Suicidal Angels
Suicidal Angels | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Athens, Greece |
Genres | Thrash metal |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | OSM, Nuclear Blast, NoiseArt |
Members | Nick Melissourgos Orfeas Tzortzopoulos Angel Lelikakis Gus Drax |
Past members | Christina Gemidopoulou Sotiris Skarpalezos Themis Katsimihas Panos Spanos Angel Kritsotakis Chris Tsisis |
Website | suicidalangels |
The Suicidal Angels are a Greek thrash metal band formed in 2001 in Athens by guitarist and singer, Nick Melissourgos. Since its inception, the band has released six studio albums.
History
Suicidal Angels was formed in 2001 by guitarist Nick Melissourgos as a school project. The band's first demo, entitled United by Hate, was released in 2002. Two years later, they recorded their first extended play, titled Bloodthirsty Humanity.[1]
In January 2007, the band started recording its first full-length album, Eternal Domination, which was released in July the same year. During that year, Suicidal Angels joined Rotting Christ's Theogonia Balkan Tour, while later in 2007 they toured with Onslaught and Massacre.[2] In November, the Suicidal Angels supported the German thrashers Kreator in Athens.[3]
In March 2009, the band visited the "Music Factory & Prophecy Studios" in Germany to record its second studio album, Sanctify the Darkness. Later that year, the band entered the Rock The Nation and Nuclear Blast contest in which they eventually took first place, topping 1,200 bands from Europe.[4][5]
Following the release of Sanctify the Darkness in November 2009,[6] the group started touring with bands including Kataklysm and Overkill while also getting an opportunity to perform at many European festivals, including Wacken Open Air and Metalcamp.[7] The Suicidal Angels earned the opening slot at the Greek leg of the Sonisphere Festival in 2010,[8] supporting the "Big Four" of thrash metal, (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica). 2010 proved equally productive for the band as they released their third studio record, entitled Dead Again.[9]
In spring of 2011, the band tours in the Eastern part of Europe, again with Death Angel[10] and participates in more summer festivals in Ukraine.
The band created the album “Bloodbath” in fall of that year,[11] which hit the stores on January 2012, making it to the German charts at position #84 and to the Austrian chart at, position #78. The release of the record is followed by the “Full of Hate” tour 2012,[12] with the line up of Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Legion of the Damned, and Misery Index.
After the success of that tour, the band was confirmed for more summer festivals, such as Brutal Assault Open Air[13] ( for the 2nd time in a row) in August.
Soon after the end of summer, changes in the line up come, with Chris[14] joining forces on the guitar. The new year finds Suicidal Angels flying to Latin America, with a first stop of Mexico city,[15] followed by shows in Brazil.[16]
Returning home, the band starts touring, arranging multiple shows all over Greece.[17]
Locked up in the “Zero Gravity” Studios in Athens, the 5th album took form, with a month of pre-production. Having already worked three times with RD Liapakis and in the Music Factory and Prophecy Studios, the choice of the place for the main recordings was a one off. Ten days later, and with one more change in the line up, this time in the bass position, the new album was recorded, “Divide and Conquer”.[18] As soon as the recordings were done, the band flew over to Sweden, to the Fredman Studios in Gothenburg, to work with the critically acclaimed producer, Fredrik Nordstrom. Bringing in his own perspective on music, he created an up-to-date production with an old school touch and feel. The result was “Divide and Conquer”, released on the 10th of January 2014, which hit #82 in the German charts.[19]
Shortly after, the band hit the road once again, with the first, headline tour, called “Conquering Europe”.[20]
Discography
Studio albums
- Eternal Domination (2007)
- Sanctify the Darkness (2009)
- Dead Again (2010)
- Bloodbath (2012)
- Divide and Conquer (2014)
- Division of Blood (2016)
Extended plays
- Bloodthirsty Humanity (2005)
- Armies of Hell (2006)
Demos
- United by Hate (2002)
- Angels’ Sacrifice (2003)
- The Calm Before the Storm (2004)
Live albums
- Conquering Europe (2016)
Members
Current members
- Nick Melissourgos - vocals, guitars (2001–present)
- Orfeas Tzortzopoulos - drums (2003–present)
- Angel Lelikakis - bass (2014–present)
- Gus Drax - guitars (2016–present)
Past members
- Christina Gemidopoulou - bass (2005–2006)
- Sotiris Skarpalezos - bass (2006–2009)
- Themis Katsimichas - guitars (2005–2009)
- Panos Spanos - guitars (2009-2012)
- Angel Kritsotakis - bass (2009–2013)
- Chris Tsitsis - guitars (2012-2016)
Gallery
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Nick Melissourgos
-
Angel Lelikakis
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Gus Drax
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Orpheas Tzortzopoulos
References
- ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Suicidal Angels Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ^ "Opwarmer Dokk'em open Air in Romein en dan noemen we het Dokk'em Indoor". 3VOOR12. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Kreator + Celtic Frost στο Gagarin 205". Athens 24. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Auch Griechen können thrashen". Hamburger Abendblatt. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Album Reviews". Birmingham Evening Mail. 11 December 2009. Features section, p. 39.
- ^ "Görög, de nem tragédia". Debrecen Online. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Metalci vseh dežel se družijo v Tolminu". RTV Slovenija. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Και οι Suicidal Angels στο Sonisphere Festival". Cosmo.gr. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Kreator, Exodus e due band di Angels sotto il tendone soltanto note metal". La Repubblica. 15 December 2010. Bologna section, p.17.
- ^ "Sonic Retribution Tour". 13 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Bloodbath Recordings". 29 September 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Full of Hate Tour". 31 August 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Brutal Assault Open Air". 8 September 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Line Up Change". 5 December 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Suicidal Angels in Mexico". 14 December 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Suicidal Angels in Brazil". 5 December 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Suicidal Angels in Athens". 11 April 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Divide and Conquer". 9 October 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Divide and Conquer lands on German charts". 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Conquering Europe tour 2014". 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.