Azaghal

Biography

Azaghal is a Finnish black metal band, currently signed to Moribund Records. They were established in 1995.

History

Azaghal was formed in 1995 by guitarist Narqath and drummer Kalma (later known as Vrtx and V-Khaoz). Varjoherra joined the band as a vocalist in 1997, and their first demo was recorded shortly after that in late 1997. Two more demos, Noituuden Torni and Kristinusko Liekeissä were recorded in 1998, as well as their debut 7-inch EP Harmagedon×Harmagedon13 February 1999 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Harmagedon5:002Kun Aurinko kuoli3:073Mustamaa5:024Verenjano1:58, released by Aftermath Music.
Their debut full-length record Mustamaa was released in Summer 1999 by Melancholy Productions (later known as ISO666). The album was originally released only on limited vinyl (300 copies), but was later re-released on CD by ISO666. Just a few months later, their second full-length album was recorded, entitled Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä×Helvetin yhdeksän piiriä1999 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks1Kuningas Ruton hovissa1:522Hän joka on tuleva5:133Lailla tuhannen talvimyrskyn2:324Transilvania3:215Kun Aurinko kuoli3:226Harmagedon4:417Kuoleman holveissa3:078Kohti uuden aikakauden alkua7:009Helvetin yhdeksäs piiri1:59. The first two albums featured mostly re-recorded demo material, hence the short time between the recordings and releases. Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä came out on Brazilian label Evil Horde Records in December 1999. The year 2000 saw the release of a couple of split CDs, Helwettiläinen 7-inch and Deathkult MMDCLXVI, a collection of rare and demo tracks. Azaghal tracks from the two split CDs (with Mustan Kuun Lapset and Beheaded Lamb) were also released on 12-inch vinyl called Ihmisviha by Blut & Eisen. In early 2001 JL Nokturnal (who had appeared on most of the earlier releases as a session musician) joined Azaghal as a lead guitarist/bassist and they recorded their third full-length album Of Beasts and Vultures×Of Beasts and Vultures2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks1Helwettiläinen6:342Welho4:593Reign3:084Kaikki elävä kuihtuu5:085Of Beasts and Vultures3:156Peto - 6664:407Minä olen tie4:568Verenjano2:439Epilogue2:441013 Candles4:3711...From the Ninth Circle of Hell2:58 in March 2001. After some delays, Of Beasts and Vultures was finally released over a year later in Spring 2002. After this album founding member and drummer V-Khaoz was fired from the band because he was not considered to share the other members' passion for black metal and Azaghal.
In 2002-2003, Azaghal recorded more material for split releases and signed a deal with already familiar Aftermath Music for the release of a MCD and a new full-length record. The result was the limited-edition Kyy MCD and their most raw recording to date, Perkeleen Luoma. These two releases were also released as a double LP by Finnish label Hammer of Hate. In the absence of a drummer, these releases were recorded with a drum machine (known as "Unhuman Warmachine") to give the recordings a colder and more non-human atmosphere. After nearly ten years as a band with a negative attitude towards gigs, they finally decided to start playing live in 2004, so TM Blastbeast (aka Teemu Mutka, ex-Deep Red, Nerlich) was brought in as a drummer. Their first live appearance was at the Under The Black Sun Festival in Germany in Summer 2004. They have played gigs sporadically since then. Later in 2004 the band signed with their current label Avantgarde Music, and recorded the album Codex Antitheus×Codex Antitheus14 June 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks1Agios o Baphomet4:172Nekromanteia5:093Codex Antitheus4:444Kumarra petoa4:07530 hopearahaa6:356Viha4:427Raatosielu5:448Kuningas Saatana2:219Sieluton6:05. In support of this they played a few more gigs in 2005 in Switzerland and Italy. In 2006, Azaghal recorded a second album for Avantgarde Music, Luciferin Valo×Luciferin valo9 September 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Black Terror Metal5:172Ilmestyskirjan ratsastajat4:243Tuhoaja3:584Kuin lampaat teuraalle5:355Verta ja tuhkaa3:536Teen paholaisen työtä4:327Azaghal Terror Cult3:568Hyvästit maailmalle6:019Olematon5:2910Luciferin valo3:44. This album saw a more back-to-basics approach, both in simplified song writing and rawer production. After the recordings, they replaced drummer TM Blastbeast with Chernobog (also a member of Kingdom of Agony). Two years later Varjoherra left the band due to a lack of time available to dedicate, so he was replaced by Niflungr, with whom he also has started another project called Black Blessing. From that point Niflungr took over lead vocals, but the arrangement does not preclude Vorjaherra returning to the band on occasion.
In 2008, Omega was released via Moribund Records in Europe and Paranoid Records in Brazil. One year later Azaghal recorded another album, called Teraphim×Teraphim28 September 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Elilum: Suuri tyhjyys4:412XI Omega3:313Filosof4:184Teraphim: Puhdistava tuli5:075Hänen musta liekkinsä6:486Helvetin ikuisessa loistossa4:157Uhrattu5:358Pimeyden kutsu7:299Samaelin kuiskaus3:2710Kyy2:16, featuring a new version of the track "Kyy".

Current line-up

Narqath - Guitar, bass, vocals, keyboard (ex-Calm (Fin), ex-Decay's Delight, Finnugor, ex-Hellkult, ex-Hin Onde, ex-Necromortum, ex-Oath of Cirion, ex-Svartalfheim (Fin), Svartkraft, ex-Thoronath, ex-Valar, Vultyr, Weltraum, With Hate I Burn, Wyrd)
Niflungr - Vocals, bass (Kingdom Of Agony, Teurastus, Black Blessing)
Lima - Drums (Amberian Dawn, Dotma, Epicrenel, Hautakammio, Sawhill Sacrifice, Thaurorod, Lathspell)

Former members

Varjoherra - Vocals, drums (ex-Vultyr, Bapthomet, Black Blessing)
JL Nokturnal - Guitar, synthesizers, bass, drums (ex-Hin Onde, Medieval Art, Nocturnal Winds, Wyrd, Yearning, Svartkraft)

Drummers

T.M. Blastbeast(Acabó el Silencio, Cadaveric Incubator, ex-Carcase Inc., ex-Deep Red (Fin), Jumalation, Nerlich)
Chernobog (Kingdom of Agony)
Kalma aka v-KhaoZ aka VRTX (Ville Pallonen) (ex-Druadan Forest, ex-Hellkult, ex-Hin Onde, ex-Noitavalkea, ex-Oath of Cirion, ex-Svartalfheim (Fin), Calm (Fin))

Studio albums

1999 Mustamaa
1999 Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä
2002 Of Beasts And Vultures
2004 Perkeleen Luoma
2005 Codex Antitheus
2006 Luciferin Valo
2008 Omega
2009 Teraphim
2012 Nemesis
2015 Madon Sanat
2018 Valo pohjoisesta
2023 Alttarimme on luista tehty

EPs and splits

1999 Harmagedon (EP)
2000 Uusi Suomalainen Black Metal Tulokas (Split)
2001 Suicide Anthems / Dark Blasphemous Moon (Split)
2002 Helwettiläinen (EP)
2002 Black Metal War (Split)
2003 Omenne (Split)
2003 Unholy Terror Union (Split)
2003 Kyy (EP)
2004 Krieg / Azaghal (Split)
2004 None Shall Escape... (Split)
2004 Neljä Vihan Vasaraa / Four Hammers of Hate (Split)
2006 Azaghal Terror Cult / Wrath (Split)

Demos

1998 Demo I
1998 Noituuden Torni
1998 Kristinusko Liekeissä
2001 Black Terror Metal