Ophthalamia
Ophthalamia was a Swedish black metal band that formed in 1989.
Ophthalamia | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | Doom metal, melodic black metal |
| Years active | 1989–1998 |
| Labels | No Fashion |
| Associated acts | Abruptum, Dissection, Marduk, Vondur, Deathstars |
History
Ophthalamia was formed in 1989 by singer All and guitarist IT, both also active in the musical groups Abruptum and Vondur. The band named themselves Ophthalamia after a fantasy-world created by IT. He created and named the geography, the land's creatures and a language for Ophthalamians. The Goddess of this world is a demon woman called Elishia. Almost all songs written by the band are connected in some way to this fantasy-world, until their last album, which was inspired by Macbeth.
The vocals were initially handled by All, but he was replaced by Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) on A Journey In Darkness. Shadow, in his turn, was replaced by Legion for the Via Dolorosa album. Legion left the band for the infamous Marduk in 1995 and was replaced by All again. Winter played drums on the first two albums, but left right after Via Dolorosa was recorded. He was replaced by Bone. Guitarist Mourning was replaced by former bassist Night, who picked up the guitars for the Via Dolorosa album and is now the second guitarist. Mist replaced him on bass. Axa (Alexandra Balogh) who contributed as a piano session player also composed the last track of Dissection's album Storm Of The Light's Bane.
Line-up
- IT (Tony Särkkä) - guitar, vocals
- Night (Emil Nödtveidt) - guitar
- Bone (Ole Öhman) - drums, percussion
- All (Jim Berger) - lead vocals
- Mist (Mikael Schelin) - bass
Former members
- Shadow (Jon Nödtveidt) - vocals (deceased 08/16/2006)
- Legion (Erik Hagstedt) - vocals
- Winter (Benny Larsson) - drums
- Mourning (Robert Ivarsson) - bass
Session members
- Axa - Piano, backing vocals
Discography
- 1994 - A Journey in Darkness
- 1995 - Via Dolorosa
- 1997 - To Elishia (compilation)
- 1998 - A Long Journey (re-recording of A Journey in Darkness)
- 1998 - Dominion
