Featured Artist
Vader is a Polish death metal band formed in Olsztyn in 1983 by bassist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek and guitarist Zbigniew "Vika" Wróblewski. Wiwczarek has remained the only constant member through various lineup changes. The current lineup includes Wiwczarek, rhythm guitarist Marek "Spider" PajÄ…k, bassist Tomasz "Hal" Halicki, and drummer MichaÅ‚ Andrzejczyk. Initially a heavy metal band, they evolved into death metal, releasing their debut album The Ultimate Incantation in 1992 and a total of eleven albums since. Their name comes from Darth Vader, and their lyrics often draw from themes like H. P. Lovecraft, World War II, horror, and science fiction. By 2002, they had sold around 500,000 releases worldwide.
Vader was formed in 1983, initially as a heavy/speed metal band, and later shifted to thrash metal and then death metal, releasing their first demo, Live in Decay, in 1986. They followed it with another demo, Necrolust, in 1989, but gained significant attention with their third demo, Morbid Reich, in 1990, selling nearly 10,000 copies and securing a contract with Earache Records. The songs from Morbid Reich were later included in their debut album, The Ultimate Incantation, released in 1992.
Due to communication issues, their contract with Earache ended, requiring the release of subsequent albums, Sothis and The Darkest Age: Live '93, on different labels in 1994. During this time, Vader toured extensively and signed with Impact Records in 1995, releasing albums like De Profundis, Future of the Past, and Black to the Blind. In 1998, Vader released Live in Japan and the Kingdom EP and a related VHS video, Vision and Voice. They also opened for Slayer in Poland that year and signed with Metal Blade Records.
In 1999, Vader toured frequently, starting with their first headlining US tour during the International Extreme Music Festival. They continued to perform at various European festivals and toured with thrash metal band Testament. Later that year, they recorded the album Litany, which came out in March 2000, along with a music video for "Cold Demons. " They supported the album with extensive live shows.
In April 2001, they released the EP Reign Forever World and toured Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and the US. They completed another European tour with bands like Cryptopsy and Dying Fetus in September. In 2002, Vader released Revelations and toured England, Scotland, and Ireland, releasing their first DVD, More Vision and the Voice, in May. In 2004, they began recording The Beast, which was delayed by an accident involving their drummer, Doc. He was eventually replaced by Daray. The band toured extensively following the album's release, including a notable show opening for Metallica.
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In March 2005, Doc left the band due to alcoholism and sadly passed away later that year at age 34. In 2008, bassist Novy left and was replaced by Marcin Rygiel for their U. S. Summer Slaughter Tour. Vader released their eighth album, Necropolis, in 2009, followed by Welcome to the Morbid Reich in 2011.
In December 2013, they began recording their tenth album, Tibi et Igni, which was released in May 2014. They continued with another album, The Empire, released in November 2016, and toured for nearly two years supporting it. In 2019, they released an extended play, Thy Messenger, and their latest full-length album, Solitude in Madness, came out in May 2020. As of January 2022, they started recording new music for their next album, and in March 2022, drummer James Stewart departed, with Michał Andrzejczyk taking his place.
