Samael (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Samael

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Img_capt = Vorph on Hunter Fest 2007
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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Sion, Switzerland
Genre = Black metal (early)
Industrial metal (later)
Years_active = 1987 - Present
Label = Osmose Productions
Century Media
Nuclear Blast
Galactical Records
Associated_acts = Alastis
Above
URL = [http://www.samael.info www.samael.info]
Current_members = Vorph (Vorphalack)
Makro
Mas (Masmis, Masmiseim)
Xy (Xytras, Xytraguptor)
(Names mentioned in brackets are no longer used)
Past_members = Rodolphe H
Kaos
Pat Charvet

Samael is a black metal / industrial metal band formed in 1987 in Sion, Switzerland.

Biography

Although much of their music from the mid-1990s onwards has incorporated electronic sounds which would best define their genre as industrial metal, they are an early 2nd Wave black metal band and an innovator for post-black metal styles.

Their first demos presented a slow, doomy style of thrash metal with raw vocals, similar to that of Celtic Frost. Some of the songs would be included on "Worship Him" (1991) and "Blood Ritual" (1992), which was assisted in distribution with the help of late guitarist Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth) of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem.

Around the time of "Ceremony of Opposites" (1994), the band started using industrial-styled song techniques, employed by the use of keyboards and (minimalist) acoustic percussion. By this time, they had also left French record label Osmose Productions and signed with Century Media Records.

Their album "Passage" (1996) saw them gather a larger audience, with the music video for the song "Jupiterian Vibe" getting airplay on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.

After the release of "Eternal" (1999), Samael would not renew their contract with Century Media. In 2004, "Reign of Light" was released through independent label Galactical Records.

In 2006, their album "Era One" was released on Century Media Records. It includes a bonus disc, "Lesson in Magic #1," which is entirely instrumental and done solely by keyboardist Xy. The album itself was recorded in 2002, and the bonus disc a year later. Both were rearranged and remixed in 2005.

In June 2007 they released the album "Solar Soul", which summed up and combined many of the styles of their previous albums since "Passage".

Discography

Albums

*"Worship Him" (1991)
*"Blood Ritual" (1992)
*"Ceremony of Opposites" (1994)
*"Passage" (1996)
*"Eternal" (1999)
*"Reign of Light" (2004)
*"Era One" (2006)
*"Solar Soul" (2007)
*"Lunar Rise" (unreleased)

Other releases

*"Medieval Prophecy (7" EP 1988)
*"1987 - 1992" (Compilation, 1995)
*"Rebellion" (MCD, 1995)
*"Exodus" (MCD, 1998)
*"Black Trip" (DVD, 2003)
*"Telepath" (Single, 2004)
*"On Earth" (Single, 2005)
*"Aeonics - An Anthology" (Compilation, 2007)
*"Valkyries New Ride" (Single, 2007)
*Xytras released a neo-classical remix of "Passage" and "Exodus" in 1998. It is distributed as a bonus disc on the special edition of Passage.

Line-up

*Vorph - Vocals, Guitar
*Makro - Guitar
*Mas - Bass (ex-Alastis)
*Xy - Live and Programmed Drums, Keyboards, Samples

Former members

*Rodolphe H. - Keyboards & Samples on "Ceremony of Opposites" and "Rebellion".
*Kaos - Guitar on "Passage", "Exodus" and "Eternal"
*Pat Charvet - Drums (1987-1988)

External links

* [http://www.samael.info Official band website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/samael Samael on MySpace]