Unholy

In 1988 singer/bassist Pasi Äijö and guitarist Jarkko Toivonen launched the Finnish doom metal outfit originally called Holy Hell. The ensemble laid down the demo Kill Jesus before settling on the name Unholy the next year. Adding guitarist/keyboardist Ismo Toivonen, the band committed its second demo, Procession of Black Doom, to tape in 1990. Drummer Jan Kuhanen joined in time for the 1991 EP Trip to Depressive Autumn. Both recordings drew favorable underground attention, prompting a deal with Lethal Records that yielded the full-length debut From the Shadows in early 1993. The follow-up The Second Ring of Power drew uneven notices, leading Unholy to dissolve in late 1994 as each member turned to individual work. A mid-1996 reunion brought the remaining trio back together, though Jarkko Toivonen elected to continue with his new project Tiermes. Keyboardist Veera Muhli was recruited before the group issued Rapture in 1998 and tracked Gracefallen the following year.