Armageddon (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Armageddon


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Origin = Halmstad, Sweden
Genre = Melodic death metal
Power metal
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Years_active = 1997-2002
Label = W.A.R. , Toy's Factory
Associated_acts = Arch Enemy
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Current_members = Christopher Amott
Tobias Gustafsson
Daniel Erlandsson
Past_members = Peter Wildoer
Martin Bengtsson
Jonas Nyrén
Rickard Bengtsson
Dick Lövgren

Armageddon was a Swedish heavy metal band, led by Christopher Amott of Arch Enemy. Originally conceived as a melodic death metal band, the group's later efforts fall into the power metal category. The band has released three albums in Japan to date.

Biography

Formed in Halmstad, Sweden, in 1997 by Christopher Amott, Armageddon began when Arch Enemy were invited to Japan to sign a new record deal with Toy's Factory records after the release of the "Black Earth" album. While in Japan, Christopher secured his own record deal for a solo project, which became Armageddon. When he returned to Sweden, he recruited drummer Peter Wildoer (Darkane, Majestic), bassist Martin Bengtsson, and vocalist Jonas Nyrén (In Thy Dreams).

The band released their 1997 debut album, "Crossing the Rubicon" on the now defunct W.A.R. records in Europe, and on Toy's Factory Records in Japan. The album, which some consider to be a concept album, was well received by critics and fans. "Crossing the Rubicon" focused primarily on melodic death metal, but incorporated instrumentals and special effects pieces between each song. The album was released by the same label that released Arch Enemy's first album in Europe, but the label folded soon after the release of "Rubicon" and the album has since become a very rare find. To this day, "Crossing the Rubicon" has never been released outside of Europe and Japan.

Following the recording of "Crossing the Rubicon", Peter Wildoer and Martin Bengtsson both joined Arch Enemy, recording and releasing "Stigmata" in 1998. Christopher would focus on Arch Enemy for the better part of three years, and did not return to Armageddon until 2000's "Embrace the Mystery", released in Japan on Toy's Factory records. The album featured Last Tribe members Rickard Bengtsson on vocals and Dick Lövgren on bass (also of Meshuggah), as well as Arch Enemy's new drummer Daniel Erlandsson (In Flames, Eucharist). The new album focused on more melodic metal, with classic metal riffs, harmonies, and clean singing.

In 2002, Armageddon resurfaced with "Three", this time as a three piece, and featuring the vocals of Christopher Amott, as well as new bassist Tobias Gustafsson (of Eucharist). Almost a pure power metal effort, the album was again released by Toy's Factory, and only in Japan.

Today the status of Armageddon is unknown, although many fans believe he will return to the project in the future.

Members

Final lineup

* Christopher Amott - guitars, vocals
* Tobias Gustafsson - bass
* Daniel Erlandsson - drums

Former members

* Jonas Nyrén - vocals (1997)
* Peter Wildoer - drums (1997)
* Martin Bengtsson - bass (1997)
* Rickard Bengtsson - vocals (2000)
* Dick Lövgren - bass (2000)

Discography

See also

* Arch Enemy

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/armageddonsweden The Official Armageddon Myspace Page]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=18 Metal-Archives Armageddon page]