Zwijcie Ją Tiamat, Lilith, Freya, Gaia czy cokolwiek przyniesie Wam wyobraźnia do umysłów, lub po prostu Matka Natura. Był słoneczny poranek, życie toczyło się od samego świtu. Było również bardzo gorąco. Ona postanowiła ochłodzić się w Kryształowej Rzece. Podziwiała pływające stadami ryby, goniące się ptaki, wszystkie Jej doskonałe dzieła, które przez lata kreowała... lecz mimo to, czuła się samotna. Nad Rzeką pasły się tury, wokół których latało mnóstwo insektów. Gdy wychodziła z wody na Boginię skoczył rozwścieczony byk, którego giez ugryzł w przyrodzenie. Ochłodził je w wilgotnym łonie Matki. Z tego zbliżenia narodził się stwór, który wprawdzie chodził na dwóch nogach, lecz był owłosiony i muskularny. Pomimo tego Bogini przyjęła go jako swego syna, którego tak pragnęła, a po latach miała z nim potomstwo. Osobniki męskie przypominały mniej lub bardziej swego ojca, natomiast żenskie były bardziej podobne do Matki, lecz pozostało im piętno po bydlęcym praojcu w postaci owłosienia w delikatnych miejscach. Obie płcie zatraciły kły i pazury na rzecz uzębienia bardziej typowego dla roślinożerców, a ich włosy nie zawsze były czarne. Tak oto powstał człowiek.

Już 4 maja ukaże się na rynku najnowszy singiel Niemców z Blind Guardian zatytułowany "Another Stranger Me". Wydawnictwo dostępne będzie w formie digipacka. Przypomnijmy, że ostatni studyjny album tego zespołu ukazał się 1 września 2006 roku i nosił tytuł "A Twist in the Myth". Jest on sporą gratką dla kolekcjonerów, gdyż w Japonii i USA, był on wydany z bonusowymi utworami. Ukazał się również w wersji dwupłytowej.

Już wcześniej informowaliśmy o nadchodzącej nowej płycie grupy Annihilator, teraz większa garść szczegółów dotycząca nowego wydawnictwa. Album po roku produkcji ujrzy światło dzienne 16 kwietnia. Na najnowszym dziele grupy Anihilator znajdziemy 10 kompozycji nagranych przez Jeff’a Waters’a, Mike’a Mangini i Dave Padden’a.

W warszawskim kinie Kinoteka w dniu 18 kwietnia 2007 odbędzie się pokaz dokumentalnego filmu o Acid Drinkers zatytułowanego "Chasing The Acids". Zrealizowany przez grupę filmową "Fabryczna ART" dokument, będzie wyświetlany w ramach prezentacji filmów, nominowanych do nagrody OFFskar 2007. Wstęp wolny.

Znamy już kapelę, która będzie reprezentować nasz kraj na Wacken Open Air 2007! Jury zdecydowały, że będzie to zespół Corruption. Zwycięzca polskiego finału "Wacken Metal Battle" poza koncertem na "Wacken Open Air" ma także zapewnione występy podczas lokalnych eliminacji i finałów "Wacken Metal Battle 2008" w Niemczech, Finlandii, Francji, Włoszech, Luksemburgu, Holandii, Norwegii, Hiszpanii i Polsce. W polskim finale wystąpiły takie zespoły jak : Corruption, Butelka, Dragon's Eye, Luna Ad Noctum, Carnal, None, Carrion.
Przypominamy, że Wacken Open Air w tym roku odbędzie się w dniach 2-4 sierpnia 2007.

Few forms of music allow artists the flexibility to express themselves in a way that fully encompasses the ideas a band have about their music and where they want to take it. In heavy metal circles, the bands that do show an uncompromising attitude are usually brief, bright sparks that quickly die after an album or two. Rarer still is for a band of four young men to spend over ten years wandering in a completely self-constructed universe that has continually expanded as they built upon their style. A universe so diverse and devoid of complacency one could forgive a casual observer some trepidation upon their first visit to the galaxy Alchemist built.
Since releasing their “Jar of Kingdom” album in 1991, Alchemist has continually raised the bar for one of the Worlds most criminally underexposed music scenes. The Australian heavy metal scene. Long at the forefront of an overlooked genre and always maintaining their own identity, Alchemist’s unrelenting work ethic and the bands involvement in bringing the Southern Hemisphere’s largest metal showcase day, Metal for the Brain, to fruition since 1996 has only reinforced the respect this band has earned amongst its peers and countrymen. Having endlessly toured the wide brown land of Australia for years and performing countless support acts with the elite of metal music such as Opeth, Kreator and Fear Factory to name but a very few. With a live experience delivering the most album quality sound in Australian metal today, its little wonder Alchemists’ 2000 tour with Cryogenic and Psi Kore was the most successful domestic metal tour in Australian history.
Their own blend of classic metal elements with the psychedelic influences of acid rock bands such as Pink Floyd and The Porcupine Tree have long featured and anchored the sound. Evolving from these explorations saw experimentation with traditional indigenous Australian instruments and world music influences to compliment their evolution, the Alchemist sound has become the apex predator in Australian metal. Joining forces with Chatterbox Records in 2000 also enabled the band to drop an excellent album in the form of “Organasm” that same year. “Organasm” showcased a band across so many genres it was impossible to ignore the noise coming from the south any longer. Relapse Records heard the quality picked up the band and added it to its already burgeoning roster of talent, alongside bands like Amorphis, Pig Destroyer, Nile and Today Is The Day.
The band took the longest hiatus in its history from the live scene in preparation for a new album to be released on Chatterbox/Relapse. After nearly two years of work “Austral Alien” once again displayed a band at the peak of a creative wave. Recording the album in Rye, Victoria with Superheist axeman and producer extrodinaire D.W. Norton, allowed the band to go away and focus on the job at hand for three weeks of the Australian summer in early 2003. “Austral Alien” has dropped to widespread critical acclaim from home and aboard, the band finally enjoying the fruits of over ten years of hard labour. Critical acclaim from all print and electronic media leaves no doubt that Alchemist are and continue to be a relevant and dominant force in original heavy music.


Members:

Adam Agius - Guitar / Vocals
Roy Torkington – Gitar
Rodney Holder – Drums
John Bray – Bass
Nick Wall - Live samples / electronics


Discography:

Austral Alien - 2003
Organasm - 2000
Eve of the War - 1998
Spiritech - 1997
Lunasphere - 1995
Jar of Kingdom – 1993

From: www.alchemist.com.au

31 marca z okazji z okazji 3-ciej rocznicy działania BloodLust Teamu odbedzie się "Festung Breslau Blitzkrieg An Posen" czyli goście z Wrocławia - Sane (Cold Night) oraz Mark (Fallen Angels Party) wraz z poznańskimi organizatorami - Bloodlust Team (Ryhu & Attack). Impreza w nowej oprawie graficznej, muzycznej, dekoracyjnej. Sprawdźcie to - zapraszamy na wspólną okolicznościową imprezę.

"Time to Reconsider” is dark industrial climate with a little bit of war tinge created by project DROIN. All military actions leave a mark in musical creativity which also affects DROIN. Creating industrial visions for the most horrifying and darkest scenes that are staying in hearts of fighting soldiers that live in hearts. About 60 minutes of great Dark Ambient material

Działająca od 1973 roku firma Laboga (producent światowej klasy wzmacniaczy gitarowych) w afiliacji z licznymi zaprzyjaźnionymi zespołami z całego świata zaprasza na pierwsza odsłonę festiwalu muzycznego Laboga Metal Show, który odbędzie się 20 - 21 kwietnia 2007 roku. Koncerty poprzedzone będą multimedialną prezentacją wzmacniacza Mr. Hector. Prezentacje poprowadzi jeden z najwybitniejszych gitarzystów świata Jaff Waters - Annihilator.

Noc już panowała na nieboskłonie od paru godzin. W komnacie panowała swoista gra świateł. Z jednej strony przez wysokie okna o ostrołukowym sklepieniu wpadał blask księżyca w pełni, z drugiej wesoło tańczący w kominku i na świecach płomienie ognia. Pomieszczenie było duże. Z jednej strony okna, z których widok znikał w bezkresnej oddali horyzontu zlewającego się z ciemnym granatem nieba nakrapianego gwiazdami. Na lewo od ściany z oknami znajdowały się wielkie dębowe, dwuskrzydłowe drzwi bogato zdobione smokami i wężami, obok drzwi mieściła się biblioteczka pełna ksiąg. Nad biblioteczką wisiały groźnie dwie halabardy i tarcza ze smokiem oplatającym krzyż. Była to pamiątka po poprzednich pokoleniach i herb tego domu. Na ścianie naprzeciw okien mieściły się zawieszone posępnie miecze, pistolety, topory, a u podnóża ściany płonął kominek, pod którym leżała skóra niedźwiedzia. Na przeciwległym końcu komnaty od drzwi stało monstrualnych rozmiarów łoże z czerwoną pościelą zdobioną złotymi nićmi i baldachimem. Na środku komnaty stał stół z trzema świecznikami, stosem ksiąg i srebrnym, bogato zdobionym w motywy smoków kielichem napełnionym do połowy winem. Pan na zamku- hrabia Bartolomius był człowiekiem wysokim i szczupłym. Jego czarne czarne odzienie kontrastowało z białymi rękawami i kołnierzem koszuli. Jego długie, brązowe włosy spływały na czarną, podbitą od spodu czerwienią spiętą srebrną broszą w kształcie liścia dębu. Piwnymi oczami wertował grubą, oprawioną w skórę księgę. Co pewien czas popijał wino. Nagle cichą melodię ognia w kominku zakłóciło rytmiczne pukanie do drzwi.
-Kto tam ? - zapytał hrabia. Uchyliły się drzwi, a zza nich wyłonił się służący.
-Panie, jakaś kobieta z sygnetem z Pańskim herbem chce się z Tobą widzieć- odpowiedział lokaj
-Wpuśćcie- dał przyzwolenie Bartolomius.
W tych niespokojnych czasach trzeba było uważać na wszystkich, zwłaszcza, że mieszkańcy pobliskiej wioski nie pałali sympatią do hrabiego, zwłaszcza, że ten odwrócił się od Kościoła. Zamek miał zamkniętą bramę, a strzegła go zawsze drużyna przyboczna hrabiego. Po chwili weszła do komnaty kobieca postać przystrojona w ciemnozieloną suknię i ciemnozieloną opończę ze złotym gryfem. Twarz jej zasłaniał kaptur, ale widząc hrabiego opuściła nakrycie głowy i ukazała swoje długie jasne jak słoma włosy i brązowe oczy.
-Witaj Lorelay – przywitał się Bartolomius całując przybyłą kobietę.
-Witam Cię Bartoloius'ie – odpowiedziała kobieta.
-Cóż Cię sprowadza o tej porze ? - zapytał się.
-Mam złe wieści z dworu – odparła Lorelei będąca kochanką hrabiego i jego szpiegiem na dworze królewskim - Kardynał Carius chce Ci wytoczyć proces o herezję. Uciekaj, puki możesz. Jutro chce z oddziałem gwardii kardynalskiej siłą Ciebie pojmać.
-Nigdy mu się nie poddam ! - wycedził przez zęby Bartolomius
-Uciekaj Skarbie! - krzyknęła dama – Czeka straszna śmierć na stosie lub podczas tortur. Nie masz szans z oddziałem kardynała.
-Najwyżej- odpowiedział – nie ugnę się.
-W takim razie tak będzie lepiej dla Ciebie najukochańszy – mówiąc to Lorelei wyciągnęła zza pasa sztylet i pchnęła Bartolomiusa prosto w serce, bo zabiło go natychmiast. Pocałowała go i powiedziała – przynajmniej nie cierpiałeś.
Po tym wyszła karząc służbie, żeby nie przeszkadzała panu. Mieli dopiero rano odkryć, że ich władca nie żyje. Opuściła zamek. Lecz inkwizycja nie spała i mrok nocy nie zasłaniał czujnych oczu agentów kardynała. Następnego dnia, kiedy okolicę obiegła wiadomość o śmierci hrabiego, pojmano Lorelei pod zarzutem zabójstwa i konszachtów z heretykiem. Dzięki wstawiennictwu króla i swojemu pochodzeniu pokazano jej proces jednej z wieśniaczek i dano wybór: albo odrazu się przyznaje do herezji, zostanie ścięta i potem spalona, albo nie przyzna się i zostanie przesłuchana bez możliwości stracenia przed spaleniem. Nie przyznała się. Przez trzy dni biskup, kat i sędziowie starali się wydobyć z niej zeznania. Od prostych szczypiec po najwymyślniejsze twory myśli inkwizycyjnej nic nie dawały. Trzeciego dnia nie wytrzymała. Przyznała się. Miała pójść na stos następnego dnia.
Wstał ranek, na rynku miejskim ułożono stos ze szczap drewna, straż kardynalska ochraniała misterną konstrukcję. Poza Lorelei miała zostać spalona jeszcze jedna kobieta. Od samego rana było tam pełno ludzi. Kiedy słońce przesunęło się jeszcze trochę w swej codziennej wędrówce po nieboskłonie, na targ wyjechał wóz ze skazanymi. Były to Lorelei i wieśniaczka posądzona o czary. Przywiązano ich do pala na środku stosu, a biskup pytał się, czy wyrzekają się diabła. Wszyscy się wyrzekli, na co kapłan puścił ich dusze w pokoju. Następnie kat podpalił stos. Delikatne języki ognia gwałtownie stawały się coraz silniejsze. Zaczęły trawić skatowane podczas procesu ciała heretyczek. Ich wędrówki życia dobiegały końca, ale był to koniec straszliwy i długi. Po paru dniach nikt już nie pamiętał już o Lorelei, świat toczył się dalej, a Kościół szukał dalej czarownic i heretyków...

Kiedy David Allan Coe spotkał się z muzykami Pantery dostał od nich na pamiątkę DVD z koncertu. W drodze na następny koncert zobaczyli wspólnie ten materiał. Niesamowicie spodobała mu się energia, z jaką prezentowali się na scenie muzycy oraz siła ich utworów. Rzucił, więc propozycje nagrania wspólnego albumu - no i stało się. Utwory nagrywane zostały przez parę lat, między przerwami w trasie Pantery. Potem po rozwiązaniu zespołu muzycy byli zajęci promowaniem nowego projektu pod nazwą Damageplan. A gdy w 2004 roku zginął Dimebag Darrell, niezręcznie było wydać dzieło stworzone wraz z gwiazda muzyki country.

The story of Silentium goes back to December 1995 into the ashes of a death/gothic metal band called Funeral. From the remains of Funeral, keyboardist Sami Boman and original vocalist Matti Aikio created Silentium by adding violin player Jani Laaksonen, guitar players Toni Lahtinen & Juha Lehtioksa and drummer Jari Ojala into the line-up.

Silentium's first recording was the four-song-demo-tape Illacrimó which was released in the end of year 1996. Their second, six-song Ep-tape Caméne Misera was released in 1998 and featured female vocals by Tiina Lehvonen who then became a permanent member of the band. This second tape caught the attention of Sami Tenetz who was at the time setting up his record label Spikefarm. After some negotiations Silentium signed a deal with Spikefarm and their first Spike-release Infinita Plango Vulnera in 1999 had the honor of becoming Spikefarm's first CD, NAULA001. The record also introduced the new drummer, Janne Ojala.

Infinita Plango Vulnera got extremely good feedback, pleasing goths worldwide, as did its successors, the 2001 CD Altum and it's little sister, the SI.VM E.T A.V.VM mini-CD.

Sufferion’s feedback was as expected; some loved and some couldn’t stand the idea of music and radio play. Every listener was touched someway and the long awaited gigs started to appear in the tour list. After the good start came a kick in the teeth: drummer Janne Ojala announced he’s got a lack of motivation and is leaving the band. Also Laaksonen and Anna Ilveskoski, who already gained the status of permanent vocalist, left and the whole band lived on the edge for awhile. But the guys didn’t want to give up and the help was found surprisingly near; the original drummer Jari Ojala was willing to join in again and Riina Rinkinen gave her amazing voice to the band.

Silentium changed the record label also. In the 2005 they signed to the Finnish Dynamic Arts Records company and in the spring of 2005 it was time to head towards studio Sundi Coop. During the intense month they recorded material for the Silentium’s fourth full-length CD, Seducia, but also for their first single release, Frostnight. In these records can also be heard the change of violin to the cello played by Elias Kahila and the sound of Silentium has only completed from before.

The year 2006 came out to be bigger than ever; welcome for the Seducia was quite good and the fuss began to grow. The band had more touring than ever before and this time outside Finland also. Silentium had a gig in Romania with Amorphis and HIM and the welcome was just amazing. The country and the fans really knocked the band off their feet and they gave their absolute best for the sunny Sibiu. Few months after that came the news of a Silentium song being the part of the Portuguese film and the power play of Silentium in the radio. And all that time the band toured inside Finland and visited new venues and met new fans.

We'll see what shall the year 2007 bring with it...


Band:

Sami Boman / Keyboards & Backing vocals,
Riina Rinkinen / The Voice,
Matti Aikio / Bass & Groaning,
Juha Lehtioksa / Guitars,
Jari Ojala / Drums,
Toni Lahtinen / Guitars


Discography:

Seducia
Released:
25.01.2006 / Finland
27.01.2006 / World
23.04.2006 / Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Frostnight EP
Released:
26.10.2005

Sufferion
Released:
28.07.2003

SI.VM E.T A.V.VM
Released:
2001

Altum
Released:
2001

Infinita Plango Vulnera
Released:
1999


Official Web: http://www.silentivm.com

Aion was formed in Poznań in January 1996. In this year, band recorded their first promotional demo. One month later, in July, Aion signed contract with Poznanian record label Morbid Noizz Productions. In result of this, the first studio album entitled Midian, was released. In 1997 album received "debut of the year" award by readers of Metal Hammer (Polish edition). During promotional tour they supported bands, such as Mercyful Fate, King of Diamond, Artrosis, Vader, Love Like Blood and Sacriversum. Signing contract with Massacre Records led to grow band's popularity outside motherland. In mid-1997 band played at Wacken Open Air festival.
In the end of July 1998, Aion recorded material to the second album, Noia, which was released in November, the same year. The album was nomineed to presigious Polish Fryderyki award in "hard 'n' heavy album of the year" category. Noia contains cover version of Carl Orff's "O Fortuna". Releasing of the third album, Reconciliation (2000), was connected with changing of record label to Metal Mind Productions. Band's lineup was exchanged by first time in 2001, where keyboardist Łukasz Migdalski was replaced by Marcin Żmuda. After that year, band members changed several times. In 2001-2004 period Aion released two albums: Symbol and One of 5.


Discography:

Studio albums
- Midian (1999)
- Noia (1998)
- Reconciliation (2000)
- Symbol (2001)
- One of 5 (2004)

Singles
- "O Fortuna" (1998)

Band members:

Current members
- Marcin Patyk - vocals (since 2003)
- Daniel Jokiel - rhythm guitar (since 1996)
- Artur "Methal" Szymański - bass guitar (since 2003)
- Dominik "Młody" Jokiel - lead guitar (since 1996)
- Marek Wawrzyniak - drums

Former members
- Marcin "Żuraw" Żurawicz - drums (1996-2004)
- Mariusz "Marian" Krzyska - vocals (1996-2003)
- Witalis "Milli" Jagodziński - bass guitar (1996-2003)
- "Kamil" - bass guitar (1996)
- "Pluto" - guitar (1996)
- Łukasz "Migdał" Migdalski - keyboard instruments, piano, flute (1996-2000)
- Marcin Żmuda - keyboard instruments


From: www.en.wikipedia.org

Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, and is regarded as one of the forefathers of the black metal and founder of viking metal. The band's name is taken from the infamous "blood countess," Elizabeth Báthory.
Bathory was formed in Stockholm in 1983, for fun, by the then 18-year-old Quorthon. After various names and numerous line-up changes, the group finally settled on Bathory. Contrary to popular belief, Bathory never released a split demo with Celtic Frost; their first recording deal came that same year, when Quorthon managed to secure the consent of Tyfon Grammofon's boss to record two tracks for the compilation Scandinavian Metal Attack. The tracks which he recorded gained unexpected attention by fans. Soon afterward, Tyfon Grammofon contacted Quorthon and asked him to record a full-length album.
Although Venom's Black Metal (1982) was the first record to coin the term, it was Bathory's early albums, featuring Satanic lyrics, low-fi production and an inhuman vocal style, that defined the genre. On a further note, many fans have thought that Venom was an influence on Bathory, however Quorthon has said that he never even owned a Venom record, and had only heard a few songs (this is a matter of contention along with the obvious Manowar influence on later viking era albums which was also denied). Nevertheless, Quorthon took influences from such bands as GBH, Black Sabbath and Motorhead and took them to a whole new level entirely. Bathory's subsequent releases, the self-titled debut, The Return and Under the Sign of the Black Mark are now regarded as major influences on the Norwegian bands which extended Black Metal's musical progression and popularity in the beginning of the 1990s.
The first signs of what was to follow appeared on what some fans consider to be Bathory's best album: Blood Fire Death, where on some of the tracks the pace had slowed down to allow for a more epic songwriting approach. It was also here that the Viking theme was introduced. Most of the musical elements of Black Metal were still present, however. It was with the release of Hammerheart that Bathory surprised many of its fans. The style had now drastically changed towards less aggressive, more epic and atmospheric music; the lyrics dealt with themes about Vikings and Scandinavia's Norse mythology. The album also featured the usage of the "triplet gallop beat", which has its roots in bands like Manowar, whos first four albums use this type of beat extensively. Also (early) Manowar seemed to be an influence on the choir vocals that Quorthon was now employing as well (as well as the lyrical content). Bathory had become pioneers in yet another genre within the world of extreme music—that of Viking Metal. The style of Hammerheart was further perfected on the subsequent Twilight of the Gods and Blood on Ice.
With 1994's Requiem, Bathory changed style once more, this time turning to vicious retro-thrash in the vein of 1980s Bay area thrash bands. In recent years, critics have seen Bathory's output as increasingly erratic, as the band has returned again to Viking themes and, with the Nordland albums of 2002 and 2003, largely abandoned the retro-thrash sound of the mid-1990s in favour his more popular, more epic style for which he is best known.
Bathory have been cited as an influence by musicians as diverse as Metallica, Marilyn Manson, Cradle of Filth, Eric Hoffman and Brian Hoffman of Deicide, Black Crucifixion, Beherit, and Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins,Opeth and Dimmu Borgir. An early member of the band was Jonas Åkerlund, the music video and film director.
In June, 2004, Quorthon was found dead in his home, apparently of a heart failure.
On June 3, 2006, Black Mark Records released a box set in tribute to Quorthon containing three CDs of his favorite Bathory & Quorthon songs, a 176 page booklet, a DVD with his long-form video for One Rode To Asa Bay also containing an interview and some rare promo footage and an 11x14 poster.
A Bathory tribute album was made by various black metal artists, entitled In Conspiracy with Satan: A Tribute to Bathory.

Discography:

Studio albums
- Bathory (1984)
- The Return (1985)
- Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1987)
- Blood Fire Death (1988)
- Hammerheart (1990)
- Twilight of the Gods (1991)
- Requiem (1994)
- Octagon (1995)
- Blood On Ice (1996)
- Destroyer of Worlds (2001)
- Nordland I (2002)
- Nordland II (2003)

Compilations albums
- Jubileum Volume I (1993)
- Jubileum Volume II (1993)
- Jubileum Volume III (1998)
- Katalog (2003)
- In Memory of Quorthon (Box Set; 2006)

Bootlegs
- The True Black Essence

Music videos
- 1990 "One Rode to Asa Bay"


Members:

- Quorthon (Tomas Forsberg) - Guitars, Vocals, Music and Lyrics
- Freddan (Fredrick Hanoi) - Bass (1983-1984)
- Jonas Åkerlund (Vans McBurger) - Drums (1983-1984)
- Vvornth - Drums (1989-1991)
- Kothaar - Bass (1989-1991)
- The Animal - Vocals (1983)


From: www.en.wikipedia.org and www.bathory-hordes.com

Sodom's original line-up consisted of Tom Angelripper, Chris Witchhunter and Aggressor. Taking inspiration from bands such as Motörhead and Venom, they released two demos which led to a record deal with Steamhammer. Aggressor left the band shortly before releasing the In the Sign of Evil EP (generally regarded as an important early black metal release), and was replaced by Grave Violator, who did not last long himself. On the debut album Obsessed by Cruelty he was replaced by Destructor. After the release however, Destructor left Sodom to join Kreator.
Thereafter, their breakthrough album Persecution Mania was released with yet another guitarist, Frank Blackfire. A live album Mortal Way of Live followed. The next album made Sodom famous: Agent Orange, released in 1989. This album managed to sell 100,000 copies in Germany alone. Since then, Sodom is one of the three big names of German Thrash metal. The others are Kreator and Destruction. Again, a new guitarist was to be found as Blackfire also left the band to join Kreator. The replacement was found in Michael Hoffman.
In this line-up the Better Off Dead album was released in 1990. During the South American tour however, Hoffman decided to stay in Brazil and therefore was forced to quit. His replacement was found in Andy Brings and a new album was recorded, titled Tapping the Vein, which was more death metal influenced than before. This proved to be the last album with the drummer Witchhunter who was kicked from the band. Atomic Steif found his way behind the drumkit.
This line-up now, recorded the next album, Get What You Deserve. Out were the death metal influence, in came the hardcore influences. Get What You Deserve had an arguably grotesque album cover and many fans were disappointed with the new direction. Also, this marked the beginning of less international visibility for Sodom as thrash lost its commercial viability for the remainder of the 1990s. At this time Angelripper also started a solo career doing metal impressions of drinking songs, German schlagers and even Xmassy Carols. Another live album was recorded of the tour in support of this album called Marooned - Live.
In the same vein as the previous album, Masquerade in Blood was released in 1995. Again another guitarist was to be found. The new axeman was Strahli, but he did not stay very long with the band either; he was fired due to drug problems. Also Atomic Steif left and again Angelripper needed to search for new members. These were found in the person of Bernemann on guitars and Bobby Schottkowski on drums. Apparently this line-up has stabilized the band significantly and is still current.
The album 'Til Death Do Us Unite featured a controversial album cover, depicting the belly a pregnant woman and a beer gut of a man pressing a human skull together. Stylistically, it continues along the lines of Masquerade in Blood. However, in 1999 Code Red was released and formed a return to the sound of the 1980s thrash metal. A limited edition featured a bonus CD containing a tribute to Sodom album called Homage to the Gods. In the same vein, M-16 was released displaying Sodoms interest in the Vietnam War. The title of course refers to the automatic rifle M16. A tour followed with the other two big German thrash metal bands Kreator and Destruction. The band carried on the thrash metal style from the previous album.
In 2003, a double live album was recorded in Bangkok, Thailand, titled One Night in Bangkok. A new album simply titled Sodom was released in 2006, in the same vein as its predecessors Code Red and M-16. The title was chosen as Angelripper explained because every band needs a self-titled album. The album was however delayed because the DVD Lords of Depravity took more time to compose that initial thought.


Members:

Current members
- Tom Angelripper (Thomas Such, Onkel Tom) - Vocals/Bass (Desperados)
- Bobby Schottkowski - Drums (ex-Crows, ex-Tom Angelripper)
- Bernemann (Bernd Kost) - Guitars (ex-Crows)

Former members
- Aggressor (Frank Testegen) - Guitars (1983-1984)
- Grave Violator (Pepi Dominic) - Guitars (1984-1985)
- Destructor (Michael Wulf) - Guitars (later Kreator) (1985-1986) R.I.P. in 1993.
- Assator (Uwe Christophers) - Guitars (ex-Darkness (Ger)) (on tour in 1986)
- Frank Blackfire (Frank Gosdzik) - Guitars (later Mystic (Bra) and Kreator) (1987-1989, special appearance in the December 28, 2006 concert in Bochum)
- Uwe Baltrusch - Guitars (on tour in 1989/1990) (also in Mekong Delta, later House of Spirits)
- Michael Hoffman - Guitars (ex-Assassin (Ger)) (1990)
- Andy Brings - Guitars (later Powergod) (1991-1995)
- Strahli (Dirk Strahlimeier) - Guitars (1995-1996)
-Chris Witchhunter (Christian Dudeck) - Drums (1983-1992) (see also Destruction and Bathory)
- Atomic Steif (Guido Richter) - Drums (later Stahlträger and Assassin (Ger), ex-Sacred Chao, ex-Holy Moses, ex-Living Death, ex-Brotós)


Discography:

- Witching Metal (Demo) 1983
- Victims of Death (Demo) 1984
- In the Sign of Evil (EP) 1984
- Obsessed by Cruelty 1986
- Expurse of Sodomy (EP) 1987
- Persecution Mania 1987
- Mortal Way of Live (live album) 1988
- Agent Orange 1989
- Ausgebombt (EP) 1989
- Better off Dead 1990
- The Saw Is the Law (EP) 1991
- Tapping the Vein 1992
- Aber Bitte mit Sahne (EP) 1993
- Get What You Deserve 1994
- Marooned Live (live album) 1994
- Masquerade in Blood 1995
- Ten Black Years - Best Of 1996
- 'Til Death Do Us Unite 1997
- Code Red 1999
- M-16 2001
- One Night in Bangkok (live album) 2003
- Lords of Depravity Part I (double DVD, 2005)
- Sodom - 2006
- Lords of Depravity Part II - TBA


From: http://en.wikipedia.org and http://sodomized.info

AUGURY began in the winter of 2001/2002 when lead/classical guitarist Mathieu Marcotte left his band Spasme and started auditioning a string of drummers to seriously start a complete outfit. Shortly after, he was joined by soprano vocalist Arianne Fleury and demented bass wizard Dominic “Forest” Lapointe and started to jam complete songs.

In the mean time, vocalist Patrick Loisel had pledged to join and, in February 2002, left his band Kralizec to become the band’s other lead guitarist as well. In June of 2002, former Adenine’s drummer Mathieu Groulx completed the line-up and helped the band shape their first six songs and play its first show. However, lack of time and different musical tastes led him to depart Augury.

For a few months, the drummer-less outfit spent time writing more songs, focusing on strings instruments arrangements. Then, to the relief of everyone, the final missing piece fell in the puzzle as drummer Étienne Gallo took over the seat. After months of arranging and rehearsing the songs, AUGURY finally commit their work into an album. Concealed was recorded by Yannick St-Amand and mixed by Jean-François Dagenais.

Following the album release, a wave of praise came toward Augury from all around the world. The band played selected shows, opening for world class acts like Cryptopsy, Decapitated and Children of Bodom and toured Canada twice over the following couple of years. In the summer 2005, they fired soprano vocalist Arianne Fleury over musical and personnal differences, then for the first time crossed the country with Quo Vadis. This wasn’t enough and Augury were at it again the following spring, spreading their message from coast to coast along co/headliners Unexpect.

Sadly, at the end of the tour, drummer Etienne Gallo left Augury to concentrate on other projects. The band then spent the summer 2006 searching for a new skin basher, while not knowing then that the solution to their problem was right across the corridor from their rehearsal room. Mesmerism’s drummer Philippe Cousineau was approached by the guys, tried…and ended being the perfect one. Augury therefore resumed live activities during fall 2006 and will devote the following winter to the creation of their next album

AUGURY doesn’t identify itself with any pre-established school of music, but it can be fit into the extreme metal category since they favor fast playing, low tuning and rough vocals. A further link can be made with the Norwegian symphonic Black Metal scene, for the use of classical, Celtic and medieval overtones and the lush vocal harmonies that embellish about half of the songs. Triplet feels and guitar/bass dual and triple harmonies are indeed a staple of Augury’s music. Yet, there is no keyboard, no fake vampire image and a totally different lyrical concept.

Also, the musicians add influences from a lot of other sources. All members are big fans of progressive rock, classical baroque and jazz and there is a big flamenco influence (Strunz & Farrah, Paco de Lucia, Don Ross) in the playing. Strings players alone total almost 50 years of practicing their instruments and Patrick started singing in the late 80’s while Arianne is classically trained. Yet, everyone still yearns to widen his or her horizon...

Members:

- Pat Loisel
Vocals/ lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars.

Born in Montreal on 1970-05-26, Patrick spent most of his life in Valleyfield.

- Mathieu Marcotte
Lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars.

Born in Val d’Or in Abitibi (Northern Quebec) on 1976-04-17

- Dominic “Forest” Lapointe
6 strings bass guitar

Born in Forestville, Eastern Quebec, on 1976-02-19

- Phil Cousineau
Drums.

Born on 1983-10-09

Discography:

Concealed" (2004) - Galy Records

From: http://www.augurymetal.com