Artist: MARDUK
Album: HEAVEN SHALL BURN... WHEN WE ARE GATHERED REISSUE (CD)

Release date: 1996/ 2022
EAN/UPS: 4001617206027
Media type: CD

An extreme Norrkoping Black / Death Metal band initially called GOD switching names to that of the Sumerian illegitimate God MARDUK in 1990. Since then the band has rapidly elevated themselves into the Black Metal premier league by way of a stream of consistently high quality albums. MARDUK's less than tactfully titled, and now notorious, 'Fuck Me Jesus' EP of 1991, actually their first demo pressed onto vinyl, was graced with a sleeve depicting a naked woman inserting a cross between her legs from behind and was subsequently banned across Europe.

MARDUK was created in 1990 by ex-Punk Rock act MOSES' guitarist Morgan 'Mr. Evil' Hеkansson. The first demo featured ex-LUCKY SEVEN vocalist Andreas Axelsson. Other musicians included guitarist Joakim 'Grave' Gothberg, previously a member of GRIMORIUM, and bassist Rickard Calm. By the time the group's debut arrived in 1992 MARDUK's line-up had shifted to Hеkansson, Axelsson, Gцthberg, guitarist Magnus 'Devo' Andersson and ex-CHAINED and ALLEGIANCE bassist Roger 'Bogge' Svensson (a.k.a. B. War').

Prior to the ensuing 'Those Of The Unlight' album, Gothberg assumed the lead vocal role as Axelsson had left to join EDGE OF SANITY. Andersson also left to concentrate on his various project bands; such as ALLEGIANCE, OVERFLASH and CARDINAL SIN. Gцthberg joined Andersson as the drummer in CARDINAL SIN before founding DARKIFIED.

With third album 'Opus Nocturne' emerging in 1994, the group would tour Europe the same year supporting IMMORTAL on their 'Sons Of Northern Darkness" tour. In 1996 the 'Heaven Shall Burn...When We Are Gathered' album was issued and MARDUK also released the 'Glorification' EP, which featured the band's cover versions of tracks by PILEDRIVER, VENOM, DESTRUCTION and BATHORY.

At this point in time MARDUK's line-up consisted of Hеkansson, also an active member of ABRUPTUM, vocalist Legion (a.k.a. Erik Hagsted) of prior BLACK GOAT and OPHTALAMIA repute, OVERFLASH guitarist Kim Osara, bassist B. War and drummer Fredrik Andersson. Gothberg had decamped to found DIMENSION ZERO, a high profile union with IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Stromblad, ex-IN FLAMES six stringer Glenn Ljungstrцm and LUCIFERION and DIABOLIQUE drummer Hasse Nilsson.

For their 1996 European tour MARDUK drafted in their producer and HYPOCRISY and ABYSS guitarist Peter Tagtgren as a stand in member, although plans were laid to convene ex-NECROPHOBIC and DARK FUNERAL member David 'Blackmoon' Parland into the fold.

Various members of MARDUK collaborated with Swedish Punk act WOLFPACK to create MOMENT MANIACS. The recordings resulted in the 1999 'Two Fuckin' Pieces' album. Also arriving that year, and continuing the band's tank theme, would be the 'Panzer Division Marduk' opus. On the road in Europe during October of 1999, the group joined a heavyweight billing comprising DEFLESHED, ANGEL CORPSE, AETERNUS and CANNIBAL CORPSE.


TRACKLIST CD:

1. Summon The Darkness
2. Beyond The Grace Of God
3. Infernal Eternal
4. Glorification Of The Black God
5. Darkness It Shall Be
6. Black Tormentor Of Satan
7. Dracul Va Domni Din Nou In Transilvania
8. Legion


LINE-UP:

Mortuus (vocals)
Morgan Hеkansson (guitar)
Magnus Devo Andersson (bass)
Fredrik Andersson (drums)