Kat (band)

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Kat

Kat, ca. 2005.
Origin Katowice
Country Poland
Years active 1979-present
Genres Heavy metal
Black metal
Thrash metal
Labels Mystic Production
Website(s) www.kat.com.pl

Kat[1] is a heavy metal band formed in 1979 in Katowice, Poland. Throughout its history, their music can be categorised as heavy metal, thrash metal and/or black metal though recently (starting with their album Mind Cannibals) their sound can be described as Black metal inspired Groove Metal. They have been accused many times, mainly by Polish media, of promoting satanism. In Polish language "kat" means executioner.

Contents

[edit] Band history

Kat was founded in 1979 by a guitarist Piotr Luczyk and a drummer Ireneusz Loth. Shortly after, a bass guitarist Tomasz Jaguś and another guitarist, Ryszard Pisarski, joined the band. They played instrumental music influenced by hard rock bands, mainly by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. In 1981 during the first edition of Silesian Rock festival band found a vocalist, Roman Kostrzewski. The line-up was filled by a guitarist Wojciech Mrowiec and in 1984 Kat released debut single "Noce szatana / Ostatni tabor" (Polish for The Nights of Satan / The Last Train). Robert "Lor" Milewski is an author for the lyrics of both songs. While playing at Jarocin Festival, band met with listeners' enthusiasm, although first accusation of promoting satanism also appeared. Allegation turned up due to the behaviour of another band, Kreon (f. Test Fobii) which broke a Christian cross and then celebrated a Black Mass. Band had also a tour with Hanoi Rocks.

In 1985 Kat released their debut album Metal & Hell. A Polish language version of this longplay was released as a limited album in the same year, but title was changed to 666. Soon after, Wojciech Mrowiec had quit the band. In 1987 Kat performed twice as a support band of Metallica in Katowice's Spodek. This show was documented in Kat's live album 38 Minutes of Life. At that time the also supported Running Wild, Helloween and Overkill.

After releasing the next longplay album, Oddech wymarłych światów, band had an internal crisis and, as a result of this, broke up. It began by a conflict with band's manager, Tomasz Dziubiński. Finally, Kat was reactivated in 1990 and in 1992 played with TSA and Acid Drinkers during Jarocin Festival. Two years after, some songs from this show appeared along their new ones on a new album, Bastard (1992).

In 1994 in Wisła a new album entitled Ballady was compiled and recorded. It includes Kat's ballads from previous albums, previously unreleased tracks and two completely new songs. Józef Skrzek was a guest keyboard instrumentalist. In that year Metal Mind Productions re-released three first Kat's albums without band's permission. Kat sued the record fot this company and, after a few years, won the case.

In 1996 and 1997, Kat released the albums Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach and Szydercze zwierciadło. After Jacek Regulski died in a motorcycle accident in 1999, the band split up for three years. They returned in 2002 and held a tour called "On Tour Again". They also played as a support before Iron Maiden during Mystic Festival in Hala Ludowa, Wrocław, 2002.

In 2004 and 2005 Kat had several important changes in its line-up. Firstly, band refused a drummer Ireneusz Loth and then, Roman Kostrzewski who was vocalist and lyricist. Mariusz Prętkiewicz replaced the former drummer. Jarosław Gronowski came as a second guitarist and Henry Beck became a new vocalist. Gronowski played in Kat during Szydercze zwierciadło promotional tour. Reformed band released an album Mind Cannibals in 2005. It's the second English language album of Kat (after Metal & Hell).

[edit] Discography

Titles in brackets are translated from Polish.

[edit] Albums

  • Metal & Hell (1986)
  • 666 (1987) - Polish language version of Metal & Hell
  • 38 Minutes of Life (1987) - live album
  • Oddech wymarłych światów (The Breath of Extincted Worlds, 1988)
  • Bastard (1992)
  • Ballady (Ballads, 1994)
  • Live - Jarocin (1994) - live album
  • Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach (Roses of Love Thrive Most Eagerly on Graves, 1996)
  • Szydercze zwierciadło (Slanderous Mirror, 1997)
  • Somewhere in Poland (2004) - live album
  • Mind Cannibals (2005)

[edit] Singles

  • "Ostatni tabor / Noce szatana" (The Nights of Satan / The Last Train, 1984)
  • "Metal & Hell" (1986) - fan club release
  • "Time of Revenge / Czas Zemsty" (1986)
  • "Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach" (Roses of Love Thrive Most Eagerly on Graves, 1986)

[edit] DVDs

  • Somewhere in Poland 2003 (2004)

[edit] Other

  • Czarne zastępy: W hołdzie KAT (Black Hordes: A Tribute to KAT, 1988) - a tribute to KAT album

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • Henry Beck - vocals (since 2005)
  • Piotr Luczyk - guitar (1979-1997 and since 2002)
  • Krzysztof Oset - bass guitar, vocals (since 1989)
  • Jarek Gronowski - guitar (since 2004)
  • Mariusz Prętkiewicz - drums (since 2004)

[edit] Former members

  • Roman Kostrzewski - vocals, guitar (1981-2004)
  • Ireneusz Loth - drums (1979-2004)
  • Tomasz Jaguś - bass guitar (1981-1988)
  • Krzysztof Stasiak - bass (1988-1989)
  • Wojciech Mrowiec - guitar (1981-1986)
  • Jacek Regulski - guitar (1988-1999)
  • Ryszard Pisarski - guitar (1981)

[edit] Notes

  1. ↑  The band is also known under uppercase name, KAT.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../k/a/t/Kat_%28band%29.html"
In other languages