Heathen Deity

Heathen Deity

Heathen Deity is an English black metal band from Derbyshire, active since 1998. The group forms in May 1999 with vocalist Dagon and sets out to make what it sees as the true essence of English black metal while also paying tribute to the genre’s earlier exponents. Marc Hoyland is a member of the band.

Early recordings and line-up

The band records its first demo, Whispers of the Unlight, in summer 1999. This is the only recording it makes with keyboards, and the band later remains unhappy with it, so it is not officially issued. Over the following months, Heathen Deity plays a number of venues in the UK and goes through several line-up changes.

Live activity and releases

As its profile grows, the band makes contact with other UK black metal acts, including Hecate Enthroned, with whom it plays on numerous occasions. In summer 2002 it records the EP Walpugisacht, For the Glory of Satan at Purple Studios in Norwich. The release includes material from the first demo alongside new songs written by Azrael and Dagon, and it receives strong attention in the press, including reviews in several fanzines and Terrorizer magazine.

Heathen Deity tours around the UK to support the EP, headlining some shows and also appearing at London’s Electrowerks in support of Hell Born and Reign of Erebus. After a hiatus, the band plans to record its debut album, with Azrael and Dagon again handling the writing and Sathan on drums.