ATROCITY

First started in 1985 as Instigators and playing grindcore, Atrocity arose as a death metal band with their debut EP, Blue Blood, in 1989, followed soon by Hallucinations, a concept album about drug use. Their second album, Todessehnsucht ("longing for death"), ventured into death metal, with a cover of "Arch Angel" by the band Death. Their musical scope broadened over the years, incorporating medieval and horror influences on their 1994 Dracula-based concept album Atrocity's Blut, (styled after the successful film Bram Stoker's Dracula). Atrocity's Blut was followed by Calling The Rain, an MCD with female vocals by guest singer Yasmin Krull and acoustic themes.[1]

The 1996 release Willenskraft introduced industrial elements, with the special bonus CD of the album's special edition (Kraft und Wille) including electronic remixes of the songs. The later releases were less and less metallic; Werk 80 featured versions of 1980s disco hits and the band had no apparent direction for the following few years. Unusual MCD-releases and experimental songs like Lili Marlene-covers (featured on Gemini) estranged many of their original metal fans.[2]

The entire Atrocity line-up (plus Alex Krull's wife Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull) also functions as Leaves' Eyes. Liv did live vocals for Atrocity as well.[3] With the release of the eleventh album After the Storm (Release: September 1, 2010) started the band a new era in the Ethno Metal genre.[4] Yasmin Krull returned a second time as guest singer and instrumentalist for the project.[5]

After 2000, nothing had been heard from Atrocity and seemed to have disbanded. However, they returned after four years with a new concept album, Atlantis, centered around the myths of the sunken continent of Atlantis. The album also features the vocals of Alexander's wife, Liv-Kristine Espanaes Krull (formerly in Theatre of Tragedy). The band members also formed the atmospheric metal band Leaves' Eyes, which features Liv Kristine as lead singer.[6]

On 11 November 2007, Atrocity announced that bassist Chris Lukhaup was leaving the band for personal reasons and that drummer Moritz Neuner was taking another turn in his working career. Seven Antonopolous was named as the new drummer in late October 2008.[7]

Current members

Alexander Krull - vocals

Alla Fedynitch - bass

Thorsten Bauer - guitar

Mathias Röderer - guitar

Roland Navratil - drums

Peter Hornung - drums

Former members

Oliver Klasen - bass

Markus Knapp - bass

Chris Lukhaup - bass

René Tometschek - bass

Frank Knodel - guitars

Richard Scharf - guitars

Nicholas Barker - drums

Mortiz Neuner - drums

Martin Schmidt - drums

Michael Schwarz - drums

Seven Antonopolous - drums

Yasmin Krull - vocals

EPs & demos

1988: Instigators (Demo)

1989: Blue Blood (EP)

1996: The Hunt (EP)

1996: The Definition of Kraft and Wille (EP)

1997: Werk 80 (EP)

1997: Tainted Love (EP)

2000: Sounds of Silence (EP)

2000: Taste of Sin (EP)

2004: Cold Black Days (EP)

Studio albums

1990: Hallucinations

1992: Todessehnsucht

1994: Blut

1995: Calling the Rain (acoustic album)

1995: Die Liebe (in collaboration with Das Ich)

1996: Willenskraft

1997: Werk 80

2000: Gemini (blue and red versions)

2004: Atlantis

2008: Werk 80 II

2010: After the Storm

Videos

"Blut" (taken from Blut album 1994)

"Calling The Rain" (taken from Calling the Rain mcd 1995)

"Die Liebe" (with Das Ich) (taken from Die Liebe mcd 1995)

"Love is Dead" (taken from Willenskraft album 1996)

"Taste Of Sin" (taken from Gemini album 2000)

"Cold Black Days" (taken from Atlantis album 2004)

"The Sun Always Shines on TV" (taken from Werk 80 II album 2008)