Metal Bands from Zeeland

Nederlandse versie.

Metal Bands from Zeeland

Metal music in Big S. in Haamstede, September 30, 1989, photo: H. Honhoff, ZB, Beeldbank Zeeland, recordnr. 160464

Apostasy

(1994 - Unknown)

Apostasy was formed in 1994 in Zierikzee. Their main genre revolved around metal, although there are elements of techno, dance, and Thrash Metal in their songs. Their lead vocalist was Hidde van der Steen, Arthur Sevestre was their drummer, Martin de Jong played the bass, and Tony de Vries played the guitars, both rhythm and lead guitar for their recordings. In terms of their exact genre, they were unsure upon confrontation by the Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant. They did, however, state that they refused to limit their style to a single confine of a genre, as this provides an assumption of how they should sound. Furthermore, they have told the PZC that the music is the most important aspect above all. They have remained quite experimental in their musical style and draw influences from many different musical styles. Their main influences are Metallica, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, and even aspects of classical music. In 1994 they were offered a contract to publish a CD which they titled Nausea. At a certain point the band split up. Today, the band is no longer active.

Backlash

(1999 - 2005 / 2009 - Present)

Backlash is a Death Metal band from Vlissingen. They are primarily driven to make music that goes against norms trodden time and again. They call the kind of music they despise and try to avoid “Kuddemuziek”, meaning “Herd Music” in Dutch. Backlash’s main style is Brutal Death Metal, which a sort of heavier style than the already heavy Death Metal, with an abrasive sound and vocals. Upon the release of two demos, Ambition to Follow in 2001 and Reality Betrayed in 2003, the band gained some traction. This is coupled with the fact that they had won the Zeeuwse Belofte in 2002. Following this, they released their only full length album in 2004, titled the Binary Choice. The band split up in 2005, and three of the four members created another project called Reznik. After this, they regrouped in 2009, coupled with an EP released in early 2010, and they continue to exist to this day.

Bullcreek

(2011 - 2017)

The band was formed in 2011 in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Their genre is self-described as Death Doom Metal. Two of the members are currently members of the Death Metal band Burial. They released only one full length album in 2017 titled Osschaert.

Burial

(1991 - 1994 / 2001 - 2013 / 2015 - Present)

Burial is a Death Metal band formed in Terneuzen. Members from the bands Lycanthrope and Thyrus released a demo in 1992 titled Frigid Cold. In 1993 they released their first full-length album titled Relinquished Souls. Another demo was released in 2006 titled Resurrection. The two remaining founding members are Erwin van Dorselaer and Peter Dees.

Carnage

(1997 - 1999)

Oost-Souburg (Thrash Metal). The band released a demo in 1998 titled Hope Springs Infernal. In 1999 they changed their name to Hope Springs Infernal. Their members are Mike de Klerk, Wouter Nuytink, Sander Van der Hoek, Stephan Minnaert, and Youri Temmerman, who is the singer.

Cassiopeia

(1998-2010)

Formed in Goes in 1994, the Atmospheric/Symphonic metal band was active since 1994 by the name Tremor. Later in 2010 they changed their name again to Satinoxide. They released two EPs; Eye of Time in 1999 and Duality in 2001.

Collateral Damage

(2005 - 2010)

Formed in Terneuzen, the progressive/melodic death metal act split-up in 2010 after not being able to find a second guitarist and a vocalist. They released only one demo in 2007 titled Promo 2007. They performed in the tenth-anniversary event of Metal-core de Hoek and were generally well recieved.

Corozain

(2006 - Unknown)

The Black Metal group was formed in 2004 in Terneuzen under the name Quaet Gespuys. As Quaet Gespuys, they released a demo in 2004 titled Grauwe Geschriften. Two years after in 2006, they released a split-album joined by the band Woudgilde. As Corozain, they released a demo titled Bockenreyders in 2006. The band consists of a D.V. on bass, a member under the pseudonym of Dwaling on drums, and another pseudonym by the name of Sielknaegher who played the guitar and sang as well.

Dark Ritual

(2005 - Unknown)

Dark Ritual is a band which has members from Middelburg, Oost Souburg, and Vlissingen. They play Death/Black/Thrash Metal as their main genres, and they released a demo in 2006 titled Beginning of a New Age.

Dead End

(1988 - 1993 / 2014 - Present)

The Death/Doom Metal act contains members from Zeeland as well as North Brabant, with some members having associated with the Zeeuws-Brabants act Into the Arcane. The band is currently signed to the label Vic Records, which is stationed in Utrecht. Their earliest releases were two demos: Tales (1991) and Purity (1992). A year after their second demo, the band released an EP in 1993 titled Wartime in Eden via Lowland Records. Several years later they released a compilation album in 2015 titled Forever Is Not Eternal via Vic Records. Forever is Not Eternal was a compilation of tracks from their early releases in the 90s and three additional live tracks. In September 2016 the band released their first full-length album titled Reborn from the Ancient Grave also via Vic Records. They continue to play shows to this day. Dead End consists of Bryan as a singer. On drums there is Harald Bouten, from Into the Arcane, Pictura Poesis, Empatica, Capricorn, and Inquisition Symphony. Ex-Wish, Morthicia, and Into the Arcane band member Alwin Roes plays the bass, although he was on hiatus from 1994-2013. Jeroen G and Arjan are the band’s guitarists, the latter of the two having come from the bands Myosotis and Prima-Nocte.

Dehumanization

(2009 - 2017, split up)

Formed in Goes, the death metal act published one full-length album in 2014, titled Meat Exposition via Morbid Generation Records, and was officially distributed in the US via Sevared Records. With bassist Mike Voogaard, drummer-turned-vocalist Loek van der Drift, guitarists Mike Hoogesteger and Stijn Gertzen, eventually the drummer Huub Catshoek joined in 2013 at age sixteen, where the band played at Klomppop, a festival situated in De Klomp in Ovenzande. Dehumanization’s performance ended up impressing the jury immensely, members thereof describing the band’s musical progress as a “more than a step in the right direction, rather a leap forward”. Dehumanization ended up making the final round of the competition organized there, called Spectra. Four years later the band split up in 2017, with no particular plans for the future of the band on record.

Disfigure

(1989 - Unknown)

The death metal act was formed in Vlissingen, and published a demo called Desecration of Tombs. They also appeared on a split titled Where is your God Now...? with the band Dreadful Contact which was released in 1990 via DSFA Records. This band had four members and a fifth member joined them solely for the recording of Desecration of Tombs.

Dodenstorm

(2007 - present)

Originally from Hulst, this band published two demos titled The Great Tribulation, and Verdoemd door Tijd en Wanhoop (Doomed by Time and Despair). Both of these demos were published in 2008. They also composed a track called Enlightenment for the NLBM compilation by Wolfsvuur Records.

Dodenwalz

(2007 - Unknown)

Hailing from Goes, the black metal published one sole demo, Doodseskader in 2009 before splitting up. This demo contained five songs. Their thematic influences were nationalistic and anti-Christian.

Draco Donovan

(2007 - present)

Draco Donovan is a Black Metal band that was formed in Axel. This ‘band’ consists of one man, the titular Draco himself, who caught the public eye by when he wrote a demo in 2007, titled Sacratus Blasphemia. He then followed it up with the full-length album Verdwaald en Aleen in the same year. In 2008 he wrote Hate for All! And Black Emotions Hate. He is under the label of Draqworks Metal Productions, which is Draco’s own independent label and seems to house only his productions.

El Nino

(1997 - 2000)

The band was formed in Hoek in 1997 with members from other bands including Burian and Polluted Inheritance. They play a mix of Progressive Death and Thrash Metal. They have no full-length releases though they released two demos. In 1998 they released Product Zero and in 2000 they released the self-titled demo El Nino. Their lyrical themes revolve around disasters and disease, which justifies their name, after the infamous weather pattern around the south Pacific which has been reported to cause adverse effects to certain areas. The band split up shortly after the release of their second demo.

Endless Cycle

(2007 - 2014)

Formed in Terneuzen in 2007, the group included three members from the band Ynfamia (Terneuzen). The band plays Progressive Death/Thrash Metal. They released a demo in 2007 titled Demo, but it was not until 2011 that their full length album was released, titled Into the Opaque…. The band was not signed to label and released the album independently. Throughout the region of Zeeland, they had a relatively large following.

Halcyon

(1991 - 1998)

Halcyon was a power metal act formed by members from Zeeland and North-Brabant. The band was formed in 1991 and had a lot of lineup changes in the drums position. They were later joined by ex-Gorefest drummer Marc Hoogendoorn before finally splitting up in 1998. They have only one release which is a demo in 1995 titled Life, Strange Illusion. The band also appeared on the compilation "No Way Out" on New Artists Vol 2: Metal Rock Punk (IRP).

Harbour of Souls

(2012 - Present)

The heavy metal act was formed in Goes in 2012 and includes an ex member of the band Remains. They performed at a season opening for Podium ‘t Beest with Peter Pan Speedrock in 2014, and this was their first performance. On August 6th, 2015, band digitally released an EP titled Mountain of Fire independently.

Hatred

(1999 - 2008)

The Brutal Death Metal act was founded by members from Zeeland and other provinces, their original lineup included Marc Hoogendoorn, ex drummer of Gorefest and Halcyon. The band released a self-titled demo in 2000, later in 2003, they released an EP titled Chaos in the Flesh. Their only full length album was released on January 21st, 2008 via Deity Down Roads, the album was recorded at Excess Studio in Rotterdam in May 2007. The band appeared on the compilations Conqueror Winter and Metal Gospel vol. 1 in 2003. The lyrics of the band revolve around the theme of anti-religion and war.

Hatred Defined

(2014 - Unknown)

Hatred Defined is a band whose very inception was a mission, which is to express their distaste for the metal scene in Zeeland. They performed for the first time ever in November 2014 at Klomppop in Ovenzande. With this performance they made the final of Spectra, where they also proceeded to make a fantastic impression on the judges and the public. The band consists of Johnno “Riffmountain” Rijnout, who plays the guitar, Arjan Poot, who plays the drums, Vincent Krijger, the bassist, Erin Henson, the vocalist, and lastly the guitarist Roy de Waard.

Hope Springs Infernal

(1999 - Unknown)

Hope Springs Infernal was a initially a band that was formed in 1997 in Oost-Souburg under the name Carnage, where later in 1999 they changed their name into Hope Springs Infernal. As Carnage, the band released a demo titled Hope Springs Infernal. After the name change in 1999, the band released a three track demo in 2000 titled Controlled, Enslaved, Silenced, Erased. The group is no longer active but the exact date of split-up remains unknown.

Imprisoned in Flesh

(2011 - Present)

Imprisoned in Flesh is a Death Metal act, which was formed in Oostburg in 2011. They have since had two releases, a demo in 2014 titled Flesh E.P., and an EP in 2016 titled The Sixth Great Extinction. The group remains independent and are not affiliated with a record label, their two releases can be found online in digital format on Bandcamp. Their style incorporates a traditional death metal approach with the usage of low tuned guitars and relatively low vocal growls. Elements of grindcore are also present, in the style of early works of influential groups in death metal such as Carcass. The band’s lyrics revolve around the themes of human atrocities and aggression.

Incarnate

(2003 - Present)

The project was formed in Heerenhoek circa 2003, their style incorporates elements of Death, Thrash, and Groove Metal with some influences from Hardcore music. Since their formation the band has had a few lineup changes; there are still currently three full time members. Their discography includes a demo, a split album, an EP, and two full length albums. In 2004, the band released a 5 track demo titled A Dark Age of Lies independently. A year later, they released three tracks on a split album, joined by the bands Maskatsu and Sets the Time. The split album was titled Earth and was released via the Belgian label Wanted Records. In 2008, the band’s first full length album was released via the German label Demons Run Amok Entertainment. The album’s title is Embrace the horror and contains 10 tracks. Almost three years following their first full length album, their second full length album was released via the same record label. The album’s title is Hands of Guilt / Eyes of Greed and contains 8 tracks. In 2016, the band was signed to a different record label named Cold Church Studios. They released an EP via their new label titled Hvman Svffering which contained four tracks. The EP was released as a 50 copy limited edition, available only on 7” vinyl and Cassette.

Into the Arcane

(2016 - Present)

Into the arcane is a band that incorporates styles of Doom, Death, and Black Metal. Their lineup includes two ex-Dead End members, drummer Harald Bouten and guitarist Jeroen van Riet. The other members are Tijl Jacobs, the bassist and backing vocalist Alwin Roes, Erik Noten, the vocalist, and David van Heijnsbergen on keyboards. Songwriting is handled by Jeroen van Riet and Alwin Roes. Currently, they only have one release, which is an EP released on CD on June 14th, 2017, titled Het Verlangen der Geest. This EP was limited to only 200 copies. Much like Dead End, Into the Arcane is signed to Vic Records in Utrecht.

Joop Wolters

(2003 - Present)

Joop Wolters is a Middelburg-based solo project by the titular Joop Wolters himself. Hailing from positions in bands Arabseque, Lalu, Marcel Counen, and Elysion, he still participates in Shadrane, in France where he plays guitar and bass alongside figures like ex- Spinal Tap, Joe Satriani, Ringo Starr and Electric Light Orchestra drummer Gregg Bissonette. Wolters describes his music as Progressive metal and Jazz fusion, and has written four full-length albums under the record label Lion Music, where he does everything except play drums, which he programs instead. These albums are Workshop, finished in 2003, Speed, Traffic and Guitar-Accidents from 2004, 2007’s Out of Order, and 2011’s False Poetry. Joop Wolters remains active to this day. Furthermore, Joop’s creativity benefits tremendously from the internet. He plays guitar over a self-programmed Boss DR-880 drum computer, and plays a melody, which he eventually solos over. This process is filmed and uploaded to video sharing website YouTube, and if the viewers enjoy the video and leave positive comments, he chooses to arrange the tune into something usable in an album.

La-Ventura

(2005 - Present)

The band was formed by the ex-drummer of the band Orphanage Erwin Polderman and Carla van Huizen in 2006 in Goes. The current lineup consists of bassist Michael “Mike” Saffrie, Sascha “Saz” Kondic as the guitarist, Carla van Huizen-Douw as a vocalist, Renzo van Poecke and Stefan Simons on drums. The group first released a demo titled Trefoil, in 2006. They then released the full-length album A New Beginning in 2007 via the label Razar Ice Records, followed up by 2009’s three track EP Breaking the Silence. The band was no longer signed to Razar Ice Records and later signed with two labels, the German Valkyrie Rising label, and the British gothic rock/metal label Ravenheart Music. In 2013, the band released White Crow, another full-length album which they recorded in France. The band released the album independently and was later re-issued by the two record labels. In 2015, the band released an EP titled 2.0. In 2008, the band was part of the opening act for Bløf on the 1st of November in the Zeelandhallen in Goes. La-Ventura has a number of music videos for their songs, including The band’s style includes elements ranging from gothic, and modern melodic metal, in the footsteps of other female fronted metal bands. The lyrics of the band are written mostly by Carla van Huizen, the singer mentioned in an interview that she does not write about “nice and fun things”. Her lyrical themes are personal and are influenced by the events of her life including her divorce. On the 25th of November 2015, three members of the band were featured on Omroep Zeeland where they were interviewed and played an acoustic arrangement of one of their songs “Time and Time Again”.

Lycanthrope

(1984 -1989)

The band was formed in Terneuzen circa 1984 as a thrash metal project. The band included members who later joined other successful bands in Zeeland. The last known lineup of the band includes bassist Jan Verdoorn who was part of Mindlink and Mordancy, drummer Renzo van Poecke who is currently the drummer of the band La Ventura, guitarist Stefan Verdoom who played in Burial, guitarist Eddy Verberkmoes who is currently a guitarist in the band Conspiracy of Seven. The band released only three demo albums, G.I.G.O in 1986, Theme of the Full Moon in 1987, and The Edge Within in 1988. The band was playing live shows around Zeeland in the second half of the 80s. In 1989 on the 29th of September, the band shared the stage with Thanatos, the world renowned thrash giants. After 1989, the band was no longer active and was not performing.

Mamilla

(1994 - Present)

The Middelburg hard rock/heavy metal group was formed in 1994. And has since had a few lineup changes. The band includes two main guitarists with the vocalist Ruud Aerssens also playing guitar while performing vocal duties. The band has a classic heavy metal sound, the dual guitar solos they incorporate into their music sometimes are reminiscent of the 80s style heavy metal a la Iron Maiden. The band’s first release was a demo in 1994 titled In the Flesh, followed by another demo in 1995 titled Wild Woman. Their first full length album Consideration was released in 1997. Their second full length album Back Off was released almost a year later in 1998. The group then released an EP titled The Entire Confidence in 2001, followed by a single titled Angel in 2002 which contained two covers of the famous rock/metal bands Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. The band’s latest release is the full length album On the Track released in 2007, nine years after their last full length albums was released. The album included a track titled Albinoni’s Adagio in G, which is a heavy metal rendition of the classical piece Adagio in G-minor by Tomaso Albinoni. The band played plenty of live shows, including a notable performance in the Benefiet Haïti concert that took place in the Zeelandhallen in Goes on the 29th of January 2010.

Maskim Xul

(2001 - Present)

The Rotterdam/Zeeland group was formed in Burgh Hamstede in 2001 with a lineup that includes an unusual instrument in the metal world, the djembe, which is played by Julian van ‘t Hof. The band’s style encompasses elements of Thrash, Melodic Death, and Black Metal. Their discography includes two releases: a self-titled demo that was released in 2003, and a four track EP released in June 2006 titled At War, which was released independently. In 2006, the band performed at the event Metal Matinee which took place at Bogum, Zierikzee.

Merihem

(2004 - Unknown)

Merihem is a Thrash/Death Metal group formed in Goes in 2004, the band was last active around 2007. Their discography contains only one demo which was released in 2006, and titled Attack! The Plage Arises. The band did perform at a few notable live events including Klomppop festival on the 17th of May, 2007 which takes place in Ovezande, with other notable metal bands from Zeeland present, such as La Ventura and Incarnate.

Mindlink

(1994 - 2000, 2011 - Unknown)

Mindlink is a Thrash Metal band from Terneuzen that was formed in 1994. The band had a relatively short-lived career, releasing a demo and two full length albums from 1995 to 1999. Their self-titled demo was released in 1995, shortly after the band released their first full length album titled Desiderata via the Dutch label Killerwhale Records. Two years after their full length debut, in 1999 they released their second full length album titled Radiosilence. Members of Mindlink have also joined other bands around Zeeland. Renzo van Poecke who is currently the drummer of La Ventura, was the drummer in Mindlink. Martijn Gazan the guitarist was also the guitarist in the recent death metal act Bullcreek. Guitarist Eddy Verberkmoes, an ex-member of Collateral Damage and Lycantrope, and currently active with the band Conspiracy of Seven, was the second guitarist in Mindlink. Jan Verdoorn, ex-bassist of Lycantrope and Mordancy was the bass player in Mindlink.

Mordancy

(1991 - 1993)

A Progressive Death Metal band that was formed in Terneuzen in 1991. Mordancy was comprised of members who were and are active in other notable metal groups in Zeeland. Jan Verdoorn was on bass duties for Mordancy before later joining Mindlink, he was also a member of the band Lycantrope. Frank Schobben, Mordancy’s original guitarist is currently the guitarist of the Death Metal band Burial. Mordancy’s original vocalist Angelo de Bruijn was the vocalist of the Death Metal band Bullcreek. Mordancy’s career was not a productive one, with the release of only a demo in 1992 titled Mortals Slow Decline. And an EP in 1993, titled The Progressive Downfall. In 1992, the band members fell out with each other, a year later the band came back with a change in lineup. In 1993, they were signed to the Belgian label Shiver Records.