Windir

 Today in 2001 Windir released the album 1184

Sogndal,Norway Black/Folk/Viking Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1994-2004

Windir originally was the one-man project of one Terje Bakken, known as Valfar. The first two albums were recorded almost exclusively by Valfar himself, with the man joining forces with several members of another local band (Ulcus) to form a complete band, that band recording the later albums 1184 and Likferd. Windir's sound blends many elements of the old school of epic Norwegian black metal, but also brings viking and folk elements to the table to forge a rich, mature sound (and well-produced, unlike many similar-styled Norwegian bands).

Tragedy befell the band in early 2004, when Valfar was found dead, a victim of hypothermia he suffered when caught in a snowstorm. The band announced its official breakup in April, as the remaining members felt they could not continue as Windir without him. Several of the members later formed a new band, Vreid.

Head Not Found

Valfar (R.I.P. 2004) Vocals, Keyboards, Accordion, Bass (additional), Guitars

Sture Dingsøyr Guitars (rhythm)

Strom Guitars (lead)

Steingrim Drums

Righ Keyboards

Hváll Bass

Guest/Session

Cosmocrator Vocals (clean)

1. Todeswalzer 04:54

2. 1184 05:28

3. Dance of Mortal Lust 05:45

4. The Spiritlord 06:11

5. Heidra 08:18

6. Destroy 06:30

7. Black New Age 04:54

8. Journey to the End 09:34

51:34

This versions also exists as a promo in a cardsleeve.

The front cover is a work of the Norwegian painter Johan Christian Dahl (1788-1857).

Recording information:

Mastered At – Strype Audio

Recorded At – Akkerhaugen Lydstudio between June-July 2001.

Mixed At – Akkerhaugen Lydstudio

Pressed By – Tocano

Polluted Inheritance

 Today in 2001 Polluted Inheritance released the album Into Darkness

Terneuzen, Zeeland,Netherlands Technical Death Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1989-2008

Polluted Inheritance is a Technical Death Metal band from Holland. They formed in the year 1989 and have officially announced their split up in the month of May, 2008. During this time they have released two demos and three full length albums.

Rokarola

Steven Vrieswijk Bass

Ronald Camonier Guitars,Vocals

Erwin Wesdorp Guitars

Friso van Wijck Drums

1. Broken (6:04)

2. Free to Be (4:10)

3. Growing Distance (3:49)

4. Seal Your Fate (4:56)

5. Divine Capture (4:43)

6. Hypocrisy (4:54)

7. Angel's Masquerade (5:11)

8. Final Fantasy (5:14)

9. Alone (5:23)

10. Inner Peace (3:55)

11. Endless Time (4:14)

Total Time: 52:36

All lyrics written by Ronald Camonier only \'Free To Be\' and \'Seal Your Fate\' (by Menno de Fouw) and \'Hypocrisy\' (by J.Hemelaar R.I.P.)

Recorded at Z-Sound studio in Overslag (Netherlands)

Lux Occulta

 Today in 2001 Lux Occulta released the album The Mother and the Enemy

Dukla (early), Cracow (later),Poland Black Metal (early), Extreme Avant-garde Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1994-2002, 2011-present

Lux Occulta had a relatively short run in the late nineties, but remains the clear BNR favorite among Polish metal bands. Formed in late 1994, they reached their peak with 1999's My Guardian Anger, where they harnessed their highly original brand of frenzied, technical black metal, most notable for some brilliant keyboard and drum work. The followup, 2001's The Mother And The Enemy, went off the rails a bit, clearly showing a band in conflict, as the album featured several tracks in the mold of their previous works but also tracks that branched out in bizarre directions, such as the odd but ultra-cool Portishead-styled trip-hop of "Midnight Crisis" and "Yet Another Armageddon", and the industrial death march of "Gambit". To some these alternate tracks made no sense whatsoever, though to these ears they were a fresh addition and a great contrast to their more traditional works. Unfortunately it was this lack of direction that most likely led to the band's demise soon after Mother's release. As late as 2007 a revamped lineup was still in existence, but all was quiet until 2012, when formal work commenced on a new album, now set for a spring 2014 release.

Jaro.Slav Vocals

Kriss Drums

Martin Bass

U. Reck Keyboards

Peter Guitars (rhythm)

Vogg Guitars

Guest/Session

Włodzimierz Kossak Bassoon

Zbigniew Szmatłoch Synthesizer (bass)

Dawid Kosiarkiewicz Saxophone (soprano & bass)

India Czajkowska Vocals (female)

Gerard Niemczyk Drums

1. Breathe In (0:54)

2. Mother Pandora (5:46)

3. Architecture (5:53)

4. Most Arrogant Life Form (3:50)

5. Yet Another Armageddon (3:28)

6. Gambit (6:12)

7. Midnight Crisis (6:34)

8. Pied Piper (9:15)

9. Missa Solemnis (7:44)

10. Breathe Out (4:11)

Total Time: 53:50

Released by Metal Mind Productions in Poland.

Recorded during August / September 2001 on the fundaments of Studio 333.

Mixed and mastered at Studio 333, Czestochowa, Poland.

The Mother and the Enemy is the fifth album release by the Polish symphonic black metal group Lux Occulta. It expands upon the band's signature sound by incorporating influences from a variety of styles, including free jazz, trip-hop, death metal, industrial music, electronica, and spoken word.

Type O Negative

 Today in 1999 Type O Negative released the single Everything Dies

New York City, New York Gothic/Doom Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1987 (as Repulsion), 1988 (as New Minority), 1989 (as Sub Zero), 1989-2010

Type O Negative, the prototypical goth metal band, was formed in 1990 after the breakup of founder Peter Steele's previous band, Carnivore. Though several metal bands have incorporated goth influences in the music, Type O Negative are more overtly goth than most, and thus the measuring stick for any band professing to be a goth band. Driven by Steele's forceful vocal presence and brooding lyrics, the band has, if anything, gotten more dreary with each album, as the goth influences are more prevalent on later releases. Their career has been cut short with the recent tragic passing of Steele in April 2010.

Roadrunner Records

Peter Steele (R.I.P. 2010) Vocals, Bass

Kenny Hickey Guitars, Vocals (additional)

Josh Silver Keyboards, Vocals (backing)

Johnny Kelly Drums

Guest/Session

Paul Bento Sitar & Tambura on "12 Black Rainbows"

1. Everything Dies (edit) 04:38

2. 12 Black Rainbows 05:14

3. Everything Dies (LP version) 07:44

4. Everything Dies (video) 04:40

22:16

Taken from the album "World Coming Down"

Crematory

 Today in 1999 Crematory released the album Early Years

Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Gothic Death Metal (early), Industrial/Gothic Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1991-2001, 2003-present

Crematory was founded in 1991 and established themselves as a standout gothic metal band throughout their career, a career that has spanned some 15 albums now. Seemingly still at the top of their game, they surprisingly announced their breakup in the spring of 2001, shortly before the release of their Remind live retrospective, but then reversed course and reunited for good a few years later.

Massacre Records

Compilation

Disc 1

1. Tears of Time 05:00

2. Dreams 05:10

3. Ewigkeit 04:21

4. The Eyes of Suffering 04:05

5. Lost in Myself 04:36

6. Shadows of Mine 05:13

7. Ist es wahr 05:55

8. Through My Soul 04:59

9. Medley 12:09

51:28

Disc 2

1. Dreams (Deep Growl Mix) 05:52

2. Ist es wahr (Egomania Mix) 04:39

3. Tears of Time (Dance Raymix) 06:14

4. Through My Soul (Lost Soul Mix) 07:36

5. Shadows of Mine (Eternal Darkness Mix) 07:22

6. Ewigkeit (Staub Mix) 04:58

7. Lost in Myself (Trance Raymix) 05:07

8. The Eyes of Suffering (House of Pain Mix) 05:56

9. Megamix 09:31

57:15

Disc 3

1. In My Hands 04:03

2. Tears of Time 05:16

3. Ist es wahr 06:03

4. Shadows of Mine 04:06

19:28

CD 1: original versions.

CD 2: new remixes.

CD 3: videoclips.

Disc three is a CD-ROM

Song title translations (from German):

Disc 1

3. Eternity

7. Is it true?

Disc 2

2. Is it true? (Egomania Mix)

6. Eternity ("Dust" Mix)

Disc 3

3. Is it true?

Children of Bodom

 Today in 1998 Children Of Bodom released the single Downfall

Espoo,Finland Melodic Death/Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1993-1997 (as Inearthed), 1997-present

Named for an infamous murder case in their homeland (The Lake Bodom Murders), Children Of Bodom quickly became one of the top metal bands from Finland, with their potent and oft-imitated blend of progressive-laced speed/power metal with ferocious black vocals proving to be a hit with metal fans the world over, as evidenced by their Top Ten placings in the 2000's.

Spinefarm Records

Henkka T. Blacksmith Bass

Jaska W. Raatikainen Drums

Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho Vocals, Guitars (lead)

Janne "Warman" Wirman Keyboards

Alexander Kuoppala Guitars (rhythm)

Guest/Session

Kaapro Ikonen (R.I.P. 2016) Vocals on "No Commands"

1. Downfall 04:37

2. No Commands (Stone cover) 04:49

09:26

Trivia:

-Includes a necklace

Skepticism

 Today in 1997 Skepticism released the EP Ethere

Riihimäki,Finland Funeral Doom Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1991-present

Finnish experimentalists Skepticism are one of the leading purveyors of what some call "funeral doom". The songs contain little standard structure, and consist mostly of ultra-slow, droning riffs, minimalist percussion (often not drums in the traditional metal sense), and vocals that are raspy, growly, and haunting, yet somewhat subdued in their approach. The predominant instrument, though, is the keyboards, which often have that classic evil church organ sound that places the listener in the perfect frame of mind. This is not upbeat metal, and it's not headbanging metal, but what it is is wonderfully done, ambient sorrowful extreme music.

Red Stream, Inc. Records

Lasse Pelkonen Drums

Jani Kekarainen Guitars

Eero Pöyry Keyboards

Matti Tilaeus Vocals

1. The March and the Stream 12:00

2. Aether 08:41

3. Chorale 06:40

27:21

All music and lyrics written by Skepticism 1993-1997.

Photography by Skepticism.

The reissue has the old Red Stream logo removed from the booklet and an updated address.

Recording information:

Recorded in spring-fall of 1997.

Produced by Skepticism.