Denial Of God is formed
July 5th by the brothers Ustumallagam (vocals) and Azter (guitar) (the only
remaining members from back then) along with a drummer named Uksul.
Inspired by a variety of bands and artists like Alice Cooper, King Diamond,
Mercyful Fate, Death SS, Mayhem, Bathory, Infernäl Mäjesty and Hellhammer (to
name just a few) and everything related to horror, Satanism and the occult and
supernatural, the band starts writing their first early material.
1992:
This material ends up on the band’s first
demo tape entitled ”Oscularium Infame” which is released in summer 1992.
Meanwhile a bassist, Kulmar, joins the band. Being recorded simply in the
rehearsal room on a tape recorder and at a such an early stage, the sound turns
out bad and the playing is anything but tight. The demo is loved by some and
hated by many, but shows a band that does not care about the current trends at
the time and are going their own way, musically as well as lyrically and even
image-wise. It is fair to say the band becomes very much the opposite of the
currents a time where most bands will deliver stripped down shows and dealing
with the supernatural is regarded as something belonging to the past. Most
people fail to understand the concept of the band and some slag the band for the
use of horror make-up and their Satanic approach.The demo includes among others
”Dethrone the Tyrant-God!” which is still played live today and also is
re-recorded for the 1999 mini-album ”Klabautermanden”. Followingly the band
plays its first 2 shows of which the latter takes place in Sweden. Already at
these concerts the band gains a notorious reputation for their onstage antics,
which includes the use of living maggots thrown at the concert audience.
1993:
Kulmar leaves the band and is replaced for a
short time by Nomos, but he is thrown out of the band for lack of dedication and
skills, so the second demo ”The Dawn of Aemizaez”, this time a real studio
recording, is recorded as a 3-piece. The demo includes songs like ”Follow
those who died” which has since become a classic and a concert standard. The
demo is followed by a massive amount of interviews in underground magazines
around the world and Denial Of God gain a lot of reputation. ”The Dawn of
Aemizaez” is still considered by many to be one of the best demos from that
period in time.
1994:
The line-up is again completed by a new
bassist, Fargel, and with this line-up they record their first 7” EP ”The
Statues are Watching” for the Italian label Maggot.
1995:
”The Statues are Watching” (b/w a
re-recording of ”The Dawn of Aemizaez”) is released in a limited edition of
1000 copies and is immediately sold out from the label. Being impressed with the
band’s work, the UK based label Dark Trinity Productions signs the band for
the release of a mini-album and a full length album. The recording of ”The
Ghouls of DOG” begins.
1996:
Recordings for the mini-album ”The Ghouls of
DOG” are finished and the mini-CD is released during the summer. Before the
release the band plays the first live show since 1992 which is soon followed by
a 3-date mini-tour through Holland and Belgium. These concerts see the band
developing their imagery to the now wellknown ”ghoul look” which is also
shown on the front cover of ”The Ghouls of DOG”. While loved by some, the
band is again despised by mainly reviewers, often focusing more on the imagery (the
band pictures show a naked woman being bitten and bleeding and the ghouls of DOG
standing on a grave with human bones and skulls) than the music and lyrics.
Denial Of God are, however, again not impressed by the reviewers’ opinion (on
the contrary), knowing that this is all a part of their hideous horror themed
Metal. The mini-album includes the darkest and most creepy material yet, among
others the 8-minute epic ”The Crypt has Eyes”. After an additional live show
bassplayer Fargel is thrown out of the band for his lack of dedication and the
band once again continues a 3-piece.
1997:
New songs are written, but early in the year
Uksul decides to leave the band and leave Ustumallagam and Azter behind as the
only original members. Right before his departure some new songs are recorded as
demos. These recordings are the last to feature Uksul on drums and at the same
time the first to feature some vocals by soon-to-be bassist Isaz. She joins a
few months later and becomes the last member of the line-up which has meanwhile
been joined by Sorgh on drums. Once again the horror continues.
1998:
Being dissatisfied with the ways of Dark
Trinity Productions, Denial Of God leaves the label and signs with Hammerheart
Records for the release of a new mini-album and a full length album. Due to the
distance between the members rehearsals are few, but the band enters the studio
at the end of the year to record the mini-album to be entitled ”Klabautermanden”.
1999:
In spring a 7” EP entitled ”The Curse of
the Witch” is released on Sombre Records to shorten the wait for the upcoming
mini-album. This 7” EP contains demo recordings from 1997 and is mainly meant
as a collector’s item and as a life sign to show the band is still in
existence. Shortly after the band is once again incomplete as Sorgh decides to
leave the band, but a new session drummer is found in R. Salskov. ”Klabautermanden”
is released and the title track becomes the first and up till today only song
with lyrics in their own language. At the same time the band decides to
re-record two old songs along with some cover songs for the release on two 7”
EPs. The band performs one live show this year which causes them to be banned
from ever playing the place again due to the gory trail left behind from the raw
meat mixed with blood and maggots.
2000:
Again the band parts ways with their label.
Not only did the label release the mini-album without the lyrics printed (something
the band always did since the first demo, believing the lyrics are an important
factor of the concept), but also fails to promote the band in a proper way and
generally back out as the band is not commercial enough for them, relying too
much on major distributions and reviewers. The ”The Crypt has Eyes” 7” EP
is released and the limited edition is again sold out fast. The 7” EP is
backed with a haunting cover of Death SS’ classic ”Terror”. Another live
show (the band’s 10th) is played and again the band has to face arguing over
the bloody live show. While the venues despise the band, the reactions from the
audience reaches from amazement to shock, but the ghouls leave their impression
as always. The summer furthermore sees the release of ”The Ghouls of DOG”
with bonus tracks on cassette format on the Russian label Oupiric Productions
and the name starts to spread in Eastern Europe and other countries where the
cassette format is still the most common. The band continues to rehearse (although
again on a rare basis as the band members still live far from each other).
2001:
”The Crypt has Eyes” is re-released due to
the high demand for it and is followed shortly after by the second 7” EP
entitled ”Robbing the Grave of the Priest” on Warlord Records. This one is
backed with a haunting cover of Mayhem’s classic ”Funeral Fog”.
In May the band plays at the ”2 heavy 4 you!” festival in Sweden, presenting
among old classics also some new songs from the forthcoming album, and once
again leaves the stage all bloody.
2002:
The band is still waiting for Warlord Records to re-release sold out "Robbing the Grave of the Priest" 7" EP as a picture disc. This one will be a completely new pressiong as the band is not satisfied with the quality of the previous pressing.
Furthermore Oupiric Productions will release a compilation video (VHS) with Denial Of God and 5 other bands. The band will be featured with a small band presentation and a video for "Robbing the Grave of the Priest"-
Curently the band is preparing the songwriting and rehearsals for the very long awaited album "The Horrors of Satan". This album will be proceeded by a 12"/CD-single entitled "A Night in Transylvania" which will contain one track from the album, an accoustic version of "The Iron Gibbet" (also on the album, but in a heavy version) and a cover of the Dutch band Future Tense's "Swords of Vengeance. These recordings will be the last to feature R. Salskov as a session drummer and hopefully a new permanent member will be found after that. This is the current release schedule (order of releases might change along the way):
- "Oupiric Slaughter" compilation VHS (Oupiric Productions)
- "Robbing the Grave of the Priest" picture 7" EP (Warlord Records)
- "The Dawn of Aemizaez: Demos 1992-1993" LP (TBA)
- "The Ghouls of DOG" picture mini-LP (Painkiller Records)
- "Klabautermanden" mini-LP (Painkiller Records)
- TBA CD (to include both mini-albums) (TBA)
- "A Night in Transylvania" 12"/CD-single (Painkiller Records)
- "The Horrors of Satan" LP/picture LP/CD/Digipack CD (Painkiller Records)