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Apokalyptic Raids - Biography


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Biography

APOKALYPTIC RAIDS became a reality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1998, to play the heavy and fast, obscure yet greatly produced, simple but hard to reproduce SPEED BLACK DEATH METAL sound of HELLHAMMER and the other VENOM's followers.

The band was founded by lead guitar player/lead singer LEON MANSSUR a.k.a. "NECROMANIAC" and reflects his previous 20-year history in the Metal scene, including own songs from 1985 to 1988 which haven't seen the light of day until now.

The first recording was a demo-rehearsal (self financed, 1999, sold out). Tracks from that demo were featured in some compilations (Planet Metal mag CD, In Search of Weird Truth tape and Thrahsing Rage CD-R, all sold out), and in the 7"EP Maximum Metal Mayhem, released in Germany (Iron Bonehead Prods., 2001, sold out).

The début album ONLY DEATH IS REAL... was recorded in 2000 and released on CD (Demise, 2001, sold out, re-release on Unsilent records 2007 with bonus demo 1999 tracks, available) and LP (Dies Irae, 2002, sold out). It's release was opening a gig for KRISIUN in Rio.

Back then, the band's sound was too influenced by the 90s Death and Black Metal movements and the line-up consisted of some members of other Black Metal bands.

In 2001, young Thrash Metal drummer PEDRO ROCHA a.k.a. "SKULLKRUSHER" joined the band, which was followed by some gigs in the 4 states of Southeastern Brazil, including opening to FRANK BLACKFIRE, and also side by side with FARSCAPE and DOMINUS PRAELLI.

In 2002 and 2003, the band went on to produce and release the second full-lenght "THE RETURN OF THE SATANIC RITES" on CD and LP and (Dark Sun, 2003, sold out), with a cassette version in Poland (Time Before Time, 2003, sold out), followed by more gigs. This time there were openings to VULCANO, CHAKAL, HEADHUNTER D.C., and with FARSCAPE, FLAGELADÖR, MAUSOLEUM, among many others.

The band spent 2004 preparing the third album, between one and other gig, and again opening to VULCANO, now with VINÍCIUS CANABARRO a.k.a. "HELLPREACHER" on the bass. In 2005 they have released "THE THIRD STORM - WORLD WAR III" on CD and LP (Dark Sun, 2005, sold out), and in 2006 they have played at SLAUGHTER FESTIVAL 2 and opening to MYSTIFIER among other gigs.

In 2007, after opening to KRISIUN again and TORTURE SQUAD, SKULLKRUSHER had to take a leave of the band. They went on with replacement drummer MÁRCIO CATIVEIRO a.k.a. SLAUGHTERER to do gigs with OCULTAN, COMANDO NUCLEAR and AGATHOCLES.

In the beginning of 2008, there was the first Brazilian tour together with Farscape. The tour did 14 gigs in 50 days, and only in that tour Victor WHIPSTRIKER played the bass and Hugo Golon played the drums.

After the tour the gig schedule has increased. NECROMANIAC, HELLPREACHER and SLAUGHTERER did play so far the Wacken selection in Rio, Cuiabá-MT, Roça'n'Roll open air festival in MG, the Possessed gig in São Paulo, and will play the Belphegor gig in RJ.

Now they continue composition phase for the 4th album, and also finish production of some split-releases, while planning a south-american tour...

(Source: http://www.myspace.com/apokalypticraids)