Samael awakened on the 14th of July 1988 when brothers Xytraguptor
and Vorphalack loaded their musical gear into an atomic bunker.
Samael's initial influences were Slayer, Bathory, Venom and early Possessed, plus NWOBHM acts Motörhead and Iron Maiden. Hellhammer were also hugely inspirational.
Rehearsing seven days a
week, they soon recorded a couple of tracks and released their self-
financed 7''EP ''Medieval Prophecy'' which infiltrated the underground
scene through mail and small independant distributors.
Two
years later, the duet moved to Geneva to record what would become Samael's first album. Facing refusal from the established recordindustry,
the brothers finally inked a deal with the freshly started label Osmose
Production, which released ''Worship Him'' in April 1991. With the
addition of Masmiseîm on bass, the band played shows in France, Germany,
Holland, Poland, Russia and Switzerland before heading back to studio
to record ''Blood Ritual'' . Their second album became the first
collaboration with Waldemar Sorychta and their first release on the
German ever-growing inprint Century Media.
1. Sleep of Death
2. Worship Him 06:30
3. Knowledge of the Ancient Kingdom 05:05
4. Morbid Metal 04:55
5. Rite of Cthulhu 02:02
Side B:
6. The Black Face 03:30
7. Into the Pentagram 06:47
8. Messenger of the Light 02:42
9. Last Benediction 01:23
10. The Dark 04:29
⛧Xytraguptor: Drums, percussion, keyboards.
First press comes in black vinyl, regular LP jacket and printed insert.
At the bottom in the back cover, there´s a dedication note in memory of Vorphalack & Xytraguptor's father.
Although Masmiseîm appears on the back cover´s picture as the bass player, on the credits there´s a note indicating that the bass for this album, was played by Vorphalack.
Recorded at Taurus Studio, Switzerland, March 1990.
Produced by Samael.
