DoomSword is an Italian
heavy metal band from
Varese
Varese ( , , or ; lmo, label= Varesino, Varés ; la, Baretium; archaic german: Väris) is a city and ''comune'' in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, north-west of Milan. The population of Varese in 2018 has reached 80,559.
It is the c ...
, Northern Italy, that combines elements of
doom metal,
viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by a lyrical and thematic focus on Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age. Viking metal is quite diverse as a musical style, to the point where some consider it more a cr ...
and
traditional heavy metal
Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, heavy metal bands developed a ...
. Doomsword's lyrics are concerned with epic themes such as ancient and medieval history, fantasy literature, and European mythology.
History
1014AD and early days
Founded in
1997
File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...
by Deathmaster
[
] (previously a member of the metal band Agarthi), DoomSword were born as a studio project aimed at playing epic / medieval influenced epic metal in the way of Warlord. The original members of the band, Deathmaster and Guardian Angel, were already working together on an ancient music project called 1014AD with strong medieval influences, and after a short hiatus they re-arranged the 1014AD material into proper heavy metal songs, and released them as a demo called "Sacred Metal" the same year. The original line-up saw Deathmaster taking care of guitars and vocals and Guardian Angel taking care of drums and the second guitar. A session bass guitar player was used for the demo, after which bass player Dark Omen joined the band.
Debut album period (1997–1999)
In 1998 DoomSword were signed by Italian label Underground Symphony and released their first same-titled album in 1999. New singer Nightcomer joined the band (Deathmaster only took care of guitars). After the release of the album the band almost split up, with Nightcomer and Guardian Angel leaving DoomSword.
Dragonheart period (2001–present)
In 2001, Deathmaster resumed his original role of singer in the band, recruited new elements and resurrected the band after a 2-year hiatus, and with this new line up (The Forger and Guardian Angel II at guitars, Grom at drums) the band signed for Dragonheart records.
DoomSword went on to publish 4 albums with Dragonheart, namely the purely epic
Resound the Horn, the Viking-themed
Let Battle Commence, the classic metal with Irish influences
My Name Will Live On and the darker and more introspective
The Eternal Battle (released on February 25, 2011).
In 2002 DoomSword broke their live "silence" by playing a gig with
Manilla Road
Manilla Road was an American heavy metal band from Wichita, Kansas, founded by Mark "The Shark" Shelton (vocals and guitar) and Scott "Scooter" Park (bass guitar). Beginning in 1977, the early years of Manilla Road were spent playing mostly pro ...
in Porto D'Ascoli, Italy, and subsequently taking part to important underground metal festivals such as the Keep It True, Bang Your Head, Up The Hammers, Headbangers Open Air etc.
Pseudonyms
As mentioned on their official site, DoomSword adopted pseudonyms in 1997 to reinforce their bond with their main influence, US metal band Warlord. The pseudonyms Deathmaster and Guardian Angel are taken from names carved on headstones in the cover painting of Warlord's "Deliver Us" EP.
Band members
Current members
* Deathmaster – Guitars (1997-1999), Vocals (1997-present)
* Geilt – Bass (2004-2011, 2018-present)
* WrathLord– Drums (2002-present)
* The Ancient – Guitars (2010-present)
Former members
* Soldier of Fortune - Bass (1997)
* Dark Omen – Bass (1998-2004)
* Nidhoggr – Bass (2011-2017)
* Guardian Angel – Guitars, Drums (1997-1999)
* Nightcomer – Vocals (1998-1999)
* Guardian Angel II – Guitars (2000-2002)
* Grom - Drums (2000-2002)
* The Forger– Guitars (2000-2009)
* Sacred Heart – Guitars (2003-2013)
* The Autarch - Guitars (2013-2018)
Timeline
Discography
Demos
* ''Sacred Metal'' (1997)
Albums
*''
Doomsword'' – (1999)
*''
Resound the Horn'' – (2002)
*''
Let Battle Commence'' – (2003)
*''
My Name Will Live On'' – (2007)
*''The Eternal Battle'' – (2011)
Compilations
* ''DoomSword'' – (2021)
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Italian doom metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1997
Musical quintets