Atrocity (band)

Atrocity is a German metal band from Ludwigsburg that formed in 1985.

History
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 classics with a cover of "Archangel" 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 music.

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.

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 on 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.

The release of the eleventh album After the Storm in 2010 started a new era for the band in the ethno metal genre. Yasmin Krull returned a second time as guest singer and instrumentalist for the project.

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.

Members
Current members
 * Alexander Krull – lead vocals, keyboards, samples (1985–present)
 * Joris Nijenhuis – drums, backing vocals (2012–present)
 * Micki Richter – guitar (2019–present)
 * Andre Nasso – bass (2021–present)
 * Luc Gebhardt – guitar (2022–present)

Studio albums

 * 1990: Hallucinations
 * 1992: Todessehnsucht
 * 1994: Blut
 * 1996: Willenskraft
 * 1997: Werk 80 (cover album)
 * 2000: Gemini
 * 2004: Atlantis
 * 2008: Werk 80 II (cover album)
 * 2013: Okkult
 * 2018: Okkult II
 * 2023: Okkult III

Collaborations

 * 1995: Calling the Rain (EP, feat. Yasmin Krull)
 * 1995: Die Liebe (feat. Das Ich)
 * 2010: After the Storm (feat. Yasmin Krull)

Compilations

 * 1996: Kraft & Wille (video collection & The Hunt EP)
 * 1999: Non Plus Ultra: 1989–1999 (best-of)

DVD

 * 2012: Die Gottlosen Jahre

Demos

 * 1988: Instigators
 * 1993: Promo '93

EPs

 * 1996: The Hunt
 * 1996: The Definition of Kraft and Wille
 * 2017: Masters of Darkness
 * 2019: Spell of Blood