ACHERON

• Active: '90s, 2000s
• Genre(s): Death Meatl
• Instrument: Producer, Performer, Main Performer
• Representative Albums: "Lex Talionis/Satanic Victory," "Rebirth: Metamorphosing into Godhood," "Those Who Have Risen"





Biography

At first glance, Acheron seemed like your run-of-the-mill, early-'90s death metal band -- no different from hundreds of others ripening like so many oranges under the Florida sunshine. But a closer look quickly revealed the group's altogether more sinister mission, one that reflected the devil-worshipping ways of leader and guitarist Vincent Crowley, who, in his spare time, helmed a Satanic youth group named "the Order of the Evil Eye." Starting out in 1988, Crowley teamed up with his brother-in-darkness (and occasional electronic music composer) Peter Gilmore to disseminate his belief system using Acheron's brutal death metal music, which included a number of popular demos before the unleashing of their Rites of the Black Mass debut in 1991. Subsequent albums Satanic Victory (1993) and Lex Talionis (1995) followed in short order, each featuring a revolving cast of musicians supporting the core duo, and delivering competent, if hardly groundbreaking death/black metal. In fact, Crowley's anti-Christian views tended to gain him far more notoriety than his music, and around this time, he was appointed a priest in the Church of Satan by none other than its founder, the infamous Anton Szandor LaVey himself. Over the ensuing years, Crowley committed more time to debating local televangelists than writing music, so that Acheron's output was reduced to 1998's Those Who Have Risen, and 2003's Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood.

History:

Founded in 1988 by vocalist/bassist/songwriter Vincent Crowley (formerly of Nocturnus, and leader of the satanic youth group "Order of the Evil Eye"), Acheron's musical output is almost exclusively Satanic and anti-Christian in content. Early albums featured interludes by Peter H. Gilmore. Crowley was appointed a priest in the Church of Satan by its founder, Anton Szandor LaVey, and began spending a lot of his time debating local televangelists, limiting Acheron's output for a time. He later disassociated himself from the church to act independently.

In 2003, the band released an album of cover versions, Tribute to the Devil's Music, including songs originally recorded by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Kreator, and Celtic Frost.

Lineup



• Vincent Crowley - bass, vocals (1988-present)
• Kyle Severn - drums (2002-present)
• Max Otworth - guitar (2006-present)

Former members

• Vincent Breeding - lead guitar (1992-1994)
• Michael Estes - lead guitar (1996-2003)
• Bill "Belial" Koblak - guitar (1988)
• Peter Slate - guitar (1991)
• Tony Blakk - guitar (1992-1994)
• Ben Meyer - guitar (1998)
• Adina Blase - keyboards (1998)
• John Scott - keyboards (1996-1998)
• James Strauss - drums (1991)
• Mike Browning - drums (1992-1994)
• Richard Christy - drums (1996)
• Tony Laureano - drums (1998)
• Jonathan Lee - drums (1998-1999)

Discography

• Messe Noir (Demo, 1989)
• Rites of the Black Mass (1991, re-released in 2006)
• Alla Xul (7", Demo, 1992)
• Rites of the Black Mass (Turbo, 1992)
• Hail Victory (CD, Metal Merchant, 1993)
• Satanic Victory (CD, Turbo, 1994)
• Lex Talionis (CD, Turbo, 1994; reissued as Lex Talionis: Satanic Victory, Blackened, 1997)
• Anti-God, Anti-Christ (CD, Moribund, 1996)
• Those Who Have Risen (CD, Full Moon Productions, 1998)
• Compendium Diablerie: The Demo Days (CD, Full Moon Productions, 2001)
• Xomaly (2002)
• Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood (CD, Black Lotus, 2003)
• Tribute to the Devil's Music (CD, Black Lotus, 2003)
• The Final Conflict : Last Days of God (CD, Displeased Records, 2009)

Official page: http://www.myspace.com/acheron666