Dies Irae was a Polish

death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep death growl, growling vocals; aggressive ...

band founded in 1992. Their early recordings were heavily inspired and influenced by Vader and

Morbid Angel Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist, primary composer and sole remaining original member Trey Azagthoth, vocalist and bassist Dallas Ward, and drummer Mike Browning. Widely considere ...

. Since 2005 the band is on indefinite hiatus.

Biography

Dies Irae was formed in 1992 as very young

band featuring China (guitar),

Mauser Mauser, originally the Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik, was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols was produced beginning in the 1870s for the German armed forces. In the late 19th and ...

(guitar and vocals), Czarny (bass) and Gilan (drums). 1994 marked the recording of their debut demo titled "Fear of God" which was released by Serenades Records two years later. The demo was composed of typical death metal tracks and guitar variations as introductions. In 1997 Mauser joined the band Vader and Dies Irae split up. Four years later Mauser signed a contract with Massive Management, whose artist roster consists of such bands as Vader, Sceptic,

Decapitated Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common ...

and many others, and started looking for new members to his band. With help of

Doc DOC, Doc, doc or DoC may refer to: People and characters * Doc, an abbreviation of doctor * Doc (nickname) * Doc (mascot), the Towson University mascot Persons * The D.O.C., American rapper (born 1968) * Doc Gallows (born 1983), ring nam ...

(Vader), Novy (Devilyn) and Hiro (Sceptic) the band prepared material for a full debut album. On 5 June 2000 Dies Irae entered the Selani Studio to record their debut album. Titled '' Immolated'', it was produced by Szymon Czech, and graphically designed by Jacek Wisniewski, who had been previously responsible for several Vader's cover artworks ("Kingdom", "Black to the Blind", " Live In Japan"). ''Immolated'' was mastered at Studio 333 by Bartłomiej Kuźniak who is responsible for Vader's masters. All lyrics were written by Łukasz Szurmiński. Following the promotional mailing of ''Immolated'' the band received a number of contract offers from labels from Europe and the United States. Finally, Dies Irae signed a four-album contract with

Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records (often shortened to Metal Blade) is an American independent record label founded by Brian Slagel in 1982 based in the U.S. state of California. The label primarily focuses on heavy metal. History Metal Blade Records was ...

, which represents the band around the world except Poland and Japan. In Poland they are under

Metal Mind Metal Mind Productions (MMP) is a Polish record label founded in 1987. The label focuses on rock and heavy metal. MMP is also publisher of ''Metal Hammer'', the largest and the oldest heavy metal magazine. As a concert agency, it organises Meta ...

, in Japan they are represented by Avalon/Marquee Inc. Both labels also manage Vader. The debut album was released in November 2000 and its promo campaign was backed up with a video-clip for the track "Lion of Knowledge". The album itself comprises 9 cuts, including two cyber-industrial intros performed by Doc. Dies Irae are also prepared for their first European tour with

Nile The Nile (also known as the Nile River or River Nile) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. It has historically been considered the List of river sy ...

in January 2001. On April/May 2002 the band entered Hertz Studio to record their second full-length album ''

The Sin War ''The Sin War'' is the second album on a major record label by the Polish death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniq ...

''. The date of release got rescheduled to September, because of technical problems with the CD-Masters. The album contains more complex and diverse songs, with all band members contributing to the final result. The band was forced to postpone the autumn tour due to Vader's obligations. Dies Irae band 01

In July 2003 Dies Irae for the first time appeared on the stage. During the "Empire Invasion Tour 2004" they played alongside bands like

Hate Hatred or hate is an intense negative emotional response towards certain people, things or ideas, usually related to opposition or revulsion toward something. Hatred is often associated with intense feelings of anger, contempt, and disgust. Ha ...

, Lost Soul and Esqarial. The deal with Metal Blade was terminated and shortly after the band signed a new deal with MMP, including new album and DVD releases. The third and latest effort ''

Sculpture of Stone ''Sculpture of Stone'' is the third album on a major record label by the Polish death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with t ...

'' was recorded at Hertz Studio and includes 9 songs. The album was released in Poland on 19 May 2004 and the band hit the road again, playing 9 gigs along with bands like Trauma, Sceptic, Shadows Land. Vitek from Decapitated replaced Doc, due to his hand injury. Japanese, European and US releases of ''Sculpture of Stone'' were fixed in autumn 2004. At the beginning of 2005 at TV Studio Dies Irae shot a gig for the forthcoming DVD release and in February they hit the road along with bands like Decapitated, Hate and

Crionics Crionics was a Polish blackened death metal band from Kraków, formed in 1997 by Michał Skotniczny, Dariusz Styczeń, "Marcotic" and Maciej Zięba. In their early years they played fast and melodic metal strongly influenced by Norwegian black ...

in "The Ultimate Domination Tour 2005". In 2009 the band released a DVD/CD, ''The Art of an Endless Creation'', including live footage, the band's most successful album ''Sculpture of Stone'' and bootleg recordings. The release is in part a tribute to late Drummer "Doc" who died suddenly in 2005. All members of the reconstituted Dies Irae continue to perform with other groups. Novy is a member of

Nader Sadek Nader Sadek is an Egyptian-American artist. His death metal project gathers many well-known and emerging artists from the entire metal scene, focusing mostly on black and death metal. Sadek resides in New York City and has worked as a stage artist ...

, Mauser is playing in UnSun, while Hiro is a member of

Sceptic Skepticism ( US) or scepticism ( UK) is a questioning attitude or doubt toward knowledge claims that are seen as mere belief or dogma. For example, if a person is skeptical about claims made by their government about an ongoing war then the pe ...

Band members

Last known line-up * Maurycy "Mauser" Stefanowicz – vocals, guitar (1992–1997, 2000–2005) * Marcin "Novy" Nowak – vocals, bass (2000–2005) *Jacek Hiro – guitar (2000–2005) * Krzysztof "Doc" Raczkowski (died 2005) – drums (2000–2005) Former members *Jarosław "China" Łabieniec – guitar (1994–1997) *Piotr "Czarny" Bartczak – bass (1992–1997) *Maciej "Gilan" Liszewski – drums (1992–1997) Touring members * Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka (died 2007) – drums (2004)

Discography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dies Irae Polish death metal musical groups Polish musical quartets Musical groups established in 1992 Metal Mind Productions artists Metal Blade Records artists