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Lucifer (multinational band)

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Lucifer
Lucifer performing at Rockharz Open Air 2022
Lucifer performing at Rockharz Open Air 2022
Background information
OriginBerlin, Germany
GenresHeavy metal, hard rock, doom metal, occult rock
Years active2014–present
LabelsRise Above, Century Media, Nuclear Blast
MembersJohanna Sadonis
Nicke Andersson
Martin Nordin
Linus Björklund
Harald Göthblad
Past membersNeta Shimoni
Dino Gollnick
Andy Prestidge
Gaz Jennings
Robin Tidebrink
Alexander Mayr

Lucifer is a heavy metal band formed in Berlin in 2014 by frontwoman Johanna Sadonis. Following several member changes, vocalist Sadonis remains the only constant member, with the current line-up featuring drummer Nicke Andersson, guitarists Martin Nordin and Linus Björklund, and bassist Harald Göthblad. Currently based out of Stockholm, the members are Swedish with the exception of the German Sadonis.

History

[edit]

Although The Oath released their self-titled debut album in 2014 via Rise Above Records to much critical acclaim, the duo of singer Johanna Sadonis and guitarist Linnéa Olsson broke up that same year. Having had big plans for The Oath, Sadonis was devastated but decided to utilize the energy she had and quickly formed Lucifer to continue making music.[1][2] She said that it "was clear" Andy Prestidge, former drummer for The Oath and Angel Witch, and bassist Dino Gollnick, who was about to play with The Oath before its demise, were going to be a part of the new project.[1][2] When Sadonis told Rise Above founder Lee Dorrian that she was looking for a guitar player, Dorrian recommended his bandmate from the recently disbanded Cathedral, Gaz Jennings.[1][2] Jennings quickly agreed and he and Sadonis began writing songs.

Because of Jenning's work with his band Death Penalty, it was agreed that he would not play live with Lucifer or appear in promotional photos.[1] The single "Anubis" was released on 7 April 2015 on Rise Above Records.[3] With a spot on the bill at the April 2015 Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands approaching, Sadonis quickly booked four smaller gigs in Germany to warm up.[2] However, after being unable to find a guitar player for their first gigs, Jennings stepped in and with a big American tour booked later, his position as live guitarist continued.[1] The band's first album, Lucifer I, was released on 16 June and the North American tour took place from 30 July to 23 August.[4]

Frontwoman Johanna Sadonis has been the only constant member of Lucifer.

In March 2017 it was announced that Jennings and Prestidge had amicably left the band.[5] Sadonis later revealed that Jennings left in November 2016, after their European tour.[6] On the same day Jennings told Sadonis he was leaving, she met with her now-husband, Swedish multi-instrumentalist Nicke Andersson, who had been asking to write songs with her for some time.[6][7] With a new songwriting partner and eager to record, Lucifer recorded their second album in Andersson's home studio without a complete band, only the addition of guitarist Robin Tidebrink.[7]

Now based out of Stockholm and signed to Century Media Records, the single "Faux Pharaoh" was released in December 2017.[8][9] A second single "California Sun" followed on 4 May 2018.[9] Before Lucifer II's 6 July release, guitarist Martin Nordin of the band Dead Lord and Austrian bassist Alexander Mayr were recruited as full members.[7] In October Lucifer began a European tour that included performing live on the TV show Rockpalast. They also took part in Kiss Kruise VIII, a six-day American music cruise from 31 October to 5 November.[10]

Lucifer toured North America throughout March 2019, performing one concert every day for 14 days straight, before supporting The Hellacopters at four European concerts in May.[11] Throughout August they returned to the US for the second part of their North American tour.[12] In October, Lucifer announced that Mayr would be leaving the band due to a medical issue. Harald Göthblad joined as bassist towards the end of December.

The band's third album, Lucifer III, was released on 20 March 2020 and was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal at the 2021 Grammis awards.[13] On their own record label, Riding Reaper Records, Lucifer released a split vinyl single with Kadavar on 19 March 2021, to which they contributed a cover of "Pull Away/So Many Times" by Dust.[14] They released another cover on 4 June; "Gone with the Wind Is My Love" featuring Elin Larsson of Blues Pills, originally by Rita and the Tiaras.[15] Lucifer's fourth album, Lucifer IV, was released on 29 October 2021.[16] It was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal at the 2022 Grammis awards and was cited on Metal Injection, Wikimetal and Collectors Room on their lists of the top metal albums of 2021.[17][18][19][20]

In July 2022, Lucifer announced that they had signed to Nuclear Blast and were working on their fifth studio album.[21] That album, Lucifer V, is scheduled for release on 26 January 2024.[22]

Music and style

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Lucifer's influences include Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Blue Öyster Cult, Lucifer's Friend, Steppenwolf, 70s Heart and Fleetwood Mac.[8] When the group started, Jennings would write guitar riffs based on Sadonis' ideas and they would arrange songs together. Sadonis would then write the lyrics and vocal melodies.[1] She often uses occult imagery intertwined with personal stories. For example, the song "Anubis", refers to the god of the same name in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, but he also stands as a metaphor for someone she knows. A self-admitted spiritual person, Sadonis explained "the music is very laden with spirituality and magic is like a central topic in the music, whether it being in the lyrics or how I present everything, the whole visual stuff but also numbers." For example, the singer has an affinity with the number seven, thus the band name Lucifer has seven letters and the all-seeing eye on their first album has seven beams shining down.[1] Sadonis said that she felt the first Lucifer album was aimed more at a particular crowd, the "doom and underground metal people," and wanted their second to attract a wider audience.[23] She explained that the first album became much heavier when Jennings joined and described the sophomore effort as more in line with what her original vision for the band was.[6][24]

Lucifer's style musically and physically is retro, influenced by the 1960s and 1970s. Sadonis and Andersson both feel the "slick and polished" sound of modern recording techniques is inferior to the music from those decades.[7] Speaking of the first album, Sadonis said it was recorded live with analogue equipment, so "you hear the little flaws. It's not over-produced because that would take the life out of it."[25] Sadonis is particular about the visuals, saying "I like the presentation of the band and I think it's part of the ritual to kind of bring across the message of the music. It's meant for all senses, for your brain, for your ears, for your eyes, everything."[1]

Band members

[edit]
Multi-instrumentalist Nicke Andersson joined Lucifer as drummer in 2017.
Current members
  • Johanna Sadonis – vocals, keyboards (2014–present)
  • Nicke Andersson – drums, guitar, bass (2017–present)
  • Martin Nordin – guitar (2018–present)
  • Linus Björklund – guitar (2018–present)
  • Harald Göthblad – bass (2019–present)
Former members
  • Neta Shimoni – guitar (2014)[26]
  • Dino Gollnick – bass (2014–2015)
  • Andy Prestidge – drums, keyboards (2014–2017)
  • Gaz Jennings – guitar (2014–2017)
  • Robin Tidebrink – guitar (2017–2018)
  • Alexander Mayr – bass (2018–2019)
Timeline

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Year Album details GER
[27] 		SWE
[28] 		SWI
[29] 		BEL
(WA) 		SPA UK
Rock
2015 Lucifer I — — — — — —
2018 Lucifer II 40 12 68 188[29] — 18[30]
2020 Lucifer III
  • Released: 20 March 2020
  • Label: Century Media
 17 10 — — 53[29] —
2021 Lucifer IV
  • Released: 29 October 2021
  • Label: Century Media
 71 33 — — — 27[31]
2024 Lucifer V
  • Released: 26 January 2024
  • Label: Nuclear Blast
 32 38
[32] 		77 — — —

Singles

[edit]
Year Title GER SWE
2015 "Anubis"
  • Released: 7 April 2015
 — —
"Izrael"
  • Released: 18 May 2015
 — —
2017 "Faux Pharaoh"
  • Released: December 2017
 — —
2018 "California Son"
  • Released: 4 May 2018
 — —
"Evening Wind"
  • Released: 28 September 2018
 — —
2020 "Ghosts"
  • Released: 24 January 2020
 — —
"Midnight Phantom"
  • Released: 21 February 2020
 — —
"Dirt in the Ground"
  • Released: 28 August 2020
 — —
2021 "Pull Away/So Many Times"
  • Released: 19 March 2021
 — —
"Gone with the Wind Is My Love" feat. Elin Larsson
  • Released: 4 June 2021
 — —
"Wild Hearses"
  • Released: 29 July 2021
 — —

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Johanna Sadonis makes a pact with Lucifer". Radio Metal. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "KTVU.com talks to Lucifer singer Johanna Sadonis". KTVU. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  3. ^ "LUCIFER To Release Debut Single "Anubis" On April 7th; A-Side Streaming". Bravewords. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  4. ^ "LUCIFER Vocalist JOHANNA SADONIS Talks Sudden Demise Of THE OATH - "It Was Not Supposed To End So Prematurely"". Bravewords. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  5. ^ "LUCIFER Joined By ENTOMBED's NICKE ANDERSSON". Blabbermouth.net. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "JOHANNA SADONIS Says New LUCIFER Album 'Digs Even Deeper Into The Record Crates Of The '70s'". Blabbermouth.net. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "An interview with Johanna Sadonis and Nick Andersson of Lucifer". Lots of Muzic. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  8. ^ a b "LUCIFER Feat. ENTOMBED, Ex-THE OATH Members: Second Album Due In July". Blabbermouth.net. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Hear Doom-Rock Act Lucifer's Smoldering New Song "California Son"". Revolver. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  10. ^ "LUCIFER Announce European Tour Dates, Festivals". Bravewords. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  11. ^ "LUCIFER TO HIT THE ROAD FOR NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR". Go Venue Magazine. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  12. ^ "LUCIFER Announce North America Headline Tour Part II". Go Venue Magazine. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. ^ "DARK TRANQUILLITY Wins Swedish GRAMMIS Award For 'Moment'". Blabbermouth.net. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  14. ^ "LUCIFER Pay Tribute To DUST With "Pull Away/So Many Times" Cover; Announce Split Single With KADAVAR". Bravewords. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Johanna Sadonis & Elin Larsson Share How New Collab Captures A 'Timeless' Rock Sound". Hollywood Life. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  16. ^ "LUCIFER Reveal Cover Artwork For Their New Long Player "LUCIFER IV"". Rock 'N' Load. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  17. ^ "AT THE GATES, TRIBULATION & LUCIFER Up For Swedish Grammis Awards". Metal Injection. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  18. ^ "James Alvarez's Top 15 Albums of 2021". 17 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Os 50 melhores álbuns de rock e heavy metal de 2021". 22 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Os 25 melhores discos de 2021 segundo a Collectors Room". 16 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Lucifer sign with Nuclear Blast Records". Distorted Sound. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  22. ^ "New releases".
  23. ^ "From Danzig to Lucifer: Johanna Sadonis' Search for Meaning Through Occult Rock". Revolver. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  24. ^ "LUCIFER's JOHANNA SADONIS On Retro Rock Image: 'Nobody Wants To See BLACK SABBATH In Jogging Pants And Sneakers'". Blabbermouth.net. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  25. ^ "'Find The Real': Johanna Sadonis of LUCIFER". Ghost Cult. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Interview: Johanna Sadonis of Lucifer". The Moshville Times. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  27. ^ "lucifer [DE]". offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  28. ^ "Lucifer Discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  29. ^ a b c "Discographie Lucifer [DE]". hitparade.ch. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". OCC. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". OCC. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 5". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
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