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Origin: Denmark Status: Active Style: Black metal Website: http://www.denialofgod.net
1991:
Denial Of God is formed July 5th by the brothers Ustumallagam (vocals) and Azter (guitar) (the only remaining members from back then) along with a drummer named Uksul.
Inspired by a variety of bands and artists like Alice Cooper, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Death SS, Mayhem, Bathory, Infernäl Mäjesty and Hellhammer (to name just a few) and everything related to horror, Satanism and the occult and supernatural, the band starts writing their first early material.
1992:
This material ends up on the band’s first demo tape entitled ”Oscularium Infame” which is released in summer 1992. Meanwhile a bassist, Kulmar, joins the band. Being recorded simply in the rehearsal room on a tape recorder and at a such an early stage, the sound turns out bad and the playing is anything but tight. The demo is loved by some and hated by many, but shows a band that does not care about the current trends at the time and are going their own way, musically as well as lyrically and even image-wise. It is fair to say the band becomes very much the opposite of the currents a time where most bands will deliver stripped down shows and dealing with the supernatural is regarded as something belonging to the past. Most people fail to understand the concept of the band and some slag the band for the use of horror make-up and their Satanic approach.The demo includes among others ”Dethrone the Tyrant-God!” which is still played live today and also is re-recorded for the 1999 mini-album ”Klabautermanden”. Followingly the band plays its first 2 shows of which the latter takes place in Sweden. Already at these concerts the band gains a notorious reputation for their onstage antics, which includes the use of living maggots thrown at the concert audience.
1993:
Kulmar leaves the band and is replaced for a short time by Nomos, but he is thrown out of the band for lack of dedication and skills, so the second demo ”The Dawn of Aemizaez”, this time a real studio recording, is recorded as a 3-piece. The demo includes songs like ”Follow those who died” which has since become a classic and a concert standard. The demo is followed by a massive amount of interviews in underground magazines around the world and Denial Of God gain a lot of reputation. ”The Dawn of Aemizaez” is still considered by many to be one of the best demos from that period in time.
1994:
The line-up is again completed by a new bassist, Fargel, and with this line-up they record their first 7” EP ”The Statues are Watching” for the Italian label Maggot.
1995:
”The Statues are Watching” (b/w a re-recording of ”The Dawn of Aemizaez”) is released in a limited edition of 1000 copies and is immediately sold out from the label. Being impressed with the band’s work, the UK based label Dark Trinity Productions signs the band for the release of a mini-album and a full length album. The recording of ”The Ghouls of DOG” begins.
1996:
Recordings for the mini-album ”The Ghouls of DOG” are finished and the mini-CD is released during the summer. Before the release the band plays the first live show since 1992 which is soon followed by a 3-date mini-tour through Holland and Belgium. These concerts see the band developing their imagery to the now wellknown ”ghoul look” which is also shown on the front cover of ”The Ghouls of DOG”. While loved by some, the band is again despised by mainly reviewers, often focusing more on the imagery (the band pictures show a naked woman being bitten and bleeding and the ghouls of DOG standing on a grave with human bones and skulls) than the music and lyrics. Denial Of God are, however, again not impressed by the reviewers’ opinion (on the contrary), knowing that this is all a part of their hideous horror themed Metal. The mini-album includes the darkest and most creepy material yet, among others the 8-minute epic ”The Crypt has Eyes”. After an additional live show bassplayer Fargel is thrown out of the band for his lack of dedication and the band once again continues a 3-piece.
1997:
New songs are written, but early in the year Uksul decides to leave the band and leave Ustumallagam and Azter behind as the only original members. Right before his departure some new songs are recorded as demos. These recordings are the last to feature Uksul on drums and at the same time the first to feature some vocals by soon-to-be bassist Isaz. She joins a few months later and becomes the last member of the line-up which has meanwhile been joined by Sorgh on drums. Once again the horror continues.
1998:
Being dissatisfied with the ways of Dark Trinity Productions, Denial Of God leaves the label and signs with Hammerheart Records for the release of a new mini-album and a full length album. Due to the distance between the members rehearsals are few, but the band enters the studio at the end of the year to record the mini-album to be entitled ”Klabautermanden”.
1999:
In spring a 7” EP entitled ”The Curse of the Witch” is released on Sombre Records to shorten the wait for the upcoming mini-album. This 7” EP contains demo recordings from 1997 and is mainly meant as a collector’s item and as a life sign to show the band is still in existence. Shortly after the band is once again incomplete as Sorgh decides to leave the band, but a new session drummer is found in R. Salskov. ”Klabautermanden” is released and the title track becomes the first and up till today only song with lyrics in their own language. At the same time the band decides to re-record two old songs along with some cover songs for the release on two 7” EPs. The band performs one live show this year which causes them to be banned from ever playing the place again due to the gory trail left behind from the raw meat mixed with blood and maggots.
2000:
Again the band parts ways with their label. Not only did the label release the mini-album without the lyrics printed (something the band always did since the first demo, believing the lyrics are an important factor of the concept), but also fails to promote the band in a proper way and generally back out as the band is not commercial enough for them, relying too much on major distributions and reviewers. The ”The Crypt has Eyes” 7” EP is released and the limited edition is again sold out fast. The 7” EP is backed with a haunting cover of Death SS’ classic ”Terror”. Another live show (the band’s 10th) is played and again the band has to face arguing over the bloody live show. While the venues despise the band, the reactions from the audience reaches from amazement to shock, but the ghouls leave their impression as always. The summer furthermore sees the release of ”The Ghouls of DOG” with bonus tracks on cassette format on the Russian label Oupiric Productions and the name starts to spread in Eastern Europe and other countries where the cassette format is still the most common. The band continues to rehearse (although again on a rare basis as the band members still live far from each other).
2001:
”The Crypt has Eyes” is re-released due to the high demand for it and is followed shortly after by the second 7” EP entitled ”Robbing the Grave of the Priest” on Warlord Records. This one is backed with a haunting cover of Mayhem’s classic ”Funeral Fog”.
In May the band plays at the ”2 heavy 4 you!” festival in Sweden, presenting among old classics also some new songs from the forthcoming album, and once again leaves the stage all bloody.
2002:
The band is still waiting for Warlord Records to re-release sold out "Robbing the Grave of the Priest" 7" EP as a picture disc. This one will be a completely new pressiong as the band is not satisfied with the quality of the previous pressing.
Furthermore Oupiric Productions will release a compilation video (VHS) with Denial Of God and 5 other bands. The band will be featured with a small band presentation and a video for "Robbing the Grave of the Priest"-
Curently the band is preparing the songwriting and rehearsals for the very long awaited album "The Horrors of Satan". This album will be proceeded by a 12"/CD-single entitled "A Night in Transylvania" which will contain one track from the album, an accoustic version of "The Iron Gibbet" (also on the album, but in a heavy version) and a cover of the Dutch band Future Tense's "Swords of Vengeance. These recordings will be the last to feature R. Salskov as a session drummer and hopefully a new permanent member will be found after that.
Biography courtesy of
http://www.denialofgod.net
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