Astriaal
Astriaal | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brisbane, QLD |
| Genres | Black metal |
| Years active | 1997 - present |
| Labels | Obsidian |
| Associated acts | Psychrist, Psycroptic, Post Life Disorder, Urgrund, Carbon, Infinitum, Atomizer |
| Website | http://myspace.com/astriaal1 |
| Members | Arzarkhel, Baaruhl, Daeimos, Gryphon, Svarogg |
| Past members | Helthor, Cam Grant, Murtach, Umbriel, Soren |
Band members
- Current line-up
- Arzarkhel (Heath Kirkwood) (vocals)
- Baaruhl (guitar)
- Daeimos (Dan Marsden) (bass)
- Gryphon (drums)
- Svarogg (David Slepcev) (guitar)
- Former members
- Helthor (1997 - 2012)
- Murtach (bass) (1997 - 2007)
- Umbriel (bass) (1997)
- Session members
- Cameron Grant (bass) (2010) (live)
- Sorin (Anthony Palmer) (bass) (2007) (live)
Band information
Astriaal is a Brisbane based melodic but aggressive black metal band. The band formed in the winter of 1997 as a three piece with Baaruhl on both vocals and guitar. Astriaal released their debut demo "Glories of the Nightsky" in October 1998 with Baaruhl playing both bass and guitar. Since the addition of bass player Murtach in 1999, Astriaal's line-up has remained solid.
The band's first live show was as support to Nazxul in November 1998. The band grew in stature thanks to a string of excellent releases and strong and consistent live performances. Astriaal first played at Metal for the Brain in 2000 and then became a regular fixture at the event. "Somnium Infinitus" was a limited edition release that was issued to co-incide with Astriaal headlining Metal for the Brain in 2001 after almost a year's worth of solid touring that left them as perhaps Australia's highest profile black metal band.
During 2002 Astriaal headlined Sydney's Bloodlust Festival and supported Mayhem and Destruction. Astriaal in fact played at each of the first four Bloodlust events, the only band to do so. With a live performance that built a infamous following, including a strong reputation amongst promoters, which led to the band's support of numerous internationals over the following years including Suffocation, Deeds of Flesh, Incantation, Opeth, Nile and Pungent Stench.
Their first full length album release appeared in July 2003. Renascent Misanthropy was voted Best Australian Album by the listeners of the Triple J program Full Metal Racket in 2003, sharing the honour with Severance by Daysend. Renascent Misanthropy was subsequently released in Europe in 2004 in a special digipack edition by Norwegian label Aftermath Music.
Throughout 2004 the band was mostly quiet, performing at Bloodlust and a few other selected shows. They appeared at both the Canberra and Brisbane Metal for the Brain festivals, at the second of which Astriaal announced that it would be taking an extended break from all activity, finally returning to the live scene at the Overcranked festival in April 2006. The band also supported Arcturus in early 2007. After this, Murtach was replaced by Sorin for live bass duties, marking the band's first line-up change in a decade. Towards the end of the year the band featured on the national Festival of the Dead tour. Obsidian Records re-released Renascent Misanthropy in late 2007 with a slipcase and enchanced content.
The band's second album was recorded in both Australia and Norway during 2009 with assistance from Arcturus guitarist Knut Magne Valle. Astriaal returned to the live arena in February 2010 with Psycroptic's Cameron Grant on live bass duties. The album Anatomy of the Infinite was released in July. Astriaal supported Mayhem on a national tour in October with Daeimos (Dan Marsden of Psychrist and Infinitum) now on bass. Following a single show in Sydney in early 2011, Astriaal did not re-emerge until 2012. Helthor was replaced by Svarogg and Astriaal appeared at Evil Invaders in Sydney. They will also appear at the Dead of Winter Festival in Brisbane and several shows on the Bastardfest tour.
Gryphon has also featured as a member of Urgrund, performed session drums on Atomizer's final studio album Caustic Music for the Spiritually Bankrupt and both he and Murtach make up the permanent membership of Carbon.
Discography
Albums:
| 2003 | Renascent Misanthropy | BlackTalon Media | |
| 2010 | Anatomy of the Infinite | Obsidian |
EPs:
| 2000 | Summoning the Essence of Ancient Wisdom | Dissident | |
| 2001 | Somnium Infinitus | Dissident | |
| 2002 | Deception Revelation | Dissident |
Single:
| 2003 | The Throne to Perish: An Icon of Disease | Dark Horizon |
Compilation tracks:
| Year | Track Title | Album Title | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "As Mist Befell the Ruins" | Under the Southern Cross | Chatterbox | |
| 2001 | "Revere the Labyrinth" | Metal for the Brain 2001 | Metal for the Brain/Chatterbox | |
| 2002 | "Revere the Labyrinth" | Full Metal Racket 2 | ABC/EMI | |
| 2003 | "The Throne to Perish" | Amassing the Hordes | Dissident |
