Vader was formed around 1983 when the heavy metal movement started to decline, succeeded by more extreme sounds like thrash, though they started off as just a heavy/speed metal act. They started achieving popularity in the Polish metal scene after the first Metalmania edition show in 1986. After numerous line-up and music direction changes, by 1987 they eventually embraced a pure death metal sound with reminiscence of thrash, marking the beginning of an era of splendor for underground metal in their home country.
The 1989 demo Necrolust was recorded by the duo Peter and Doc and elevated the band to a higher plateau among the extreme metal scene, attracting the attention of Carnage Records’s owner Mariusz Kmiołek. His label released the demo Morbid Reich in 1990, successful not only in the Polish market but in Western ones, becoming the best-selling demo in the history of death metal and attracting the attention of Earache Records, which issued the band’s debut.
The Ultimate Incarnation was released in 1992 through Earache Records, originally recorded in Stockholm and London. Vader became the first Polish artist to appear on the MTV with the “Dark Age” video, starting an European tour with Bolt Thrower and Grave and later gigging alongside Deicide, Suffocation and Dismember in the US, Canada and Mexico and Proletaryat in their home country. The Darkest Age - Live '93 live album reflected the potential of the group on those years.
In autumn 1994, the EP Sothis is released, on which they explored distinct musical horizons beyond the usual death metal standards. The cover of Depeche Mode’s “I Feel You”, recorded in September 1995 confirmed their determination to expand those horizons. With the following album De Profundis,Vader however embraced again the principles of the sub-genre, reaching a higher technical level than the debut. They went on tour through Europe again, with Cannibal Corpse, and Poland with Testor and Sweet Noise.
By late 1996, the compilation Reborn In Chaos including material from both Necrolust and Morbid Reich demo plus a cover album entitled Future Of The Past was released. It wasn’t until November 17th when Vader released new material on the Black To The Blind album, featuring a better production and simpler songs. They went on tour in the West to introduce the record, with the addition of former Dies Irae guitarist Mauser.
The EP Kingdom, released the next year included songs recorded during the previous album sessions as “Anamnesis”, considered by some fans the most unforgettable tunes of the band, and some techno-remixes. In 1998 they also released their first live video from a concert at Studio “Leg” in Cracow, along with another live album from a show at Club Quattro (Tokyo) from 31.08.1998. In 1999 they kept playing shows and festivals in Poland.
In March 22th 2000 the new album Litany saw the light of day, followed by another EP entitled Reign Forever World, released in December in Japan and January 2001 on the rest of the world. On the 2004 record The Beast, Doc didn't play. He had recently recovered from an ankle injury and “the whole band made the decision of his 'to be or not to be' last week” concerning life with his girlfriend and newborn son: “Doc pretty hard tried to 'fight' against his weaknesses, which were troubles for all of us. Finally he had not prevailed over that battle...All in all he attempted. Vader today is not just a friendship anymore - it's our life with armies of man involved in music, releases and first of all, fans waiting for shows or new albums. This is a high responsibility, not too many know about. If a person, even the most talented one cannot stand it, has to leave...That was Doc's decision as well”.
He was replaced by Daray in 2005 and the group signed with the Swedish label Regain Records. This new Vader incarnation shared stage with Kreator in the US and played in South America and the UK as well. In summer of the same year, they recorded the EP The Art Of War at the Hertz Studio in Białystok, which marked the beginning of new chapter in the history of the group musically, introducing a new logo as well, followed by more tours in Europe and North-America.
By early-2006, Vader started working on the next album Impressions In Blood, recorded in May and published in September. In the meantime, they headlined big summer festivals like Metal Crusaders in the US with Destruction and Kataklysm – later embarking on an extensive European tour (90 dates) with God Dethroned, Severe Torture and Nightrage. Some Japanese gigs followed in 2007 with Brutal Truth and Cryptopsy, plus 30 more shows in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia with Krisiun, Rotting Christ and Incantation. In summer, the band entered the Hertz Studio with the Wiesławski brothers Sławek and Wojtek, recording a song entitled “Sword Of The Witcher” specially for the soundtrack of the CD Projekt RED video game Wiedźmin.
The release of the double album XXV in March 2008 marked the beginning of the 25th anniversary tour in Europe and US summer festival appearances, entitled “Summer Slaughter” with The Black Dahlia Murder and Aborted among others. Novy left before the American dates, replaced by Martin from Decapitated, his bass duties were taken by Reyash from Christ Agony at the Woodstock festival. More line-up changes followed in August of the same year, with the departure of Daray to play with Dimmu Borgir and the resignation of Mauser, who focused on his side-project UnSun. A month later, a new incarnation incorporating guitarist Vogg and drummer Paul toured Scandinavia for 2 weeks.
In December 2008, Vader set about recording the new album Necropolis at the Hertz Studios with the collaboration of Tue Madsen, with 2 new songs “Rise Of The Undead” and “Impure” available for download on the band’s website on February/March 2009. They went on tour in January in Europe with Deicide and Samael. In April, the band parted ways with Regain Records to join Nuclear Blast, doing more shows in Poland until summer, starting a new promotional tour in August after the release of the new album with Marduk. 2 weeks later, they played in the US and Canada, accompanied by Warbringer and Decrepit Birth among others. It was the last tour with Vogg, who joined Decapitated after its reactivation. In 2010 more North-American dates followed, gigging alongside Overkill, playing in South Europe with Marduk and later the UK, Ireland and Benelux introducing new guitarist Spider.
-Tracklist:
1. Creatures of Light and Darkness 03:19
2. Breath of Centuries 04:33
3. Kingdom 03:04
4. Anamnesis 03:07
5. Heading for Internal Darkness (Inhuman Disaster mix) 07:13
6. Carnal (Quicksilver Blood mix) 07:25
-Line up:
- Peter: guitars, vocals
- Mauser: guitars
- Doc (R.I.P. 2005): drums
- Shambo: bass.
Label: Metal Mind Productions.
Recorded at Selani Studio, Olsztyn, February 1998.
Inhuman Disaster Mix (inspired by "Heading For Internal Darkness") remixed at 2.47 Studio, Warsaw, February 1998.
Quicksilver Blood Mix (inspired by "Carnal") remixed at Selani Studio, Olsztyn, February 1998.
17.9.2002 Sala Anoeta, Vigo (Esp)
