Slechtvalk (the Dutch word for
peregrine falcon
The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (Bird of prey, raptor) in the family (biology), family Falco ...
) is a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
black metal
Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...
band from the Netherlands, formed in 1999. Previously signed to Fear Dark Records and currently to Whirlwind Records, the group has released five albums, a split-CD with
Kekal
Kekal (sometimes stylized as KEKAL) is a heavy metal and electronic music band formed in 1995 in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to AllMusic, Kekal was one of the first heavy metal bands from Indonesia to make international inroads, and accordin ...
, a single and a DVD. Their second album, ''The War That Plagues the Lands'', reached No. 2 at Lowland's Top 50 Metal Charts. Their third album, ''At the Dawn of War'', coincided with the release of a live-DVD, ''Upon the Fields of Battle'', a maxi single for "Thunder of War", and was named one of ''
HM Magazine
''HM Magazine'' is a monthly, digital and print on demand publication focusing on hard music and alternative culture of interest to Christians. It is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The magazine states that its goal is to "honestly and accurate ...
'' "100 best
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...
albums of all time". The band's fifth album, ''Where Wandering Shadows and Mists Collide'', was released on December 20, 2016.
History
Slechtvalk began as a solo project in 1997 by singer/guitarist Shamgar, formerly of Ascension and Mordax.
The project was first called Dommer (1999–2000), before Shamgar finally settled on Slechtvalk. The debut album, ''Falconry'', was released in 2000 by the now-defunct Dutch label Fear Dark which had bands such as
Eluveitie
Eluveitie ( ; )Chrigel Glanzmann: "...According to current research, it is pronounced in Bernese German as, i.e. ''"Elvèyti"''. But I don't know if this is correct. The gods know that.:: Metalist Magazine :: Interviews :: Eluveitie is a Swiss f ...
, Royal Anguish, Taketh and
Kekal
Kekal (sometimes stylized as KEKAL) is a heavy metal and electronic music band formed in 1995 in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to AllMusic, Kekal was one of the first heavy metal bands from Indonesia to make international inroads, and accordin ...
on its roster.
''Falconry'' was received positively,
and Dutch metal magazines such as Aardschok interviewed Shamgar. As a result of this exposure, Shamgar was in the position to form a band, and was joined by soprano singer Fionnghuala, folk singer and rhythm guitarist Ohtar (also with Dutch
folk metal
Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles (for exampl ...
band
Heidevolk
Heidevolk is a folk metal band from the Netherlands. The lyrical themes of their music are inspired by nature, the history of Gelderland, and Germanic mythology. Most of their lyrics are in Dutch; however, since their album '' Velua'', they als ...
), bassist Nath, drummer Grimbold, keyboardist Sorgier, and dancer Meallá.
In 2002, Slechtvalk released their second full-length album, ''The War That Plagues the Lands''. As a teaser they first released
a split CD with
Kekal
Kekal (sometimes stylized as KEKAL) is a heavy metal and electronic music band formed in 1995 in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to AllMusic, Kekal was one of the first heavy metal bands from Indonesia to make international inroads, and accordin ...
from Indonesia (also signed on Fear Dark);
each band recorded four songs and a cover (Slechtvalk covered
Antestor
Antestor () is a Norwegian Christian extreme metal band formed in 1990 in Jessheim. Credited for starting the northern European Christian metal, Christian black metal scene,Bryzak, Michael. Liner notes of ''The Defeat of Satan'' album. 2003. End ...
's "Kongsblod", from ''
The Return of the Black Death
''The Return of the Black Death'' is the second recorded and first released studio album by the Norwegian unblack metal band Antestor. It was released on September 14, 1998. It is the band's only release on the British Cacophonous Records label. T ...
''). ''The War That Plagues the Lands'' was well received.
In 2005, the band released their third album, ''At the Dawn of War'', with a more
symphonic
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning com ...
sound and elements of folk metal. The band also incorporated more war and fantasy themes to their live shows and began dressing in medieval warrior costumes. That same year Slechtvalk released a live DVD, ''Upon the Fields of Battle'', filmed at the club Hedon Zwolle; a music video for "Thunder of War" (also released as a maxi single) received some airplay at local music channels. The band toured several European countries with
Frosthardr
Frosthardr is a Norwegian Christian black metal band, formed in 1997. The band plays a raw type of black metal music with occasional punk influences and lyrics from Christian point of view. The drummer Pål Daehlen (Savn) is a former member of th ...
. In 2010, ''
HM Magazine
''HM Magazine'' is a monthly, digital and print on demand publication focusing on hard music and alternative culture of interest to Christians. It is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The magazine states that its goal is to "honestly and accurate ...
'' listed ''At the Dawn of War'' as number 60 on its "100 best
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...
albums of all time".
During early 2006 the band was joined by Grimbold's brother Seraph as a guitarist, as Ohtar was not able to continue playing the guitars due to a chronic wrist injury. In July 2006, Fionnghuala left the group to focus on her classical music career. Slechtvalk began writing new material and announced that the music would take a more technical and brutal approach.
In February 2007, the bassist Nath was removed from the line-up: Ohtar, who was able to play again, picked up on bass. In late 2007, keyboard-player Hydrith announced his departure to focus more on his family. Since then, Slechtvalk performed without keyboards (playing their more extreme songs) or with session-musicians.
On April 2009, the band signed with German-based Whirlwind Records. ''An Era of Bloodshed'', a compilation album of the band's past material, with two unreleased promotional songs, was released in October 2009, Whirlwind. Nath—now known as Premnath—re-joined the band as a keyboard-player. The band did a European tour to promote the new album. The tour came to life through financial support from fans, for which the band asked via SellaBand.com.
The band went to Sweden's Studio Mega in late 2009 with producer Johan "the ant" Örnborg to record their fourth full-length album titled ''
A Forlorn Throne''. It was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street, and the cover artwork as well as a new logo was designed by Raymond Swanland.
In 2014, the band released pre-orders for their upcoming album. After that there was no more information until 2016, when the band released a lyric video for the new song "We Are", announcing the album, ''Where Wandering Shadows and Mists Collide'', would be released on December 20.
Festivals
In addition to local shows in the Netherlands, Slechtvalk has appeared at several heavy metal
music festival
A music festival is a community event with performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock, blues, folk, jazz, classical music), nationality, locality of musicians, or h ...
s such as Elements of Rock in Switzerland, Bobfest in Sweden,
Nordic Fest in Norway, and Interregnum Fest in Germany.
Lineup
;Current members
*Shamgar (Mark Geertsema) – lead vocals, guitar (2000–present), bass, drums, keyboards (2000-2002)
*Seraph (Jos Lucas) – guitar (2010–present)
*Tomrair (Cullen Toner) - bass (2022-present)
*Ohtar (Jesse Vuerbaert) – vocals (2011–present), guitar, backing vocals (2002-2011)
(does not tour)
*Premnath (Premnath Gonesh) – keyboards (2010–present), bass (2002-2010)
*Hamar(Joël de Jong) – drums (2017–present)
;Former members
*Hydrith – keyboards (2003-2007)
*Fionnghuala – soprano (2002-2010)
*Sorgier – keyboards (2002-2003)
*Dagor (Nick van Liempd) – bass (2011–2021)
*Grimbold (Jan-Paul Lucas) – drums, backing vocals (2002-2017)
Timeline
Discography
*''Falconry'' (2000)
*''The War That Plagues the Lands'' (2002)
*''At the Dawn of War'' (2005)
*''
A Forlorn Throne'' (2010)
*''Where Wandering Shadows and Mists Collide'' (2016)
Other releases
*''
Chaos & Warfare'' (split-CD with
Kekal
Kekal (sometimes stylized as KEKAL) is a heavy metal and electronic music band formed in 1995 in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to AllMusic, Kekal was one of the first heavy metal bands from Indonesia to make international inroads, and accordin ...
, 2002 Fear Dark Records)
*''Upon the Fields of Battle'' (DVD, 2005 Fear Dark Records)
*''Thunder of War'' (CD-single, 2005 Fear Dark Records)
*''An Era of Bloodshed'' (compilation album, 2009)
*''We Are'' (single, 2016)
References
*
External links
*
{{Authority control
Christian extreme metal groups
Dutch black metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1999
Unblack metal musical groups
Viking metal musical groups
1999 establishments in the Netherlands