Impiety

Singapore's IMPIETY play a particularly vicious brand of black/death metal.  Claiming Venom, Sarcofago, Hellhammer, and Possessed as influences, they initially formed in 1988 as Sexfago.  Starting out playing covers of some of their favorite bands, they only lasted two years in this incarnation before changing their name to Impiety.  The only known ouput Sexfago ever released was a (very raw) rehearsal demo from 1989.  Check out the excerpt below:

From Sexfago's 1989 rehearsal demo

In 1990, Impiety consisted of Shyaithan and Necro-Angelfornicator, but the lineup has changed many times since then--with Shyaithan being the only constant. The first Impiety release was a 1991 four-song cassette that, to this day, is extraordinarily rare and hard to find. It was with their 1992 demo, Ceremonial Necrochrist Redesecration, that they really put themselves on the international metal map. Metalheads far and wide began taking note of this brutal black/death coming from southeast Asia.

Off of the 1992 demo, this is "Pentagramathron"

Based on the strength of this release, Impiety signed to Dutch label Shivadarshana Records, and went to work on more material. The result was the 1994 7" Salve the Goat. Announcing their arrival to the world in true extreme metal fashion, Impiety declared in the liner notes of this release that they would "piss all over" the "Norwegian black-metal clowns". They also released their first full-length album on Shivadarshana Records: 1996's epic Asateerul Awaleen.

"Bismishyaithan" is from Asateerul Awaleen

A transition in their sound could be hear on Asateerul Awaleen. While the earlier brutality was present, and truly fit the mold of the style associated with the far-east (think Abhorer's Rumpus of the Undead demo), Impiety upped the ante on their first full-length. The raw speed of black metal was present in a way not before heard from these maniacs!

Impiety's journey since the release of Asateerul has been a storied one. They have relocated more than once--to places like Mexico and Italy, for example--and suffered from numerous lineup changes, all while trying to find the perfect record label home for them. It was in 1999 that fate was kind to the band: their album from that year, Skullfucking Armageddon practically made them a household name. It featured more of their now-trademark lightning-fast black/death metal, but the production was the best it had ever been.

"Skullfucked, the Speed Metal Hell" is my favorite song off of Skullfucking Armageddon

Since the dawn of the new millenium, Impiety has kept churning out quality releases that are about furthering their blasphemous agenda. They have toured all over the world, and not let up yet. Here are some samples of their continuing sonic sorcery:

This is "Bloodred Angelshed", off of 2002's Kaos Kommand 696

2007's Formidonis Nex Cultus produced this gem: "Terror, Death, Worship!"

Their 2011 album, Ravage & Conquer, features a more death metal orientation

Impiety has definitely made their mark on the scene. More than any other band from southeast Asia, they have shown the world that there is no limit to black/death brutality.

Select Discography

Rehearsal Tape (demo) (1991)

Ceremonial Necrochrist Redesecration (demo) (1992)

Salve the Goat...Iblis Excelsi EP (1995)

Asteerul Awaleen (full-length) 1996)

Skullfucking Armageddon (full-length) (1999)

Kaos Kommand 696 (full-length) (2002)

Paramount Evil (full-length) (2004)

Formidonis Nex Cultus (full-length) (2007)

Next time: The late 1980s American Scene

Abhorer

Venturing over to the far east, we encounter the Singaporean band ABHORER.  The Singaporean scene is a fairly prolific one, with other bands like Impiety, Rudra, and As-Sahar emerging in the late 1980s and early 1990s (more on those bands at a later time).

From Abhorer's 1989 demo Rumpus of the Undead, this is "Profane Immolation"

Forming as Tombcrusher in 1987, they changed their name to Abhorer the following year.  By 1989, they had put out their first demo, the cult Rumpus of the Undead.  Abhorer always claimed old Sarcofago as their main influence, and you can hear it the brutal, raw black-death on that demo!  Following the release of Rumpus, the underground began to pay attention to Abhorer (and Singapore) like never before.  Their demo was released as a split with Japan's Necrophile, and then they worked on new material, resulting in the 7" Upheaval of Blasphemy.

From Upheaval of Blasphemy, here is "Abandonment of Chastity"

This 7-inch was released in 1993, and Abhorer's underground infamy only grew.  They began to perform shows around Asia, but like many bands, had problems with governments' attitudes toward their style of extreme music.  Much like the Scandinavian bands (especially the Norwegians) can be seen to be rebelling against the fake Christian facade of their culture, Singaporean extreme bands like Abhorer can be seen to be rebelling against the tightly-controlled, overly-regulated, anti-individualistic society in which they live.  Claiming to be individualistic Satanists, members of Abhorer hold to the famous creed: "Do what thou wilt is the whole of the law."

 Off of their one full-length album, this is "Hymeneal Altar of Messianic Salacitation"

 In 1995, Abhorer re-entered the studio and recorded what would become their one full-length album: Zygotical Sabbatory Anabapt.  It was a continuation of the brutal old-school style that clearly paid an homage to bands like Sarcofago and Blasphemy.  At the same time, one can hear how this insanely raw sound has influenced bands up to this day, especially southeastern Asian bands like Thailand's Zygoatsis.

Sadly, Abhorer broke up in 1997.  It seemed they were unhappy with the state of metal in general and frustrated with the repressive attitudes toward extreme music that Singaporean authorities had.  There was a compilation called Unholy Blasphemer released in 2004, but it is a bootleg and fraudulently claims to be an officially sanctioned Abhorer release---it is not.  Both Shivarage Music and Hell's Headbanger's Records have re-released Abhorer's material.

Select Discography:

Rumpus of the Undead (demo) (1989)

Upheaval of Blasphemy EP (1993)

Zygotical Sabatory Anabapt (full-length) (1996)

 Next time: SINOATH