Enthroned

Enthroned is a Belgian black metal group formed in 1993, based in Brussels. It is one of the leading bands from the Belgian black metal scene and remains active.

History

The band begins in Charleroi, where drummer Cernunnos founds it in 1993. He soon brings in guitarist Tsebaoth and a vocalist from the grindcore and black metal band Hecate, who stays until the end of 1993. Bassist and vocalist Sabathan then joins. A five-track demo tape appears in mid-1994 and draws interest from independent labels. The group then releases a seven-inch split EP with Ancient Rites on Afterdark Records. After that label ends, Evil Alliance Records, a sub-label of Osmose Productions, issues the first full-length album, Prophecies of Pagan Fire.

Nornagest joins later as second guitarist, and Tseboath is eventually replaced by Nebiros. In 1996, Enthroned tours Europe with Ancient Rites and Bewitched. In April 1997, just as the band is about to record Towards the Skullthrone of Satan, Cernunnos dies by suicide. The album is recorded with a session drummer in his honour, and the band performs at Dragons Blaze with newly recruited drummer Namroth Blackthorn. In 1998, it tours Europe with Dark Funeral, releases the mini-CD Regie Sathanas: A Tribute to Cernunnos in memory of Cernunnos, and later tours with Hecate Enthroned and Usurper. By the end of that year, the group records The Apocalypse Manifesto at Abyss Studios in Sweden, releasing it in 1999. The album takes the biblical idea of the Apocalypse and presents it through a Norse mythological perspective.

At the turn of the century, Enthroned tours with Marduk and continues playing across Europe. In 2000, Nebiros leaves and Nerath Daemon joins on guitar. The band tours Germany, plays further European dates, and records Armoured Bestial Hell at Real Sound Studio in Germany, releasing it in 2001. Namroth Blackthorn is then replaced by Alsvid, who has also played with the French black metal band Seth. The group continues touring in Europe and the United States.

In 2002, Enthroned signs to Napalm Records and releases Carnage in Worlds Beyond. In 2003, Nguaroth and Glaurung join, and the band tours South America before releasing XES Haereticum. In 2005 it issues its first official live album, Black Goat Ritual, recorded during a tour of Brazil. Sabathan leaves after that, and Nornagest takes over on vocals while Phorgath joins on bass. The seventh album, Tetra Karcist, is recorded in 2007, with Alsvid returning for the studio sessions. Ahephahim joins as official drummer, and the band signs to Regain Records in 2008. Some members also open the recording studio Blackout Multimedia.

Later, Ahephaim and Nguaroth leave because of time constraints and are replaced by Garghuf and the returning Nerath Daemon, now called Neraath. Pentagrammaton follows in 2010. By then, Nornagest no longer plays guitar live because of chronic tendonitis in his wrist and instead fronts the band. Sabathan and Nguaroth return for a one-off live performance in 2010. The group ends its relationship with Regain Records in 2011 and releases Obsidium in 2012 through Agonia Records. Sovereigns follows in 2014.

In 2016, Phorgath and guitarist ZarZax leave and are replaced by Norgaath and Shagãl, who later become official members in 2018. Enthroned ends its contract with Agonia Records in 2017. In 2019, after signing with Season of Mist, it releases Cold Black Suns. On that album cycle, the band issues the song “Hosanna Satana” with a video, and later that year ZarZax rejoins after Shagãl leaves to focus on Vibrion.

Members

Current members listed for the group include Lord Sabathan, Menthor, Alsvid, Nguaroth, Norgaath, Nornagest and Phorgath. Earlier line-ups also include Cernunnos, Tsebaoth, Nebiros, Namroth Blackthorn, Glaurung, Ahephaim, Garghuf, Shagãl, ZarZax, Neraath and Wrast.

Selected releases

Prophecies of Pagan Fire (1995), Towards the Skullthrone of Satan (1997), The Apocalypse Manifesto (1999), Armoured Bestial Hell (2001), Carnage in Worlds Beyond (2002), XES Haereticum (2004), Black Goat Ritual: Live in Thy Flesh (2005), Tetra Karcist (2007), Pentagrammaton (2010), Obsidium (2012), Sovereigns (2014) and Cold Black Suns (2019).