Hecate Enthroned are a symphonic black metal band from Cheshire, England.
Biography
The band formed in 1993 under the name Daemonum by singer Jon and guitarist Nigel, as a black/death metal hybrid. After a few practices and recording a demo, vocalist Jon left the band after taking up an offer to join Cradle of Filth as their bassist. However during which time Jon was also heavily involved in the production of Dusk And Her Embrace. A year or so later, Jon rejoined and they changed their name to Hecate Enthroned, this time playing a more melodic black metal style. In 1995 they recorded their demo "Ode for a Haunted Wood", which got the attention of the British label Blackend Records. Blackend had it re-mastered under the title Under Promethean Shores (Unscriptured Waters) in 1996. The EP got mixed reviews, with many in the metal scene accusing the band of being a "Cradle of Filth cop-off".
1997 saw the release of their first full-length album, The Slaughter of Innocence (A Requiem for the Mighty), which saw the band enter a faster, more brutal direction, with more emphasis on the symphonic interludes. Though well-received, the album still got the same criticism that plagued "Upon Promeathean Shores". Subsequent tours with bands like Dark Funeral, Enthroned, Sigh and Usurper would follow
The band went back to the studio in 1998 to record Dark Requiems...of Unsilent Massacre, this time lowering the speed and using the keyboards as the primary instrument and creating more horror-styled atmospheres, though still retaining the brutal heaviness of the first two albums.
In 1999 the band fired vocalist Jon, due to problems between him and the rest of the band (there were accusations he wanted the band to be the "next Cradle of Filth", something the rest of the group did not wish for). They got vocalist Dean (from the band EWOC) to record the vocal lines for their follow-up album, Kings of Chaos.
2001 saw the release of a small EP of original songs (with a cover of "Buried Alive" by fellow Englishmen Venom), entitled Miasma, that served as an appetiser for their next full-length album, 2004's Redimus (Latin for "Reborn"), their second album under their new death metallish sound. After the album was released, vocalist Dean left the band, as well as keyboardist Daz, who were then replaced by new singer Dagon from fellow U.K.Back Metal band Heathen Deity and keyboardist Pete.
In 2005 Dean returned to Hecate Enthroned. This return was followed by several sold-out gigs in the Czech Republic and numerous gigs around the UK. 2006 saw HE embark on a UK headline tour playing in London, Southampton, Nottingham, Bradford and Wolverhampton, as well as applying the finishing touches to a brand new studio album.
2007 saw them perform in Norway at Inferno Festival alongside Immortal as well as several shows in Spain, Bulgaria, Romania and Germany.
Members
Current lineup
- Nigel - Guitars (1993-)
- Andy - Guitars (1997-)
- Robert - Drums (ex-Necropsy and Chaos Born) (1996-)
- Dylan Hughes - Bass (ex-Grimorium) (1997-)
- Pete - Keyboards (2004-)
- Dean Seddon - Vocals (1999-2004), (2004-)
Former members
- Jon Kennedy (1993-1994), (1995-1999) Bass, vocals (ex-Cradle of Filth)
- Marc (1993-1997) Guitars
- Paul (1996-1997) Bass (Also in: Reign of Erebus, ex-Exhume, ex-Mephisto)
- Michael (1996-1999) Keyboards (ex-Mephisto and Chaos Born)
- Craig (1995-1996) Drums
- Daz - (1999 - 2004) Keyboards
- Dagon - (2004) Vocals
Discography
External links
