Order From Chaos

In the late 1980s, as death metal rose to prominence and black metal thrived in the underground, there were a few bands that managed to combine elements of both to such a degree that they are considered part of both traditions.  American band ORDER FROM CHAOS is one such group.  From Kansas City, Missouri, they played a style of extreme metal that owes a lot to the old-school black metal scene, but clearly bears the imprint of the emerging death metal style.

They formed in 1987, and put out some rather famous demos in the later 1980s.  1988's Inhumanities is a demo that had song structures reminiscent of Possessed and Death, but at the same time had an occultic feel to it that reminded one of early Mayhem and other first-wave black metal.  With 1989's Crushed Infamy demo and 1990's Will to Power EP, the band focused more on the death metal aspects of their music.

"Golgotha (Second Death)" is a pretty good example of Order From Chaos' old sound

Notice the more death metal approach off of 1990's Will to Power

By the time of the release of their first full-length album--1993's Stillbirth Machine--their sound was more or less death metal with black metal influences to it.  This is the sound that they are primarily know for down to this today.  This sound continued on albums such as 1995's Dawn Bringer and 1998's An Ending in Fire.  Their sound greatly resembles that of legendary death/black metal band Angelcorpse, and this makes perfect sense, being that Pete Helmkamp was a member of both bands.

"Forsake Me This Mortal Coil" highlights their mature sound

Order From Chaos broke up in 1998.  But by this time, their mark had been made.  They helped set the standard for future black/death bands, and influenced the formation and style of Angelcorpse.  They recently re-united and playing some gigs in 2010...

From 2010's Nuclear War Now Fest, this is Order From Chaos live

Select Discography:

Inhumanities (demo) (1988)
Crushed Infamy (demo) (1989)
Will to Power 7" (1990)
Stillbirth Machine (full-length) (1992)
Dawnbringer (full-length) (1995)
An Ending in Fire (full-length) (1998)

Next time:  ABRUPTUM