Agathocles (band)
Encyclopedia
Agathocles is a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 political grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....

 band that began in 1985. They are mainly known for producing a large quantity of split seven-inch EPs. They play a style of grindcore that they have dubbed "mincecore".

Their lineup has changed numerous times since they first started, the only consistent member being Jan Frederickx (also known as Jan AG).

1980s

Agathocles formed in the Belgian city of Mol, aspiring to sound like bands such as Larm
Lärm
Lärm were a Dutch straight edge thrashcore band formed in 1981, first playing under the name of Total Chaoz. Lärm pioneered what would later be called power violence, along with bands Heresy and Siege...

 or Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...

. Although the band itself did not form until 1985, its original members (Jan and Erwin) had been involved in the underground metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

/punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 scene since the beginning of the decade, releasing compilation tapes and zines. Most of the rehearsal tapes they recorded during their first year together have now been lost, although a few survive, mainly in the form of appearances on compilations from the time.

Agathocles first started doing concerts a year later, in 1985, although audiences were always small due to there only being a small minority who listened to the type of extreme music the band was producing. The band also made a radio appearance, being interviewed on the local radio station, in the same year.

By 1987, the band's line-up had begun to settle, albeit temporarily, in the form of Jan, Ronny and Erwin. The band had also found a long-term rehearsal space, where they would not receive complaints (or even get kicked out) because of the noise as they had done in earlier rehearsal rooms. This was in a youth club in Mol, "Jam", where they recorded more compilation tracks and organised more small concerts. They even played gigs with other bands who would become equally famous in later years, such as Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...

 and Pestilence
Pestilence (band)
Pestilence is a death metal band from the Netherlands founded in 1986. Later they incorporated more jazz and fusion elements into their music. After disbanding in order to pursue other musical directions in 1994, Pestilence has reunited in 2008...

 (and later Extreme Noise Terror
Extreme Noise Terror
Extreme Noise Terror are a British crust punk / grindcore band originally formed in Ipswich, England in 1985. The band are widely considered one of the earliest and most influential European grindcore bands, and particularly the forefathers of the crustgrind subgenre.Notable for one of the...

, as well as smaller bands such as Violent Mosquitos and Total Mosh Project.

The first Agathocles releases were issued in 1988, which saw the arrival of a split EP with Riek Boois, as well as their first solo outing, Cabbalic Gnosticism, both of which were originally issued on cassette. Other material was recorded at the same time, although this was not released until later. By this time the band had 4 members, as Jakke had joined on guitar in December the year before, allowing Jan to concentrate on vocals.

Another guitarist, Guy, joined a year later, in 1989, and the split LP with the band Drudge was recorded and released on Deaf Records, as well as several other EPs. Towards the end of the year, the line-up changed yet again, with the bassist, Ronny, leaving the band and guitarist Jakke taking over from him.

1990s

A major line-up change occurred at the beginning of the decade, in May 1990, when Jan got rid of all the other members of the band and found two new members instead - Domingo on guitar and Burt on drums, with Jan now playing bass. Domingo and Burt were both from little-known Belgian grindcore band Necrosis, who recorded only one demo, in 1990. With the new line-up, the band ceased rehearsing in Mol, moving instead to the drummer's home town of Zichem. Several more EPs were released in the same year and, with the band growing in popularity, they did gigs in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

 as well as Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 and went on a mini tour with the Japanese grindcore band SxOxB.

More line-up changes occurred throughout the next few years. Ex-Agathocles drummer Erwin briefly returned in 1991, now playing bass guitar. After only a few months with this line-up, Domingo left the band, leaving the band as a three-piece group during the recording of their Agarchy EP in July. However, the band soon had four members again when Domingo was replaced by Chris. It was with this line-up that they recorded Theatric Symbolisation Of Life, but towards the end of the year, Erwin left the band again and Agathocles got a new bassist called Dirk.

In the summer of 1991, Agathocles also went on another tour, this time in East Germany, with vocalist Tuur from fellow Belgian mincecore band Reign Of Terror. Tuur did vocals for this tour because guitarist Chris was unable to tour with the band, so Jan had to take over his guitarist duties.

The band's line-up changed again in May 1992 when guitarist Chris and bassist Dirk left to form their own band. Agathocles found a new guitarist to take over from Chris - Steve (from Belgian grindcore band Intestinal Disease) - and Jan played bass guitar (as well as doing vocals). Two of the band's LPs (Cliché? and Use Your Anger) were recorded with this new line-up and they also played one gig in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 for the first time in a small town named Macomer
Macomer
Macomer is a town and comune of Sardinia in the province of Nuoro. It is situated on the southern ascent to the central plateau of this part of Sardinia, at the junction of narrow-gauge lines branching from the main railroad line running east to Nuoro and west to Bosa.The district, especially...

 (Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...

).

The band remained a 3-piece group throughout 1993, with the line-up staying consistent as Jan, Burt and Steve. It was with this line-up that Agathocles went on a major Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an tour, visiting Belgium, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

, as well as recording several more split EPs. In 1994, the band retained the same line-up, this time touring in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 (in July of that year), where they recorded the Mince Mongers In Barna EP in the rehearsal room of Spanish mincecore band Violent Headache. The Black Clouds Determinate CD was also recorded in this year.

The line-up stayed the same during the first half of 1995, during which time Agathocles recorded their album Razor Sharp Daggers, as well as featuring on the compilation Metalopolis, which was released by the Belgian radio station Studio Brussel
Studio Brussel
Studio Brussel is a radio station in Belgium, owned by the VRT. The music played is considered more alternative than the other big radio stations, and is aimed mainly at a youth audience....

. In the summer, however, the line-up changed again, with Matty replacing Steve on guitar.

This line-up would stay constant through 1996 and for most of 1997, two years in which Agathocles did a lot more touring. This started at the beginning of 1996, when the band visited Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

, playing alongside the band Radical Noise, and then they toured the Czech Republic with the mincecore band Malignant Tumour. During this tour, the band recorded a video as a benefit for a Czech animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...

 group. As well as recording the album Thanks For Your Hostility and several more split EPs, Agathocles also recorded a studio session in 1996 on the radio station Studio Brussel. Another such session was done the year later, this time in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 studios in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, where they recorded a Peel Session, in the same way that many other famous grindcore bands have done. 1997 was also the year that the Humarrogance album was recorded (as well as even more split EPs) and the band also toured in Germany with Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 band Driller Killer. In November, the line-up changed again, when the band returned to being a four-piece, with Vince joining as the bass guitarist.

With this new line-up, the band toured again in Germany with Driller Killer in 1998 before Matty and Vince left the band in June and Dirk rejoined as the guitarist, with Jan playing bass again. This new line-up, of Jan, Burt and Dirk recorded several more split EPs, as well as touring in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They also played gigs with other major bands in the underground scene such as Unholy Grave
Unholy Grave
Unholy Grave is a grindcore band from Nagoya, Japan. They got their name from the song "Beyond the Unholy Grave" by Death. Their lyrics mainly focus on political and social issues. A common phrase appearing on the artwork of their releases is "Grindcore Against Terrorism!"...

, My Minds Mine and Malignant Tumour. The band ended the decade with a line-up that would last for several years into the new millennium.

2000s

In 2000, Agathocles released their sixth full-length, To Serve… to Protect, that was distributed through the Italian label Vacation House (later re-released with bonus tracks by the Brazilian labels No Fashion HC and Heavy Metal Rock).

CDs

  • Theatric symbolisation of life 1992
  • Use Your Anger 1992
  • Black Clouds Determinate 1994
  • Razor Sharp Daggers 1995
  • The LPs: 1989-1991 1996
  • Thanks For Your Hostility 1996
  • Humarrogance 1997
  • split with Axed Up Conformist 1999
  • 4-Way Split with Abortion
    Abortion
    Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...

    , Din-Addict and Malignant Tumour
    2001
  • Bomb Brussels (Live Album) 2001
  • Alive & Mincing (Live Album) 2003
  • Mincemania In Bulgaria 2004
  • Mincer 2006
  • Get off your ass/In noise we noise Split with Ruido Genital 2007
  • Night Train To Terror split with Saul Turteltaub 2007
  • split with Armatura 2008
  • Abstract split with Cü Sujo 2008
  • Grind is Protest 2009
  • split with Crowd Control 2009
  • "Imaginary Boundaries" 4-way split with Detrua Ideo/Violenta Dizimacao/Pissdeads 2009
  • This is Not a Threat, It's a Promise 2010
  • 4 way split with Kerenaneko, Prosuck and Rvota 2011

LPs

  • Supposed it was you (split with Drudge) 1989
  • Split with Lunatic Invasion 1991
  • Theatric Symbolisation Of Life (Best Of Album) 1992
  • Agarchy / Use Your Anger 1997
  • Split with Deadmocracy 1998
  • Until It Bleeds (Best Of) 1997
  • Live and Noisy (Live) 1997
  • Mincecore (Compilation) 1998
  • To Serve... To Protect 1999
  • Live in Leipzig, Germany 1991 (Live) 1999
  • Mincecore History 1985-1990 (Compilation) 2000
  • Keep Mincing (Compilation) 2001
  • Superiority Overdose 2001
  • Mincecore History 1989-1993 (Best of) 2001
  • Chop Off Their Trust (Split) 2002
  • Live Aalst Belgium 1989 (Split) 2002
  • Until It Bleeds Again (1994-1999) (Best of) 2002
  • Split With Sterbe Hilfe - Emoc T'now Modcnik Yht! (Split Album) 2003
  • To Serve... To Protect / Leads To... (Best of) 2003

EPs

  • If This Is Gore, What's Meat Then (split with Riek Boois) 1988
  • Split with Disgorge 1989
  • Split with V.N.A. 1989
  • Fascination of Mutilation 1989
  • If This Is Cruel What's Vivisection Then? 1989
  • Who Profits? Who Dies? (split with Morbid Organs Mutilation (M.O.M.)) 1989
  • Split with Blood
    Blood (band)
    Blood is a Japanese band that has been active from 2002 to 2009, returning in 2011. Blood's aim is to create music that expresses the meaning of human emotion that breaks the musical frame...

    1990
  • Split with Smegma
    Smegma (band)
    Smegma is an American experimental noise group formed in Pasadena, California in 1973 and currently based in Portland, Oregon. Originally part of the Los Angeles Free Music Society movement of the 1970s, Smegma is one of the few music collectives of that era still active today. Author Richard...

    1991
  • Split with Putrid Offal 1991
  • Split with Psycho 1991
  • Agarchy 1991
  • Cliché? 1992
  • Split with Social Genocide
    Social Genocide
    Social Genocide is a 2004 Argentine film directed by Fernando Solanas.After the fall of the military dictatorship in 1983, successive democratic governments launched a series of reforms purporting to turn Argentina into the world's most liberal and prosperous economy...

    1993
  • Blind World (split with Nasum
    Nasum
    Nasum was a political Swedish band that played a mixture of grindcore and death metal. The band's name, meaning 'nose', was taken from the horror film Flesh for Frankenstein.-Biography:...

    )
    1993
  • Split with Starvation 1993
  • War Scars (split with Kompost) 1993
  • Distrust And Abuse 1993
  • Split with Nyctophobic 1993
  • Split with Bad Acid Trip
    Bad Acid Trip
    Bad Acid Trip is an American metal band, currently signed to System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian's record label, Serjical Strike Records. Their 2004 album, Lynch the Weirdo, was produced by Daron Malakian, another System of a Down member. In 2006 they performed on the second stage at the...

    1993
  • No Use ...For Hatred 1993
  • Split with Patareni
    Patareni
    Patareni are a punk rock / noise / grindcore band from Croatia, formed in 1983. Owing to their formation at such an early date, they are considered to be one of the earliest grindcore bands. Their name comes from Pataria, a medieval sect....

    1993
  • Split with Smash The Brain 1993
  • Split with Man Is The Bastard
    Man Is the Bastard
    Man Is the Bastard were a pioneering hardcore punk band who contributed the name, and perhaps also the ethos, to the punk subgenre known as power violence...

    1993
  • Split with Plastic Grave 1994
  • Split with Audiorrea 1994
  • Split with Averno 1994
  • Split with Punisher 1994
  • Mince-Mongers in Barna 1994
  • Split with Carcass Grinder 1994
  • Split with Rot 1994
  • Back To 1987 (Best Of Album) 1994
  • Split with Notoken 1995
  • Split with Vomit Fall 1996
  • Split with Asian Cinematic Superiority 1996
  • Split with Autoritor 1996
  • Split with Krush
    Krush
    Krush were a UK dance music group, who had a crossover hit single with "House Arrest" in 1987.-Career:The group consisted of musicians Mark Gamble, Cassius Campbell and record producers Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon. Their second single "Walking On Sunshine" was a club hit in 1992, and peaked at...

    1996
  • Bomb Brussels 1996
  • Minced Alive 1996
  • Split with Black Army Jacket
    Black Army Jacket
    Black Army Jacket was an American grindcore / power violence band. They released one full length album and many 7" EPs, splits and compilation appearances...

    1996
  • Split with No Gain - Just Pain 1996
  • Split with Respect 1997
  • Split with Böses Blut 1997
  • Split with PP7 Gaftzeb 1997
  • Split with Looking For Answer 1997
  • Split with Monolith (grindcore) 1997
  • Split with Shikabane 1997
  • Split with Malignant Tumour 1997
  • Split with D.I.E.
    D.I.E.
    D.I.E. or Death Investigation Extension is a TVB modern comedy-action series broadcast in March 2008.TVB began filming D.I.E. Again , the sequel, in November 2008.-Synopsis:...

    1997
  • Split with BWF 1997
  • Split with Abstain 1997
  • Split with Mitten Spider 1997
  • Split with Comrades 1998
  • Split with Spud 1998
  • Split with Bloodsucker 1998
  • Split with Depressor 1998
  • Split with Hunt Hunters 1999
  • Split with Glass Eyes 1999
  • Split with Disreantiyouthhellchristbastardassmanx 1999
  • Split with Grind Buto 1999
  • Split with Piles Left to Rot 2000
  • Split with Kontatto 2000
  • Split with Din-Addict 2000
  • Split with Brutal Headache 2000
  • Kicked and Whipped/Keep On Selling Cocaine to Angels 2000
  • Split with Disculpa 2000
  • Split with Jan AG 2002
  • Split with Front Beast 2003
  • Split with Sodan Sankareita 2003
  • Split EP with The Mad Thrashers 2004
  • Split EP with Kadaverficker 2004
  • Split with ... Our Last Beer(s) 2004
  • Split with dios hastío 2005
  • Split with Archagathus 2006
  • Split with Seven Minutes of Nausea 2007
  • Split with J. Briglia, L. Butler, D. Schoonmaker & J. Williams 2008
  • Split with SMG
    SMG
    The initials SMG may refer to:* Submachine gun* Boston University School of Management* Senior Management Group* Sequential manual gearbox, BMW's name for its version of an electrohydraulic manual transmission...

    2008
  • Split with Armatura 2008
  • Split with Crowd Control 2008
  • Split with I Hope You Suffer 2008
  • Split with Repulsione 2008
  • Split with Disleksick 2009
  • Split with ShitFuckingShit and GAP
    Gap
    -General:* Gap , a spacing between large trees in a forest* Gap , a mountain pass, often carved by a river* Gap year, a prolonged period between a life stage-Places:* Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France* Gap, Pennsylvania, United States...

  • Split with Brian Eno (collaboration)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK