The Blood Divine
Encyclopedia
The Blood Divine was a British
goth metal band, founded in the summer of 1995 by Paul Allender
, brothers Paul
and Benjamin Ryan
, after the three left Cradle of Filth
during the recording of the V Empire (Or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein)
EP and ousted Anathema
singer Darren White. They recruited drummer William A. 'W.A.S.' Sarginson and bassist Steve Maloney
and were quickly signed up by Peaceville Records
.
Their debut album Awaken was recorded in early 1996 and released through Peaceville Records
later that year. At the end of 1996 they toured throughout Europe with Cathedral and label mates, My Dying Bride. In the early summer of 1997 they recorded their second album, 'Mystica', and guitarist Paul Allender left the band to spend more time with his family (however he eventually rejoined Cradle of Filth
). Mystica was released later that year, again through Peaceville Records
. The album had less of a goth sound and more of a classic rock influenced progressive sound. The band continued and toured as a five piece, touring the UK with Orange Goblin supporting and then a short tour of Holland at the beginning of 1998. The band were looking to develop their sound and keyboard player Benjamin Ryan was told to leave the band in April 1998. However, this caused dismay to his brother, Paul Ryan and shortly after the band split up.
In 2002, Peaceville released The Blood Divine compilation album
Rise Pantheon Dreams
. The tracklist included songs from both Awaken and Mystica, as well as two previously-unreleased tracks ("Revolt" and "Forever Belongs"), a live version of "Aureole", and a live cover of The Osmonds
' "Crazy Horses".
Allender later rejoined Cradle of Filth. Sarginson briefly joined Cradle of Filth before the band settled in with Swedish drummer Adrian Erlandsson
, who was later replaced by Martin Škaroupka.
In 2004 Darren White formed a new band, Serotonal.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
goth metal band, founded in the summer of 1995 by Paul Allender
Paul Allender
Paul Allender is the lead guitarist of the British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.-Early life:...
, brothers Paul
Paul Ryan (agent)
Paul Ryan is a British music agent for The Agency Group, and former guitarist of Cradle of Filth.His first foray into the music industry was as the original guitarist for Cradle of Filth, along with his brother Benjamin Ryan, and school friend Daniel Davey...
and Benjamin Ryan
Benjamin Ryan
Benjamin Ryan is a keyboard player and multi instrumentalist from Sudbury, in Suffolk, England.His earliest collaborations were with his guitar playing older brother Paul Ryan, with whom he went on to form Cradle of Filth, along with their school friend Daniel Davey Benjamin Ryan (brother of Paul...
, after the three left Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
during the recording of the V Empire (Or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein)
V Empire (or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein)
V Empire is an EP by British metal band Cradle of Filth, and their first release following their 1994 debut album, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh. It was the band's final release for Cacophonous Records, and was hastily written and recorded for that label as a contractual obligation, before the...
EP and ousted Anathema
Anathema (band)
Anathema are an English band from Liverpool primarily known for their ever evolving sound. Beginning as pioneers of the death/doom metal sub-genre, their later albums have been associated with genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, art rock, new prog, and post-rock.-History:Anathema...
singer Darren White. They recruited drummer William A. 'W.A.S.' Sarginson and bassist Steve Maloney
Steve Maloney
Steve Maloney is an English rock musician. He was born in London, and grew up in Essex. He currently resides in Leeds, England.He recorded two albums as bass guitarist with the metal band The Blood Divine, both released on Peaceville Records: Awaken , and Mystica...
and were quickly signed up by Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
.
Their debut album Awaken was recorded in early 1996 and released through Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
later that year. At the end of 1996 they toured throughout Europe with Cathedral and label mates, My Dying Bride. In the early summer of 1997 they recorded their second album, 'Mystica', and guitarist Paul Allender left the band to spend more time with his family (however he eventually rejoined Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
). Mystica was released later that year, again through Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
. The album had less of a goth sound and more of a classic rock influenced progressive sound. The band continued and toured as a five piece, touring the UK with Orange Goblin supporting and then a short tour of Holland at the beginning of 1998. The band were looking to develop their sound and keyboard player Benjamin Ryan was told to leave the band in April 1998. However, this caused dismay to his brother, Paul Ryan and shortly after the band split up.
In 2002, Peaceville released The Blood Divine compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Rise Pantheon Dreams
Rise Pantheon Dreams
Rise Pantheon Dreams is a compilation album by the British Gothic metal band The Blood Divine. It features tracks from both the band's albums Mystica and Awaken, plus some previously unreleased material-Track listing:#"Aureole" – 6:47...
. The tracklist included songs from both Awaken and Mystica, as well as two previously-unreleased tracks ("Revolt" and "Forever Belongs"), a live version of "Aureole", and a live cover of The Osmonds
The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied career—a career that took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols, to producing a hit television show, and to continued success as solo and group performers...
' "Crazy Horses".
Allender later rejoined Cradle of Filth. Sarginson briefly joined Cradle of Filth before the band settled in with Swedish drummer Adrian Erlandsson
Adrian Erlandsson
Adrian Erlandsson is a prolific Swedish heavy metal drummer, who currently plays in Brujeria, Netherbird, with his wife in Nemhain and in Yorkshire doom metal band Paradise Lost...
, who was later replaced by Martin Škaroupka.
In 2004 Darren White formed a new band, Serotonal.
Members
- Benjamin RyanBenjamin RyanBenjamin Ryan is a keyboard player and multi instrumentalist from Sudbury, in Suffolk, England.His earliest collaborations were with his guitar playing older brother Paul Ryan, with whom he went on to form Cradle of Filth, along with their school friend Daniel Davey Benjamin Ryan (brother of Paul...
- keyboards, organ, vocals - Paul RyanPaul Ryan (agent)Paul Ryan is a British music agent for The Agency Group, and former guitarist of Cradle of Filth.His first foray into the music industry was as the original guitarist for Cradle of Filth, along with his brother Benjamin Ryan, and school friend Daniel Davey...
- guitars - Paul AllenderPaul AllenderPaul Allender is the lead guitarist of the British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.-Early life:...
- guitars (1995–1996) - Darren White - vocals
- William A. 'W.A.S.' Sarginson - drums
- Steve MaloneySteve MaloneySteve Maloney is an English rock musician. He was born in London, and grew up in Essex. He currently resides in Leeds, England.He recorded two albums as bass guitarist with the metal band The Blood Divine, both released on Peaceville Records: Awaken , and Mystica...
- bass
Discography
- Promo Tape (Demo, 1996)
- Awaken (1996)
- Mystica (1997)
- Rise Pantheon DreamsRise Pantheon DreamsRise Pantheon Dreams is a compilation album by the British Gothic metal band The Blood Divine. It features tracks from both the band's albums Mystica and Awaken, plus some previously unreleased material-Track listing:#"Aureole" – 6:47...
(Compilation, 2002)