Blasphemy
Blasphemy in 2009
Blasphemy in 2009
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres
Years active1984–1993, 1999–present
Labels
MembersMembers

Blasphemy are a Canadian black metal band based in Vancouver, British Columbia that formed in 1984. The band was formed initially by vocalist and occasional bassist Gerry Bull and drummer Sean Stone, known better by their respective stage names Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds & 3 Black Hearts of Damnation and Impurity.[1] Shortly thereafter, guitarist Geoff Drakes, also known better by his pseudonym Caller of the Storms, would join the band.[1] The band formed first as "Antichrist", and would see two further name changes ("Desaster" and "Thrash Hammer", respectively)[1] before settling on Blasphemy in 1987.

The band have a reputation for violence, as well as some members being involved in criminal activity; including a member smuggling both narcotics and his girlfriend onto a commercial flight to Amsterdam, assaulting a police officer, and drug dealing.[2] Consequently, most of the members have spent time in prison.[2]

History

Blasphemy formed in 1984. The band released a demo titled "Blood Upon the Altar" in 1989 and their debut album, "Fallen Angel of Doom",[3][4] the following year through Wild Rags, to whom they had signed to whilst touring the United States.[5] Blasphemy's second full-length studio album, 1993's "Gods of War", was released through Osmose Productions.[6] 1993 also saw Blasphemy a part of the European tour dubbed the "Fuck Christ Tour";[7] touring alongside Immortal and Rotting Christ.[8] Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds left the band during the first few days of the tour after experiencing problems with then bassist Ace Gustapo Necrosleezer and Vaginal Commands. For the rest of the tour, Ace replaced Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds on lead vocals.[9]

After the "Fuck Christ Tour", Blasphemy became inactive for several years.[10] Ryan Förster, known better as Deathlord of Abomination and War Apocalypse, joined the band in 1999 as a second guitarist.[11] The band next played in July 2001 in Vancouver, with a recording of the show released as the live album Live Ritual – Friday the 13th the following year.[12]

They were inactive again until 2009, when they played two concerts; one in Montreal and one in Helsinki, in the Black Flames of Blasphemy festival, with Proclamation, Black Witchery, Revenge and Archgoat.[13] In 2010, Blasphemy headlined the second installation of the Nuclear War Now! festival in Germany.

Blasphemy's song "War Command" has been covered by Beherit and the cover appeared on Beherit's 1999 compilation album Beast of Beherit - Complete Worxxx. Blasphemy's "Winds of the Black Gods" was the opening track on the 2004 compilation Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal.

Members

Current line-up

  • Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds – vocals, bass and formerly guitars
  • Caller of the Storms – guitars
  • Deathlord of Abomination and War Apocalypse – guitars
  • Three Black Hearts of Damnation and Impurity – drums

Session and live performers

  • V.K. – live session bass

Former members

  • Ace Gestapo Necrosleezer and Vaginal Commands – bass
  • Black Priest of 7 Satanic Rituals – guitars
  • The Traditional Sodomizer of the Goddess of Perversity – guitars
  • Bestial Saviour of the Undead Legions – bass and backing vocals

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Demo albums

  • Blood Upon the Altar (1989)
  • Die Hard Rehearsal (2001)
  • Blood Upon the Soundscape (2018)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Blasphemy - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  2. 1 2 beatrouteab (September 7, 2013). "BLASPHEMY". BeatRoute Magazine. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Hail Canada! An Ode to Metal from Up North". Vice, Kim Kelly July 1, 2015
  4. ↑ Robert Müller: Wollt Ihr den ewigen Krieg?. Der tote Winkel. In: Metal Hammer, November 2011.
  5. ↑ "Interview with Blasphemy". FMP666. Retrieved January 21, 2008.
  6. ↑ Blasphemy - Gods Of War, 1993, retrieved August 31, 2023
  7. ↑ Blasphemy, Rotting Christ, Immortal - Fuck Christ Tour '93, 2009, retrieved August 31, 2023
  8. ↑ "Interview with Rotting Christ". Masterful Magazine. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Blasphemy - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Blasphemy’s black metal is far from dead". Georgia Straight, by Allan MacInnis on March 8, 2017
  11. ↑ " Archived March 31, 2019, at the Wayback Machine BESTIAL, SAVAGE, MERCILESS"]. BeatRoute, 07th, September 2013.
  12. ↑ ["Blasphemy", 1 Issue 7 - Absolute Underground. page 12
  13. ↑ "Black Flames of Blasphemy review". deathmetal.com. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
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