Doomsword

DoomSword is an Italian heavy metal band from Varese, Northern Italy, that combines elements of doom metal, viking metal and traditional heavy metal. Doomsword's lyrics are concerned with epic themes such as ancient and medieval history, fantasy literature, and European mythology.

History

1014AD and early days

Founded in 1997 by Deathmaster (previously a member of the metal band Agarthi), DoomSword were born as a studio project aimed at playing epic / medieval influenced epic metal in the way of Warlord. The original members of the band, Deathmaster and Guardian Angel, were already working together on an ancient music project called 1014AD with strong medieval influences, and after a short hiatus they re-arranged the 1014AD material into proper heavy metal songs, and released them as a demo called "Sacred Metal" the same year. The original line-up saw Deathmaster taking care of guitars and vocals and Guardian Angel taking care of drums and the second guitar. A session bass guitar player was used for the demo, after which bass player Dark Omen joined the band.

Debut album period (1997–1999)

In 1998 DoomSword were signed by Italian label Underground Symphony and released their first same-titled album in 1999. New singer Nightcomer joined the band (Deathmaster only took care of guitars). After the release of the album the band almost split up, with Nightcomer and Guardian Angel leaving DoomSword.

Dragonheart period (2001–present)

In 2001, Deathmaster resumed his original role of singer in the band, recruited new elements and resurrected the band after a 2-year hiatus, and with this new line up (The Forger and Guardian Angel II at guitars, Grom at drums) the band signed for Dragonheart records. DoomSword went on to publish 4 albums with Dragonheart, namely the purely epic Resound the Horn, the Viking-themed Let Battle Commence, the classic metal with Irish influences My Name Will Live On and the darker and more introspective The Eternal Battle (released on February 25, 2011). In 2002 DoomSword broke their live "silence" by playing a gig with Manilla Road in Porto D'Ascoli, Italy, and subsequently taking part to important underground metal festivals such as the Keep It True, Bang Your Head, Up The Hammers, Headbangers Open Air etc.

Pseudonyms

As mentioned on their official site, DoomSword adopted pseudonyms in 1997 to reinforce their bond with their main influence, US metal band Warlord. The pseudonyms Deathmaster and Guardian Angel are taken from names carved on headstones in the cover painting of Warlord's "Deliver Us" EP.

Band members

Current members

• Deathmaster – vocals (1997-present), guitars (1997-1999)
• Geilt – bass (2004-2011, 2018-present)
• WrathLord– drums (2002-present)
• The Ancient – guitars (2010-present)

Former members

• Soldier of Fortune - bass (1997)
• Dark Omen – bass (1998-2004)
• Nidhoggr – bass (2011-2017)
• Guardian Angel – drums, guitars (1997-1999)
• Nightcomer – vocals (1998-1999)
• Guardian Angel II – guitars (2000-2002)
• Grom - drums (2000-2002)
• The Forger– guitars (2000-2009)
• Sacred Heart – guitars (2003-2013)
• The Autarch - guitars (2013-2018)

Timeline

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Colors =

 id:vocals value:red        legend:Vocals
 id:guitar value:green      legend:Guitar
 id:bass   value:blue       legend:Bass
 id:drums  value:orange     legend:Drums
 id:studio value:black      legend:Studio_album
 id:other  value:gray(0.6)  legend:Demo
 id:bars   value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1997

LineData =

layer:back
color:studio
at:03/09/1999
at:06/24/2002
at:09/29/2003
at:06/22/2007
at:02/25/2011

LineData =

layer:back
color:other
at:06/01/1997

BarData =

bar:Deathmaster text:"Deathmaster"
bar:Gabriele    text:"Nightcomer"
bar:Gianluca    text:"Guardian Angel II"
bar:Alessio     text:"Sacred Heart"
bar:Matteo      text:"The Autarch"
bar:Maurizio    text:"The Forger"
bar:Gianluca2   text:"The Ancient"
bar:Soldier     text:"Soldier of Fortune"
bar:Dark        text:"Dark Omen"
bar:Geilt       text:"Geilt"
bar:Christian   text:"Nidhoggr"
bar:Alberto     text:"Guardian Angel"
bar:Diego       text:"Grom"
bar:Emiliano    text:"Wrathlord"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
bar:Deathmaster from:01/01/1997 till:end        color:vocals
bar:Deathmaster from:01/01/1997 till:08/01/1999 color:guitar width:3
bar:Gabriele    from:06/01/1998 till:08/01/1999 color:vocals
bar:Alberto     from:01/01/1997 till:08/01/1999 color:drums
bar:Alberto     from:01/01/1997 till:08/01/1999 color:guitar width:3
bar:Gianluca    from:11/01/2000 till:10/01/2002 color:guitar
bar:Alessio     from:11/01/2003 till:01/06/2013 color:guitar
bar:Matteo      from:01/20/2013 till:12/13/2018 color:guitar
bar:Maurizio    from:11/01/2000 till:12/20/2009 color:guitar
bar:Gianluca2   from:02/01/2010 till:end        color:guitar
bar:Soldier     from:01/01/1997 till:10/01/1997 color:bass
bar:Dark        from:02/01/1998 till:06/01/2004 color:bass
bar:Geilt       from:06/01/2004 till:01/03/2011 color:bass
bar:Christian   from:01/03/2011 till:06/01/2018 color:bass
bar:Geilt       from:06/01/2018 till:end        color:bass
bar:Diego       from:11/01/2000 till:10/01/2002 color:drums
bar:Emiliano    from:10/01/2002 till:end        color:drums
</timeline>

Discography

Demos

• Sacred Metal (1997)

Albums

• Doomsword – (1999)
• Resound the Horn – (2002)
• Let Battle Commence – (2003)
• My Name Will Live On – (2007)
• The Eternal Battle – (2011)

Compilations

• DoomSword – (2021)

External links

• Template:Web archive