Acheron (band)
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Acheron | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Death metal, black metal |
| Years active | 1988–2010, 2010–2016, 2017–2019 |
| Labels | Turbo, Lethal, Moribund, Full Moon, Black Lotus, Displeased, Listenable Records |
| Members | Vincent Crowley Art Taylor Shaun Cothron Brandon Howe |
Acheron (/ˈækərən, -ɒn/) was an American death/black metal band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that was formed by Vincent Crowley in 1988.[1][2] The band is named after the mythological river Acheron (Ancient Greek: Ἀχέρων – Akhérōn) located in the underground kingdom of Hades in ancient Greek mythology. They are not to be confused with 1990s Australian death metal band Acheron, nor the 1980s/1990s American power metal band Acheron, nor any of several lesser known European thrash and death metal bands with similar names between the 1980s and the present.
History
[edit]Founded in 1988 by vocalist/bassist/songwriter Vincent Crowley[3] (formerly of Nocturnus, and leader of the Satanic youth group "Order of the Evil Eye"),[4] Acheron's musical output is almost exclusively Satanic and Anti-Christian in content. Early albums featured interludes by Peter H. Gilmore.[4] Crowley was appointed as a priest in the Church of Satan by its founder, Anton Szandor LaVey, and began spending a lot of his time debating local televangelists, limiting Acheron's output for a time.[4] He later disassociated himself from the church to act independently.[5]
In 2003, the band released an album of cover songs, Tribute to the Devil's Music, including tracks originally recorded by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Kreator, and Celtic Frost.[5]
On April 26, 2010, Vincent Crowley announced the band's breakup.[6] On December 27, 2010, it was announced that Acheron have reunited.[7]
The band broke up again in 2019, and Vincent has since focused on underground projects.
Members
[edit]Final members
[edit]- Vincent Crowley – Guitars (1988–1991, 1996–1998, 2008), Vocals (1991–1994, 1994–2010, 2010–2019), Bass (1991–1994, 1994–2010, 2010–2019)
- Art Taylor – Guitars (2009–2010, 2012–2019)
- Shaun Cothron – Guitars (2011–2012, 2014–2019)
- Brandon Howe – Drums (2014–2019)
Past members
[edit]Vocals
[edit]- Michael Smith – Vocals (1988–1990)
- Rhiannon Wisniewski – Vocals (2002)
Guitars
[edit]- Belial Koblak – Guitars (1989–1991)
- Pete Slate – Guitars (1991–1992)
- Tony Blakk – Guitars (1992, 1994, 1995)
- Vincent Breeding – Guitars (1992, 1994–1995)
- Trebor Ladres – Guitars (1994–1995)
- Michael Estes – Guitars (1996–1999, 2001–2004)
- Bryan Hipp – Guitars (1998)
- Ben Meyer – Guitars (1998)
- Bill Taylor – Guitars (1999)
- Stacey Connolly – Guitars (2004)
- Max Otworth – Guitars (2006–2010, 2010–2012)
- Ash Thomas – Guitars (2008–2009)
- Eric Stewart – Guitars (2010)
Bass
[edit]- David Smith – Bass (1988–1991)
- Troy Heffern – Bass (1996)
Keyboards
[edit]- Peter H. Gilmore – Keyboards (1988–1989)
- John Scott – Keyboards (1996–1999)
- Adina Blase – Keyboards (1998–1999)
- Aaron Werner – Keyboards (2001–2005)
Drums
[edit]- James Strauss – Drums (1988–1989, 1989–1991, 1991–1992)
- Ron Hogue – Drums (1989)
- Robert Orr – Drums (1991)
- Michael Browning – Drums (1992, 1994–1995)
- Joe Oliver – Drums (1995)
- Richard Christy – Drums (1996–1998)
- Tony Laureano – Drums (1998)
- Jonathan Lee – Drums (1998–1999)
- Daniel Zink – Drums (2001)
- Kyle Severn – Drums (2002–2010, 2010–2014)
- Scott Pletcher – Drums (2010)
Timeline
Discography
[edit]- Messe Noir (Demo, 1989)
- Rites of the Black Mass (1991, re-released in 2006)
- Alla Xul (7", Demo, 1992)
- Rites of the Black Mass (Turbo, 1992)
- Hail Victory (CD, Metal Merchant, 1993)
- Satanic Victory (CD, Turbo, 1994)
- Lex Talionis (CD, Turbo, 1994; reissued as Lex Talionis: Satanic Victory, Blackened, 1997)
- Anti-God, Anti-Christ (CD, Moribund, 1996)
- Those Who Have Risen (CD, Full Moon Productions, 1998)
- Compendium Diablerie: The Demo Days (CD, Full Moon Productions, 2001)
- Xomaly (2002)
- Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood (CD, Black Lotus, 2003)
- Tribute to the Devil's Music (CD, Black Lotus, 2003)
- The Final Conflict: Last Days of God (CD, Displeased Records, 2009)
- Kult Des Hasses (CD, Listenable Records. 2014)
References
[edit]- ^ Kristiansen, Jon "Metalion" (1991). "Acheron". Slayer (8): 7.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Acheron". Allmusic. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 9. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
- ^ a b c Rivadavia, Eduardo "Acheron Biography", AllMusic
- ^ a b Apicella, Vinnie "Acheron – Tribute To The Devil's Music" (review), Ink19
- ^ "Maximum Metal". Maximum Metal. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Blabbermouth.Net – Acheron Is Back!". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved August 13, 2012.[permanent dead link]
External links
[edit]- Official website at Internet Archive
- Acheron at Rockdetector at Internet Archive
- Vincent Crowley's channel on YouTube
- Rivadavia, Eduardo "Acheron – Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood" (review), Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- Acheron interview, Metal Message
- Acheron interview, Voices From the Darkside
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