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Biografia : Necrophobic (SWE)

Necrophobic was formed in 1989 to give the world a band that created unholy death metal. Around this time, most bands played death metal in the veins of Carcass, Napalm Death etc. Necrophobic had a bit different influences and focused more on to create a much more dark and evil sounding music, in the beginning influenced by Morbid Angel, Slayer and Bathory.

1990 was the year when the world first could get a taste of the band with the demo "Slow Asphyxiation". Necrophobic received great reactions from the entire underground-scene with this release. It sold great and got great reviews from the underground-press. It also led to a vinyl-release, as two of the three songs from the debut demo ended up on a compilation album released by Witchhunt Records (Austria). Many distributors of demos and also some record labels that had demo distribution also contacted the band. One of those labels was the American Wild Rags Records. Together with Wild Rags Records, Necrophobic released two very appreciated items. The first was the now legendary 3-song cassette-EP "Unholy Prophecies" (1991). This cassette sold its first 1000 copies the very first month it was released and must now belong to the better-sold cassettes (in this format) a Swedish band has released. The second item released together with Wild Rags Records was a 7-inch with the title "The Call". This EP, containing three songs, was released with a poster of the band. Sadly, this was a limited edition of 1500 copies and it sold out in just one month and was never re-pressed. It's now a rare collectors item.

However, after further great response from the underground, Necrophobic thought the time was right to move on and started to contact a few labels to get a recordcontract. Black Mark Production responded after two days and it turned out to be the label Necrophobic signed with. In 1993, members David Parland (guitar), Tobias Sidegård (bass), Anders Strokirk (vocals) and Joakim Sterner (drums) entered the studio and recorded the debutalbum "The Nocturnal Silence" which saw the light of day a few weeks later. 9 songs of pure blasphemous death metal to set the most demanding listeners hearts in flames. Even though the death metal scene had become crammed with bands, "The Nocturnal Silence" got topscores in most magazines over the world and found itself directly into the German magazine Rock Hard´s chart in the 9:th position. According to a journalist of that same magazine, "it's not very common for a bands debut album". A few months later, vocalist Anders Strokirk decided to leave the band. Tobias Sidegård took over the vocalpart and the band also added a guitarist in Martin Halfdan.

Being a very self-critical band, Necrophobic had some troubles getting the new material together for the next album. It wasn't that they didn't come up with material. No, it was more that it didn't satisfy the members to 100%. As the band felt that they've been "away" from the scene a little too long, they decided to release a mini-album. They decided to record their freshest track at that moment. The track was "Spawned By Evil" and the mini-album came to have the same title. The remaining 3 songs of the record were covers, 2 of them originally recorded for a Bathory-tribute ("In Conspiracy with Satan"/Hellspawn Records) and a Slayer-tribute ("Slatanic Slaughter II"/Black Sun Records). With this foretaste of what to expect by the forthcoming second fullength-album "Darkside", took the world by storm. Around the time for the release of "Spawned By Evil" (spring 1996), guitarist David Parland decided to leave the band. Necrophobic continued as a 3-piece for a while, but later found a replacement for the vacant spot in guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt. He became a full member during the recording of "Darkside", but only played two solos on that record.

Then, in February 1997, the wait was over. "Darkside" was released. People's expectations were high. Could the band top the previous releases? The answer was yes. Again, the world press and the fans agreed. "Darkside" was a "milestone" were the most common reactions to the album and again, the band got topscores from most magazines and the underground press from all over the world. On this album, Necrophobic had moved further in the dark and evil domains. As most of the death metal bands seemed to slow down their death metal sound and music and become more "easy listened", Necrophobic did the opposite…they speeded up, became rawer sounding and so forth.

In 1999, it was time for the third fullength-album. Necrophobic was ready for war again with "The Third Antichrist". This is the band´s widest album so far. The music is still very much as before, yet developed! It's the Necrophobic you all are familiar with, that you can trust, still with surprises you didn't expect. On this new album you'll find the fast and intense songs, as usual, but you'll also find songs that are slow, stuff that are not common when thinking of Necrophobic. However, the dark and haunting evil feeling that's the band's trademark is not lost here. On the contrary!

Necrophobic has always stayed true to their style and will do as long as the band will exist. Their music will surely bring chills down your spine. Put their albums on and find yourselves getting possessed with them!!!

From www.swedishmetal.net