Gospel of the Horns
Encyclopedia
Gospel of the Horns is a black metal
band that was formed in 1993 by guitarist
Shane Transvaal D (also of Deinonychus) & Mark Howitzer. Originating from Brisbane, Australia, the band released 2 EP's and 2 full-length albums.
In 1996, the band broke up, and founding member Mark Howitzer relocated to Melbourne. For a period of time, he played drums for fellow black metallers Deströyer 666
, even featuring on their 1997 album, Unchain the Wolves.
1997 saw Gospel of the Horns reform under Howitzer's guidance. The 1997 line-up consisted of Howitzer on vocals (and handling all lyrical matters), Ryan Marauder on guitar, and Warhammer playing drums. In May 1998 the band's second demo, Sinners, was recorded and released independently. At this stage, the band decided to sign a deal with Dutch
label, Damnation Records, that would include a mini-LP
and full-length release.
Shortly after the release of Sinners, Warhammer was replaced by Obliterator. A deal with the record label Morbid Productions resulted in the release of the 7" EP Monuments of Impurity. The EP contains three tracks, of which one is a cover of the Mortal Sin song "Blood, Death, Hatred".
Following the release of their first EP, in 1999 Obliterator was replaced by ex-Bestial Warlust
drummer, Hellcunt. A year later, Gospel of the Horns had material to record their mini-LP, Eve of the Conqueror through Damnation Records. In July to August 2000, the band embarked on their first tour of Europe, playing alongside bands such as Pentacle
, Enthroned
, Primordial
, and Thus Defiled. Countries included in the tour were Holland, France
, Belgium
, England
, and Ireland
. The band also participated in the Stonehenge Festival in Holland.
Returning from the European tour, the band recruited a second guitarist, Chris Masochist. In September 2001, the band recorded their follow-up LP, A Call to Arms, at St. Andrews Studio. However, due to financial problems, the band could not fulfill their deal with Damnation Records, and so the album was released through Invictus Productions.
In June 2005, Marauder left to start his own band, Funerary Pit. An Australian tour for Gospel of the Horns with Swedish band Dismember
followed. In 2006, Trench Hell guitarist, Hexx, joined the band. In 2007 the next full-length album Realm of the Damned was released.
In January 2007 the band split up, but reformed two weeks later. The new line-up was essentially the same except for Marauder's rejoining and Hexx's departure. In June 2008 the band performed in Seattle. In September 2009 Gospel of the Horns played their "last ever shows in Europe" in Holland, Germany and Ireland (Dublin).
Though the band had announced that they will play their last show on 7 December 2008, supporting Swedish death metal band Grave
, at Melbourne's Corner Hotel, they performed alongside Japan's Coffins in September 2010 in their Melbourne live show.
Archaic Magazine reviewer, Julian Klaassen wrote, "Gospel of the Horns is another band that plays that typical Australian metal (plays this kind of music since 1993) and is definitively on of the bests in its genre (featuring members of Bestial Warlust)".
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 that was formed in 1993 by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Shane Transvaal D (also of Deinonychus) & Mark Howitzer. Originating from Brisbane, Australia, the band released 2 EP's and 2 full-length albums.
History
Gospel of the Horns formed in 1993, consisting of Mark Howitzer (drums), Shane Transvaal D (vocals) and original bassist, Anton (who never recorded with the band) and later, Hellbutcher joined (guitars, bass). In late 1994 the band released their first tape demo, The Satanist's Dream, which led to a record deal with Einstand Records. The label intended to press the demo to CD, but the final product contained many mistakes, such as incorrect layouts and a photo of another band in the booklet. To this day, the band refuses to include the CD version of the demo in their discography, because of the aforementioned mistakes by the record label.In 1996, the band broke up, and founding member Mark Howitzer relocated to Melbourne. For a period of time, he played drums for fellow black metallers Deströyer 666
Destroyer 666
Deströyer 666 is a black/death/thrash metal band formed in 1994 by guitarist K.K. Warslut. The group originated in Melbourne, Australia however moved to Europe.- History :...
, even featuring on their 1997 album, Unchain the Wolves.
1997 saw Gospel of the Horns reform under Howitzer's guidance. The 1997 line-up consisted of Howitzer on vocals (and handling all lyrical matters), Ryan Marauder on guitar, and Warhammer playing drums. In May 1998 the band's second demo, Sinners, was recorded and released independently. At this stage, the band decided to sign a deal with Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
label, Damnation Records, that would include a mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
and full-length release.
Shortly after the release of Sinners, Warhammer was replaced by Obliterator. A deal with the record label Morbid Productions resulted in the release of the 7" EP Monuments of Impurity. The EP contains three tracks, of which one is a cover of the Mortal Sin song "Blood, Death, Hatred".
Following the release of their first EP, in 1999 Obliterator was replaced by ex-Bestial Warlust
Bestial Warlust
Bestial Warlust was a underground cult death metal band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1993.- Biography :The band was first formed under the name Corpse Molestation and at the time played death metal with five demos and one demo compilation under the name. Their lyrical themes involved death,...
drummer, Hellcunt. A year later, Gospel of the Horns had material to record their mini-LP, Eve of the Conqueror through Damnation Records. In July to August 2000, the band embarked on their first tour of Europe, playing alongside bands such as Pentacle
Pentacle
A pentacle is an amulet used in magical evocation, generally made of parchment, paper or metal , on which the symbol of a spirit or energy being evoked is drawn. It is often worn around the neck, or placed within the triangle of evocation...
, Enthroned
Enthroned
Enthroned is a black metal band formed in Charleroi in 1993 by Cernunnos. He soon recruited guitarist Tsebaoth and a vocalist from grindcore/black metal band Hecate who stayed until the end of December 1993. Then bassist/vocalist Sabathan joined. The band released a 5-track demo tape in mid-1994...
, Primordial
Primordial (band)
Primordial is an extreme metal band from Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland. It was formed in 1987 by Pól MacAmlaigh and Ciarán MacUiliam . Their sound melds black metal with Irish folk music.-Biography:...
, and Thus Defiled. Countries included in the tour were Holland, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The band also participated in the Stonehenge Festival in Holland.
Returning from the European tour, the band recruited a second guitarist, Chris Masochist. In September 2001, the band recorded their follow-up LP, A Call to Arms, at St. Andrews Studio. However, due to financial problems, the band could not fulfill their deal with Damnation Records, and so the album was released through Invictus Productions.
In June 2005, Marauder left to start his own band, Funerary Pit. An Australian tour for Gospel of the Horns with Swedish band Dismember
Dismember (band)
Dismember was a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1988. They are well known in the death metal underground. They split up in October 2011.-History:...
followed. In 2006, Trench Hell guitarist, Hexx, joined the band. In 2007 the next full-length album Realm of the Damned was released.
In January 2007 the band split up, but reformed two weeks later. The new line-up was essentially the same except for Marauder's rejoining and Hexx's departure. In June 2008 the band performed in Seattle. In September 2009 Gospel of the Horns played their "last ever shows in Europe" in Holland, Germany and Ireland (Dublin).
Though the band had announced that they will play their last show on 7 December 2008, supporting Swedish death metal band Grave
Grave (band)
Grave is a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1986 by vocalist and guitarist Ola Lindgren, who is their only constant member. The band had particular success in the early 1990s, and their first four albums, Into the Grave, You'll Never See..., Soulless and Hating Life, cemented their...
, at Melbourne's Corner Hotel, they performed alongside Japan's Coffins in September 2010 in their Melbourne live show.
Reception
Elementalist described the band's early lyrical style as, "Gospel of the Horns' lyrical ideology confronts our most despised and traditional enemy and its conformist religion".Archaic Magazine reviewer, Julian Klaassen wrote, "Gospel of the Horns is another band that plays that typical Australian metal (plays this kind of music since 1993) and is definitively on of the bests in its genre (featuring members of Bestial Warlust)".
Current
- Mark Howitzer - Vocals, Bass
- Markus Hellcunt - Drums
- Chris Masochist - Guitar
- Ryan Marauder - Guitar
Former members
- Hexx - Guitar
- Obliterator - Drums
- Warhammer - Drums
- Shane Transvaal D - Vocals
- Hellbutcher - Guitar, Bass
- Tony Anton Valentine - Bass
Studio Albums
| Year of release | Title | Label |
| 1994 1994 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so.... |
The Satanist's Dream (Demo) | Einstand Records |
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
Sinners (Demo) | Independent |
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
Monuments of Impurity (EP) | Morbid Productions |
| 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
Eve of the Conqueror (mini-LP) | Damnation Records |
| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
A Call to Arms | Invictus Productions |
| 2007 2007 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame... |
Realm of the Damned | Invictus Productions |
| 2007 2007 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame... |
Sinners/Monuments of Impurity (Compilation) | Kneel Before The Master's Throne Records |