Behexen
{{short description|Finnish black metal band}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=October 2020}}
{{notability|Music|date=February 2022}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Behexen
| image = Behexen @ Nosturi 20.11.2009 (gtr+bass).JPG
| caption = Behexen at Nosturi 20 November 2009
| image_size = 250px
| alias = Lords of the Left Hand (1994–1996)
| origin = Hämeenlinna / Tampere, Finland
| genre = Black metal, Blackened death metal
| years_active = 1994–present
| label = Woodcut Records, Dynamic Arts Records, Grievantee Productions, Sinister Figure Records, Hammer of Hate
| associated_acts = Sargeist, Horna
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20050913112225/http://www.kolumbus.fi/anniina.sade/HTML/ kolumbus.fi/anniina.sade/HTML//]
| current_members = Horns
Hoath Torog
Wraath
Infection
Evisc
| past_members = Reaper
Lunatic
Veilroth
Gargantum
Lord Sargofagian
Shatraug
}}
Behexen is a Finnish black metal band founded in 1994. They adopted a more traditional approach to black metal by incorporating raw characteristics. Their first full-length release was Rituale Satanum, released in 2000 and followed by By the Blessing of Satan in 2004. They have also released a split with Horna (12" LP limited to 500 and CD 1000 copies) and a 3-vinyl set From the Devil's Chalice (limited to 666 copies).
Behexen toured Europe in 2005, as a support act to Archgoat.Robin: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111005052228/http://www.archaic-magazine.com/article.php?aid=40134 Live in Goudvishal, Arnhem 23-10-2005 :: Archgoat/Behexen/Hell Militia]}}, 8 November 2005, accessed on 1 April 2013.
Originally, Behexen played pure old school Black metal. However, since 2012’s Nightside Emanations’ onwards has seen a stylistic shift in the band’s sound, the vocals are now mostly lower pitched death-like growls as opposed to the earlier distinctive high pitched shrieks, though they utilise some elements of the earlier Black metal sound by still making use of fairly regular blastbeats and Tremelo picking, forming a more Blackened death metal sound.
Satanic ideology and influences
Behexen adopts to highly satanic lyrics and imagery. Vocalist and lyricist Hoath Torog identifies himself as a satanist. Torog explained in an interview following the release of their album Nightside Emanations, "Behexen is a magical tool and channel formed in 1995, which brings the voices of our gods to be heard, and works as an intermediary for their destructive emanations on this world. Our journey has taken nearly twenty years, and has included many phases, but today our temple shines the light of our lord brighter than ever before."
{{cite news
|title = Behexen
|url = http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/interviews/view/id/4434
|publisher = Lords of Metal ezine
}} Regarding Behexen's influences, Hoath stated very vaguely that everything "esoteric and exoteric that surrounds us can inspire us. Books, religions, magic, death, music...All the things that we hear, see and experience can feed our inspiration. I get influences from my own life and experiences amongst the occult. Black magic is a comprehensive part of my life, so it's natural that my inspiration comes from there."{{Cite web |url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/interviews/view/id/4434#sthash.lY7DTDPa.dpuf |title=Lords of Metal ezine |access-date=2014-07-12 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152328/http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/interviews/view/id/4434#sthash.lY7DTDPa.dpuf |url-status=dead }}
Behexen's original name, Lords of the Left Hand, was inspired by a Samhain song title of the same name.
Discography
= Albums =
- Rituale Satanum (2000)
- By the Blessing of Satan (2004)
- My Soul for His Glory (2008)
- Nightside Emanations (2012)
- The Poisonous Path (2016)
= Demos and EPs =
- 1995: Reality Is in Evil...
- 1997: Eternal Realm
- 1998: Blessed Be the Darkness
- 2004: Behexen & Horna
- 2008: Behexen & Satanic Warmaster
- 2009: From the Devil's Chalice
Band members
= Current members =
- Horns - Drums (1994–present)
- Hoath Torog - Vocals (1994–present)
- Wraath - Guitars (2009–present)
- Infection - Live Guitars (2009, 2016–2018), Guitars (2018–present)
= Live musicians =
- Evisc - Bass (2013–present)
= Former members =
- Reaper – Guitars, Bass (1994–1999, 2004–2009)
- Lunatic – Bass (1999–2004)
- Veilroth – Guitars (1999–2004)
- Gargantum – Guitar (1998–2009)
- Lord Sargofagian – Bass (2009-2013)
- Shatraug – Bass (2004-2008), Guitars (2009-2015)
=Timeline=
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Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
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ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1996
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1997
Colors=
id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion
id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_piano
id:Lines1 value:black legend:Studio_releases
id:Lines2 value:gray(0.5) legend:Others_releases
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at:03/01/1997 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:04/01/1998 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:02/01/1999 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:07/01/2000 color:black layer:back
at:03/15/2004 color:black layer:back
at:07/15/2004 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:02/23/2008 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:10/17/2008 color:black layer:back
at:09/21/2012 color:black layer:back
at:05/27/2016 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:T text:"Hoath Torog"
bar:R text:"Reaper"
bar:G text:"Gargantum"
bar:V text:"Veilroth"
bar:I text:"Infection"
bar:W text:"Wraath"
bar:L text:"Lunatic"
bar:Sh text:"Shatraug"
bar:S text:"Sargofagian"
bar:E text:"Evisc"
bar:H text:"Horns"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:T from:start till:end color:Vocals
bar:R from:start till:06/01/1999 color:Guitar
bar:R from:start till:06/01/1999 color:Bass width:3
bar:G from:06/01/1999 till:06/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:V from:06/01/1999 till:06/01/2004 color:Guitar
bar:R from:06/01/2004 till:06/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:R from:06/01/2004 till:09/01/2004 color:Bass width:3
bar:I from:06/01/2009 till:12/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:W from:12/01/2009 till:end color:Guitar
bar:I from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Guitar
bar:L from:06/01/1999 till:06/01/2004 color:Bass
bar:Sh from:09/01/2004 till:06/01/2008 color:Bass
bar:Sh from:06/01/2009 till:12/31/2015 color:Guitar
bar:Sh from:12/01/2009 till:12/31/2015 color:Bass width:3
bar:S from:06/01/2009 till:12/01/2009 color:Bass
bar:E from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Bass
bar:H from:start till:end color:Drums
bar:H from:start till:12/01/1997 color:Keys width:3
bar:H from:06/01/2008 till:06/01/2009 color:Bass width:3
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20050913112225/http://www.kolumbus.fi/anniina.sade/HTML/}}
{{Behexen}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Behexen}}
Category:Finnish black metal musical groups
Category:Finnish musical groups