Alastis

In terms of black metal, Switzerland gave the world the brilliant Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Samael. But not too far below those bands is ALASTIS, from the canton of Valais. Not exactly a household name, Alastis toiled in the black metal underground in one form or another since the late 1980s. Starting off as more of a death/thrash band in 1987 under the name Fourth Reich, these Swiss metal maniacs released a demo entitled Fatidical Date (in 1989). Like many extreme metal bands, Fourth Reich did not actually harbor Nazi sympathies--they just used the name for effect.

Not too long after the release of the Fatidical Date demo, the band morphed into Alastis (they took their name from the demon Alastor). They also changed from a death/thrash sound to a more black metal style with melodic elements. One can even hear the influence of early Celtic Frost on some of their demo material. In their first two years of existence as Alastis they put out the Black Wedding demo (1990) and an untitled 1991 promo.

From the Black Wedding demo, this is "My Suicide"

Before the release of their first studio album--1992's The Just Law--some of their members joined Samael. In fact, Alastis has had many lineup changes over the years. The only constant until their break-up was founder War D.

The title track from 1992's The Just Law

The Just Law was a continuation of Alastis' earlier sound: one can hear the slower, more methodical, Celtic Frost-inspired riffing laid over top an eerie and melodic atmosphere. Over the next few releases they honed this sound, incorporating keyboards for mood, and at times verging on an almost gothic style.

This is "By Thy Name," from 1995's ...And Death Smiled

Notice the more creative use of synths. "In Darkness" is off of 1997's The Other Side

Toward the end of their existence, Alastis did come to resemble mid-period Samael more and more (think Ceremony of Opposites and, to a lesser degree, Passage). They continued the more noticeably rhythmic guitar patterns, melodic atmosphere, and gothic-styled keyboards. They mellowed out even more with their last two releases, 1998's Revenge and 2001's Unity. In my opinion, those last two albums come across as somewhat derivative and uninspired. Shortly after beginning work on what would have been their sixth studio album, Alastis broke up in 2004.

"Burnt Alive" is off of Revenge

Off of Unity, this is "The Elect"

Select Discography

Black Wedding (demo) (1990)

1991 promo tape (demo)

The Just Law (full-length) (1992)

...And Death Smiled (full-length) (1995)

The Other Side (full-length) (1997)

Revenge (full-length) (1998)

Unity (full-length) (2001)

Next time: DECAYED