:: The beginning
Violet Stigmata, which evolves under this name since 1999, was born around 1996 when Nicolas decided to start a musical project.
Originating in Besançon, the project is nothing but a therapy without particular ambition, from which will rise the following tapes The Skeleton Feast (6 titles), Manticore and Unterwelt (these two last found in integrality on Limbs). It is in 1999, after the meeting of Céline, that appears the 7 tracks demo entitled The Violet Stigmata Project.
In the continuity of preceding work, the CD-R hesitates between dark-wave, gothic-rock and more ambient constructions. The CD-R Humanicide, Mors Ultima Ratio, Second Blood EP and Delirium Nocturnus will follow.
The true birth of the band happens at the beginning of 2001, with the meeting of Laurent (bass) and Pierre (keyboard). The band will find out the last piece of the puzzle when moving to Paris : Fred (guitar).
Céline, who definitively integrates the band as a graphist/webmaster, also occupies herself of the programmings on stage, and confers on Violet Stigmata a visual unit, knowing that it's not yet the case concerning the musical fields. Indeed the first album of the band, Décompositions & Reliques, which is released in June 2002, recalls its strange course through 15 titles borrowed sometimes from Delirium Nocturnus (remixed and remasterized), and from older demos (some of them being entirely remade).
Released on the very new label Manic Depression, this album marks a departure...
:: The new line-up
Following the departure of Pierre in August 2002, Céline, who had, until then, a more graphic than musical role in the band, integrates from now on her place as a keyboardist.
The release of the twin of Décompositions & Reliques, entitled Progénitures, Suite & Fin gathering the best pieces of the self-produced demos (Limbs 1996/1999, The Violet Stigmata Project, Humanicide, Mors Ultima Ratio, Second Blood EP and Delirium Nocturnus) as well as some new songs, is made at the beginning of 2003 and draws a final feature on the past of the band.
Then it was time for Violet Stigmata to change. Due to even more various influences and the will to get a stronger live sound, the band decided to look for a drummer in October 2004. Bye bye drum machine...
Here comes Yan, just in time for the recording of the band's third CD but first real album as a rock line up: Dyskronik Circus.
At the same time the band leaves Manic Depression for the German label Pandaimonium (Clan Of Xymox, Morthem Vlade Art...). The album is out in October 2005 and tells the story of an epileptic man having a fit.
A very limited edition (100 copies) is released to symbolize this new birth.
At the end of April, the band had to leave bassist Laurent. Thoms is the new one and plays for the very first time on the 7th of May in Marseille (FR).
To be continued...
