ANCIENT RITES - Laguz

Ancient Rites was created at the end of the 80’s. Pioneering in the first wave of black and other extreme metal genres. At the time of band formation, their musical style and the entire concept of occult and historically inspired lyrics was far from being popular. It was an era when glam and alternative styles dominated the scene. Still, a local following was built up who called themselves the Ancient Rites Death Militia.

The line-up consisted of Johan and Philip (guitars), Stefan (drums) and Gunther (bass/vocals).
Dark Ritual demo was released and spread throughout the entire underground worldwide, still by oldfashioned regular mail as it was done in the pre-internet age. Soon after that lieup changes began.

The debut full length album „The Diabolic Serenades“ was released in 1994 through After Dark (CD version) and Midian Creations (LP format).
In 1995 a deal was signed with Dutch Mascot Records and „Blasfemia Eternal“ was released in January 96. The band toured Europe and the U.K. several times and performed with acts such as Deicide, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Cradle Of Filth, Metallica, Dissection, Morbid Angel, S.O.D., Mercyful Fate, Marduk, Impaled Nazarene, Manowar, Sepultura, Venom, Rotting Christ, Guns N` Roses, Behemoth, Saxon and many more. They also played in the United States and Asia.

Throughout the years of Ancient Rites existence, the band had to deal with a lot of misfortune: boycotts, bomb threats, hostile anti-black metal audiences in an age when none of the few existing black metal bands were touring, ripped off for large amounts of money by labels and promoters, members ending up in hospital or dying.

On the third album entitled „Fatherland“ (recorded February/March 98) musicians from Holland, Suomi-Finland, Germany and Belgium made their contribution. The album’s line-up consisted of Erik (ex-Inquisitor, guitars), Jan „Örkki“ Yrlund (ex-Prestige/Two Witches/Lacrimosa, guitars), Walter (drums) and Gunther (bass/vocals).

Today the band consists of Walter Van Cortenberg (drums), Erik Sprooten (guitars), Domingo Smets (guitars) and Gunther Theys (vocals) and a new album for Massacre Records entitled „Laguz“ is recorded.

The journey of Ancient Rites is a long one, always distanced from popular trends and often against all odds. For years, Ancient Rites fans often refer to themselves as „Ancient Hordes“.

Through „Laguz“, Ancient Rites mark a new chapter in the band’s history. Laguz is an invitation to enter long forgotten worlds through the dark/historical lyrics and the music, which combines fierce Metal with classical orchestrations in order to evoke eras buried by time and dust.