Suicidal Angels

Suicidal Angels is a Greek thrash metal band formed in 2001 in Athens, by guitarist and singer Nick Melissourgos. Since its inception, the band has released five studio albums. Their latest album, Divide and Conquer, was released in 2014 via NoiseArt Records.^[1]

History

Suicidal Angels was formed in 2001 by guitarist Nick Melissourgos as a school project. The band's first demo, entitled United by Hate, was released in 2002. Two years later, they recorded their first extended play, titled Bloodthirsty Humanity.^[2]

In January 2007, the band started recording its first full-length album, Eternal Domination, which was released in July the same year. During that year, Suicidal Angels joined Rotting Christ's Theogonia Balkan Tour, while later in 2007 they toured with Onslaught and Massacre.^[3] In November, Suicidal Angels supported the German thrashers Kreator in Athens.^[4]

In March 2009, the band entered the "Music Factory & Prophecy Studios" in Germany to record its second studio album. Sanctify the Darkness contains some of the group's biggest hits such as "...Lies", "The Pestilence of Saints" and "Apokathilosis". Later that year, the band entered the Rock The Nation and Nuclear Blast contest in which they eventually took first place, topping 1200 bands from all over Europe.^[5][6]

Following the release of Sanctify the Darkness in November 2009,^[7] the group started touring with bands like Kataklysm and Overkill, while also getting an opportunity to perform at many European festivals, including Wacken Open Air and Metalcamp.^[8] Suicidal Angels received the opening slot at the Greek leg of Sonisphere Festival in 2010,^[9] supporting the "Big Four" of thrash metal (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica). 2010 proved equally productive for the band as they released their third studio record, entitled Dead Again.^[10]

On November 2010, a year after the release of “Sanctify the Darkness”, “Dead Again” strikes the market, being the first record released by “NoiseArt”. From that certain point and afterwards, one of the most glorious moments of Suicidal Angels comes, the so-called “Thrashfest” tour 2010,^[11] along with Kreator, Exodus and Death Angel, a mighty package, striking numerous sold out nights throughout Europe.

Spring of 2011, it’s time to spread in the Eastern part of Europe, again with Death Angel^[12] and participates in more summer festivals, reaching to the most eastern part of the band’s career so far, in Ukraine.

Summer / fall of the same year, the band enters the studio to fulfill another thrash assault, working again with R.D Liapakis and visiting for one more time the Music Factory and Prophecy Studios in Munich. This time, head of mix and master is Jorg Uken from the “Soundlodge”^[13] studios, achieving a raw, dark and more mature sound compared to the previous records.

Thus, the band creates “Bloodbath”,^[14] which hits the stores on January 2012, receiving great feedback, amazing reviews, making it to the German charts at position #84 and Austrian charts, position #78. The release of the record is followed by the “Full of Hate” tour 2012,^[15] with the absolutely killer line up of Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Legion of the Damned and Misery Index. A sold out package, introducing the band into a more death metal audience, receiving the best of impressions and enlarging its fan base throughout Europe. After the success of this tour, the band is confirmed for more summer festivals, ending up to Brutal Assault Open Air^[16] ( 2nd time in a row) in August, performing in front of almost 20.000 people at that afternoon.

Soon after the end of summer, changes in the line up are taking place, with Chris^[17] joining forces on the guitar. The new year finds Suicidal Angels flying over to the Latin America, with first stop in Mexico city,^[18] followed by shows in Brazil.^[19]

Returning home, without losing any time, the band starts touring homeland, arranging multiple shows all over Greece, with most outstanding moments the 2 packed shows in Thessaloniki and Athens, with the Athenian.^[20] one being the highlight, by the guest appearance of Schmier from Destruction and an unforgettable mind blowing thrash metal holocaust for every single one that attended the show that night.

The thrash metal scene, nowadays, is up and rising and the demand of the people for a new piece of work, leads the band to enter the studio again, for one more record. This time, chooses to work in a different way than previously. Locked up in the “Zero Gravity” Studios in Athens, the 5th record is gradually taking form, within a month of pre-production. Having already worked 3 times with RD Liapakis and in the Music Factory and Prophecy Studios, the choice of the place for the main recordings was an one way. 10 days later, and with one more change in the line up, this time in the bass position, the new opus is already recorded, baptised under a phrase which represents the contemporary era, “Divide and Conquer”.^[21]

As soon as the recordings are done, the band flies over to Sweden, to the Fredman Studios in Gothenburg, to work with the critically acclaimed producer, Fredrik Nordstrom. Bringing in his strong personality, his own perspective on music and totally realising the feeling of the band, he creates an up to date production with an old school touch and feeling. The result is that “Divide and Conquer”, released on the 10th of January 2014, climbs up more, hitting this time position #82 in the German charts.^[22]

Shortly after, the band hits the road once again, with the first, long expected headline tour, called “Conquering Europe” tour,^[23] January / February 2014. 31 shows in 31 dates, all over the European continent, packed shows, sold out merchandise, turns out to a successful beginning of the new year for Suicidal Angels.

Discography

Studio albums

• Eternal Domination (2007)
• Sanctify the Darkness (2009)
• Dead Again (2010)
• Bloodbath (2012)
• Divide and Conquer (2014)

Extended plays

• Bloodthirsty Humanity (2005)
• Armies of Hell (2006)

Demos

• United by Hate (2002)
• Angels’ Sacrifice (2003)
• The Calm Before the Storm (2004)

Members

Current members

• Nick Melissourgos - vocals, guitars (2001–present)
• Orfeas Tzortzopoulos - drums (2003–present)
• Angel Lelikakis - bass (2014–present)
• Chris Tsitsis - guitars (2012–present)

Past members

• Christina Gemidopoulou - bass (2005–2006)
• Sotiris Skarpalezos - bass (2006–2009)
• Themis Katsimichas - guitars (2005–2009)
• Panos Spanos - guitars (2009-2012)
• Angel Kritsotakis - bass (2009–2013)

Gallery

• 

  Nick Melissourgos

References

External links

• Official website