Acheron

Acheron plays the black death metal genre. The group has clear roots in death metal , as it has laryngeal vocals and a fast downhole style of playing the electric guitar ^[1] .

The band's original logo, created in 1988, contained the Acheron inscription and an inverted pentagram. The new logo, used since 2016, is more stylized and in the center on top of it is the Lucifer print. Vincent Crowley decided not to make a completely new logo, but to create a logo based on the existing one. The new logo was created by artist Vojtěch Moonroot .

Anton LaVey said in an interview that Acheron is one of the groups, along with The Electric Hellfire Club , Nine Inch Nails , Marilyn Manson and King Diamond , which knows Satanism and is not afraid to support it ^[2] .

From other Satanist groups of the 1990s, Acheron is distinguished by the authenticity of the material, in particular, thanks to the participation of the famous priest of the Church of Satan Peter Gilmore , who not only gave advice on song lyrics, but also personally recorded “intro” (intros) to the songs ^[1] . In addition to reading texts in the intro, Gilmore performed atmospheric compositions on a musical keyboard ^[1] . His introductions, for example, are contained in the albums “Rites of the Black Mass” (from the English - “The Rites of the Black Mass”) of 1992, “Hail Victory” (from the English - “Glory to the Victory”) of 1995 and in the collection “Lex Talionis / Satanic Victory " (from the English. -" The law of retaliation. Satanic victory ") 2010.

Vincent Crowley was a priest ( Eng. Priest ) of the Church of Satan , then was ordained by Anton LaVey in the fourth step of active membership in the church - in the master ( Eng. Magister ), but in 2000 Crowley voluntarily left this religious organization.

The creator of the group, vocalist and guitarist Vincent Crowley is also the founder of the anti-Christian youth movement "The Order of the Evil Eye" ( English "The Order of the Evil Eye" ) ^[1] .

On April 26, 2010, Vincent Crowley announced the breakup of the Acheron group ^[3] . However, six months later, on December 27, 2010, information was announced that the group had been restored ^[4] and after 4 years a new album was released - “Kult Des Hasses”.

The first demo album “Messe Noir” (from French - “Black Mass”) was released in a limited edition of 666 copies by the Belgian label Reaper Records ^[5] . Acheron then signed to Turbo Music / JL America Records, recorded in 1991, and in 1992 released their first studio album, “Rites of the Black Mass” ( Black Mass Rites), which combined Gothic / orchestral interludes before each song with traditional texts for the black mass ^[5] . This album contains a song in the Enochian language - “The Enochian Key” , which is the fifth “Enochian key” from the “Satanic Bible” by Anton LaVey.

After the release of the first albums, Acheron was invited to the radio and participated in a debate with evangelical Christian Bob Larson ^[5] . The theme of Acheron's new album caught the eye of an American talk show called “Cristina,” aired on NBC . Crowley found out about this and flew to Miami , Florida to publicly discuss his views on satanic music. A clip from a show featuring Vincent Crowley later appeared on , during a narrative of the talk show Cristina .

The 1992 single “Alla Xul” and the song of the same name mean “evil spirit” in Sumerian-Akkadian mythology ^[6] . This single was released by Gutted Records (which later became "Metal Merchant" ). “Alla Xul” - vinyl record “7 ″ single ”. The first 500 records were released in blood-red vinyl; a total of 1,000 were released. The song "Alla Xul" is also featured in the subsequent studio album, "Hail Victory . "

In 1994 Acheron released the mini-CD "Satanic Victory" (from the English - "Satanic Victory") and the album "Lex Talionis" (from the English - "Law of Retribution") under the label Lethal Records. When Satanic Victory was released, it wasn’t what the band expected, so Acheron put together a new version of the album and released it on Metal Merchant Records. This new version includes 2 additional songs from “Alla Xul 7 ″” , as well as an introduction to the songs and a final track recorded by Peter Gilmore. He recorded Anton LaVey's “Nine Satanic Statements” as introductions.

Anton LaVey continued to monitor Crowley's progress, both in musical creativity and as a representative of Satanism, and in 1994, LaVey appointed Crowley the priest of the Church of Satan. Later, Crowley was promoted in the hierarchy to a master's degree. The recognition of Vincent Crowley in the Church occurred much earlier than the moment when Marilyn Manson was appointed priest in it. Acheron is mentioned by Anton LaVey in the book “Says Satan!” ^[7] .

Now, in your Last Times, you blame death metal and its impact on youth. You are concerned about the quality and content of their songs. You require warning labels on the covers of the cassettes. You are dumbass. <...> YOU have filled the media space with your understanding of "Satanism", for example, what sounds are made by demon possessed ones . YOU have made young people rebel against YOUR aesthetic standards, but you still complain that they gravitate toward Slayer , Ozzy , Electric Hellfire Club , Mercyful Fate , Deicide , Marilyn Manson , Acheron , Morbid Angel . You know what? I find these bands great.

Original text

"Now, in your End Times, you blame Death Metal and its influence on youth. You fret over the quality and content of their sounds. You demand warning labels on shrink-wrap. You silly mush-heads. <...> YOU provided media saturation informing them what “real” Satanists do, what kind of noises they make when possessed. YOU encouraged them to rebel by the aesthetic standards YOU provided, and still you grouse when they gravitate to Slayer, Ozzy, Electric Hellfire Club, Mercyful Fate, Deicide, Marilyn Manson, Acheron, Morbid Angel. Do you know what? I think those bands are great. ”

- Anton LaVey, “Satan Says!” ^[7]

The 1995 Hail Victory album (Glory to Victory) on the cover contains an inverted pentagram drawn by a member of the Church of Satan Diabolos Rex in the Giger style ^[8] .

At the end of 1995, an unauthorized video appeared with Acheron titled “Lust, Sin, Chaos, and Blasphemy” (Eng. “Lust, Sin, Chaos, and Blasphemy”), using 14 Acheron songs and an interview with Vincent Crowley. Then another sequel to this video from Natas Productions came out. Acheron is not involved in the production of these films and their songs were used without approval.

The 1996 album “Anti-god, Anti-christ” (from the English - “Anti-god, Antichrist ”) from the label includes drawings by Diabolos Rex : a phantasmagoric combination of snakes, bones, fangs, horns, etc. ^{[8 ]} . The album contains songs such as “Fuck the Ways of Christ” (from the English - “Fuck the Way of Christ ”), “Shemhamforash (The Ultimate Blasphemy)” (from the English - “ Shemhamforash (maximum blasphemy)”), “Blessed by Damnation ” (from the English -“ Blessed by the curse ”), “ Baptism for Devlyn Alexandra ” (“ The Baptism of Devlin Alexandra ”), “ Total War ” (from the English -“ Total War ”) ^[8] . The song "Baptism for Devlyn Alexandra" is associated with the Satanic "baptism" of the daughter of Vincent Crowley and is dedicated to her ^[8] . The album "Anti-god, Anti-christ" received many excellent reviews from fanzines and magazines around the world. At the same time, the British Blackened Records released the 2-in-1 CD Lex Talionis and Satanic Victory . This publication is widely distributed.

Acheron's fierce adversary, Bob Larson, later got his own television show on the popular Christian broadcast network, . Larson invited Crowley to Texas to hold another debate. Crowley accepted his offer. Following the end of a Texas television show, Larson called Crowley "the worst rock musician in America."

Some time after the debate, Acheron recorded their next full-length album , Those Who Have Risen (1998), which was based on the teachings and myths of The Temple of the Vampire . Initially, this album, describing real vampirism , was supposed to be released through the label, but there were some difficulties, as a result of “Those Who Have Risen” released . Merciless Records released a limited edition CD called "Necromanteion Communion" , which featured a title track and a cover version of "Raise the Dead" Bathory .

also released a limited collectible album, entitled “Compendium Diablerie: The Demo Days” in 2001, which contains 21 demo audio recordings from 1989-1995.

Acheron has been featured in hundreds of magazines and fanzines from around the world since the 2000s, including Grimoire of Exalted Deeds, , Sounds of Death, Scapegoat, Pit Magazine, , Deftone and many others.

On the cover of the studio album "Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood" (from the English - "Rebirth: Metamorphosis into the Divine") 2003 depicts a woman giving birth to the Devil with claws and horns, a stone altar red with blood, and around the inverted crosses on the mantles of three people surrounding a woman ^[8] . The album contains songs such as “Church of One” (from English - “Church of One”), “Xomaly” , “Golgotha's Truth” (from English - “The Truth of Golgotha ”), “The 9th Gate” - “The Ninth Gate”) and others.

The latest studio album, “Kult Des Hasses” in 2014, has a name in German and translates as “Cult of Hate.”

February 23, 2018 released a re-release of the debut album "Rites of the Black Mass" , updated by Tom Palms, released under the label Vic Records . Included are booklet and inserts, as well as interviews with Vincent Crowley, and the bonus is “promo 1990” ^[9] .

Group currently

• Vincent Crowley ( born Vincent Crowley ) - the founder of the group, bassist, vocalist, author of texts and music (since 1988)
• Art Taylor - guitar player (2009—2010, 2012 - present)
• Shaun Cothron - guitarist (2011-2012, 2014 - present)
• Brandon Howe - drummer (2014 - present)

Former members

• Aaron Werner ( Eng. Aaron Werner ) - keyboard player (2001-2005);
• Adina Blase ( Eng. Adina Blase ) - keyboard player (1998-1999);
• Ben Meyer ( born Ben Meyer ) - guitarist (1998);
• Bill “Belial” Koblak ( born Bill “Belial” Koblak ) - guitarist (1988-1991);
• Bill Taylor ( born Bill Taylor ) - guitarist (1999);
• Bryan Hipp ( English Bryan Hipp ) - guitarist (1998) (died in 2006);
• Daniel Zink ( born Daniel Zink ) - drummer (2001);
• James Strauss ( born James Strauss ) - drummer (1996-1999);
• Joe Oliver ( born Joe Oliver ) - drummer (1995);
• John Scott ( born John Scott ) - keyboard player (1996-1998);
• Jonathan Lee ( Eng. Jonathan Lee ) - drummer (1998-1999);
• David Smith ( born David Smith ) - bass player (1988-1991);
• Kyle Severn ( Eng. Kyle Severn ) - drummer (2002-2014);
• Michael Browning ( born Michael Browning ) - drummer (1992-1994);
• Michael Smith ( born Michael Smith ) - vocalist (1988-1990);
• Michael Estes ( English Michael Estes ) - lead guitarist (1996-1999, 2001-2004);
• Max Otworth ( Eng. Max Otworth ) - guitarist (2006-2012);
• Pete Slate ( English Pete Slate ) - guitarist (1991-1992);
• Peter H. Gilmore ( Eng. Peter H. Gilmore ) - keyboard player (1988-1989);
• Rhiannon Wisniewski ( English Rhiannon Wisniewski ) - vocalist (2002);
• Richard Christy ( born Richard Christy ) - drummer (1996);
• Robert Orr ( born Robert Orr ) - drummer (1991);
• Ron Hogue ( English Ron Hogue ) - drummer (1989);
• Scott Pletcher ( born Scott Pletcher ) - drummer (2010);
• Tony Blakk ( English Tony Blakk ) - guitarist (1992-1994);
• Tony Laureano ( born Tony Laureano ) - drummer (1998);
• Trebor Ladres ( English Trebor Ladres ) - guitarist (1994-1995);
• Troy Heffern ( English Troy Heffern ) - bass player (1996);
• Eric Stewart ( born Eric Stewart ) - guitarist (2010);
• Ash Thomas ( born Ash Thomas ) - guitarist (2008-2009).

Video

• I Am Heathen (2009; Song from the album “The Final Conflict: Last Days of God”) on YouTube

• Official website in the Internet Archive
• Vincent Crowley 's YouTube Video Channel
• Acheron official Facebook page
• Acheron on Twitter
• Acheron at Encyclopaedia Metallum
• Acheron Discography at Discogs.com
• Discographies and reviews on Russian Darkside e-Zine (Russian)
• Acheron's Profile at Last.fm
• All Acheron Lyrics in DarkLyrics