Armageddon (band)
Encyclopedia
Armageddon was a Swedish
heavy metal
band, led by Christopher Amott
of Arch Enemy
. Originally conceived as a melodic death metal
band with metalcore
influences, the group's later efforts fall into the power metal
category. The band has released three albums in Japan to date.
, Sweden
, in 1997 by Christopher Amott
, Armageddon began when Arch Enemy
were invited to Japan to sign a new record deal with Toy's Factory records after the release of the Black Earth
album. While in Japan, Christopher secured his own record deal for a solo project, which became Armageddon. When he returned to Sweden, he recruited drummer Peter Wildoer
(Darkane
, Majestic
), bassist Martin Bengtsson
, and vocalist Jonas Nyrén (In Thy Dreams).
The band released their 1997 debut album, Crossing the Rubicon, on the now defunct W.A.R. records in Europe, and on Toy's Factory Records in Japan. The album, which some consider to be a concept album, was well received by critics and fans. Crossing the Rubicon focused primarily on melodic death metal
, but incorporated instrumentals and special effects pieces between each song. The album was released by the same label that released Arch Enemy's first album in Europe, but it folded soon after the release of Rubicon and the album has since become a very rare find. To this day, Crossing the Rubicon has never been released outside of Europe and Japan.
Following Crossing the Rubicon, Peter Wildoer and Martin Bengtsson both joined Arch Enemy, recording and releasing Stigmata in 1998. Christopher would focus on Arch Enemy for the better part of three years, and did not return to Armageddon until 2000's Embrace the Mystery, released in Japan on Toy's Factory
records. The album featured Last Tribe
members Rickard Bengtsson on vocals and Dick Lövgren on bass (also of Meshuggah
), as well as Arch Enemy's new drummer Daniel Erlandsson (In Flames
, Eucharist
). The new album focused on more melodic metal, with classic metal riffs, harmonies, and clean singing.
In 2002, Armageddon resurfaced with Three, this time as a three-piece band, and featuring the vocals of Christopher Amott and new bassist Tobias Gustafsson (of Eucharist
). Almost a pure power metal effort, the album was again released by Toy's Factory, and only in Japan. Today the status of Armageddon is unknown, although many fans believe Amott will return to the project in the future.
On November 16, 2009 Embrace The Mystery and Three were re-released as 2CD set with upgraded artwork, several bonus tracks and liner notes on November 16, 2009 in Europe and on
January 26 in North America via Century Media Records.
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....
heavy 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...
band, led by Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
of Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
. Originally conceived as a melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band with metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
influences, the group's later efforts fall into the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
category. The band has released three albums in Japan to date.
Biography
Formed in HalmstadHalmstad
Halmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County...
, Sweden
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....
, in 1997 by Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
, Armageddon began when Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
were invited to Japan to sign a new record deal with Toy's Factory records after the release of the Black Earth
Black Earth (Arch Enemy)
Black Earth is the first album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. The album was reissued on April 24, 2007 on Regain Records, featuring "Losing Faith", two Iron Maiden covers and the video for "Bury Me an Angel"....
album. While in Japan, Christopher secured his own record deal for a solo project, which became Armageddon. When he returned to Sweden, he recruited drummer Peter Wildoer
Peter Wildoer
Karl Peter Wildoer is a Swedish drummer in the bands Darkane, Electrocution 250 & Grimmark. He has also drummed for the bands Armageddon, Majestic, Pestilence, Silver Seraph, Arch Enemy, Time Requiem, Gardens of Obscurity and Dawn of Oblivion amongst others. He has been tagged to perform sessions...
(Darkane
Darkane
Darkane is a melodic death / progressive thrash metal band that originated in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1998. Their music contains ample thrash elements interspersed with acoustic interludes and symphonic features, such as the in studio use of synthesizers and occasionally full orchestras and choir...
, Majestic
Majestic (band)
Majestic, formerly known as Lab Rat, was a neo-classical power metal band, founded in 1997 by Richard Andersson. They made two albums : Abstract Symphony and Trinity Overture , under the label Massacre Records.-Discography:...
), bassist Martin Bengtsson
Martin Bengtsson
Martin Bengtsson is a Swedish metal musician. He was a key part of the influential Swedish melodic death metal scene. He was a member of the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy between 1997 and 1998, and played bass guitar on their second album, Stigmata...
, and vocalist Jonas Nyrén (In Thy Dreams).
The band released their 1997 debut album, Crossing the Rubicon, on the now defunct W.A.R. records in Europe, and on Toy's Factory Records in Japan. The album, which some consider to be a concept album, was well received by critics and fans. Crossing the Rubicon focused primarily on melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
, but incorporated instrumentals and special effects pieces between each song. The album was released by the same label that released Arch Enemy's first album in Europe, but it folded soon after the release of Rubicon and the album has since become a very rare find. To this day, Crossing the Rubicon has never been released outside of Europe and Japan.
Following Crossing the Rubicon, Peter Wildoer and Martin Bengtsson both joined Arch Enemy, recording and releasing Stigmata in 1998. Christopher would focus on Arch Enemy for the better part of three years, and did not return to Armageddon until 2000's Embrace the Mystery, released in Japan on Toy's Factory
Toy's Factory
is a Japanese record label founded in 1990 as a VAP subsidiary, based in Japan. It has since become an independent company.-Sub-Labels:* bellissima!* Carnage* Deep Blue* Idyllic* Kimi* Meme Tokyo* -Artists:*Aobozu*Armageddon*Bump of Chicken...
records. The album featured Last Tribe
Last Tribe (Swedish band)
Last Tribe was a Swedish heavy metal/power metal band started by guitarist Magnus Karlsson.Karlsson was born south of Sweden in 1973. He started playing guitar at age 10 and quickly joined many bands. In 1996, he started an education at Malmö College Of Music and was awarded a master degree in...
members Rickard Bengtsson on vocals and Dick Lövgren on bass (also of Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
), as well as Arch Enemy's new drummer Daniel Erlandsson (In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
, Eucharist
Eucharist (band)
Eucharist was a Swedish melodic death metal band which released two albums in the 1990s.-History:Eucharist's first album, A Velvet Creation , featured Markus Johnsson , Thomas Einarsson , Tobias Gustafsson , and Daniel Erlandsson , while for the second, Mirrorworlds , they were reduced to the trio...
). The new album focused on more melodic metal, with classic metal riffs, harmonies, and clean singing.
In 2002, Armageddon resurfaced with Three, this time as a three-piece band, and featuring the vocals of Christopher Amott and new bassist Tobias Gustafsson (of Eucharist
Eucharist (band)
Eucharist was a Swedish melodic death metal band which released two albums in the 1990s.-History:Eucharist's first album, A Velvet Creation , featured Markus Johnsson , Thomas Einarsson , Tobias Gustafsson , and Daniel Erlandsson , while for the second, Mirrorworlds , they were reduced to the trio...
). Almost a pure power metal effort, the album was again released by Toy's Factory, and only in Japan. Today the status of Armageddon is unknown, although many fans believe Amott will return to the project in the future.
On November 16, 2009 Embrace The Mystery and Three were re-released as 2CD set with upgraded artwork, several bonus tracks and liner notes on November 16, 2009 in Europe and on
January 26 in North America via Century Media Records.
Former members
- Christopher AmottChristopher AmottChristopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
- guitar, vocals (1997–2002) - Jonas NyrénJonas NyrénJonas Nyren is a Swedish metal vocalist. He joined In Thy Dreams in 1996 recording an EP and the bands debut album, The Gate of Pleasure, but before the album's release he left the band in 1999...
- vocals (1997) - Martin BengtssonMartin BengtssonMartin Bengtsson is a Swedish metal musician. He was a key part of the influential Swedish melodic death metal scene. He was a member of the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy between 1997 and 1998, and played bass guitar on their second album, Stigmata...
- bass (1997) - Peter WildoerPeter WildoerKarl Peter Wildoer is a Swedish drummer in the bands Darkane, Electrocution 250 & Grimmark. He has also drummed for the bands Armageddon, Majestic, Pestilence, Silver Seraph, Arch Enemy, Time Requiem, Gardens of Obscurity and Dawn of Oblivion amongst others. He has been tagged to perform sessions...
- drums (1997) - Daniel ErlandssonDaniel ErlandssonDaniel John Erlandsson is the drummer in the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy.His early work includes drumming on the In Flames album Subterranean...
- drums (2000–2002) - Rickard Bengtsson - vocals (2000)
- Dick LövgrenDick LövgrenDick Lövgren is the bassist for the Swedish experimental metal band Meshuggah. He joined the band in 2004 as Meshuggah's third bass player.-Biography:...
- bass (2000) - Tobias Gustafsson - bass (2002)
Discography
| Year of Release | Title | Label |
| 1997 | Crossing the Rubicon | W.A.R. Records |
| 2000 | Embrace the Mystery | Toy's Factory Toy's Factory is a Japanese record label founded in 1990 as a VAP subsidiary, based in Japan. It has since become an independent company.-Sub-Labels:* bellissima!* Carnage* Deep Blue* Idyllic* Kimi* Meme Tokyo* -Artists:*Aobozu*Armageddon*Bump of Chicken... |
| 2002 | Three | Toy's Factory Toy's Factory is a Japanese record label founded in 1990 as a VAP subsidiary, based in Japan. It has since become an independent company.-Sub-Labels:* bellissima!* Carnage* Deep Blue* Idyllic* Kimi* Meme Tokyo* -Artists:*Aobozu*Armageddon*Bump of Chicken... |