Sabbat (English band)

Sabbat

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1985 in Nottingham, England
Founder	Martin Walkyier, Frazer Craske, Andy Sneap
Defunct	2014
Headquarters	Nottingham , England, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, Europe, international tours
Key people	Martin Walkyier (vocalist), Andy Sneap (guitarist), Simon Jones (guitarist), Frazer Craske (bassist), Simon Negus (drummer)
Products	Albums, demo tapes, singles, live VHS
Number of employees	5 (members)

Sabbat was a thrash metal group from Nottingham, England, consisting of vocalist Martin Walkyier, guitarists Andy Sneap and Simon Jones, bassist Frazer Craske, and drummer Simon Negus. They are widely regarded as part of the "big four" within the British thrash metal movement, alongside Acid Reign, Onslaught, and Xentrix. Their contributions were instrumental in defining the UK’s thrash metal sound during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Over their initial six-year run, Sabbat produced three full-length albums, four demo tapes, two split singles or compilation records, a pair of singles, and a live VHS release. Their debut album, History of a Time to Come (1988), significantly raised their profile, followed by the well-received Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays) in 1989. After launching Mourning Has Broken in 1991, internal disputes—largely centered on financial matters—resulted in the band’s breakup. Although there was an attempted reunion in 2001, it was prevented by Sneap. However, the original members reunited in 2006 for five performances across England, including a warm-up show in Nottingham and four gigs supporting Cradle of Filth. Despite subsequent international tours, no new recordings emerged. In a January 2014 interview with Decibel, Sneap confirmed that Sabbat had disbanded once more.

Formation and early years (1985–1986)

The band’s origins trace back to June 1985 when they formed under the name Hydra. This lineup featured future Sabbat frontman Martin Walkyier, bassist Frazer Craske, and guitarist Andy Sneap. Changes soon followed with drummer Simon Negus replacing Mark Daley and original guitarist Adam Ferman departing, prompting the group to adopt the name Sabbat.

Andy Sneap recalled:

"Back in ’84/’85, Martin and Frazer had a band called Hydra. Frazer had already printed some two-color shirts and even had a car! I met Frazer at a local Hell show in Long Eaton and joined as a second guitarist. After I came on board, the original guitarist left and then the drummer quit after our first demo—Tim Bowler from Hell introduced us to Simon Negus. The name Sabbat came from a book about witchcraft; we liked how it looked written in a scrawly style. John Blanche painted our first cover art, so everything just fell into place easily, although it sounds pretty rough now."

Following nearly a year of practice sessions, they put out the demo Fragments of a Faith Forgotten. This recording quickly attracted attention from multiple record labels and earned them a two-page feature in Kerrang! magazine.

Sneap further explained:

"Martin and Frazer were fans of Venom, while I was into Mercyful Fate and Slayer. When we made Fragments, Frazer had videos from Venom, Exodus, and Slayer—we knew that’s the direction we wanted." "We recorded Fragments of a Faith Forgotten using a simple four-track recorder over two afternoons without much planning. From that demo came our deal with Noise Records, coverage in Kerrang!, and a session on Radio One. Things escalated quickly—after that radio session, the label’s interest intensified leading to our Kerrang! cover story."

After releasing a Warhammer-themed flexi-disc included with an issue of White Dwarf, Sabbat secured a contract with German label Noise Records around mid-1987. The signing process was delayed because Sneap was still underage at that time.

Expanded acclaim (1987–1990)

In September 1987, the group laid down tracks for their first full-length album, History of a Time to Come (1988), in Hanover, Germany. This release drew considerable attention from the press due to its unique lyrical approach, setting it apart from the dominant "Big 4" metal style prevalent during the 1980s.

Their sophomore effort, Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays) (1989), was a thematic concept record influenced by Brian Bates' work The Way of Wyrd. The album conveyed Walkyier’s spiritual perspectives rooted in Wyrdism, Anglo-Saxon traditions, Celtic mysticism, and pagan beliefs.

Fraser Craske described the rationale behind recruiting a second guitarist following their European tour:

“Richard Scott accompanied us on tour to enrich our sound, which was very effective. Since Richard declined a permanent role, we sought another guitarist to enhance our musical depth.”

Simon Jones, known as "Jack Hammer," joined during the production of Dreamweaver as both rhythm and lead guitarist. Previously part of Holosade, his addition significantly bolstered the guitar dynamics alongside Andy Sneap’s playing.

Dissolution period (1991–2000)

Despite an expanding fan base and strong merchandise sales, internal disputes—primarily financial—intensified. Ineffective management and a disengaged label (Noise) worsened these challenges. Martin Walkyier commented:

“We signed with Noise despite cautions since bands like Celtic Frost, Helloween, and Kreator were on their roster. They granted us artistic freedom mainly because they paid little attention.”

The band nearly disbanded during the creation of Dreamweaver but ultimately persevered to finish the album. Andy Sneap later reflected that he and Walkyier managed to collaborate without disagreements over finances or creative direction.

Walkyier addressed misunderstandings regarding his exit:

“My departure wasn’t due to pagan-themed lyrics—we all embraced that interest. The true conflict arose because the music grew more intricate; Andy composed lengthy epics that were difficult for me to pen lyrics for. I wished to introduce elements like violins, which didn’t align with Sabbat’s style.”

In late 2006, Walkyier disclosed that Sabbat faced severe financial hardship in 1989, with him depending on welfare benefits amid escalating song complexity causing internal friction.

He further explained:

“The issues within Sabbat extended beyond just Andy and me; they involved management and labels—we sold many records yet never saw financial returns.”

During the 1989 UK tour supporting Dreamweaver, guitarist Simon Jones abruptly quit; the band completed their Sheffield University performance with Sneap handling guitar duties alone. Jones later expressed remorse for his sudden departure.

Neil Watson stepped in as Jones’ replacement with only two weeks to master the setlist and appears in the live recording The End of the Beginning. Walkyier and Craske exited in 1990; Walkyier went on to establish Skyclad, while Craske left the music scene entirely. Sneap and Simon Negus restructured Sabbat’s lineup by bringing in Richie Desmond on vocals and Wayne Banks on bass.

The 1991 album Mourning Has Broken was met with negative feedback from both fans and critics alike. Following a final show in Derby, Sabbat disbanded.

Andy Sneap later remarked:

“I avoid listening to Mourning Has Broken. Although the guitar work is commendable, it sounds hastily assembled and doesn’t deserve the Sabbat name.”

After the breakup, Simon Negus joined Glory Boys; Sneap and Banks formed Godsend. Andy Sneap has since become a Grammy-winning producer, overseeing more than 100 albums at Backstage Recording studios in Derbyshire.

Unofficial reunion (2001–2003)

In 2001, Martin Walkyier sought to revive Sabbat alongside Fraser Craske and Simon Jones; however, Andy Sneap obstructed this effort, citing legal rights to the band's name and unresolved financial matters from former members.

Between 2001 and 2003, Walkyier, Jones, and Craske performed under the name Return to the Sabbat, joined by Jay Graham, drummer of Skyclad. Following Simon Jones's departure, Andy Newby stepped in as his replacement. During this period, the group played at events such as Bloodstock festival and a London show before ultimately disbanding.

Official reunion (2006–2011)

Sabbat officially reassembled in 2006 with the lineup from their Dreamweaver era to open for Cradle of Filth on a UK tour. Their first concert together since 1989 took place in Nottingham on 16 December 2006 as a warmup performance, earning positive reviews from both media and fans. Alongside this reunion, they announced remastered editions of their initial two albums featuring additional bonus tracks.

The band appeared at various festivals including Keep It True in Germany (April 2007) and Day of Darkness in Ireland (July 2007). Frazer Craske departed once more due to personal reasons and was succeeded by Gizz Butt, who brought renewed energy to the group.

Simon Jones commented that the reunion was intended primarily for enjoyment without any long-term commitments. On 27 February 2007, Sabbat reissued remastered versions of History of a Time to Come and Dreamweaver, both enhanced with bonus material; however, their last album, Mourning Has Broken (1991), was not part of this re-release.

The band entered a hiatus in 2010 and eventually dissolved permanently following public disagreements between Martin Walkyier and Andy Sneap. In a 2014 interview, Sneap confirmed the band's conclusion, partially attributing it to their ongoing conflict.

Subsequently, Sneap expressed satisfaction focusing on his project Hell and acknowledged that it was best for both him and Walkyier to follow separate directions. In February 2018, Sneap began touring with Judas Priest as a substitute guitarist for Glenn Tipton, who was unable to perform due to Parkinson's disease.

Musical style and lyrics

Sabbat initially received labels such as "thrash" and "satanic" within the metal scene of the Midlands. Fraser Craske clarified their stance: "We are not Satanists; it is more about theatricality. Our interests lie in religion and philosophy, which naturally influences our songwriting." Early compositions predominantly featured Satanic or occult themes; nonetheless, Walkyier regarded Satanism more as a form of rebellion against conventional Christianity rather than literal devil worship. He described Satan as a "bogeyman created by Christians" and concentrated on exploring ancient European spiritual traditions that informed his worldview.

The late Dave G. Halliday, vocalist and guitarist of Derbyshire's Hell, significantly inspired Sabbat’s sound. Andy Sneap openly acknowledged this impact:

"Hell has been a major influence on us, and we are proud to admit it," Andy remarked. "Their singer even taught me guitar! While we don’t aim to imitate Hell directly, they were an exceptional band whose lack of recognition remains puzzling. Recently, we performed a charity concert honoring Hell’s guitarist Dave Halliday, with proceeds benefiting Cancer Research."

Martin Walkyier honored Halliday’s memory in the 2006 release by The Clan Destined titled In the Big Ending:

"These tracks are dedicated to Dave G Halliday’s legacy—a visionary far ahead of his time who sadly never witnessed the profound positive effect he had on the global Metal community. As long as I breathe, you will never be forgotten."

Final line-up members

• Martin Walkyier – lead vocals (1985–1990, 2006–2011) (formerly of Skyclad, The Clan Destined)
• Andy Sneap – guitarist (1985–1991, 2006–2011) (Godsend, previously with Fozzy, Judas Priest)
• Simon Jones – guitarist (1989, 2006–2011) (formerly associated with Phantom, Holosade)
• Gizz Butt – bassist (2007–2011) (The Prodigy, English Dogs)
• Simon Negus – drummer (1985–1991, 2006–2011) (Fallen Angel!, Striptease)

Former members

• Fraser Craske – bass guitar (1985–1990, 2006–2007)
• Neil Watson – rhythm guitarist (1990–1991)
• Wayne Banks – bass player (1990–1991) (Blaze, Messiah's Kiss, Godsend)
• Richie Desmond – vocalist (1990–1991)
• Richard Scott – rhythm guitarist (1988, live performances only) (No Excuses)

Albums

• History of a Time to Come (1988)
• Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays) (1989)
• Mourning Has Broken (1991)

Singles

• Blood for the Blood God (1987)
• Wildfire/The Best of Enemies (1989)

Split singles and compilations

• A Cautionary Tale/And the Brave Man Fails (split release with Vendetta) (1988)
• Doomsday News III – Thrashing East Live (Live album) (1990)

Demos

• Magic in Practice and Theory (1985)
• BBC Sessions (1986)
• Fragments of a Faith Forgotten (1987)
• Stranger Than Fiction (1987)

Video

• The End of the Beginning VHS (1990)
• Keep It True 8 DVD (2008)