MYSTIFIER

(MYSTIFIER, 2013)

Biography

MYSTIFIER is a legend. In 1989 the bassist Beelzeebubth carried the idea of creating the most evil, morbid and satanic music Brazil has ever seen. His statement lives up until today: “I formed the group to intone the most violent musick style never created by man and to violate the whole ethical code and biblical western capitalists' principals!” He already brought in some experience from his former bands like DEATH VOMIT, PUTREFACTION, CORPUS CHRISTI…
Some band members were easy to be found: Meugninousouan (vocals), Behemoth (guitars) und Lucifuge Rofocale (drums) joined the dark cult. After five month of intense rehearsing the band finished the first demo in November 1989: “Tormenting the Holy Trinity”, which was released on tape by the band. It contained a BATHORY-cover and was the first recording of a Brazilian Black Metal band of this region ever.
The feedback was overwhelming, so MYSTIFIER were asked by a local label if they wanted to release a 7’’ EP. The result was “T.E.A.R. - The Evil Ascension Returns”, an expensive collector’s item nowadays. It contained two evil new tracks and was released in 1990. With this the band was the first metal band to ever release something on a label in their region.
In 1991 a new demo was recorded, which was intended to promote the name MYSTIFIER throughout the country: “Aleister Crowley” was devoted to the well known man, who called himself the Antichrist… Six new songs, which were more rough and brutal than ever before, were banned on this promo-tape.

1992 was another year of success: The debut album called “Wicca” was released by the Brazilian label “Hellion Records”. This album is considered one of the most extreme and best released of the Southern American Metal scene over all up to this day and has been re-released quite a few times until today. At the time of the album release Meugninousouan was kicked out of the band, because he tried to make money of it, which was not in the underground vein Beelzeebubth had in mind. Asmodeeus (ex-HATRED) joined instead. Even more the band should have keyboards in their more powerful sound from then on: Astaroth (ex-CAVALRY) was recruited for playing the keyboards and a second guitar.
A deal with “Osmose Productions” (France) for another two albums was signed and resulted in the legendary album “Göetia” (1993). It is widely considered a fantastic album with groundbreaking songwriting, despite its weak production. “Göetia” indeed is a nasty piece of work which is unmatched ‘til today. The release was followed up by a tour throughout Europe and some line-up changes: Founding member Behemoth quit his position without any further information and Astaroth also quit. Paulo Lisboa was recruited as a guitarist, Asmodeeus started doing the vocals.



The third album, “The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn’t Live Here” in 1996 was intended to be a “Fuck off!” to the changing Black Metal scene, which was somehow corrupted by fascist teenagers who made statements like “Black men can't play Black Metal, just white men can”. Beelzeebubth was infuriated by that and stated: "Attitude, determination and ideals are not manifested by the skin color or kind hair!! Just fools can accept such statement!!" This and the usage of corpsepaint similar to the warpaint of ancient Indian and African tribes “Osmose Productions” started to call the band’s style “Barbarian Black Metal”. The music itself had changed at this point and was more soothing, yet darker than before, which some of the fans didn’t respond well to. But the material is incredibly original and can be felt deeply. It fills the hearts with the dark flame.

“Osmose Productions” did not make any efforts to keep MYSTIFIER in their roster, though the albums had been very successful, but the band was not held down by this. A cover of the German Black Metal legends POISON (“Leather & Metal”) was recorded for the “Word Domination II” sampler, one track was provided for the soundtrack of the cult movie “Gummo” and many things more. All old releases were re-released in Brazil too.
 
The original drummer, Lucifugee Rocalee, quit the band for private reasons and was replaced by Louis Bear who brought in a lot of experience form his other bands. A second guitarist joined, too: Thony D’Assys (ex -CARNIFIED). To celebrate ten years of existence (though only Beelzeebubth was left of the original line-up) the band released the maxi single “Demystifying the Mystified Ones (For A Decade In The Earthly Paradise)“ including seven new and one re-recorded tracks. Thony D’Assys was kicked out of the band short after that – he didn’t take his commitment too seriously.

For the Belarusian label “Eldritch”, which wanted to release a compilation of old demo tracks and some new ones, Beelzeebubth personally had to record all the guitar lines for the new tracks, because Paulo Lisboa was kicked out of MYSTIFIER. He also had too much to do in his private life and didn’t want to spend much time on the band. Beelzeebubth now wanted to stick to the guitar, so a new bassist, Bruno Rheys, and a keyboarder, Leandros Kastyphas, were picked up.
The fourth album of the band was called “Profanus” and was released by the Brazilian label “Encore Records”. It contained 13 tracks and was later released in the US too – but not in Europe. In 2001 and 2002 “Göetia & Wicca” were re-released as a 2CD in a digipack and the compilation “Tormenting the Holy Trinity (since 1989)“ including the “T.E.A.R.”-EP was released on vinyl. The 500 copies sold like blazes.

In 2003 Bruno Rheys left MYSTIFIER and Leandros Kastyphas took his part on the bass, but also stuck to the keyboards. Some new members were Alexis Styx on drums and Bruno Brittus on guitars; they left the same year respectively in 2006. Asmodeeus left in 2004, too, so Leandros even took one more responsibility: he is the keyboarder, bassist and vocalist from this time on.

The drummer Alexis Rocha only stayed in 2003 and over the years the band had to deal with many different drummers of varying quality and reliability, until he re-joined in 2013. The band does not intend any more line-up changes and tries to be more stable by now.