Nightrage

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Nightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band formed by guitarist Marios Iliopoulos (ex-Exhumation) and his close friend Gus G. who later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.

History

Sweet Vengeance

Their first release, Sweet Vengeance, was released in 2003 and featured drummer Per Möller Jensen (The Haunted), and bassist Brice Leclercq. They also managed to acquire the services of vocalist Tomas Lindberg (ex-At the Gates). Sweet Vengeance also featured guest clean vocals on a few tracks by Tom S. Englund of Evergrey fame. The album is proceeded by their first ever video for the track "Gloomy Daydreams" on an earlier edit, with Gus G. on Vocals.

Decent Into Chaos and end of the Lindberg & Gus G era

Their second release, Descent into Chaos, was released in 2005 and had a change of line up, with the addition of a more permanent rhythm section. Fotis Benardo (Septic Flesh, ex-Innerwish) took over on drums and Henric Carlsson, who also plays in the band Cipher System, on bass. Mikael Stanne, of Dark Tranquillity, provided a clean vocal section on the track "Frozen."

On July 10, 2005, it was announced that Tomas Lindberg decided to leave the band due to difficulty working his role in the band around his various other projects. Replacing him on vocals was the relatively unknown Jimmie Strimell.

When Gus G. was performing with Arch Enemy at Ozzfest 2005, he was replaced by Pierre Lysell for Nightrage's touring activities. For some of Nightrage's tour in support of Bolt Thrower, Gus was again unavailable and his place was taken by Christian Muenzer, of Necrophagist. In March 2006, Gus permanently left Nightrage to focus completely on Firewind. At this time Fotis Benardo decided also to leave Nightrage and focus on the reunited Septic Flesh. He was replaced by Alex Svenningson.

A New Disease Is Born

Their third release, A New Disease Is Born, was released in 2007. Gus G was also replaced by the well known Swedish guitar virtuoso Olof Mörck (Dragonland, Amaranthe, My Darling Dismay). The album's name may have been originated from lyrics from the song "Drug" on their last release. The album showcases their second video for the song "Scathing", directed by Bob Katsionis.

After the release of A New Disease Is Born Alex Svenningson and Jimmie Strimell left the band to pursue a career in pop music. Long time bassist Henric Karlsson also left the band due to his family obligations.

Wearing a Martyr's Crown

Three very familiar faces in the underground metal world would now join Nightrage. Vocalist Antony Hämäläinen (Burn Your Halo), bassist Anders Hammer (Dragonland), and drummer Johan Nunez (Suicide of Demons).

On September 20, 2008 Nightrage announced the title of their upcoming new album, Wearing a Martyr's Crown. The album is a return to form for the band, with an even more traditional melodic death metal approach. It was confirmed on November 4, 2008 that Wearing a Martyr's Crown will be recorded, produced, and mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman.

Wearing a Martyr's Crown was released on June 23, 2009 in Europe and Japan. The album has since become critically acclaimed.^{[citation needed]} According to the press release:

{{quote|Wearing A Martyr's Crown finds NIGHTRAGE more mature than ever, but present is also a distinct will for experimentation and fresh ideas — though always inside the boundaries of what made the NIGHTRAGE name from the beginning; sheer brutality, swirling and soaring melodies and acoustic guitar work to evoke scenes and emotions of the deepest melancholy. Delving into a multitude of musical and lyrical vistas, this fourth opus from the international melodic death metal martyrs deals with a multi-layered journey into the darkest depths of the human psyche, the futility of human behaviour and the most dimly lit corners of the untold arcane. Expect to have these eleven incantations burn your soul, yet leaving you wanting to come back for more."^[1]

An August 4 release date for North America has also been announced.^{[citation needed]} Most notably the album will be carried at exclusive Hot Topic locations.^{[citation needed]}

Band members

Current members

• Antony Hämäläinen (Since 2007) – vocals
• Marios Iliopoulos (Since 2000) – guitar
• Olof Mörck (Since 2005) – guitar
• Anders Hammer (Since 2008) – bass guitar
• Johan Nunez (Since 2007) – drums

Former members

• Tomas Lindberg – vocals
• Gus G. – guitar, vocals (on demos)
• Henric Karlsson – bass guitar
• Brice LeClercq – bass guitar
• Fotis Benardo – drums
• Alex Svenningson – drums
• Jimmie Strimell – vocals

Session members

• Per Möller Jensen – drums
• Tom S. Englund – clean vocals
• Mikael Stanne – clean vocals

Touring members

• Nicholas Barker – drums
• Pierre Lysell – guitar
• Christian Münzner – guitar
• Constantine – guitar

Discography

Demo albums

• Demo (2001)
• Demo 2 (2002)
• Demo 3 (2002)

Studio albums

• Sweet Vengeance (2003)
• Descent into Chaos (2005)
• A New Disease Is Born (2007)
• Wearing a Martyr's Crown (2009)

References

External links

• Official website
• Lifeforce Records
• Nightrage at MySpace