AARNI (FINLAND)
Line-Up: Master Warjomaa
(vocals), Mistress Palm
(vocals), Comte De Saint
Germain (keyboards),
Doomintroll (drums)

The melodramatic Doom act AARNI came into being during 1998 conjured up by former INEVITABLE man Markus Marjomaa. Joined by keyboard player Comte De Saint Germain and drummer Doomintroll, AARNI would be completed by Mistress Palm, oddly apparently not a real person but a computer programme.
A self-financed EP; 'Duumipiekon Paluu' ('The Return Of Doomintroll') was delivered in 2001. AARNI projected a split CD release with fellow Doom laden Finns UMBRA NIHIL for 2002 release through the Firebox label.

Singles/EPs:
Myrrys / Lampaan Vaateissa / The Weird Of Vipunen / Transcend Humanity / Reaching Azathoth, (2001) ('Duumipiekon Paluu' EP)

ABDULLAH (Richfield, OH, USA)
Line-Up: Jeff Shirilla (vocals / drums), Alan Seibert (guitar), Chris Chiera (guitar), Ed Stephens (bass), Jim Simonian (drums)

The Doom Black duo of ex-SLOTH man Jeff Shirilla and Alan Siebert titled their project after the author of the renowned occult treatise 'Necromonicon' Abdulah Alhazad. Despite not employing a bass player and recording on primitive 4-track, ABDULLAH nevertheless engineered a near-crushing, all-enveloping quagmire Doom soundscape.
Three formative demos were issued upfront of the 1999 'Snake Lore' effort. Although only recorded on a 4-track, and still minus a bass player, ABDULLAH managed to reap praise from the Metal community with this release. The band signed to Meteor City Records offshoot People Like You for the debut album 'Abdullah', pulling in bassist Jim from BOULDER. The British Rage Of Achilles label would re-issue the 'Snake Lore' demo on CD format.
Shirilla would hook up with veteran Heavy Metal band BREAKER in January of 2002 after their singer Jim Hamar walked out unexpectedly. Shirilla maintained his position in ABDULLAH.
The band expanded for live work with the addition of SOFA KING KILLER rhythm guitarist Chris Chiera, bass player Ed Stephens and Jim Simonian of the MIKE FARLEY BAND on drums. In July of 2002 Aaron Dallison of KEELHAUL was inducted as second guitarist.

Albums:
ABDULLAH, People Like You (2000)
The Path To Enlightenment / Conundrum / Earth's Answer / Visions Of The Daughters Of Time / Now Is The Winter / Lucifer In Starlight / The Black Ones / Awakening The Colossus / Proverbs Of Hell / Journey To The Orange Island / Lotus Eaters
SNAKE LORE, Rage Of Achilles ILIAD002 (2000)
The Path To Enlightenment / Distant Lights - Sot-Weed / In The Belly Of The Beast / Firmament - Lam / The Sickness Unto Death / The Black Ones

ABIOGENESI (ITALY)
Line-Up: Tony D'Urso (vocals / guitar), Robert Piccolo (bass), Patrick Menegaldo (keyboards), Sandro Immacolato (drums)

ABIOGENESI's 2000 album 'Le Notti Di Salem' included former BLACK WIDOW man Clive Jones on flute. Also guesting were ARTI E MESTIERI's Gigi Venegoni and Marco Cimini.
ABIOGENESI also contributed to the 2000 BLACK WIDOW tribute album 'King Of The Witches'.

Albums:
ABIOGENESI, Black Widow BWR011 (1995)
Ile St. Louis / La Notte Di Ognissanti / Abiogenesi / L'oscura Tenebra / R.I.P. / Apputamento Con La Luna
IL GIOSCURO, Black Widow BWR018 (1998)
Il Giocoscuro / Sul Margine Del Bosco La Morte Libra Va La Sua Falce / Notte Da Urlare / Lunipieno / Golem
LE NOTTI DI SALEM, Black Widow BWR046 (2000)

ABLAZE MY SORROW (SWEDEN)
Line-Up: Martin Qvist (vocals), Magnus Carlsson (guitar), Roger Johansson (guitar), Anders Brorssomn (bass), Alex Bengtsson (drums)

ABLAZE MY SORROW debuted in 1993 with a line-up of vocalist Martin Qvist, guitarist Magnus Carlsson, bassist Anders Brorsson and drummer Fredrik Wenzel and soon issued a demo in early 1994 entitled 'For Bereavement We Cried'. However, Fredrik Wenzel departed in mid 1994 in favour of Alex Bengtsson.
Following recording of the debut album, 'If Emotions Still Burn', guitarist Roger Johansson made his exit. Dennis Linden initially substituted him. ABLAZE MY SORROW promptly enlisted Kristian Lönnsjö from Death Metal act DEIFICATION as substitute
Qvist would front Black Metal act IMMEMOREAL for their 2001 debut 'Temples Of Retribution'. He would also be found as a member of DEIFICATION the same year.

Albums:
IF EMOTIONS STILL BURN, No Fashion NFR015CD (1996)
If Emotions Still Burn / The Rain That Falls / Rise Above The Storming Sea / Denial (The Way Of The Strong) / My Last Journey / As I Face The Eternity / My Revenge To Come
THE PLAGUE, No Fashion NFR026 (1998)
Dusk... / The Truth Is Sold / Into The Land Of Dreams / Mournful Serenade / The Return Of The Mighty Raven / I Will Be Your God / Plague Of Mine / As The Dove Falls Turn Apart
Suicide / ...Dawn

ABRAMIS BRAMA (SWEDEN)
Line-Up: Ulf Torkelssons (vocals), Dennis Berg (guitar), Peo (guitar), Jansson (drums)

ABRAMIS BRAMA, oddly named after a breed of particularly ugly fish, came together in November of 1994 when vocalist / guitarist Dennis Berg hooked up with drummer Jansson. Originally Jansson was slated to occupy the bass role but unable to find a drummer Jansson duly shifted position to the drum kit. Later additions had vocalist Christian and guitarist Peo entering the fold.
The debut album, a heavy Blues drenched Doom workout entitled 'Dansa Tokjävelens Vals' ('Dance The Mad Devil's Waltz'), was recorded in 1998. Uncompromisingly the band recorded all the lyrics in their native Swedish tongue.
In October of 1999, just upfront of the November release of 'Dansa Tokjävelens Vals' through the Record Heaven label, ABRANIS BRAMA added new frontman Ulf Torkelssons.
The band's second album 'När Tystnaden Lagt Sig...' ('When Silence Is Here') arrived in March of 2001. During these sessions the band recorded a cover version of NOVEMBER's 'Men Mitt Hjärta Ska Vara Gjort Av Sten' intended for future use as a single. Making it onto the album would be a rendition of the PRETTY THINGS 'Cold Stone' newly translated into Swedish and retitled 'Kall Som Sten'. ABRAMIS BRAMA would contribute to the Record Heaven CAPTAIN BEYOND tribute album with a radically reworked 'Mezmerasation Eclipse', naturally redesignated with Swedish lyrics and so called 'Förtrollande Förmörkelse'.
In 2001 ABRAMIS BRAMA did finally relent to pressure to deliver songs with English lyrics. Unusually they would not only completely re-record earlier material with producer Per Wikström for an album 'Nothing Changes' but, unwilling to simply translate the songs the band completely re-wrote brand new words with a completely different subject matter to the Swedish originals. Only 'Svart' ('All Is Black') underwent a straight translation.

Albums:
DANSA TOKJAVELENS VALS, Record Heaven RHCD20 (1999)
Guld Och Gröna Skogar / Mamma Talar / Svarta Madam / Tunga Tankar / Dansa Tokjävelns Vals / Sömnlös / Ogräsblues / Motalaboogie / Parentesvals
NAR TYSTNADEN LAGT SIG., Record Heaven (2001)
Abramis Brama / Kall Som Sten / Vad Jag Ser / Nålen / 100 Dagar / Svart / Kom Gör Mig Klok / Vill Inte Veta / När Alvorna Dansar / Anemone Nemorosa

ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA (SWEDEN)
Line-Up: Mats Leven (vocals), Mike Wead (guitar), Simon Johansson (guitar), Leif Edling (bass), Calle Westholm (keyboards), Jejo Perkovitch (drums)

Assembled as more of an experimental studio project by bassist Leif Edling after the demise of the critically acclaimed CANDLEMASS in 1993, the man roped in a few friends and acquaintances including ex-HEXENHAUS guitarist Mike Wead.
Whilst vocalist Mats Leven boasts an impressive pedigree, including stints with CAPRICORN, SWEDISH EROTICA and TREAT, guitarist Simon Johansson played simultaneously for FIFTH REASON. Drummer Jejo Perkovitch also had other engagements as a member of Punk rockers BRICK.
Combining classic Metallic riffs with a fairly Industrial use of sampling and keyboard work, Edling covered ground in ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA that he dare not have tried within the confines of CANDLEMASS, although the group only managed a handful of gigs in their native Sweden towards the end of 1995.
After a stint fronting EYEBALL, Leven teamed up with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in 1997 for his 'Face The Animal' record.
Although intending to record a second ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA album, Edling felt that the new material was heading in a similar direction to CANDLEMASS, so the bassist opted to resurrect his former band to complete the material. However, even with a full-blown CANDLEMASS re-formation underway, the pairing of Edling and Leven would reunite, forging another project band billed as KRUX and recording a debut album for 2002 release through the Mascot label. This new venture also saw contributions from the ENTOMBED rhythm section of drummer Peter Stjärnvind and bassist Jörgen Sandstrom, although the latter would switch to guitar. Other guitarists involved in the sessions included Nicko Elgstrand of TERRA FIRMA and Fredrik Åkesson from TALISMAN.

Albums:
ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, Megarock MRRCD024 (1994)
Stigmata / Shadowplay / Nameless / Abstrakt Algebra / Bitter Root / April Clouds / Vanishing Man / Who What Where When

ABYSMAL GRIEF (ITALY)
Line-Up: Labes C. Necrothytus (vocals / keyboards), Regan Graves (guitar / drums), Lord Alastair (bass)

ABYSMAL GRIEF are a 'Horror' Metal trio founded in 1995 by guitarist Regan Graves. The band describe, themselves as 'Misfitic' and influenced by 70s Doom with stage shows visually enhanced by "coffins, hanged dolls, blood and every sort of mourning objects". Various line-up changes in the band's formative stages saw, amongst others, the introduction of bassist Lord Alastair and lead vocalist Garian. A 1996 demo tape surfaced after which ABYSMAL GRIEF lost the services of their then drummer.
In late 1996 vocalist Labes E. Necrothytus was enrolled. A further demo, viewed by the band as their first 'official' session, 'Funereal' surfaced in late 1997. Session drummer Lord Of Fog assisted in the studio for these recordings. ABYSMAL GRIEF would also donate a new composition 'Invocation' to the Whiplash Productions compilation album 'Into The Underground Vol. 3'. The act, now centred on Graves and Necrothytus, would radically overhaul the line-up, bringing in three session players for a cover version of the DEATH S.S. track 'Black Mummy' for a Black Widow tribute album.
Lord Alastair made a return in November of 1999 and ABYSMAL GRIEF debuted commercially with the 'Exsequia Occulta' single, issued in May of 2000. The band signed to the Danish Horror record label for a further single, the 7" release 'Hearse' / 'Borgo Pass'. A full-length album, provisionally titled 'Cultus Lugubris', is projected for 2002 release.
Regan Graves would contribute guest lead guitar to the MALOMBRA 2002 album 'The Dissolution Age'

Singles/EPs:
Exsequia Occulta / Sepulchre Of Misfortune, Flowers Of Grave Productions FOG001 (2000)
Hearse / Borgo Pass, Horror (2002)

ACID BATH (Louisiana, USA)
Line-Up: Dax Riggs (vocals), Mike Sanchez (guitar), Sammy Duet (guitar), Audrey Petrie (bass), Jimmy Kyle (drums)

DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES guitarist Spike Cassidy produced ACID BATH's debut album, graced with sleeve artwork entitled 'Skull Clown' from infamous mass murderer John Wayne Gacy.
Touring America to promote the album ACID BATH guested for CANNIBAL CORPSE and Swedes ENTOMBED.
The 'Edits' mini-album is a collection of songs from the second album remixed by Cassidy. 'Paegan Terrorist Tactics' once more featured controversial artwork with the painting 'For He Is Raised' executed by the renowned "Suicide assistance" Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
The band suffered a devastating blow in January 1997 when a drunk driver killed bassist Audrie Pitrie, together with his parents.
Vocalist Dax Riggs and guitarist Mike Sanchez founded AGENTS OF OBLIVION. Guitarist Sammy Duet, also a member of heavyweights CROWBAR, forged GOATWHORE in alliance with SOILENT GREEN frontman Ben Falgoust II.

Albums:
WHEN THE KITE STRING POPS, Rotten 2095-2 (1994)
The Blue / Tranquilized / Cheap Vodka / Finger Paintings Of The Insane / Jezebel / Scream Of The Butterfly / Dr. Seuss Is Dead / Dope Fiend / Toubabo Koomi / God Machine / The Mortician's Flame / What Color Is Death / The Bones Of Baby Dolls / Cossie Eats Cockroaches
EDITS, Rotten Records (1995)
Venus Blue (with Shit) / Diäb Soulé / Near Death Sensation / Venus Blue (With No Shit) / Bleed Me An Ocean / Dead Girl / Paegan Love Song / New Corpse / Near Death Sensation
PAEGAN TERRORIST TACTICS, Rotten (1996)
Paegan Love Song / Bleed Me An Ocean / Graveflower / Diäb Soulé / Locust Spawning / Old Skin / Near Death Sensation / Venus Blue / 13 Fingers / New Corpse / Dead Girl / The Beautiful / Downgrade

ACID KING (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Line-Up: Lori S. (vocals / guitar), Guy Pinhas (bass), Joey Osbourne (drums)

Stoner Doom power trio led by Lori S. ACID KING, titled after the nickname given to junkie murderer Ricky Kasso, evolved in 1993 after Lori S. placed an advert in a local newspaper for like-minded musicians. This call brought in bass player Peter Lucas. Drummer Joey Osbourne of ALTAMONT, the Southern rooted Stoner band fronted by Lori's husband and THE MELVINS man Dale Crover, would be found at a party.
ACID KING debuted with an eponymous 10" four track single capitalizing on this with the 1995 'Zoroaster' opus.
In 1996 Lucas bailed out to be supplanted by Dan Southwick, also of ALTAMONT. The band would release a further 10" single 'Down With The Crown' on Man's Ruin. This recording would soon after be re-released as part of a shared CD with ALTAMONT. Promotion for this release came in the form of guest slots to THE MELVINS and FU MANCHU on a West Coast run of dates.
Southwick would relinquish his position following completion of these shows with erstwhile BUZZOV.EN and SPILTH bassist Brian Hill taking the role in 1998 for the 'Busse Woods' recordings. A joint ACID KING / ALTAMONT touring spree would close with yet another vacancy in the bass role but fortunately the high profile figure of former THE OBSESSED and GOATSNAKE veteran Guy Pinhas would soon join the fold.
The 1999 Music Cartel compilation album 'In The Groove' includes an ACID KING track exclusive to this release in the form of 'Not Fragile'.
The band returned in 2001 sharing space on an album 'Free' with New Orleans act MYSTICK KREWE OF CLEARLIGHT.
Both Pinhas and Osbourne would guest on the 'Experiments In Feedback' album from the newly reconstituted MEN OF PORN.

Singles/EPs:
Lead Paint / Blazing Cap / Drop / The Midway, Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTR 318 (1994) ('Acid King' 10" single)
Teen Dusthead / Full Reverse / Phase II, Man's Ruin MR073 (1997) ('Down With The Crown' 10" single)

Albums:
ZOROASTER, Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTR 1379 (1995)
Evil Satan / If I Burn / One Ninety Six / Vertigate No. 1 / Tank Dry Run / Fruit Cup / Queen Of Sickness / Reload / Vertigate No. 2
DOWN WITH THE CROWN, Man's Ruin MR088 (1997) (Split album with ALTAMONT)
Teen Dusthead / Full Reverse / Phase II
BUSSE WOODS, Man's Ruin MR104 (1999)
Electric Machine / Silent Circle / Drive Fast, Take Chances / 39 Lashes / Carve The 5 / Busse Woods
FREE, Man's Ruin MR 2016 (2001) (Split album with MYSTICK KREWE OF CLEARLIGHT)
Blaze In / Free / Four Minutes / Blaze Out

ACRIMONY (UK)
Line-Up: Dorian Walters (vocals), Lee Davies (guitar), Stuart O'Hara (guitar), Paul Bidmead (bass), Darren Ivy (drums)

Swansea Metallers rooted in '70's Doom with distinct hippie overtones dating from their inception in 1991, ACRIMONY debuted with the 'A Sombre Thought' demo which gained the band a deal with Belgian label Shiver.
The interest provoked by the 'Solstice Sadness' single led to a further deal with Italian label Godhead and the release of the first album, 'Hymns To The Stone', which was produced by ex-TORTOISE CORPSE member Tim Hammill. ACRIMONY subsequently toured with Scottish act IN EXTREMIS in Britain on dates dubbed 'The Celtic Invasion'.
In 1997 ACRIMONY released their second album 'Tumuli Shroomaroom', which was produced by former SABBAT man Andy Sneap.
Frontman Dorrian Walters also put time into his side project HELVIS during 1997, a band convened by ex-members of BIVOUAC, CONSUMED, PITCHSHIFTER and IRON MONKEY.
ACRIMONY cut two cover tracks for Peaceville Records tenth anniversary compilation album 'X', namely STATUS QUO's 'Oh Baby' and DOOM's 'Exploitation'. A split single, 'Motherslug (Mother Of All Slugs)', arrived in 1998 shared with IRON RAINBOW.
Guitarist Stuart O'Hara would form part of THE DUKES OF NOTHING, an outfit founded by ex-IRON MONKEY guitarist Dean Berry and ORANGE GOBLIN drummer Chris Turner.

Singles/EPs:
Solstice Sadness (Dance Of The Wild Flower) / For Morrow (The Last Children Of Cerriddwen), Shiver (1993)
Spaced Cat No. 7 / The Inn / Fire Dance / The Bud Song, Godhead GOD019 (1995) ('Acid Elephant' EP)
Motherslug (The Mother Of All Slugs), (1998) (Split single with IRON RAINBOW)

Albums:
HYMNS TO THE STONE, Godhead GOD010 (1994)
Leaves Of Mellow Grace / The Inn / Second Wind / Spaced Cat No. 6 / Urabalaboom / Herb / Magical Mystical Man / Whatever / Cosmic AWOL
TUMULI SHROOMAROOM, Peaceville CDVILE 68 (1997)
Hymns To The Stone / Million Year Summer / Turn The Page / Vy / Find The Path / The Bud Song / Motherslug (The Mother Of All Slugs) / Heavy Feather / Firedance

AESMA DAEVA
(Minneapolis, MN, USA)
Line-Up: Rebecca Cords (vocals), Jon Prassos (guitar), Nick Copernicus (keyboards)

A Gothic charged Electro-Darkwave trio out of Minneapolis. AESMA DAEVA have already won heady praise for their first releases. The 2000 debut 'Here Lies Who's Name Was Written In Water' was originally issued by the German Ascension label.

Albums:
HERE LIES WHO'S NAME WAS WRITTEN IN WATER, Ascension (2000)
O Death (Rock Me Asleep) / Downvain / Stay / Disdain / Introit I / When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be / Perpetua Luceat Eis / Introit II / Communion / Sanctus / Darkness (Stromkern)
THE EROS OF FRIGID BEAUTY, Root Of All Evil (2001)
Lysander / Devotion / In My Holy Time / The Eros Of Frigid Beauty / Overature / The Minstrel Song / Lysander II

AFTER FOREVER (HOLLAND)
Line-Up: Floor Jansen (soprano vocals), Mark Jansen (vocals / guitar), Sander Gommans (vocals / guitar), Luik van Gerven (bass), Jack Driessen (keyboards), Joep Beckers (drums)

A Gothic Doom act with a strong sense of the majestic. AFTER FOREVER employed three vocalists, Floor Jansen on soprano, Mark Jansen on "screams" with Death Metal grunts courtesy of Sander Gommans. Further vocal enhancement came courtesy of Sharon Janny den Adel of WITHIN TEMPTATION.
The 2002 single 'Emphasis' included two tracks, 'Who Wants To Live Forever' and 'Imperfect Senses', that featured Damien Wilson of British Prog Rock act THRESHOLD on guest lead vocals.
During April of 2002 founder member Floor Jansen decamped, his replacement swiftly being announced as Bal Maas. Floor had recently donated guest lead vocals to the STAR ONE Sci-Fi concept album of AYREON mentor Arjen Lucasson and would tour with this project in September.
Mark Jansen, later of SAHARA DUST, was also ensconced in the Dutch / Belgian Doom 'Supergroup' LES FAIDITS assembled by ex-SENGIR members singer Jurgen Cobbaut and guitarist Kris Scheerlinck.

Singles/EPs:
Follow In The Cry / Silence From Afar (Radio edit) / Wings Of Illusion / Mea Culpa (Acapella version), (2000)
Emphasis / Who Wants To Live Forever / Imperfect Senses / Intrinsic, Transmission TMS-034 (2002)

Albums:
PRISON OF DESIRE, Transmission TM-023 (2000)
Mea Culpa / Leaden Legacy / Semblance Of Confusion / Black Tomb / Follow In The Cry / Silence From Afar / Inimical Chimera / Tortuous Threnody / Yield To Temptation / Ephemeral / Beyond Me
DECIPHER, Transmission (2001)
Ex Cathedra / Monolith Of Doubt / My Pledge Of Allegiance 1 / Emphasis / Intrinsic / Zenith / Estranged / Imperfect Tenses / My Pledge Of Allegiance 2 / The Key / Forlorn Hope

AFTERMATH (Chicago, IL, USA)
Line-Up: Charlie Tsiolis (vocals), Steve Sacco (guitar), John Lazerty (guitar), Pat Delagarza (bass), Ray Schmidt (drums)
Chicago based AFTERMATH formed in October 1985, issuing the five track demo 'Killing The Future' featuring the tracks 'When Will You Die', 'Going No Place', 'Chaos', 'Meltdown' and 'War For Freedom'. The band added bassist John Lazerty following the demo release but then switched Lazerty to second guitar, recruiting Pat Delagarza on bass. Aftermath were featured on the Metal Forces magazine compilation 'Demolition' in 1988.
A further demo 'Words That Echo Fear' featuring new guitarist John Lovette was released prior to the band demoing for Roadracer Records. Negotiations broke down however and AFTERMATH signed to New York's Big Chief Records. Bassist Chris Waldron was added in 1990 and Aftermath released a live four track demo featuring the songs 'Eyes of Tomorrow', 'Afraid Of Time', 'The Act Of Unspoken Wisdom' and 'Reflecting Pictures'.

Albums:
THE EYES OF TOMORROW, Big Chief (1992)

AGALLOCH (Portland, OR, USA)
Line-Up: J. Haughn, S. Breyer, L. Anderson (guitar), J.William W. (bass)

The cold, dark mournfulness of AGALLOCH is rooted in the 1995 Death Metal band AEOLACHRYMAE. When this band collapsed three bands rose up - NOTHING, AGALLOCH and SUSURRUS IRANIS. J. Haughn and S. Breyer created AGALLOCH, adding second guitar player L. Anderson during mid 1996.
In this incarnation AGALLOCH weighed in with an inaugural demo session 'From Which Of This Oak', after which bassist J. William W. joined the band. A further promo tape scored the band a deal with The End Records. The resulting album, 'Pale Folklore', was issued in June of 1997.
A second effort, 'Of Stone, Wind And Pillor', a collection ofarchive material including a cover of the SOL INVICTUS song 'Kneel To The Cross', was delivered in mid 2001.
Members of AGALLOCH also operate SCULPTURED and ESPECIALLY LIKE SLOTH.

Albums:
PALE FOLKLORE, The End TE010 (1999)
She Painted Fire Across The Skyline / The Misshapen Steed / Hallways Of Enchanted Ebony / Dead Winter Days / As Embers Dress The Sky / The Melancholy Spirit
OF STONE, WIND AND PILLOR, The End (2001)
Of Stone, Wind And Pillor / Foliorum Viridium / Haunting Birds / Kneel To The Cross / A Poem By Yeats

AGE OF HEAVEN (GERMANY)
Line-Up: Jens-Uwe Helmstedt (vocals), Erik Wolf (guitar), Torsten Sander (bass), Tom Bottcher (keyboards)

Guitarist Hendrik Gundlach took over from Erik Wolf for AGE OF HEAVEN's second album 'The Garden Of Love'.

Albums:
ARMAGEDDON, Dion Fortune (1996)
The Providence / Black Dust / Armageddon / Red Roses / Twelve O'Clock / In The Mirror / Fallen Angel / Fairy From The Moon / Over The Seven Seas
THE GARDEN OF LOVE, Age One Music (1997)
The Secret / The Garden Of Love / Broke The Chain / Time Flies / No Time To Pray / Organ / Carrie / It Comes The Night / Echoes / Behind The Walls / The Garden Of Love (Acoustic) / Reprise

AGHAST (NORWAY)

A solo project of EMPEROR member Samoth's girlfriend Nebel. AGHAST offered dark, Gothic Rock on the 1995 released debut album. In 1997 Nebel formulated a further vehicle for her endeavours titled HAGALAZ' RUNEDANCE under her real name of Andrea M. Haugen.

Albums:
HEXERI IM ZWEILICHT DER FINSTERNIS, Cold Meat Industry CMI 33 (1995)
Enthrall / Sacrifice / Enter The Hall Of Ice / Call From The Grave / Totentanz / The Darkest Desire / Das Irrlicht / Ende

AGHORA (USA)
Line-Up: Danishta Dobles (vocals), Santiago Dobles (guitar), Charlie Ekendahl (guitar), Sean Malone (bass), Sean Reinert (drums)

Female fronted Metal band AGHORA include two ex-CYNIC members in their line-up in bassist Sean Malone and drummer Sean Reinert. The latter has also been with GORDIAN KNOT.

Albums:
AGHORA, Season Of Mist (2000)
Immortal Bliss / Satya / Transfiguration / Frames / Mind's Reality / Kali Yuga / Jivatma / Existence / Anugraha

AGLAROND (MEXICO)
Albums:
THE JOURNEY'S END, American Line Productions (2001)

AGONY COLUMN (TX, USA)
Line-Up: Richie Turner (vocals), Stuart Lawrence (guitar), Pawl Willis (bass), Charlie Brownell (drums)

A quite unique fusing of Hillbilly and Metal. The 'Way Back In The Woods' album features Billy Dansfiell on bass.
Frontman Richie Turner would also head up DADDY LONGHEAD, a combo in union with Jeff Pinkus, King Coffey and Paul Leary of the BUTTHOLE SURFERS, Rey Washam of SCRATCH ACID, TAD and RAPEMAN and WASTE KING UNIVERSAL's Jim Yongue.

Singles/EPs:
Comes Alive EP - Live, Big Chief (1990)

Albums:
GOD, GUNS AND GUTS, Big Chief (1989)
God, Guns And Guts / Snakebite / 4X4 / Vicious Pack Of Lies / Fiendish Plots / 66 Six Guns / Cars, Sex And Violence / Walk The Night / Scarred For Life / Blackjack / Dead By Dawn / Bag O' Bones
BRAVE WORDS AND BLOODY KNUCKLES, Big Chief (1991)
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles / Angel Of Def / Lord Almighty / Ultraviolent Rays / Bayou Road / No Time To Kill / Crime & Punishment / Big Two Hearted Sammy / Hellbilly Blues / Rain Comes Down / Suppertime / Hole To Hell / Mississippi Queen
WAY BACK IN THE WOODS, No Bull 34174-2 (1996)
The Spirit Rises / Way Back In The Woods / Flying Sorceress / Obey The Command / The Night Has 1000 Eyes / Silver Spoon / Whiskey Bottle / Collywog / Small Black Toad / When The Dark Clouds Return / The Devils Carnival

AION (POLAND)
Line-Up: Mariusz 'Marian' Krzyska (vocals), Dominik 'Mlody' Jokiel (guitar), Daniel Jokiel (guitar), Lukasz 'Migdal' Migdalski (keyboards), Witalis 'Milli' Jagodzinski (bass), Marcin 'Zuraw' Zurawicz (drums)

A Gothic Rock band from Poland formed in 1995. The album debut features a cover of SISTERS OF MERCY's 'Temple Of Love'.
AION toured in 1997 with THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and SAVIOUR MACHINE.

Albums:
MIDIAN, Massacre MAS PCO131 (1997)
Overture / Bleeding Heart / Land Of Dreams / The Anthem Of Victory / Temple Of Love / Collapse / The Lord / Birth / The Night
NOIA, System Shock (2000)
Killing Time / Holies Unholies / Innocent Pictures / Nightmares / Bad Place / The Prayer / Into The Abyss / Before Dawn / O Fortuna
RECONCILIATION, Metal Mind (2000)
R / E / C / O / N / C / I / L / I / A / T / I / O / N / Guility 11. Days Of Fight, Days Of Hope I / Time Of Reconciliation / Implant / Days Of Fight, Days Of Hope II / The Meeting / Suffering / Implant / Ten Thousand Bodies / House Of Soul / Headless Cross / Guilty (Video)
SYMBOL, Metal Mind (2001)
Whispers / Image / Unfulfilled Hope / Symbol / The Black River / The Way / As Ice / Craving / Azure Landscape

ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY (USA)
Line-Up: Johnny Throckmorten (vocals), Ryan Lake (guitar), Erik Larson (guitar), John Peters (bass), Bryan Cox Drums)

Foremost exponents of 'Moonshine' Stoner Metal. Richmond's ALABAMA THUNDER-PUSSY came together in 1996, founded by a trio of guitarists Asechiah Bogdan and Erik Larson with drummer Bryan Cox. Larson, an ex-KILARA member, was also operating at the time as drummer for Punk band AVAIL.
This formative version of the band even gigged minus both bassist and vocalist. Eventually Bill Storms filled the bass vacancy and 'Diamond Mudgoats' the vocal role. Before long Adrienne Droogas of San Francisco Punk act SPITBOY assumed the vocal mantle, a tenure that lasted precisely one gig. Johnny Throckmorton solidified the lead vocalist position during 1997.
The band's debut 6 track demo tape soon secured the interest of Man's Ruin Records and subsequently the 'Rise Again' album was launched in the summer of 1998. Shortly after Storms broke away from the band to create SUNNSHINE and ex-KILARA man Sam Krivanec was drafted as replacement. ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY toured America in union with SOLARIZED throughout the winter of 1999.
The 'River City Revival' album followed which included a cover version of the FOUR HORSEMEN's 'Rockin' Is Ma Business'. This album prompted the band's first touring foray into Europe during 2000. Upon returning from these shows Krivanec was usurped by Bingo Tuggel for further live dates in America and the UK.
The same year ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY cut a cover version of a CAPTAIN BEYOND track for a split single with English Doomsters ORANGE GOBLIN on the Eccentric Man label. They would also share space with New Jersey's HALFWAY TO GONE on a Game Two released split album and cut a cover track for a LYNYRD SKYNYRD tribute record. The band would contribute their version of 'Sweet Emotion' to the 2000 Small Stone Recordings AEROSMITH tribute album 'Right In The Nuts'.
American touring would recommence in the Spring of 2001 in confederation with DIXIE WITCH and SUPLECS but during the summer both Bogdan and Tuggel bade their farewells. ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY would be brought back up to strength with the addition of guitarist Ryan Lake and bass player John Peters.
ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY members Johnny Throckmorton and Bryan Cox also operate with side act ARS MORIENDI.
The band would feature on the 2002 Smallstone Records 'Sucking The '70s' compilation which featured covers of classic '70's tracks re-cut by modern day Rockers. ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY weighed in with their interpretation of JETHRO TULL's 'Hymn 34'.
The band signed to the Relapse label for May 2002's Billy Anderson produced 'Staring At The Divine' album. ALABAMA THUNDER PUSSY would be confirmed for another round of American tour dates in May of 2002, old comrades ORANGE GOBLIN acting as openers. The band projected American tour dates into September in league with MASTODON and would then form a somewhat unlikely union with W.A.S.P., ENGINE and ex-RATT frontman STEPHEN PEARCY for a string of package dates throughout October and November.

Albums:
RISE AGAIN, Man's Ruin MR102 (1998)
Falling Behind / Victory Thrash Defeat / Folk Love / Lord's Prayer / Get Mad, Get Even / When Mercury Drops / Ivy / Speaking In Tongues / Jackass / Alto Vista / Podium / Fever 103 / Dixie
RIVER CITY REVIVAL, Man's Ruin MR154 (1999)
Dryspell / Spineless / Heathen / Mosquito / Giving Upon Living / Own Worst Enemy / Rocking Is My Business
CONSTELLATION, Man's Ruin MR177 (1999)
Crying Out Loud / Ambition / 1-4 Mile / Middle Finger Salute / 1271-31065 / 6" Shooter / Second Wind / Obsari / Foul Play / Negligence / 15 Minute Drive / Burden / Keepsake / Country Song
STARING AT THE DIVINE, Relapse (2002)
Ol Unfaithful / Motor-Ready / Shape Shifter / Whore Adore / Hunting By Echo / Beck And Call / Twilight Arrival / Esteem Fiend / S.S.D.D. / Amounts That Count

ALAS (USA)
Line-Up: Martina Hornbacher (vocals), Erik Rutan (guitar), Scott Hornik (bass), Howard Davis (drums)

Symphonic Metal band led by RIPPING CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL and HATE ETERNAL guitarist Erik Rutan. An early line-up included ex-MONSTROSITY guitarist Jason Morgan.
Morgan also created WYNJARA for a 2000 album.

ALASTIS (SWITZERLAND)
Line-Up: War D. (vocals / guitar), Nick (guitar), Raff (bass), Graven X (keyboards), Acronoise (drums)

Death Metallers ALASTIS have had a turbulent history since their inception in 1987 with vocalist Zumof, bassist Masmiseim, guitarist War D. and drummer Acronoise. The band was originally titled CRY WAR until 1988 when the 'Black Wedding' demo saw a transition to ALASTIS.
ALASTIS released two demos prior to Masmiseim's departure in 1990 to SAMAEL, shortly followed by the departure of Zumof. Endeavouring to keep the ALASTIS spirit alive War. D took over lead vocals for the 1992 album 'The Just Law' before losing bassist Eric.
A new four stringer was found in ex-MISERY man Rotten in 1993. The band added erstwhile OFFERING guitarist Nick in 1995 for their first tour as support to ANATHEMA. Further shows saw ALASTIS on a European package billing with THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and SAVIOUR MACHINE.
For the 1998 album 'Revenge' bass was now in the hands of Raff, ALASTIS also having drafted a keyboard player Graven X.

Albums:
THE JUST LAW, Head Not Found (1992)
The Just Law / Black Wedding / Illusion / Reconversion / Damned For Ever / Nightmare / The City / Faticidal Date / Messenger Of The U.W.
...AND DEATH SMILED, Adipocere AR029 (1995)
From The UW / Through Your Torpor / Let Me Die / Evil / By Thy Name / Schizophrenia (Mental Suicide) / March For Victory / Your God / Last Wishes / The Psychopath / Messenger Of The U.W. (Second Act)
THE OTHER SIDE, Nuclear Blast 77156-2 (1997)
In Darkness / Never Again / The Other Side / Out Of Time / Through The Chaos / Fight & Win / Slaves Of Rot / Remind / Under The Sign... / End Or Beginning
REVENGE, Century Media 77223-2 (1998)
Just Hate / Burnt Alive / Eternal Cycle / Sacrifice / Ecstasy / Like A Dream / Nemesis / Bring Down / Agony / Revenge
UNITY, Century Media (2001)
The Right To Die / The Elect / The Sign / Another God / Who Created The Gods / Ghastly Fancies / Existence / Antidote / To The Root Of Evil / ...And Death Smiled

ALKONOST (RUSSIA)
Line-Up: Aljona (vocals), Elk (guitar), Alex Nightbird (bass), Almira (keyboards), Anton (drums)

ALKONOST, founded by bass guitarist Elk in the Autumn of 1995, deliver a medieval Folk styled Pagan Doom Metal.

ASPHYX, Century Media CD 77063 (1994)
Prelude Of The Unhonoured Funeral / Depths Of Eternity / Emperors Of Salvation / 'Til Death Do Us Part / Initiation Into The Ossuary / Incarcerated Chimaeras / Abomination Echoes / Back Into Eternity / Valleys In Oblivion / Thoughts Of An Atheist
GOD CRIES, Century Media 77117-2 (1996)
God Cries / It Awaits / My Beloved Enemy / Died Yesterday / Cut-Throat Urges / Slaughtered In Sodom / Frozen Soul / Fear My Greed / The Blood I Spilled.
EMBRACE THE DEATH, Century Media CD 77141-2 (1996)
Intro / Embrace The Death / The Sickened Dwell / Streams Of Ancient Wisdom / Thoughts Of An Atheist / Crush The Cenotaph / Denying The Goat / Vault Of The Wailing Souls / Circle Of The Secluded / To Succubus A Whore / Eternity's Depths / Outro / Mutilating Process / Streams Of An Ancient Wisdom
ON THE RISING WINGS OF INFERNO, Century Media 77263-2 (2000)
Summoning The Storm / The Scent Of Obscurity / For They Ascend. / On The Wings Of Inferno / 06-06-2006 / Waves Of Fire / Indulge In Frenzy / Chaos In The Flesh / Marching Towards The Styx

ASTRAL RISING (FRANCE)
Line-Up: Frank Tomse (vocals / guitar), Essem (guitar), Phillipe Guiziou (bass), Jerome Lachaud (drums)

A French Death flavoured Doom act. Drummer Jerome Lauchaud split after the debut and for 1995's 'In Quest' ASTRAL RISING drafted Eric Lauuad. The band folded in 1996.

Singles/EPs:
Alpha State, Arckham (1992)

Albums:
ABEON AADEONA, Chaos 001 (1993)
Nocturnal Thoughts / ...In Awe / Odd Memories / Dawn In Cries / Skadia / Tactire Tink
IN QUEST, Active AC.95-001 (1995)
In Quest / Beggar Of The New Hopes / Wasteland / Gowns Black Viles / Anguish Feelings / Choral Fantasy / Pray In A Garden / The Realm To Come / Callioppe

ASTROQUEEN (SWEDEN)
Line-Up: Daniel Anghede (vocals / guitar), Daniel Tolergard (guitar), Mattias Wester (bass), Johan Backman (drums)

'70s infused detuned Stoner-Space Rock replete with sideburns and afros. ASTROQUEEN are a relatively new development having been forged in 1998 just outside Gothenburg. ASTROQUEEN have supported UNIDA in their homeland.
The debut commercial outing, the 'Rufus The Space Agent' 7" single released by the German Monster Zero label, was limited to 500 copies.
The 'Into Submission' album was produced by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy LaRocque.

Singles/EPs:
Rufus The Space Agent / Asteroid Blaster Part I, Monster Zero (2000) (7" single)

Albums:
INTO SUBMISSION, Pavement (2001)
Landslide / Out Of This World / Superhuman God / Brain Phase Voyage / Rufus Jr. / Planet Dust / The Sonic Ride / Soulburner / I Go To Sleep (I'm Gone) / Serve The Sun / Lua Vermelha

ATARAXIA (ITALY)
Line-Up: Francesca Nicoli (vocals / flute), Vittorio Vandelli (guitar), Giovanni Pagliani (keyboards)

Not to be confused with the Japanese act of the same name, the Italian Black Metal act ATARAXIA play an eclectic mix of Progressive, Gothic and Classic styles. Adventurously, the band delivers lyrics sung in Latin, English, French and Italian. The track 'La Nouva Mergherita' is an Italian version of the KATE BUSH hit 'Wuthering Heights'.
ATARAXIA vocalist Francesca Nicoli also lends her vocals to MONUMENTUM for their 'In Absentia Christi' album.

Singles/EPs:
In Amoris Mortisque, Apollyon EFA 12165 (1995) (10" Split single with ENGELSSTAUB)

Albums:
SIMPHONIA SINE NOMINE, Apollyon EFA 12172 (1994)
Preludio / Entrata Solemne / Canzona / Onno Corale / Fuga Trionfale / Preghiera / Marcia Cerimoniade / Elevazione / Pastorale / Ode Vespertilia
AD PERPETUAM REI MEMORIUM, Apollyon EFA 12153 (1994) (1994)
Prophetia / Anno Domini MDVLVI / Aigues Mortes / Tu Es La Force Du Silence / Flee Et Fabian / Nosce Te Ipsum / Zweistimmenstäuschung / Torquemada / Bleumarine / Vitrage / Aquarello / Emeraude
LA MALEDICTION D'ONDINE, Apollyon EFA 12172 (1994)
Medusa / Sybil / Flora / Blanche / Annabel Lee / Astimelusa / June / Lubia / Ligeia / Ophile / Lucretia / Zela (The City Is The Sea) / Lucrecia / Ondine
THE MOON SANG ON THE APRIL CHAIR / RED DEEP DIRGES OF A NOVEMBER MOON, Apollyon EFA 12162 (1995)
A Face To Paint Tulips / Verdigis Wounds / The Tale Of The Crying Fireflies / Colouring Nocturnal Lemons / Rocking Chair Of Dreams / Satis Vixi / Lady Lazarus / Spiritus Ad Vindictum
CONCERTO No. 6: BAROQUE PLAISANTERIE, Apollyon 96029 EFA 12175-2 (1996)
Part 1: Larghetto, Passaggio Lustrale / Romanza, Scarletminded Echoes / Toccata Per Chitarra, The Winds Of Carminio / Notturno, Belle Rose Porporine / Gagliarda, Astore Serotina / Madrigale, Ticket To Ride / Arioso, La Bourgeoise Et La Noble / Gavotta, Maybe-O'-The Leaves / Forlane, Bleaumarine / Carrousel, Dulcamara / Coda, I'm The Wind / Part II: (Live) Siciliana, Lei Morra / Gavotta, Maybe-O'-The Leaves / Romanza, Scarletminded Echoes / Canticle, Wide White Wave
IL FANTASMA DELL OPERA, Avantgarde AV018 (1996)
E' Je Fantasma? (Part I) - Is It The Phantom? (Chapter One)/ E' Je Fantasma ? (Part Two) - Is It The Phantom? (Chapter Two) / La Nouva Margherita (The New Marguerite) / Je Palco N5 (The Box N5 - Chapter 5) / Le Violino Incanto (The Enchanted Violin - Chapter 6) / Faust Im Ma Sala Maldetta (Faust In A Cursed Hell - Chapter 8) / Ae Ballo Mascherato (To The Bal Masque - Chapter 13) / La Liiza Ai Apollo (Apollo's Lyre - Chapter 13) / Je Signore Delle Botole (The Lord Of The Trap-Doors - Chapter 14) / Nei Sotenanei Dell Opera (In The Opera's Vaults - Chapter 21) / Le Ore Rpsa Di Mazendezay (The Pink Hours Of Manzeneran - Chapter 25) / Fine Degli Amor' Del Mostro (End Of The Monster's Lovers - Chapter 28)

THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX (USA)
Line-Up: Chris Kosnik (vocals / bass), Ed Mundell (guitars), Keith Ackerman (drums)

THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX, fronted by Chris Kosnik of GODSPEED repute, is the side project of ex-DAISYCUTTER and present day MONSTER MAGNET guitarist Ed Mundell. The debut album included a cover of TOMMY BOLIN's 'Crazed Fandango' and CORE's 'Kiss The Sun'.
October 2000's 'Atomic Bitchwax II' album sees a guest spot for GOVT. MULE guitarist Warren Haynes. The band would contribute their version of 'Combination' to the 2000 Small Stone Recordings AEROSMITH tribute 'Right In The Nuts'.
THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX would contribute significantly to the 2001 SCENE KILLER project of 2001, featuring no less than seven tracks from the New Jersey assemblage.
The band made their live debut in the UK on the 29th of November 2001 at London's Camden Underworld.
With Ed Mundell bowing out of the band in February of 2002 it seemed as though THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX had breathed their last.
The swan song Charlie Schafer produced album 'Spit Blood', released by Meteor City in March, compiled a collection of new tracks and oddities. Opening with a cover version of AC/DC's 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' the record included a visual documentary and a sampler of other tracks as performed by SOLACE, THE RIBEYE BROTHERS, SLAPROCKET THE MUSHROOM RIVER BAND and ORQUESTA DEL DESIERTO.
Chris Kosnik now operates BLACK NASA whilst drummer Keith Ackerman busies himself with THE CLONE OBEY, a side venture in alliance with Jason of SOLACE. Besides his priorities with MONSTER MAGNET Mundell has another band in his arsenal, GALLERY OF MITES with MONSTER MAGNET colleagues bassist Joe Calandra, drummer Jon Kleiman and Tim Cronin. Alongside the MONSTER MAGNET personnel GALLERY OF MITES boasted a nine man strong line-up including Dwayne from BLACK NASA, Stu of HALFWAY TO GONE and Mike and Jim from LORD STERLING.

Albums:
ATOMIC BITCHWAX, Tee Pee-Mia 1009-2 (1999)
Stork / Birth To The Earth / Hey Alright / Crazed Fandango / Hope You Die / Kiss The Sun / Ain't Nobody Gonna Hang Me In My Home / Last Of The V8 Interceptors / The Formula / Shitkicker
ATOMIC BITCHWAX II, Tee Pee TP 028CD (2000)
Ice Pick Freak / Forty-Five / Play The Game / Smokescreen / Cast Aside Your Masks / The Cloning Chamber / Marching On The Skulls Of The Dead / Dishing Out A Heavy Dose Of Tough Love / Solid / Liquor Queen
SPIT BLOOD, Meteor City MCY-020 (2002)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap / Liquor Queen / Get Your Gear / Cold Day In Hell / Spit Blood / Black Trans-Am / U Want I Should / Change It (Rough mix) (MUSHROOM RIVER BAND) / Shadow Stealing (Rough mix) (ORQUESTA DEL DESIERTO) / Holy Mother Sunshine (SLAPROCKET) / Feel The Beat / Mister Ray Charles (THE RIBEYE BROTHERS) / Loving Sickness - Burning Fuel (Rough mix) (SOLACE) / Ol' Mule Pepe

ATOMIC ROOSTER (UK)
Line-Up: John Du Cann (vocals / guitar), Vincent Crane (keyboards), Carl Palmer (drums)

Led by the extraordinary keyboard talents of Vincent Crane (né Cheeseman) ATOMIC ROOSTER purveyed a unique sound based on a hard driving Hammond organ rather than the guitar. Crane suffered from manic depression and as such the career of the band and Crane is an erratic one of unfulfilled promise.
ATOMIC ROOSTER are now being increasingly recognized by the Doom / Stoner generation as having been of great influence.
Crane first came to prominence as a founder member and main lyric writer for THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, which initially comprised Brown, Crane and drummer Drachen Theaker. Crane had played keyboards on the number one hit 'Fire' by CRAZY WORLD quitting the band in the middle of an American tour.
He formed ATOMIC ROOSTER with former CRAZY WORLD, drummer Carl Palmer and bassist Nick Graham in the early '70s. the debut album made the British charts at number 49 before dropping straight out again.
1970 saw the addition of former ANDROMEDA guitarist John Cann (he was later to change his name to John Du Cann). YES guitarist STEVE HOWE had auditioned too but Cann got the job.
Cann overdubbed guitar on the first album for its American release but before touring commenced the band lost their bass player, Graham leaving to form SKIN ALLEY and later ALIBI.
Somewhat inexplicably Crane refused a replacement and so ATOMIC ROOSTER's unique sound manifested itself with Crane performing bass parts on the lower end of his organ as the band soldiered on as a trio. Cann meanwhile had to radically change his playing style to cover for the missing bass and perform lead vocals.
Second album 'Death Walks Behind You' fared better hitting the top 20 and yielded two hit singles in 'Tomorrow Night' and 'The Devil's Answer'. After nine months of solid touring Palmer also upped and left to join form the massively successful Progressive Rock trio EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER and drum duties were entrusted to ex-HORSE man Rick Parnell. However, the new drummer's tenure was brief and before long FARM member Paul Hammond was poached into the line-up.
Parnell was to surface as part of Italian Jazz Rock outfit NOVA and much later relocated in America with ex-MC5 guitarist WAYNE KRAMER, a 1997 act BROWN RING and even as one of spoof Rockers SPINAL TAP's unfortunate drummers!
Meantime back with ATOMIC ROOSTER the early '70s also found Crane guesting for Irish Blues Rock guitarist RORY GALLAGHER.
Although successful on the surface internally ATOMIC ROOSTER were engaged in bitter in-fighting. Cann and Crane had got into a dispute regarding royalties for the second album. Although the line-up managed a third album, the top 5 'In Hearing Of...' Crane, on the eve of an American tour and toying with the idea of turning the band into a funk project, sacked Du Cann from the band. The hapless frontman found out via a job advert in the Melody Maker advertising his position! Hammond left in protest.
Crane enrolled ex-CACTUS vocalist Pete French as replacement and also pulled in guitarist Steve Bolton and a redrafted Parnell.
The departing duo of Du Cann and Hammond meanwhile founded BULLET signing to DEEP PURPLE's Purple Records, a band that released one single prior to being sued by an American band of the same name and retitling themselves HARD STUFF. With this act Cann issued two albums.
Du Cann later undertook a German tour in 1973 with THIN LIZZY as guitarist but his stay in the band was purely a temporary one, filling in contracted gigs after Gary Moore had quit unexpectedly. Du Cann was later to reinvent himself as Johnny Du Cann and assembled an ad hoc band featuring STATUS QUO members Francis Rossi, Pete Kershaw and Andy Bown plus GILLAN's John McCoy on a proposed "Powerpop" project! The album, cut for Arista and to be titled 'The World's Not Big Enough' was never issued. The guitarist reverted back to his former name and gained himself a solo hit single with 'Don't Be A Dummy'.
Cann's role in ATOMIC ROOSTER was to be filled by Bill Smith. French left in 1972, later recording a solo album 'Ducks In Flight' featuring THIN LIZZY guitarist Brian Robertson, and was replaced by ex-COLOSSEUM singer CHRIS FARLOWE, a man lauded by none other than MICK JAGGER as "having the best rock voice in Britain". Farlowe was to record the 'Made in England' and 'Nice n' Greasy' albums. Bolton was supplanted by former BRAND X man Johnny Mandala (real name John Goodsall) in 1973.
Bolton formed HEADSTONE with ex-ARRIVAL bassist Phil Chen, former TRANQUILITY keyboard player Tony Lukyn and a pre-RARE BIRD Mark Ashton. Bolton was to turn up again over a decade later with the 1986 project MAX & THE BROADWAY METAL CHOIR. The '90s found Bolton as guitarist for PAUL YOUNG and then in 1990 for THE WHO.
Bill Smith joined JADE WARRIOR for their 1978 Egyptian concept album 'Way Of The Sun'.
Despite releasing some excellent albums ATOMIC ROOSTER were continually dogged by line-up changes. Crane re-joined ARTHUR BROWN to record the 1978 album 'Chisholm In My Bosom' on Gull records' reuniting again in 1980 to release 'Faster Than The Speed Of Sound' on I.C. Records.
Resurrecting ATOMIC ROOSTER once more in 1980 Crane settled his differences with John Cann once more. Session man Preston Hayman was pulled in on drums for live work (he much later appeared on ASIA's 'Archiva 2' album of 1996) before none other than ex-CREAM drummer GINGER BAKER took his place. However, Baker's tenure was short and Hammond was re-enlisted to release an eponymous album on EMI Records.
The band were blighted by an horrendous piece of bad luck as the pressing plant used to manufacture their 1981 single 'Play It Again' went on strike. Calculations made afterwards revealed this had cost the band a number 15 chart placing.
Another stab at rekindling the flame arose in 1983 as Crane reassembled the band with drummer Paul Hammond once more and ex-GILLAN guitarist BERNIE TORME. This line-up toured Europe before with the release of the worthy 'Headline News' album featuring Hammond, Torme and guest musicians ex-ENERGY / OZO guitarist John Mizaroli and PINK FLOYD's guitarist DAVE GILMOUR. Torme joined OZZY OSBOURNE's band replacing Randy Rhoads on the road in America.
Crane spent his post ROOSTER time playing keyboards for DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS live band. Another attempt to re-ignite the ATOMIC ROOSTER flame with ex-CHEVY guitarist Barry Eardley never got off the ground. Crane was also assembling some unreleased ATOMIC ROOSTER material for a projected album on the Demi Monde label titled 'Something Old, Something New - The Rooster Tapes'. Sadly Crane committed suicide in February 1989 after suffering years of depression.
The 1999 album 'The First Ten Explosive Years' adds bonus tracks re-recorded with bass from GILLAN's John McCoy.
Cann and McCoy are working on a new ATOMIC ROOSTER album. Drums are being handled by no less than original IRON MAIDEN drummer Ron Rebel.

Singles/EPs:
Friday The 13th / Banstead, B&C CB121 (1970)
Tomorrow Night / Play The Game, B&C CB 131 (1971) 11 UK
Devil's Answer / The Rock, B&C CB 157 (1971) 4 UK
Stand By Me / Never To Lose, Dawn DNS 1027 (1972)
Save Me / Close Your Eyes, Dawn DNS 1029 (1972)
Can't Find A Reason / Moods, Dawn (1973)
Tell Your Story (Sing A Song) / OD, Decca FR 13503 (1974)
Do You Know Who's Looking For You / Throw Your Life Away, EMI 5084 (1980)
Devil's Answer / Tomorrow Night / Can't Take No More, B&C BCS 21 (1980)
Play It Again / Start To Live, Polydor POSP 334 (1981)
Play It Again / Start To Live / Devil's Answer (Live), Polydor POSPX 334 (1981) (12" single)
End Of The Day / Living Underground, Polydor POSP 408 (1982)
End Of The Day / Living Underground / Tomorrow Night (Live), Polydor POSPX 408 (1982) (12" single)
Devil's Answer/ Tomorrow Night, Old Gold OG 9391 (1984)
Devil's Answer / , Old Gold OG 6136 (1989) (B side by HUMBLE PIE)

Albums:
ATOMIC ROOSTER, B&C CAS 1010 (1970) 49 UK
Banstead / And So To Bed / Friday The 13th / Broken Wings / Before Tomorrow / SLY / Winter / Decline And Fall
DEATH WALKS BEHIND YOU, B&C CAS 1026 (1970) 12 UK
Tomorrow Night / Vug / 7 Sheets / Sleeping For Years / Gershatzer / Death Walks Behind You / I Can't Take No More / Nobody Else
IN HEARING OF, Pegasus PEG 1(1971)
18 UK
Breakthrough / Break The Ice / Decision-Indecision / A Spoonful Of Bromide Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down / Black Snake / Head In The Sky / The Rock / The Price
MADE IN ENGLAND, Dawn DNLS 3038 (1972)
Time Take My Life / Stand By Me / Little Bit Of Inner Air / Don't Know What Went Wrong / Never To Lose / Introduction / Breathless / Space Cowboy / People You Can't Trust / All In Satan's Name
NICE N' GREASY, Dawn DNLS 3049 (1973)
All Across The Country / Save Me / Voodoo In You / Goodbye Planet Earth / Take One Take / Can't Find A Reason / Ear In The Snow / Satan's Wheel
ATOMIC ROOSTER, EM EMC 3341I (1982)
They Took Control Of You / She's My Woman / He Did It Again / Where's The Show? / In The Shadows / Do You Know Who's Looking For You? / Don't Lose Your Mind / Watch Out! / I Can't Stand It / Lost In Space
HEADLINE NEWS, Towerbell TOWLP 4 (1983)
Hold Your Fire / Headline News / Taking A Chance / Metal Minds / Land Of Freedom / Machine / Dance Of Death / Carnival / Time / Future Shock / Watch Out - Reaching Out
HOME TO ROOST, Rawpower RAWLP 27 (1986)
Death Walks Behind You / VUG / Seven Sheets / Sleeping For Years / I Can't Take No More / Nobody Else / Friday The 13th / And So To Bed / Broken Wings / Before Tomorrow / Banstead / Winter / Breakthrough / Decision-Indecision / Devil's Answer / Black Snake / Head In The Sky / A Spoonful Of Bromide Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down / Tomorrow Night / Break The Ice
THE BEST OF ATOMIC ROOSTER, Demi Monde DMCD 1020 (1989)
DEVIL'S ANSWER, Receiver RRCD003 (1989)
Devil's Answer / Winter / Break The Ice / Nobody Else / Friday 13th / And So To Bed / Death Walks Behind You / Can't Take No More
THE BEST AND THE REST, Action Replay CDAR 100 (1989)
THE DEVIL HITS BACK, Demi Monde DMCD 1023 (1990)
BBC LIVE IN CONCERT, Windsong WINCD 042 (1993)
SPACE COWBOY, Marble Arch CMA CD143 (1994)
Time Take My Life / Stand By Me / Little Bit Of Inner Ai r/ Don't Know What Went Wrong / Can't Find A Reason / People You Can't Trust / All In Satan's Name / Close Your Eyes / Take One Toke / Space Cowboy
IN SATAN'S NAME - THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION, Snapper SMDCD 128 (1997)
Banstead / And So To Bed / Friday 13th / Broken Wings / Tomorrow Night / Play The Game / VUG / Sleeping For Years / Death Walks Behind You / Devil's Answer / The Rock / Breakthrough / Break The Ice / Spoonful Of Bromide / Stand By Me / Never To Lose / Don't Know What Went Wrong / Space Cowboy / People You Can't Trust / All In Satan's Name / Close Your Eyes / Save Me / Can't Find A Reason / All Across The Country / Voodoo In You / Goodbye Planet Earth / Satan's Wheel

THE FIRST TEN EXPLOSIVE YEARS, Angel Air SJPCD038 (1999)
Sleeping For Years / Seven Streets / I Can't Take No More / Taken You Over / Lost In Space / Play It Again / Devil's Answer (Live) / Rebel With A Cause / Night Living / Death Walks Behind You / It's So Unkind / When You Go To Bed / Head In The Sky / Break The Ice / Play The Game / Tomorrow Night (Live)
LIVE AND RAW 70 / 71, Angel Air SJPCD060 (2000)
Friday The 13th / Gershater / Winter / Shabaloo / Sleeping For Years / VUG / Tomorrow Night / I Can't Take No More
RARITIES, Angel Air SJPCD069 (2000)
Moonrise / Atomic Alert (U.S.A. Radio Ad) / Death Walks Behind You / V.U.G. / Broken Window / Alien Alert (U.S.A. Radio Ad) / Throw Your Life Away / Devil's Alert (U.S.A. Radio Ad) / Devil's Answer (Demo) / Do You Know Who You're Looking For? (Demo) / Don't Lose Your Mind (Demo) / He Did It Again (Demo) / Backward Forward Revealed / End Of The Day (Demo) / Lost In Space (Demo) / Hold It Through The Night / No Change By Me / Play It Again (Demo) / I Can't Take No More (Live)
THE FIRST TEN EXPLOSIVE YEARS: VOLUME 2, Angel Air SJPCD086 (2001)
Do You Know Who's Looking For You / End Of The Day / Watch Out! / Don't Lose Your Mind / V.U.G. / She's My Woman / In The Shadows / Shabaloo / Friday The 13th / Broken Window / Backward / Nobody Else / He Did It Again / A Spoonful Of Bromide / I Can't Stand It / The Rock / Where's The Show? / Gershater
HEAVY SOUL, Castle Music CMDDD364 (2001)
Banstead / Winter / Broken Wings / Friday The 13th / Tomorrow / Nobody Else / The Devil's Answer / Sleeping For Years / Death Walks Behind You / Breakthrough / Break The Ice / Black Snake / The Price / Decision-Indecision / Head In The Sky / The Rock / Close Your Eyes / Time Take My Life / Stand By Me / Breathless / People You Can't Trust / Can't Find A Reason / Save Me / Ear In The Snow / Never To Lose / Take One Take / All Across The Country / Moods / Tell Your Story / O.D.

AUTOMIND (Roxbury, MA, USA)
Line-Up: Conor Sullivan (vocals), Dang Vu (guitar), Brian Sullivan (guitar), Kevin Klein (bass), Ben Enos (drums)

Boston out of the ordinary Psych-Doomsters founded as classmates ACID WENCH during 1997. As AUTOMIND the band released a 2001 CD entitled 'Smoking Black Alien Acid God'. The band described the six track album as "bottom heavy vibrate your balls and ovaries until your sperms are floating upside down and your eggs are cracked and runny". Most reviewers seemed to concur.

Albums:
SMOKING BLACK ALIEN ACID GOD, Automind (2001)
Alien Utopia / Smoking Jesus / Paingod / Biblical Acid / Black / The Great Satan

AUTUMNBLAZE (GERMANY)

AUTUMNBLAZE is led by two members of PARAGON OF BEAUTY in Eldron and Arisjel. Eldron also goes under the name of Monesol.

Albums:
DAEMMERELBEN TRAGOEDIE, (1999)
Mo(u)rningdance / Flamedoves / Äonenturm / Those Evenings We Yearned / Dreaming Moonspark Fairylands / Dryadsong / Her Golden Robe In Silence Veiled / Garden Of Slumber / The Emerald Widower / Heraldic
BLEAK, Prophecy Productions (2000)
Someone's Pictures / I Shiver / Scared / Bleak / So Close Yet So Far / Bruderseele / The Wind And The Broken Girl / Thoughts By A Weary Man's Side / .And We Fall
MUTE BOY, SAD GIRL, Prophecy Productions (2002)
Mute Boy Sad Girl / It Never Felt Like This Before / The Nature Of Music / Can't Save Anyone / Kiss My Fear Away / I Am Water / Cold / A Crow On My Shoulder / Shells And Butterflies

AUTUMN CLAN (AUSTRIA)
Line-Up: Jens P. Hermann (vocals / guitar), Franz Baumann (guitar), Gabriel Kiri (bass), Markus Kicker (drums)

A Gothic, Black inclined Metal band formulated in 1997 by vocalist / guitarist Jens Peter Hermann, guitarist Franky Baumann, bass player Erik Kostron and drummer Christian Baumann. In 1998 AUTUMN CLAN pulled in a fresh bassist Gabriel Kiri and drummer Markus Kicker. In this incarnation the band scored a commendable second placing in a national Austrian band contest.
AUTUMN CLAN's debut demo, 'Styrian Demon', arrived in January of 2000. A second tape, produced by Boban Milunovic, was delivered shortly after. As 2001 broke Baumann made his exit, the drum stool quickly being handed over to Markus Kicker of Death Metal band BLACK PROPHECY. This line-up cut a third demo.
Signing to the new Wait And Bleed label AUTUMN CLAN recorded their debut album 'Requiem To The Sun', once again utilizing Boban Milunovic as producer.

Albums:
REQUIEM TO THE SUN, Wait And Bleed WAB005 (2002)
New Gothicism / Hollow / Requiem To The Sun / Turnin' Away / Dream Sequence / Hate Tunes / Garden Of Eden / Abuse Me / Desire / Symphony Of Sadness / Mortal / Dissonant Trip / The Lack Of Inventive Genius / Through

AUTUMN TEARS (USA)
Line-Up: Erika (vocals), Jennifer LeeAnna (vocals / keyboards), Ted (vocals / keyboards), James West (percussion)

AUTUMN TEARS have carved out a unique and almost solitary niche for themselves garnering a sizable underground cult following. The band defies all Rock conventions in presenting melancholic Gothic landscapes of an ethereal quality. The band was created as a duo of keyboard player / vocalist Ted and vocalist Erika and debuted in April of 1996 with the symphonic 'Love Poems For Dying Children: Act I'. Session musicians included members of DECEMBER WOLVES. The album was limited to 2000 copies and as with all AUTUMN TEARS product, would be issued on their own Dark Symphonies imprint.
The second installment of AUTUMN TEARS vision 'Love Poems For Dying Children: Act II - The Garden Of Crystalline Dreams' arrived in May of 1997. Following this release Erika departed in order to concentrate on novel writing. Meantime the first album saw a re-issue clad in all new artwork and which included an extra track 'Intermission', the debut of new vocalist Jennifer LeeAnna.
The 12 minute 'Absolution' EP was issued in July of 1999 as a stop gap. Both Jennifer LeeAnna and Erika appeared on this release. Lyrics for the lead track 'The Absolution Of What Was' came from a poem by Claudia Lungstädt-Kukulka.
Erika returned to the fold during December of 1999 presenting AUTUMN TEARS now with two female voices. Upfront of the release of the third chapter of the 'Love Poems For Dying Children' saga Red Stream Records put out the debut in vinyl LP format. Limited to 1000 copies it was made all the more collectable with the inclusion of an exclusive track 'The Blooming'. Erika would also take time out to act as live vocalist for NOVEMBER'S DOOM.
Erika would leave the band in February of 2002.
Ted and Jennifer have also engaged with ARCANA's Peter and Ida to create the project venture PANDORA.

Singles/EPs:
The Absolution Of What Was / The Never / The Dance, Dark Symphonies DARK 4 (1999) ('Absolution' EP)

Albums:
LOVE POEMS FOR DYING CHILDREN: ACT I, Dark Symphonies DARK 1 (1996)
They Watch With Closed Eyes / Ode To My Forthcoming Winter Part 1. Spring / Ode To My Forthcoming Winter Part 2. Summer / Ode To My Forthcoming Winter Part 3. Autumn / Ode To My Forthcoming Winter Part 4. Winter / The Eloquent Sleep / And Then The Whispering / One Tender Kiss (The Lost Season) Prelude To 'The Garden Of Crystalline Dreams' / Carfax Abbey
LOVE POEMS FOR DYING CHILDREN: ACT II - CRYSTALLINE DREAMS, Dark Symphonies DARK 2 (1997)
Do They Ever Sing? / This... My Melancholic Masquerade / A Dreaming Kiss / So Sweet... The Tears / Commiseration In Mourning / The Garden of Crystalline Dreams, Act I / The Battle, Act II / The Ebony Meadow, Act III / A Shadow Painted White / Black Heaven
LOVE POEMS FOR DYING CHILDREN: ACT III - WINTER AND THE BROKEN ANGEL, Dark Symphonies DARK 8 (2000)
The Grand Celebration / The Mirror Stone / The Never / The Broken Doll / Winter's Warning - I. Prologue / Winter's Warning - II. Spring Requiem / Winter's Warning - III. Summer Requiem / Winter's Warning - IV. Autumn Requiem / Winter's Warning - V. Winter Requiem / Winter's Warning - VI. Epilogue / The Passion And The Fury / The Widowtree / The Bird Without Wings / The Eyes Of Deception

AVERNUS (Chicago, IL, USA)
Line-Up: Rick McCoy (vocals), James Genenz (guitar), Brian Whited (bass), Jeff Joseph (keyboards), Bill Hamning (drums)

Chicago Doom Metal act dating to 1993 that would give vocalist Kimberly Goss to Norway's ANCIENT and latterly her own Power Metal band SINERGY.
AVERNUS debuted with the 1993 demo tape 'A Delicate Tracery Of Red' followed by a further session 'Sadness'. Further exposure was gained with the inclusion of the track 'Godlessness' on the Metal Blade 'Metal Massacre 12' compilation. A third demo outing 'A Farewell To Eden' led to the first AVERNUS album 'Of The Fallen' for Olympic Records.
Drummer Bill Hamning deputized for ELECTRIC HELLFIRE CLUB's 2000 American dates. Recently AVERNUS added ex-EVE OF MOURNING guitarist Scott.
By mid 2002 AVERNUS, comprising vocalist Rick McCoy, guitarist James Genenz and keyboard player Jeff Joseph had reunited with drummer Rick Yifrach and were working together on material for a new studio album. Bassist Brian Whited had departed to form a union with NOVEMBERS DOOM.

Albums:
OF THE FALLEN, Olympic (1997)
Blood Gathers Frost / If I Could Exist / By Loves Will. Chaos / Renaissance / Ghost / Thousand Spirits / Beautiful Black Heart / Still Warm Ashes
WHERE THE SLEEPING SHADOWS LIE, Cursed Productions (2000)
An Endless Sea Of Evening / The Faustian Heart / Anesthesia / Ashes Of Adoration / Godlessness / Dreamburn / Disappear / Silver And Black / For Every Waking Moment / Downpour

AVIDOST (IL, USA)
Line-Up: Jennifer Gore (vocals), Oliver Homann (guitar), Joseph DeGroot (guitars), Adam Schifler (bass), Shaun C. Mackey (drums)

Female fronted avant-garde Doom act AVIDOST include guitarist Joseph DeGroot in the ranks, current day guitarist with Chicago's Death Metal unit ENFORSAKEN and ex-member of THROUGH ASHES.
AVIDOST has issued two demos to date, both in 2001. A two track affair comprising 'Claws Of Unrest' and 'A Silent Masquerade' was followed by a four track 'Official Demo'

AVRIGUS (AUSTRALIA)
Line-Up: Judy Chiara (vocals), Simon Gruer

Vowing to record the greatest Doom album ever many critics believed the Australian duo AVRIGUS may well have achieved such a feat with the desolate soundscapes portrayed on the 2001 album 'The Secret Kingdom'.
AVRIGUS have existed since 1991 but were on hold for much of the '90s as Simon Gruer fulfilled duties operating as frontman for CRUCIFORM. Upon leaving CRUCIFORM in 1995 AVRIGUS was resurrected for the 1998 EP 'The Final Wish' released on the Australian Metal label Warhead.
Gruer also divides his duties with Industrial act SUBLIMINAL CONTROL, SUBCONSCI-OUS INTERVENTION and part-time band PAIN GAME. Vocalist Judy Chiara has released a solo album and has sessioned on ELYSIUM's debut album.

Singles/EPs:
The Final Wish / As Ivy Groweth Green / Desolate / Flesh, Warhead (1998) ('The Final Wish' EP)

Albums:
THE SECRET KINGDOM, Hammerheart (2001)
Overture / Solitude And Salvation / Dark Angels Ascension / Veritas / Qliphoth / Desolate / Flesh / Til Death Do Us Unite / Shade Of My Heart / The Grail

THE AWESOME MACHINE (SWEDEN)
Line-Up: Lasse Olausson (vocals), Christian Smedström (guitar), Anders Wenander (bass), Tobbe Bövik (drums)

Stoners created in late 1996. Original drummer Peter Thorne would be replaced by Tobbe Bövik prior to the recording of a self-financed eponymous 10" vinyl album produced by Roberto Loghi. THE AWESOME MACHINE then issued the 1999 demo 'Doom, Disco, Dope, Death & Love' to high acclaim. American label Ellington Records reissued the first album on CD format adding two tracks 'Ompa Bompa' and 'God Damn Evil'.
The band signed to the German concern People Like You for the 2000 album 'It's Ugly Or Nothing' produced by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque. The bands progress was such that a Swedish instrument manufacturer has put 'Awesome' guitars on the market!
Plans were afoot in mid 2002 to release a split 10" EP in league with German Stoners DUSTER 69.

Albums:
THE AWESOME MACHINE, The Awesome Machine (1998) (10" vinyl release)
Mula / Fortune Teller / Burning Love / Sun Don't Shine On Me / Digging
THE AWESOME MACHINE, Ellington (1999)
Mula / Fortune Teller / Burning Love / Sun Don't Shine On Me / Digging / Ompa Bompa / God Damn Evil
IT'S UGLY OR NOTHING, People Like You (2000)
Never Said I Never Fail / How Am I To Know / El Bajo / Son Of A God / Cruise Control / Supernova / Looking For Sweet Opium / Out Of Fuel / Used To Be / No Shame

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