Fleshgod Apocalypse

Biography :

Fleshgod Apocalypse is an Italian technical death metal band.


History :

Fleshgod Apocalypse was formed in April 2007 and recorded their first demo, Promo '07, at 16th Cellar Studio with producer Stefano “Saul” Morabito, releasing it shortly after. The demo was re-released the following year on a split CD with fellow Italian bands Septycal Gorge, Modus Delicti and Onirik. Fleshgod Apocalypse then signed to Neurotic Records. In early 2008 the band toured Europe, supporting bands like Behemoth, Origin, Dying Fetus, Hate Eternal, Suffocation, Napalm Death and many more.

In May 2008, the band recorded its first full-length album, Oracles. In December of that year the band decided to part ways with Neurotic Records and signed with Willowtip Records, who released Oracles in 2009.

Shortly after the release of Oracles in 2009, the band had a lineup change, with a new member, Tommasso Ricardi taking over vocals and rhythm guitar, which were previously handled by Francesco Paoli, as Paoli took over the drums at this time.

In 2010, Fleshgod Apocalypse released a new EP entitled Mafia. It includes four new tracks and a cover of the track "Blinded by Fear" by At the Gates.

Until 2010, current Fleshgod Apocalypse drummer Francesco Paoli was simultaneously in his former band Hour of Penance doing vocals, as well as drumming in Fleshgod Apocalypse. Also in 2010, another new member, Francesco Ferrini, was added to the band to play keyboards. Ferrini had previously played session keyboards on Oracles and Mafia.

In May 2011, the band signed a worldwide deal with German record label Nuclear Blast Records. The band released their second album, Agony, on August 9, 2011 in North America and August 19, 2011 in Europe. The iTunes version of Agony also includes a cover of the track "Heartwork" by Carcass.

Fleshgod Apocalypse took part in the 2011 Summer Slaughter Tour in North America, alongside co-headliners Whitechapel and The Black Dahlia Murder. The band toured the US with Polish band Decapitated in late 2011. They are currently touring the UK with The Black Dahlia Murder and Skeletonwitch.


Band Members :

* Tommaso Riccardi - vocals, guitars (2009–present)
* Paolo Rossi - bass, clean vocals (2007–present)
* Cristiano Trionfera - guitars, vocals (2007–present)
* Francesco Paoli - drums, guitars, vocals (2007–present)
* Francesco Ferrini - piano (2010–present)


Discography :

Full-length albums :

* Fleshgod Apocalypse - Oracles (2009)
* Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony (2011)

Demo :

* Fleshgod Apocalypse - Promo '07 (2007)

Split :

* Fleshgod Apocalypse - Da Vinci Death Code (2008)

EP :

* Fleshgod Apocalypse - Mafia (2010) Read More...!!

Behemoth

Biography :

Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdansk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate.

Until the late 1990s, the band played a traditional black metal style with heathen lyrical content, but soon changed to that of occult and thelemic themes written by their lead vocalist Nergal and Krzysztof Azarewicz. With the 1999 release of Satanica, the band showed their presence in the blackened death metal scene, while retaining their own signature style characterized by the drum work of Inferno, multi-layered vocals and Middle-Eastern influences. Despite the fact that Behemoth has been labeled as death metal, black metal or thrash-influenced, Nergal has mentioned that he does not like the band to be labeled.


History :

Early career and first five albums (1991–2000)

Behemoth was formed in 1991 as a trio, with Nergal on guitar and vocals, Baal on the drums, and Desecrator on the guitar. They started with the demos Endless Damnation, and The Return of the Northern Moon. The most significant however, was the third demo—...From the Pagan Vastlands (1993). This tape was released by Polish label Pagan Records and later on by the American Wild Rags. Their next release was Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic) in 1995. A year later, they recorded their second album Grom, which was released in 1996. Grom features many different influences and musical styles, using female vocals as well as acoustic guitars and synthesizers. At the same time, Behemoth finally got a chance to play live shows in its native country and finally tour around Europe, gaining stage experience. Two years later, the band recorded a third album, titled Pandemonic Incantations. The cumilation of their increasing presence and metal media set a new standard for them. However, due to a lack of promotion, the album was not well-publicized. After another extensive tour, Behemoth signed a two-album deal with Italy's Avantgarde Music in the fall of 1998. The first result of this new collaboration was the successful album Satanica, on which the black metal sound had evolved into blackened death metal.

The label also secured two European tours for the band in support of Deicide and Satyricon respectively. During that period, Behemoth had to go through some line-up changes and had problems with their ex-Polish label. The new members then were Novy (formerly known from Devilyn, Vader and Dies Irae), who handled the bass duties, and Havok, who became the band's guitarist. After the line-up changes Behemoth signed with the Polish label Mystic. The follow-up release to Satanica was Thelema.6. Massive guitar parts and precise drumming, with influences from different sources, saw them progress further towards blackened death metal.

Thelema.6 was supported by the worldwide press and media, including official releases in Russia and Brazil for the first time. Continuing the support for Thelema.6, Behemoth appeared in several prestigious live events like Wacken Open Air, With Full Force, Inferno Metal Festival, Mystic Festival, and Mind Over Matter Autumn. They started first their headlining tour alongside with Carpathian Forest and Khold, followed by a festival tour in Poland (Thrash em All Fest. with Vader and Krisiun, among others).

Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond), Demigod and The Apostasy (2001–2008)

In 2001, Behemoth focused on writing new material for a sixth studio album. Meantime, they completed their second headlining tour in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Having completed the recording of their new songs, Behemoth entered Hendrix Studio for the second time, with help of their friend and sound engineer Arkadiusz Malczewski, and produced Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond).

In February 2003, the band started their first tour in Norway, playing in cities such as Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger. On March 11, 2003, the American premiere, scheduled by Century Media Records, headlined Behemoth's first appearance in the American continent. The tour started on the 9th of March at the New Jersey's Metalfest and continued with a decent amount of shows across America and Canada, with the company of Deicide, Revenge, Vehemence and Amon Amarth. Shortly after doing their first US tour the band was invited to join the Blackest of the Black Tour by Glenn Danzig. The already legendary festival included acts like Danzig, Superjoint Ritual, Nile, and Opeth. In the fall of 2003, Behemoth flew over to US to complete their third tour with Six Feet Under, Skinless and Black Dahlia Murder. The band then played at the Tuska Festival in Finland with Ministry, Soulfly, among others. At that time, due to some line up difficulties, Nergal parted his ways with Havok and Novy, who decided to focus on activities with their own bands. Eventually, the band resumed touring in the UK and Europe.

In 2004, their seventh studio album, Demigod was released to good critical response. Recorded at the Hendrix Studios, the album debuted at number 15 on the national Polish album charts. Music videos for the songs "Conquer All" and "Slaves Shall Serve" were also shot. In fall 2005 the band headlined the Demigod supremacy Canadian tour 2005 with Necronomicon.

In 2007, the band toured Europe alongside Napalm Death, Moonspell and Dew-Scented. Behemoth released their eighth studio album The Apostasy in July of that year. It was recorded at Radio Gdansk studio in December, 2006. Shortly after the release of The Apostasy, the band was featured as one of Ozzfest 2007's second stage headliners, one of the four non-US bands playing that year. In October/November 2007, they played their first US headlining tour alongside Job for a Cowboy, Gojira, and Beneath the Massacre. In October/November 2007 the band toured Europe alongside Canadian death metal combo Kataklysm and Belgium's Aborted.

In February 2008 Behemoth began a headlining tour along with Suicide Silence. In April/May 2008 the band toured North America as part of "The Invaluable Darkness" tour with Keep of Kalessin and headliner Dimmu Borgir. Behemoth spent the summer playing a number of prominent festivals all over Europe.

In October 2008, Behemoth released their first live album, At the Arena ov Aion – Live Apostasy. Also, an EP called Ezkaton was released featuring a re-recorded version of Chant for Eschaton 2000, one new song, two covers, and three live songs. The EP has been released in North America on November 11.

Evangelion (2009–2010)

In March 2009, the band suggested that the new album, due in the summer, would be produced by British producer Colin Richardson. Behemoth released its 9th full length album entitled "Evangelion" on August 9 via Nuclear Blast in Europe and August 11 via Metal Blade in US. Shemhamforash, a track from this album was released in July 2009 on their MySpace profile.

In July and August 2009, Behemoth participated in the Rockstar Mayhem Festival alongside a variety of metal bands such as Slayer, Bullet for My Valentine, All That Remains, Trivium, Marilyn Manson, Cannibal Corpse and Job for a Cowboy. In September 2009 Behemoth headlined the "New Evangelion" Polish tour alongside Azarath, Black River and Hermh.

In January 2010 Behemoth toured North America during "Evangelia Amerika Tour". In March they toured Europe with shows in Scandinavia, Greece and Turkey. In April Behemoth toured Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In May they started European "Evangelion Summer Campaign 2010" with shows on open-air festivals in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Poland. In June and July they toured France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia and Croatia with Decapitated and Ex Deo. In July and August they performed on next open-air festivals, in Czech Republic and Poland.

Nergal's illness, recovery and ninth studio album (2010–present)

In August 2010 Nergal was rushed to a hospital and was diagnosed with leukemia. It was reported that his leukemia was so advanced that chemotherapy couldn't help him, however, this has now been proven false. Doda, his girlfriend at that time, offered her bone marrow for a transplant but tests showed she wasn't a match. A donor has since been found. Behemoth have been forced to cancel all upcoming shows in August including Sonisphere Festival in Finland, concerts in Russia, Belarus and Baltic States in September and October, and their North American tour "Lawless States of Heretika" with Watain, Withered and Black Anvil in November and December.

Behemoth's live DVD "Evangelia Heretika" was released on November 9, 2010. The DVD package includes two DVDs featuring Live in Warsaw 2009, Live in Paris 2008, Documentaries, Bonus Material and an Audio CD.

On January 17th, 2011, Nergal left the hematology division of Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne, four weeks after he underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure. He says that he will now take several months of recovery while living in his flat in one of the Gdansk’s districts, in order to restore his physical condition. He also announces that he is eager to resume playing the guitar again having been six months since he last played. He also says that he has a huge motivation and desire to continue his work with the band, thanking all people who helped him.

According to Nergal, a new album and tour for 2012 are both in the works.


Band Members :

Current Members :

* Adam "Nergal" Darski – lead vocals, guitars (1991–present)
* Zbigniew Robert "Inferno" Prominski – drums (1997–present)
* Tomasz "Orion" Wróblewski – bass guitar, vocals (2003–present)
* Patryk "Seth" Sztyber – guitars, backing vocals (2004–present)

Former Members :

* Leszek "L.Kaos" Dziegielewski – guitars (1995–1996, 1998–1999)
* Adam "Desecrator" Malinowski – guitars (1991–1992)
* Mateusz "Havoc" Smierzchalski – guitars, backing vocals (2000–2004)
* Rafal "Frost" Brauer – bass guitar (1992–1993)
* Mefisto – bass guitar (1997–1999)
* Orcus – bass guitar (1993)
* Adam "Baal" Ravenlock" Muraszko – drums (1991–1997)

Session Members :

Obscure Perversion – bass guitar (1992)
Marcin "Novy" Nowak – bass guitar (2000–2003)
Istvan Lendvay – bass guitar (2003)
Patryk "Seth" Sztyber – guitars, backing vocals (2004–2011)


Discography :

Studio Albums :

* Behemoth - Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic) (1995)
* Behemoth - Grom (1996)
* Behemoth - Pandemonic Incantations (1998)
* Behemoth - Satanica (1999)
* Behemoth - Thelema.6 (2000)
* Behemoth - Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond) (2002)
* Behemoth - Demigod (2004)
* Behemoth - The Apostasy (2007)
* Behemoth - Evangelion (2009)

Read More...!!

The Black Dahlia Murder

Biography :

The Black Dahlia Murder is an American heavy metal band from Waterford, Michigan, formed in 2000. Their name is derived from the 1947 unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, often referred to as Black Dahlia. The band comprises vocalist Trevor Strnad, guitarists Brian Eschbach and Ryan Knight, bassist Ryan "Bart" Williams and drummer Shannon Lucas. Out of their five studio albums, the latest four of them charted on the US Billboard 200, with 2009's Deflorate peaking at #43 and their latest album Ritual reaching #31.


History :

Formation, Unhallowed and Miasma (2001–2006)

The Black Dahlia Murder began its inception during late 2000 and gained the final band line-up in January 2001. The group released their demo entitled What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse, and a four-track EP, A Cold-Blooded Epitaph, the latter of which the group released on Lovelost Records. After appearing in concerts such as the Milwaukee Metal Fest, The Black Dahlia Murder signed to Metal Blade Records in 2003.

Current bassist Ryan "Bart" Williams left his former band, Detroit's Today I Wait, to tour with the Black Dahlia Murder. After touring with the band on their co-headlining gig with Throwdown and their European dates with Liar, he joined the group full-time, replacing former bassist David Lock. Frontman Trevor Strnad said that Lock was fired for incompetency. Williams was one of two engineers (the other being Walls of Jericho's Mike Hasty) on the band's first full-length album, Unhallowed.

The band's second album Miasma was released on July 12, 2005 and peaked at #118 on the Billboard 200. After touring for Miasma, drummer Zach Gibson left the band along with Pierre Langlois. While Gibson went on to join Abigail Williams, Langlois left the band for a more secure lifestyle, and the band finished their search for a replacement drummer when they found former All That Remains drummer, Shannon Lucas. The group played at Ozzfest 2005.

Nocturnal and Deflorate (2006–2010)

Their third album, entitled Nocturnal, was released on September 18, 2007. The album debuted at #72 on the Billboard 200. The Black Dahlia Murder announced via their MySpace profile that they were going on a U.S. tour with Cannibal Corpse to promote their new album Nocturnal and celebrate the 25 years that Metal Blade Records had been in business. They were joined by label-mates The Red Chord, Aeon, The Absence, and Goatwhore.

In January/February 2008, the band embarked on a U.S. headlining tour with 3 Inches of Blood, Hate Eternal, and Decrepit Birth, followed by another alongside Brain Drill and Animosity. They were on Hot Topic's "Summer Slaughter Tour" with Kataklysm, Cryptopsy, Vader, Whitechapel, and Despised Icon.

Their long-time guitarist, John K has left the band and was replaced by Ryan Knight during the beginning of 2009. In May 2009, The Black Dahlia Murder released their first DVD, "Majesty". The DVD contains a documentary and live footage from the Summer Slaughter tour and their tour supporting Children of Bodom in late 2008. The DVD also contains all of their music videos and behind the scenes footage.

The Black Dahlia Murder released Deflorate on September 15, 2009 via Metal Blade Records. The album sold 12,000 copies in the United States in the first week of the release, debuted at position #43 Billboard's Top 200 charts, #5 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart, #4 on Billboard's Top Hard Music Albums chart, and #50 on HITS Top 50 Albums chart. They toured with Children of Bodom and Skeletonwitch in support of the album. After their 2010 headlining tour with Goatwhore and Arkaik, the band began writing and recording their next full-length album.

Ritual (2011–present)

In February 2011, The Black Dahlia Murder completed the songwriting process for the their fifth studio album, entitled Ritual. It was released on June 21, 2011 in North America. The band supported Amon Amarth on their May 2011 European tour, as well as headlined the 2011 Summer Slaughter tour, both in support of Ritual. Before the record's release, the track "Moonlight Equilibrium" was posted to the Metal Blade Records website on April 29, 2011 to critical and fan acclaim. A music video for "Moonlight Equilibrium" was released on February 20, 2012.


Tours :

The Black Dahlia Murder headlined the 2008 Summer Slaughter Tour with Kataklysm, Vader, Cryptopsy, The Faceless, Despised Icon, Aborted, Born of Osiris, Psycroptic, and Whitechapel. In late 2008, they joined a US tour with Finland's Children of Bodom and Raleigh, NC's Between the Buried and Me. They were initially announced as "...with special guests" at the start of the tour, though it has since been confirmed by Revolver Magazine that they are on tour. They appeared on the Hot Topic Stage in the 2009 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. In late 2009, they embarked on a US tour with Finland's Children of Bodom and Skeletonwitch. The band headlined the Bonecrusher Fest tour of Europe in Spring 2010 alongside 3 Inches of Blood, Necrophobic, Obscura, The Faceless, Carnifex and Ingested. In August 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival near Folkestone, UK.


Band Members :

Current Members :

Brian Eschbach – rhythm guitar (since 2001)
Trevor Strnad – vocals (since 2001)
Ryan Williams – bass guitar (since 2005)
Shannon Lucas – drums (since 2007)
Ryan Knight – lead guitar (since 2009)

Former Members :

John Deering – lead guitar (2001–2002)
John Kempainen – lead guitar (2002–2008)
Mike Schepman – bass guitar (2001)
Sean Gauvreau – bass guitar (2001–2002)
David Lock – bass guitar (2002–2005)
Cory Grady – drums (2001–2004)
Zach Gibson – drums (2005)
Pierre Langlois – drums (2006)


Discography :

* The Black Dahlia Murder - Unhallowed 2003
* The Black Dahlia Murder - Miasma 2005
* The Black Dahlia Murder - Nocturnal 2007
* The Black Dahlia Murder - Deflorate 2009
* The Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual 2011 Read More...!!