Apocalyptic Raids
Encyclopedia
Apocalyptic Raids is an EP
by the Swiss
extreme metal
band Hellhammer
. It was recorded and released in March 1984, and was the band's only commercial release.
The record was a major influence on the then-emerging death metal
and black metal
genres. It has served as an inspiration to such varied and respected bands as Napalm Death
and Sepultura
, both which recorded cover versions of "Messiah".
Hellhammer would split up only three months after recording this EP, and later regrouped as Celtic Frost
. Apocalyptic Raids would be reissued
six years later, boasting new artwork and two bonus tracks.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
band Hellhammer
Hellhammer
Hellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...
. It was recorded and released in March 1984, and was the band's only commercial release.
The record was a major influence on the then-emerging death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
and black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
genres. It has served as an inspiration to such varied and respected bands as Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, both which recorded cover versions of "Messiah".
Hellhammer would split up only three months after recording this EP, and later regrouped as Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
. Apocalyptic Raids would be reissued
Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.
Tracks 05 and 06 were originally part of the now out-of-print Death Metal compilation.- Liner notes :Below are the liner notes of Apocalyptic Raids A.D., written on February 1990 by Thomas Gabriel Warrior. They're titled "The Macabre Existence Of Hellhammer".- Credits :* Tom G. Warrior – vocals,...
six years later, boasting new artwork and two bonus tracks.
Track listing
Credits
- HellhammerHellhammerHellhammer was an influential extreme metal band from Switzerland, active during 1982–1984. They are regarded as being one of the first extreme metal bands and are a key influence on later black metal and death metal bands.-Biography:...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Satanic Slaughter (aka Tom Warrior) - V-Axe HolocaustElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(guitar), Dambuster Vocals - Slayed Necros (aka Martin AinMartin Eric AinMartin Eric Ain is best known for being the former left-handed bassist of the now defunct Swiss extreme metal band Celtic Frost. According to a recent interview, Ain is, in fact, an alias...
) - Deadly BassdoseBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(bass), Backing Howling...Backing vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Denial Fiend (aka Bruce Day) - Hellish Crossfire On Wooden CoffinsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(drums)
- Satanic Slaughter (aka Tom Warrior) - V-Axe Holocaust
- Horst Mueller - engineer
- Thomas FischerThomas Gabriel FischerThomas Gabriel Fischer , earlier known by his stage name of "Tom Gabriel Warrior", is a Swiss singer and guitarist. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the death metal style of singing or growling. Together with Bruce Day and Steve Warrior he formed the seminal metal band Hellhammer in...
– cover design, frontcover drawing "The Sitting Death" (©1984) - Mr. Jeckyl – Heptagram
- Burzelbar – PixPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...