Tormentor (band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Budapest, Hungary |
| Headquarters | Budapest , Hungary |
| Products | Black metal music |
Tormentor is a black metal group originating from Hungary, established in 1986 in the city of Budapest. Their first full-length record, Anno Domini (1988), was issued only after the collapse of communist governance in Hungary and achieved global recognition through the underground tape exchange community.
History
Following the death by suicide of Per Ohlin, the band Mayhem enlisted Tormentor's frontman Attila Csihar to contribute vocals on the album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Tormentor ceased activities in 1991 but later regrouped to produce the avant-garde album Recipe Ferrum under Avantgarde Music in 2001 before entering a prolonged period of inactivity.
Reunion
In 2017, the band reassembled featuring their original 1988 roster: Csihar (vocals), Tamás Buday and Attila Szigeti (guitars), György Farkas (bass), and Machat St. Zsoltar (drums). They held a notable comeback concert in Budapest on 21 April 2018, which was followed by performances at prominent European festivals such as Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic and Beyond the Gates in Norway, along with appearances in France and Canada.
Their record label, Saturnus Productions, has re-released both Anno Domini and the demo The Seventh Day of Doom on CD and vinyl formats, further solidifying their influential position within the black metal scene.
Musical style
J. Andrew from Metal Injection highlighted that given Tormentor's geographic and political isolation in Hungary circa 1989, the international success of Anno Domini exemplifies the power of the dynamic tape-trading networks that connected fans across the Iron Curtain.
Current lineup
- Attila Csihar – vocals (1985–1991, 1999–?, 2017–present), guitar (1989)
- Attila Szigeti – guitars (1985–1991, 2017–present), keyboards (1989)
- György Farkas – bass guitar (1987–1991, 2017–present)
- Machat St. Zsoltar Motolla – drums (1988–1991, 1999–?, 2017–present), keyboards (2000)
Former members
- Lajos Fazekas – bass guitar (1985–1987)
- Márton Dubecz – drums (1985–1987)
- Mugambi Zolduns Bwana – lead guitar (1999–?)
- Zénó Galóca – bass guitar (1999–?)
- Tamás Buday – guitars (1985–1988, 2017–2020)
Live members
- Charles Hedger – guitar (2020–present)
Discography
- The Seventh Day of Doom (demo, 1987)
- Anno Domini (studio album, 1988; remastered edition, 2005)
- Black and Speed Metál (split release, 1989)
- Live in Hell (live recording, 1999)
- Live in Damnation (EP, 2000)
- The Sick Years (live album, 2000)
- Recipe Ferrum (studio album, 2001)