Lilitu

In 1995 vocalist/guitarist Derek Bonner launched Lilitu in Atlanta, Georgia. Repeated setbacks and near-dissolutions continued until keyboardist Adina Blasé, guitarist Jason Piona and drummer Evan Jones arrived near the close of the decade and finally stabilized the lineup. Drawing inspiration from Europe’s experimental melodic and gothic death metal acts instead of American counterparts, the quintet developed a modest yet devoted local audience through club shows. They then entered the studio with session bassist Jonathan Potter to track their debut album, The Earth Gods, in 1999. Although the record initially saw no domestic release, Germany’s Emerald Factory Records secured European rights, and widespread praise quickly earned Lilitu opening slots with Nevermore and the Kovenant. After Blasé and Jones exited the following summer, the band completed its independently funded second album, Memorial, by early 2001, enlisting bassist Chris Todd and drummer Corey Long while relying on session players for keyboards. More polished and better received than its predecessor, Memorial broadened Lilitu’s reach and opened doors in the United States as heavy metal experienced a tentative commercial revival. Additional touring and further sonic refinement followed until the group signed with top indie metal label The End Records and issued its third album, Delores Lesion, in 2004. Bassist Shane Bell joined the lineup shortly afterward.