Mystifier

After Sarcofago, Salvador's MYSTIFIER is probably the best-known Brazilian black metal band. Beelzeebubth (guitars/bass) decided to form the band after his stint with groups like Death Vomit and Putrefaction, gathering other musicians together to create blasphemous music under the black metal label.  After rehearsals and small local shows, Mystifier put out the Tormenting the Holy Trinity demo.

"Possession" is a song from the Tormenting the Holy Trinity demo

Unlike other old-school black metal bands from Brazil (Sarcofago, Holocausto, etc.), Mystifier's sound was not stereotypically Brazilian.  It was not the raw thrash-influenced style heard on such classics as I.N.R.I. or Campo De Exterminio. Instead, Mystifier's sound was steeped in something more eerie, more occultic, more....mystical. Tormenting the Holy Trinity caught the attention of not just black metal fans in South America, but record labels. But instead of signing with a label, Mystifier kept on toiling in the underground, releasing a single (1990's "The Evil Ascenscion Returns") and another demo (1991's Aleister Crowley).  They then signed with the label Hellion Records to release the 1992 album Wicca.

From Wicca, this is "Mystifier (Satan's Messengers)"

Mystifier's eerie and atmospheric sound continued to gain them attention around the world.  They signed with Osmose Productions and subsequently released 1993's Goetia.  This album was a continuation of their early sound, but showed signs of maturity.  Possessed of a style all their own, Mystifier marched forward with their evil sound.  Following Goetia, they released such cult albums as 1996's The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn't Live Here, 1999's Demystifying the Mystified Ones For a Decade in the Earthly Paradise, and 2001's Profanus.

"Caerimonia Sanguilentu (Goetia)" is from 1993's Goetia

From their 1996 album, this is "The Death of an Immortal"

"Superstitious Predictions of Misfortune" is off of Profanus

As can be heard with their somewhat more recent material, Mystifier is not afraid to take chances with their black metal.  They occasionally incorporate clean vocals, odd rhythms, and even riffing that doesn't resemble typical black metal.  That being said, they're still a dark and evil band that has hugely impacted world black metal well beyond the borders of their native Brazil.

Select Discography

Tormenting the Holy Trinity (demo)(1989)

Aleister Crowley (demo)(1991)

Wicca (full-length)(1992)

Goetia (full-length)(1993)

The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn't Live Here

(full-length) (1996)

Demystifying the Mystifed Ones for a Decade in the Earthly Paradise

EP (1999)

Profanus (full-length) (2001)

Next time: DARKTHRONE'S EARLY YEARS