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ACHERON BAND PAGE
 ACHERON
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CURRENT NAME
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Acheron | |
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FORMER NAMES
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- | |
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ORIGIN
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Tampa, Florida, USA | |
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STATUS
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Active | |
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FORMED IN
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1988 | |
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LABEL
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Displeased Records | |
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GENRE
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Black metal; Death metal | |
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STYLE
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- | |
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LYRICAL THEME
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- | |
| BAND ADDED | 2004-04-09, 00:00 | |
| LAST UPDATE | 2009-11-05, 15:17 | |
Biography | Band members | Discography | Shows | Videos | Forum
| Band biography |
Acheron started off by releasing several well-received demos, each generating interest among various record labels. Their first demo, “Messe Noir”, was later pressed as a limited edition 7-inch record (666 copies) on Belgium's Reaper Records. In 1991, the band signed to Turbo Music/JL America Records and recorded their first full-length album, “Rites of the Black Mass”. This became an underground classic, the first musical recording to use traditional Black Mass texts with gothic/symphonic interludes between each song. Here was an authentic Satanic Black Mass, demonstrating that Acheron was neither a fad nor gimmick. A decade later, this classic album was re-released in a limited edition pressing on Metal Age Recordings.
The topic of Acheron's new album caught the eye of a short-lived American talk show on NBC called "Cristina". Crowley became aware of this and flew to Miami, Florida, to discuss his views of satanic music and its influence on people. The show was full of Christian lies and propaganda, yet Crowley stood firm on his beliefs. A clip from the show featuring Crowley later appeared on "Entertainment Tonight", when they did a story about "Cristina".
In 1992, Gutted Records (soon to become Metal Merchant Records) released “Alla Xul”. This was a 7-inch record in which the first 500 copies were pressed in blood-red vinyl. Only 1000 copies of this album were released.
That same year, Acheron signed to Lethal Records and released a mini-CD entitled “Satanic Victory” and another full-length album entitled “Lex Talionis”.
Anton Szandor LaVey (the late founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan) kept his eye on Crowley's progress, both musically and as a spokesperson of Satanism. In 1994, Dr. LaVey appointed Crowley to the Church of Satan priesthood, an honor that was proudly accepted. Crowley was later promoted to the rank of Magister, thus proving him to be more than a musician using satanic imagery for kicks. This acknowledgment came long before rock star Marilyn Manson ever became a priest within LaVey's organization.
When Lethal Records finally released “Satanic Victory”, it was not what the band envisioned, so Acheron put together a new version and released it on Metal Merchant Records. This new version included 2 extra songs from the "Alla Xul" 7-inch, and a setting by Peter H. Gilmore of Anton LaVey's "Nine Satanic Statements" (to serve as intros and outros), as well as completely new packaging. This album was entitled “Hail Victory” and was pressed in a limited amount of 1000 copies for the true Acheron fans.
Shortly thereafter, the band's notoriety received attention from Christian commentator and evangelist Bob Larson, the host of "Talk Back" and "Bob Larson Live". Crowley soon became Larson's invited adversary for several though provoking encounters. When Larson visited a church in Largo, Florida, he dared Acheron to confront him face to face. The challenge was met in a debate before 2000 Christians who for their first introduction to real Satanism. When Larson condemned Acheron's music and stage shows, Crowley tore a Holy Bible asunder before the altar and contemptuously tossed the shredded scriptures into the audience of Christian fanatics. Security guards then were forced to usher the band through the side exit to avoid the newly enraged mob. Larson later dedicated a broadcast of "Talk Back" to the encounter, admitting to the bravery of the band while condemning their philosophy. Larson, unable to resist temptation, later invited Acheron to Denver, Colorado, to appear in his studio for the recording of a video debate. The resulting video, “The Devil and Death Metal”, was a memorable one-hour knockdown drag-out clash that became a heavily traded underground hit.
After a two-year hiatus, Crowley started Acheron's wheels in motion again. This time with the new element of keyboards that would help evolve the music of the band, without compromising the known Acheron style.
To Crowley's surprise, an unauthorized Acheron video, called “Lust, Sin, Chaos and Blasphemy” surfaced in 1995. It was a semi-pro shot video that used 14 Acheron songs and a previously conducted interview with Crowley. It was an extreme production of over-the-top footage combined with Acheron's blasphemous songs. The video is not meant for the weak at heart of the easily offended.
Acheron was then featured on several compilation albums, including Turbo Music/JL America Records' Triumph of Death and Brutal Aggression, and Nuclear Blast's European version of Death is Just the Beginning 3. Both of these recordings are limited and difficult to find.
In 1996, Moribund Records signed the band to their ungodly cult of evil. It was here that Acheron released the blasphemous mini-CD entitled “Anti-God, Anti-Christ”. The MCD received many excellent reviews from fanzines and magazines worldwide. A Brazilian version was released on Demise records featuring 2 bonus tracks, a new version of Ave Satanas and a live, Halloween Night recording of Blessed by Damnation. Merciless Records from Germany released a vinyl version of the MCD with the addition of 2 bonus tracks.
Another surprise came in form of England's Blackened Records releasing a 2-in-1 CD of Lex Talionis and Satanic Victory. This release received a lot of distribution, while being promoted as "the band that was ahead of their time". The band frowned upon this bootleg; however, it did help introduce Acheron’s sound to more people.
Acheron's nemesis Bob Larson later got his own television show on the popular Christian broadcast network, TBN. Larson invited Crowley to Texas to debate him on his new show. Crowley accepted the offer and headed to Texas. This time the crowd wasn't hostile and even though the debate seemed to going over many people's heads, it was still very entertaining to see. And after Larson dubbed Crowley "The Evilest Rock Musician in America", many people approached Crowley afterwards and commended him on his honesty and knowledge of true Satanism. A home video of this debate has been released under the title of “Highway to Hell”.
Soon after the debate, Acheron recorded their next full-length album “Those Who Have Risen”, which was based upon the mythos and teachings of the Temple of the Vampire. This actual religious body blessed Acheron's efforts to produce a call to all those children of the night, so that they may preserve their royal bloodline. Crowley is an initiate of the Priesthood of UR, a secretive order of the Inner Temple. This album revealing true vampirism was originally supposed to be released on Moribund Records. However, some difficulties did arise and the album was released on Full Moon Productions.
Merciless Records released a limited edition “Necromanteion Communion” picture disc, which featured the title track and a cover song of Bathory's "Raise The Dead". Satanic artist Tim Bishop rendered vinyl art for this picture disk. Acheron has also been featured on Lost Disciple Records' Visionaries of the Macabre Vol. 1 compilation CD, Alabaster Records compilation CD So Mote It Be and Full Moon Productions' Tribute to Hell compilation CD. The band has definitely been generating a lot of hype within the scene. Acheron is also featured on several Dwell Records' tribute albums including tributes to Iron Maiden (A Call to Irons 2), Motorhead (Dead Forever), Kiss (Kiss of Death), Judas Priest (Hell Bent for Metal 2), Black Sabbath (Hell Rules 2), and Venom (In the Sign of the Horns). Still Dead Productions from Poland included the band on their Mercyful Fate tribute called The Unholy Sounds of the Demon Bell. Full Moon Productions has also released a tribute to Kreator featuring the band as well.
On August 20th, 1999, Crowley, frustrated with the volatile music scene in Tampa officially broke up Acheron and moved to the Columbus, OH area. Acheron’s projected forthcoming album The Apocalypse was revamped by Crowley and given life in his musical project Wolfen Society. This hate-filled band features members of Incantation, Dark Funeral and The Electric Hellfire Club which has released the album in the form of the mini CD Conquer Divine (House of Death Records / No Fashion Records), and the upcoming full-length album Misanthropic Race. It was during this time of transition that Crowley parted ways with the Church of Satan citing a desire to not be affiliated with ANY organization (although he remains dedicated to the Left Hand Path).
In the year 2001, after a 2-year break-up, Crowley has re-invoked the dark forces of Acheron along with long time lead guitarist Micheal Estes who has been busying himself with his other band Burning Inside. The band has also added new members in keyboard/vocalist Aaron Werner (formerly of the Columbus, OH based band Soul Destruction) and drummer Daniel Zink (ex-Pitboss 2000). After 10 years of musical collaboration, Acheron will no longer be working with Peter Gilmore but will rather instead utilize Werner’s keyboard compositions in an attempt to work as a complete unit. The band is currently in the midst of writing a new album, tentatively entitled “Rebirth”. The new album promises to be Acheron’s darkest and most intense album to date.
Also in the year 2001, after a long wait and many delays, Full Moon Productions has released a collector's album from Acheron entitled Compendium Diablerie: The Demo Days, which will contain 21 tracks of demo material from 1989 - 1995. This album is a must for all die hard fans. Acheron has been featured in hundreds if magazines and fanzines from all over the globe including Metal Maniacs, Sounds of Death, Pit Magazine, The Grimoire of Exalted Deeds, Scapegoat, Deftone, Satan’s Sweet Slavery, Ablaze as well as many more worldwide. The band's new fan base reaches far beyond the Black/Death Metal genre. Their music also tends to attract the likes of Gothic, Industrial and Atmospheric fans. If all goes well, touring will begin sometime in late 2001 or early 2002.
Like the archetype of Satan himself, Acheron can not and will not rest until total world conquest is achieved and all enemies are eliminated from existence. Praise the ways of Xomaly! Ad Majorem Satanae Gloriam!
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"Ave Satanas" performed live. Date and location unknown.
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