Atrocity (band)

{{Short description|German metal band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Atrocity | image = Atrocity-Kavarna2010-1.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = Atrocity performs at the Kavarna Rock Fest in 2010 | alias = | origin = Ludwigsburg, Germany | genre = {{hlist|Gothic metal|death metal|industrial metal|folk metal|symphonic metal (later)|technical death metal (early)}} | years_active = 1985–present | label = {{hlist|Nuclear Blast|Roadrunner|Massacre|Motor|Napalm}} | spinoffs = Leaves' Eyes | website = {{URL|atrocity.de}} | current_members = Alexander Krull Luc Gebhardt Joris Nijenhuis Andre Nasso Florian Ewert | past_members = Thorsten Bauer Sander van der Meer Richard Scharf Oliver Klasen Michael Schwarz Markus Knapp Martin Schmidt Christian Lukhaup Moritz Neuner Nick Barker Alla Fedynich Mathias Röderer Seven Antonopoulos Roland Navratil Pete Streit Marc 'Micki' Richter }}

'''Atrocity''' is a German metal band from Ludwigsburg that formed in 1985.

==History== First started in 1985 as '''Instigators''' and playing grindcore, Atrocity arose as a death metal band with their debut EP, ''Blue Blood'', in 1989, followed soon by ''Hallucinations'', a concept album about drug use. Their second album, ''Todessehnsucht'' ("longing for death"), ventured into death metal classics with a cover of "Archangel" by the band Death. Their musical scope broadened over the years, incorporating medieval and horror influences on their 1994 Dracula-based concept album ''Atrocity's Blut'', (styled after the successful film ''Bram Stoker's Dracula''). ''Atrocity's Blut'' was followed by ''Calling the Rain'', an MCD with female vocals by guest singer Yasmin Krull and acoustic music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.de/musik|title=Musik: Hört kostenlos Musik, schaut neue Musikvideos an | MTV Germany|website=Mtv.de}}</ref>

The 1996 release ''Willenskraft'' introduced industrial elements, with the special bonus CD of the album's special edition (''Kraft und Wille'') including electronic remixes of the songs. The later releases were less and less metallic; ''Werk 80'' featured versions of 1980s disco hits and the band had no apparent direction for the following few years. Unusual MCD releases and experimental songs like "Lili Marlene" covers (featured on ''Gemini'') estranged many of their original metal fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laut.de/wortlaut/artists/a/atrocity/biographie/index.htm|title=Atrocity|website=Laut.de|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref>

The band performed at Wacken Open Air in August of 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.wacken.com/en/info/history/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Wacken Open Air}}</ref> After 2000, nothing had been heard from Atrocity, and they seemed to have disbanded. However, they returned after four years with a new concept album, ''Atlantis'', centered on the myths of the sunken continent of Atlantis. The album also features the vocals of Alexander's wife, Liv-Kristine Espanaes Krull (formerly in Theatre of Tragedy). The band members also formed the atmospheric metal band Leaves' Eyes, which features Liv Kristine as lead singer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laut.de/wortlaut/artists/e/espanaes_liv_kristine/biographie/index.htm|title=Liv Kristine Espanaes|website=Laut.de|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref>

The release of the eleventh album ''After the Storm'' in 2010 started a new era for the band in the ethno metal genre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stormbringer.at/news.php?id=18283|title=STORMBRINGER-News: ATROCITY - 'After The Storm' Artwork und Track List enth llt! (29.06.2010, 00:00 Uhr)|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> Yasmin Krull returned a second time as guest singer and instrumentalist for the project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142241 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630063111/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142241 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2013 |title=ATROCITY Featuring YASMIN: 'After The Storm' Details Revealed |publisher=BlabberMouth |access-date=26 July 2013 }}</ref>

On 11 November 2007, Atrocity announced that bassist Chris Lukhaup was leaving the band for personal reasons and that drummer Moritz Neuner was taking another turn in his working career. Seven Antonopolous was named as the new drummer in late October 2008.

==Members== {{main|List of Atrocity band members}} '''Current members''' *Alexander Krull – lead vocals, keyboards, samples (1985–present) *Joris Nijenhuis – drums, backing vocals (2012–present) *Andre Nasso – bass (2021–present) *Luc Gebhardt – guitar (2022–present) *Florian Ewert – guitar (2024–present)

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== * 1990: ''Hallucinations'' * 1992: ''Todessehnsucht'' * 1994: ''Blut'' * 1996: ''Willenskraft'' * 1997: ''Werk 80'' (cover album) * 2000: ''Gemini'' * 2004: ''Atlantis'' * 2008: ''Werk 80 II'' (cover album) * 2013: ''Okkult'' * 2018: ''Okkult II'' * 2023: ''Okkult III''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kronosmortusnews.com/2022/09/29/atrocity-announce-new-album-reveal-first-details/|title=ATROCITY announce new album, reveal first details|website=Kronos Mortus News|access-date=October 2, 2022|date=September 29, 2022}}</ref>

===Collaborations===

* 1995: ''Calling the Rain'' (EP, feat. Yasmin Krull) * 1995: ''Die Liebe'' (feat. Das Ich) * 2010: ''After the Storm'' (feat. Yasmin Krull)

===Compilations===

* 1996: ''Kraft & Wille'' (video collection & ''The Hunt'' EP) * 1999: ''Non Plus Ultra: 1989–1999'' (best-of)

===DVD=== *2012: ''Die Gottlosen Jahre''

===Demos=== * 1988: ''Instigators'' * 1993: ''Promo '93''

===EPs=== * 1996: ''The Hunt'' * 1996: ''The Definition of Kraft and Wille'' * 2017: ''Masters of Darkness'' * 2019: ''Spell of Blood''

===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Year ! Title ! Directed ! Album |- |1994 |"B.L.U.T." |{{center|—}} |rowspan=2|''Blut'' |- |1994 |"Miss Directed" |{{center|—}} |- |1995 |"Calling the Rain" |{{center|—}} |''Calling the Rain'' |- |1995 |"Die Liebe" |{{center|—}} |''Die Liebe'' |- |1996 |''Love Is Dead'' |{{center|—}} |''Willenskraft'' |- |1997 |"Shout" |{{center|—}} |rowspan=2|''Werk 80'' |- |1997 |"The Great Commandment" |{{center|—}} |- |2000 |"Taste of Sin" |{{center|—}} |''Gemini'' |- |2006 |"Cold Black Days" |Thomas Manglitz |''Atlantis'' |- |2008 |"The Sun Always Shines on TV"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/online_downloads/atrocity_the_sun_always_shines_on_tv_video.html |title=Atrocity: 'The Sun Always Shines On TV' Video |access-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028233921/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/online_downloads/atrocity_the_sun_always_shines_on_tv_video.html |archive-date=28 October 2014 }}</ref> |Silvan Büge |rowspan=2|''Werk 80 II'' |- |2009 |"Fade to Grey"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/atrocity-release-fade-to-grey-video|title=ATROCITY Release 'Fade To Grey' Video|website=Bravewords.com|date=6 March 2009 |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> |{{center|—}} |- |rowspan=2|2013 |"Pandaemonium" |Rainer ZIPP Fränzen (Und Action!)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=91345|title=Atrocity Posts New Music Video - in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com )|date=28 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528081513/http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=91345|access-date=4 October 2020|archive-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> |rowspan=2|''Okkult'' |- |"Murder Blood Assassination"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/atrocity-murder-blood-assasination-video-released/|title=Atrocity: 'Murder Blood Assassination' Video Released |website=Blabbermouth.net|date=11 September 2013 |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> |{{center|—}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Atrocity (band)|Atrocity}} * {{Official website|http://www.atrocity.de}} * {{Discogs artist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atrocity}} Category:1985 establishments in West Germany Category:German death metal musical groups Category:German gothic metal musical groups Category:Massacre Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 1985 Category:Napalm Records artists Category:Nuclear Blast artists Category:Roadrunner Records artists