Akercocke

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)

Akercocke is an English progressive blackened death metal band From London, England. They take their name from a talking monkey in Robert Nye's interpretation of the Faust-legend, and are notable for their heavily Satanic and sexual lyrical content.

Biography

The band was formed in 1997 by guitarist Jason Mendonca and drummer David Gray, who soon added second guitarist Paul Scanlan and bassist Peter Theobalds. They self-released their first album, Rape of the Bastard Nazarene, in 1999; after this release met with some success, they were signed to the underground Peaceville Records. Their debut release for the new company was 2001's The Goat of Mendes, previously released on the band's own Goat of Mendes label. 2003 saw the release of Choronzon, on Earache Records.The band embarked on an exhaustive tour of the US to promote the album and parted company with guitarist Paul Scanlan upon their return. He was replaced by Matt Wilcock, formerly of Australian metal band The Berzerker.

Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone was released in Britain and Europe in October 2005, and in the United States in February 2006, on Earache Records. To promote the album, Akercocke went on tour with Mortician and Blood Red Throne through Europe. Prior to this, they had played four shows in Britain to promote the new album, supported by fellow British death metallers Ted Maul. On January 18, 2007, Theobalds left the band, citing personal differences. He was replaced by Peter Benjamin of the band Corpsing.

Akercocke released their fifth album, Antichrist, in May of 2007, their last album on the Earache label, as they were only contracted to them for three albums. A video has been released for the song "Axiom", directed by Erica Herbert of HSI London, and deemed "a unique and beautiful visual outing" by Jason Mendonca.^[1]

The band’s Antichrist album release was met with controversy from Christian groups, mostly notably in America, where a printing plant refused to print the album’s inlay booklet, because they refuse to print "satanic materials," according to an Earache representative. Jason Mendonca commented that he didn’t find the booklet "overtly anti-Christian" and their refusal to print it was "really ugly. And it smacks of fascism to me."^[2]

The band also generated controversy in Northern Ireland when they scheduled a tour date in Belfast on May 18, 2007 and also appeared on BBC1’s debate show Nolan Live on May 16, 2007, to defend their right to play the gig.^[3]On that show they came under fire from Christian groups who believed they were spreading a dangerous message to Northern Ireland’s youth.

On August 4, 2007, the band played a special 10^th Anniversary Concert at the Underworld in London, which was filmed for a live DVD^[4] set to be released alongside a new, as yet untitled, album in 2010^[5].

2008 saw the return of original member Martin Bonsoir to Akercocke.

Members

Current members

• Jason Mendonca - vocals, guitar
• David Gray - drums
• Matt Wilcock - guitar
• Peter Benjamin - bass guitar
• Martin Bonsoir - keyboards/sampler

Former members

• Paul Scanlan - guitar (1997 - 2005)
• "The Ritz" - keyboards (2001 - 2006)
• Peter Theobalds - bass guitar (1997 - 2007)

Discography

• Rape of the Bastard Nazarene (CD, 1999)
• The Goat of Mendes (CD, 2001)
• Choronzon (CD, 2003)
• Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone (CD, 2005)
• Antichrist (CD, 2007)

Videography

• "The Goat"
• "Horns of Baphomet"
• "Infernal Rites"
• "Leviathan"
• "Axiom"

A video for "Intractable" was filmed in August 2006 but later abandoned during post-production. It was filmed in an exclusive gentleman's club in London's Soho district. The documentary film "Words that go unspoken, deeds that go undone" is available on a special edition CD/DVD format of the same album...

References

1. ^ Mendonca, Jason, Akercocke to Film 10-Year-Anniversary Concert For Live DVD/CD - June 27, 2007, http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=75623 
2. ^ Mendonca, Jason, Metal Hammer New Article - Akercocke on 'Antichrist' BBC debate, http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=46535 
3. ^ Akercocke to Play Belfast Tonight Despite Protests - May 18, 2007, http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=72827 
4. ^ Akercocke to Film 10-Year-Anniversary Concert for Live DVD/CD - June 27, 2007, http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=75623 
5. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=128018

External links

• Official website
• Akercocke at MySpace
• Akercocke at Musicmight
• Akercocke on Allmusic.com