Biography
Sweden's Nonexist traces its roots to 2000, when Arch Enemy vocalist Johan Liiva, previously of Carnage and Furbowl, left the group after Burning Bridges to launch his own metal project. He recruited Andromeda guitarist Johan Reinholdz to anchor the creative partnership. Reinholdz and Liiva began composing material for the debut album, then added drummer Matte Modin, whose résumé already included work with Defleshed and Dark Funeral, to round out the recording unit. Reinholdz's instrumental versatility eliminated the need for a separate bassist, allowing him to cover both guitar and bass in the studio. The band tracked Deus Deceptor at New Hawen records (Century Media for North America) with producer Tommy Tägtgren, whose credits encompass Marduk, the Forsaken, Skyfire, and Electric Hellfire Club; the album appeared worldwide in May 2002. Reinholdz supplies the record's most striking element through his progressive death-metal riffs and arrangements, especially on its two instrumental tracks. Liiva and Modin deliver capable performances, yet Reinholdz stands out most clearly. The riffs rank among the strongest examples of twenty-first-century melodic death metal, and Tägtgren achieves some of his finest sonic results, although the music ultimately fell short of the levels reached by Andromeda and Arch Enemy, a shortfall attributed to the members' limited experience operating as a single unit. Their collective talent remained obvious, prompting Swedish metal followers to watch closely for any news of the band's next steps. Reinholdz and Modin maintained outside commitments, while Liiva's parallel project Hearse threatened to pull his attention from the more promising Nonexist. Arch Enemy fans and reviewers responded favorably but without intense excitement, and the lack of a touring lineup, together with scheduling demands on all three musicians, kept the group from investing the resources needed to reach its potential. Throughout 2002, rumors circulated about adding a bassist—Liiva had played the instrument in Arch Enemy but declined the role here—and a second guitarist, yet no expanded configuration was assembled during spring or summer.
Albums