Acid Death
| Acid Death | |
|---|---|
 ACID DEATH 2011 |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Greece |
| Genres | Progressive death metal, thrash metal, death metal |
| Years active | 1989–2001, 2011-present |
| Labels | Molon Lave, Metal Mad, Copro, Black Lotus, NoiseHead records |
| Members | |
| Savvas Betinis (bass and vocals) Dennis Kostopoulos (guitars) Kostas "Gus K."" Karavelas (guitars) Kostas Alexakis (drums and percussion) |
|
| Past members | |
| Themis Katsimichas (guitars) Nick Andreadakis (guitars) Kostas Tsombanos (drums) |
|
Acid Death is a Greek progressive death/thrash metal band.
Contents |
[edit] 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 Power 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[1] 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. The Band reformed as Savvas Betinis and Dennis Kostopolous as the only original members. The other two members Kostas "GusK' Karavelas and Kostas Alexakis got into the band these ways.They knew GusK from the past and asked him to play with them Kostas Alexakis was the drummer in Kinetic as well he joined them because in his words I will never see Savvas again if he leaves Kinetic. On the other hand Kostas Tsompanos did not come back because he is busy with his wife and children ho he has to stay focused on family. In september 2001 Nick Andreadakis has been working in a studio as the manager since Acid Death broke up. Themis Katsimichas has played with other bands and is busy with photography work so those guys have to get on with life they never returned.
[edit] Line up
[edit] Current
- Savvas Betinis - (Bass guitar/Lead vocals)
- Dennis Kostopoulos - (Lead & Rhythm guitars)
- Kostas "Gus K." Karavelas - (Lead & Rhythm guitars)
- Kostas Alexakis - (Drums & Percussion)
[edit] Past members
- Themis Katsimichas - Guitars (1990–1998)
- Nick Andreadakis - Guitars (1999–2001)
- Kostas Tsombanos - Drums (1990–2001)
- Bob Katsionis - Keyboards (session musician)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Pieces of Mankind (1997-Re-released 1999)
Recorded and mixed at AMP studios, July–October/1997, Athens-Greece. Sound engineer: Nick Iosifides. Keyboards programming/special arrangements by Nigel Foxxe.
- Random's Manifest (2000)
Recorded and mixed at MARATHON studios, November 1999-March 2000, Athens-Greece. Sound engineer: Nick Iosifides. Keyboards programming/special arrangements by Nigel Foxxe.
- Eidolon (June 1st, 2012)
Recorded at DEVA SOUNDZ studios and S.I.A. RECORDINGS, Athens, Greece. SOund enginners: Fotis Benardo (drums), Savvas Betinis & GusK (bass, guitars, vocals, mixing & mastering). Released worldwide on June 1st by NOISEHEAD records, Austria.
[edit] Other releases
- Rotation of Insanity (1990, demo cassette)
- Apathy Murders Hope (1993, 7" EP)
- Misled/Deformed beyond Belief (1994, split w/Avulsed)
