Mithras

"Complex, inspired and exploratory this is the kind of boldly cinematic death metal that demands to be relished. This is truly astonishing, world-class music." Dom Lawson, Kerrang! Dec 2003

Open your eyes... awaken your senses.

Gaze carefully upon a bleak dimension of blastbeats, savage frequencies and shattering vocal expulsions. Here exist countless sonic entities, parasites in a nucleus of musical aggression: Feeding, absorbing, regurgitating... all motion begins and ends alike. Yet even in this strange and frightening place, there are outsiders who live within. Mithras are one such manifestation, an illogical, extra-planar troupe so immersed in their own world that they are often the object of fear, misunderstanding and resentment. Such is the lonely path of all who dream, and to the denizens of this isolated nexus, a path seldom trodden.

Violent tranquility, atmospheric extremity, astral brutality. This is the sound of Mithras, one of the UK's most uncompromising and original extreme metal bands to date. Beginning their career in C.E. 1998, Leon Macey and Rayner Coss took the name Imperator, and cast their mould in the world of ancient history and mythology. With clear goals in mind they released their first demo, Gods Among Men, a youthful release that bore the first elements of a highly unusual band. As the third millennium passed, they would record another 5 original tracks on a mini-cd titled Retaken Empire. Created for an ill-fated split release with US death/grind band The Path, Retaken Empire would never see the light and still gathers dust in some time forgotten scriptorium.

Imperator soon became known as Mithras, the Roman sun-god. It was evident that this long-forgotten deity was smiling upon their efforts and their first demo attempt, Dreaming In Splendour was a fruitful offering which would pave the way to their crushing debut album Forever Advancing... Legions. It was not long before they drew the attention of Golden Lake Productions, who signed them in the year 2001 ...Legions proved to be an incredibly aggressive and technically bombastic release, a small, extreme metal milestone which caused tremors beneath the disputable thrones of the underground... The subterranean media responded with high praise and glorious tribute for this fearless newcomer and promised great things to come.

And come they did, but not in their expected form. In 2002 Mithras evolved. Gone was the historical commentary and ancient god-worship of their previous incarnation. In its place sat a child of pure musical obscurity, a band that fused ambience with pitiless extremity, cosmic lyrical passages and highly unconventional uses of the musical instrument. A demo entitled Bequeath Thy Visions would be the catalyst for this metamorphosis and in the following year, Mithras would create a complex musical wonder: A dimensional gate to another existence, an apocalyptic, chapter to chapter epic that would bring the band face to face with astounded musical journalists and knuckle-headed, nay saying death metal conservatives. Worlds Beyond The Veil would shatter musical boundaries following its 2003 release, achieve a controversial 10/10 review in Terrorizer magazine and critical acclaim in the wider world, not forgetting a record deal with renowned label Candlelight.

Four years of deathly silence, hidden activity and distant meditation have passed. After nearly a decade of dreaming, Mithras will present their third offering Behind The Shadows Lie Madness on the 28th of May 2007 via Candlelight Records. Prepare for the sound of ascension, light-speed retribution on the so-called experts and anonymous critics of this dimension and the next... prepare for the deepest and most unsettling journey into the Mithras universe yet!'

Discography:

Gods Among Men - Demo, 1999 (as Imperator)
Dreaming in Splendour - Demo, 2000 (as Imperator)
Tomb of Kings - Demo, 2000 (as Imperator)
Bequeath Thy Visions - Demo, 2002 (as Imperator)
Forever Advancing... Legions - Full-length, 2002
Worlds Beyond the Veil - Full-length, 2003
Behind The Shadows Lie Madness - Full-length, 2007

Current line-up
Leon Macey - Guitar, Drums on first three records (ex-Throne of Nails [session guitars], ex-Sepia Dreamer [session drums])
Ben White - Drums

Former/past member(s)
Steve Crompton - Guitar (1999-2001)
Justin Joyce - Drums (1998-2001)
Ben White - Drums (2001-2003)
Liam Kavanagh - Guitars (1999)
Lee Du-Caine - Live Guitar (2002-2005)
Alex De Moller - Live Guitar (2006-present)
Sean Broster - Live Drums (Sarpanitum)
Rayner Coss - Vocals, Bass (ex-Serenade [session vocals])(1998-2008)

Source: Mithras / www.metal-archives.com