Diaboli
Encyclopedia
Diaboli are a Finnish
black metal
band, initially formed in 1992 as a five-piece. Following band member departures and the suicide of vocalist Hrim Grimn'r in 2001, Diaboli continues as a one-man project. To date the band has released five full-length albums for the labels Unisound, Full Moon Productions
and Northern Heritage.
, Finland
under the moniker Sigillum Diaboli, initially as a five piece. This line-up recorded a single demo, Descent into Hell, released in November 1992, and played the band's only gig to date in January 1993. 200 copies of the first demo were pressed and it demonstrated a more pronounced death metal
influence than any of their later material. However, by the recording of Sigillum Diaboli's second demo, the band had been reduced to only two members: vocalist P. "Hrim Grimn'r" Pihlström and multi-instrumentalist Petri "Pete Desecrator" Ilvespakka. The two released a second demo in June 1994 in a pressing of 400 copies, which included a cover of Hellhammer
's "The Third of the Storms". The band changed their name to Diaboli in summer 1995, apparently due to Ilvespakka's annoyance at misspellings by journalists and fans, and the two members decided to part ways, for reasons that Ilvespakka puts down to ego clashes. Ilvespakka signed to Greek label Unisound in 1995 and recorded the debut Diaboli album late that year, in approximately 30 hours. The result, Mesmerized by Darkness, was released that summer; Ilvesparkka cites the likes of Slayer
, Venom
, Celtic Frost
, Bathory
and Darkthrone
as influences.
Owing to problems with Unisound, Diaboli moved to US label Full Moon
in 1997, signing for two albums. The second album, Towards Damnation, was released in January 1998, and the third, Anthems of Sorrow, recorded in the Autumn of that year, seeing the return of Grimn'r on vocals. However, in December 1999 Ilvespakka was arrested for attempting to murder someone with an axe and sentenced to four years and six months in prison. As a first time offender, he was released after two years and three months. In 2000, Grimn'r also spent some time in prison for "violence charges". In June 2001, Grimn'r committed suicide.
Anthems of Sorrow finally saw release through Full Moon in 2000. Upon release from prison in March 2002, Ilvespakka set about recording new material. The first release after this date was the limited edition (500 copies) 7" EP Descent into Hell, through the Finnish label Northern Heritage. The EP featured two songs from the first Sigillum Diaboli demo re-recorded in 1999 and was dedicated to the memory of Grimn'r. In July 2003, Northern Heritage also released the Unseen Age of War compilation, which featured twelve unreleased songs and the two Sigillum Diaboli demos.
Since then Northern Heritage has released Diaboli's fourth and fifth albums, Kirous (Finnish for "curse", in October 2004) and The Antichrist (in October 2006). In March 2008, the label also released limited edition (500 copies) vinyl versions of Kirous and The Antichrist. All instrumentation, vocals and lyrics were composed and performed by Ilvespakka; apparently the material for The Antichrist was recorded during the sessions for Kirous. Ilvespakka has also released two albums with thrash
/ death metal outfit Psychopathic Terror, in collaboration with Korpiklaani
drummer Mattit Johansson.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band, initially formed in 1992 as a five-piece. Following band member departures and the suicide of vocalist Hrim Grimn'r in 2001, Diaboli continues as a one-man project. To date the band has released five full-length albums for the labels Unisound, Full Moon Productions
Full Moon Productions
Full Moon Productions is a record company started in May 1991 by Jon "Thorns" Jamshid from Lakeland, Florida. After releasing the first issue of Petrified 'zine, Thorns decided to sign several black metal bands which included Burzum, Hades , Algaion, Nåstrond and Vlad Tepes...
and Northern Heritage.
Biography
Diaboli were formed in summer 1992 in PirkkalaPirkkala
Pirkkala is a municipality of Finland.It is located some south-west from Tampere in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Pirkanmaa region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
under the moniker Sigillum Diaboli, initially as a five piece. This line-up recorded a single demo, Descent into Hell, released in November 1992, and played the band's only gig to date in January 1993. 200 copies of the first demo were pressed and it demonstrated a more pronounced death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
influence than any of their later material. However, by the recording of Sigillum Diaboli's second demo, the band had been reduced to only two members: vocalist P. "Hrim Grimn'r" Pihlström and multi-instrumentalist Petri "Pete Desecrator" Ilvespakka. The two released a second demo in June 1994 in a pressing of 400 copies, which included a cover of Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...
's "The Third of the Storms". The band changed their name to Diaboli in summer 1995, apparently due to Ilvespakka's annoyance at misspellings by journalists and fans, and the two members decided to part ways, for reasons that Ilvespakka puts down to ego clashes. Ilvespakka signed to Greek label Unisound in 1995 and recorded the debut Diaboli album late that year, in approximately 30 hours. The result, Mesmerized by Darkness, was released that summer; Ilvesparkka cites the likes of Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
, Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
and Darkthrone
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...
as influences.
Owing to problems with Unisound, Diaboli moved to US label Full Moon
Full Moon Productions
Full Moon Productions is a record company started in May 1991 by Jon "Thorns" Jamshid from Lakeland, Florida. After releasing the first issue of Petrified 'zine, Thorns decided to sign several black metal bands which included Burzum, Hades , Algaion, Nåstrond and Vlad Tepes...
in 1997, signing for two albums. The second album, Towards Damnation, was released in January 1998, and the third, Anthems of Sorrow, recorded in the Autumn of that year, seeing the return of Grimn'r on vocals. However, in December 1999 Ilvespakka was arrested for attempting to murder someone with an axe and sentenced to four years and six months in prison. As a first time offender, he was released after two years and three months. In 2000, Grimn'r also spent some time in prison for "violence charges". In June 2001, Grimn'r committed suicide.
Anthems of Sorrow finally saw release through Full Moon in 2000. Upon release from prison in March 2002, Ilvespakka set about recording new material. The first release after this date was the limited edition (500 copies) 7" EP Descent into Hell, through the Finnish label Northern Heritage. The EP featured two songs from the first Sigillum Diaboli demo re-recorded in 1999 and was dedicated to the memory of Grimn'r. In July 2003, Northern Heritage also released the Unseen Age of War compilation, which featured twelve unreleased songs and the two Sigillum Diaboli demos.
Since then Northern Heritage has released Diaboli's fourth and fifth albums, Kirous (Finnish for "curse", in October 2004) and The Antichrist (in October 2006). In March 2008, the label also released limited edition (500 copies) vinyl versions of Kirous and The Antichrist. All instrumentation, vocals and lyrics were composed and performed by Ilvespakka; apparently the material for The Antichrist was recorded during the sessions for Kirous. Ilvespakka has also released two albums with thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
/ death metal outfit Psychopathic Terror, in collaboration with Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani is a folk metal band from Finland who were formerly known as Shaman.-Biography:While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal...
drummer Mattit Johansson.
Current line-up
- Petri "Pete Desecrator" Ilvespakka (all instruments, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
; also of Depravity, Psychopathic Terror)
Former members
- P. "Hrim Grimn'r" Pihlström (vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
) - J. Koskinen (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) - M. Martiskainen (guitar)
- Elias ViljanenElias ViljanenElias 'E.Vil' Viljanen is a Finnish musician, known for being the guitarist for Sonata Arctica since 2007. Viljanen joined Sonata Arctica in spring 2007 in order to replace Jani Liimatainen, who left the band in August 2007 to fulfill his civil duties in Finland...
(drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, keyboards, guitar; also of Astral, Depravity, Mess, Sonata ArcticaSonata ArcticaSonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
)
As Diaboli
- Mesmerized by Darkness (LP, Unisound, 1996)
- Towards Damnation (LP, Full MoonFull Moon ProductionsFull Moon Productions is a record company started in May 1991 by Jon "Thorns" Jamshid from Lakeland, Florida. After releasing the first issue of Petrified 'zine, Thorns decided to sign several black metal bands which included Burzum, Hades , Algaion, Nåstrond and Vlad Tepes...
, 1998) - Anthems of Sorrow (LP, Full Moon, 2000)
- Descent into Hell (7" EP, Northern Heritage, 2002)
- Unseen Age of War (compilation, Northern Heritage, 2003)
- Kirous (LP, Northern Heritage, 2004)
- The Antichrist (LP, Northern Heritage, 2006)