Bal-Sagoth

Bal-Sagoth are a battle metal band from Yorkshire, England. The name 'Bal-Sagoth' is taken from a Robert E. Howard short story "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth". Their first demo was released in 1993, they have since released three albums on Cacophonous and are currently signed to Nuclear Blast.

The band incorporates brief black metal moments into an overall grandiose canvas painting a picture of battles in an antediluvian age where Atlantis had not yet been destroyed and the continents were still joined in a Pangaean mass. A predominant feature is the use of epic keyboards played by Jonny Maudling. Guitar is more of an accenting instrument than a driving force, with the rhythm established more by the drums and keyboards. The vocals of Byron Roberts are more spoken word than anything, making the songs more like stories set to music than anything else. The stories are told like a play, with many characters (or groups of characters, speaking in unison) exchanging dialogue. The singer uses different vocalizations and effects to set them apart.

Vocalist 'Lord Byron' has, since August 1997 been the only metal vocalist to be sponoered by an arms and armour supplier, Battle Orders Ltd., who supply him with swords and other reenactment materials in exchange for his promotion of the company.

Current nembers

• Byron Roberts "Lord Byron" (vocals)
• Jonny Maudling (keyboards)
• Chris Maudling (guitar)
• Dan Mullins (drums)
• Mark Greenwell (bass)

Discography

• Demo (1993, self released)
• A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria (1994, Cacophonus)
• Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule (1996, Cacophonus)
• Battle Magic (1998, Cacophonus)
• The Power Cosmic (1999, Nuclear Blast)
• Atlantis Ascendant (2001, Nuclear Blast)

External links

• Official website
• http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/1770/balsagot.html
• The legions of the black moon fan site – Contains sound clips