Villainous

Villainous is a Belgian power metal group founded in August 2008 in the Flemish underground metal scene. It begins under the temporary name Dragonfarce before taking the Villainous name. The band is formed by Ward Vandenabeele and Arno Callens, who start writing songs in the same month the group is created.

Line-up

After the first songwriting sessions, singer Tijmerd Balcaen joins on vocals. Ward later asks around at The Steeple, a local hard rock café, for a bass player and Jasmien Vervaeke joins the band on bass. Drummer Emanuel Deconinck later completes the line-up. This formation remains the group’s core line-up.

Early recordings and style

Within four months of forming, the band learns seven songs. Its first demo, Surfing Icarus, is recorded in early 2009. Villainous draws on power metal and lists influences that include Avantasia, Dark Moor, Dio, Dragonland, Edguy, Firewind, Gamma Ray, Heavenly, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Kamelot, Masterplan, Nocturnal Rites, Pyramaze, Running Wild and Theocracy, while explicitly excluding Dragonforce as a comparison.

Lyrical themes

The group’s lyrics focus on Greek mythology, Twin Peaks, personal desires, and other stories presented through vague symbolism.