Thanatos (band)

Thanatos

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1984
Headquarters	Rotterdam , Netherlands
Products	Death/thrash metal music, studio albums, live albums, EPs, compilations

Thanatos is a death/thrash metal group originating from Rotterdam, Netherlands, established in 1984. Their discography includes seven studio albums.

History

Recognized as the Netherlands' longest-standing death metal act, Thanatos garnered acclaim for their sophomore release, Realm of Ecstasy, praised by Dutch publication Oor and international critics alike for its intricate arrangements and strong songwriting. Despite this success, the band encountered numerous lineup shifts alongside challenges related to distribution, promotion, and album rights. These difficulties culminated in their breakup in 1992 after a planned tour with Cannibal Corpse and Exhorder was canceled.

Founder Stephan Gebédi resurrected Thanatos in 1999, securing a deal with Hammerheart Records. The label reissued their initial two albums, supplemented with demo and live recordings, before the band unveiled their third album, Angelic Encounters, in 2000. A 2002 mini-CD release combined original tracks with covers from Celtic Frost and Possessed. Subsequent tours included performances in Greece and alongside Pungent Stench. Their fourth album, Undead. Unholy. Divine, showcased a revival of classic 1980s metal influences enhanced by blast beat drumming.

The band's fifth studio effort, Justified Genocide, faced delays due to the insolvency of Black Lotus Records; mixing duties were handled by Dan Swano. To commemorate over twenty years of Dutch death metal heritage, Thanatos issued a limited box set through China's AreaDeath Productions featuring their early albums enriched with extensive bonus content.

In early 2009, information about Justified Genocide surfaced ahead of its European release in March and UK/Ireland launch in April. By 2012, Century Media Records signed Thanatos with plans to reissue their five studio albums but ultimately extended a new recording contract instead. This partnership resulted in the 2014 album Global Purification, coinciding with the band's 30th anniversary.

Celebrating 35 years in 2019, Thanatos released a double-CD compilation, a 7-inch vinyl EP, and hosted a special concert in Rotterdam featuring past members. Later that year, they joined French label Listenable Records and recorded their seventh studio album, Violent Death Rituals, which was released in March 2020.

Current

• Stephan Gebédi – vocals, guitar (1984–1992, 1999–present)
• Paul Baayens – guitar (1999–present)
• Mous Mirer – bass (2019–present)
• Martin Ooms – drums (2017–present)

Former

• Marcel van Arnhem – drums (1984–1985)
• Remco de Maaijer – guitar (1984–1985)
• André Scherpenberg – bass (1986–1987)
• Rob de Bruin – drums (1986)
• Remo van Arnhem – drums (1986–1992)
• Erwin de Brouwer – bass (1987), guitar (1988–1992)
• Mark Staffhorst – guitar (1987–1988)
• Ed Boeser – bass (1988–1992)
• Theo van Eekelen – bass (1999–2001)
• Aad Kloosterwaard – drums (1999–2001)
• Marco de Groot – drums (2009–2012)
• Yuri Rinkel – drums (2001–2009, 2013–2017)
• Marco de Bruin – bass, guitar (2001–2019)

Timeline

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Demos

• Speed Kills (1984)
• Rebirth (1986)
• The Day Before Tomorrow (1987)
• Official Live Tape 1987 (1987)
• Omnicoitor (1989)

Studio albums

• Emerging from the Netherworlds (1990)
• Realm of Ecstasy (1992)
• Angelic Encounters (2000)
• Undead. Unholy. Divine. (2004)
• Justified Genocide (2009)
• Global Purification (2014)
• Violent Death Rituals (2020)

Live album

• Official Live Tape 1987 (reissued on CD in 2011)

Compilation albums

• Thanatology: Terror from the Vault (2019)
• Four Decades of Death (2024)

EPs

• Beyond Terror (2002)
• The Burning of Sodom/...And Jesus Wept (2006)
• Thanatos/Asphyx 7-inch split EP; Thanatos performing Re-animation (Sacrifice cover), Asphyx delivering Bestial Vomit (Majesty cover) (2011)
• Blind Obedience/Thanatos (2019)