Impiety (band)

Impiety
Origin Singapore
Genres Black metal,[1] war metal
Years active 1990–present
Labels Agonia
Dies Irae
Drakkar
Heavy Metal Super Star
InCoffin
Osmose
Pulverised
Samhain
Shivadarshana
Ultra-Hingax
Unholy Horde
Associated acts Hacavitz
Website Official Impiety website
Members Shyaithan (vocals, bass)
Nizam Aziz (guitar)
Abu Jahal (cello)
Dizazter (drums)
Past members See below.

Impiety is a Singaporean black metal band, formed in early 1990 by Shyaithan (vocals/guitar/bass) and drummer Necro-Angelfornicator. They are notable for being one of the first extreme metal bands to emerge from Singapore, including releasing records on notable Western record labels.

Biography

Impiety was originally formed in January 1990 by guitarist/bassist/vocalist Shyaithan (real name Mohammed Ariffeen Khuttubudeen[1]) and drummer Necro-Angelfornicator,[2] originally heavily influenced by the likes of Venom, Hellhammer, S. Jibeng, Sarcófago, Possessed, Destruction, Bathory and early Morbid Angel.[1][2] The two recorded a rehearsal demo/promo in early 1991, but this was never officially released. After a few line-up changes, the band (now consisting of Shyaithan with guitarist Xxxul and drummer Iblyss) recorded its first official demo, in the form of 1992's Ceremonial Necrochrist Redesecration, which made a name for the band amongst underground tape-traders. Xxxul left Impiety in 1993, to be replaced by Iblyss' brother Leprophiliac Rex on guitars. This new trio signed to Shivadarshana Records, and recorded their first 7" single, Salve the Goat... Iblis Excelsi in 1993, which proved to be a great improvement in both sound and execution; the single was later licensed to the American label Fudgeworthy, who pressed it onto marbel vinyl.[3]

Following the release of Salve the Goat..., Impiety once again underwent a line-up change, bolstering their sound with the addition of Abyydos taking over all lead and rhythm guitars, Rex moving to bass and Shyaithan performing vocals. They recorded their debut album, Asateerul Awaleen, once again for Shivadarshana, in 1994. Despite its raw production, the album received positive reviews within the metal press. A five-song MCD, Funeralight, was also recorded for release in early 1997, but as Shivadarshana had folded the EP only saw the light as a limited edition cassette through the Malaysian label Ultra-Hingax, until Agonia's 2007 re-release. Shortly afterwards, Iblyss and Abyydos left the group, Abyydos to fulfill his national service requirements,[3] and Shyaithan recruited new members for live shows in early 1997.

This new line-up, consisting of Shyaithan (vocals), guitarist Fyraun and ex-Libation drummer Dajjal (with session bassist, Abattory's Kravnos), recorded Impiety's breakthrough album, Skullfucking Armageddon, in 1999. A considerable improvement over previous efforts, the record was initially released through Dies Irae Records, but subsequently through the cult French label Drakkar and Germany's Iron Pegasus Records, the latter on limited edition vinyl and picture disc. Dajjal left the band shortly after the recording to join death metallers Abattoir, in turn to be replaced on drums by ex-Abhorer and Abattoir member Dagoth. Around this time, the band also released a split 7" EP with Paul Ledney's US group Profanatica, through US label Samhain Records.

In 2000, further line-up changes were to trouble the band when Fyraun left the band, allegedly imprisoned for two years for possession of heroin prior to a planned Asian and European tour.[3] However, with the addition of former guitarist Xxxul and new bassist Demonomancer, Impiety undertook their Asian Hell tour and the four-date European mini-tour Skullfucking Euro Armageddon 2000 over the summer. Two months after returning to Singapore, drummer Dagoth left the band to join Demonification and was replaced by Fauzzt (of Hail), before Impiety returned to Europe for the 15-date, six country Skullfucking Euro Battlestorms 2000 tour, courtesy of Drakkar (who re-released the album to coincide with the tour). The tour was successful and led to the band signing a three-album deal with French label Osmose in 2001, though both Xxxul and Demonomancer left following the tour.

Impiety recorded their third album, Kaos Kommand 696, in three weeks during July 2002 at Berno Studios in Sweden. The recording line-up consisted of Shyaithan (bass/vocals), Fauzzt (drums) and the returning Fyraun (guitar). Extensive touring followed, particularly in South-East Asia, including such festivals as the Annual God Beheading Live Ritual (Bangkok, Thailand), Formoz Open Air Festival (Taiwan) and the Under the Black Sun festival in Germany. Both Fauzzt and Fyraun left in December 2003, and the decision was made to leave Osmose. Shyaithan set up an international line-up by recruiting the Mexican musicians Oscar Garcia (Hacavitz drummer) and Antimo Buonnao (Blood Reaping and Hacavitz lead guitarist) to the Impiety fold in 2004. The band also signed a two album deal with Polish label Agonia around the same time. The new line-up recorded three songs at Ambox Studios in Querétaro, Mexico, that were released as Impiety's half of the Two Majesties split EP with Thai act Surrender of Divinity (Unholy Horde Records, 2004).

After the recruitment of Blood Reaping's Eduardo Guevara, Impiety recorded the eight tracks of their fourth album, Paramount Evil, at Ambox Studios in 2004. Reception was again positive and further touring ensued, including the nine-date Mexican Assault Tour in August 2004 and a five-date Asian Desecration Tour during December 2004 – January 2005. Following the cancellation of a number of European tours in 2004 and 2005, Shyaithan was forced to call an end to his Mexican alliance in mid-2006 owing to the costs associated with the large distances prohibiting rehearsing, recording and playing live. A new Asian line-up consisting of Shyaithan, Arbitrary Element's Tremor (drums), Dusk's Iron Shaikh (bass) and Absence of the Sacred's Mike Priest (guitars) was brought together and resulted in the Tormentors of Tijuana live album on Japan's cult Heavy Metal Super Star Records (2007) and the studio effort Formidonis Nex Cultus, once again for Agonia.

In 2008, Impiety released the 18 Atomic Years – Satanniversary double CD through Pulverised and double LP through Agonia. This was followed by an Impiety/Abhorrence split 7" EP, featuring exclusive tracks. Later in 2008, a new 5 track MCD entitled Dominator was released. The band headlined its own 23 date European tour soon after.

The sixth album Terroreign was released in 2009, featuring Rangel Arroyo of Abhorrence of guitar. In February 2010 a new EP called Goatfather was released via Basement Records. The months after, a tour of 22 dates followed throughout Europe accompanied by Swedish black metal band Setherial. In the meantime, HMSS released a second live LP, Tormentors of Nagoya, which was recorded a few months before. Later, the band announced a seventh album entitled Worshippers of the Seventh Tyranny, featuring Fabio Zperandio as a special guest on guitar solos. The album will be released 24 January 2011.[4]

Controversy

Impiety were accused of supporting Nazism and anti-Semitism due to their depiction of Auschwitz and the practices of Josef Mengele in the lyrics of the song "Carbonised" on their album Paramount Evil (2004). The group was thus by some associated with National Socialist black metal, something the band has distanced itself from.[5] It is worth noting that 75% of Singapore's population is Chinese, some members of the band are Malays and that Singapore's strict censorship laws mean that racist and anti-semitic material is illegal on the island.

Line-up

Current line-up

Former members

Guitar:

Bass:

Drums:

Discography

Demos

EPs

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 3 Impiety biography @ Allmusic
  2. 1 2 Biography @ Official Impiety homepage
  3. 1 2 3 Impiety biography @ Rockdetector
  4. ↑ Impiety @ Myspace
  5. ↑ Stöver, Frank. "IMPIETY". Germany: Voices From the Darkside. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.

External links

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