Samael is a Swiss metal band formed in 1987 in Sion, Switzerland. Its current line-up consists of founding members and brothers Vorph and Xy, guitarist Drop and bassist Ales. Former members include Rodolphe H. (keyboards, 1993-1995), Kaos (guitar, 1996-2001), Mas (bass, 1991-2014) and Makro (guitar, 2002-2018).
Samael's music incorporates elements of black metal, industrial metal, electronic music and symphonic music. A characteristic aspect of the
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Samael is a Swiss metal band formed in 1987 in Sion, Switzerland. Its current line-up consists of founding members and brothers Vorph and Xy, guitarist Drop and bassist Ales. Former members include Rodolphe H. (keyboards, 1993-1995), Kaos (guitar, 1996-2001), Mas (bass, 1991-2014) and Makro (guitar, 2002-2018).
Samael's music incorporates elements of black metal, industrial metal, electronic music and symphonic music. A characteristic aspect of the band's sound is the use of programmed drums and drum machines in both studio recordings and live performances.
Vorph formed Samael in April 1987 with drummer Pat Charvet. The band recorded the demo "Into the Infernal Storm of Evil" in 1988. After Charvet's departure, Xy joined as drummer. The brothers recorded the single "Medieval Prophecy" later that year, which included two original songs and a cover version of Hellhammer's "The Third of the Storm". In 1989, the band released the promotional tape "From Dark to Black".
Following performances in several European countries, bassist Mas joined the group and Samael recorded its debut album, "Worship Him". Recorded in 1990 and released in 1991 by Osmose Productions, it was the label's first album release. The band promoted the album with concerts, including a tour with Napalm Death. After signing with Century Media, Samael recorded its second album, "Blood Ritual", with producer Waldemar Sorychta. Released in December 1992, the album was followed by the band's first European tour with Unleashed and Tiamat.
Samael recorded "Ceremony of Opposites" in 1993 and released it in February 1994. Produced by Waldemar Sorychta, the album marked the introduction of keyboards throughout the band's music, leading to the recruitment of Rodolphe H. as keyboardist. Samples on the album included the voice of Aleister Crowley and an excerpt from Modest Mussorgsky's "The Hut on the Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga)" from "Pictures at an Exhibition". The band toured Europe and the United States during 1994, including appearances with Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse and other groups.
In 1995, Samael recorded the EP "Rebellion", which featured new songs, rearranged material and a cover of Alice Cooper's "I Love the Dead". The track "Static Journey" marked the band's first use of programmed drums. The subsequent tour included performances in Europe and Mexico.
After Rodolphe H.'s departure, Xy moved from drums to keyboards and programming, and Kaos joined as a second guitarist. "Passage", released in 1996, was recorded using a drum machine. The band toured Europe with Moonspell and Rotting Christ and released a video for "Jupiterian Vibe". In 1997, Samael participated in several tours and festival appearances, including Wacken Open Air and Dynamo Open Air. In 1998, the EP "Exodus" was released. Around the same period, Xy released a neoclassical interpretation of "Passage" under the name Xytras.
Samael recorded "Eternal" with producer David Richards at Mountain Studios in Montreux. Released in 1999, the album combined contemporary songwriting with influences from 1970s rock. The band toured Europe and North America and later performed with Iron Maiden at Artefact Fest in France. Kaos left the group in 2002 and was replaced by Makro. Live recordings from Summer Breeze Open Air formed the basis of the DVD "Black Trip". In parallel, Vorph and Xy worked on an electronic project that was eventually released in 2006 as "Era One". In 2003, the band toured Europe and the United States.
"Reign of Light" was recorded in 2004 and released later that year. The singles "Telepath" and "On Earth" were accompanied by videos, and the latter included a cover of Depeche Mode's "I Feel You". Samael performed at festivals and toured with groups including Oomph! and Obituary. In 2007, the band released "Solar Soul", mixed by Stefan Glaumann and issued through Nuclear Blast. Samael toured Europe and North America and appeared at festivals including Wacken Open Air.
"Above" was released in 2009 and was described by the band as a tribute to its early metal influences. The album was followed by extensive touring with acts including Deicide, Carcass and Paradise Lost. In 2010, Samael released the EP "Antigod", which preceded the release of "Lux Mundi" in 2011. The album was co-produced by Xy and Waldemar Sorychta and mixed by Russ Russell. The band toured Europe with Finntroll, Rotting Christ, Keep of Kalessin and Melechesh.
Xy later composed music for a sound and light show commissioned by the city of Sion. Recorded with an orchestra in Prague, the work was released under the name "Sedunum". In 2013, Samael performed "Passage" in its entirety at selected festivals. Mas left the band in 2014 and was succeeded by Drop. To mark the twentieth anniversary of "Ceremony of Opposites", the band performed the album live at festivals and on tours in Europe, North America and Russia.
In 2017, members of Samael established the side project W.A.R. (Worship and Ritual) to perform material from the band's first two albums. Under their original stage names, Vorphalack and Xytraguptor, the musicians revisited their early style, with Xy returning to drums. Later that year, Samael released its tenth studio album, "Hegemony". The band subsequently issued videos for the songs "Angel of Wrath", "Red Planet", "Black Supremacy" and "Rite of Renewal".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samael_(band)
Studio albums
Worship Him (1991)
Blood Ritual (1992)
Ceremony of Opposites (1994)
Passage (1996)
Eternal (1999)
Reign of Light (2004)
Solar Soul (2007)
Above (2009)
Lux Mundi (2011)
Hegemony (2017)
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…shrink me down again