Frost Like Ashes
Encyclopedia
Frost Like Ashes is a Christian
blackened
death
/thrash
band that formed in Kansas City, Missouri
in 2001. The band has released two EP's (Born to Pieces
and Pure as the Blood Covered Snow
) and a full-length CD titled Tophet
, and their songs have appeared on 2 compilations titled A Brutal Christmas and A Treasury of Sorrows. Previously signed to Psycho Acoustix Records and currently to Sullen Records, an imprint of Open Grave Records, their music combines elements of black metal, death metal
and thrash metal
with keyboards and virtuosic vocals notable for "switching between about 10 different extreme styles within a given song." Their lyrics have achieved attention for their harsh output, providing a Biblical point of view for the regular, cruel themes of black metal music. The band is also controversial for using the typical corpse paint
style often associated with the black metal visuals. Their live act incorporates a reversal of stereotypical black-metal images—for example, spitting in and tearing up a Satanic Bible and smashing a goat-skull adorned pentagram with a sword.
and Mortal Treason
. In 2004, The band parted ways with Syntyche and acquired the skills of new bassist, Ruach.
In 2005, after some delays, Frost Like Ashes' first full-length CD, Tophet
, was finally released. The recording has received many positive reviews and has helped Frost Like Ashes gain more popularity and notoriety.
In the Spring and Summer of 2006, Frost Like Ashes performed in Omaha with Psyclon Nine
and Epicurean, and in Minnesota with Crimson Thorn
, Becoming the Archetype
, and Crimson Moonlight
.
On March 13, 2008, Blabbermouth.net
reported that the band signed a record deal with Sullen records, an imprint of Open Grave Records, for the release of the band's new EP, titled Born to Pieces
. The follow-up to the group's 2006 acclaimed album Tophet will be issued this May and will be available as a limited release, with only 250 units to be produced. Fire of the Polish black metal band Elgibbor played bass for Frost Like Ashes at their Cornerstone Festival
concert on July 3, 2008 to mark his full time permanent membership in the band. The EP sold out shortly after its release, and a limited edition 7" vinyl was printed of Born to Pieces later.
Previously the band announced that they are currently working on an album entitled Gods of the Great Whore that will be a concept album based on a book the vocalist Azahel is writing. An update from the band's official website on January 2, 2009, stated that the band has put Gods... on hold until the book is written; however, they have written new material for another album to be released first, tentatively entitled Who Walks in the Darkness, and is to be based on a novel by R. A. Salvatore entitled Homeland
. Tentative tracklisting was also published on their website.
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
blackened
Unblack metal
Unblack metal is a term used to describe musically black metal sounding artists whose lyrics and imagery promote Christianity. Such artists are controversial, mainly because black metal's pioneers, especially those of the Second Wave, intended to encourage hostility towards Christianity...
death
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....
/thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band that formed in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in 2001. The band has released two EP's (Born to Pieces
Born to Pieces
Born to Pieces is an EP by the American black/death metal band, Frost Like Ashes. The EP was released in 2008 on Sullen Records, an imprint of Open Grave Records. A limited amount of 300 copies were made of the EP, selling out shortly after its release. The EP contains 4 new songs, some...
and Pure as the Blood Covered Snow
Pure As the Blood Covered Snow
Pure As the Blood Covered Snow is the first EP by American black/death metal band, Frost Like Ashes.- Track listing :# Notions of Insanity - 05:11# A Cruel Verse - 05:15# Adorers of Blood - 06:05# After Forever - 05:00...
) and a full-length CD titled Tophet
Tophet (album)
-Recording history:Tophet was recorded at Nosral Studios and was produced and mixed by Frost Like Ashes. The album was originally supposed to be released by Psycho Acoustic Records which had signed the band. However, after the album was sent to be manufactured, the owner of the label died...
, and their songs have appeared on 2 compilations titled A Brutal Christmas and A Treasury of Sorrows. Previously signed to Psycho Acoustix Records and currently to Sullen Records, an imprint of Open Grave Records, their music combines elements of black metal, 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 thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
with keyboards and virtuosic vocals notable for "switching between about 10 different extreme styles within a given song." Their lyrics have achieved attention for their harsh output, providing a Biblical point of view for the regular, cruel themes of black metal music. The band is also controversial for using the typical corpse paint
Corpse paint
Corpse paint or corpsepaint is a style of black-and-white makeup, used mainly by black metal bands during live concerts and photo shoots. The makeup is used to intensify the bands' imagery of evil, inhumanity, and corpse-like decay. It is most commonly used just on the face, but also on arms and...
style often associated with the black metal visuals. Their live act incorporates a reversal of stereotypical black-metal images—for example, spitting in and tearing up a Satanic Bible and smashing a goat-skull adorned pentagram with a sword.
History
Two of the band members, vocalist Azahel and drummer Adonijah, were former members of a controversial death/thrash metal band called Possession that was active from 1992 to 1998. Frost Like Ashes was formed on the vision of guitarist, Sebat (ex-World Funeral, ex-Coven), who would recruit Azahel (vocals) and Syntyche (bass) in 2001 and begin what has become an underground juggernaut hybrid of black/death Metal. Adonijah (drums), completed the group and they released their first EP on SoTD Records in 2003. In January 2003, Qoheleth joined the band as their first full time dedicated keyboardist. Up to this point Adonijah would compose and record the keyboard parts. They were able to get on the bill for Freakshow 13 in Las Vegas, performing alongside such bands as StavesacreStavesacre
Stavesacre was an American rock band from Huntington Beach, California formed in 1995. The band was composed of vocalist Mark Salomon, guitarists Jeff Bellew and Ryan Dennee, bassist Dirk Lemmenes and drummer Sam West....
and Mortal Treason
Mortal Treason
Mortal Treason was an American Christian metal band from Hartselle, Alabama. Their first album A Call to the Martyrs was released in 2004. Then after major lineup changes, its second album Sunrise Over a Sea of Blood was released in 2005...
. In 2004, The band parted ways with Syntyche and acquired the skills of new bassist, Ruach.
In 2005, after some delays, Frost Like Ashes' first full-length CD, Tophet
Tophet (album)
-Recording history:Tophet was recorded at Nosral Studios and was produced and mixed by Frost Like Ashes. The album was originally supposed to be released by Psycho Acoustic Records which had signed the band. However, after the album was sent to be manufactured, the owner of the label died...
, was finally released. The recording has received many positive reviews and has helped Frost Like Ashes gain more popularity and notoriety.
In the Spring and Summer of 2006, Frost Like Ashes performed in Omaha with Psyclon Nine
Psyclon Nine
Psyclon Nine is a musical group formed in 2000 in the San Francisco Bay Area. While their early efforts are generally categorized as aggrotech, their more recent material has incorporated a disparate set of musical and aesthetic influences, notably industrial metal. The group took a hiatus at the...
and Epicurean, and in Minnesota with Crimson Thorn
Crimson Thorn
Crimson Thorn is an American Christian death metal band. According to Allmusic, they are "surely one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal bands". Crimson Thorn has performed at notable events such as Cornerstone Festival and Sonshine Festival...
, Becoming the Archetype
Becoming the Archetype
Becoming the Archetype is a Christian progressive death metal band signed to Solid State Records and Century Media Records formed in 1999 in Dacula, Georgia. They have released four albums on Solid State Records. Dichotomy, released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States...
, and Crimson Moonlight
Crimson Moonlight
Crimson Moonlight is a Swedish Christian black metal band which was formed in the summer of 1997 with the mere intention of recording a primitive old school black metal demo and playing one show before breaking up. However, the breakup never happened, and they have since recorded two EPs and two...
.
On March 13, 2008, Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net is a website dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. Blabbermouth.net was founded and is run by Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was officially launched in March 2001...
reported that the band signed a record deal with Sullen records, an imprint of Open Grave Records, for the release of the band's new EP, titled Born to Pieces
Born to Pieces
Born to Pieces is an EP by the American black/death metal band, Frost Like Ashes. The EP was released in 2008 on Sullen Records, an imprint of Open Grave Records. A limited amount of 300 copies were made of the EP, selling out shortly after its release. The EP contains 4 new songs, some...
. The follow-up to the group's 2006 acclaimed album Tophet will be issued this May and will be available as a limited release, with only 250 units to be produced. Fire of the Polish black metal band Elgibbor played bass for Frost Like Ashes at their Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
concert on July 3, 2008 to mark his full time permanent membership in the band. The EP sold out shortly after its release, and a limited edition 7" vinyl was printed of Born to Pieces later.
Previously the band announced that they are currently working on an album entitled Gods of the Great Whore that will be a concept album based on a book the vocalist Azahel is writing. An update from the band's official website on January 2, 2009, stated that the band has put Gods... on hold until the book is written; however, they have written new material for another album to be released first, tentatively entitled Who Walks in the Darkness, and is to be based on a novel by R. A. Salvatore entitled Homeland
The Dark Elf Trilogy
The Dark Elf Trilogy is a prequel to the Icewind Dale Trilogy by R. A. Salvatore. Drizzt Do'Urden, a drow, or dark elf, was originally written as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy to Wulfgar the barbarian. However, the author soon realized how popular the character was, and Drizzt...
. Tentative tracklisting was also published on their website.
Current members
- Azahel – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2001—Present) - Sebat – GuitarElectric 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...
(2001—Present) - Fire – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2008—Present) - Adonijah – drumsDrum 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 ....
(2001—Present) - Qoheleth – KeyboardMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
(2004—Present)
Discography
- A Brutal Christmas (SOTD Records) – 2002 (compilationCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
) - Pure As The Blood Covered SnowPure As the Blood Covered SnowPure As the Blood Covered Snow is the first EP by American black/death metal band, Frost Like Ashes.- Track listing :# Notions of Insanity - 05:11# A Cruel Verse - 05:15# Adorers of Blood - 06:05# After Forever - 05:00...
(SOTD Records) – 2003 - A Treasury of Sorrows (Lifeless Records) – 2004 (compilation)
- TophetTophet (album)-Recording history:Tophet was recorded at Nosral Studios and was produced and mixed by Frost Like Ashes. The album was originally supposed to be released by Psycho Acoustic Records which had signed the band. However, after the album was sent to be manufactured, the owner of the label died...
(Psycho Acoustix Records) – 2005 - Born to PiecesBorn to PiecesBorn to Pieces is an EP by the American black/death metal band, Frost Like Ashes. The EP was released in 2008 on Sullen Records, an imprint of Open Grave Records. A limited amount of 300 copies were made of the EP, selling out shortly after its release. The EP contains 4 new songs, some...
EP (Sullen Records) – 2008
External links
- Official website
- HM MagazineHM MagazineHM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
Article - Interview at Wisemenpromotions
- Interview at Rock-impressions
- Frost Like Ashes at Encyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is a website which lists bands from various forms of heavy metal music...