Artist: MYSTIC CIRCLE
Album: UNHOLY CHRONICLES 1992 - 2004 (CD+DVD)

Year: 2004
Media type: CD

Leading German Black Metallers MYSTIC CIRCLE were founded in 1993 as a duo of vocalist / bassist Graf Von Beelzebub and drummer Aaarrgon. Adding guitarist Mephisto, the band recorded debut demo 'Dark Passion' the following year. Rhythm guitarist Agamidion bolstered the band's sound as they switched from Death Metal to Black Metal proving this point with a further tape in 1995 titled 'Von Kreigern Und Helden'. 1996 saw a further demo in the form of 'Die Gotter Der Urvater'. The EP followed before a debut album arrived later the same year.

October of 1999 saw MYSTIC CIRCLE engaging in the " Infernal Gods Of War" European tour alongside GRAVEWORM, SUIDAKRA and STORMLORD. The 2000 release 'Kriegsgotter II' features demos and cover versions of CELTIC FROST, ACHERON and BATHORY numbers. Promoting the 2001 album 'The Great Beast', their first for new label Massacre Records, MYSTIC CIRCLE put in European touring alongside MARDUK. A projected Gerhard Magin produced 2003 album was given a provisional album title of 'Open The Gates Of Hell'. Australian dates in October saw ABORTUS acting as support.

The band undertook European package tour dates allied with KATAKLYSM, GRAVEWORM and INTO ETERNITY in October of 2004. A compilation album, 'Mystic Circle Unholy Chronicles 1992–2004', would be issued to coincide. Alongside studio tracks this double album included the promotional video clip for 'Awaken By Blood' and live material culled from the 2004 'Wave-Gotik-Treffen' festival, further live tracks recorded across Europe plus a Rumanian television interview. That same year Necrodemon announced he would act as session drummer for Australian act HERRATIK, previously known as ABORTUS. MYSTIC CIRCLE signed to the newly established Dockyard 1 label, an imprint co-owned by IRON SAVIOR's Piet Sielck, in February 2005 for the album 'The Bloody Path Of God'.

MYSTIC CIRCLE parted ways with drummer Necrodemon in July, although maintained a strong relationship with their ex-member, utilising him as producer and his newly built recording studio for their next album. A replacement drummer was soon announced in Dementum and the band entered State Of The Art Studios on 5th October to cut 'The Bloody Path Of God'. Included would be a cover version of CELTIC FROST's seminal 'Circle Of The Tyrants'. Gigs outlined for November and December would be subsequently scratched, the band citing "drummer problems".

TRACKLIST:

CD:
1. Medina (Whore Of Satan)
2. Octobermoon
3. Sword Of Might
4. The Dragonslayer
5. King Of Nibelungenforest
6. Thorn Of Lies
7. One With The Antichrist
8. Hate
9. Hellish Maniacs
10. Spirits In Black
11. Servants Of Twilight
12. God Is Dead - Satan Arise
13. Open The Gates Of Hell
14. Awaken By Blood

DVD:
15. Awaken By Blood (Video)
16. Awaken By Blood (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
17. Medina (Whore Of Satan) (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
18. Burning Souls (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
19. 666 Mark Of The Devil (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
20. God Is Dead - Satan Arise (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
21. Circle Of The Tyrants (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
22. Open The Gates Of Hell (Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2004)
23. Satanic Rituals (Live at Fun & Crust Festival 2004)
24. King Of The Nibelungenforest (Live at Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg 2002)
25. The Dragonslayer (Live at Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg 2002)
26. Servants Of Twilight (Live at Headbanger's Ballroom Hamburg 2003)
27. Image Of The Antichrist (Live at Schwimmbad Club Heidelberg 1993)
28. Hate (Live at Live Arena Munster 2003)
29. Awaken By Blood (Live at Metaldayz Pratteln 2003)
30. Medina (Whore Of Satan) (Live at Razzle Dazzle Berlin 2001)
31. Die Gotter der Urvater (Live at Baroeg Rotterdam 1998)
32. Interview for MTV Romania 2004
33. Satanic Rituals (Live at Club Martin Bucharest 2004)

LINE-UP:

Graf Van Beelzebub (vocals / bass)
Mephisto (guitar / keyboards)
Agamidion (guitar)
Aaarrgon (drums)