History of a Time to Come
Encyclopedia
History of a Time to Come is the debut full-length album by the British thrash metal
band Sabbat
.
During the second half of 1986, guitarist Andy Sneap
distributed the tape to magazines and several heavy metal record labels, including Berlin-based recording company Noise Records
. After hearing the demonstration tape, Noise Records
expressed interest in the band and asked to hear more material.
The demonstration tape was also sent to Tommy Vance
of BBC Radio 1
's Friday Rock Show, to see if he would review it in his column for Metal Hammer
magazine. Vance was so impressed he offered the band a recording session for his radio show.
On 6 February 1987, the band recorded three songs live in the studio at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios
, London, for the Friday Rock Show, which was broadcast on 27 February 1987.
Prompted by Noise Records
’s request to hear more material, a copy of the BBC session was duly provided to the record company. Shortly afterwards, in March 1987, Noise Records
offered the band a recording contract, which the band accepted, albeit the contract could not be signed until Sneap (the youngest member of the band) turned 18 years old in July 1987.
Immediately plans were put in place to record the band’s debut LP at Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, Germany, in September 1987.
Before heading to Germany, the band was contacted by John Blanche
, Art Director for White Dwarf
magazine, who proposed that the band record a song for release as a free Flexi disc
to accompany the magazine. The band agreed, and the song “Blood for the Blood God” was recorded in August 1987 and released as intended with the magazine in November 1987.
magazine before the recording of the album, Sneap set out the band’s plans for their debut LP, stating:
“All the tracks from the 'Fragments of a Faith Forgotten' demo will be on it and also 'The 13th Disciple' from the Friday Rock Show session, plus other tracks such as 'A Church Bizarre', 'I for an Eye', 'Behind the Crooked Cross' and the instrumental 'A Dead Man's Robe'".
The album was recorded at Horus Sound Studio commencing on 14 September 1987. It was subsequently mixed in Berlin by producer Roy M Rowland and released on 20 April 1988, bearing artwork drawn by the band’s White Dwarf
contact, John Blanche
, entitled “Horned Is the Hunter”.
), and five bonus live tracks, recorded in East Berlin
in 1990:
The song is based on the classic German tale of the scholar Faust
who makes a bargain with the devil’s representative Mephistopheles
which permits Faust
to enjoy the devil’s powers but ultimately in an exchange for Faust
's soul which sees Faust
eternally damned
.
magazine after the recording of the album, lyricist Martin Walkyier explained that "Hosanna in Excelsis" describes “the last fight between Heaven and Hell and is based on the bible”, referring to the subject matter of the Book of Revelation
. The title of the song is a reference to part of the Sanctus
hymn which traditionally forms the fourth part of a Mass
in Classical music
.
’s book, “Hitler and the Age of Horus”. The book includes an exploration of Adolf Hitler
’s mystical and occult influences, positing a connection between philosophies expounded by Aleister Crowley
, namely, the rise of Nazism as evidence of the fulfillment of Crowley’s prophecy of the imminent Age of Horus. This exploration includes a consideration of Nazi symbolism, represented most potently by the Swastika
, or “crooked cross”.
Speaking to Metal Forces
magazine before the album’s recording, Walkyier stated that the song addresses “the question was Hitler a madman or a magician?... I think he was obviously a madman.”
at that time, the song bemoans the fate of paganism, symbolically represented by the horned ruler Pan, following the arrival into Western Europe of Christianity
.
, Lucifer
.
magazine shortly after the recording of the album, Walkyier stated that “For Those Who Died” is “about the inquisition in the Middle Ages.” In particular the song addresses the Catholic Church’s persecution during the Medieval Inquisition
of those it considered guilty of heresy
.
shortly before the album’s release, bassist Frazer Craske explained that he and Walkyier had attended a sermon by evangelist Billy Graham
. Craske described Graham “as an extremely dangerous American who makes his living spreading the word of God”. Martin Walkyier stated that "I went with an open mind… but what put me off was all those millions of people watching him and he's standing there with a massive stage-show and loads of money. If that is what his religion's about, then I don't want anything to do with it. It was really centred on money." This disillusionment is apparent in the lyrics of “The Church Bizarre”, a cynical story of evangelism and its pursuit of material gain.
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 Sabbat
Sabbat (band)
Sabbat are a thrash metal band from Nottingham, England, currently consisting of Martin Walkyier , Andy Sneap , Simon Jones , Gizz Butt and Simon Negus . Over the years Sabbat have released three studio albums, four demos, two split singles/compilation albums, two singles and a live VHS...
.
Background
In May 1986, Sabbat recorded a 4 track demonstration tape entitled “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten”, recorded at a cost of £10 in a converted farmhouse near Ripley, Derbyshire.During the second half of 1986, guitarist Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
distributed the tape to magazines and several heavy metal record labels, including Berlin-based recording company Noise Records
Noise Records
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
. After hearing the demonstration tape, Noise Records
Noise Records
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
expressed interest in the band and asked to hear more material.
The demonstration tape was also sent to Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance was a British pop radio broadcaster, born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. He was one of the few music broadcasters in the United Kingdom to champion hard rock and heavy metal in the early 1980s, providing the only national radio forum for both bands and fans...
of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Friday Rock Show, to see if he would review it in his column for Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
magazine. Vance was so impressed he offered the band a recording session for his radio show.
On 6 February 1987, the band recorded three songs live in the studio at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
, London, for the Friday Rock Show, which was broadcast on 27 February 1987.
Prompted by Noise Records
Noise Records
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
’s request to hear more material, a copy of the BBC session was duly provided to the record company. Shortly afterwards, in March 1987, Noise Records
Noise Records
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
offered the band a recording contract, which the band accepted, albeit the contract could not be signed until Sneap (the youngest member of the band) turned 18 years old in July 1987.
Immediately plans were put in place to record the band’s debut LP at Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, Germany, in September 1987.
Before heading to Germany, the band was contacted by John Blanche
John Blanche
John Blanche is a British fantasy and science fiction illustrator and modeler known for his work for Games Workshop's White Dwarf magazine, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and Warhammer 40,000 games and his role as art director for the company, including his work in the field...
, Art Director for White Dwarf
White Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
magazine, who proposed that the band record a song for release as a free Flexi disc
Flexi disc
The flexi disc is a phonograph record made of a thin, flexible vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove, and is designed to be playable on a normal phonograph turntable...
to accompany the magazine. The band agreed, and the song “Blood for the Blood God” was recorded in August 1987 and released as intended with the magazine in November 1987.
Writing, Recording and Release
Speaking to Metal ForcesMetal Forces
The British publication Metal Forces emerged during 1983 and aided greatly in the promotion of metal and rock genre music. The magazine was well known for its coverage of unsigned bands through its Demolition feature and championed the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, HellsBelles, Overkill,...
magazine before the recording of the album, Sneap set out the band’s plans for their debut LP, stating:
“All the tracks from the 'Fragments of a Faith Forgotten' demo will be on it and also 'The 13th Disciple' from the Friday Rock Show session, plus other tracks such as 'A Church Bizarre', 'I for an Eye', 'Behind the Crooked Cross' and the instrumental 'A Dead Man's Robe'".
The album was recorded at Horus Sound Studio commencing on 14 September 1987. It was subsequently mixed in Berlin by producer Roy M Rowland and released on 20 April 1988, bearing artwork drawn by the band’s White Dwarf
White Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
contact, John Blanche
John Blanche
John Blanche is a British fantasy and science fiction illustrator and modeler known for his work for Games Workshop's White Dwarf magazine, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and Warhammer 40,000 games and his role as art director for the company, including his work in the field...
, entitled “Horned Is the Hunter”.
Track listing
- "Intro" – 2:00
- "A Cautionary Tale" – 4:15
- "Hosanna in Excelsis" – 4:00
- "Behind the Crooked Cross" – 6:00
- "Horned Is the Hunter" – 8:08
- "I for an Eye" – 5:22
- "For Those Who Died" – 6:25
- "A Dead Man's Robe" – 4:48
- "The Church Bizarre" – 5:07
2007 re-release
On February 19, 2007, History of a Time to Come was re-released. The new edition features an expanded booket with extra photos and liner notes, a remastered sound (done by the band's own Andy SneapAndy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
), and five bonus live tracks, recorded in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
in 1990:
- "Hosanna in Excelsis (Live)"
- "Behind the Crooked Cross (Live)"
- "I for An Eye (Live)"
- "For Those Who Died (Live)"
- "The Church Bizarre (Live)"
"A Cautionary Tale"
One of the band’s oldest songs, "A Cautionary Tale" was recorded for the demonstration tape “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten” in May 1986 and was also recorded by the band for its BBC radio session in February 1987.The song is based on the classic German tale of the scholar Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
who makes a bargain with the devil’s representative Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles is a demon featured in German folklore...
which permits Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
to enjoy the devil’s powers but ultimately in an exchange for Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
's soul which sees Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
eternally damned
Damnation
Damnation is the concept of everlasting divine punishment and/or disgrace, especially the punishment for sin as threatened by God . A damned being "in damnation" is said to be either in Hell, or living in a state wherein they are divorced from Heaven and/or in a state of disgrace from God's favor...
.
"Hosanna in Excelsis"
This is another early Sabbat song which was first recorded for the demonstration tape “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten” in May 1986. Speaking to Metal HammerMetal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
magazine after the recording of the album, lyricist Martin Walkyier explained that "Hosanna in Excelsis" describes “the last fight between Heaven and Hell and is based on the bible”, referring to the subject matter of the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
. The title of the song is a reference to part of the Sanctus
Sanctus
The Sanctus is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung as the final words of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine...
hymn which traditionally forms the fourth part of a Mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
in Classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
.
"Behind the Crooked Cross"
One of the band’s more recently composed songs at the time of the recording of the album, "Behind the Crooked Cross" is based upon themes raised in historian and biographer Gerald SusterGerald Suster
Gerald Suster was a British historian, occult writer, and novelist. He was best known for his biographies of Aleister Crowley and Israel Regardie .-Family life:Suster's father, Ilya Suster, an entrepreneur in the egg products industry, was born Ilya Shusterovich...
’s book, “Hitler and the Age of Horus”. The book includes an exploration of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
’s mystical and occult influences, positing a connection between philosophies expounded by Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, namely, the rise of Nazism as evidence of the fulfillment of Crowley’s prophecy of the imminent Age of Horus. This exploration includes a consideration of Nazi symbolism, represented most potently by the Swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
, or “crooked cross”.
Speaking to Metal Forces
Metal Forces
The British publication Metal Forces emerged during 1983 and aided greatly in the promotion of metal and rock genre music. The magazine was well known for its coverage of unsigned bands through its Demolition feature and championed the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, HellsBelles, Overkill,...
magazine before the album’s recording, Walkyier stated that the song addresses “the question was Hitler a madman or a magician?... I think he was obviously a madman.”
"Horned Is the Hunter"
In February 1987, Sabbat’s BBC session had included as song called “The 13th Disciple”. For the album, the music for this song was given new lyrics, and entitled “Horned Is the Hunter”. Reflective of Walkyier’s burgeoning interest in paganismPaganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
at that time, the song bemoans the fate of paganism, symbolically represented by the horned ruler Pan, following the arrival into Western Europe of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
"I for an Eye"
Another newer song at the time of recording, "I for an Eye" tells the biblical story of the fallen angelFallen angel
Fallen angel is a concept developed in Jewish mythology from interpretation of the Book of Enoch. The actual term fallen angel is not found in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament. Christians adopted the concept of fallen angels mainly based on their interpretations of the Book of...
, Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
.
"For Those Who Died"
The third of the older songs which had first been recorded for the demonstration tape “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten” in May 1986, “For Those Who Died” had also been recorded by the band for its BBC radio session in February 1987. Speaking to Metal HammerMetal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
magazine shortly after the recording of the album, Walkyier stated that “For Those Who Died” is “about the inquisition in the Middle Ages.” In particular the song addresses the Catholic Church’s persecution during the Medieval Inquisition
Medieval Inquisition
The Medieval Inquisition is a series of Inquisitions from around 1184, including the Episcopal Inquisition and later the Papal Inquisition...
of those it considered guilty of heresy
Christian heresy
Christian heresy refers to non-orthodox practices and beliefs that were deemed to be heretical by one or more of the Christian churches. In Western Christianity, the term "heresy" most commonly refers to those beliefs which were declared to be anathema by the Catholic Church prior to the schism of...
.
"The Church Bizarre"
Speaking to Kerrang!Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
shortly before the album’s release, bassist Frazer Craske explained that he and Walkyier had attended a sermon by evangelist Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
. Craske described Graham “as an extremely dangerous American who makes his living spreading the word of God”. Martin Walkyier stated that "I went with an open mind… but what put me off was all those millions of people watching him and he's standing there with a massive stage-show and loads of money. If that is what his religion's about, then I don't want anything to do with it. It was really centred on money." This disillusionment is apparent in the lyrics of “The Church Bizarre”, a cynical story of evangelism and its pursuit of material gain.
Line-Up
- Andy SneapAndy SneapAndy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Martin WalkyierMartin WalkyierMartin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal band Sabbat in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey to form a heavy metal band with strong folk...
- vocals - Simon Negus - drums
- Frazer Craske - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Credits
- All music by Andy SneapAndy SneapAndy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
- All lyrics by Martin WalkyierMartin WalkyierMartin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal band Sabbat in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey to form a heavy metal band with strong folk...
- Produced by Roy M. Rowland
- 1st Engineer: Roy M. Rowland
- 2nd Engineer: Steve The Rock Rispin
- Artwork by John BlancheJohn BlancheJohn Blanche is a British fantasy and science fiction illustrator and modeler known for his work for Games Workshop's White Dwarf magazine, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and Warhammer 40,000 games and his role as art director for the company, including his work in the field...