primordial

Primordial are a black metal band formed in 1991 in Skerries, Ireland, by Pól MacAmlaigh (bass) and Ciáran MacUiliam (guitars). The band's roots stretch back to 1987 when Pól and Ciarán first began playing together with Pól's brother, Derek. The band (who were called Forsaken for a brief period) initially played a rough, hybrid mix of early, primitive Thrash and Death Metal (playing covers of Death, Sepultura and the like).

Vocalist Nemtheanga joined the band after seeing an ad for a singer in Dublin specialist Metal store The Sound Cellar in 1991. According to Primordial lore, the ad was pasted over no more than 5 minutes after it being put up.

Upon Nemtheanga's joining the band, the band started to pursue a darker direction citing influence from Bathory, Celtic Frost and the emerging Greek and Norwegian Black Metal scenes.

Primordial was the first Black Metal styled band to emerge from Ireland with the release of their 'Dark Romanticism' demo in the early summer of 1993. The band initially came to the attention of Lee Barrett from the UK label Candlelight Records but he failed to move on signing the band so after a live, soundboard recording from Dublin from 1994 was sent to Cacophonous Records, (Cradle of Filth, Bal Sagoth etc.), the band signed with them for the release of their debut album Imrama.

Although their debut album, Imrama, was characteristic as being in a more melodic black metal musical direction, they gradually came to refine their sound with A Journey's End, which included the use of mandolins and whistles and a more epic style. The two subsequent releases, The Burning Season and Spirit the Earth Aflame, showed the band's reflection of cultural geist and emotion, woven into an amalgam of black-, celtic-, and folk metal musical styles. They have toured with various metal bands in the extreme metal genre, including Norwegian black metal band Immortal.

The Gathering Wilderness is the band's latest offering and turned out to be a much darker and bleaker record than any Primordial had made before, providing the listener with a rawer sound as well. It was chosen as album of the month in Terrorizer Magazine and appeared in lots of top lists of the year 2005.

In January 2006 the band played their first US show along side Thyrfing and Moonsorrow at the Heathen Crusade metalfest in Columbia Heights MN.

Europe will see the release of their new offering, To The Nameless Dead, on November 24, but a release date for the USA has yet to be announced. Nemtheanga on Primordial's webpage on the new album:

So yes you read it the album contains 7 new tracks and near 55 minutes of new Primordial and yes we know all bands say this but I can honestly say we have never been happier with how an album sounds. It is as I stated rich and powerful, it has a real fucking drum sound and you can smell the amps burning into overdrive. And as a singer I can say Chris pushed me further then I’ve been before with the vocals and stark sound from the last album has been replaced with something far more immediate and effective. And the songs? …to our ears at least this album sounds more focused, there is less flab on the songs. They are more direct in their intentions and there is a defiant vibe to the album that I for one did not expect but there it is in all its shameless glory. Fans of the band won’t be disappointed that is for sure. The mainstream might take notice or they might not. Who gives a fuck? We certainly don’t. Album number 6 and no compromise… not then, not now, not ever.

They are currently signed with Metal Blade Records.

Discography

• 1993 - Dark Romanticism (Demo)
• 1995 - Imrama
• 1996 - Split 10"
• 1998 - A Journey's End
• 1999 - The Burning Season
• 2000 - Spirit the Earth Aflame
• 2002 - Storm before Calm
• 2005 - The Gathering Wilderness
• 2006 - Live split picture disc 7" with Mael Mordha
• 2007 - To The Nameless Dead

Members

• Alan Averill "Nemtheanga" - Vocals
• Ciáran MacUiliam - Guitars
• Micky Flynn - Guitars
• Pól MacAmlaigh - Bass
• Simon O'Laoghaire - Drums

Session (Live) Members

• Gerry Clince (Mael Mórdha) - Guitars
• Steve Hughes (Slaughter Lord, Nazxul, Apocalypse Command) - Drums
• Dave McMahon - Bass

In addition to providing illustration for the group, vocalist Nemtheanga (Averill) is also a graphic artist for many other bands and artistic works. Alan has also guested as a vocalist on albums by Void Of Silence (Ita), Marduk (Swe), Desaster (Ger).

External link

• Official Website
• Official Myspace Profile
• Nemtheanga's art

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