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Biography
primary sources|date=December 2010Notability|date=December 2010Infobox musical artist | name = Slechtvalk| image = Occultfest 2010 - SAT - Slechtvalk - 10.JPG| caption = Slechtvalk at Occultfest 2010| image_size = 250| landscape = Yes| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = The Hague|Haag , The Netherlands | instrument =| genre = Unblack metal , extreme metal , Viking metal | occupation =| years_active = 1999–present| label = Whirlwind Records (2009) Fear Dark (2000-2008)| associated_acts = Heidevolk , Argonath| website = http://www.slechtvalk.com slechtvalk.com| current_members = Shamgar Ohtar (Jesse Vuerbaert) Grimbold Hydrith Seraph| past_members = Nath Fionnghuala Sorgier| notable_instruments = Slechtvalk (the Dutch word for peregrine falcon ) is an extreme metal band from The Netherlands , formed in 1999. Previously signed to Fear Dark Record and currently to Whirlwind Records, the group has released four albums, a split-CD with Kekal , a single and a DVD. The second album, The War That Plagues the Lands , reached #2 at Lowland's Top 50 Metal Charts, and was name one of '' HM Magazine 's "100 Best Christian metal albums of all time." The third album, At the Dawn of War , coincided with the release of a live-DVD, Upon the Fields of Battle'', and a maxisingle for "Thunder of War." The band's fourth album A Forlorn Throne was released on July 16, 2010.
History
Falconry
Slechtvalk began as a solo project in 1997 by singer/guitarist Shamgar, formerly of Ascension and Mordax.cite web|last=Born|first=R.|title=Slechtvalk|url= http://www.musicmight.com/artist/netherlands/haag/slechtvalk|publisher= MusicMight |accessdate=8 June 2011 The project was first Dommer (1999–2000), before Shamgar finally settled on Slechtvalk. The debut album, Falconry (album)|Falconry , was released in 2000 by the now-defunct Dutch label Fear Dark Records|Fear Dark which had bands such as Eluveitie , Royal Anguish, Taketh and Kekal on its roster.
Falconry was received positively, and Dutch metal magazines such as Aardschok interviewed Shamgar. As a result of this exposure, Shamgar was in the position to form a band, and was joined by soprano singer Fionnghuala, folk singer and rhythm guitarist Ohtar (also with Dutch folk metal band Heidevolk ), bassist Nath, drummer Grimbold, keyboardist Sorgier, and dancer Meallá.
The War That Plagues the Lands
In 2002 Slechtvalk released their second full-length album, The War That Plagues the Lands . As a teaser they first released Chaos & Warfare|a split CD with Kekal from Indonesia (also signed on Fear Dark);cite web |author= Kekal |title=Kekal Discography |url= http://www.kekal.org/discography.php |publisher=Kekal.org |accessdate=2011-03-04 both bands recorded four songs and a cover (Slechtvalk covered Antestor|Antestor's "Kongsblod", from The Return of the Black Death ). The War That Plagues the Lands was well received, with HM Magazine listing the album as number 60 on its "100 Best Christian metal albums of all time."cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |authorlink=Doug Van Pelt |year=2010 |month=August |title=Top 100 Christian metal albums of all time |journal= HM Magazine |id=ISSN|- |url= http://www.hmmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/booklet.pdf |format=pdf |volume= |issue= |pages=25|doi= |pmid=
At the Dawn of War
In 2005, the band released their third album, At the Dawn of War , with a more Symphonic metal|symphonic sound and a lot of elements from folk metal . The band also incorporated more war and fantasy themes to their live shows and began dressing in medieval warrior costumes. That same year Slechtvalk released a live-DVD, Upon the Fields of Battle , filmed at the club Hedon Zwolle; a music video for "Thunder of War" (also released as a maxi single) received some airplay at local music channels. The band toured several European countries with Frosthardr .
During early 2006 the band was joined by Grimbold's brother Seraph as a guitarist, as Ohtar was not able to continue playing the guitars due to a chronic wrist injury. In July 2006, the Fionnghuala left the group to focus on her classical music career. Slechtvalk began writing new material and announced that the music would take a more technical and brutal approach.
In February 2007, the bassist Nath was removed from the line-up: Ohtar, who was able to play again, picked up on bass. In late 2007 keyboard-player Hydrith announced his departure to focus more on his family. Since then, Slechtvalk performed without keyboards (playing their more extreme songs) or with session-musicians.
A Forlorn Throne
On April 2009, the band signed with German-based Whirlwind Records. On October 2009 Whirlwind releases a compilation album titled An Era of Bloodshed of the band's past material with two unreleased promotional songs. http://www.whirlwind-records.com/en/about/news/news-einzelanzeige/article/168/slechtvalk-kommen-an-bord/ Slechtvalk kommen an Bord!. Whirlwind Records. 2009-04-17 Nath—now known as Premnath—recently re-joined the band as a keyboard-player. The band is currently preparing for a European tour to promote the up-coming album, and inviting fans to join them on SellaBand.com to help financially support the tour plans. http://www.mauce.nl/index.php? option=com_content& task=view& id=2420& Itemid=1 'Slechtvalk' now on 'Sellaband' The Metal Resource The band went to Sweden's Studio Mega in late 2009 with producer Johan "the ant" Örnborg to record their fourth full-length album titled A Forlorn Throne . It was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street, and the cover artwork as well as a new logo was designed by Raymond Swanland. http://www.mauce.nl/index.php? option=com_content& task=view& id=2592& Itemid=1 New 'Slechtvalk' band Logo The Metal Resource. March 27.2010.
Festivals
In addition to local shows in Holland, Slechtvalk has appeared at several heavy metal music festival s such as Elements of Rock in Switzerland ,cite web|title=VENI DOMINE Confirmed For Switzerland's ELEMENTS OF ROCK Festival|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=17386|work= Blabbermouth.net |publisher= Roadrunner Records |accessdate=8 June 2011|date=13 December 2003 Bobfest in Sweden ,cite web|title=Bobfest V - Bands|url= http://www.bobfest.org/bobfest2003/Bands/bands.html|publisher=Bobfest.org|accessdate=8 June 2011 Nordic Fest in Norway ,cite web|title=TOURNIQUET Confirmed For Norway's NORDIC FEST|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=105267|work= Blabbermouth.net |publisher= Roadrunner Records |accessdate=8 June 2011|date=22 September 2008 and Interregnum Fest in Germany .cite web|title=ARTHAUN, GRABAK Confirmed For Germany's INTERREGNUM FEST|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=83792|work= Blabbermouth.net |publisher= Roadrunner Records |accessdate=8 June 2011|date=30 October 2007
Chaos & Warfare (Split-CD with Kekal ) (2002 Fear Dark Records)
Upon the Fields of Battle (DVD) (2005 Fear Dark Records)
Thunder Of War (CD-Single) (2005 Fear Dark Records)
An Era of Bloodshed (Compilation album) (2009)
References
reflist
"Slechtvalk." meelhuysen|89-90
External links
commons category|Slechtvalk
http://www.slechtvalk.com Slechtvalk websiteen
MySpace|slechtvalkofficialmyspace
Slechtvalk Category:Dutch heavy metal musical groups Category:Dutch black metal musical groups Category:Unblack metal musical groups Category:Christian metal musical groups