Demoncy

{{short description|American black metal band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Demoncy | image = Ixithra, founder of Demoncy.jpg | landscape = | caption = Ixithra of Demoncy {{circa|2020}} | origin = Sylva, North Carolina, U.S. | genre = Black metal | years_active = 1989-present | label = Nuclear War Now, Hells Headbangers, Dark Descent, Forever Plagued | website = | current_members = Ixithra VJS Scorpios Androctonus | past_members = Aeldeost Diabolicus Drathrul Elsifer Horidus Neptersu Synvorlath Vorthrus Vetharanyn Vlasoroth Xelac }}

'''Demoncy''' is an American black metal band formed in 1989 in Sylva, North Carolina by musician Ixithra. They are known to be one of the first American black metal bands.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://allaboutblackmetal.com/usbm-a-retrospective/|title=USBM (United States Black Metal): A Retrospective|website=Allaboutblackmetal.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715184623/https://allaboutblackmetal.com/usbm-a-retrospective/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History== The band originally formed in 1989 as a solo project by Ixithra as an outlet to express darkness through skilled and creative art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.tiscali.it/myheartbleedsforyou/demoncy.htm|title=My Heart Bleeds for You 'zine – Demoncy|website=Web.tiscali.it|access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> With several side projects and pseudonyms, he has been known as Wicked Warlock Of Demonic Blasphemy and Lord Of The Sylvan Shadows. The music is regarded as both otherworldly and demonic.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://thatshowkidsdie.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/thkds-top-100-metal-albums-18-demoncy-joined-in-darkness-baphomet-records-1999/|title=THKD's Top 100 Metal Albums #18: Demoncy – Joined in Darkness (Baphomet Records, 1999)|website=Thatshowkidsdie.wordpress.com|date=March 15, 2020|language=en|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621083847/https://thatshowkidsdie.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/thkds-top-100-metal-albums-18-demoncy-joined-in-darkness-baphomet-records-1999/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1992, Ixithra joined the USBM band Profanatica in the role of guitar player. Displeased with the sound of their new album on which he performed, Ixithra set an industrial magnet to the master tapes in a rage, destroying the entire creation. He terminated the relationship immediately and reformed Demoncy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Interviews/PROFANATICA--7055.html|title=Profanatica interview|last=|first=|date=January 12, 2013|website=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164901/http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Interviews/PROFANATICA--7055.html|archive-date=July 10, 2018|access-date=}}</ref>

It was with the 1999 release of ''Joined in Darkness'', that Demoncy was cemented in black metal history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://antichristmagazine.com/demoncy-will-re-release-empire-of-the-fallen-angel/|title=DEMONCY will re-release "Empire of the Fallen Angel"|website=Antichristmagazine.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto1" /> Regarded by many as the finest example of USBM ever produced <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avenoctum.com/2015/02/demoncy-joined-in-darkness-forever-plagued/|title=Demoncy – Joined In Darkness (Forever Plagued) ⋆ Ave Noctum|date=February 5, 2015|website=Avenoctum.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 26, 2020}}</ref> The band toured the US and Europe and were featured in several metal music festivals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910093611/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=18820|url-status=dead|title=Blabbermouth.net|website=Blabbermouth.net|archive-date=September 10, 2012|access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref>

Throughout the several versions of Demoncy, Ixithra has fired his entire band instantly for not displaying professional musicianship and the darkness required to perform within the Black Metal genre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Demoncy – Biography |url=https://metalstorm.net/bands/biography.php?band_id=8392&bandname=Demoncy |access-date=February 22, 2023 |website=Metal Storm |language=en}}</ref>

== Significance == Demoncy is credited as early practitioners of black metal in the United States, who did not imitate the popularized early Norwegian black metal scene.<ref name="auto" />

==Style and ideology== Demoncy is known for keeping away from the commercial masses, putting a focus on the mysteries of the occult and the theme of keeping the purity of darkness in the music's design.

Song lyrics are centered on occult and magical themes.

==Members== ===Current=== *Ixithra *VJS *Scorpios Androctonus

===Former=== ;Bass *Necreon *Neptersu *Xelac

;Drums *Vorthrus

;Guitar *Aeldeost *Drathrul *Elsifer *Grymoreth *Maldis *Zyuhlniv

;Lyricist *Vetharanyn

;Vocals *Diabolicus *Horidus *Synvorlath

==Discography== <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/263888-Demoncy|title=Demoncy|website=Discogs|access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> ===Studio albums=== * ''Faustian Dawn'' (1993, self-released cassette; 1995 CD, So It Is Done Productions)) * ''Within The Sylvan Realms Of Frost'' (1999, So It Is Done Productions) * ''Joined in Darkness'' (1999, Baphomet Records) * ''Empire Of The Fallen Angel'' (2003, Blood, Fire, Death Records) * ''Enthroned is the Night'' (2012, Forever Plagued Records) * ''Black Star Gnosis'' (2023, Dark Descent Records)

===Demos=== * "Impure Blessings (Dark Angel of the Four Wings)" (1991, cassette, self-released) * "Hypocrisy of the Accursed Heavens" (1994, cassette, self-released) * "Ascension of a Star Long Since Fallen" (1995, cassette, self-released) * "The Dawn of Eternal Damnation" (1996, self-released) * "Commencement of the Dark Crusades" (1996, self-released)

===DVDs=== * ''Demoncy Live'' (2003) * ''Gathering of Shadows'' (2006)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{discogs artist}}

Category:American black metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1989