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.

Christ Agony

 Today in 1997 Christ Agony released the album darkside

Morąg (early), Olsztyn (later),Poland Melodic Black Metal

Status:Active

Years active:1990-2005, 2005-2007 (as Union), 2007-present

Christ Agony is one of Poland's cult underground extreme metal bands, having formed in 1990 by guitarist/vocalist Cezar. Cezar has been the one mainstay in the band, the lineups frequently changing over the years. Reviewed here are two mid-period albums, 1995's Moonlight Act III and its successor, Darkside, released in 1997. The band is broadly in the black metal camp, though their style isn't quite the traditional black metal style, instead borrowing more from traditional metal riffing, with an epic, drawn-out songwriting style. Moonlight is the more conventional of the two albums, as Darkside is much more experimental, with industrial touches, a more somber, melancholic feel (in places), and some clean singing. On the strength of these two albums, Christ Agony hasn't quite reached must-hear status, but their somewhat original style is commendable, and that alone makes them an interesting listen.

Hammerheart Records

Cezar Vocals, Guitars

Maciej "Gilan" Liszewski Drums, Percussion

Mauser Bass

Guest/Session

Marcin Rumiński Flute

Yogi Vocals (backing)

Doc (R.I.P. 2005) Drums (additional)

1. The Triangle (Prayer, Sonet, Throne) 06:06

2. Heredity 05:14

3. Dark Beauty 02:28

4. Kingdom of Abyss 04:23

5. My Spirit Seal (Dream Version) 03:07

6. Dark Poem 02:22

7. Dark Goddes 03:59

8. Darkside (Eternal, Beauteous Death) 05:45

9. The Key 03:21

10. My Spirit Seal (Blood Version) 03:15

40:00

Recorded at Selani Studio / Olsztyn, 7.08 - 10.08 & 4.10 - 14.10 of 1996.

Asphyx

 Today in 1996 Asphyx released the album Embrace The Death

Oldenzaal, Overijssel,Netherlands Death/Doom Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1987-1994, 1995-1996, 1996-1999 (as Soulburn), 2000, 2007-present

Asphyx may not be the first Dutch death metal band (Thanatos may lay claim to that title), but they are among the oldest, having been formed in 1987. Despite several lineup changes over the years, the band have done well for themselves over the years with several quality releases. They first disbanded in 1996, but then the core of Eric Daniels and Bob Bagchus returned, but under a new name: Soulburn. As Soulburn, they released Feeding On Angels, after which the band decided to return to recording as Asphyx, which they last did in 2000 with On The Wings Of Inferno, after which they announced their retirement. They came back together in January 2007.

Century Media Records

Eric Daniels Guitars

Bob Bagchus Drums

Theo Loomans (R.I.P. 1998) Vocals, Bass

1. Intro 01:21

2. Embrace the Death 04:01

3. The Sickened Dwell 03:58

4. Streams of Ancient Wisdom 03:25

5. Thoughts of an Atheist 04:59

6. Crush the Cenotaph 04:25

7. Denying the Goat 03:48

8. Vault of the Vailing Souls 05:03

9. Circle of the Secluded 05:35

10. To Succubus a Whore 01:57

11. Eternity's Depths 03:40

12. Outro 00:50

13. Mutilating Process 04:27

14. Streams of Ancient Wisdom 04:29

51:58

Tracks 13-14 are taken from the EP Mutilating Process.

Recording information:

Tracks 01-12 recorded in 1990.

Tracks 13-14 recorded in 1989 at Frankie's Recording Kitchen in Nieuwleusen, Netherlands.

Mortiis

 Today in 1995 Mortiis released the album Keiser av en dimensjon ukjent

Notodden (early), Oslo (later), Norway Ambient/Darkwave (early), Industrial Rock (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1992-Present

Usually dressed in an elf, troll, or goblin costume (sometimes complete with bat wings and skull codpiece), Håvard Ellefsen, better known as Mortiis, was an indispensable force in the genesis of Norway's epic Viking metal sound, moving through multiple eras that incorporated different sub-genres and narratives. As the original bassist of Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor, Mortiis was credited with stimulating the group's interest in blending furiously chaotic black metal with haunting synthesizer melodies often based loosely on Norwegian folk, thus laying the groundwork for a sound that would dominate underground metal over the next decade. Originating in the early '90s as a largely electronics-driven solo project, Mortiis eventually morphed into a band. Mid- to late-career outings like 2001's Smell of Rain, 2004's The Grudge, and 2017's Great Deceiver introduced elements of industrial rock and electropop into the mix, while maintaining the cryptic darkwave-meets-black metal underpinnings of Ellefsen's earlier work.

Cold Meat Industry Records

Mortiis Keyboards

1. Reisene til grotter og ødemarker 24:47

2. Keiser av en dimensjon ukjent 27:48

52:35

1st Press. Gold disc with Silver design.

Limited to 2000 copies.