“I simply went over to Satan’s side; and to this hour I cannot tell why. But I found myself passionately eager to serve my new master…I was not content to believe in a personal devil and serve him, in the ordinary sense of the word. I wanted to get hold of him personally and become his chief of staff.†(Aleister Crowley, the confessions of Aleister Crowley)
Born in the infernal wintery abyss of the hills of West Virginia and the ice cold steel mills and coal mines of Ohio, The intense soul searing, raw and basic yet dynamic songwriting of Balor was given birth in early Anno satanas 2006. Featuring original members ordained satanic priest, Lord Tethra Nosophoros also of Ohio progressive band Savnoch and Harvist main man and Stronghold Records head Dusk, a long time member of the West Virginia and Pittsburgh Metal scene as well as a former member of nineties Death Metal band Dethroned and elitist War Metal band Warkult. The original line up of Balor also featured guitarist, Morbus who left the fold several months before principal recording began. As the new year began dawning the infernal duo began burning into form there dark twisted vision of true raw occultic Black Metal adding the productions skills and the drumming talents of Typhus guitarist Nacht.
The occult which means literally the unknown or something hidden is an apt term for Balor’s music. In a world of satanic pretenders and beer swilling accordion playing fake Vikings, Balor celebrate and propagate the rise of real, genuine occultism in Black Metal. Band conceptualist, Lord Tethra an occultist of over twenty years and an ordained satanic priest, ritual magician and traditional black witch’s unique visions go far beyond the mere blasphemy and ham fisted devil worship of the underground orthodox scene. Going far outside the traditional Christian based satanic idolatry that plague much of Black Metal philosophically and lyrically. Vampirism and Satanism as well as elitist ideals have long been ground for Black Metal lyrically but from a horror or Christian point of view not from a genuine occultic one. Balor’s debut “Fraternity Of The Goat†released in a special limited ritual edition in early 2008 and featuring an original Laveyan ritual to be read before the cd’s playing, is a literal philosophical and magical sonic grimoire. Beginning with a full inversion of the ancient roman Latin Mass (the first time a true Black Mass has ever a ppeared on cd) written and performed by Lord Tethra, Fraternity Of The Goat features not only music but several occult rites and summoning’s performed by Tethra. From the raging grinding blasphemy of The Evil One and Plague Messiah to the lycanthropic rage and frenzy of Under A Dread Moon to the midnight moon mysticism of A Razor For A Goat, Balor’s debut is both elite and satanic as well as witchy and profound. It treads openly in the footsteps of its elders while truly breaking new ground.
Call it blackened doom, traditional death or orthodox black metal the term Occultic Black Metal is truly appropriate. Exploding onto a scene based on tradition not innovation and playing only by their rules, the rules of the elite, part Black Metal part ritual chamber music. Whether it’s the blasting almost punk rock influenced drumming, the raging sick vocals or the fiery rhythms of Dusk’s guitar, Balor’s music is full of raw hateful yet philosophically compelling moments that blends it all into a truly unique occultic experience. Fraternity Of The Goat truly is a dark grimoire filed with rage, spite and fury, fueled by hellfire, reeking of sulphur and enthused by cryptic pagan lust.Blacker than the black this band unleashes the forces of dark magic sonically as well as spiritually. Currently working on the follow up cd, a wicked mythologically inspired tome entitled Vesper which features the return of Balor original guitarist Morbus on lead guitar and featuring a twisted mystical look deep inside and into the modern occultic vampyric mind and soul, far beyond mere Halloween hammer horror or modern gothic pretension. Vesper-from the Latin and meaning evening star will not just be for those with succulent necks and coffin fetishes but enthused with graveyard rituals and true pitch black necromancy. It will also feature even more artistic and musical innovation as Balor stretches there dark sound even further. Balor will continue to push their sonic and philosophical envelope for years to come.
