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Apollyon Sun

 
Artist: Apollyon Sun

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  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Sub

Biography

Thomas Gabriel Fischer (aka Tom G. Warrior) is one of the true legends of European heavy metal. As mastermind behind legendary avant-garde Swiss thrashers Celtic Frost, the man needs no further introduction, as his countless innovations in the genre are still studied as gospel by generation upon generation of young aspiring metal gods. But Fischer's story did not end with Celtic Frost and following some years of inactivity, the vocalist/guitarist returned with a new band project called Apollyon Sun. Also featuring former Coroner drummer (and Frost roadie) Marky Edelmann, guitarist Erol Unala, bassist Dany Zingg and keyboard player Roger Muller, the band's 1998 debut E.P. God Leaves (And Dies) bore little resemblance to the Celtic Frost of old, but anyone familiar with Fischer's C.V. knew this was to be expected. Heavily infused with elements of electronic music and industrial metal tendencies, both this and subsequent long player, 2000's simply named Sub (where programmer Donovan Szypura replaced Muller) were released by Sanctuary Records. Just how viable or long-term a venture Apollyon Sun may become for Fischer remains to be seen, but given these early clues, his disposition towards the new and constantly breaking new creative ground remains undiminished. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Apollyon Sun
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Apollyon Sun
Origin Zürich, Switzerland
Genre(s) Industrial metal
Electronica
Trip hop
Years active 1995—2001
Label(s) Mayan Records
Associated acts Celtic Frost
Hellhammer
Coroner
Former members
Tom Gabriel Fischer—Vocals/Guitars
Erol Unala—Guitars
Donovan John Szypura—Programming
Roger Muller—Synth and Programming
Danny Zingg—Bass
Stephen Priestly—Drums
Marky Edelmann—Drums

Apollyon Sun was an Industrial project formed by singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer and guitarist Erol Unala in early 1995, after the termination of Celtic Frost, Fischer's prior group. The group was unofficially dissolved in 2001 when Fischer invited Erol Unala to contribute to the reformation of Celtic Frost. Their name is taken from the Celtic Frost demo "Under Apollyon's Sun."

Contents

Biography

The band were first discovered in 1997 by London-based Sanctuary Music Management, on the strength of their Industry Demonstration EP. Subsequently managed by Rod Smallwood and Merck Mercuriadis, Apollyon Sun released a five-track debut mini-album - God Leaves (And Dies) on London's Mayan Records in summer of 1998 and then contributed "God Leaves" and "Relinquished Body" for the soundtrack of top-rated BBC TV show "City Central".

Work on a full album, Sub, began at London's Trident Studios that same year, with renown producer Roli Mosimann (Björk, Marilyn Manson, Faith No More). Further recording and mixing sessions took place at Manhattan's EastSide Sound, London's Nomis Studios, and at various studio locations in Switzerland. Sub features prominent final mixes by Mosimann, John Fryer (HIM, Nine Inch Nails), and Apollyon Sun themselves. Sub was released globally through Mayan Records in late summer 2000, after two years of studio work. Fall 2000 saw the band's first international concerts, among them a very radical and uncompromising show attached to the UK's "Kerrang! Awards", in London.

In 2001 and 2002, Apollyon Sun made further soundtrack contributions for the BBC, among them music for the high profile TV production "Red Cap" with Tamzin Outwaithe. Unala and Fischer also participated in former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's (Foo Fighters) Probot album project. Co-written by Grohl, Fischer and Unala, the resulting song "Big Sky" features Fischer on vocals and Unala on guitars.

Work on Apollyon Sun's third album, tentatively titled Flesh, began as early as 2000, this time at the band's own newly expanded studio facilities in Switzerland as well as at Unala's and Fischer's home recording studios. The resurgence of Celtic Frost and the songwriting and recording work for Celtic Frost's first album in 13 years served to temporarily put Apollyon Sun on hiatus and interrupt work on Flesh - Celtic Frost had not only required Fischer's services again but also asked Unala to join the re-formed project as the band's guitarist and programmer.

Apollyon Sun's activities has remained on hold since Fischer and Unala departed for Celtic Frost. Guitarist Unala has not continued any Apollyon Sun activities since leaving Celtic Frost in 2006. Fischer has since stated he has no intention of contributing to Apollyon Sun again.

Chronology

  • 1995 - formation of the AS project by Fischer and Unala, out of the remains of avant-garde pioneers Celtic Frost (Into the Pandemonium).
  • 1997 - release of legendary AS five-track Industry Demonstration CD to overwhelming media and industry response, and discovery of the band by Rod Smallwood and Merck Mercuriadis (Pet Shop Boys, Crispian Mills, Iron Maiden).
  • 1998 - international release of AS debut EP God Leaves (And Dies) on Sanctuary Records/Mayan Records. "Apollyon Sun are attracting a lot of attention and quite rightly so" (Phantasmagoria.com review, 2000).
  • 1998/99 - recording sessions for Sub album in London, New York, and Switzerland. Produced by AS and Roli Mosimann (Björk, Marilyn Manson, Faith No More), mixed by Mosimann and John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, HIM). Soundtrack work for BBC TV, London.
  • 2000- worldwide release of first full AS album Sub on Sanctuary Records. "I have this album, be warned its tracks won't leave your head alone" (customer feedback, amazon.com).
  • 2000 - international concert debut in London, England. "I have never seen anything that compares to Apollyon Sun's show" (Valerie Potter, Metal Hammer UK, 2000).
  • 2001 - invitation to contribute a song to the "Probot" project by Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters).
  • 2001 - continued songwriting and recording sessions for third album Flesh; further soundtrack work for BBC TV, London.

Discography

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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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