Hecate Enthroned
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Hecate Enthroned are an English
symphonic black metal Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. Notable symphonic black metal bands include Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, and Carach Angren. History ...
band initially founded with members from both
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
and
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, but are now primarily based around Cheshire, England. The band formed in 1993 as a blackened death metal act under the name Amethyst, changing their name to Daemonum later on. By 1995 the band had adopted the name Hecate Enthroned and a symphonic black metal style. The band's name alludes to the Ancient Greek goddess of magic and necromancy,
Hecate Hecate or Hekate, , ; grc-dor, Ἑκάτᾱ, Hekátā, ; la, Hecatē or . is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicte ...
.


History


Early years: 1993–1995

The band that would become Hecate Enthroned formed in 1993 in Wrexham,
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. They were a blackened death metal band by the name of Daemonum (previously known as Amethyst), whose members were Jon Kennedy, Nigel Dennen, Ian Maiden, Mark Watson-Jones, Steve, Gary and Marc. They released in 1993 a demo tape, ''Dreams to Mourn''. In 1994, after being invited by
Dani Filth Daniel Lloyd Davey (born 25 July 1973), known professionally as Dani Filth, is a British singer who is the vocalist, lyricist and founding member of the extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. He has a five-octave vocal range. Personal life Danie ...
to play bass on his band,
Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...
, Jon left Daemonum and joined Cradle of Filth, briefly replacing
Robin Eaglestone Robin Mark Eaglestone (born 1976) is a British musician. Biography He was the bassist for the Heavy metal music, metal band Cradle of Filth. Also known as Robin Graves, he joined Cradle of Filth in 1992 as 2nd guitarist for the recording of the ...
. However, in 1995, Kennedy left Cradle of Filth and returned to Daemonum, changing the band's name to Hecate Enthroned and developing a more melodic black metal style and replacing Ian on vocals. Gary was replaced soon after by Andy O'Hara (drums), joining from death metal band Nightmare Visions. Marc and Nigel Dennen remained both as guitarists, with Mark Watson-Jones continuing bass duties. With this line-up and in the same year, they recorded their first demo tape, ''An Ode for a Haunted Wood''. Hecate Enthroned toured the UK with Japan's
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and Ireland's Primordial in 1995, with long-time bassist Dylan Hughes replacing Mark Watson-Jones on live duties; Hecate Enthroned opened at London Astoria with
Ved Buens Ende Ved Buens Ende is a Norway, Norwegian avant-garde metal band. Their sound is diverse with quiet instrumental jazz influenced sections and aggressive black metal blast beats and vocals. Ved Buens Ende means "By the end of the bow" referring to th ...
, Impaled Nazarene and
Opeth Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal/rock band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by lead vocalist David Isberg. The group has been through several personnel changes, including the replacement of every original member; notably Isberg in 1992. Mikael ...
, gaining firm interest of Blackend Records.


''Upon Promeathean Shores'', ''The Slaughter of Innocence'' and ''Dark Requiems...'': 1995–1998

The ''An Ode for a Haunted Wood'' tape got the attention of British record label Blackend Records, that included Hecate on its roster and re-mastered the tape under the title '' Upon Promeathean Shores (Unscriptured Waters)'', turning it into an EP, also in 1995. Stylistically, this found the band in a more "true" black metal sound, with squashed production, growled vocals, raging tempos, blast beats and symphonic arrangements. Prior to its formal release, Steve (Keyboards), Mark Watson-Jones/Dylan (Bass) and Andy O'Hara left the band due to differences with Jon, and were replaced by Craig (Drums), Paul Massey (Bass) and Michael (Keyboards), performing throughout 1996, including the infamous pigs head gig at The Devils Church in London. In 1997 Craig was replaced by long-time drummer Robert "Rob" Kendrick. In the same year, Hecate released its first full-length album: '' The Slaughter of Innocence, a Requiem for the Mighty'', produced by
Andy Sneap Andy Sneap (born 18 July 1969) is an English guitarist, record producer and composer with over 100 albums to his name, most of which have been produced at his Backstage Recording studios in rural Derbyshire. Some of the most critically acclaime ...
, which saw the band enter a faster, more brutal direction, with more emphasis on the symphonic interludes. Although it was very well-received, the band was criticised as a "
Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...
rip-off" by Cradle of Filth frontman
Dani Filth Daniel Lloyd Davey (born 25 July 1973), known professionally as Dani Filth, is a British singer who is the vocalist, lyricist and founding member of the extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. He has a five-octave vocal range. Personal life Danie ...
. In the end of 1997, Paul Massey and Marc left the band, Paul was replaced by Dylan Hughes (who returned to the band after leaving it in 1995) and Marc was replaced by long-time guitarist Andy Milnes; Next year, they released their second full-length, '' Dark Requiems... and Unsilent Massacre'', this time lowering the speed and using the keyboards as the primary instrument and creating more horror-styled atmospheres, though still retaining the brutal heaviness of the first two albums.


Change in direction, ''Kings of Chaos'' and ''Miasma'': 1998–2001

A couple of months after the release of ''Dark Requiems...'', due to problems and creative divergences between him and the rest of the band, vocalist Jon Kennedy was fired. Keyboardist Michael also left the band; he was then replaced by Darren "Daz" Bishop, and Kennedy was replaced by Dean "The Serpent" Seddon. In the following year they recorded their first album with Seddon, '' Kings of Chaos''; its style changed drastically from that of the previous three releases, heading towards a more
death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...
-oriented direction, while still retaining the keyboards and dark black metal melodies of the older albums. In 2001, Hecate released a small EP of original songs plus a cover of "Buried Alive" by
Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
, entitled '' Miasma''. In the same year, Dean Seddon guest-starred on
Akercocke Akercocke are an English extreme metal band from London, formed in 1997 by Jason Mendonça and David Gray. The band also features Paul Scanlan and Nathanael Underwood. History Akercocke's first album, '' Rape of the Bastard Nazarene'', was sel ...
's album '' The Goat of Mendes'', providing additional vocals for the track "The Serpent".


''Redimus'', line-up changes and ''Virulent Rapture'': 2004–2013

In 2004, Dean temporarily left the band, and was briefly replaced by Dagon. Keyboardist Daz also left and was replaced by Pete White. However, Dean would return for the recording of their fourth studio album, '' Redimus''. This continues along the sound originally heard on ''Kings of Chaos'', with death metal-style guitars, tempos and growls mixed with symphonic black metal keyboards, melodies and grim screaming. There are also elements of progressive tendencies, as evidenced in the title track and "Morbeea", an acoustic track heavily influenced by
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
flamenco Flamenco (), in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and ...
music. Jason Mendonça of Akercocke guest-stars in this album. ''Redimus'' was also the last album by Hecate Enthroned to be released by Blackend; they signed onto a new label, Crank Music Group, in September 2013. 2006 saw Hecate Enthroned embark on a UK headline tour playing in London, Southampton, Nottingham, Bradford and Wolverhampton. 2007 saw them perform in Norway at
Inferno Festival Inferno Metal Festival is an annual extreme metal festival that takes place every year during Easter in Oslo, Norway. The festival was founded by Borknagar guitarist Jens F. Ryland in cooperation with Radar Booking in 2001 and takes place at Rockef ...
alongside
Immortal Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life. Immortal or Immortality may also refer to: Film * ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film * ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film '' The Wisdom of ...
, as well as several shows in Spain, Bulgaria, Romania and Germany. The band was scheduled to do a gig in
Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...
in December 2012, in what would be their first show in South America, but it was cancelled due to inner problems between the band. The show in Bogotá was then rescheduled for 11 July 2015, only to be cancelled again. On 10 December 2012, the band announced via their official
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page that they fired both vocalist Dean Seddon and drummer Rob Kendrick. Rob was then replaced by Gareth Hardy, and on 14 April 2013 Elliot Beaver was announced as Seddon's replacement. In a 21 January 2013 interview with webzine RoarRock, the band announced that a new studio album, tentatively titled '' Virulent Rapture'', was in the works. It was released by Crank Music Group on 25 November 2013.
Sarah Jezebel Deva Sarah Jane (born 25 February 1977), better known by her stage name Sarah Jezebel Deva, is an English singer. She was the female soprano vocalist for Cradle of Filth for 14 years and the frontwoman of the band Angtoria for 10 years. In 2009, D ...
of
Angtoria Angtoria was a symphonic metal band composed of British singer Sarah Jezebel Deva and Swedish brothers Chris and Tommy Rehn. Singer Sarah Jezebel Deva joined with the brothers in 2001 to create the band. Their debut album, '' God Has a Plan fo ...
and
Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...
fame guest-stars on ''Virulent Rapture'' providing soprano vocals for a track. A tour around Europe in order to promote the album came afterwards. In February 2013, guitarist Nigel Dennen and bassist Dylan Hughes were interviewed for the Hungarian documentary ''Attention! Black Metal!''.


Elliot Beaver's departure and ''Embrace of the Godless Aeon'': 2014–present

They announced on their official Facebook on 7 July 2015 that Elliot had parted ways with the band. He was eventually replaced by Joe Stamps in late July. Since 2014, the band had been preparing for a new album, which was finally released 25 January 2019 by M-Theory Audio and titled ''Embrace of the Godless Aeon''. Thus marks Stamps' first work with the group. In 2020 the band announced via Facebook that Gareth Hardy would be leaving the band. On 5 July the band announced that Matt Holmes would be the new drummer.


Band members


Current

*Nigel Dennen – guitar (1993–present) *Dylan Hughes – bass guitar (1995, 1997–present) *Andy Milnes – guitar (1997–present) *Pete White – keyboards (2004–present) *Matt Holmes – drums (2020–present) *Joe Stamps – vocals (2015–present)


Former

*Jon Kennedy – vocals (1993–1994, 1995–1998), bass (1993–1994) *Dean "The Serpent" Seddon – vocals (1998–2004, 2004–2012) *Elliot Beaver – vocals (2013–2015) *Marc Evans – guitar (1993–1997, died 2020) *Paul Massey – bass (1995–1997) *Michael Snell – keyboards (1995–1999) *Craig – drums (1995–1996) *Darren "Daz" Bishop – keyboards (1999–2004) *Dagon – vocals (2004) *Robert "Rob" Kendrick – drums (1997–2012) *Ian Maiden – vocals (1994–1995) *Mark Watson-Jones – bass (1994–1995) *Gary – drums (1993–1994) *Andy O'Hara – drums (1994–1995) *Gareth Hardy – drums (2012–2020)


Timeline


Discography


Demo tapes

* ''Dreams to Mourn'' (1993 – as Daemonum) * ''An Ode for a Haunted Wood'' (1995)


Extended plays

* '' Upon Promeathean Shores (Unscriptured Waters)'' (1995) * '' Miasma'' (2001)


Studio albums

* '' The Slaughter of Innocence, a Requiem for the Mighty'' (1997) * '' Dark Requiems... and Unsilent Massacre'' (1998) * '' Kings of Chaos'' (1999) * '' Redimus'' (2004) * '' Virulent Rapture'' (2013) * ''Embrace of the Godless Aeon'' (2019)


References


External links

*
Hecate Enthroned biography
at
Encyclopaedia Metallum Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives (commonly known as Metal Archives per the URL or abbreviated as MA) is an online encyclopedia based upon musical artists who predominantly perform heavy metal music along with its various sub-genres. E ...
{{Authority control British black metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1993 Symphonic black metal musical groups