Graveland

Biography Graveland“A thousand years of rule by this strange dogma; alien to our true Pagan culture and ideals. Judeo-christianity has not stood the test of time. Today, christianity collapses and rots like a decaying corpse. The true Pagan traditions and beliefs of Europe have thus survived. Christianity has failed to destroyed our ancestor’s beliefs and traditions. The Pagan spirit and identity is still alive within us. Pagan blood flows through our veins. Our true Gods have not forsaken us and their time for return is coming…We, Sons of Fire and Steel will go with Them to fight a mighty battle. The echoing sound of war horns will stir us to a heated fight. Many of us will die, but none of us will care because it is an honor to be born to fight and die in a battle. All else is indifferent to us as life is not a constant satisfaction of vain greed. Dark clouds of war, the flock of black ravens in the sky are the signs of the era of a trial and tribulation. Every honorable man brandishes his sword and shield and goes onward, driven by the echoes of war horns…The Gods’ deputy will show us the way... “Graveland is one of those few bands that has followed the voice of blood, echoes of battle horns, knocking of weapon, voice of dying brave warriors...Darken, being inspired by the music of the early Black Metal band Bathory, created Graveland as a solo project in 1992. He creates and records the first Graveland songs released as ‘Necromanteion’ and ‘Drunemeton’. As a result of these two demos, Graveland begins to exist in the Black Metal underground. Darkness, Celtic beliefs and mythology, hatred against christianity...In 1993, drummer Capricornus joins Graveland. The music changes, becomes more alive and dynamic. Inspired by the ‘Holy War’ waged by the Norwegian Black Metal underground against christianity, Graveland records the legendary demo ‘In the Glare of the Burning Churches’. This demo gives Graveland a respectable and lasting place in the history of true Black Metal.In 1994, Karcharoth joins Graveland. This individual would later play his shameful part as a traitor and coward. In early ’94, Graveland records the demo ‘The Celtic Winter’, which is released by No Colours rec. This would prove to be the beginning of fruitful and understanding cooperation between Graveland and No Colours rec., which continues today.Graveland records its debut LP ‘Carpathian Wolves’ for Eternal Devils Rec. at the end of ‘94. Eternal Devils rec. releases 500 CDs and 1000 tapes, all of which sold out very fast and disappears into the darkness of the underground. At this juncture many commercial record labels as Osmose Productions, Nuclear Blast or Lethal rec. take interested in Graveland. They soon, however, become eternal enemies of the ideas and creation of Graveland.In 1995, Graveland records second LP ‘Thousand Swords’ for Lethal rec., of which cooperation is very short because of different ideas and points of view. At this time Capricornus and Karcharoth record the first LP for their band Infernum, but because of N.S. ideas of the CD and tape cover of ‘...taur-no-fuin...’ Polish State Security Bureau starts to investigate Infernum. During this investigation Karcharoth, because of nervous breakdown, testifies against the rest of the band causing some serious problems for Darken and Capricornus. Karcharoth changes his politic ideal; seemingly from week-to-week. First he is a faithful representative of Right wing ideology and then he starts to support Left wing ideas. Karcharoth then begins childish anti-Graveland campaign accusing Darken and Xanquoreth (from the Fullmoon band) of trying to kill him. Karcharoth then falls into a decline and in the autumn of ’97, he is committed to a mental hospital. Because of the problems caused by this miserable individual, Graveland supporters have to wait two years before new LP is recorded. In 1997, ‘Following the Voice of Blood’ is released by No Colours rec., and Graveland returns with full power and in the face of the Left wing campaign against Graveland. The ideals of ‘Following the Voice of Blood’ reach many Pagan and proud souls of White Warriors of today’s reality... ‘Thousand Swords’ and ‘Following the Voice of Blood’ exemplify that Graveland has its own original style... Barbarian Pagan Metal full of folk melodies permeated by wild and simple, but at the same time, spiritful Middle Ages atmosphere.In 1998, Darken and Capricornus record ‘Immortal Pride’, with slow and heavy, full of keyboards and chorus, majestic Pagan Metal!During the winter 1999/2000 Darken records material for a split release with Honor, one of the most popular and respected Skinhead bands in Poland. This split “Raiders of Revenge” is released by Resistance Records, and is, in essence, a great event marking the unification of the true BM and Skinhead underground; kindred people who support similar ideals of a Strong White Man.Also released in 2000 is the latest fulltime Graveland LP “Creed of Iron” of which its title was inspired by the Wotansvolk book by the same title authored by Ron McVan. “Creed of Iron” is a continuation of “Immortal Pride”, a creed of iron, forged from the ovens of a burning pride, a weapon of hard cold steal… In 2001 No Colours Records releases Graveland mini-CD “Raise your Sword!”…two songs in “Creed of Iron” vein Graveland musicians Darken and Capricornus have also side projects: Lord Wind (Darken’s solo project- pagan folk inspired by old music and pagan beliefs) and Thor’s Hammer (Capricornus’ Aryan Black Metal). Debut Cd and digi pack Lord Wind ‘Forgotten Songs’ is released by Full Moon Prod. Debut Cd. Thor’s Hammer ‘Fidelity Shall Triumph’ is released by Darker Than Black Prod. In 2000 No Colours rec. released second Lord Wind LP “Heralds of Fight”. Now Darken works on third album “Valkyrian Dance of War”.Swarog’s fire! Give relief to our souls...and deprive us of view of temples of our enemy...that desecrate our pagan native holy places!1992 – 2001 Demo 1’92 “Necromanteion” ( Darken ) Promo June’92 ( Darken ) Promo November’92 “Drunemeton” ( Darken ) Promo ‘93 “Epilogue” ( Darken ) Demo 2’93 “In The Glare of Burning Churches” ( Darken & Capricornus ) Demo 3’93 “The Celtic Winter” ( Darken, Capricornus, Karcharoth ) Mini CD’93 “The Celtic Winter” ( Darken, Capricornus, Karcharoth ) CD’94 “Carpathian Wolves” ( Darken, Capricornus, Karcharoth ) CD’95 “Thousand Swords” ( Darken, Capricornus, Karcharoth ) CD’96 “Thousand Swords” re-edition CD’95 anti Lethal Prod CD’96 “The Celtic Winter” full re-edition Demo 3’93 CD’96 “In The Glare of Burning Churches” re-edition Demo 2’93 Double Lp’96 “The Celtic Winter” & “In The Glare of Burning Churches” CD’97 “Following The Voice of Blood” ( Darken & Capricornus ) CD’98 “Epilogue & In the Glare of Burning Churches” ( Darken & Capricornus ) Lp’98 “Carpathian Wolves” ( Darken & Capricornus ) LP & CD’99 “Immortal Pride” ( Darken & Capricornus ) Mini CD’99 “Impaler's Wolves” ( Darken & Capricornus ) Digi Pack’99 “Thousand Swords” ( Darken & Capricornus ) Split CD 2000 Graveland / Honor “Raiders of Revenge” ( Darken ) LP, CD & Digi Pack 2000 “Creed of Iron” ( Darken ) Mini CD 2001 “Raise your Sword !” ( Darken )