Grand Belial's Key
Encyclopedia
Grand Belial's Key is a black metal
band formed in 1992 by guitarist Gelal Necrosodomy and vocalist Lord Vlad Luciferian. Lord Vlad Luciferian was later ejected from the group due to internal differences and joined the formerly Norwegian band Ancient
that had moved to the USA, using the new stage name Lord Kaiaphas.
The band was signed to Drakkar Productions until their disbanding due to the death of their most recent vocalist, Richard P. Mills, in 2006. Mills, who also went by Grimnir Wotansvolk and G. Heretik, (the grandson of horse breeder Alice duPont Mills
) was the owner of the NSBM
record label and distributor Vinland Winds. Having released such acts as Pantheon Vinland's Ergriffenheit 10" vinyl as well as Spear of Longinus and Graveland vinyls to boot. Its last release was an exclusive US release of Russian thrash metal
band Corrosia Metalla
in 2008. The same year, the last Grand Belial's Key recordings were released as a split album
with Absurd
from Germany and Sigrblot from Sweden.
The band is now active again as of 2009. In December 2009, they played Chicago's Hooligan Black Metal show, along with Heathen Hammer, Martial, and Absurd.
Although they are sometimes associated with and have performed alongside NSBM
bands, contrary to popular belief, Grand Belial's Key is not a National Socialist Black Metal Band, instead opting for a lyrical approach in the form of general anti-Judeo-Christianity, and on the earlier releases, Satanism.
Grand Belial's Key soon split up, but "Bestial Luciferian" (now "Lord Vlad Luciferian") tried to reform GBK, bringing with him Demonic on bass. Tom Philips was set to replace Gelal before Demonic convinced him to rejoin. This lineup then recorded the "Triumph of the Hordes" demo in 1994.
After the release of the demo Gelal and Demonic found out that Lord Vlad added some female voices at one of the tracks of the recording without asking and screwed-up the deals with several record companies. Gelal, now even more angry towards Lord Vlad fired him from the band. To this day he is now credited in Grand Belial's Key as "Lord Fag Pussyferian."
After this Demonic quit the band due to lack of time, so Gelal asked The Marauder (guitar player of Arghoslent at the time) to play bass and recruited The Black Lourde of Crucifixion on drums/vocals (Cazz Grant from Crucifer) and this was the line-up which recorded the "A Witness To The Regicide" EP in 1996.
The next Lp is what would make Grand Belial's Key one of the most controversial acts in the United States Black Metal underground. Bassist Der Sturmer would replace the Marauder and the lineup then recorded the LP "Mocking The Philanthropist" on now the defunct Beligian label Wood-Nymph. The booklet of the CD release contained pictures of the band wearing shirts of far-right political bands (Bound for Glory and Spear of Longinus), leading to tour boycotts, problems and other controversy. In their first nine years, Grand Belial's Key had only played nine gigs. The album was refused distribution in Germany due to the suppossed offensive booklet despite that there was nothing National-Socialist related in the music. Wood-Nymph refused to print a new booklet and as a result the label soon died due to the poor distribution of the album. The CD would later be repressed by Morbidund Cult and Drakkar Productions in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
The follow-up to Mocking the Philanthropist was "Judeobeast Assassination," now considered a black metal classic. The album's lyrics focused on the inseperatibility of Judeo-Christianity, now mocking both the New Testament as well as the Old Testament (as opposed to MtP which focused only on the New Testament). The lyrics themselves were much more provactive and sexually perverse, although in theory were an extension of the ones found on Mocking the Philanthropist. The music of the album had a more bass-heavy mix and a thicker sound, creating a much heavier atmosphere, something relatively uncommon in Black Metal. The album itself was almost twenty minutes shorter, in order to fit it onto a piece of vinyl.
In 2002, The Black Lourde of Crucifixion left Grand Belial's Key to focus more on Crucifer and wasn't interested in touring Europe. The lineup for the "Pimps of Gennesarret Tour" was Grimnir Wotansvolk on vocals, Gelal Necrosodomy on guitar, Demonic on bass, and the Gulag on drums, the same linuep that would record "Kosherat" in 2005.
Kosherat was released in 2005 on Drakkar, and would be the final album before their disbandment. The album featured the new lineup of Grimnir Wotansvolk (later changed to Grimnir Heretik) on vocals, Gelal Necrosodomy on guitar, Demonic on bass, and the Gulag on drums. The album's central focus was on pre-Christian Judaism, mocking such rituals as the Red Heifer and male circumcision. The album also featured three re-recorded tracks from their vinyl EPs as well as two Chaos 88 covers.
In 2006, Grimmir Heretik had died of a drug overdose, signaling an end for Grand Belial's Key. Even before his death however, they had already talked of Kosherat being their last album. Their final release was a split album with Absurd, and Sigrblot titled "Weltenfiend," released in 2008.
In 2009-2010, Grand Belial's Key briefly reformed, playing successful gigs with a brief lineup of Unhold (ex-Absurd, Luror, ex-Cryogenic) on vocals, Gelal on guitar, Demonic on Bass, and Ulfhedinn (from Arghoslent) on drums.
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 formed in 1992 by guitarist Gelal Necrosodomy and vocalist Lord Vlad Luciferian. Lord Vlad Luciferian was later ejected from the group due to internal differences and joined the formerly Norwegian band Ancient
Ancient (band)
Ancient is a Norwegian black metal band from Eidsvåg, Nesset, formed in 1992. The band has released six full-length albums released by Metal Blade Records and a variety of mini-albums, EPs and special releases. Ancient used to have the classic raw black metal sound, similar to Darkthrone's works...
that had moved to the USA, using the new stage name Lord Kaiaphas.
The band was signed to Drakkar Productions until their disbanding due to the death of their most recent vocalist, Richard P. Mills, in 2006. Mills, who also went by Grimnir Wotansvolk and G. Heretik, (the grandson of horse breeder Alice duPont Mills
Alice du Pont Mills
Alice Francis du Pont Mills was an American aviatrix, thoroughbred race horse breeder and owner, environmentalist, philanthropist and a member of the prominent du Pont family....
) was the owner of the NSBM
National Socialist black metal
National Socialist black metal is black metal that promotes National Socialist beliefs through their lyrics and imagery. These beliefs often include: white supremacy, racial separatism, antisemitism, heterosexism, and Nazi interpretations of paganism or Satanism...
record label and distributor Vinland Winds. Having released such acts as Pantheon Vinland's Ergriffenheit 10" vinyl as well as Spear of Longinus and Graveland vinyls to boot. Its last release was an exclusive US release of Russian thrash metal
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...
band Corrosia Metalla
Corrosia Metalla
Corrosia Metalla is a Russian thrash metal band. It is notorious for its provocative black humour lyrics and public performances...
in 2008. The same year, the last Grand Belial's Key recordings were released as a split album
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
with Absurd
Absurd (band)
Absurd is one of the best-known black metal and pagan metal bands in Germany, classified as right-wing extremist by the Thuringian Landesbehörde für Verfassungsschutz....
from Germany and Sigrblot from Sweden.
The band is now active again as of 2009. In December 2009, they played Chicago's Hooligan Black Metal show, along with Heathen Hammer, Martial, and Absurd.
Although they are sometimes associated with and have performed alongside NSBM
National Socialist black metal
National Socialist black metal is black metal that promotes National Socialist beliefs through their lyrics and imagery. These beliefs often include: white supremacy, racial separatism, antisemitism, heterosexism, and Nazi interpretations of paganism or Satanism...
bands, contrary to popular belief, Grand Belial's Key is not a National Socialist Black Metal Band, instead opting for a lyrical approach in the form of general anti-Judeo-Christianity, and on the earlier releases, Satanism.
History
The band started in 1992 with "Gelal" on guitars, bass and keyboards and "Bestial Luciferian" on drums and vocals. By the end of the year they recorded their debut demo, "Goat of a Thousand Young". The next year they played their very first show with "Kommando" on bass (from Arghoslent) and with Tom Philips (from While Heaven Wept) on keyboards as guests. After the show Gelal quit the band due to his hatred toward "Bestial Luciferian."Grand Belial's Key soon split up, but "Bestial Luciferian" (now "Lord Vlad Luciferian") tried to reform GBK, bringing with him Demonic on bass. Tom Philips was set to replace Gelal before Demonic convinced him to rejoin. This lineup then recorded the "Triumph of the Hordes" demo in 1994.
After the release of the demo Gelal and Demonic found out that Lord Vlad added some female voices at one of the tracks of the recording without asking and screwed-up the deals with several record companies. Gelal, now even more angry towards Lord Vlad fired him from the band. To this day he is now credited in Grand Belial's Key as "Lord Fag Pussyferian."
After this Demonic quit the band due to lack of time, so Gelal asked The Marauder (guitar player of Arghoslent at the time) to play bass and recruited The Black Lourde of Crucifixion on drums/vocals (Cazz Grant from Crucifer) and this was the line-up which recorded the "A Witness To The Regicide" EP in 1996.
The next Lp is what would make Grand Belial's Key one of the most controversial acts in the United States Black Metal underground. Bassist Der Sturmer would replace the Marauder and the lineup then recorded the LP "Mocking The Philanthropist" on now the defunct Beligian label Wood-Nymph. The booklet of the CD release contained pictures of the band wearing shirts of far-right political bands (Bound for Glory and Spear of Longinus), leading to tour boycotts, problems and other controversy. In their first nine years, Grand Belial's Key had only played nine gigs. The album was refused distribution in Germany due to the suppossed offensive booklet despite that there was nothing National-Socialist related in the music. Wood-Nymph refused to print a new booklet and as a result the label soon died due to the poor distribution of the album. The CD would later be repressed by Morbidund Cult and Drakkar Productions in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
The follow-up to Mocking the Philanthropist was "Judeobeast Assassination," now considered a black metal classic. The album's lyrics focused on the inseperatibility of Judeo-Christianity, now mocking both the New Testament as well as the Old Testament (as opposed to MtP which focused only on the New Testament). The lyrics themselves were much more provactive and sexually perverse, although in theory were an extension of the ones found on Mocking the Philanthropist. The music of the album had a more bass-heavy mix and a thicker sound, creating a much heavier atmosphere, something relatively uncommon in Black Metal. The album itself was almost twenty minutes shorter, in order to fit it onto a piece of vinyl.
In 2002, The Black Lourde of Crucifixion left Grand Belial's Key to focus more on Crucifer and wasn't interested in touring Europe. The lineup for the "Pimps of Gennesarret Tour" was Grimnir Wotansvolk on vocals, Gelal Necrosodomy on guitar, Demonic on bass, and the Gulag on drums, the same linuep that would record "Kosherat" in 2005.
Kosherat was released in 2005 on Drakkar, and would be the final album before their disbandment. The album featured the new lineup of Grimnir Wotansvolk (later changed to Grimnir Heretik) on vocals, Gelal Necrosodomy on guitar, Demonic on bass, and the Gulag on drums. The album's central focus was on pre-Christian Judaism, mocking such rituals as the Red Heifer and male circumcision. The album also featured three re-recorded tracks from their vinyl EPs as well as two Chaos 88 covers.
In 2006, Grimmir Heretik had died of a drug overdose, signaling an end for Grand Belial's Key. Even before his death however, they had already talked of Kosherat being their last album. Their final release was a split album with Absurd, and Sigrblot titled "Weltenfiend," released in 2008.
In 2009-2010, Grand Belial's Key briefly reformed, playing successful gigs with a brief lineup of Unhold (ex-Absurd, Luror, ex-Cryogenic) on vocals, Gelal on guitar, Demonic on Bass, and Ulfhedinn (from Arghoslent) on drums.
Last known members
- Grimnir Wotansvolk (Richard Mills) – Vocals (deceased)
- Gelal Necrosodomy – Guitar
- Demonic – Bass
- The Gulag – Drums
Releases
- Goat of a Thousand Young (1992; demo)
- Triumph of the Hordes (1994; demo)
- A Witness to the Regicide (1996; EP)
- Mocking the Philanthropist (1997)
- The Tricifixion of Swine (2000; EP)
- Judeobeast Assassination (2001)
- Satan Is Metal's Master / Sperm of the Antichrist (2001; split with Nunslaughter)
- Castrate the Redeemer (2001)
- Hobo of Aramaic Tongues / Le Royaume Maudit (2003; split with Chemin de Haine)
- On a Mule Rides the Swindler (2005; EP)
- Kosherat (2005)
- Weltenfeind (2008, split with AbsurdAbsurd (band)Absurd is one of the best-known black metal and pagan metal bands in Germany, classified as right-wing extremist by the Thuringian Landesbehörde für Verfassungsschutz....
and Sigrblot)
External links
- Records of birth Richard P Mills grandson of Alice Dupont Mills
- Richard P Mills Obituary
- Grand Belial's Key at MusicMightMusicMightMusicMight, formerly Rockdetector is a rock music website which provides artist and product information through a global website and an ongoing book series...
- biography and discography on Drakkar Productions' website
- http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Grand_Belial%27s_Key/270
- http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/groupe-groupe-Grand_Belial's_Key-l-en.html