On Thorns I Lay
On Thorns I Lay (previously known as Paralysis, then Phlebotomy) is a gothic metal band founded in 1992 in Athens, Greece.[1]
Biography
They started as a death metal,[2] under the name of Paralysis,[2] then changed their name for Phlebotomy in 1993.[2] They were originally a trio with Stefanos Kintzoglou handling drums and the lead vocals.[3] They released the demo 'Beyond The Chaos' in 1992 and the EP 'Dawn Of Grief'.[3] In early 1994, the group recorded the 'Voluptuous' demo which secured attention from the Holy Records label.[3]
In 1995, they again changed their name for "On Thorns I Lay" in reference to Shakespeare[2](The name was suggested by their friend, Nightfall's vocalist/bassist Efthimis Karadimas[2]) and their style got closer to Death/doom style,[4] under the influence of bands like Paradise Lost and Anathema.[4] Little by little, it evolved towards gothic metal, emphasizing melancolic themes, in the way of the band Theatre of Tragedy, having cavernous masculine voices and soprano feminine voices.
In 1994, the founders of the band, Chris and Stefanos, moved for graduate studies to Romania, where they also had some local musicians in their band. The current line-up of the band was formed in 2001, when the band founders returned to Greece.
Formation
- Maxi Nil (female vocals)
- Stefanos Kintzoglou (bass/vocals)
- Chris Dragmestianos (guitar)
- Minas (guitar/vocals)
- Fotis (drums)
- Antonis (keyboards)
Past members
- Michael Knoflach (bass)
- Evans M. (drums)
- Thanazis Hatzaiagapis (guitars)
- Fernando Drăgănici (keyboards)
- Elena Doroftei (violin)
- Georgia Grammaticos (vocals)
- Claudia J. (vocals)
- Marius (vocals)
- Marcela Buruiana (vocals)
- Rotting Soul (drums 1995-1997)
- Roula (keyboards, female vocals 1997)
- Andrew Olaru (drums 1999)
- Ionna Doroftei
Discography
- Dawn Of Grief (EP under their former name Phlebotomy)(1993)
- Born to Suffer 04:42
- As the Sky Turns Black 04:48
Total playing time 09:30
- Sounds of Beautiful Experience (1995)
- Voluptuous Simplicity Of The Line 09:02
- All Is Silent 05:36
- A Sparrow Dances 05:05
- Cleopatra 05:32
- A Dreamer Can Touch The Sky 04:28
- Rainy Days 03:42
- Sunrise Of A New Age 05:18
- On Thousand Tames 06:55
- Tazidi Nostalgiae 03:13
Total playing time 48:25
- Orama (1997)
- Atlantis I
- The Song Of The Sea
- Oceans
- In Heaven's Island
- Atlantis II
- Atlantis III
- If I Could Fly
- Aura
- The Blue Dream
- Crystal Tears (1999)
- Crystal Tears
- My Angel
- Obsession
- Ophelia
- Eden
- Enigma
- Midnight Falling
- All Is Silent
- Feelings
- Future Narcotic (2000)
- Infinity
- Future Narcotic
- Threat Of Seduction
- Feed Her Lust
- Love Can Be A Wave
- Ethereal Blue
- Heaven's Passager
- Desire
- Back To That Enigma
- K Song
- Angeldust (2001)
- Sick Screams
- A Light In Paradise
- Black Cold Nights
- Angeldust
- Moving Cities
- Deep Thoughts
- Independence
- Neverending Hope
- Egocentric (2003)
- Life Can Be
- Poster On A Wall
- Afraid To Believe
- Unsung Songs
- Lack In Resorts
- Gallant Nights
- When I`m Gone
- Rampant Of K-ism
- Dawn Of Loss
- Quotation For Listening
- Eternal Silence (2015)
- Believe
- Breathing
- Eternal Silence
- Cursed
- Life Without You
- People We Hurt
- Escape From Loneliness
- One Day To Live
- Touching The Unknown
- Bonus video : Eternal Silence
Sources
Books
(Books in which On Thorns I Lay is mentioned as a notable band in the gothic metal genre)
- Jérôme Alberola,Les belles et les bêtes, Anthologie du rock au féminin, Camion blanc, 2012, p. 260
- Stéphane Leguay, "Métal Gothique" in Carnets noirs, éditions E-dite, 3e édition, 2006, ISBN 2-84608-176-X
Biography
Interviews
- Interview with the band in English
- interview with the band on Lords of Metal Site in English
- Interview with the band in German
Reviews
- Review of the Crystal Tears album in french
- Review of the Egocentric album in german
- Discography of the band on the spirit-of-metal site
References
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p406827/biography allmusic biography
- ^ a b c d e Interview with OTIL by webzine Underground-Empire in 2001 in german
- ^ a b c Musicmight biography
- ^ a b allmusic