Biography
Babylon Whores chose to label their own sound "death rock," a designation that proved fitting rather than forced. Drawing from Glenn Danzig’s post-Misfits project Samhain, the writings of Aleister Crowley, and broader occult themes, vocalist Ike Vil and guitarist Ewo Meichem formed the group in Helsinki, Finland, with the explicit goal of “Raise Hell, or lower the heavens at least.” They first added guitarist Jussi Kottinen and drummer Pete Liha to cut the Devil’s Meat 7" for their independent Sugar Cult imprint, issuing one hundred copies packaged with a bag of dog meat and two hundred without. Bassist Jake Babylon joined before the 1995 release of the Sloane 313 mini-CD. Kottinen and Liha later gave way to guitarist Antti Litmanen and drummer Kouta, and this revised lineup tracked the 1996 mini-CD Trismegistos.
The band’s 1997 debut album Cold Heaven, issued by the British label Misanthropy Records, finally carried Babylon Whores beyond Finland. Against the prevailing Scandinavian wave of rapid-fire black metal acts waving reflexive Satanic banners, the record presented a dense, goth-inflected traditional rock & roll approach built around Vil’s clean melodic tenor and meticulously researched lyrics steeped in occult mythology, magick, alchemy, and assorted dark, mystical subjects. The group produced a rudimentary video for “In Arcadia Ego,” performed across Central Europe, and earned notice from the U.K. extreme-metal publication Terrorizer. The 1998 Deggael EP followed on Misanthropy; after the band’s association with that label dissolved, Helsinki’s Spinefarm Records licensed the material. Liha returned in time for several Finnish and European tours.
California’s Necropolis Records signed Babylon Whores for their second full-length, King Fear—their first official release outside Europe. Meichem exited during the sessions, with Antti Lindell stepping in temporarily for live dates, while Jake Babylon departed shortly before the album’s release and was succeeded by bassist Daniel Stuka. Conceived chiefly by Vil and Litmanen, King Fear expanded the band’s erudite, eccentric outlook and featured Hawkwind’s Nik Turner on flute for two tracks. Momentum built through the U.S.-issued CD single Errata Stigmata, videos for “Errata Stigmata” and “Sol Niger,” a slot at the 2000 Milwaukee Metalfest, and a North American tour supporting King Diamond. Recording for a third album began in September 2001.
The band’s 1997 debut album Cold Heaven, issued by the British label Misanthropy Records, finally carried Babylon Whores beyond Finland. Against the prevailing Scandinavian wave of rapid-fire black metal acts waving reflexive Satanic banners, the record presented a dense, goth-inflected traditional rock & roll approach built around Vil’s clean melodic tenor and meticulously researched lyrics steeped in occult mythology, magick, alchemy, and assorted dark, mystical subjects. The group produced a rudimentary video for “In Arcadia Ego,” performed across Central Europe, and earned notice from the U.K. extreme-metal publication Terrorizer. The 1998 Deggael EP followed on Misanthropy; after the band’s association with that label dissolved, Helsinki’s Spinefarm Records licensed the material. Liha returned in time for several Finnish and European tours.
California’s Necropolis Records signed Babylon Whores for their second full-length, King Fear—their first official release outside Europe. Meichem exited during the sessions, with Antti Lindell stepping in temporarily for live dates, while Jake Babylon departed shortly before the album’s release and was succeeded by bassist Daniel Stuka. Conceived chiefly by Vil and Litmanen, King Fear expanded the band’s erudite, eccentric outlook and featured Hawkwind’s Nik Turner on flute for two tracks. Momentum built through the U.S.-issued CD single Errata Stigmata, videos for “Errata Stigmata” and “Sol Niger,” a slot at the 2000 Milwaukee Metalfest, and a North American tour supporting King Diamond. Recording for a third album began in September 2001.
Albums
