Biography
Deathstars emerged from Sweden as an industrial and goth-metal ensemble whose horror-laced songwriting pairs with ominous coordinated outfits and striking facial designs. The group first appeared in 2002 via Synthetic Generation, initially gaining traction at home before expanding globally with the 2009 album Night Electric Night, which registered on multiple international charts. Refinement of their death-glam approach continued across later releases The Perfect Cult in 2014 and Everything Destroys You in 2023.
The band originated in Stockholm during 2000 with an initial roster of vocalist Whiplasher Bernadotte, whose birth name is Andreas Bergh, guitarist and keyboardist Nightmare Industries, born Emil Nödtveidt, guitarist Cat Casino, born Eric Bäckman, bassist Skinny Disco, born Jonas Kangur, and drummer Bone W Machine, born Ole Öhman. Nightmare Industries and Bone W Machine had previously played together in the black metal act Swordmaster, established in 1993. Their first full-length, Synthetic Generation, arrived that same year on LED Recordings; after charting domestically it secured a contract with Nuclear Blast’s European arm, which issued the record worldwide in 2003. Termination Bliss followed in 2006 and again placed on the Swedish charts, prompting the band’s selection as support for cited influence Cradle of Filth during the black metal group’s European dates that year.
After Bone W Machine exited amicably in 2011—he was succeeded by Oscar “Vice” Leander—and Cat Casino departed in 2013, Deathstars completed The Perfect Cult, issued in 2014 and marked by a heavier reliance on synthesizers within its hard-rocking goth-metal anthems. Vice himself stepped away in 2017, clearing the path for Nitro on drums; Cat Casino rejoined soon afterward as work began on a fifth album originally targeted for 2020. Pandemic disruptions postponed the project until 2023, creating the longest interval between Deathstars records, yet the resulting Everything Destroys You still reached the German and Swiss charts.
The band originated in Stockholm during 2000 with an initial roster of vocalist Whiplasher Bernadotte, whose birth name is Andreas Bergh, guitarist and keyboardist Nightmare Industries, born Emil Nödtveidt, guitarist Cat Casino, born Eric Bäckman, bassist Skinny Disco, born Jonas Kangur, and drummer Bone W Machine, born Ole Öhman. Nightmare Industries and Bone W Machine had previously played together in the black metal act Swordmaster, established in 1993. Their first full-length, Synthetic Generation, arrived that same year on LED Recordings; after charting domestically it secured a contract with Nuclear Blast’s European arm, which issued the record worldwide in 2003. Termination Bliss followed in 2006 and again placed on the Swedish charts, prompting the band’s selection as support for cited influence Cradle of Filth during the black metal group’s European dates that year.
After Bone W Machine exited amicably in 2011—he was succeeded by Oscar “Vice” Leander—and Cat Casino departed in 2013, Deathstars completed The Perfect Cult, issued in 2014 and marked by a heavier reliance on synthesizers within its hard-rocking goth-metal anthems. Vice himself stepped away in 2017, clearing the path for Nitro on drums; Cat Casino rejoined soon afterward as work began on a fifth album originally targeted for 2020. Pandemic disruptions postponed the project until 2023, creating the longest interval between Deathstars records, yet the resulting Everything Destroys You still reached the German and Swiss charts.
Albums
