Dies Irae (band)
Encyclopedia
Dies Irae is a Polish
death metal
band founded in 1992. Their early recordings were heavily inspired and influenced by Vader
and Morbid Angel
.
band featuring China (guitar), Mauser
(guitar and vocals), Czarny (bass) and Gilan (drums). 1994 marked the recording of their debut demo
titled "Fear of God" which was released by Serenades Records two years later. The demo was composed of typical death metal tracks and guitar variations as introductions. In 1997 Mauser joined the band Vader and Dies Irae split up. Four years later Mauser signed contract with Massive Management, whose artist roster consists of such bands as Vader, Sceptic, Decapitated
and many others, and started looking for new members to his band. With help of Doc
(Vader), Novy
(Devilyn) and Hiro (Sceptic) the band prepared material for full debut album.
On 5 June 2000 Dies Irae entered the Selani Studio to record their debut album. Titled Immolated
, it was produced by Szymon Czech, and graphically designed by Jacek Wisniewski, who had been previously responsible for several Vader's cover artworks ("Kingdom", "Black to the Blind", " Live In Japan"). Immolated was mastered at Studio 333 by Bartłomiej Kuźniak who is responsible for Vader's masters. All lyrics are written by Łukasz Szurmiński.
Following the promotional mailing of Immolated the band received a number of contract offers from such labels from Europe and the States. Finally, Dies Irae signed a four albums contract with premiere worldly label Metal Blade Records
, which represents the band in the world except Poland and Japan. In Poland they are under Metal Mind flag, in Japan they are representated by Avalon/Marquee Inc. Both labels also manage Vader. The debut album was released in November 2000 and its promo campaign was backed up with a video-clip for the track "Lion of Knowledge". The album itself comprises 9 cuts, including two cyber-industrial intros performed by Doc. Dies Irae are also prepared for their first European tour with Nile
in January 2001.
On April/May 2002 the band entered Hertz Studio to record their second full length album The Sin War
. The date of release got re-scheduled on September, because of technical problems with the CD-Masters. The album contains more complex and diverse songs, with huge impact of all band's members into the final result, especially excellent ideas of Jacek Hiro. The band was forced to postpone the autumn tour due to Vader's obligations.
On July, 2003 Dies Irae for the first time appeared on the stage. During the "Empire Invasion Tour 2004" they played alongside bands like Hate
, Lost Soul
and Esqarial. The deal with Metal Blade was terminated and shortly after the band signed a new deal with MMP, including new album and DVD releases. The third and latest effort Sculpture of Stone
was recorded at Hertz Studio and includes 9 songs. The album was released in Poland on 19 May in 2004 and the band hit the road again, playing 9 gigs along with bands like Trauma, Sceptic, Shadows Land. Vitek from Decapitated replaced Doc, due to his hand injury. Japanese, European and US releases of Sculpture of Stone has been fixed on autumn 2004. At the beginning of 2005 at TV Studio Dies Irae shot a gig for the forthcoming DVD release and in February they hit the road along with bands like Decapitated, Hate and Crionics
within the confines of "The Ultimate Domination Tour 2005".
The band are soon to release a DVD/CD, "The Art of an Endless Creation", including live footage, the bands most successful album "Sculpture of Stone" and bootleg recordings. The release is in part a tribute to late Drummer "Doc" who died suddenly in 2005.
All members of the reconstituted Dies Irae continue to perform with other groups. Novy is a member of Virgin Snatch, Mauser is playing in UnSun
, while Hiro is a member of Sceptic.
(Source for biography: the official site of Empire Records.)
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
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....
band founded in 1992. Their early recordings were heavily inspired and influenced by Vader
Vader (band)
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...
and Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
.
Biography
Dies Irae was formed in 1992 as very young death metalDeath 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....
band featuring China (guitar), Mauser
Maurycy Stefanowicz
Maurycy Stefanowicz , is a Polish musician and guitarist. Stefanowicz has played with such bands as Vader, Dies Irae, Christ Agony. He currently plays in UnSun. He is sponsored by Washburn Guitars.- Discography :-References:...
(guitar and vocals), Czarny (bass) and Gilan (drums). 1994 marked the recording of their debut demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
titled "Fear of God" which was released by Serenades Records two years later. The demo was composed of typical death metal tracks and guitar variations as introductions. In 1997 Mauser joined the band Vader and Dies Irae split up. Four years later Mauser signed contract with Massive Management, whose artist roster consists of such bands as Vader, Sceptic, Decapitated
Decapitated (band)
Decapitated is a death metal band that formed in Krosno, Poland in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski and Austrian drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner. Decapitated have gained recognition as one of the genre's most widely respected...
and many others, and started looking for new members to his band. With help of Doc
Krzysztof Raczkowski
Krzysztof Raczkowski , also known as Docent or Doc, was a Polish drummer, member of death metal bands Vader and Dies Irae...
(Vader), Novy
Marcin Nowak
For information on the athlete, see Marcin Nowak .Marcin "Novy" Nowak is a Polish death metal musician known for his contribution to the bands Devilyn, Dies Irae, Nader Sadek, Thy Disease, Behemoth, Spinal Cord, Vader, Virgin Snatch and Crucified Mortals.- Dies Irae :*Immolated *The Sin War For...
(Devilyn) and Hiro (Sceptic) the band prepared material for full debut album.
On 5 June 2000 Dies Irae entered the Selani Studio to record their debut album. Titled Immolated
Immolated
Immolated is the first album by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2000 by Metal Blade Records. A video was filmed for the track "Lion Of Knowledge".-Track listing:#"Zohak" – 3:41#"Message Of Aiwaz" – 2:53#"Sirius B" – 5:03...
, it was produced by Szymon Czech, and graphically designed by Jacek Wisniewski, who had been previously responsible for several Vader's cover artworks ("Kingdom", "Black to the Blind", " Live In Japan"). Immolated was mastered at Studio 333 by Bartłomiej Kuźniak who is responsible for Vader's masters. All lyrics are written by Łukasz Szurmiński.
Following the promotional mailing of Immolated the band received a number of contract offers from such labels from Europe and the States. Finally, Dies Irae signed a four albums contract with premiere worldly label Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
, which represents the band in the world except Poland and Japan. In Poland they are under Metal Mind flag, in Japan they are representated by Avalon/Marquee Inc. Both labels also manage Vader. The debut album was released in November 2000 and its promo campaign was backed up with a video-clip for the track "Lion of Knowledge". The album itself comprises 9 cuts, including two cyber-industrial intros performed by Doc. Dies Irae are also prepared for their first European tour with Nile
Nile (band)
Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
in January 2001.
On April/May 2002 the band entered Hertz Studio to record their second full length album The Sin War
The Sin War
The Sin War is the second album on a major record label by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Comrade of Death" – 2:40#"Incarnation of Evil" – 3:22#"Internal War" – 4:59#"Horde of Angry Deamons" – 4:16...
. The date of release got re-scheduled on September, because of technical problems with the CD-Masters. The album contains more complex and diverse songs, with huge impact of all band's members into the final result, especially excellent ideas of Jacek Hiro. The band was forced to postpone the autumn tour due to Vader's obligations.
On July, 2003 Dies Irae for the first time appeared on the stage. During the "Empire Invasion Tour 2004" they played alongside bands like Hate
Hate (band)
Hate is a Polish death metal band from Warsaw, Poland, formed in 1990. Their most recent album, Erebos, was released in 2010, under Listenable Records.-Biography:...
, Lost Soul
Lost Soul (band)
Lost Soul is a Polish technical death metal band established in 1990 in Wrocław. Till 2009 Lost Soul has released four studio album highly acclaimed by both fans and journalists...
and Esqarial. The deal with Metal Blade was terminated and shortly after the band signed a new deal with MMP, including new album and DVD releases. The third and latest effort Sculpture of Stone
Sculpture of Stone
Sculpture of Stone is the third album on a major record label by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2004.-Track listing:#"Beyond All Dimensions" – 4:19#"The Hunger" – 3:38#"Unrevealed by Words" – 3:58...
was recorded at Hertz Studio and includes 9 songs. The album was released in Poland on 19 May in 2004 and the band hit the road again, playing 9 gigs along with bands like Trauma, Sceptic, Shadows Land. Vitek from Decapitated replaced Doc, due to his hand injury. Japanese, European and US releases of Sculpture of Stone has been fixed on autumn 2004. At the beginning of 2005 at TV Studio Dies Irae shot a gig for the forthcoming DVD release and in February they hit the road along with bands like Decapitated, Hate and Crionics
Crionics
Crionics is a Polish blackened death metal band from Kraków, formed in 1997 by Michał Skotniczny, Dariusz Styczeń, "Marcotic" and Maciej Zięba. In their early years they played fast and melodic music under the strong influence of Norwegian black metal band Emperor.-Band history:A year after the...
within the confines of "The Ultimate Domination Tour 2005".
The band are soon to release a DVD/CD, "The Art of an Endless Creation", including live footage, the bands most successful album "Sculpture of Stone" and bootleg recordings. The release is in part a tribute to late Drummer "Doc" who died suddenly in 2005.
All members of the reconstituted Dies Irae continue to perform with other groups. Novy is a member of Virgin Snatch, Mauser is playing in UnSun
UnSun
UnSun is a Polish Gothic metal band formed by ex-guitarist Maurycy "Mauser" Stefanowicz of death metal band Vader. Their debut album, entitled The End of Life, was released on September 22, 2008 by Century Media Records.Their second album Clinic for Dolls was released on October 11, 2010 via Mystic...
, while Hiro is a member of Sceptic.
(Source for biography: the official site of Empire Records.)
Current members
- Jacek Hiro - Guitar (ScepticSceptic (band)Sceptic is a Polish death metal band from Kraków.Sceptic is a Polish death metal band founded in 1994 by Jacek Hiro . Marcin Urbaś handled the vocal duties for the first and third album , but currently is a session member due to his sport career...
, Virgin Snatch) - Maurycy "Mauser" StefanowiczMaurycy StefanowiczMaurycy Stefanowicz , is a Polish musician and guitarist. Stefanowicz has played with such bands as Vader, Dies Irae, Christ Agony. He currently plays in UnSun. He is sponsored by Washburn Guitars.- Discography :-References:...
- Guitar, Vocals (ex-Vader, UnsunUnSunUnSun is a Polish Gothic metal band formed by ex-guitarist Maurycy "Mauser" Stefanowicz of death metal band Vader. Their debut album, entitled The End of Life, was released on September 22, 2008 by Century Media Records.Their second album Clinic for Dolls was released on October 11, 2010 via Mystic...
) - Marcin "Novy" NowakMarcin NowakFor information on the athlete, see Marcin Nowak .Marcin "Novy" Nowak is a Polish death metal musician known for his contribution to the bands Devilyn, Dies Irae, Nader Sadek, Thy Disease, Behemoth, Spinal Cord, Vader, Virgin Snatch and Crucified Mortals.- Dies Irae :*Immolated *The Sin War For...
- Vocals, Bass guitar (ex-Vader, ex-BehemothBehemoth (band)Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
)
Former/past members
- Krzysztof "Doc" RaczkowskiKrzysztof RaczkowskiKrzysztof Raczkowski , also known as Docent or Doc, was a Polish drummer, member of death metal bands Vader and Dies Irae...
- Drums (ex-Vader), deceased - Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka - Drums (ex-DecapitatedDecapitated (band)Decapitated is a death metal band that formed in Krosno, Poland in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski and Austrian drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner. Decapitated have gained recognition as one of the genre's most widely respected...
), deceased - Gilan - Drums (ex-Christ Agony)
- Jarosław "China" Łabieniec - Guitar (ex-Vader, Nyia)
- Piotr "Czarny" Bartczak - Bass guitar (Prophecy, Nyia, ex-Third Degree)
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
| 1994 | Fear of God (Demo) | Self-released |
| November 20, 2000 | Immolated Immolated Immolated is the first album by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2000 by Metal Blade Records. A video was filmed for the track "Lion Of Knowledge".-Track listing:#"Zohak" – 3:41#"Message Of Aiwaz" – 2:53#"Sirius B" – 5:03... |
Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
| September, 2002 | The Sin War The Sin War The Sin War is the second album on a major record label by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Comrade of Death" – 2:40#"Incarnation of Evil" – 3:22#"Internal War" – 4:59#"Horde of Angry Deamons" – 4:16... |
Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
| May 19, 2004 | Sculpture of Stone Sculpture of Stone Sculpture of Stone is the third album on a major record label by the Polish death metal band Dies Irae released in 2004.-Track listing:#"Beyond All Dimensions" – 4:19#"The Hunger" – 3:38#"Unrevealed by Words" – 3:58... |
Metal Mind Productions Metal Mind Productions Metal Mind Productions is a Polish record label founded in 1987. Currently it is one of the lead independent labels in Poland with over 1000 of licences and over 10 million of data mediums sold. The label focuses mainly on rock and heavy metal genres... |