Zemial
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| Zemial | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Athens, Greece |
| Genre(s) | Black Metal, Thrash Metal, Symphonic Black Metal |
| Years active | 1989 - present |
| Label(s) | NYX |
| Associated acts | Agatus, Equimanthorn, Varathron, Rotting Christ, Nocternity, The Watcher, Alpha Centauri, Kawir |
| Members | |
| Vorskaath (Dimitrius Dorian), Eskarth (Chris Dorian) | |
Zemial are a Greek black metal band founded in 1989 in Athens, Greece. They are now based in Germany.
Their early work can be classified as thrash / death metal in the style of the mid to late 1980s period. Some of these elements partially remained as the band changed to the style of black metal during the early 1990s and until the end of the decade. Their releases from 2000 onwards have shown a greater tendency toward traditional heavy metal elements, an exploration of other musical directions and a greater sophistication underlying the seemingly simple musical structures. Their use of modal harmonic structures and sliding riffs has created what is considered by many as a trademark Zemial sound.[citation needed]
Their lyrical content mainly relates to philosophical and existential matters and dreaming/dreamscapes. It has been heavily inspired by the mythology, religious beliefs and practices of ancient Sumer and ancient Hellas.[citation needed]
Contents |
[edit] Live appearances
Zemial have developed a reputation as a fierce live band with highly developed musical skills which are not generally represented in their studio work.[citation needed] The band refused live offers throughout the early part of their career, preferring to focus on studio work only. In 2001 however, they accepted a European tour offer and have been active as a live band ever since.
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Current members
- Vorskaath: vocals, drums, percussion, guitars, bass, synthesizers
- Eskarth - The Dark: guitar, backing vocals (session member for live shows). Also recorded guitars on Necrolatry and played various solos and/or guitar parts for Face of the Conqueror and In Monumentum.
[edit] Former members
- Sauron/Themis (of Rotting Christ): drums on Sleeping Under Tartarus 7" EP
- Mentor/Therthonax (of Kawir): bass on Sleeping Under Tartarus 7” EP
- Daoloth (of Necromantia): some keyboards parts on For the Glory of UR album
- Damon (of Stargazer): bass on Seven Spells of Death European Tour 2001
- Jarro (of Destroyer 666 / Nocturnal Graves): bass on Shadow Over Europe Tour 2003, In Monumentum European Tour 2006, bass on Birds of Death demo
- Ralf Strzalka (of Stigmatized): bass on March of the Giants European tour 2007
- Holger Reinermann: bass on Winter March European tour 2007/2008
[edit] Related projects
Vorskaath has collaborated with the following bands/ensembles:
- Agatus (Australia)
- Alpha Centauri (Australia/Germany)
- Chalice (Australia)
- Elder Wind Orchestra (Australia)
- Elder Percussion Ensemble (Australia)
- Equimanthorn (USA)
- Firstborn (Portugal)
- Kawir (Greece)
- Nocternity (Greece)
- Stargazer (Australia)
- Stix n' Tones Percussion Ensemble (Australia)
- Varathron (Greece)
- The Watcher (Australia/Germany)
[edit] Extended biography 1989-2008
1989/1990 Embryonic stages, changing line-ups, first promo rehearsal and demo recordings, live shows with bands such as Flames, Obsecration and Piranha.
1991 - Establishment of Zemial line-up with Vorskaath on guitars and vocals, Mentor (who later founded Kawir) on bass and Necrosauron (of Rotting Christ) on drums. The band rehearses the material for their first official release and circulates 2 promo cassettes which are received very well in the underground scene.
1992 - Zemial record their first official release "Sleeping Under Tartarus" at MOLON LAVE Studios in Athens (later called Storm Studios). Newfound French label Osmose Productions contacts Vorskaath for the release of the EP, however in line with the ideal of 'music for the spirit not for money', Vorskaath refuses the offer. The EP is released in the USA through the underground labels Gothic Records/Torched Records to great acclaim nevertheless. It is sold out immediately, making it one of the most popular releases of the newly developed Hellenic scene and making Zemial the first Hellenic Black Metal band with a record deal outside of Hellas. Osmose contacts Vorskaath yet again for an album but the offer is again refused. Osmose contacts Gothmog of Thou Art Lord for a split Zemial/Thou Art Lord album, once again failing to attract Vorskaath's interest.
1993 - Material for future albums "Nykta" and "For the Glory of UR" composed. Magus Wampyr Daoloth of Necromantia joins the now one-man band on bass, however this line-up is short lived.
1994 - Vorskaath and his brother Eskarth the Dark One (of Agatus) relocate to Australia. Vorskaath begins to re-establish Zemial in the distant Continent. Sleeping Under Tartarus is re-released through Gothic Records with a different layout, this time reaching world-wide distribution. The majority of distribution and sales are still in the USA. The release is sold out through pre-orders.
1995 – "For the Glory of UR" album recorded in Australia. After the collapse of Gothic Records, negotiations commence with Daoloth's new label for the release of Zemial's debut album.
1996 - Hypervorea Records (now Black Lotus) and Sub-Terra Records release "For the Glory of UR" but fail to promote, distribute and circulate the album sufficiently and fail to meet their contractual obligations. Zemial receive offers from other labels to licence the album.
1997 - The raw recording that came to be known as the music for the mini-LP "Necrolatry" was recorded and circulated widely as a demo, to great acclaim. Considered by many the best work of Zemial and a great come-back of sorts. Earlier that year Zemial had appeared on a Tribute to Bathory CD, with an unpolished version of Bathory classic: "Armageddon". The tribute circulated 16,000 copies, mainly in Europe. Around this period, the unofficial bootleg: "The True Black" appears, featuring Zemial, Thou Shalt Suffer (Norway) and Mayhem (Norway). Toward the end of 1997, Zemial enter the studio and record 3 tracks for a 7 single that remains unreleased.
1998 - Zemial travel to Berlin/Germania, to record their next release: "Breath of the Pestilence", with famous Thrash Metal producer Harris Johns (Sodom, Kreator, Helloween). Record label financing was cancelled and the recording remains unreleased.
1999 - Iron Pegasus Records (Germany) sign Zemial and re-release the "For the Glory of UR" album, on CD (with bonus tracks and different artwork), picture LP and black vinyl. The debut album is finally distributed around Europe.
2000 – "Necrolatry" is released on limited vinyl format (picture disc and black vinyl) to a great response and sold out within two months of its release.
2001 - Zemial embark on their first European tour with label mates Desaster from Germany. Their appearances incorporated elements never before known in the Black Metal genre, such as free improvisational parts and a wide range of dynamics.
2002 - Zemial prepare for their next European tour in summer of 2003 and begin negotiations for their 2 upcoming releases. Most of the time is spent on other musical projects, such as Alpha Centauri and The Watcher.
2003 - Zemial enter Eskarth's studio (The Vault) and record "Face of the Conqueror" and "ΔAΙΜΩΝ". The material is composed/improvised during the recording sessions, with no prior rehearsing. The band tour Europe once again to promote their new releases. "Face of the Conqueror" marks the last release of Zemial with Iron Pegasus Records.
2004 - The death of Quorthon (Bathory) on June 7, 2004, who had been the primary influence and inspiration on Vorskaath, prompted the composition of a Zemial Opus that would be dedicated to the memory of Quorthon, for the enormous influence he had on Zemial.
2005 - Zemial commence preparations and enter the Vault studios to record "In Monumentum"; their tribute to Thomas Forsberg (Quorthon).
2006 - In Monumentum is released in May (Climax of the Equinox) through Vorskaath's label and followed by the "In Monumentum European Tour 2006" and Zemial's relocation to the Nordrhein Westfalen region of GERMANY.
2007 - Early in 2007 Vorskaath prepared a quartet line-up of outstanding musicians and Zemial advanced across Europe for the "March of the Giants Tour" between January/February/March; their longest and most successful tour so far. In the second half of the year the band appeared in Finland, Poland , the Netherlands, and Hellas and finished the year with a tour of Germany.
2008 - Vorskaath has announced the release of the long awaited album: NYKTA which was composed between 1993 and 1998.
The Darkness Continues...
[edit] Discography
1990 - Enthroned Death (Demo)
1991 - Nocturnal Death (Live Demo)
1991 - Sleeping Under Tartarus (Rehearsal Promo)
1992 - Sleeping Under Tartarus (EP) GOTHIC RECORDS/TORCHED RECORDS
1994 - Sleeping Under Tartarus (EP Re-release) GOTHIC RECORDS
1996 - For the Glory of UR (CD) HYPERVOREA/SUB-TERRA RECORDS (NOW BLACK LOTUS)
1996 - The True Black MAYHEM/ZEMIAL/THOU SHALT SUFFER (CD) UNOFFICIAL
1997 - Necrolatry (Demo)
1997 - Eclipse (EP) UNRELEASED
1997 - Hellas Salutes the Vikings - A Tribute to Bathory (CD) METAL INVADER
1998 - Breath of the Pestilence (MINI-LP) Unreleased
1999 - For the Glory of UR + bonus tracks (CD, LP) IRON PEGASUS RECORDS
2000 - Necrolatry (LP) NYX/IRON PEGASUS
2003 - Face of The Conqueror (MINI-LP) ΝΥΞ/IRON PEGASUS RECORDS
2003 - ΔΑΙΜΩΝ (EP) APOCALYPTOR RECORDS
2005 - Birds of Death (Demo)
2006 - In Monumentum (CD, LP) ΝΥΞ
