NEGATIVE RITUAL is a French gothic-doom rock band which was formed in the end of the year 2014, upon the ashes of the NORA FRIES coldwave project.

It is composed of Sarkasm (ex-Fragments Of Dirt, ex-Nora Fries) in lead vocals and drums programming ; and by Requiem (One Standing Hope), who plays guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals. He is the main composer of the band.

To write the lyrics, the duo enlisted the services of their friend Daeman, an author and lyricist, who has worked in the past with different formations. He is considered as the third and full member of the band, investing heavily in its artistic direction.

Musically, the main influences of the combo are bands like Type O Negative, Paradise Lost, The Sisters Of Mercy, Tiamat, Fields Of The Nephilim, or Seraphim Shock and Dreadful Shadow. But the members also claim more extreme inspirations like Swallow
The Sun, Behemoth or even Rotting Christ.

The topics tackled in the lyrics mainly talk about themes like blood, fire, death, religions, satanism, esotericism or History and mythologies.

So all this reflects on the band imaging which, both in its visual on stage, seeks to develop both a mystic and warlike atmosphere, spiritual and dark.

Early 2015, NEGATIVE RITUAL pushed the door of the Andam Records Studio (Bourg-en-Bresse, France) to record the five songs that will be present on the first EP, which will be available in september of the same year. One of the tracks will even be a music video.

The band started to play live in June 2015 with 3 gigs (Besançon, Colmar, Pontarlier). The First Ritual Tour continued on September, 12th with a memorable release party in Reims, for their debut EP "Spectrum of the Past".
 

NEGATIVE RITUAL, it's, in less than a year, 8 gigs from a first tour in 6 different counties, a 5-tracks-debut EP "Spectrum of the Past", and a real music video.


DISCOGRAPHY

1998 : “Herbo Dou Diable” (Pandaimonium records/ EFA)

2000 : “Organic But Not Mental” (Pandaimonium records/ EFA)

2001: “Antechamber” (Pandaimonium records/ EFA)

2003: “Photography In Things” (Pandaimonium records/ EFA)

2004: “Absente Terebenthine” (Pandaimonium records/ AL!VE)

“Slow Wave Sleep” (Luminal records/ Revolver). - The first MVA best of (exclusive to the United States and Canada) gathers together a selection of singles from the first three MVA albums including some bonus

2007: “Uncertain Days” (Pandaimonium records/ EFA) - Best Of (Double LP)

2008: “Autopsy” (Pandaimonium records/ EFA) - A collection of songs from the very first band’s demo tapes.

2018: "In The Blue Plains Of Paradise" (Antonn Records)

2020: "Afternoons" (Antonn Records)

Remixes

Trisomie 21 "Personnal Feeling" (Le Son de Maquis)
Indochine "Maryline" (Columbia)
Clan Of Xymox "Farewell" (Pandaimonium Records)

Invading Chapel is a Heavy, Doom and Gothic Metal project founded by Loïc Malassagne in 1996 near Pau (France).
His discography includes two demos K7, eight CD albums and titles appearing on the CD compilations of the magazines Guitar Part, Hard 'n' Heavy" (France), Bunker Magazine (Russia), the playlist of Orkus! magazine (Germany), as well as compilations by the labels Darkpage (Russia), Do What Thou Wilt Records (Greece), and At Sea Compilations (Germany).
There will be some good feedback from abroad such as these interviews and reviews into magazines such as The Mick (England), Elegy Iberica (Portugal),  Bunker (Russia) or Orkus! (Germany) and France (Hard 'n' Heavy, D-Side, Rock & Folk...).
During the band period, they will perform several concerts and festivals in and around Paris.​​

Based in Lisbon, Portugal, CAST A FIRE was born as a solo project, having in its genesis the purpose of expanding Bruno Mira's artistic expression on an overflowing of gothic/gloomy rock and metal influences.
As a result of it, rises “These Troubled Waters”, a complete album that Bruno chooses not to release without a full band support to reproduce it on a live show. Therefore, at 2009, CAST A FIRE ceases its existence as a solo project to became a band, completed with Alex on the bass guitar and Emanuel on the drums.
Atypically, even before starting to play live, the band recorded a videoclip on “I Never Forget”, the opening tune of “These Troubled Waters”. As a self-produced videoclip it had a very low budget but did accomplished its objective of attracting a lot of attentions.
Right after that, the band had the opportunity to play on some very well known venues at Portugal, finishing the year with “Rock on Christmas Festival”, playing alongside with “Verra Cruz”.


2010 came to be a fantastic year to CAST A FIRE. The band finally released it's debut record, colecting amazing reviews from the specialized press worldwide. That gave them the opportunity to play it live all over Portugal and finish the year with a south-european tour visiting countries like Spain, France and Italy.

Right now the band is already working on a new record, hoping to have it ready by June, and making plans to go overseas. 2011 will certainly rock!

Since its creation in 1997 by Manuel Munoz (Vocals, Guitars) and Nicolas Chevrollier (Guitars), THE OLD DEAD TREE always stood apart in the current European metal scene thanks to its unique musical identity: a style which combines extreme metal and dark rock / pop with exceptional vocals, gliding from one style to the next. 

By 1999, this was already clearly evident, when Frédéric Guillemot (Drums) and Vincent Danhier (Bass) decided to join and secure the line-up. The press and fans enthusiastically praised and welcomed the band’s first release: a mini-CD, “The Blossom”. 

This promising debut took a sudden tragic turn, when Frédéric Guillemot committed suicide just a few months later. The band members were inspired to exorcise the dramatic loss of their close friend by expressing the darkest feelings and frustration this trauma provoked in a new concept album. The result was “The Nameless Disease”, produced by Andy Classen (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DEW SCENTED, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, DISBELIEF, GRAVEWORM…) and mastered by Goran Finberg (IN FLAMES, OPETH, DIMMU BORGIR…), an album which carried a powerful, aggressive and modern sound. In 2002, the band signed a deal with Season of Mist which finally gave Frédéric’s epic eulogy a proper release. THE OLD DEAD TREE performed several shows and toured at various festivals for the record, with the likes of OPETH, KATATONIA and PARADISE LOST. 

Franck Métayer, at the drums since 1999, decided to leave in 2004 in order to devote himself to his personal life. He was replaced by Foued Moukid whose debut performance with the THE OLD DEAD TREE appeared on the 2005 album, “The Perpetual Motion”. The band played at several high profile festivals over the summer of 2005 to promote the album’s release, including at “Summer Darkness” (NL) and “Fury Fest” (FR) alongside SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, LACUNA COIL, NEUROSIS and SOILWORK. 

Sophomore album “The Perpetual Motion” was fully produced by Andy Classen at the Stage One Studio (Germany) and the collaboration proved to be particularly successful. The album received raving reviews late Summer 2005. Throughout the fall and winter of that year, THE OLD DEAD TREE hit the road with Dutch gothic metallers EPICA for a full European tour, and performed several shows as headliners in France and the Benelux. 

On May 2006, guitarist and founding member Nicolas Chevrollier called its quits to focus on his family, as he would soon become a father. The strong friendship binding the members of the band made the decision particularly difficult. A replacement was found inGilles Moinet (main composer of doom metal act LUX INCERTA), a man with a deep sense of melody who quickly found his place and brought new influences to THE OLD DEAD TREE. 

After several more shows, the band members started working on their third album early 2007. The recording sessions and the whole mixing and mastering process took place in June at the Stage One Studio, once again with irreplaceable producer Andy Classen. The wait is now over and THE OLD DEAD TREE have given birth to their new album “The Water Fields”. Straight after the release of The Water Fields, Foued Moukid left the band to devote himself to his other band ARKAN in "full-time" mode. He was replaced by Raphael Anthaume (PENUMBRA). 

The band spent 2007 and 2008 playing all over Europe on headlining shows, as support act of DEADSOUL TRIBE or SUBWAY TO SALLY in Germany, and on festivals (Hellfest (FR), Summer Breeze (D), Lyon Metal Fest (FR), Wave Gotik Treffen (D)...). 

By the end of 2008 as THE OLD DEAD TREE was starting to work on a fourth album, some disagreements started to grow within the band, regarding commitment and musical direction. Those differences of opinions soon turned out to be a dead-end problem and led Manuel Munoz to make the decision of ending the band's activities... 

… Nowadays, in order to celebrate The Nameless Disease 10th anniversary, some surprises are to come! 

Christos Antoniou is one of the composers who arms the contemporary scene of modern and metal music .He origins from Greece and throughout the years he established as his trademark the explosive combination of extreme elements from both worlds, metal and modern music.  His distinctive musical language reassures his title as pioneer in the Greek Metal scene and paved the way for further international career.
            Christos studied composition at the London College of Music under the guidance of Martin Ellerby, Head of Composition department. Acquiring his Bachelor of Music in 1999. He continues his studies in Composition/Orchestration earning his Master’s Degree in Concert Music. Adam Gorb, Head of composition in Royal Northern College of Music is now among his tutors. In the same year, he is awarded with the Howard Goodall 1st Composition Award of London College of Music. He is also holder of Diplomas in Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue and Composition with distinction.

            The impatient musical spirit of Christos, is now more vivid than ever before and creates music for the highly acclaimed band Septicflesh. Christos is one of the founder members of Septicflesh, a band having a strong presence in discography and worldwide touring. Septicflesh managed to combine various styles of rock, such as gothic /death/black metal, with melodies and “classical” elements. The exceptional moment for Christos and his band comes with their latest album “The Great Mass”, where he exposes all his talent as a composer and orchestrator of the orchestral parts and very quickly defined Septicflesh as one of the top symphonic-metal bands all over the world. “The Great Mass” reached the charts in France, German and Finland.

Christos' unceasing passion for musical experimentation gave birth on 1998 to another band called Chaostar.The four released albums with Chaostar, flirts with experimental classical and contemporary sounds, combined with the harsh musical idioms he acquired from his past experience as one of the composers of Septicflesh. 
He held for six years the position of the exclusive composer of UTV/Digi-Guys a 3D company in Ealing Studios, London. He is also the owner with Fotis Benardo (Septicflesh) of Devasoundz studio based on Athens.

His future attempts include a work on concert music in collaboration with the “Modern e -Quartet “in Athens. Moreover, Christos inspired by the ancient Greek philosophy and numerous personalities which enrolled vital roles in the development of the Athenian philosophy, he creates an experimental album with Chaostar. The album will be released on 2012 by the French label, Season of Mist.

Florian Olivier /  Besançon. Navigating from goth-metal to darkwave. I miss a singer.
Main inspirations : 
Paradise lost ; Tiamat ; Type O ; Mdb, Sisters of Mercy ; Dreadful Shadows ; And One ; Morthem Vlade Art...

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