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Death SS

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Death SS, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 20252 sources
Death SS
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1977 in Pesaro, Italy
FounderSteve Sylvester, Paul Chain
Headquarters
Pesaro
,
Italy
ProductsHeavy metal music albums and singles

Death SS—an abbreviation for In Death of Steve Sylvester—is an Italian heavy metal ensemble established in 1977, frequently labeled as pioneers of "horror metal".

History

Originating in Pesaro in 1977,[1] Death SS was created by Steve Sylvester (Stefano Silvestri), who later joined Ordo Templi Orientis,[2] alongside Paul Chain (Paolo Catena), known for his experimental doom metal solo projects. Sylvester departed the band in 1982; Chain then recruited Sanctis Ghoram as vocalist (featured on the Evil Metal EP) before dissolving the group in 1984 to concentrate on his solo work. In 1988, Sylvester revived Death SS as its only original member, releasing their debut full-length album, ...in Death of Steve Sylvester. Since then, the lineup has seen numerous alterations with Sylvester remaining the sole constant.

The album Panic saw partial recording sessions in the United States with producer Neil Kernon, renowned for collaborations with Queensrÿche, Judas Priest, and others. Sylvester credited Kernon's distinctive approach to the darker facets of heavy metal as instrumental to shaping the album's sound. Released in 2000 through Sylvester's own label Lucifer Rising and Dream Catcher, Panic exemplifies the band's deliberate efforts to elevate production standards.[2]

Musical style and influence

Blending elements of horror, occult themes, and heavy metal, Death SS's sound has been categorized as "horror metal" by AllMusic,[1] and they are acknowledged as a formative influence on black metal.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The band self-describes their genre simply as "horror music".Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Notably, Death SS served as an inspiration for the Swedish metal act Ghost.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Members

Current members

  • Steve Sylvester – lead vocals (1977–1982, 1988–2008, 2012–present)
  • Freddy Delirio – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1994–1996, 2005–2008, 2012–present)
  • Unam Talbot – drums (2022–present)
  • Demeter – bass (2022–present)
  • Ghiulz Borroni – guitars (2022–present)

Former members

  • Paul Chain – guitars, backing vocals, organ (1977–1984)
  • Claud Galley – rhythm guitar (1980–1981), bass (1981–1984)
  • Danny Hughes (Daniele Ugolini) – bass (1977–1978)
  • Danny Hughes (Gabriele Tommasini) – bass (1978–1981)
  • Tommy Chaste (Tommaso Castaldi) – drums (1977–1979)
  • Thomas Chaste (Franco Caforio) – drums (1979–1981)
  • Thomas "Hand" Chaste (Andrea Vianelli) – drums (1981–1984)
  • Sanctis Ghoram – lead vocals (1982–1984)
  • Kurt Templar – guitars, backing vocals (1987–1991)
  • Boris Hunter – drums (1987–1991)
  • Christian Wise – guitars, backing vocals (1987–1989)
  • Erik Landley – bass (1987–1989)
  • Kevin Reynolds – guitars, backing vocals (1989–1991)
  • Alberto Simonini – guitars, backing vocals (1989)
  • Marc Habey – bass, backing vocals (1989–1990)
  • Jason Minelli – guitars, backing vocals (1991–1994)
  • Maurizio Figliolia – guitars, backing vocals (1991)
  • Ross Lukather – drums (1991–1997, 2005)
  • Marcel Skirr – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1992–1993)
  • Al Priest – guitars, backing vocals (1991–1994)
  • Andy Barrington – bass, backing vocals (1990–1993)
  • Judas Kenton – bass, backing vocals (1994–1996)
  • Vincent Phibes – guitars, backing vocals (1994–1997)
  • Emil Bandera – guitars, backing vocals (1996–2006)
  • Oleg Smirnoff – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1997–2005)
  • Felix Moon – guitars, backing vocals (1994–1998)
  • Simon Garth (Nardo Lunardi) – guitars, backing vocals (1998)
  • Simon Garth (Ilario Danti) – guitars, backing vocals (1998)
  • Andrei Karloff – bass, backing vocals (1997–1999)
  • Kaiser Sose – bass, backing vocals (1999–2002)
  • Bob Daemon – bass, backing vocals (2002–2005)
  • Anton Chaney – drums (1997–2005)
  • Dave Simeone – drums (2006–2008)
  • Francis Thorn – guitars, backing vocals (2007–2008)
  • Bozo Wolff – drums (2012–2022)
  • Glenn Strange – bass, backing vocals (2005–2008, 2012–2022)
  • Al De Noble – guitars, backing vocals (2007–2008, 2012–2022)

Studio Albums

  • ...in Death of Steve Sylvester (Discomagic/Metalmaster, 1988)
  • Black Mass (Discomagic/Metalmaster, 1989)
  • Heavy Demons (Contempo/Rosemary's Baby, 1991)
  • Do What Thou Wilt (Lucifer Rising, 1997)
  • Panic (Lucifer Rising, 2000)
  • Humanomalies (Lucifer Rising, 2002)
  • The Seventh Seal (Lucifer Rising/Black Widow Records, 2006)
  • Resurrection (Lucifer Rising, 2013)
  • Rock 'n' Roll Armageddon (Lucifer Rising, 2018)
  • X (Lucifer Rising, 2021)
  • The Entity (Lucifer Rising, 2025)

Live Albums

  • The Cursed Concert (Contempo, 1992)
  • Il ritorno degli occulti (Limited to 200 copies, Cursed Coven, 1998)
  • Live 1990: The Complete Black Mass Show (Limited to 200 copies, Cursed Coven, 2006)
  • Live at I-Gods of Metal 2008 (CD/DVD release, Live Global/Self-produced, 2009)
  • Beyond Resurrection (Lucifer Rising Records, 2017)

Singles and EPs

  • The Horned God of the Witches (Demo EP, 1981)
  • Evil Metal EP (Metal Eye Records, 1983)
  • "Kings of Evil" (Metalmaster, 1989)
  • "Vampire" (Metalmaster, 1989)
  • "In the Darkness" (Metalmaster, 1989)
  • Where Have You Gone? EP (Contempo, 1991)
  • Straight to Hell EP (Contempo, 1993)
  • The Cursed Singles box set (Avantgarde Music, 1995)
  • "Baron Samedi" (Lucifer Rising, 1998)
  • "Scarlet Woman" (Lucifer Rising, 1999)
  • "Hi-Tech Jesus" (Lucifer Rising, 2000)
  • Lady of Babylon EP (Lucifer Rising, 2000)
  • Let The Sabbath Begin double CD EP (Lucifer Rising, 2001)
  • Transylvania (Lucifer Rising, 2001)
  • "Pain" (Lucifer Rising, 2003)
  • "Sinful Dove" (Lucifer Rising, 2004)
  • "Give 'Em Hell" (Lucifer Rising, 2005)
  • "Der Golem" (2013)
  • The Darkest Night EP (Lucifer Rising, 2013)
  • "Ogre's Lullaby" (2013)
  • "Profanation" (2013)
  • "The Night of the Witch" (2013)
  • Eaters (2013)
  • "Dyonisus" (2014)
  • "The Crimson Shrine" (2016)
  • The 7th Seal EP (2020)

Compilation Albums

  • The Story of Death SS. 1977–1984 (Minotauro, 1987)
  • Horror Music (Lucifer Rising, 1996)
  • The Horned God of Witches (Lucifer Rising/Black Widow Records, 2004)
  • Steve Sylvester – Friends of Hell (Cursed Coven, 2006)
  • The Story of Death SS. 1977–1984 – Part Two (2008)
  • All the Colors of the Dark (2011)
  • Horror Music – Vol.2 – Singles, Outtakes & Rare Tracks – 1997-2007 (2014)
  • Rarities, Live & Outtakes – An Exclusive for the Cursed Coven (2019)
  • The Story of Death SS – Early Demos & Live Recordings 1977-1984 / The Horned God of the Witches (2019)
  • The Evil Singles – 1982 / 1997 (2020)
  • Special Eleventh (2022)
  • Horror Music Vol. 3 – B-Sides & Outtakes 2012-2022 (2023)
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AMG
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named slayer14
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