In the begining...
The Meads of Asphodel was a project conceived by Metatron in 1998 who envisaged a unique myriad of colliding musical styles tethered to a Black Metal spine.
A collaboration with UK underground band, Ewigkiet or more directly with songsmith, J Fogarty [Jaldaboath], enabled the conception of the Meads to become a reality, to follow no trend, to blindly go wherever the muse takes us
Under the guidance of Metatron’s vision, and Jaldaboath’s skills with Guitars, Bass, Keyboards and Drums enabled the first demo’ The Bemoaning of Metatron’ was unleashed on cassette.
The demo was well received in the underground, and more surprisingly gained positive press in mainstream publications like Kerrang! And Terrorizer. It was from this first glimpse of the band’s music that Supernal Music began initial interest in the band. The band sold in excess of 800 tapes via trading and sales though magazines and zines.
The second demo ‘Metatron and the Red Gleaming Serpent’ was released in 1999, [on cassette]and featured the first of the bands epic tracks, the ten minute ‘Death and Darkness’. The music was more medieval influenced and the arrangements more complex.
The third and final demo ‘The Watchers of Catal Huyuk’ appeared in late 1999, [on cassette] and was voted demo of the month in Kerrang!, as well as receiving blazing reviews in the underground and beyond. Like the prevous demo’s the band sold numerous copies.
The ‘Watchers of Catal Huyuk’ demo exhibited the sound the band would elaborate on the debut album ‘The Excommunication of Christ, released on Supernal Music in 2000. The narration/ intro was voiced by AC Wild or cult Eighties Italian Black Metal band Bulldozer. Here began the bands long association with Hawkwind, as Huw Lloyd Langton played lead guitar on two tracks, including a cover of Hawkwind ‘Assault and Battery’. The album was recorded at Mill Hill studios in London.
The cult Ukrainian band Drudkh were also signed to Supernal Music, and this was a quirk of fate that in 15 years time, vocalist, Thurios would collaborate on Metatron’s pagan band, Wolves of Avalon.
Whilst musically the Meads veered away from the icy monotone fuzz blasts of what could be cited as traditional Black Metal music, lyrically the band were, and are a Black Metal band, albeit doing it their way.
Muses
Metatron’s lyrics delve into the myth of the Man-God Christ and drags verse upon verse from the hypocrisy of the Roman Church and the Christian myth. The biblical themes and non-canonical themes are also explored and the truth revealed. The genocide impulse of humanity are also a very important part of the band lyrics. Islam is also a focal point as a magnet for ignorance today, just like Christianity was 500 years ago. A cancer on the evolution of human kind, albeit necessary.
Expansion of the Meads
In early 2002 the track ‘Christ’s Descent into Hell’ was featured on the Godreah Records release ‘Britannia Infernus’ a history of British Occult/ Black Metal. This release featured UK bands, Black Sabbath, Angel Witch, Widow, Hell, Cradle of Filth, Bal Sagoth and many more.
In 2002 the Jihad three track promo was submitted to Supernal Music. The Middle Eastern melodies had increased considerably and Jaldaboath utilized more samples to layer the atmosphere with menace. The concept was fashioned around the Sept 11th atrocity. Supernal Music coupled these tracks with two Mayhem tracks [with Dead on vocals] and released the split 10″ vinyl [limited to 666]
The release was later issued on cd with the Meads contributing two extra tracks, [a demo version of Hawkwinds ‘Assassins of Allah] and an instrumental. The cd appeared in Kerrang! And was single of the month
The Excommunication of Jaldaboath
The Meads of Asphodel began to forge the next album , but Metatron’s preference of a return to the more basic tenants of the debut album began to cause conflict with Jaldaboath, who was also not content with Supernals Music’s lack of promotion for the Jihad release. With communication between Metatron and Jaldaboath severed, the band seemed doomed to flounder without its founding partner.
The Rise of the Meads
Metatron was back to the beginning, alone but not diminished in spirit, nor the profound belief in the Meads of Asphodel.
It wasn’t long before Metatron contacted J.D Tait, a master musician with a wealth of ideas, who would bring a fresh more dynamic sound to the band and continue the vision of the band to the present day.
After bringing on-board drummer Urakbaramel, J.D Tait forged the material for the second album, 'Exhuming the Grave of Yeshua’. The album was released in 2003 and featured, Guest musicians, Huw Loyd Langton and Alan Davey [Hawkwind], Deorth [Ragnarok UK], Mirai [Sigh] and Paul Carter [Thus Defiled]. The album was released to great reviews, album of the month in Terrorizer.
The Calm Before the Storm
Metatron narrates a few words for the next Sigh album in 2003, and the band appear on the Godreah Records release, Daze of the Underground, Hawkwind Tribute album, with the track, Sword of the East [with Alan Davey and Huw Lloyd Langton] The album also featured, Amorphis, Acid King, Bedouin, Tim Blake, Huw Lloyd Langton, and other space rock bands from across the globe.
The line up of Metatron, J.D Tait, Urakbarameel, Lee Cornell and Alan Davey formed the core of the band who released the ‘Mill Hill Sessions’ album on Godreah Records in 2004. This release also featured, Huw Lloyd Langton. Consisting of a live session recorded for Total Rock in Oct 2003 and a 23 minute studio jam recorded in July 2004.
Jan 2004/ Mirai works on the keyboards for a 3 track demo of doom orientated music that takes parts of Sabbath and The Doors to a new twist. [This demo later appeared on the re-issue of the Planet Genocide album]
2005
During late 2004/ early 2005 the band crafted the ‘Damascus Steel’ album with input from Mirai [Sigh], Max Rael [History of Guns], and new associate, Alisa Coral from Russian Space rock band ‘Space Mirrors’.
The albums concept concerns the evil in human kind and the wanton slaughter in the name of God or whatever reason. The album is a return to the Jihad aesthetics. A cover of Louis Armstrong’s ‘Wonderful World’ and Hawkwinds ‘Sword of the East’ are recorded, plus a new version of the demo track ‘Death and Darkness’, re-named ‘beyond Death and Darkness. The additional use of violinists, cellists, a trumpet player, sitar and tamba players, female vocalists, makes this the, most organic and involved Meads album ever conceived.
Metatron works on the lyrical soul of the bands fourth album ‘The Murder of Jesus the Jew. The last moments of the Christian Christ as it would have been though the eyes of history, not myth.
J.D Tait & Urakbaramel form the project, Worms of Sabnock, and release the album, 'Dark Harmonies' 2006, via Firestorm Records & 'Nature's Whore' EP 2012 via Diptera Records before dissolving the band.
2006
In the Name of God Welcome to Planet Genocide, is released with a brutal concept of what the title suggests. The cover art was by long time friend, Nihil from Mordgrimm Records. This mcd is regarded as one of the bands finest works.
2007
Life is Shit, vinyl 7” Ep, was released with 3 punk covers, from bands, Stiff Little Fingers, The Ruts, and the Stranglers. Ruts guitarist Paul Fox was a guest on this E.P, and sadly passed away shortly after.
2008 - 09
J.D. Tait starts Black Metal solo project Baphomet's Cunt & forms avent-garde Black Metal project Ebonillumini with vocalist Christina Poupoutsi.
A year later J.D. Tait also joins her psychedelic rock group The Higher Craft.
Godreah Records release ‘The Early Years’ cd, a collection of demo tracks and obscure recordings of the Jaldaboath era.
2010
A split with fellow UK band, Old Corpse Road appeared, The Meads put on 5 covers of UK Punk/ crust bands, Doom, Skeptics, Discharge, Hellbastard, and finish with a lazy bleak version of, The Kinks, You Really Got Me
In 2010, The band Signed to Candlelight Records
The Murder of Jesus the Jew, album also appeared & released in 2010, after many years of research and the basis of the lyrics are in the Metatron Codex that was written whilst unravelling the story of Jesus the Jew.
The codex is an extensive work on the historical and theological Jew known to most of us as Jesus. The codex was written to absorb much of the racial bemoaners who have accused the Meads of having right wing tendencies. Fuck them.
This album featured, Hoest [Taake], Mirai [Sigh], Vincent Crowley [Acheron], The vinyl version contains an exclusive track, ‘If God Could Talk What Would He Say?’
2011
Godreah Records release the Swine of Hades, 5 way split, mcd with, Evo/ Algy [from classic UK bands Warfare and Tank], Taake, Sigh, and Thus Defiled.
This was a between albums release featured a new track, ‘There’s a God in my Gruel’.
At this time drummer Urakbaramel decided to leave the band for pastures new.
2012
Having joined J.D. Tait's other projects Ebonillumini & The Higher Craft in 2011/12 André Kjelbergvik Thung is installed as the new Meads drummer. making his debut on the Godreah release 'The Voices of Valhalla', Bathory tribute, album, that featured the likes of, Skyforger, Nokturnal Mortum, Sigh, Old Corpse Road, Eastern Front, amongst many others. The Meads add a cover of 'Destroyer of Worlds',
2013 - Sonderkommando
Fallen Angel Productions release a limited 6 cassette wooden box set of the bands back catalogue. There were only 50 copies made.
The Holocaust inspired, Sonderkommando was released via Candlelight Records.
Metatron travelled to Auschwitz Poland to write the lyrics on the camp site itself and spends 3 days wandering around the site, sitting amongst the ruins and writing on the feelings that he felt. The London Jewish Chronicle interviewed Metatron about this release and once again cemented his anti racial credentials, as this album to the ignorant came come across [like the Jesus the Jew album prior] as an extremely toxic and seemingly right wing album due to its song titles and lyrical content.
This album is a stark, brutal historical window into the Holocaust and all the cruelty therein; a cruelty of human making that was around before and is certainly around now, so no change there. This album featured, Mirai [Sigh], Rob Miller [Amebix], and members from Gods Tower, and Mael Mordha.
With the digital age now taking its toll on labels and the general sale of the physical cd, the Meads amicably part ways with Candlelight. With indie labels not giving out advances anymore, it is more beneficial for bands to go it alone or seek the support of more dedicated labels.
2014
A tribute to Desaster cd released via Grom Records. The Meads cover ‘Castle Land’. The release also featured, Evil, Triumphant, Nocturnal, Terrorhammer, Invocation, Bloodthirst, and many others.
2015
split 12″ vinyl from The Meads of Asphodel and US, band, Tjolgtjar
Meads put out 5 new tracks, including a cover version of the track; You’ve Got The Love, with different lyrics.
Azermedoth Records released a Meads covers cd, with 4 bonus tracks.
2016
Sixsixsix Music released a digital only retrospective ‘ The Middle Ages’, that featured some obscure and popular tracks from the J.D Tait era of the band’s music.
2017
The Meads release a split cd with fellow UK band Forefather, and put out the tracks that appeared on the spit with Trolgtjar on cd for the first time with 2 new punk covers and a new version of, You Got The Hate.
The band add an exclusive track ‘The Stone that Killed Goliath’ to Shona Banda’s ~ Live Free or Die: – Digital Global Music Album
2018
The split release ‘Imperial East-West Onslaught with Chinese band Rethro appeared featuring 4 non album tracks from the same writing sessions as new LP ‘Running Out of Time Doing Nothing’. A limited edition cassette tape of the Meads half of the split was also released to celebrate the bands 20th anniversary.
2019
The band will release their sixth studio album 'Running Out of Time Doing Nothing' on the 21/06/2019