Impaled Nazarene

• Genre(s): Black Metal
• Representative Albums: "Death Comes in 26 Carefully Selected Pieces: Live," "All That You Fear," "Suomi Finland Perkele/Motorpenis"






Biography

Finnish death metal legends Impaled Nazarene formed in 1990 originally consisting of brothers Mika and Kimmo Luttinen (vocals and drums, respectively) along with Mika Pääkkö (guitar), Ari Holappa (guitar), and Harri Halonen (bass). By 1992, the band had recorded a couple of demos and opened shows for bands like Sentenced, Amorphis, and Belial. The exposure attracted Finnish label Osmose Productions, who added them to their roster. After rearranging their lineup, replacing Holappa and Halonen with bassist Taneli Jarva and guitarist Jarno Anttila, Impaled Nazarene recorded their debut album Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz, which surprisingly hit number 40 on the Finnish charts. In 1993 they released their second album Ugra-Karma along with an EP entitled Satanic Masowhore. Suomi Finland Perkele, originally titled Hail to Finland, was released in 1994 and was banned by major chainstores due to lyrical content. During a 1995 recording session K. Luttinen quit the band and was replaced by Reima Kellokoski. After a European tour the band returned to the studio to record the album Latex Cult and the EP Motorpenis. At the end of the recordings Jarva left the band and was replaced by Jani Lehtosaari. In 1996 they toured Europe extensively, playing with Dark Tranquillity, Cannibal Corpse, Immolation, Angel Corpse, Gehennah, and Vader. Hare Krishnas slapped a lawsuit on the band and Osmose in 1997, claiming the cover art for Ugra-Karma was offensive. Osmose settled the case and re-released the album with a different cover. Their sixth release, Rapture, hit the stores in 1998 which they followed with extensive touring through Europe, the U.S., and Mexico. They went back to the studio in 1999 to record a split 7" with Driller Killer and the album Nihil, that features yet another lineup change with Alexi "Wild Child" Laiho replacing Mika Pääkkö on guitar. Osmose followed Nihil by releasing the compilation Decade of Decadence that includes demos, unreleased tracks, and the long out of print Goat Perversion EP.

History:

Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements of grindcore in their sound and punk rock in their aesthetics. The band is currently signed to Osmose Productions of France.

When asked about the origin of their name, Mika Luttinen stated in an interview that he had read a pamphlet about Christ appearing to be a vampire. He got to thinking, so he did, on how impaling a vampire is one of the only ways to kill them, and thus, thought of the name "Impaled Nazarene"

The band was infamous for seeming to hate the Norwegian black metal scene back in the early 1990s however the band now seems to disassociate with such hatred. It has been ascertained that the origin of such "hate" was the fact that singer Mika Luttinen had been subjected to telephonic pranks by members of fellow Finnish metallers Beherit, which he interpreted as "attacks" from members of the Norwegian black metal scene. They also stopped wearing corpse paint in the mid 1990s due to it being "too trendy".

In 2003, guitarist Teemu Raimoranta died falling - or jumping - off a bridge on the ice below. Although officially stated to be caused by intoxication, Mika Luttinen speculated it was suicide.

Lyrical content

Impaled Nazarene have for most of their history displayed Finnish nationalism (for instance in their song Total War - Winter War about the Soviet-Finnish war in 1939 and 1940), and have been strongly anti-communistic as exemplified in their song Healers of the Red Plague on Rapture. Various samples and references to Nazism are made in their works, however in a 2006 interview singer Mika Luttinen stated that he does not consider himself as a nationalist or patriotic, and is not interested in politics at all.

Other lyrics revolve around war and all things Satanic, though many can be considered rather comical or tongue-in-cheek. The band has also stated that at least one song on every album is to have the word "Goat" in it somewhere (examples: "Goat Sodomy", "Goat Vomit and Gas Masks", "Sadogoat", etc).

Manifest was banned for sale in several nations in the European Union. Mika Luttinen stated as a reaction to this "it seems that basic freedoms such as freedom of publishing and freedom of speech, which are supposed to be supplied under the European union, are no longer available to us. Thanks for fucking deceiving everyone." The European Union did this due to the supposed Nazi association of the lyrics and Mika has stated again that the lyrics have no Nazi influences. Despite the ban, several of the countries who voted for it still allow active distribution of Impaled Nazarene albums. The only country that has enforced the ban so far is Germany.

Line-up



Current line-up

• Mika Luttinen, also known as Sluti666 and MikaakiM (1990-, Vocals)
• Tomi UG Ullgren (2007-, Guitar)
• Jarno Anttila (1992-, Guitar)
• Mikael Arnkil, also known as ArcBasstard (2000-, Bass)
• Reima Kellokoski, also known as Repe Misanthrope (1995-, Drums)

Former members

• Kimmo "Sir" Luttinen - Drums (1990-1995)
• Ari Holappa - Guitar (1990-1992)
• Mika Pääkkö - Guitar (1990-1992)
• Harri Halonen - Bass (1991-1992)
• Taneli Jarva - Bass (1992-1996)
• Jani Lehtosaari - Bass (1996-2001)
• Alexi Laiho - Guitar (1998-2000)
• Teemu Raimoranta (deceased) - Guitar (2001-2002)
• Tuomo "Tuomio" Louhio- Guitar (2003-2007)

Discography

• Shemhamforash (demo, 1991)
• Taog Eht Fo Htao Eht (demo, 1991)
• Goat Perversion (EP, 1991)
• Sadogoat (EP, 1992)
• Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz (1993)
• Satanic Masowhore (7", 1993)
• Ugra Karma (1993)
• Suomi Finland Perkele (1994)
• Latex Cult (1996)
• Motörpenis (EP, 1996)
• Rapture (1998)
• Split 7" w/Driller Killer (2000)
• Nihil (2000)
• Decade of Decadence (compilation, 2000)
• Absence of War Does Not Mean Peace (2001)
• All That You Fear (2003)
• Death Comes In 26 Carefully Selected Pieces (Live, 2005)
• Pro Patria Finlandia (2006)
• Manifest (2007)

Official page: http://www.campnazarene.com/

Handful of Hate

Genre(s): Black metal
Years active 1993-2007
Representative Albums: Qliphothic Supremacy, Vicecrown, Scorn and Conquest






Handful of Hate was an Italian black metal band active from 1993 until 2007. They released four studio albums, Qliphothic Supremacy, Hierarchy 1999, Vicecrown and Gruesome Splendour. They were famous for their fast tempo and often complex song structures.

Biography

Handful of Hate was originally started in the year 1993. In the beginning there were many line-up difficulties, but in 1994 they released their first demo, entitled Goetia Summa. They played several live shows in northern Italy before they were signed to a record label in 1996. They released the album Qliphothic Supremacy, and proceeded to tour in Italy again.

In 1999 the band released the album Hierarchy 1999. Many stylistic changes were made, making the music faster and more brutal. Lyrically the album dealt with sexual, fetish, and carnal concepts. This album drew a lot of attention to the band, and after the tour, they were signed to the Swedish label, Downfall Records. A 7" entitled Death from Above was released in 2001. They also cut a deal with Code7 Management in October of 2002. The Production of the Death from Above is much cleaner than their previous recordings. Code666 Records put out a double compilation entitled Better Undead Than Alive that included one track off of Death from Above in 2002.

October 2003 saw the release of the band's newest full-length album Vicecrown. This album got the band even more recognition, and has included many new stylistic changes. in November of the same year, they released a 7" ep called Scorn and Conquest on Warlord Records. This album includes many unreleased songs and an Impaled Nazarene Cover. They also released an ep called Blood Calls Blood, that features two unreleased songs and the tracks "Death from Above" and "The World is Prey" from the Death from Above promo. They recently coined the term "Carnal Black Metal" to describe their music.

The band split-up in November 2007, leaving a message on their website. The band has decided to stop the activity after 14 years of work in the underground field, with the release of 4 albums, 1 mcd, 2 EPs and many concerts around Italy and Europe.

Old members

• Nicola Bianchi- Guitar, Vocals
• Geny- Guitar
• Matteo Fantozzi- Bass
• Gionata Potenti- Drums

New members

• Nicola Bianchi - Guitar/Bass, Vocals
• Andrea Bianchi - Drums
• Deimos - Guitar

Discography

• Goetia Summa (demo), 1994
• Qliphothic Supremacy, 1997
• Hierarchy 1999, 1999
• Death from Above (ep), 2001
• Vicecrown, 2003
• Scorn and Conquest, 2003
• Blood Calls Blood, 2004
• Gruesome Splendour, 2006

Web: http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=7852

Nokturnal Mortum

• Genre(S): Black Metal
• Representative Albums: Goat Horns, To the Gates of Blasphemous Fire




Nokturnal Mortum started as death metal band Suppuration in 1992, then turned to black metal and changed name to Crystalline Darkness but "had to change the name back in 1993/94 to Nocturnal Mortum because there already existed a band with that name in western underground." Then the band "changed the letter so that we wouldn't find a band with the same name again like it was the case with Crystaline Darkness." Nokturnal Mortum gained their first Western recognition with the release of their album Goat Horns, their second full length album, notable for having two keyboardists play on the album, often on the same song, and for mixing traditional Ukrainian music with black metal. As traditional instrumentation gained in significance and the lyrical concept moved away from black metal’s patterns, the newer releases are classified as pagan metal.

The band’s first albums were released through The End Records and (as licence pressings) through Nuclear Blast, but the label and band separated after releasing the album NeChrist and a re-release of the “Lunar Poetry” demo because of the band’s ideology: "We had a contract with The End Records but it was broken. We have different points of view. They didn't like our policy, we didn't like the way they do business. They owe us some money. That was enough for a conflict."

Members

Knjaz Varggoth
Vrolok
Astargh
Odalv
Saturious



Discography

Albums

* 1996 - Lunar Poetry (re-released in 2001)
* 1996 - Goat Horns
* 1998 - To the Gates of Blasphemous Fire
* 2000 - Nechrist
* 2005 - Weltanschauung (aka Mirovozzrenie featuring Russian and Ukrainian lyrics)

EPs

* 1997 - Return of the Vampire Lord (re-released with Marble Moon on CD in 2003)
* 1997 - Marble Moon (re-released with Return of the Vampire Lord on CD in 2003)
* 2003 - The Taste of Victory
* 2007 - Eastern Hammer (four-way split with Graveland, North, and Temnozor featuring a new version of "Kolyada")

Demos

* 1992 - Ecclesiastical Blasphemy (as Suppuration)
* 1993 - Mi Agama Khaz Mifisto (as Crystaline Darkness)
* 1995 - Twilightfall (re-released on CD in 2003)
* 1995 - Black Clouds over Slavonic Lands (re-released as bonus tracks on 2005 CD re-release of Lunar Poetry)
* 1996 - Lunar Poetry (re-released several times in different formats)

Splits

* 1997 - Path of the Wolf / Return of the Vampire Lord (Metalagen Records). Split tape with Lucifugum.

Other

* 2004 - Eleven Years Among the Sheep (compilation of old, unreleased, demo, and Suppuration & Crystalline Darkness songs)

Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992)

1. Hammer Smashed Face

There's something inside me
It's, it's coming out
I feel like killing you
Let loose of the anger, held back too long
My blood runs cold

Through my anatomy, dwells another being
Rooted in my cortex, a servant to its bidding
Brutality now becomes my appetite
Violence is now a way of life
The sledge's my tool to torture
As it pounds down on your forehead

Eyes bulging from their sockets
With every swing of my mallet
I smash your fucking head in, until brains seep in
through the cracks, blood does leak
distorted beauty, catastrophe
Steaming slop, splattered all over me

Lifeless body, slouching dead
Lecherous abcess, where you once had a head

Avoiding the prophecy of my new found lust
You will never live again, soon your life will end
I'll see you die at my feet, eternally I smash your face
facial bones collapse as I crack your skull in half

Crushing, cranial, contents

Draining the snot, I rip out the eyes
Squeezing them in my hands nerves are incised
Peeling the flesh off the bottom of my weapon
Involuntarily pulpifying facial regions

Suffer, and then you die
Torture, pulverized

At one with my sixth sense, I feel free
To kill as I please, no one can stop me

Created to kill, the carnage continues
Violently reshaping human facial tissue

Brutality becomes my appetite
Violence is now a way of life
The sledge's my tool to torture
As it pounds down on your forehead

--------

2. I Cum Blood

Swollen with liquid
Ready to burst
A load of my lymph
Will quench this dead body's thirst
One month in the grave
twisted and half decayed
She turned a putrid yellow
I pissed in her maggot filled asshole

Fucking the rotting
My semen is bleeding
The smell of decay
Seeps from her genital cavity

The smell was unbearable
As I unburied her
I cum blood from my erection
I feel it run
down her throat, swallow
Eyes glassy and vacant
body dug up to play with
Skin greasy and naked
tounguing her rotted anus

I need a live woman
to fill with my fluid
A delicate girl, to mutilate, fuck and kill
her body exceptional
she thought I was normal
but I wanted more

I came blood inside of her
chocking on the clot
gagging on the snot
gushing blood, from her mouth
bloody gel leaking out
Body buried in a shallow grave
Unmarked for none to find
The sickness I have left behind
Undetected go my crimes
The greatest thrill of my life
To slit my own cock with a knife

Violent, climax
Serging serum
on my skin

Back from the dead
I am resurrected
to spew, putrefaction

------

3. Addicted To Vaginal Skin

[Speech intro:]
I don't know
I just took that knife
And I cut her from her neck
Down to anus
And I cut out the vagina
And I ate it

A relapse of my body
Sends my mind into multiple seizures
Psychologically a new human being
One that has never been

Cursed by the shamen
his voodoo spell has my soul
My limbs
go numb
I can't control my own thought
Are his now
his evil consuming me
ever telling me
begin the clit carving

Slowly turning me, into a flesh eating zombie
Knowing this spell can only be broken
by the vaginal skins of young women
I proceed to find the meat
their bleeding cunts will set me free
I can't control my own thought
I can't control my own thoughts
Warmth seeping from this
Body
Rotted
After I sucked the blood from her ass

I feel more alive
more alive than I've ever been
Even though now I'm dead within

My mouth drools
As I slice your perinium
My body smeared
With the guts I've extracted
through her hole, came swollen organs
cunnilingus with the mutilated

My spirit returned from the dead
Released by the priest
but I felt more real
when I was dead

The curse is broken
I have a dependence on vaginal skin
It's become my sexual addiction
I must slit, the twitching clit
Rotted cavity hold the juice

Between the legs, I love to carve
My cock is dripping with her blood

----------

4. Split Wide Open

Melting thoughts of disintegration
Hitting deep her insistance
to mutilate her newborn infants
After giving birth her mind wasn't the same
Slowly slipping away, a state of mental decay
Family now complete
Father watches on
As mother dismembers
her newborn son

Dissecting the specimen, split
I will explore, the body wide open
Uncover carnage within, split wide open
Virgin, untouched skin
Releasing her rage
That dwells inside
tainted blood rushes through veins
her body chemically changed
Love was erased, on the edge of a butcher's knife

The kitchen becomes a makeshift slaughterhouse
every nine months she butchers one more child
Reminders of the deceased, scattered through the home

Bones and skulls of sons and daughters
Genitals ferment
In jars inside the cupboards
for father to dissect
No one will discover the murder they commit

Children used like laboratory rats
Sickening vulgar experiments
She sees what others can't
Probing the guts of her fetus
Advocation of the pain
Mutilating, draining veins

Witness the horror
offering to themselves
Continuing murdering their own kind
Never deny this fantasy life, they enjoy
Addiction to this heightened state
Post-birth psychosis
disjointing her own children
form the life they'll never live
A massacre within her soul
Struggling for control

--------

5. Necropedophile

I was once a man before I transformed
into this molester, freshly deceased children
You have born, torn by my rape
The dead are not safe, the lifeless child corpse
I will violate

Pleasure from the dead, complete satisfaction
I open the coffin
Sick thoughts run through my head as I stare
At the dead, over and over, I can't escape
I begin the dead sex, licking her young, rotted orifice
I cum in her cold cunt, shivering with ecstasy
for nine days straight I do the same
She becomes by dead, decayed child sex slave
her neck I hack, cutting through the back
I use her mouth to eject

Here I cum, blood gushes from
bleeding black blood
her head disconnected
As I came, viciously I cut, through her jugular vein
She's already dead, I masturbate with her severed head
My lubrication, her decomposition
Spending my life molesting dead children

Intercourse with infants
Curing heads on top of spikes
boiling skulls
Skin sliding off of bones

Voices
The voices call
Voices
The voices are calling me
Buried dead I've spiritually infected
Call to me from beyond their graves

Bleed
I now bleed pus
I bleed, the blood of the dead
I bleed on her livid skin
Thrusting myself within
Beginning to chop through her hairless crotch
Beyond what we know as death
It haunts me everyday
I hear the voice of every child
That lies next to me decayed
A fresh corpse, to fill with my infection
Tortured before death, no orifice left unfilled

Violated after death
Virgin hole I infest
Anal pore spewing cess
The sacred juice I injest
Your dead child I defile
Necropedophile

--------------
6. The Cryptic Stench

Tearing at my neck my sharpened teeth pierce the meat
My warm bloodied prey sustains my life for one more day
The oldest of souls, left behind after life
Before death I was nothing but human

Indulgence in the blood, intoxicated from its drug
It warms my cold soul

Tapping the gushing sap, trickling down my throat
Rejuvenation of my body
No blood left to scab
Now it flows through my veins
Heaven I have found
Fear in my grip
Transcend beyond mortal
The sweet blood
I will swallow
Draining the inner spirit
Feasting on the power
Knowing only pleasure
Human blood I devour

Ghastly beauty look into my eyes
to reproduce with the living
every century

Impregnation of the virgin
I drink the blood of the unborn
Returning to my grave
dragging my blood drained prey
My body burns from the light
Sleeping until night

In my clutch, you greet me with open arms
soon I will rip them off
And drink the blood from the stumps
Life and death are too clear
but mankind is blind to see
the twisted path of their own mortality

Scripts of the dead
Netherworld knowledge
Rotten fragrance lingers
Unleash the odor
I have risen

Vampire
Zombie
Sucking on
Arteries
body
numbs
One of my sons died for your sins
Resurrect him so I can
drink his blood again

--------

7. Entrails Ripped From A Virgin's Cunt

Alive alone now that they've gone dead but unburied
I've seen it unfold, terrible scenes of agony
Eyes in the darkness
Echoing their madness

The sights that have passed before them
Watching as though it has never happened
Now I only listen to what is not spoken

Murder, hatred
Anger, Savage
Killings I have caused
more than can be counted
orgies of sadism
And sexual perversion
Virgin
Tied to my mattress
Legs spread wide
Ruptured bowel, yanked
From her insides
Devirginized with my knife
Internally bleeding
Vagina, secreting
her blood-wet pussy
I am eating
on her guts I am feeding
Mutilated with a machete
I fucked her dead body
The first and last
Your life's only romance
My knife's jammed in your ass
As you die you orgasm

Pass on to the dead
Nerve trembling convulsions
No longer looking human

I never see them, but I know they're there
Locked in my subconcious
Obscene memories I thought I'd forgotten
Haunting unrealities
Tear at me
Hold her arms
Her mouth taped shut
Screams unheard
Out pour her guts

Layers of flesh peeling away
Languish in your own decay
descriptions of my killings
bone chilling

Terror, tear, her
Virgin cunt

Virgins are my victims
Their tight interiors I explore
Sharpened utensils of torture
Now inserted inside of her
Sex organs extracted for eating
On her liver I am gnawing

Forbidden lust for guts
Ripped from her cunt
Tears of blood cry down her thigh

I ram my fist inside her hole
From her crotch piss now flows
Rectum filled with shit
I fucked her emptied body
Until she became stiff

------------------

8. Post Mortal Ejaculation

Suffering my only need now is to hang
the rope does swing, hanging from the darkened ceiling
Strangling, dangling from my twisted spine
I knew I would enjoy death more than life
My lids close tight, but the light blinds my eyes
My body grows cold - my cock becomes erect

Watching over my dead shell, from beyond in my own hell
Caught between life and death, even though my body's dead
I still feel the touch of flesh
Given the choice to die or live dead
Purgatory my damnation
Climaxing at the resurrection
Adipocere spurts from my erection

Manifested in my rotted body
Unpure spirit, dead among mortals
I have risen from self-murder
Only to rot and kill
to break the necks of young women
their cunts my pus will fill
Acid burning through her crotch
I baptise her face with my rot
Then venom foams from her throat
On my discharge she will choke

Pulsation, my heart begins to beat
Heaving, goiters start to secrete
caustic odor, steaming gruel
wallow in my infected drool

Swollen pusing gashes
Start to reek

Puncture wounds in the back
hacked up limbs, bones now crack
Skin fillet from your face
Breasts gounged out
I fuck with your chest

----------

9. Beyond The Cemetery

Nude and violated I raped the life from her body
Lying dead the insects bite her pale skin
My marks of torture
Left on my daughter
Body badly beaten
I remember
My ropes and chains
Bruised her arms and legs
I wiped her blood on my face
Her tender body I disgraced
Slow strangulation

Her neck twisted and broken
Abdominal lacerations
Blood pouring from
Abrasions

Control of the mind
Feelings left behind
Dreaming inner hate
I create an alternate state of the grave
Scared to death
Homicidal premonitions
Horror fills you
As your soul is ripped from you
Dreaming my dream of death
I cast the spell
Intertwine your mind with mine
Dreams become reality
Enhancing the imagination
Murder is my infatuation
Killing off generations

Families torn to pieces
But the one they love
Possessed by another
My pleasure is to murder

Entering your dreams
Through my spell they will bleed
Night after night
Reoccuring killings

Sleep

Someone wake me
From this nightmare
I've become my darkest fear

Awaken to the sight
Of your hacked up family
Their spirits are trapped
Beyond the cemetary

Bodies rotting, but I'm not sleeping
Scream you're not dreaming
Someone wake me
Form this nightmare
I've become my darkest fear
Came to life
In my mind
A world of darkness
Forever sleeping in this coffin
Eternally dreaming...

Forever sleeping in this coffin
Eternally dreaming...

Dreaming...
Dreaming...
Dreaming...
Dreaming...
Eternally...

Dreaming...

Sven Erik Kristiansen - Maniac

Sven Erik Kristiansen (born February 19, 1967) is a Norwegian musician. He is best known as the former vocalist in the black metal band Mayhem under the stage name Maniac.



Personal life

Kristiansen has two children, a daughter with a previous relationship and a son with his ex-girlfriend, Hilma. He has said that since he became a father, he has become more conscious of what he exposes himself to and less destructive.

For several years, Kristiansen was a self-admitted alcoholic. His turning point, he says, was one day when he found himself hanging by one arm out of a fourth floor window, with no idea how he got there. After this incident, he claims that he has not had any alcohol whatsoever. He is currently engaged to be married to Vivian Slaughter, bassist and vocalist for the Japanese band Gallhammer.

With Mayhem

He joined Mayhem in 1986 after the departure of the band's original vocalist Messiah. He was in the band until 1988, when he was replaced by Kittil. When Hellhammer decided to revive Mayhem in 1995 after the deaths of both Euronymous and Dead, he invited Maniac to return as the band's vocalist.

He was known for having extremely intense performances. When he had a particularly good feeling about the audience, he would cut himself, frequently landing him in intensive care units. However, "...when we realized that the cutting had become a phenomenon people came to watch, I quit doing it." He has also stated that the coverage Mayhem has received is disproportionate.

Maniac was in the band until 2004 when he was forced to leave. He had developed extreme stagefright, and relied heavily on alcohol to get him through performances. In the only press release about the split, he also cited lack of time as being a vital factor.


Other Projects

Just months before he joined Mayhem he released the first issue off his fanzine Damage Inc. in 1986. Second issue came in 1987 after he had joined Mayhem. Both issues includes interviews with Mayhem among other things. He is currently a member of Skitliv, and is a session member of Shining.

Studio albums

Deathcrush • De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas • Wolf's Lair Abyss • Grand Declaration of War • Chimera • Ordo Ad Chao

Live albums.

Live in Leipzig • Dawn of the Black Hearts (bootleg) • Out from the Dark • Mediolanum Capta Est

Compilation albums

European Legions/U.S. Legions • Legions of War • The Studio Experience

Demos and singles

Pure Fucking Armageddon • Deathrehearsal • Freezing Moon/Carnage • Ancient Skin/Necrolust • Life Eternal

Carcass "Grinde Core" Pioneers

• Genres: Grind Core
• Representative Albums: "Choice Cuts," "Swansong," "Heartwork"
• Representative Songs: "Exhume to Consume," "Heartwork," "Keep on Rotting in the Free W"



Biography

Often considered one of grind core’s founding fathers, Carcass were among the first bands of the extreme metal genre to try a different lyrical approach -- one that reflected a fascination with surgical gadgets and peculiar words straight out of a med student's textbook. Hailing from the same locale that spawned the Fab Four -- in case you lived under a rock for the past few decades, Liverpool -- Carcass were originally formed in 1985 by singer/guitarist Bill Steer (who would later play with Napalm Death) and drummer Ken Owen. By 1987, singer/bassist Jeff Walker had signed on with the band, resulting in a deal with Earache Records shortly after. The trio then issued a pair of full-lengths that are often considered classics of the grindcore genre, 1988's Reek of Putrefaction and 1989's Symphonies of Sickness.

Shortly after the dawn of the '90s, Carcass expanded to a quartet, as Michael Amott signed on as second guitarist, resulting in two more favorites of the metal underground, 1991's Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious and 1992's four-song EP Tools of the Trade. Whereas he once sang in a growling voice à la a dragon desperately in need of some Pepto-Bismol, Walker adopted a slightly more traditional metal singing style, while the band was no longer afraid to let Iron Maiden-esque guitar work enter the mix. The result was the group's major-label debut for Sony, 1994's Heartwork. Although Heartwork is probably Carcass' best-known album, fan reaction is often split evenly between those who feel the group had sold out with a more easily digestible sound (quite comparable to thrash metal) and those who feel that it's one of the '90s great metal releases.

Either way, Amott left the group around this time, and was replaced by Carlo Regadas for Carcass' final studio album, 1996's appropriately titled Swansong. The same year, a compilation of rarities was issued, Wake Up and Smell the Carcass. Subsequently, Owen, Walker, and Regadas continued working together for a spell under the Blackstar name; Amott formed both Spiritual Beggars and Arch Enemy; and Steer surprisingly formed a blues-rock power trio, Firebird.

History

Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen.
Although widely regarded as pioneers of the grindcore genre, their early work was also tagged as "splatter death metal",[2] "hardgore"[3] and "goregrind"[4] on account of their morbid lyrics and gruesome album covers.

Early Days (1985-1989)

Carcass was formed by guitarist Bill Steer together with drummer Ken Owen in 1985 as Disattack. After releasing demo A Bomb Drops... in 1986, Paul (bassist) and Andrew Pek (vocalist) of Disattack left the band and was replaced by vocalist Sanjiv and bassist Jeff Walker, formerly bassist and vocalist of the Electro Hippies. About that same time Bill Steer joined Napalm Death (replacing Justin Broadrick) and recorded the second side of what became ND's first album, Scum (1987). Walker also designed the cover art of that record.

The band had then changed its name to Carcass. In April 1987, they recorded the Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment demo, the only Carcass recording featuring vocalist Sanjiv, who left shortly after. Walker and Steer shared vocal duties for debut album recording, which was done in only four days. Despite the primitive production values of Carcass's debut, Reek of Putrefaction - something the band was very displeased with[5] - it became a favorite of Radio 1 legend John Peel.[6] Due to his interest they were asked to participate in their first Peel Session, in 1989, where they debuted new material for the second album. The Peel Session was released as an EP with the band members adopting pseudonyms: K. Grumegargler, J. Offalmangler, W.G. Thorax Embalmer.

Progress (1990-1993)

Symphonies of Sickness, the second album, along with much improved production (courtesy of Colin Richardson), featured more death metal structures,[citation needed] longer songs with more slow passages and guitar solos. The second half of the tour in support of 'Symphonies' saw the addition of second lead guitarist Michael Amott, whose previous work included Carnage. Amott was to become a permanent member, playing on the second Peel Session and contributing material towards their third album.

Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious showed even more intricate composition, this time with a full-fledged transition into death metal,[citation needed] and further improved production with a slight bias towards Walker's vocals compared to Steer's.[citation needed] Despite the addition of Amott to the ranks, Steer still handled all rhythm guitar duties, despite the album credits, with Amott only contributing leads.[citation needed] Carcass again supported the album with heavy touring, and were part of the Earache 'Gods of Grind' tour with Cathedral, Entombed and Confessor in both Europe and the US.

The Tools of the Trade EP was released in 1992 to coincide with the 'Gods of Grind' tour. It featured a Necroticism track ("Incarnated Solvent Abuse"), a new track "Tools of the Trade", a re-recording of "Rotten to the Gore" from the first album and a re-recording of "Hepatic Tissue Fermentation" from the Pathological compilation. Although it is hinted that the 3 bonus cuts were recorded at the same time as Necroticism, they show a dryer production/mix to the aforementioned album.

Columbia (1993-1995)

Heartwork, released later in the year in 1993 was considered a radical change by many fans eliminated Steer's deeper vocals and the clinically gory lyrics. Again, Steer handled all rhythm guitar duties to help gain consistency between the many layered guitars that built Carcass' best production to date Song structures, whilst still containing musically complex parts, were simpler, in some cases using the verse/chorus/verse formula

After the release of Heartwork, Carcass received a worldwide deal with Columbia Records, who hoped for a commercial success, even suggesting that Jeff Walker learn how to sing. Fan reaction was split between the charge that Carcass were no longer playing death metal at all and appreciation of the technical accomplishment the album shows In fact, today some credit Carcass with being a very early founding influence for not just one, but two genres of metal - grindcore (or, more specifically, goregrind), and the modern melodic death metal sound. Michael Amott left the band right after Heartwork was recorded and was for a while replaced by Mike Hickey who was later replaced by Carlo Regadas.
During the summer of 1994 Walker remixed the track "Inside Out" for a Die Krupps remix album, although the version stayed fairly true to the original with the exception of Owen's drum samples from Heartwork replacing the Die Krupps original, and additional mixing from Walker and Colin Richardson at Parr Street studios (where Heartwork was recorded

Carcass now set about writing songs for their major label debut. During the December 1994 UK tour Carcass showcased two songs from their current writing sessions - "Edge of Darkness" and "Firmhand", both showing a more straight forward song writing approach than on previous efforts Around this time, "Edge of Darkness" was recorded for the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show sessions - a session which could be found on later compilation albums

By late 1994 17 songs were ready and the band set about using their $200,000 advance to record the album, again with Colin Richardson, at Rockfield studios in Monmouth, South Wales in early 1995. During the 6 week recording schedule the record label began to withdraw support, stating that they (Carcass) were not ready to record and needed to write more songs. This advice was ignored, as was the suggestion to have Terry Date (Pantera, Prong etc) 'remix' the album, and the band continued. At the time, Jeff Walker stated in an interview with the UK's Metal Hammer Magazine that the album was taking more of a classic rock approach, with drums, bass and twin guitars a la Thin Lizzy in comparison to earlier 'multi-layered guitar' productions. This has since been put down to Bill Steer's unwillingness to perform the time consuming guitar layering (as once again Steer handled all rhythm guitar) through losing interest in the metal genre.

During the Swansong recording sessions, Carcass were asked to remix a Björk track - "Isobel". This wasn't a remix as such but more of a re-recording with only Björk's vocals remaining. All rhythm guitars were handled by Steer, and the track saw light of day in March 1996 on Björk's "Hyperballad" single.

Demise

Due to continuing record company problems with Columbia/Sony causing the album to be delayed from late Summer 1995 to June 1996, in which time Carcass moved back to the Earache Records label and broke up before even releasing Swansong. The move back to Earache was dubbed by Walker as "the second great rock and roll swindle" (Kerrang! - June 96) as they had effectively been paid twice for the same album.
Swansong, which featured twelve of the seventeen tracks put to tape during the recording sessions, drew some criticism from fans for its melodic riffs which in some ways bordered on late 1980s thrash. This last official album also incorporated more melodic elements ("Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody", "R**k the Vote") and some doom metal elements ("Don't Believe a Word").

The album only featured twelve of the seventeen songs recorded in the Swansong sessions (or thirteen on the original brain shaped edition with the bonus disc). Kerrang! reported in June 1995 that prior to Swansong's release, Carcass would be releasing an EP featuring two tracks from what would be Swansong and three songs from the sessions that would not make the final LP. However, this EP was never released, most likely due to the lack of record company support for newly recorded material.

Walker has since stated in interviews that all seventeen songs should have been included in a double album, and that some songs omitted from Swansong were actually stronger than some of Swansong's actual content.

Carcass also remixed (i.e. re-recorded but kept the vocals of) Killing Joke's "Democracy", although this time Carlo performed all guitar duties as it is thought Steer had quit the band by early 1996. The Carcass "Rooster" Mix was made available on Killing Joke's Democracy, and if it were not for the vocals, would not be out of place on Swansong.

Around the time of Swansong's release, Carcass informed the press that Carcass were to call it a day without even a farewell tour, but most fans had guessed this may be the case via the album title.

The album sold well, staying near the top of the 'Indie Rock Chart' in the UK for several months above bands such as Placebo despite having no touring support from the band. It is rumoured that the band were offered several lucrative tours in 1995, such as supporting Iron Maiden on their "X-Factour 95" which had the album been released as expected in 1995 could have improved the band's sales and longevity.
A posthumous compilation, Wake up and Smell the... Carcass was released in October 1996 to collect together Carcass' rarer material. This included the five Swansong session songs that did not make the final Swansong album, four tracks from the 1994 Radio 1 Rock Show session, the two Heartwork EP tracks, the non-album tracks from Tools of the Trade EP, and the tracks from the Pathological and Grindcrusher compilations respectively.

An accompanying video was released a few weeks after the Wake Up CD with little knowledge from the band or their management (Point Blank Management). The video, later released on DVD, featured five of the band's promotional videos, a show from the Grindcrusher 1989 tour (as a three piece) and a show from the 1992 Gods of Grind tour. Sound on the two live shows is poor, particularly the latter which Walker has described as 'unmixed'.

Ken, Jeff and Carlo continued with the Blackstar project accompanied with former Cathedral bassist Mark Griffiths, using the second Swansong advance (from Earache) to fund the recording. Blackstar (later Blackstar Rising) became defunct after Ken suffered from a severe brain haemorrhage. Michael Amott went on to found hard rocking combo Spiritual Beggars and Arch Enemy, a successful Swedish melodic death metal band. In the biggest musical departure, Bill Steer reappeared in Firebird, a Clapton-esque guitar-rock trio.

Reunion (2007-Present)

In June 2006, in an interview with Walker, he discussed the possibility of reforming Carcass, but it was unlikely that Owen will participate as he cannot replicate his former drumming proficiency due to his health problems.

In September 2007 it was announced by Michael Amott that he is rehearsing with Bill Steer, Jeff Walker and Daniel Erlandsson (replacing Ken Owen, who is incapable of playing a full set with Carcass due to health reasons) in secret to rehearse old Carcass songs for a possible reunion tour. The original plans were to play at several festivals during the summer, but they couldn't meet the deadlines.

On October, 2007, Carcass were confirmed to play at German heavy metal festival Wacken Open Air and Finland's Tuska Open Air Metal Festival in 2008. Carcass also embarked on a reunion tour which started June 6, 2008. Including Wacken Open Air and Tuska Open Air, Carcass played at Hellfest Summer Open Air, Metalcamp and several other festivals. In mid-2008 the band announced a tour of Australia and New Zealand and a North American tour which took place in September and October, 2008.
On November 15 2008 Carcass headlined Danish Metal Awards held in Amager Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark. This was the only chance for fans to see Carcass in Denmark, as Denmark is not part of the official tour 2008. Bill Steer also presented the award for Best Danish Debut Album which went to SCAMP - Mirror Faced Mentality. Carcass played a tight, very well sounding set and surprised the audience bringing Ken Owen to the stage where he gave a brief drum solo to show how far he has come recovering from his illness.

Carcass performed an Exclusive UK show at the Damnation Festival in Leeds, Jeff Walker hinted at the time that the Damnation performance may be their last ever show. It was the first time Carcass has played in England for 14 Years.

Carcass will also be re-releasing their entire back catalogue with bonus material over 2008 on Earache Records. When asked if the band were planning on writing and recording a new album, Steer replied:

“I would be very surprised if that would really happen. But never say never, I’m always the last one who needs to be convinced. Michael and Jeff are much more busy with those things than I am. I’m also not very much involved in the planning of all the festivals which are scheduled. At this moment, I barely know in which countries we’re all going to play.”

---Bill Steer, Voices from the Dark Side

The Carcass reunion show schedule continues in 2009, a new North American tour is announced for March 2009.

Carcass have been confirmed for Bloodstock Open Air, which is in Walton-On-Trent, Derbyshire, England on Friday 14 August 2009.
Carcass will also headline Jalometalli Metal Music Festival held in Club Teatria, Oulu, Finland on Saturday 14 August 2010.

Band members



Current members

• Jeff Walker - vocals, bass guitar (1987–1995; 2007–present)
• Bill Steer - lead guitar, occasional vocals(1985–1995; 2007–present)
• Michael Amott - lead guitar (1990–1993; 2007–present)
• Daniel Erlandsson - drums (2007–present)

Former members

• Ken Owen - drums, backing vocals (1985–1995)
• Mike Hickey - guitars (on tour 1993–1995)
• Carlo Regadas - guitars (1995)
• Sanjiv - vocals (1985–1987)

Discography

Demos
Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment
Symphonies of Sickness
Heartwork (1993)

Albums
• Reek of Putrefaction (Earache Records, 1988)
• Symphonies of Sickness (Earache Records, 1989)
• Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious (Earache Records, 1991)
• Heartwork (Earache Records, 1993)
• Swansong (Earache Records, 1996)
EPs
• Pathologic (Earache Records, 1989)
• The Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit, 1989)
• Live at St. George's Hall (Distorted Harmony, 1990)
• Tools of the Trade (Earache Records, 1992)
• Gods of Grind (Split With Entombed, Cathedral, Confessor) (Earache Records, 1992)
• The Heartwork EP (Earache Records, 1993)

Compilation albums

• Wake up and Smell the... Carcass (1996)
• Best of Carcass (Japan 2-CD) (1998)
• Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute To Carcass (2001)
• Choice Cuts (2004)
• Reek of Putrefaction
• Corporal Jigsore Quandary
• Incarnated Solvent Abuse
• Heartwork
• No Love Lost
• Keep on Rotting in the Free World
• Tools of the Trade

http://www.myspace.com/carcass

Witchery

• Formed: 1997
• Genre(s): Black Metal
• Representative Albums: "Symphony for the Devil," "Restless and Dead," "Witchburner"





Biography

Sweden's Witchery was born in 1997 after Satanic Slaughter founder Ztephan Dark decided to fire his band, which then consisted of guitarists Patrik Jenson (of Seance and the Haunted) and Richard Corpse, vocalist Toxine, and drummer Mique. The four of them recruited bassist Sharlee D' Angelo of Mercyful Fate and immediately released Witchery's first album Restless and Dead. Witchery's riff-heavy style, hailing back to the melodic metal of the '80s, was well-received by both critics and fans. The combination of Patrik Jenson, known mainly for his work with the Haunted, and Mercyful Fate bassist Sharlee D' Angelo established Witchery as a black/death metal supergroup. Their second release was the 1999 EP Witchburner, made up of four covers and three originals. Covering songs by Wasp, Judas Priest, Accept, and Black Sabbath, Witchery paid tribute to the groups that have influenced their sound. Dead, Hot, and Ready followed shortly thereafter, becoming their third release in less than a year's time. Satanic Slaughter Years appeared a year later.

History


Witchery is a Swedish thrash metal band, formed by former members of Satanic Slaughter in 1997. The current lineup is vocalist Tony Kampner, guitarists Patrik Jensen and Rille Rimfält, bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, and drummer Martin Axenrot. To date, the band has released four full length studio albums and an EP.

Begun in 1997 when their cult band Satanic Slaughter splintered, Witchery started as guitarists Patrik Jensen (The Haunted) and Rille Rimfält, vocalist Toxine, drummer Mique, and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo (Arch Enemy, Mercyful Fate). In 1998 they recorded and released their debut, Restless And Dead by Necropolis Records. Later that year, Witchery released the Witchburner minialbum. The EP featured two originals and four cover songs bearing witness to the individual musicians’ influences. In 1999, Witchery embarked on a U.S. tour with Emperor and Borknagar. Their second full-length album Dead, Hot and Ready was unleashed soon thereafter, and a six-week early 2000 European tour followed. Symphony For The Devil, the band’s 2001 release, was recorded at Berno Studio (Amon Amarth, Dark Funeral) in Malmö, Sweden with new drummer, Martin “Axe” Axenrot (Bloodbath, Opeth). Witchery returned to tour North America later that year with The Haunted. Returning to Berno Studios in 2004, the band recorded Don’t Fear The Reaper, this time entrusting mixing duties to Tue Madsen and his Antfarm Studios (The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn, Himsa). After recording the album, the band signed a worldwide record deal with Century Media.

Band members



Current lineup

• Tony Kampner - vocals
• Patrik Jensen - guitars
• Rille Rimfält - guitars
• Sharlee D'Angelo - bass
• Martin Axenrot - drums

Former members

• Mique - drums (1997 - 1999)

Discography

Studio albums
• Restless And Dead - Necropolis (1998)
• Dead, Hot And Ready - Necropolis (1999)
• Symphony For The Devil - Necropolis (2001)
• Don't Fear the Reaper- Century Media (2006)
EP's
• Witchburner - Necropolis (1999)

Per Yngve Ohlin (DEAD) - Depressed, Melancholic and Dark

Per Yngve Ohlin (January 16, 1969 – April 8, 1991), better known by his stage name Dead, was a Swedish black metal vocalist best known for his work with Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. He also performed as vocalist of the Swedish death metal band Morbid on their demo December Moon.

Biography

Personality

In interviews, fellow musicians often described Ohlin as a strange and introverted person. Fellow band member Hellhammer described Ohlin as "a very strange personality ... depressed, melancholic, and dark." Likewise, Mayhem guitarist Euronymous once stated "I honestly think Dead is mentally insane. Which other way can you describe a guy who does not eat in order to get starving wounds? Or who has a t-shirt with funeral announcements on it?



According to Emperor drummer Bård "Faust" Eithun:

"He (Dead) wasn't a guy you could know very well. I think even the other guys in Mayhem didn't know him very well. He was hard to get close to. I met him two weeks before he died. I'd met him maybe six to eight times, in all. He had lots of weird ideas. I remember Aarseth was talking about him and said he did not have any humour. He did, but it was very obscure. Honestly, I don't think he was enjoying living in this world."

Performances

For concerts, Ohlin went to great lengths to achieve the image and atmosphere he desired. From the beginning of his career he was known to wear "corpse paint", which involved covering his face with black and white makeup. According to Necrobutcher, "It wasn't anything to do with the way Kiss and Alice Cooper used makeup. Dead actually wanted to look like a corpse. He didn't do it to look cool."[3] Additionally, Hellhammer claimed that Ohlin "was the first black metal musician to use corpse paint."

In order to complete his corpse-like image, Ohlin would bury his clothes before a concert and dig them up again to wear on the night of the event. According to Hellhammer:

Before the shows, Dead used to bury his clothes into the ground so that they could start to rot and get that "grave" scent. He was a "corpse" on a stage. Once he even asked us to bury him in the ground - he wanted his skin to become pale.

During one tour with Mayhem he found a dead crow, which he collected and stored in a plastic bag. He often carried it around with him and would smell the bird before performing, in order to sing "with the stench of death in his nostrils."

Suicide

At some point in 1990, the members of Mayhem moved to "an old house in the forest" near Oslo called Kråkstad Hellhammer claimed that Ohlin "just sat in his room and became more and more depressed" and that there was a lot of arguing between Ohlin and Aarseth.



On 8 April 1991, Ohlin committed suicide in the house owned by the band. He was found by Aarseth with slit wrists and a shotgun wound to the head. The shotgun was allegedly owned by Aarseth. Ohlin's suicide note read "Excuse all the blood" and included an apology for firing the weapon indoors. Instead of calling the police, Aarseth went to a nearby store and bought a disposable camera to photograph the corpse, after re-arranging some items. Necrobutcher claimed that "I think Øystein was shocked by Dead's suicide, and taking the photographs was the only way he could cope with it." One of these photographs was later used as the cover of a bootleg live album entitled Dawn of the Black Hearts.

Eventually, rumours surfaced that Aarseth made a stew with pieces of Ohlin's brain, and made necklaces with fragments of Ohlin's skull. The band later confirmed that the second rumour was true. Additionally, Aarseth claimed to have given these necklaces to musicians he deemed worthy. Necrobutcher noted that "people became more aware of the (black metal) scene after Dead had shot himself ... I think it was Dead's suicide that really changed the scene."

Discography

Morbid Rehearsal
December Moon
Dawn of the Black Hearts
Live in Leipzig
Freezing Moon/Carnage
Out from the Dark

Dead also makes a brief appearance in the Candlemass music video "Bewitched".

Borknagar

• Genre(s): Black Metal
• Representative Albums: "The Olden Domain," "Borknagar," "The Archaic Course"
• Representative Songs: "Oceans Rise," "Colossus," "Revolt"




Biography

A combination side project and supergroup of the Norwegian black metal scene, Borknagar members Oystein G. Brun (guitar, ex-Molested), Garm (vocals, also of Ulver and Arcturus), Ivar Bjornson (keyboards, ex-Enslaved), Infernus (bass), and Grim (drums; also of Immortal and Gorgoroth) started their own project in 1995. Not wasting any time, their self-titled debut came out early the following year on Malicious Records, and landed them a deal with Century Media Records soon thereafter. Kai Lie replaced Infernus for their second album The Olden Domain in 1997, and Borknagar undertook a full-scale European tour in support. With new vocalist I.C.S. Vortex (b. Simen Hestnaes) and guitarist Jens F. Ryland, Borknagar immediately jumped back into the studio to record and release 1998's progressive The Archaic Course without any breaks in between. Unfortunately, Grim died of a sleeping-pill overdose in October 1999; he was replaced by Asgeir Mickelson. For 2000's even more progressive Quintessence album, Vortex took over bass duties, and new keyboardist Lasare signed on.

History

Borknagar is a progressive black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1995 by Øystein Garnes Brun. The band's style combines folk metal and black metal with progressive and melodic elements. Borknagar's lyrics often deal with philosophy, paganism, nature, and the cosmos.

Borknagar was founded by a remaining member of the Norwegian death metal band Molested when then-member Øystein Brun became tired of the brutal aspects of the band's music. Øystein formed Borknagar to explore a more melodic outlet of expression, apparently inspired by the burgeoning black metal movement Norway was experiencing. He wrote all of the music and lyrics, and gathered together an all-star group of black metal musicians to play in his band, such as Infernus of Gorgoroth, Grim of Immortal and Gorgoroth, and Ivar Bjørnson of Enslaved. When Garm of Ulver, Head Control System, and Arcturus joined the project, it brought the band immediate attention. The band never even recorded a demo; they simply asked for a record contract on Malicious Records and were granted their request based on the strength of this lineup. Borknagar's music instantly gained fans and received positive press attention.

Borknagar has released seven albums to date. Their self-titled debut album features lyrics solely in Norwegian; all subsequent albums have featured lyrics written in English exclusively (however, The Olden Domain featured an instrumental track titled in Norwegian). Aside from Brun's lyrical contributions the band has featured lyrics by other members as well: ICS Vortex from Arcturus and Dimmu Borgir, drummer Asgeir Mickelson, keyboardist Lars Nedland and more recently by current singer Vintersorg from Otyg and his eponymous band. Bassist Jan Erik Tiwaz aka Tyr wrote the song 'The View of Everlast'. All of the band's records (excluding the original pressing of the debut album) have been released by the label Century Media. Borknagar has toured with various bands including Emperor, Peccatum, In Flames, Morbid Angel, and Cradle of Filth.

Borknagar released a lighter album, Origin, which is "an acoustic effort based entirely on the epic and progressive aspect of the band", according to Øystein G. Brun's statement on blabbermouth.net.

In late December 2007, the band signed a three-album deal with the Norwegian label Indie Recordings. In March 2008, Asgeir posted an announcement from Øystein on UltimateMetal forums stating that Erik Tiwaz and Jens Ryland had again become official members of the band, and that the band were aiming for a January 2009 release.[1] In May 2008, Øystein released another statement announcing Asgeir's departure as the band's drummer, due to "evolving differences in musical ideas and visions [...] The split happens in friendly manner and with mutual respect for the decision that he has made. He will remain a good friend of the band."[2]. A new drummer, the American David Kinkade ( who has worked with Arsis & Malevolant Creation) has joined the band since.

In April 2009, the band announced that their upcoming album is titled Universal. The album, scheduled for a September release has been postponed to an early 2010 release.

Discography

• Borknagar (1996, Malicious, Century Black)
• The Olden Domain (1997, Century Black)
• The Archaic Course (1998, Century Media)
• Quintessence (2000, Century Media)
• Empiricism (2001, Century Media)
• Epic (2004, Century Media)
• Origin (2006, Century Media)
• For the Elements (1996-2006) (2008, Century Media)
• Universal (2010, Indie Recordings)

Members

Current members

• Øystein G. Brun - guitar (1995-)
• Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund - vocals (2000-)
• Lars "Lazare" Nedland - keyboard, backing vocals (1999-)
• Jens F. Ryland - guitar (1997-2003, 2007-)
• David Kinkade - drums (2008 - present)
• Jan Erik Tiwaz - bass guitar (2000-2004, 2007-)

Former members

• Infernus - bass (1995-1996)
o Performed on Borknagar.
• Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg - vocals (1995-1997)
o Performed on Borknagar and The Olden Domain.
• Ivar Bjørnson - keyboard (1995-1998)
o Performed on Borknagar, The Olden Domain and The Archaic Course.
• Erik "Grim" Brødreskift - drums (1995-1998)
o Performed on Borknagar, The Olden Domain and The Archaic Course.
• Kai Lie - bass (1996-1998)
o Performed on The Olden Domain and The Archaic Course.
• Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs - vocals, bass (1997-2000)
o Performed on The Archaic Course and Quintessence.
• Justin Greaves - drums (1998-1999)
o Did not perform on any albums.
• Asgeir Mickelson - drums (1999-2008), bass guitar on Epic
o Performed on Quintessence, Empiricism, Epic and Origin.

http://www.borknagar.com/ official page

Impure Essence

Formed: 2006
Genre(s): Black Metal

Biography:

Formed in 2006 by Luvarth, making a sound with influences of Hellhammer, Samael, Bathory, Sodom, Venom... With a style the 80's (old School). Playing a Black / thrash metal, raw, direct, dirty and simple no matter themselves with labels and comments. His themes are: satanism, sexual perversions, misanthropia and everything related to the dark side. Impure Essence supports all real underground, black / thrash / heavy / doom / folk / speed metal ... Hail from Brazil. The black hike continues ...Ave Darkness Path!!! DISCOGRAPHY 2006 - BORN IN THE DARKNESS - Demo 1.Intro/Sacrificial March 2.Kingdom of the Sekhmet Revewnge 3.Vanth 4.Diabolical Obsession 5.The Call... 6.Outro 2008 - DARK UNION FOR BAPHOMET - Split Impure Essence / Wervolf Impure Essence 1.Witches Sabbath (the dark essence of luxury) 2.13 Candles (cover Bathory) Wervolf 3.Misinterpretation of Demonic Regurgitations 4.The Spirits Weeps Melancholy in its Tomb.




Discography

Born in the darkness (Démo - 2006)
Dark Union For Baphomet (Split - 2008)
Promo 2009 (Split - 2009)
Promo 2009 (Split - 2009)

http://www.myspace.com/impureessence