Satan (band)

Satan
Satan playing live in Belgium in 2013
Satan playing live in Belgium in 2013
Background information
Also known asBlind Fury
Pariah
OriginNewcastle upon Tyne, England
GenresHeavy metal
Years active
  • 1979–1989
  • 1998–2004
  • 2011–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Andy Reed
  • Trevor Robinson
  • Ian McCormack
  • Ian Swift
  • Lou Taylor
  • Michael Jackson

Satan are an English heavy metal band originating from Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979, known as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement.[1] The band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash/speed metal that was fairly advanced by the standards of the early 1980s.[2]

Their line-up has undergone a number of personnel changes and even name changes; for a time the band was called Blind Fury, putting out one album, 1985's Out of Reach, under that moniker before reverting to Satan. In 1988, the group changed its name to Pariah, releasing two albums under that name before folding in the early 1990s.[1] In 1998, Pariah released another album. The band's shifting line-up has included members of many other heavy metal bands such as Blitzkrieg, Atomkraft, Avenger, Persian Risk, Raven, Cronos and Battleaxe. In 1990, Steve Ramsey (guitar) and Graeme English (bass) together with singer Martin Walkyier of UK thrash metal band Sabbat founded folk metal band Skyclad.

Satan performed a one-off gig at Germany's Wacken Open Air in 2004[3] and finally reunited in 2011. Since their reunion, the band has performed at several European festivals and released a new album, Life Sentence, in April 2013 via Listenable Records.[4] In 2014 the band increased their global reach by touring in North and South America.

On 2 October 2015, the band released their fourth studio album, Atom by Atom, while two days earlier the entire album was made available for streaming via Invisible Oranges.[5]

In 2018, the band signed a new multi-album recording contract with Metal Blade Records.[6] Their fifth studio album and first under Metal Blade Records, Cruel Magic was released on 7 September 2018.[7] The first single from Cruel Magic, "The Doomsday Clock", was released on 6 July. Satan released their next studio album, Earth Infernal, on 1 April 2022.'[8]

  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 310/1. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  2. ^ Popoff, Martin (2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal Volume 2: The Eighties. Toronto: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 309. ISBN 1-894959-31-0.
  3. ^ "SATAN Perform Live for First Time in 20 Years: Photos Available". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  4. ^ "'Life Sentence' Cover Art & Release Date". Satanmusic.com. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  5. ^ Schafer, Joseph (30 September 2015). "Satan – Atom by Atom (Premiere)". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Satan Signs with Metal Blade Records; New Album Due Later in 2018 - Blabbermouth.net". Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Satan". Satanmusic.com.
  8. ^ "Satan - Releasing 'Earth Infernal' Record In April". Metal Storm. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.