Ancient Rites

Belgium has produced a few noteworthy black metal bands. I personally love Enthroned (great band!), but pre-dating them, there was ANCIENT RITES, from the Flemish Brabant area of Belgium. Founded by four guys--including core member Gunther Theys--who were already veterans in the heavy metal scene, they sought to create music that drew not just on old-school black metal, but NWOBHM and classic heavy metal, too.

The song "Fallen Angel" is off of their 1990 demo, Dark Ritual

They released a demo--1990's Dark Ritual--which showcased their influences. This, like most demos of the age, circulated through tape-trading and helped spread their name far and wide. 1990 also brought line-up changes: all of the band members except Gunther left the band (one of them, guitarist Philip Bollengier, died in a car accident). After acquiring new band members, Ancient Rites soldiered on. With this lineup in place, they self-released the now-legendary EP Evil Prevails in 1992. This EP featured songs that would go on to become classics, like "Obscurity Reigns (The Fields of Flanders)" and the title track, "Evil Prevails."

Title track from the 1992 demo

The early 1990s saw a relatively stable lineup emerge: Gunther on bass, Bart on guitars, and Walter on drums. It was during this time that Ancient Rites continued cementing their metal reputation by collaborating with other bands on split albums (Thou Art Lord, Uncanny) and putting out EPs of their own. Finally, after signing with label After Dark Records (a label that eventually folded), they released their debut full-length album: 1994's The Diabolic Serenades. This album was a clear continuation of their early sound, and featured re-recorded versions of old classics. What set apart this release, though, was that Ancient Rites was now incorporating atmospheric keyboard passages that helped give some of their songs a darkly atmospheric vibe, and some of their songs an epic, folk-influenced feel. Check out the beginning to "Morbid Glory (Gilles de Rais 1404-1440)" below:

Off of The Diabolic Serenades

The first era of Ancient Rites' existence can be said to reach its pinnacle on Diabolic Serenades and its follow-up, 1996's Blasfemia Eternal. As noted above, this era of their music was based around an old-school heavy metal/black meal style. It was dark and aggressive, touching on typical extreme metal lyrical themes, but also incorporating historical elements as well. And it was after perfecting this sound that they shifted gears completely with their 1998 release Fatherland.

Title track off of Fatherland

Building on their old school black metal foundation that they had laid, Ancient Rites now sought to focus more on the historically-oriented and folk elements in their music. The resulting sound was a more epic pagan metal sound. Following Fatherland, this then became the sound that Ancient Rites was known for. With each subsequent release, the band has honed their pagan black metal style so that they now stand as one of the elite of that subgenre.

From 2001's Dim Carcosa, this is "North Sea"

"Brabantia" is off of 2006's Rubicon

Select Discography

Dark Ritual (demo) (1990)

Promo 1992 (demo) (1992)

Evil Prevails EP (1992)

From Beyond the Grave II 7" (split with Thou Art Lord) (1993)

The Diabolic Serenades (full-length) (1994)

Blasfemia Eternal (full-length) (1996)

Fatherland (full-length) (1998)

Dim Carcosa (full-length) (2001)

Next time: MOONSPELL