Acid Death
Encyclopedia
Acid Death is a Greek
progressive death/thrash metal
band.
in 1992. The recording was meant to stay in the shelf for more that 18 years and to see the light in 2008. ACID DEATH made a deal with the only Heavy Metal label that Greece had back in 1993, MOLON LAVE recs, creating a 7" EP using some material from that mini LP. This was band's official debut, the 7" EP, Apathy Murders Hope
. Two years later the band recorded and released a split album, titled Misled/Deformed beyond Belief, with Spanish extreme metal act Avulsed
through Molon Lave Records.
In 1997, after finishing Military Service, the band made a deal with a new independent Greek label, Metal Mad Music, for the recording and releasing of their first official full-length album entitled Pieces of Mankind
. Drawing most of its lyrical influences from Stephen King
novels (in particular The Dark Tower
and The Green Mile) and esoteric topics (such as substance abuse) and musically similar to bands like Death, Pieces of Mankind
showed that the band could have what it takes to become a new big name in the Greek metal scene. Pieces Of Mankind was re-released in 1999 by the English COPRO Records gaining more popularity, giving ACID DEATH a stronger name in the underground scene. However, shortly after the completion of the album and re-issue, guitarist Themis Katsimichas left the band who hired Nikos Andreadakis (guitars/keyboards) to replace him.
In 2000, the band signed a deal with Black Lotus records releasing its second full-length album, Random's Manifest
. This album saw the band leaning more towards a pure death metal
sound than the thrashy and more technical sound of Pieces of Mankind
. The new album, although capable in its own right, was probably not what the fans expected of this act. The provocative cover was censored creating some kind of trouble to the band and although the criticism was positive enough the band didn't succeeded to make an even bigger step.
In August 2001, ACID DEATH officially announced they would be discontinuing. The reasoning behind this was that, in the band's own words, "It's better to burn out than to fade away".
The dawn of 2011 found the band re-united. The band's return, almost 10 years after their disband, finds them with a revamped lineup and the mood for a lot of hard work. The band has already started work on new material for the new, yet untitled, musical step and are preparing live shows to reintroduce themselves to the public. The band has recently confessed to Greece's metal press that friction within the band was a contributing factor in their disbanding a decade ago but their relationships are now restored and that they intend to use this "second chance" to achieve what they could not back in the '90s.
Recorded and mixed at AMP studios, July-October/1997, Athens-Greece. Sound engineer: Nick Iosifides. Keyboards programming/special arangements by Nigel Foxxe.
Recorded and mixed at MARATHON studios, November 1999-March 2000, Athens-Greece. Sound engineer: Nick Iosifides. Keyboards programming/special arangements by Nigel Foxxe.
Forthcoming album
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
progressive death/thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band.
History
Acid Death were formed in 1989 and recorded their first and only demo, Rotation of Insanity in 1990. After many line up changes till 1991, the band became steady with: Savvas Betinis (bass/vocals), Dennis Kostopoulos (guitars), Themis Katsimichas (guitars) and Kostas Tsompanos (drums). This was the line-up with which they recorded their first official recording, the miniLP Balance of PowerBalance of power
Balance of power may refer to:* Balance of power , distribution of power between a central government and its subnational governments...
in 1992. The recording was meant to stay in the shelf for more that 18 years and to see the light in 2008. ACID DEATH made a deal with the only Heavy Metal label that Greece had back in 1993, MOLON LAVE recs, creating a 7" EP using some material from that mini LP. This was band's official debut, the 7" EP, Apathy Murders Hope
Apathy Murders Hope
Apathy Murders Hope is the debut 7" EP of Greek progressive death/thrash metal band Acid Death. It was released in 1993 and consists of three songs recorded by the band in 1992, which were on their Balance of Power EP; the EP was never released due to the financial collapse of Black Power Records,...
. Two years later the band recorded and released a split album, titled Misled/Deformed beyond Belief, with Spanish extreme metal act Avulsed
Avulsed
Avulsed is a death metal band from Spain, formed in summer 1991 in Madrid, Spain by Dave Rotten -Biography:...
through Molon Lave Records.
In 1997, after finishing Military Service, the band made a deal with a new independent Greek label, Metal Mad Music, for the recording and releasing of their first official full-length album entitled Pieces of Mankind
Pieces of Mankind
Pieces of Mankind is the first official, full-length album from Greek progressive death/thrash metal act Acid Death. The album was recorded and released in 1997 through the independent Metal Mad Music.-Track listing:#"Lost" - 0:32...
. Drawing most of its lyrical influences from Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
novels (in particular The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
and The Green Mile) and esoteric topics (such as substance abuse) and musically similar to bands like Death, Pieces of Mankind
Pieces of Mankind
Pieces of Mankind is the first official, full-length album from Greek progressive death/thrash metal act Acid Death. The album was recorded and released in 1997 through the independent Metal Mad Music.-Track listing:#"Lost" - 0:32...
showed that the band could have what it takes to become a new big name in the Greek metal scene. Pieces Of Mankind was re-released in 1999 by the English COPRO Records gaining more popularity, giving ACID DEATH a stronger name in the underground scene. However, shortly after the completion of the album and re-issue, guitarist Themis Katsimichas left the band who hired Nikos Andreadakis (guitars/keyboards) to replace him.
In 2000, the band signed a deal with Black Lotus records releasing its second full-length album, Random's Manifest
Random's Manifest
Random's Manifest is the second album by Greek Thrash metal/technical Death metal outfit, Acid Death. It was released in late 2000 through Black Lotus Records...
. This album saw the band leaning more towards a pure death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
sound than the thrashy and more technical sound of Pieces of Mankind
Pieces of Mankind
Pieces of Mankind is the first official, full-length album from Greek progressive death/thrash metal act Acid Death. The album was recorded and released in 1997 through the independent Metal Mad Music.-Track listing:#"Lost" - 0:32...
. The new album, although capable in its own right, was probably not what the fans expected of this act. The provocative cover was censored creating some kind of trouble to the band and although the criticism was positive enough the band didn't succeeded to make an even bigger step.
In August 2001, ACID DEATH officially announced they would be discontinuing. The reasoning behind this was that, in the band's own words, "It's better to burn out than to fade away".
The dawn of 2011 found the band re-united. The band's return, almost 10 years after their disband, finds them with a revamped lineup and the mood for a lot of hard work. The band has already started work on new material for the new, yet untitled, musical step and are preparing live shows to reintroduce themselves to the public. The band has recently confessed to Greece's metal press that friction within the band was a contributing factor in their disbanding a decade ago but their relationships are now restored and that they intend to use this "second chance" to achieve what they could not back in the '90s.
Current
- Savvas Betinis - (Bass guitar/Lead vocals)
- Dennis Kostopoulos - (Lead & Rhythm guitars)
- GusK - (Lead & Rhythm guitars)
- Kostas Alexakis - (Drums & Percussion)
Past members
- Themis Katsimichas - Guitars (1990–1998)
- Nick Andreadakis - Guitars (1999–2001)
- Kostas Tsombanos - Drums (1990–2001)
- Bob Katsionis - Keyboards (session musician)
Albums
- Pieces of MankindPieces of MankindPieces of Mankind is the first official, full-length album from Greek progressive death/thrash metal act Acid Death. The album was recorded and released in 1997 through the independent Metal Mad Music.-Track listing:#"Lost" - 0:32...
(1997-Re-released 1999)
Recorded and mixed at AMP studios, July-October/1997, Athens-Greece. Sound engineer: Nick Iosifides. Keyboards programming/special arangements by Nigel Foxxe.
- Random's ManifestRandom's ManifestRandom's Manifest is the second album by Greek Thrash metal/technical Death metal outfit, Acid Death. It was released in late 2000 through Black Lotus Records...
(2000)
Recorded and mixed at MARATHON studios, November 1999-March 2000, Athens-Greece. Sound engineer: Nick Iosifides. Keyboards programming/special arangements by Nigel Foxxe.
- Eidolon (2011)
Forthcoming album
Other releases
- Rotation of Insanity (1990, demo cassette)
- Apathy Murders HopeApathy Murders HopeApathy Murders Hope is the debut 7" EP of Greek progressive death/thrash metal band Acid Death. It was released in 1993 and consists of three songs recorded by the band in 1992, which were on their Balance of Power EP; the EP was never released due to the financial collapse of Black Power Records,...
(1993, 7" EP) - Misled/Deformed beyond Belief (1994, split w/AvulsedAvulsedAvulsed is a death metal band from Spain, formed in summer 1991 in Madrid, Spain by Dave Rotten -Biography:...
)