The Project Hate MCMXCIX

In 1998 Lord K. Philipson, whose résumé already included Leukemia, House of Usher, and Lame, teamed up with Jörgen Sandström, previously of Grave, Entombed, and at that point also Vicious Art and Krux, to launch the Project Hate MCMXCIX, later shortened to TPH or simply the Project Hate. The duo soon expanded the lineup, shaping the group into a death metal act that earned recognition during the shift from the twentieth to the twenty-first century. A demo tracked that year under Dan Swanö’s supervision, with L.G. Petrov supplying backing vocals, proved strong enough to secure a contract with Germany’s Massacre Records the following year. Also in 1999 the band issued its debut full-length, Cybersonic Superchrist, which drew favorable critical notices yet suffered from inadequate label support, yielding disappointing sales and limited exposure. During those sessions vocalist Mia Ståhl joined the roster. The next album, When We Are Done, Your Flesh Will Be Ours, appeared in 2001, though persistent shortcomings in promotion and distribution again restricted its reach. In 2002 guitarist Petter S. Freed came aboard, and the group severed ties with Massacre Records. A live set, Killing Helsinki, surfaced in 2003 while the band prepared its third studio effort; after parting ways with Ståhl, the Project Hate recruited Jo Enckell on vocals, resulting in Hate, Dominate, Congregate, Eliminate, which earned positive reviews upon its 2003 release. Armageddon March Eternal — Symphonies of Slit Wrists followed in 2005, introducing bassist Michael Håkansson and reuniting the band with producer Dan Swanö; the record also closed the Project Hate’s association with Threeman Records. For the subsequent album the lineup added drummer Mojjo, and In Hora Moris Nostræ emerged in September 2007.