Belphegor

Belphegor is an Austrian black metal and death metal group from Salzburg, Austria. It forms in 1993 and remains active, with its lineup including Helmuth, Nefastus, Serpenth, Morluch and Simon Schilling. The band is also described as an Austrian death/black metal act.

Background

The group begins in 1991 under the name Betrayer, before changing to Belphegor in 1993. It is named after the demon Belphegor. The original line-up of Betrayer includes vocalist and bassist Maxx, guitarists Helmuth and Sigurd, and drummer Chris.

Early releases and line-up changes

Belphegor releases its first demo, Kruzifixion, in 1991, followed later by Unborn Blood. After the name change, the band issues the demo Bloodbath in Paradise on Maxi-CD. Maxx later leaves, and Helmuth takes over as both vocalist and guitarist. Between 1993 and 1996, A-X plays bass as a session member, before Mario “Marius” Klausner joins as a full-time bassist.

Recordings and label history

The band releases the demo Obscure and Deep on Perverted Taste Records in 1994. This recording includes a cover of Black Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Belphegor’s first album, The Last Supper, appears on Lethal Records in 1995. The band’s logo is redesigned around this period to include two inverted crosses surrounded by blood.

Later work

Belphegor’s most recent album listed here is The Devils, released in 2022 through Nuclear Blast Records.