The 1990’s (first part)
Lithomancy
Formed in 1991 under the name Euthanasia, the band later rebranded as Lithomancy, evolving their sound into atmospheric death metal. The original lineup featured Mike Grech Sammut on guitars and vocals, Carlo Calamatta (Rising Sunset) on guitars, Rex Grech Santucci on bass, Dino Mifsud Lepre on drums, and Will Grizzly (Norm Rejection) on keyboards. Their debut performance took place at Rock The Fort in Fort Rinella in August 1994, followed by a show at The Lobotomy Festival at White Rocks Complex in February 1995.
After Will’s departure, Jean Pierre (Disinterred and Eiree Obelisk) was recruited on keyboards. In 1995, Lithomancy went on hiatus following Carlo’s exit. The band was revived in 1996 by Mike and Dino, joined by Rex on bass, AJ Burd on guitar (both from Victims of Creation), and John Warslut on keyboards. Despite numerous gigs and a seemingly stable lineup, plans to record in the studio were delayed when John left, leading to the recruitment of Dave Croolis. Mike shifted from guitar to focus solely on vocals, with James Decelis stepping in as the second guitarist. AJ Burd later departed to pursue a career in his native UK (back on the island he joined Victims Of Creation).
Lithomancy’s final live appearance occurred in 2011, featuring Mike as a guest vocalist on one track. Over the years, several musicians were part of the band, including James Sciberras on second vocals (Biblical Infamy), Dave Parker on guitars (Beheaded), Andrew Baldacchino (Martyrium), and Conrad Borg (oblique Visions) on keyboards.
Achiral
Formed in 1995, Achiral was known for their unique Thrash Black Metal style. The band's original lineup included Ray Zammit on vocals and guitar, Calcidon Camilleri on drums, and Johann Tabone on bass, with Malcolm Callus of Sceptocrypt fame on guitars. The last known lineup featured Charlie Saliba on bass and vocals, Calcidon Camilleri on drums, James Decelis and Keith Fenech on guitars, and Ray Zammit on vocals and guitars. The band released their debut EP Wander Ignite in 2001, and earlier, they had released a demo titled Dark Waters in 1998. Achiral disbanded sometime after Dark Waters was released, marking the end of their musical journey.
Anhedonia
Established in 1994, Anhedonia delved into Doom Metal. The band's lineup featured Steve Cachia on vocals and bass, and Jean-Pierre Sammut handling vocals, guitar, drums, and keyboards. Their discography includes the 1994 bootleg Ego Sum Mors Tua, released on cassette on April 12th. Jean-Pierre Sammut was also involved in other projects such as Gruesome Funeral and had previously played in Disinterred and Archaean Harmony. Steve Cachia was also known for his work with Realida.
Arachnid
Arachnid formed in 1996, diving into the Death Metal genre. The band's lineup saw several changes over the years, including members such as Oliver Grech on bass, Campos on guitar, Stefan Abela on drums, Mario Mifsud on bass, Mark A. Tagliaferro on vocals and guitar, and Edward Tagliaferro on vocals. They initially made their mark with a demo titled Weaving the Web, released in 2006, showcasing their unique blend of heavy, aggressive Death Metal. Arachnid's debut full-length album, Compelled to Distort, was released in 2007, further solidifying their place in the Death Metal scene. However, despite the success of Compelled to Distort, the band disbanded in 2008, marking the end of their brief but impactful musical journey. Over the years, the band reunited several times for special live performances. Their music, particularly Compelled to Distort, is remembered for its technical proficiency and the band's ability to blend brutality with melody.
Archaean Harmony
Formed in 1995, Archaean Harmony specialized in Avant-garde Progressive Black Metal, combining intense musicality with atmospheric undertones. Their discography includes the demos Resentment of an Evanesce Aeon (1998) and Promo '99 (1999). The band released their debut full-length album, Nihility Mundane Soul, in 2000, followed by the EP Nihility: The Mundane Soul on March 1, 2022. The last known lineup consisted of Steve Mulliett on bass (joined 2001), Kenneth Pace on drums (joined 2001, also with Wolven Hour), Conrad "Asmodeus" Borg on keyboards (2001) and vocals (2004, also with Oblique Visions), Adrian Camilleri on guitars (joined 2004), and Bianca Caruana on vocals (joined 2005). Past members included Jean-Pierre Sammut on drums, Lynn on keyboards, and Lord Trebor (Robert Agius), who contributed on bass, guitars, keyboards, and programming from 1995 to 2003.
Biblical Infamy
Active between 1988 and 1992, Biblical Infamy was a Black/Death Metal band known for its intense and raw sound. The band released their demo Holy Lust in 1992, which became a defining element of their brief but impactful career. The last known lineup featured David Cachia on bass (also associated with Beheaded), Keith Gauci on drums (formerly of Covenant), Nicky Gravino on guitars (formerly of Covenant), Neville Gafa on guitars (formerly of Amentia), and James Sciberras on vocals (formerly of Angelcrypt, Oblique Visions, Lithomancy, and Urbus Vitae).
Spin
Spin was an Industrial Metal band formed in 1999. Their discography includes the demos Pead (1999), Cell 46, and Spin (2005). The last known lineup featured Simon on vocals (also associated with A Broken Design), Josef on guitars and programming, Andre on bass, and Mark on drums. Earlier in the band's history, Martin Ciappara, creator of Prayer of the Dying, played drums from 1999 to 2003. Ciappara has also been associated with acts such as Sarratum, Black Vulture, Lustre, and Luciferian Blood. The band was active from 1999 to 2003 under the name SPin and later continued as Core Frequency.
Stench Of Necropsy
Stench of Necropsy, a Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore project established in 1997, gained notoriety for its provocative themes of death, gore, perversion, and dark humor. The project was spearheaded by David K., who single-handedly managed all instruments and vocals, creating a raw, intense sound emblematic of the genre.
In November 2000, the project unveiled its demo Accepting the Horrible, which featured audacious tracks like “Deranged Masturbation on Purulent Corpses” and “Postmortem Perversions.” The following year, in March 2001, Stench of Necropsy collaborated on a split cassette release with the Turkish band Drain of Impurity, further cementing its contribution to the underground metal scene.
Drain of Impurity, originating in 2000 from Ankara, Türkiye, is recognized for its brutal approach to death metal, integrating themes of death, gore, and inspiration from the Dead Space video game series.
The split cassette united both bands' relentless and uncompromising styles, making a significant impact in the extreme metal subculture and highlighting their shared dedication to the genre's raw intensity.
Gruesome Funeral
Gruesome Funeral emerged as a formidable force in the underground Doom/Death Metal scene. Known for their haunting atmosphere and raw, unrelenting sound, the project was driven by the creative prowess of Jean-Pierre Sammut, who handled all instrumental and vocal duties. Sammut, a versatile and prolific artist, also contributed to numerous other projects, including Anhedonia, Disinterred, and Archaean Harmony. The discography of Gruesome Funeral showcases a journey through dark, oppressive soundscapes, beginning with Prospects for the Third Millennium, released in 2003. In 2004, Gruesome Funeral released Eghruq, an EP that delved deeper into their distinct fusion of Doom and Death Metal. The project continued to evolve, culminating in the 2005 album Out of the Hearse... into the Pyre.
Disinterred
Disinterred was a solo Death Metal project helmed by Jean-Pierre Sammut, a musician also recognized for his contributions to other notable acts such as Gruesome Funeral, Anhedonia, and Archaean Harmony. In 1993, the project unveiled a live demo featuring tracks like “Oracle of Doom,” “Inhumed Alive,” and “Cascade of Blood.”
Additionally, a VHS video was released, capturing performances of “Inhumed Alive,” “The Undead,” and “Blood for the Deceased.” This visual release further solidified Disinterred’s footprint within the underground metal scene, showcasing its intense and raw energy.
Realida
Realida was a melodic metal band that combined intricate instrumentation with powerful vocals. The lineup included Maurizio Schembri on drums (also known for his work with Rising Sunset and Sceptocrypt), Silvio Muscat on guitars and backing vocals, and Steven Cachia handling lead vocals and bass (also associated with Anhedonia). The band released the album Facing Reality, showcasing their unique style and musical prowess, further solidifying their presence in the metal scene.
Stay tuned for part two……
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