Blasphemy (band)

Blasphemy are a Canadian black metal band based in Vancouver, British Columbia that formed in 1984. The band was formed initially by vocalist and occasional bassist Gerry Bull and drummer Sean Stone, known better by their respective stage names Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds & 3 Black Hearts of Damnation and Impurity. Shortly thereafter, guitarist Geoff Drakes, also known better by his pseudonym Caller of the Storms, would join the band. The band formed first as "Antichrist", and would see two further name changes ("Desaster" and "Thrash Hammer", respectively) before settling on Blasphemy in 1987.

The band have a reputation for violence, as well as some members being involved in criminal activity; including a member smuggling both narcotics and his girlfriend onto a commercial flight to Amsterdam, assaulting a police officer, and drug dealing. Consequently, most of the members have spent time in prison.

History
Blasphemy formed in 1984. The band released a demo titled "Blood Upon the Altar" in 1989 and their debut album, "Fallen Angel of Doom", the following year through Wild Rags, to whom they had signed to whilst touring the United States. Blasphemy's second full-length studio album, 1993's "Gods of War", was released through Osmose Productions. 1993 also saw Blasphemy a part of the European tour dubbed the "Fuck Christ Tour"; touring alongside Immortal and Rotting Christ. Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds left the band during the first few days of the tour after experiencing problems with then bassist Ace Gustapo Necrosleezer and Vaginal Commands. For the rest of the tour, Ace replaced Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds on lead vocals.

After the "Fuck Christ Tour", Blasphemy became inactive for several years. Ryan Förster, known better as Deathlord of Abomination and War Apocalypse, joined the band in 1999 as a second guitarist. The band next played in July 2001 in Vancouver, with a recording of the show released as the live album Live Ritual – Friday the 13th the following year.

They were inactive again until 2009, when they played two concerts; one in Montreal and one in Helsinki, in the Black Flames of Blasphemy festival, with Proclamation, Black Witchery, Revenge and Archgoat. In 2010, Blasphemy headlined the second installation of the Nuclear War Now! festival in Germany.

Blasphemy's song "War Command" has been covered by Beherit and the cover appeared on Beherit's 1999 compilation album Beast of Beherit - Complete Worxxx. Blasphemy's "Winds of the Black Gods" was the opening track on the 2004 compilation Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal.

Members
Current line-up
 * Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds – vocals and formerly bass
 * Caller of the Storms – guitars
 * Deathlord of Abomination and War Apocalypse – guitars
 * Three Black Hearts of Damnation and Impurity – drums

Session and live performers
 * V.K. – live session bass

Former members
 * Ace Gestapo Necrosleezer and Vaginal Commands – bass
 * Black Priest of 7 Satanic Rituals – guitars
 * The Traditional Sodomizer of the Goddess of Perversity – guitars
 * Bestial Saviour of the Undead Legions – bass and backing vocals

Timeline

Studio albums

 * Fallen Angel of Doom.... (1990)
 * Gods of War (1993)

Live albums

 * Live Ritual – Friday the 13th (2001)
 * Desecration of São Paulo - Live in Brazilian Ritual Third Attack (2016)
 * Victory (Son of the Damned) (2018)

Demo albums

 * Blood Upon the Altar (1989)
 * Die Hard Rehearsal (2001)
 * Blood Upon the Soundscape (2018)