East Ukrainian Tour '07
The band was formed in early 2003 from the members of OYHRA and RAVENLAND. The first gig happened the same January, at "Night Wolfs Club", Gomel. The starting lineup included Evgeny Khodkov on bass/vocals, Alexander Patskevitch and Stanislav Khodkov on guitars, and Andrey Morisy on drums. By the end of 2003 the band finishes its debut demo "On Heavenly Fields". Later on, 2003-2004, THELEMA takes active part in the local scene. In November, the "Inheritance Tour 2004" with FLYING (UA) follows. In March 2005, the band recruits new drummer - Yuri Terebikov (ex-STORMHOLD). In summer 2005 THELEMA performs at the largest open air in CIS - Metal Heads Mission'6 (Crimea, UA). In autumn, Victor Syrtsov becomes the new bass player as Evgeni Khodkov concentrates on the vocal duties. In 2006 THELEMA takes part in "Tribute To Gods Tower" (Gomel) and "Massa Brutto fest'8" (Minsk). By the end of that year, Evgeny becomes the band's manager, introducing Slaven (ETERNAL WAR) as a new vocalist. That winter the band played some gigs across Tchernigov (UA), Rechitsa, Gomel, Bobruisk, Minsk and Kiev (UA). In early 2007, while preparing for the LP record-session, THELEMA issues a promo EP "Divine Image", featuring some new tracks, as well as live videos. The tracks have been recorded in X-Noise studio (Minsk) and in GCK Studio (Gomel). In November 2007, the band goes on "East Ukrainian Tour" together with KHORS (UA), visiting Lugansk, Donetsk, Mariupol, Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk. By the end of the tour, which has been performed with session vocalist Alex Sedin (known as guitarist/vocalist of prog death band SEVEN DAILY SINS, Minsk), THELEMA parts ways with Slaven, and Alex becomes the new frontman. In March 2008, the band finished their debut LP, "Fearful Symmetry". The work took place in Studio-X, Poland, with Szymon Czech as sound producer (SCEPTIC, LUX OCCULTA, YATTERING, VESANIA, DEVILISH IMPRESSIONS etc). The style of "Fearful Symmetry" is best described as Groovy and Technical Death Metal with jazz and funk elements. The album artwork was done by Set, known by his works for SCRAMBLED DEFUNCTS, THERM.EYE.FLAME, MANIC DEPRESSION, MORTIFER etc. "Fearful Symmetry" will be released by Soulflesh Collector rec. (RU), BackFire prod. (RU), Fantazone Sound Inc. (RU) and Go-Records (BY). In November 2008 THELEMA together with KATALEPSY (RU), PSILOCYBE LARVAE (RU) and DEATHBRINGER (BY) took part in "Creative Breath of Death Tour" in Belarus.
In 2008 THELEMA performed at some huge festivals: "Black Winter Days Fest" (RU), “Pro Rock Open Air†(UA), “Extreme Vision Open Air†(UA), â€Condor Fest’ 3†(UA), “Massa Brutto Fest’ 9†(BY), “Mass Medium Fest†(BY).
At the present day, the band's discography includes: "On Heavenly Fields" (2003, demo, death/black metal), "Divine Image" (promo EP, 2007, Prog Tech Death Metal), CD "Fearful Symmetry" (2008, Groovy Tech Death Metal). THELEMA songs were included on a number of compilations released by Go-Records, Metal Dark Prod., H. of M. Prod., Metal Art 'zine, Terroraiser 'zine etc.