Satan

Biography

Satan are an English heavy metal band originating from Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979, known as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash/speed metal that was fairly advanced by the standards of the early 1980s.

History

Satan originally formed in 1979 in England. The band's line-up has undergone a number of personnel changes and even name changes; for a time the band was called Blind Fury, putting out one album, 1985's Out of Reach, under that moniker before reverting to Satan. In 1988, the group changed its name to Pariah, releasing two albums under that name before folding in the early 1990s. In 1998, Pariah released another album. The band's shifting line-up has included members of many other heavy metal bands such as Blitzkrieg, Atomkraft, Avenger, Persian Risk, Raven, Cronos and Battleaxe. In 1990, Steve Ramsey (guitar) and Graeme English (bass) together with singer Martin Walkyier of UK thrash metal band Sabbat founded folk metal band Skyclad.
Satan performed a one-off gig at Germany's Wacken Open Air in 2004 and finally reunited in 2011. Since their reunion, the band has performed at several European festivals and released a new album, Life Sentence×Life Sentence29 April 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Time to Die3:432Twenty Twenty Five4:523Cenotaph4:074Siege Mentality4:435Incantations5:226Testimony3:577Tears of Blood4:168Life Sentence3:259Personal Demons4:0010Another Universe6:19, in April 2013 via Listenable Records. In 2014 the band increased their global reach by touring in North and South America.
On 2 October 2015, the band released their fourth studio album, Atom by Atom×Atom by Atom2 October 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Farewell Evolution4:352Fallen Saviour4:153Ruination5:304The Devil's Infantry4:595Atom by Atom4:006In Contempt4:517My Own God4:368Ahriman4:019Bound in Enmity4:0610The Fall of Persephone6:51, while two days earlier the entire album was made available for streaming via Invisible Oranges.
In 2018, the band signed a new multi-album recording contract with Metal Blade Records. Their fifth studio album and first under Metal Blade Records, Cruel Magic×Cruel Magic7 September 2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Into the Mouth of Eternity5:372Cruel Magic5:083The Doomsday Clock3:474Legions Hellbound5:005Ophidian4:276My Prophetic Soul4:367Death Knell for a King3:538Who Among Us6:019Ghosts of Monongah5:1410Mortality6:00 was released on 7 September 2018. The first single from Cruel Magic, "The Doomsday Clock×The Doomsday Clock26 June 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Doomsday Clock3:48", was released on 6 July. Satan released their next studio album, Earth Infernal×Earth Infernal1 April 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Ascendancy5:042Burning Portrait5:503Twelve Infernal Lords5:164Mercury's Shadow2:505A Sorrow Unspent4:546Luciferic5:037From Second Sight3:528Poison Elegy5:119The Blood Ran Deep3:4410Earth We Bequeath5:58, on 1 April 2022.
In 2025, the band participated in the Hell's Heroes music festival held at the White Oak Music Hall in Houston.

Musical style

Metal Injection called Satan "one of the fastest and most thrash-y NWOBHM bands." The band's 1983 debut album Court in the Act×Court in the ActJune 1983 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Into the Fire1:44A2Trial by Fire4:18A3Blades of Steel5:16A4No Turning Back4:01A5Broken Treaties4:44B1Break Free5:20B2Hunt You Down3:30B3The Ritual4:40B4Dark Side of Innocence0:56B5Alone in the Dock6:24 has been characterized by "intricate guitar leads, caffeinated drums, and singing so seductive it could charm a black cat." The album's sound is also characterized by its sense of melody, and has drawn comparisons to the speed metal of the Bay area, "before that scene was even remotely famous." Metal Injection described the band's sound as "Satan’s brew." According to Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic: "1983's Court in the Act bordered on the yet undefined style of thrash metal, thanks to the frenetic speeds achieved in cuts like 'Trial By Fire' and the amazing 'Break Free.' But the album also boasted more accessible and melodic mid-paced metal fare, putting great effort into the memorable melodies and choruses heard on 'Broken Treaties,' 'Hunt You Down,' and early-day favorite 'Blades of Steel.'"

Singles and EPs

Kiss of Death (1982)
Into the Future (1986)
The Doomsday Clock (2018)
Twelve Infernal Lords (2020)

Demos

The First Demo (1981)
Into the Fire (1982)
Dirt Demo '86 (1986)

Compilations and live albums

Blitzkrieg in Holland (2000)
Live in the Act (2004)
Into the Fire / Kiss of Death (2011)
The Early Demos (2011)
Trail of Fire-Live in North America (2014)
Early Rituals (2020)