Hecate Enthroned

Hecate Enthroned

Hecate Enthroned is a British melodic black metal group from North Wales. It forms in 1993, first under the name Daemonum, with singer Jon and guitarist Nigel. After an early period of rehearsals and a demo recording, Jon leaves to join Cradle of Filth as bassist, while also being involved in the production of Dusk... and her embrace. About a year later he returns, the group adopts the name Hecate Enthroned, and the music moves further into melodic black metal.

Early releases

In 1995 the band records the demo Ode for a Haunted Wood, which brings the group to the attention of the British label Blackend Records. The label later re-masteres it as Under Promethean Shores (Unscriptured Waters) in 1996. Hecate Enthroned’s first full-length album, The Slaughter of Innocence (A Requiem for the Mighty), appears in 1997, and the band tours with Dark Funeral, Enthroned, Sigh and Usurper.

Style and development

The group’s early material is described as more guitar-led and direct than Cradle of Filth, with a different lyrical focus, while still sharing a black metal framework. In 1998 it records Dark Requiems...and Unsilent Massacre, a slower and darker release that combines grinding guitars with melodic keyboard lines and lyrical themes linked to the romantic, the macabre and Satanism.

In 1999 the band dismisses Jon, and Dean from EWOC records the vocals for Kings of Chaos. That album shifts further towards death metal while retaining black metal elements. The band follows it with the EP Miasma in 2001, which includes an original version of Venom’s “Buried Alive”, and then Redimus in 2004, a Latin-titled album meaning “Reborn” in the discography. The same year also brings The Blackend Collection, a best-of compilation.

Line-up changes and later activity

After Redimus, Dean and keyboardist Daz leave, and the band brings in Dagon on vocals and Pete on keyboards. Dean returns in 2005, and the group continues with gigs in the Czech Republic and across the UK. By the time of the later line-up listed in the input, Nigel and Andy are on guitars, Rob on drums, Dylan on bass, Pete on keyboards and Dean on vocals, with Jon Kennedy also named among the members.

Discography

An Ode For A Haunted Wood (demo, 1995), Upon Promeathean Shores (EP, 1996), The Slaughter of Innocence (full-length, 1997), Dark Requiems and Unsilent Massacre (full-length, 1998), Kings of Chaos (full-length, 1999), Miasma (EP, 2001), The Blackend Collection (compilation, 2004) and Redimus (full-length, 2004).