The Forsaken

Exponents of what became known as the Gothenburg sound—a fusion of death-metal weight with melodic lines and memorable guitar figures—the Forsaken traced a path laid down by the city’s early standard-bearers At the Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquility. The band first assembled in 1997 under the name Septic Breed, its initial lineup limited to guitarists Patrik Persson and Stefan Holm plus drummer Nicke Grabowski. A demo titled Patterns of Delusive Design was tracked before the roster stabilized. Only after vocalist Anders Sjöholm, previously of Ominous and Massgrav, and bassist Michael Håkansson, ex-Evergrey and Embraced, joined did the group acquire its definitive creative impetus. In that formation the musicians entered the studio in late summer 1999 to record the three-song demo Reaper. The recording drew strong interest from several labels, among them the leading death and black metal concern Century Media, which signed the band and issued its debut album, Manifest of Hate, in early 2001, followed by Arts of Desolation in 2002.