Leviticus (band)
Encyclopedia
Leviticus was a Christian metal
band from Sweden
. The band formed in 1981 and was led by Bjorn Stigsson. They released four albums before breaking up in 1990.
In 1986 the band went through lineup changes: Ez Gomér
was brought in to replace Håkan Andersson on bass, and Terry Haw joined. Both were with the band through Setting Fire to the Earth (1987), then left to form Jet Circus. With this lineup they toured extensively in Europe throughout 1986–1987.
They played the Greenbelt festival
in England three times, 1984, 1985, and 1987, and the Scandinavium
in Gothenburg twice (1985, 1987). The second appearance at the Scandinavium
was with a festival, and was filmed by Sveriges Television
.
In early '88 they toured again in Sweden and in April they returned to England. Their first United States
tour was in August 1988, when they opened for Larry Norman
and played as his backup band. In fall of that year they toured for two months throughout Europe. together with Bloodgood
and concluded the year playing the Ennepetal Christmas Rock Night
festival in Germany for the second time.
In 1989 they did touring again in Australia and completed two tours in the USSR. The same year they recorded Knights of Heaven in Los Angeles
, produced by John Elefante
.
Before breaking up in the latter part on 1990 they again toured in the United States and Canada.
The band re-formed in March 2003 to play at the final Bobfest. The show was recorded by Sveriges Radio
and released to CD. The final Leviticus show was held in Hjo Sweden June 2003 a festival gig together with Swedish metal giants In Flames
.
sound. It was distributed in Europe by Pila Records, and introduced to the United States by Doug Van Pelt, Editor of HM Magazine
. Despite quality issues due to its mastering Van Pelt dubbed it "the most creative release in Christian metal in 1990." After a long hiatus the band released No Mercy For The Living Dead in 2003. Ez also released a solo album – which became a Jet Circus album, when Terry left the band – entitled Look At Death Now in 2005. This album features artists including Mikkey Dee
of Motörhead, Stefan Elmgren
of HammerFall
, and The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
. They have since released a remix album
entitled Dance or Die.
Following the end of Leviticus, Stigsson formed XT
with Sonny Larson. XT released three albums. Stigsson also released a solo project in 1987 entitled Together With Friends.
Niklas Edberger keyboards the 2003 shows,keyboards XT 1992–1995
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...
band from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The band formed in 1981 and was led by Bjorn Stigsson. They released four albums before breaking up in 1990.
Background
The band's early releases were metal with symphonic influenses using the Roland synthesizer guitar and Moog Taurus pedals. Knights of Heaven showed a move toward a more melodic rock based sound.In 1986 the band went through lineup changes: Ez Gomér
Ez Gomér
Ez Gomér is a Swedish musician - vocalist and bass player, songwriter and producer.Vocalist and bass guitarist, Ez Gomér got his start in the mid-eighties when he joined the Swedish melodic metal band Leviticus in time to perform on its third and finest release “Setting Fire To The Earth”...
was brought in to replace Håkan Andersson on bass, and Terry Haw joined. Both were with the band through Setting Fire to the Earth (1987), then left to form Jet Circus. With this lineup they toured extensively in Europe throughout 1986–1987.
They played the Greenbelt festival
Greenbelt festival
Greenbelt Festival is a festival of arts, faith and justice held annually in England since 1974. Greenbelt has grown from a Christian music festival with an audience of 1,500 young Christians to its current more secular festival attended by around 20,000 - Christians and non-Christians.The festival...
in England three times, 1984, 1985, and 1987, and the Scandinavium
Scandinavium
Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.Scandinavium...
in Gothenburg twice (1985, 1987). The second appearance at the Scandinavium
Scandinavium
Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.Scandinavium...
was with a festival, and was filmed by Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
.
In early '88 they toured again in Sweden and in April they returned to England. Their first United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour was in August 1988, when they opened for Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
and played as his backup band. In fall of that year they toured for two months throughout Europe. together with Bloodgood
Bloodgood
Bloodgood is a Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington. Originally formed in 1984 and by 1988 represented one of the four largest Christian metal bands alongside Barren Cross, Whitecross, and Leviticus....
and concluded the year playing the Ennepetal Christmas Rock Night
Christmas Rock Night
Christmas Rock Night is a Christian music festival held annually during December in Ennepetal, Germany. The festival does not focus on particular styles of Christian music, but leans toward harder forms including metal and alternative.-Background:...
festival in Germany for the second time.
In 1989 they did touring again in Australia and completed two tours in the USSR. The same year they recorded Knights of Heaven in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, produced by John Elefante
John Elefante
John Elefante is an American singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer.-Early years:Born in Levittown, New York, his family soon moved to Long Beach, California. Growing up, he sang and performed drums for his family band, the Brotherhood...
.
Before breaking up in the latter part on 1990 they again toured in the United States and Canada.
The band re-formed in March 2003 to play at the final Bobfest. The show was recorded by Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio AB – Swedish Radio Ltd – is Sweden's national publicly funded radio broadcaster. The Swedish public-broadcasting system is in many respects modelled after the one used in the United Kingdom, and Sveriges Radio - like Sveriges Television - shares many characteristics with...
and released to CD. The final Leviticus show was held in Hjo Sweden June 2003 a festival gig together with Swedish metal giants In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
.
Side projects
Gomer and Haw joined with drummer Little George to form Jet Circus in 1988. Jet Circus's first album, Step On It (1991), had a proto-rapcoreRapcore
Rapcore is a subgenre of rap rock fusing vocal and sometimes instrumental elements of hip hop with punk rock .-History:...
sound. It was distributed in Europe by Pila Records, and introduced to the United States by Doug Van Pelt, Editor of HM Magazine
HM Magazine
HM: 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...
. Despite quality issues due to its mastering Van Pelt dubbed it "the most creative release in Christian metal in 1990." After a long hiatus the band released No Mercy For The Living Dead in 2003. Ez also released a solo album – which became a Jet Circus album, when Terry left the band – entitled Look At Death Now in 2005. This album features artists including Mikkey Dee
Mikkey Dee
Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou , better known as Mikkey Dee is a drummer/songwriter in the Heavy metal band Motörhead. A Swede of Greek descent, he has been known for his speed and precision since his mid-80s stint with King Diamond.- Early life :Delaoglou began his musical career with local bands...
of Motörhead, Stefan Elmgren
Stefan Elmgren
Stefan Elmgren was the guitarist of the Swedish power metal band HammerFall from 1997 to 2008.- History :Before becoming a member of HammerFall, he was the guitarist in the band Highlander. Elmgren has also worked with his solo project Full Strike and released one album called "We Will Rise" which...
of HammerFall
HammerFall
HammerFall is a power metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak.- Early days :...
, and The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra based in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Sveriges Radio . The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network....
. They have since released a remix album
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
entitled Dance or Die.
Following the end of Leviticus, Stigsson formed XT
XT (band)
XT was a metal band from Sweden. It was formed by Bjorn Stiggson and Sonny Larson in 1991, following the breakup of Stiggson's earlier band Leviticus.The band, whose name means "Christ" released three albums before their breakup in 1995...
with Sonny Larson. XT released three albums. Stigsson also released a solo project in 1987 entitled Together With Friends.
Members
- Björn Stigsson – guitars keyboards 1981–1990
- Kjell Andersson – drums 1981–1990
- Håkan Andersson – bass (−1986,1987–1988), lead vocals (1981–1986)
- Ez GomérEz GomérEz Gomér is a Swedish musician - vocalist and bass player, songwriter and producer.Vocalist and bass guitarist, Ez Gomér got his start in the mid-eighties when he joined the Swedish melodic metal band Leviticus in time to perform on its third and finest release “Setting Fire To The Earth”...
– bass, vocals (1986–1987) - Terry Haw – lead vocals (1986–1987)
- Sonny Larsson – lead vocals (1987–1988)
- Nicklas Franklin – bass (1988–1990)
- Peo Pettersson – vocals keyboards (1988–1990)
- Dan Tibell ex Jerusalem – keyboards (Spring 1988)
Niklas Edberger keyboards the 2003 shows,keyboards XT 1992–1995
Discography
- 1982: Stå och titta på (EP)
- 1983: I Shall Conquer/Jag ska segra (Shadow/Talking Music, Re-Released by M8 in 2000)
- 1985: The Strongest Power (Twilight) Re-Released by M8 in 2000 (One of the best records of the year ) Mark Putterford Kerrang Magazine !!
- 1987: Setting Fire to the Earth (Royal, Review: CCM MagazineCCM MagazineCCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
) - 1987: Together With Friends – Björn Stigsson (solo album with Leviticus members)
- 1989: Knights of Heaven (Invasion)
- 1993: Best of Leviticus (Viva)
- 2003: Live at Bobfest 2003 (BTS Records)
External links
Jet Circus:- Ez Gomer's Jet Circus site
- Jet Circus album reviews