Pantokrator (band)
Pantokrator | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Luvehult, Sweden |
| Genres | Progressive death metal, Christian metal,[1] death metal,[1] melodic death metal |
| Years active | 1996-present |
| Labels | Rottweiler,[2] Whirlwind, Soundmass,[2] Rival |
| Members | Jonas Wallinder Rickard Gustafsson Mattias Johansson Karl Walfridsson Johnathan Jansson |
| Website | Official site |
Pantokrator is a Swedish Christian metal band, that formed in 1996. The band's name means "Lord Almighty". Multiple members have been in Crimson Moonlight and Sanctifica.[3]
Background
Pantokrator formed in the Fall of 1996 as a cover band.[4] The band then decided to play songs written by themselves. The band has consisted of six members overall: Bassist Jonas Wallinder, Drummer Rickard Gustafsson, Guitarists Matthias Johansson and Johnathan Jansson and Vocalist Karl Walfridsson.
Style
Pantokrator's common genre has been death metal.[5] A review of Pantokrator and Sanctifica's split EP, the band's style was described as "Crunchy death metal". The full review stated, "A classic brutal release with two great bands. Sanctifica plays Symphonic Black Metal & Pantokrator plays Crunchy Death Metal. The full review stated, "A classic brutal release with two great bands. Sanctifica plays Symphonic Black Metal & Pantokrator plays Crunchy Death Metal. Really cool stuff that shouldn't be miss if you are into brutal metal."[6] Another described them as Brutal, Doomy Death Metal.[7] Another review, published by Art For The Ears Webzine, reviewed the band's album Aurum. "It's always pleasant to hear a band making progession. Aurum is the second full-length studio-album from the Swedish death metal band Pantokrator. On Aurum they've abandoned the Swedish lyrics they wrote for Blod. Now all songs are in English and the growls are quite easy to understand. This can't be said of the printing in the booklet. They are almost impossible to read as the texts have almost the same color as the backgrounds. But the music makes up for the lack of care for the booklet (the cover is also one of the dullest I've ever seen). What is immediately clear after I popped this disc into the player, is that the band has progressed. The songs are more mature and the sound quality is very good. Most of the songs are uptempo. A few are slower, more depressive and doomy (like the excellent "Thy Feeble Flame"). Pantokrator is not a band with lots of guitar solos, but the solo in "Where Lilith Found Her Peace" is really tasty. What I miss on this album, is the violin playing that Blod had. Nonetheless, Pantokrator has moved forward and the result is a very nice piece of melodic death metal."[5]
Members
- Current members
- Jonas Wallinder - Bass (1997-present)
- Rickard Gustafsson - Drums (ex-Golden Resurrection) (1997-present)
- Mattias Johansson - Guitar (1996-present)
- Karl Walfridsson - Vocals (1996-present)
- Jonathan "Steele" Jansson - Guitar, Backing Vocals (Crimson Moonlight, ex-Sanctifica) (2003–present)
- Current Live members
- Johan Ylendatrand - Bass (2013–present) (Crimson Moonlight)
- Former Live members
- Linus Pilebrand - Bass (2011)
Discography
- Demos
- Ancient Paths - Unclean Plants (1997)
- Even Unto the Ends of the Earth (1998)
- EPs
- Allhärskare (2000)
- Songs of Solomon (2001)
- Splits
- In the Bleak Midwinter/Songs of Solomon (2001; Split with Sanctifica)[8]
- Studio Albums
- Compilations
- 1997-2000 (2001)
- A Decade of Thoughts 1996-2006 (2007)[12]
- Sands of Time (2014)
- Singles
- "Leviathan" (2007)
- "The Initiation" (2010)
- "Awesome God" (2016)[13]
References
- ^ a b c Simula, Colin. "Pantokrator - Incarnate". HM Magazine. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
- ^ a b "Pantokrator signs with Soundmass and Rottweiler Records". Untombed Zine. October 15, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ "Pantokrator". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ "Interview with Pantokrator". Metal Resource. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- ^ a b "Review: Pantokrator - Aurum, Whirlwind Records". Art For The Ears Webzine. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ "Metal For Jesus - History - Pantokrator/Sanctifica - Split". Metal for Jesus. 2001. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ Morrow, Matt. "Pantokrator - Blod". The Whipping Post. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ Morrow, Matt (July 2002). "Pantokrator - Split". HM Magazine.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Stevenson, Stewart (July 2003). "Pantokrator - Blod". HM Magazine.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Beck, Chris (October 2007). "Pantokrator - Aurum". Heaven's Metal.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Pelt, Doug Van (November 2007). "Pantokrator - Aurum". HM Magazine.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Larson, Michael J. (October 2007). "Pantokrator - A Decade of Thoughts". Heaven's Metal.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Listen to "Pantokrator" Version of "Awesome God"". The Metal Resource. Retrieved June 23, 2016.