Judas Iscariot (band)
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Judas Iscariot was an American black metal band, originally called Heidegger, formed in 1992 as a solo project of Andrew Harris, who performed under the pseudonym "Akhenaten" (after the Egyptian Pharaoh of the same name). However, with the release of Heaven in Flames (1999), Duane Timlin (aka Cryptic Winter) joined the band as a session drummer. From 1999 to 2000, Akhenaten twice performed live with a line-up featuring members from Nargaroth, Krieg, Absu, and Maniac Butcher.
As is common for the genre, themes often directed against religion and explored a fascination with nihilistic philosophy.
After relocating to Germany, Akhenaten announced the demise of Judas Iscariot on August 25, 2002. Intentionally or not, this date coincided with the 102nd anniversary of the death of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, whose work was cited as important to the ideological foundations of Judas Iscariot.
Ideology
As the band's name implied, Akhenaten's stated goal was to spread anti-Christian ideology through music. The emotion was particularly directed toward Christian views of morality and compassion, which he believed promoted human weakness instead of individuality and personal development. Akhenaten considered Judas Iscariot a documentation of one individual's struggle with the moral boundaries set by Christianity.[1]
Akhenaten's saw himself as a nihilist filled with deep emotions of hate towards capitalism and religion, particularly Christian views of morality and compassion. He viewed Christianity as a religion as promoting human weakness instead of individuality and personal development. Akhenaten furthermore expressed deep emotions of contempt towards capitalism, which he dismissed as inextricably linked to materialism.[2]
In interviews Akhenaten disavowed sympathy with right-wing extremism or racism. While Judas Iscariot was conceived of as a personal expression, Akhenaten claimed that releasing the music was intended to give others strength to live in a world compromised by materialism and irrational religious ideology.
Line-up
- Akhenaten (Andrew Harris) – Vocals, guitar, bass and drums
- Cryptic Winter (Duane Timlin) – Session drums (1999-2001)
- Kanwulf (René Wagner) – Live guitar
- Lord Imperial (Neill Jameson) – Live bass (1999-2000)
- Proscriptor (Russley Randel Givens) – Live drums (1999)
- Butcher (real name unknown) – Live drums (2000)
Discography
Full-length Albums
- The Cold Earth Slept Below (1995)
- Thy Dying Light (1996)
- Of Great Eternity (1997)
- Distant in Solitary Night (1998)
- Heaven in Flames (1999)
- To Embrace the Corpses Bleeding (2002)
EP Releases
- Arise, My Lord (1996)
- Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten (2000)
- March of the Apocalypse (2002)
- Moonlight Butchery (2002)
Split Albums
- Judas Iscariot/Weltmacht (with Weltmacht) (1999)
- None Shall Escape the Wrath (with Krieg, Eternal Majesty and Macabre Omen) (2000)
- To the Coming Age of Intolerance (with Krieg) (2001)
Live Releases
- Under the Black Sun (2000)
Compilation Albums
- From Hateful Visions (2000)
- Midnight Frost (To Rest with Eternity) (2002)
Demos
- Heidegger (1992)
- Judas Iscariot (1993)
Bootleg Recordings
- Ancient Starry Sky (2000)
- Live in San Antonio (2001)
- Spectral Dance of the Macabre (2002) - Released for Serbia and Macedonia only, translated to Аветињски Плес Сабласти
Interviews
Interview (1999) with Bruno Zamora on Tartarean Desire (in English).
Interview (2000) on Art of Malice (in German).
References
- ^ Statement from the inlay of Judas Iscariot's final release, "Midnight Frost (To Rest with Eternity)".
- ^ Interview on Tartarean Desire.
External links
- Judas Iscariot on [www.no-colours-records.de No Colours Record]
- Judas Iscariot on Encyclopaedia Metallum