Abramelin
Abramelin | |
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| Origin | Melbourne, VIC |
| Genres | Death metal |
| Years active | 1988 - 2002, 2016 - present |
| Labels | Dark Oceans, Repulse, Thrust |
| Associated acts |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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Band members
- Current line-up
- Simon Dower (vocals)
- Dave Haley (drums)
- Matt Wilcock (guitar)
- Rob Mollica (bass)
- Former members
- Tim Aldridge (guitar) 1988 - 2002, 2016 - 2024
- Grant Karajic (bass) 2000 - 2002
- Matt Skitz (drums) 1998 - 1999
- Matt Rizzo (drums) 1996 - 1998
- Euan Heriot (drums) 1991 - 1996
- Justin Warnes (bass) 1994 - 1999
- Mark Shuliga (guitar) 1994
Formed
Melbourne, VIC, 1994
Band information
Abramelin formed out of Melbourne death metal band Acheron, which formed in Melbourne in 1988. After releasing an EP, the band became known as Abramelin in 1994 after a tour with Carcass, taking inspiration from the name of a 14th Century magician and alchemist. The first release under the new name was an EP, issued on Dark Oceans. Mark Shuliga left soon after and Abramelin recorded their full-length debut as a four piece.
Abramelin was released by Shock's metal label Thrust in 1995 and was almost immediately banned in Western Australia and then some other markets due to the graphic nature of Dower's lyrics. Earth drummer Rob Mollica joined the band as second guitarist at this point. The album was issued internationally by Spain's Repulse Records in 1997 but given little label support and re-released in Australia through Shock with the earlier EP added, but minus a lyric sheet.
Heriot left Abramelin in 1996 and was replaced briefly by ex-Blood Duster drummer Matt Rizzo and then by Skitz from Damaged. After a performance at the 1997 Metal for the Brain festival, Abramelin appeared to grind to a halt. Deadspeak was eventually released in mid-2000 as a two piece effort with Tim Aldridge responsible for all the music, although Skitz had laid down the original drum tracks that were later re-recorded using a drum machine.
Abramelin appeared at Metal for the Brain in 2000 and then toured with Cradle of Filth in 2001. The band's live line-up for that tour was Dower, Aldridge and Rizzo, plus Steel Affliction and The Berzerker guitarist Matt Wilcock and bassist Grant Karajic. Following this tour the band ended. Wilcock joined British black metal band Akercocke and Aldridge was in The Berzerker for a short time and later recorded with Heaven the Axe. In 2013, Century Media released the band's complete recordings including the Acheron demos as Trangressing the Afterlife - The Complete Recordings 1998 - 2000.
In 2016 Abramelin reformed to play at an anniversary show for the 80s Melbourne record store Metal for Melbourne, with Wilcock returning along with Mollica, this time on bass, and Psycroptic drummer Dave Haley. The album Never Enough Snuff was released in mid-2020 and the band has continued. They appeared at Blacken Open Air in 2022.
Tim Aldridge departed Abramelin in mid-2024.
Discography
Albums:
| 1995 | Abramelin | Thrust |
| 2000 | Deadspeak | Shock |
| 2013 | Transgressing the Afterlife - The Complete Recordings 1998 - 2000 | Century Media |
| 2020 | Never Enough Snuff | Independent |
| 2024 | Sins of the Father | Independent |