Book Of Black Earth

Book of Black Earth formed in Seattle, Washington, during 2003. From the outset the group rejected the lingering grunge heritage of their hometown by pursuing a ferocious yet singular strain of death metal, distinguished by the near-unique presence of a permanent keyboardist. Their earliest recordings comprised a self-titled demo issued in 2004 and a split EP with Fall of the Bastards the following year. The lineup at that stage featured vocalist/guitarist T.J. Cowgill and keyboardist Hank Gutherie—both formerly of Teen Cthulu—alongside drummer Joe Axler, bassist Larry Perrigo, and second guitarist Rebekah Dunbar, allowing the band to gain swift recognition throughout the extreme metal underground.

Larry Perrigo departed in 2004, replaced on bass and vocals by Dav Tafoya-Garcia, while Rebekah Dunbar stepped aside two years later in favor of guitarist/vocalist Tony Lombardi. These personnel adjustments did not prevent the group from tracking its debut mini-album, The Feast, in 2006. Shortly afterward the band signed with Prosthetic Records, which issued the first full-length, Horoskopus, a concept album exploring hidden astrological forces operating within the Catholic church.