the cover and album booklet for Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares is sometimes mistaken for a woman, but it is actually Karl Hlavinka, who played in the band prior to this record. Notably, Seth Ingebrigtson is credited for taking some of the photos used, so both former members made non-musical contributions to the album.^8,35
• Chris Gutierrez produces the screams heard on the band’s track “Cold Pillows and Warm Blades”.³⁶
• The audio sampled throughout The Personal Is Political is from a 1996 HBO straight-to-home movie called Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. Pete misremembers the clip used at the beginning of the first track, citing that in the movie, a “redneck shoots a watermelon”. In reality, it was a pumpkin.^32,37

References

1. Payne C. Where Are Your Boys Tonight? The Oral History of Emo’s Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008. 1st ed. HarperCollins Publishers; 2023. 
2. Ricardo Cozzolino. Novena (Arma Angelus) – Fireside Bowl Chicago – 1st Show  April 16, 2000. 2020. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ4B9VyHiMA 
3. Miller T. Personal communication. Published online 2026. 
4. angelfire.com/il2/frontside/news.html. Accessed August 2, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20020206163054/http://www.angelfire.com:80/il2/frontside/news.html 
5. Trohman J. None Of This Rocks: A Memoir. 1st ed. Da Capo; 2022. 
6. Downey RJ. The Oral History of Fall Out Boy’s Take This To Your Grave. 2nd ed. Fueled By Ramen, LLC; 2023. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K9AJqLSWTPHyPeFpJ5Rlfk6jSGYR5kS-iWMPbm-9zRQ/edit?tab=t.0 
7. Gutierrez C. Fallout Boy. 2.4.13. Hiatus return show. Chicago. Not a show review. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://deadxstop.tumblr.com/post/42368358230/fallout-boy-2413-hiatus-return-show-chicago 
8. Miller T. Personal communication. Published online 2024. 
9. The FOB Archive Team. FOBAT Interviews: Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. 2025. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC6lEtXsryU 
10. Fireside Bowl show flyer (Novena). Published online 2000. 
11. Trohman J. One Concern Records Webpage:  old news. One Concern Records. October 12, 2001. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20011012071847/http://www.angelfire.com/il2/oneconcern/oldnews.htm 
12. Hurley A. HURLEYXVX – DISCOGRAPHY. HURLEYXVX. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.hurleyxvx.com/discog 
13. Arma Angelus – Demo. 2000. Accessed August 19, 2026. https://www.discogs.com/release/37424244-Arma-Angelus-Demo
14. Arma Angelus, Eulogy Recordings. August 4, 2001. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20010804224650/http://www.eulogyrecordings.com/bandpages/arma.html 
15. Arma Angelus – The Grave End Of The Shovel | Releases | Discogs. Discogs. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.discogs.com/master/709988-Arma-Angelus-The-Grave-End-Of-The-Shovel 
16. The FOB Archive Team. FOBAT – Interview with Sean O’Keefe, Producer of TTTYG and More! 2024. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psNm-7wz_AY 
17. McIlrath T. @timmcilrath on Instagram. Instagram. January 14, 2026. Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/timmcilrath/p/DE-rUQHp_o6/ 
18. Welch B. Fall Out Boy – Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Book So We Wouldn’t Get Sued. 1st ed. John Blake Publishing; 2016. 
19. Arma Angelus – Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares – CD (Album), 2001 [r1235426] | Discogs. Discogs. Accessed March 28, 2026. https://www.discogs.com/release/1235426-Arma-Angelus-Where-Sleeplessness-Is-Rest-From-Nightmares 
20. Solid Gold Uncertainty. Chrome Dreams; 2006. 
21. Gutierrez C. A Life Deliberate. 1st ed. The DeadxStop Publishing Corpo; 2007. 
22. Various Artists – Covered In Blood. 2002. https://www.discogs.com/release/4441235-Various-Covered-In-Blood 
23. Interview with Tim Miller : 12-18-24 – FOB ARCHIVE TEAM. Accessed April 10, 2026. https://fobarchive.com/fobat-interviews/tim-miller/ 
24. Arma Angelus. Arma Angelus as an Expirement. arma. November 7, 2004. https://armaangelus.livejournal.com/14749.html 
25. Arma Angelus. even if i crashed my car into a wall or weighed myself to the bottom of the sea-. arma. February 24, 2002. https://armaangelus.livejournal.com/6689.html 
26. Orlando Magic Fest Chatter: BREAKING NEWS. November 4, 2002. Accessed April 10, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20021104071618/http://members3.boardhost.com/OrlandoFest/msg/1307.html 
27. Christopher Gutierrez. The Last Arma Angelus Show. 11.16.02. 2012. Accessed April 13, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uabdU3q-2MY 
28. hate5six. No Delusions: A Chicago Hardcore Documentary. 2018. Accessed April 13, 2026. https://vimeo.com/266342072 
29. Instagram. Accessed April 13, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/armaangelus.hc/ 
30. OWTH. @dasowth.sgh on Instagram. Instagram. April 9, 2021. Accessed April 13, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/dasowth.sgh/p/CNczCQ-hq3D/ 
31. Gutierrez C. The Last Of The Great Misanthropes. In: A Life Deliberate. DeadxStop Publishing Company; 2007. 
32. Gutierrez C. @deadxstop on Instagram. Instagram. September 1, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/deadxstop/p/Ch-s8dNPk0U/ 
33. Wentz P. Post by @ahomeboyslife. Tumblr. June 26, 2008. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.tumblr.com/ahomeboyslife/39890686/look-what-cd-i-found-at-my-parents-house-its-not 
34. Happy Couples Never Last Webpage – news. March 2, 2001. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20010302144049/http://www.hcnl.com/news.html 
35. Eulogy Records – News. December 30, 2002. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20021230214424/http://www.eulogyrecordings.com/news.html 
36. Arma Angelus – Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares. 2001. Accessed March 31, 2026. https://www.discogs.com/release/1235426-Arma-Angelus-Where-Sleeplessness-Is-Rest-From-Nightmares 
37. Gutierrez C. Personal communication. 
38. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. Creative Thinking International Ltd., Home Box Office (HBO); 1996.