Blackstorm

Biography

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Blackstorm (1997-1999, 2004-present): a Black Metal band from USA.

roceeding the era of death metal was England and Scandinavia's second global black metal invasion. Spawned from acts Mercyful Fate, Venom, Bathory and Mayhem brought about a new breed of satanic fury with no mercy for the weak at hand! Storm was one of these artists from the US to procreate some of the first symphonic black metal when symphonic black metal was merely in it's conception stages of the new genre!

Formed in 32 A.S. (1997) by Anthony Storm (aka: Storm). Storm (guitar/keyboards/vocals) who had been playing this style for over a decade and a half, was influenced by the tenacity and lyrical content of early legends Mercyful Fate, Ven om and Bathory as well as the Neo-Classical guitar playing pioneered by Yngwie Malmsteen during the highlight of these band's careers during the 1980s. Storm had incorporated the Neo-Classical guitar style with ominous, intricate and blackened rhythms derived from his years of classical and 1980s heavy metal influences. With act's like Faust (black metal/Florida) in 1990 Storm's first band showcased what is now known as symphonic black metal in a time before acts like Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir hit American soil. Since that time, Storm formed or played in Asmodeus (black metal/Arizona) 1994, Pit Fiend (Death Me tal/Florida) 1995, Nuctemeron (black metal/Arizona) with Barney "Kam" Lee (of Mantas, Death and Massacre) on vocals 1996, Season of Pain (doom/Arizona) 1997, and has worked with James Murphy (of Testament, Disincarnate, Obituary and Death) during 1999-2000 both professional and personal.

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During 1997, Storm departed Season of Pain to return playing symphonic black metal. Storm had an arsenal of keyboard and guitar material while in Season of Pain which later would appear on Blackstorm's Black Circle Crusades demo, and then on the Black Circle Crusades (1997). Black Ci rcle Crusades had little success due to it's slow tempo and all acoustic symphonic interludes. However, it gained a small cult following in the underground and placed Blackstorm in a very strategic position as one of the US's up and coming symphonic black metal acts! During the following year Storm grew frustrated with the mediocrity in the music industry and formed 'Darque Records', an independent record company in Tempe, Arizona to assist in production and distribution of Blackstorm material. Storm then forged a full line-up for Blackstorm featuring R. Kibler on Lead guitar, long time friend J. Diamond for drums, percussion and voc als, and J. Hayden on bass and back up vocals. 'Darque Records' would then release the epic Black Circle Crusades full length CD and Blackstorm began preparation for their second release.

Blackstorm would then denounce all local public performances and stayed primarily underground with the exception of some small tours and few scattered shows. In 1999 'Darque Records' released Blackstorm's second release and mini-CD, As Black As Thy Candles Burn, produced by James Murphy. The As Black As Thy Candles Burn EP catapulted Blackstorm to new horizons and unmasked the veil of secrecy to the metal community. As Black As Thy Candles Burn EP, although having similar characteristics to acts like Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir, innovated and ripped through the stagnant boundaries of typical black metal cliches.

Shortly after the debut CD release, a line-up change in the Blackstorm horde was afoot. Blackstorm recruited Michael Wright on guitars (ex-Excessive Bleeding), Victor Morell for keyboards (ex-Season of Pain/ex/ex-Psychic Pawn) and Ian Wright on drums and percussion, while departing with Ryan Kibler. J. Diamond then took the reigns for lead vocals. Late that year, Storm grew frustrated witha member of Blackstorm and co-founder of 'Darque Records' about the direction of Blackstorm and disbanded the band.

Founding member Storm reformed Blackstorm in 2004 (39 A.S.) in Tallassahee, Florida as a studio project while forging yet another line-up, and began writing new material. Storm relocated back to Phoenix, Arizona later that same year and recruited local drummer Vince Handrick from the band Ekser for session work on a new studio CD due out in 2007.

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