Leviathan (band)
Encyclopedia
Leviathan is an American black metal
band formed in 1998 by Wrest (Jef Whitehead). In Leviathan, Wrest records and plays all instruments including vocals entirely on his own. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O)))
, and is an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight
. He has stated in interviews that he has been playing drums longer than any other instrument and that the drums are his instrument of choice. Wrest also plays and records everything in his other project Lurker of Chalice. Regarding his writing, Wrest says that "...lyrics are important and also very hard for me... at times, the way things come out in words sounds like nonsense. I don't consider myself a poet by any means."
Despite having early problems with the release of the newest album Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
, it was released March 24, 2008 in Europe and March 25, 2008 in North America.
Jef Whitehead was charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated domestic battery on 9 January 2011 and held on $350,000 bond after allegedly attacking his girlfriend and raping her with tattoo tools. Whitehead was released after the bail was dropped to $100,000.
Wrest completed tracking for a new album, which was projected for a fall 2011 release through Profound Lore Records
.
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band formed in 1998 by Wrest (Jef Whitehead). In Leviathan, Wrest records and plays all instruments including vocals entirely on his own. Additionally, Wrest has collaborated with the band Sunn O)))
Sunn O)))
Sunn O))) is an American doom metal band known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise, and black metal. Supported by a varying cast of collaborators, the band has two core members: Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson .-History:Sunn O))) is named after the Sunn...
, and is an active member of the U.S. black metal supergroup Twilight
Twilight (band)
Twilight is an American black metal band formed in 2005 and originally commissioned by the Swedish underground label Total Holocaust Records. Members of the band all go by pseudonyms: "Azentrius" , "Hildolf" , "Imperial" , "Malefic" and "Wrest" .Although Twilight has so...
. He has stated in interviews that he has been playing drums longer than any other instrument and that the drums are his instrument of choice. Wrest also plays and records everything in his other project Lurker of Chalice. Regarding his writing, Wrest says that "...lyrics are important and also very hard for me... at times, the way things come out in words sounds like nonsense. I don't consider myself a poet by any means."
Despite having early problems with the release of the newest album Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
Massive Conspiracy Against All Life is the third full-length album by San Francisco-based one-man black metal band Leviathan.There was much controversy over the release of this album, which was originally slated for a summer release in 2007. Supposedly Wrest tried to release the album under the...
, it was released March 24, 2008 in Europe and March 25, 2008 in North America.
Jef Whitehead was charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated domestic battery on 9 January 2011 and held on $350,000 bond after allegedly attacking his girlfriend and raping her with tattoo tools. Whitehead was released after the bail was dropped to $100,000.
Wrest completed tracking for a new album, which was projected for a fall 2011 release through Profound Lore Records
Profound Lore Records
Profound Lore Records is an independent record label founded in May 2004, which "began as the 'hobby-like venture' of a few friends, but over the past six years the label has evolved into a one-man enterprise, shaped a distinct 'aesthetic identity,' and provided owner Chris Bruni with a full-time...
.
Studio albums and extended plays
- 2003 - The Tenth Sub Level of SuicideThe Tenth Sub Level of SuicideThe Tenth Sub Level of Suicide is the first full-length album by Leviathan. It was recorded entirely on a Tascam four-track tape recorder in mainman Wrest's home and was released September 29, 2003 by Seattle-based underground record label Moribund Cult....
- 2004 - Tentacles of WhorrorTentacles of WhorrorTentacles of Whorror is the second full-length album by Leviathan. It was recorded at L.D. 50 Productions between December 2003 and January 2004 with production mastering being handled by Drucifer at Nettlingham Audio. It was released on June 16, 2004 and was distributed by Seattle-based...
- 2006 - The Speed of Darkness
- 2006 - The Blind Wound
- 2008 - Massive Conspiracy Against All LifeMassive Conspiracy Against All LifeMassive Conspiracy Against All Life is the third full-length album by San Francisco-based one-man black metal band Leviathan.There was much controversy over the release of this album, which was originally slated for a summer release in 2007. Supposedly Wrest tried to release the album under the...
- 2011 - True Traitor True Whore
Split releases
- 2003 - Live In Eternal Sin / The Speed of Darkness (split with Iuvenes) (released independently as The Speed of Darkness)
- 2004 - Leviathan & CrebainCrebain / LeviathanThe Crebain / Leviathan split is a split album between two SFBM bands - Crebain and Leviathan. Originally limited to 666 copies. The album was rereleased on vinyl by Anti-Xtian Terror Records in 2006...
(split with Crebain) - 2004 - Black Metal Against the World (split with Ad Hominem, Funeral Winds and Eternity)
- 2004 - Leviathan & XasthurLeviathan / XasthurLeviathan / Xasthur is a split album with music from the black metal bands Xasthur and Leviathan on it. Tracks 1 through 7 were performed by Xasthur...
(split with XasthurXasthurXasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
) - 2005 - Portrait in Scars (split with Blackdeath)
- 2006 - Leviathan & Sapthuran (split with Sapthuran) (released independently as The Blind Wound)
- 2009 - Sic Luceat Lux (split with AcherontasAcherontasAcherontas is a former municipality in Thesprotia, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Souli, of which it is a municipal unit. It was named after the river Acheron. Population 2,344 . The seat of the municipality was in Gardiki Souli....
)
Demos
- 1998 - Time EndTime EndTime End is the second release by Leviathan. It was recorded sometime in 1998 by sole member Wrest in his California home on a Tascam four-track tape recorder...
- 1998 - Three
- 2000 - MisanthropicNecroBlasphemy
- 2000 - Five
- 2000 - Shadows of No Light
- 2000 - Slaveship (Seven)
- 2000 - Video Brolo (Eight)
- 2001 - Inclement Derision (Nine)
- 2001 - Ten
- 2001 - Intolerance (Eleven)
- 2001 - Howl Mockery at the Cross
- 2001 - Sacrifice Love at the Altar of War
- 2002 - White Devil, Black Metal
- 2002 - XV
- 2002 - The 10th Sub Level of Suicide
Compilation albums
- 2002 - VerräterVerräterVerräter is a compilation of tracks spanning the early days of Leviathan's demos. It features two discs of material from previously self-recorded and self-released material by Wrest...
(two discs) - 2005 - Demos Two ThousandDemos Two ThousandDemos Two Thousand is a compilation of songs from two of Leviathan's earlier demos - Shadows of No Light and Misanthropicnecroblasphemy, both of which were recorded in 2000.-Track listing:All tracks by Jef Whitehead#"Sodomize the Golden" - 1:53...
- 2005 - A Silhouette in SplintersA Silhouette in SplintersA Silhouette in Splinters is a compilation of previously unreleased songs from S.F. black metal band Leviathan. This release is completely Dark ambient.Limited to 500 copies on red vinyl.In 2008, a cd version was released by Moribund Cult....
- 2005 - Howl Mockery at the Cross
Other appearances
- "Hissing and Sullen" on Destroyers From The Western Skies: As Night Devours The Sun (2005)
- Within the Church of Thee Overlords (2007)
Current members
- Wrest (Jef Whitehead) – all instruments, vocals (TwilightTwilight (band)Twilight is an American black metal band formed in 2005 and originally commissioned by the Swedish underground label Total Holocaust Records. Members of the band all go by pseudonyms: "Azentrius" , "Hildolf" , "Imperial" , "Malefic" and "Wrest" .Although Twilight has so...
, Lurker of Chalice, Nachtmystium, GiftHorse, Steeltoes , GASM)