Sweden

Swedish black metal band Lord Belial was formed in 1992 by singer/guitarist Dark, guitarist Vassago, bassist Bloodlord and drummer Sin. The band soon recorded its first demo, The Art of Dying; its 1994 sequel, Into the Frozen Shadows, landed Lord Belial a contract with the No Fashion label, and a year later they issued their proper debut LP, Kiss the Goat. The long-delayed Enter the Moonlight Gate followed in mid-1997, by which time Lord Belial had toured their homeland twice and headlined in Germany; tours with Dismember, Disfear and Satanic Slaughter preceded the 1999 release of Unholy Crusade. ~ Jason Ankeny