Desaster
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 in Koblenz, Germany |
| Headquarters | Koblenz , Germany |
| Products | Black metal, thrash metal music |
Desaster is a German band specializing in black metal and thrash metal, originating from Koblenz in 1988. Their songwriting predominantly explores themes such as war, hatred, and Satanism.
History
Although Desaster was established in 1988, the band experienced several line-up changes until Infernal, the only founding member remaining, reformed the group by 1990. In 1992, Okkulto and Odin became part of the ensemble.
After issuing two demos—The Fog of Avalon and Lost in the Ages—which Alexander von Meilenwald considers crucial for the German metal scene, Merciless Records released their first vinyl record: a split 7" shared with Ungod in 1995. The following year saw the arrival of their debut album, A Touch of Medieval Darkness. Their 1997 mini-album Stormbringer introduced Tormentor as the new drummer.
In 1998, they issued a limited-edition picture single titled Ride on for Revenge, with one track also featured on the Thrashing Holocaust compilation released by Necropolis Records in 1999. Their sophomore album Hellfire's Dominion (1998) included guest vocal contributions from Wannes (Pentacle), Lemmy (Violent Force), and Toto (Living Death). By this time, Rock Hard magazine acknowledged Desaster as Germany’s foremost black metal band and a significant influence within the underground metal community. During these recording sessions, they also contributed "Proselytism Real" to the tribute album Homage to the Gods, honoring Sodom, which was part of the limited edition of Code Red.
To celebrate their tenth year as a band in 1999, Desaster released a double LP entitled Ten Years of Total Desaster. In 2000, they collaborated on a split 10-inch release with Dutch group Pentacle under Iron Pegasus Records and unveiled their third full-length album Tyrants of the Netherworld, featuring Beliar from Mayhemic Truth as a guest musician.
In 2001, Desaster recorded "Darkness and Evil" alongside Sabbat’s vocalist Gezol for a tribute LP produced in Brazil. After performing at various festivals including Fuck the Commerce and Wacken Open Air, vocalist Okkulto left the band and was succeeded by Sataniac from Divine Genocide. The Souls of Infernity 7-inch (2001) marked Okkulto’s final recording with Desaster. Their 2002 album Divine Blasphemies contained a cover of a Divine Genocide track and featured Mille Petrozza from Kreator as guest vocalist on "Nighthawk". A remarkable live show before an audience of approximately 900 in São Paulo was captured and later released as both a double LP/CD and DVD by Brazilian label Mutilation Records. Subsequently, Desaster signed with Metal Blade Records and issued their fifth studio album Angelwhore in 2005, which was also made available on vinyl via Iron Pegasus.
Following extensive tours throughout Europe and South America—including stops in Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia—the band released the Infernal Voices 12-inch single featuring fresh compositions alongside a cover version of Unleashed’s "Before the creation of time".
In May 2007, Desaster entered Harrows Studio in Holland—known for its work with Asphyx and Pentacle—to record their sixth studio album, Satan's Soldiers Syndicate. This release includes guest performances by Proscriptor (Absu), A.A. Nemtheanga (Primordial), and Ashmedi (Melechesh).
Musical style
Desaster's sound is heavily influenced by seminal acts such as Venom, Hellhammer, and Destruction; notably, their name is taken from Destruction's track "Total Desaster". They characterize their album Metalized Blood as a "speed metal anthem that breaks necks" and define their musical approach as relentless "thrashing, blackened riff metal," focusing on an unrefined and uncompromising sonic identity. According to Kühnemund, their music is "raw, gritty, sincere, heavy, and impactful." While often categorized under black metal, Desaster's roots are more firmly planted in traditional thrash metal, drawing inspiration from classic German thrash and preserving a "genuinely refreshing and straightforward" sound that sets them apart from bands transitioning from black to thrash metal. Tracks such as "Victim of My Force" and "Tyrants of the Netherworld" showcase their "primitive Teutonic thrash" style, whereas "Nekropolis Karthago" channels an intense "black metal fury." The addition of Sataniac on vocals intensified the band's sound, making it even more severe and uncompromising.
Current lineup
- Infernal – guitar (1988–1990, 1992–present)
- Odin – bass guitar (1992–present)
- Guido "Sataniac" Wissmann – lead vocals (2001–present)
- Hont – drums (2018–present)
Former members
- Creator Cassie – vocals and bass (1988–1990)
- Alexander Arz – drums (1988–1990)
- Okkulto – vocals (1992–2001)
- Luggi – drums (1992–1995)
- Tobias "Thorim" Moelich – drums (1995–1996)
- Tormentor – drums (1996–2018)
Discography
- The Fog of Avalon Kaizerslawten (demo, 1993)
- Lost in the Ages (demo, 1994)
- Ungod / Desaster (split release, 1995)
- A Touch of Medieval Darkness (1996)
- Stormbringer (EP, 1997)
- Ride on for Revenge (single, 1998)
- Hellfire's Dominion (1998)
- "Proselytism Real" featured on Code Red (1999)
- Ten Years of Total Desaster (compilation, 1999)
- Desaster in League with Pentacle (split album, 2000)
- Tyrants of the Netherworld (2000)
- Souls of Infernity (EP, 2001)
- Divine Blasphemies (2002)
- Live in Serbian Hell (live recording, 2003)
- Brazilian Blitzkrieg Blasphemies (live album, 2004)
- Angelwhore (2005)
- Invaders of Wrath (split release, 2005)
- Sabbatical Desasterminator (split album, 2005)
- Infernal Voices (EP, 2006)
- Satan's Soldiers Syndicate (2007)
- 20 Years of Total Desaster (boxed set, 2009)
- Anniversarius (split release, 2009)
- Zombie Ritual / Devil's Sword (EP, 2010)
- The Arts of Destruction (2012)
- The Oath of an Iron Ritual (2016)
- Churches Without Saints (2021)
- Kill All Idols (2025)