Astarte (band)
Encyclopedia
Astarte is an all-female black metal
band from Athens
, Greece
, named after the goddess Astarte
.
. The original line-up included Maria Kolokouri (bass, guitar, keyboards), a.k.a. Tristessa (who subsequently took over on lead vocals), Nemesis (guitar), and Kinthia (vocals, guitar). They had Psychoslaughter, the drummer from Greek band Invocation, play for the sessions on their demo
, Dancing in the Dark Lakes of Evil, released as Lloth in 1997. Shortly thereafter they adopted the name Astarte, named after the Semitic goddess of sexuality
. Their debut full-length album, Doomed Dark Years, appeared in 1998 on Black Lotus Records
; two further LPs followed on the label. After lineup changes in which Nemesis and Kinthia left to be replaced by Katharsis (keyboards) and Hybris (guitar), they released their fourth and fifth albums on Avantgarde Music
, the most recent of which, Demonized, was released in 2007. In 2003 the band participated in the Celtic Frost
Tribute album Order of the Tyrants, released by Black Lotus Records
, covering the song "Sorrows Of The Moon".
Astarte
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....
band from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, named after the goddess Astarte
Astarte
Astarte is the Greek name of a goddess known throughout the Eastern Mediterranean from the Bronze Age to Classical times...
.
History
Astarte first formed under the name Lloth in September 1995 at Elefsina, AtticaAttica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
. The original line-up included Maria Kolokouri (bass, guitar, keyboards), a.k.a. Tristessa (who subsequently took over on lead vocals), Nemesis (guitar), and Kinthia (vocals, guitar). They had Psychoslaughter, the drummer from Greek band Invocation, play for the sessions on their demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, Dancing in the Dark Lakes of Evil, released as Lloth in 1997. Shortly thereafter they adopted the name Astarte, named after the Semitic goddess of sexuality
Astarte
Astarte is the Greek name of a goddess known throughout the Eastern Mediterranean from the Bronze Age to Classical times...
. Their debut full-length album, Doomed Dark Years, appeared in 1998 on Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records was an independent record label based in Greece that specialized in metal. After licensing an amount of new artists, Black Lotus Records surprised the scene by suddenly filing for bankruptcy and all announced titles are on hold indefinitely....
; two further LPs followed on the label. After lineup changes in which Nemesis and Kinthia left to be replaced by Katharsis (keyboards) and Hybris (guitar), they released their fourth and fifth albums on Avantgarde Music
Avantgarde Music
Avantgarde Music is an Italian record label, formed as a continuation of Obscure Plasma Records, focusing on black and doom metal artists. The label has a sub-label called Wounded Love Records, which has released albums by Dolorian and Taake....
, the most recent of which, Demonized, was released in 2007. In 2003 the band participated in the 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...
Tribute album Order of the Tyrants, released by Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records was an independent record label based in Greece that specialized in metal. After licensing an amount of new artists, Black Lotus Records surprised the scene by suddenly filing for bankruptcy and all announced titles are on hold indefinitely....
, covering the song "Sorrows Of The Moon".
Current members
- Maria "Tristessa" Kolokouri – bass, guitar, keyboards (1995–present), vocals (2003–present)
- Derketa – keyboards
- Ice – drums
- Lycon – session guitars, bass
- Hybris – guitar (2003–present)
Former members
- Nemesis – guitar (1995–2003)
- Kinthia – guitar, lead vocals (1995–2003)
- Katharsis – keyboards (2003–2008)
- Psychoslaughter aka Aithir – session drums (1995–1997)
- Stelios Darakis – drums
- Stelios Mavromitis – guitars
- SIC – vocals
Special guests
- SIC from Lloth (God Among Men of the Album Demonized (album)Demonized (album)Demonized is the fifth album by the Greek black metal band Astarte. Just like its predecessor Sirens, Demonized was recorded in hometown Athens, Greece and mixed at the renowned TicoTico Studio’s in Finland...
) - Attila CsiharAttila CsiharAttila Csihar , also sometimes known as Void, is a Hungarian black metal vocalist, best known for his vocal work on the album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem. Author Ian Christe describes his vocals as "operatic."-Biography:...
from MayhemMayhem (band)Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
(Lycon of the Album Demonized (album)Demonized (album)Demonized is the fifth album by the Greek black metal band Astarte. Just like its predecessor Sirens, Demonized was recorded in hometown Athens, Greece and mixed at the renowned TicoTico Studio’s in Finland...
) - Henri SattlerHenri SattlerHenri Sattler is the founder and vocalist/guitarist of God Dethroned. He uses the alias 'The Serpent King'.Due to problems with the other band members and the record company, Sattler decided to split the band. He then formed Ministry of Terror, a thrash metal band, and released the Fall Of Life...
from God DethronedGod Dethroned-Biography:God Dethroned was formed in 1991 by singer and guitar player Henri Sattler, with Hans Leegstra and Ard de Weerd. Sattler and Leegstra had previously been in Dysentery; Leegstra, quickly after the band formed, left the music scene altogether. They recorded a demo, Christ Hunt, in 1991,...
(Queen of the Damned of the Album Demonized (album)Demonized (album)Demonized is the fifth album by the Greek black metal band Astarte. Just like its predecessor Sirens, Demonized was recorded in hometown Athens, Greece and mixed at the renowned TicoTico Studio’s in Finland...
) - Angela GossowAngela GossowAngela Nathalie Gossow is the lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. She is considered to be one of the few successful female metal singers to use growling as her primary singing style...
from Arch Enemy (Black at Heart of the Album Demonized (album)Demonized (album)Demonized is the fifth album by the Greek black metal band Astarte. Just like its predecessor Sirens, Demonized was recorded in hometown Athens, Greece and mixed at the renowned TicoTico Studio’s in Finland...
) - SIC from Lloth (Bitterness Of Mortality (MecomaN) of the Album SirensSirens (Astarte album)Sirens is the fourth album released by the Greek Black metal band Astarte. It was released in 2004.-Track listing:# "Dark Infected Circles " – 4:40# "Black Mighty Gods" – 5:37# "Lloth" – 2:38...
) - Sakis TolisSakis TolisSakis Tolis is a Greek musician best known as the vocalist and guitarist of Rotting Christ. He is also known as Necromayhem. He has recently produced some of the band's albums and contributed as session keyboardist...
from Rotting ChristRotting ChristRotting Christ is a Greek black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.- Line-up :...
(Oceanus Procellarum (Liquid Tomb) of the Album SirensSirens (Astarte album)Sirens is the fourth album released by the Greek Black metal band Astarte. It was released in 2004.-Track listing:# "Dark Infected Circles " – 4:40# "Black Mighty Gods" – 5:37# "Lloth" – 2:38...
) - ShagrathShagrathShagrath is a Norwegian musician best known as the vocalist of Dimmu Borgir.-Biography:Stian Thoresen was born on November 18, 1976 in Jessheim, outside of Oslo, Norway....
from Dimmu BorgirDimmu BorgirDimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
(The Ring of Sorrow of the Album SirensSirens (Astarte album)Sirens is the fourth album released by the Greek Black metal band Astarte. It was released in 2004.-Track listing:# "Dark Infected Circles " – 4:40# "Black Mighty Gods" – 5:37# "Lloth" – 2:38...
)
Discography
Lloth- Dancing in the Dark Lakes of Evil (1997)
Astarte
- Doomed Dark Years (1998), Black Lotus RecordsBlack Lotus RecordsBlack Lotus Records was an independent record label based in Greece that specialized in metal. After licensing an amount of new artists, Black Lotus Records surprised the scene by suddenly filing for bankruptcy and all announced titles are on hold indefinitely....
- Rise from Within (2000), Black Lotus
- Quod Superius, Sicut Inferius (2002), Black Lotus
- SirensSirens (Astarte album)Sirens is the fourth album released by the Greek Black metal band Astarte. It was released in 2004.-Track listing:# "Dark Infected Circles " – 4:40# "Black Mighty Gods" – 5:37# "Lloth" – 2:38...
(2004), Avantgarde MusicAvantgarde MusicAvantgarde Music is an Italian record label, formed as a continuation of Obscure Plasma Records, focusing on black and doom metal artists. The label has a sub-label called Wounded Love Records, which has released albums by Dolorian and Taake.... - DemonizedDemonized (album)Demonized is the fifth album by the Greek black metal band Astarte. Just like its predecessor Sirens, Demonized was recorded in hometown Athens, Greece and mixed at the renowned TicoTico Studio’s in Finland...
(2007), Avantgarde Music