Akercocke were formed in 1997 by vocalist/guitarist Jason Mendonca and drummer David Gray who completed the line-up with the addition of guitarist Paul Scanlan and bassist Peter Theobalds. Their debut album ‘Rape of the Bastard Nazarene’ emerged in 1999 on the band’s own Goat of Mendes label and its subsequent success secured a deal with legendary UK label Peaceville, who issued a follow-up ‘The Goat of Mendes’ in 2001. The band switched to Earache Records for their next album, 2003’s ‘Choronzon’, an adventurous release which saw them move further from their black metal roots into more progressive death metal territory. Having replaced Paul Scanlan with Matt Wilcock, formerly of Australian death metallers The Berzerker, Akercocke continued their musical development with the well-received ‘Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone’, which emerged in 2005. Peter Theobalds quit the band to be replaced by Peter Benjamin in early 2007, prior to the release of their most recent album ‘Antichrist’ which generated even more controversy than usual, with the band’s US label refusing to print the ‘satanic’ CD booklet and religious groups in Northern Ireland up in arms over Akercocke’s plans for live dates in the Province and an outspoken appearance on a local BBC television talk show.
The band are currently preparing for two UK live dates in early June before unleashing their ferocious aural assault on Bloodstock Open Air.
Click Here to view the AKERCOCKE Bloodstock Band Profile Page .
AKERCOCKE – Summoning the Antichrist – BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2008.
