User:Hellsteps/sandbox

HELLSTEPS formed in winter 2006 after the meeting of Lord of war, Lord Arhald (ATHANOR) and Dienece and Astaroth (FALLEN BLOOD).

This line up (with Dienece-voice, Lord of war and Astaroth-guitars and Lord Arhald-drums) completes itself with the arrival of Beliar on bass and begins writing songs which will be recorded on the debut demo cd. The music proposed underlines the different musical attitudes of its components, resulting in a mixture of various genres (from black to death, thrash and classic heavy metal), however it reveals an original and innovative sound: misty, melancholic and, at the same time, sharp and refined. The themes of the songs deal with such topics as: ancient history, cults and legends from the past, literature and they are influenced by the personal feelings of its components.

In September 2007 the band begins the recording of the demo cd that will be ready in 2008; this work is totally self produced. The band expresses at its best, however, in its live performances at festivals and music clubs all along Italy. In summer 2008, when the recording was already finished, Beliar decided to leave the band. HELLSTEPS go on with their project including a new bass-member, Darktears (FALLEN BLOOD) who contributes to the draft of new songs, bringing farther originality to the sound.

Some time later, Astaroth and Lord Arhald are forced to leave the group for reasons of force majeure; are replaced, respectively, by Gianni Tozzi (Cryptic Theory) and Antonio Occhionero (Planar Evil). Dienece changes its moniker to “Pas”, Darktears to “Domenico”. New line up, new songs. The band starts recording the EP “Last moment of sanity” in 2012, at the studios Red Sound Records and, after work mastering by James Plotkin (Sunn o)))), ISIS …), in 2013 released the self-produced EP containing three new songs and a new version of “Daimonesias”, present on the previous demo.

In 2014 is the time of the first official and professional video-clip. Filmed and produced by Luca Carotenuto, the video “Daimonesias – The punishment of Gods” collects in a short time several views. The following year the band signed with the Vacula productions, which reissue the EP “Last moment of sanity” with the addition of two bonus tracks: a new version of “Adrenaline” and one from the demo dated 2008, “Epi cratos “. On this occasion, the band changes its logo (by Luca Carotenuto).

In 2016 Gianni Tozzi leaves the band: he’s replaced by Flamel (ATHANOR). The band’s aim is to spread its own music keeping on working on its compositions and live performances (sharing the stage with artists such as Absu, Warhammer, Necrodeath, Extrema, Pino Scotto, Hour of penance, Rosae Crucis …) aiming at a concrete realization of its works.