The history of AmethistA

The history of Amethista begins on March 2004 when vocalist AERETICA (ex-Dismal) and keyboard player ALEXANDROS (Highlord) unite their forces to start a new project, musically inspired by symphonic black metal
as well as gothic metal. The line-up is soon completed by drummer LUCA T-1000 (Highlord), bassist
FRATER ALCHEMOTH KATHARIAN (ex-Dismal, ex Maldoror, ex The Advent) and axeman VICTOR LAI (guitar,
ex-S.D.A.). The band works really hard on original stuff and is able to write and record its first full-length album
in less than a year.

• March 25th, 2005: Amethista hit the "BARRUMBA" stage (Historical music club in Turin) as opening act for Ancient. This is the very first gig for the band, that receives a positive reaction from the audience. Later that year, in July, AmethistA record at  "Dracma Studios" a promo CD featuring two tracks (“Invisible Queen” and “Lights In The Abyss”).
• September 2005: the band enters MusicLab Studio to record its first full-length album, "Realitale", featuring seven songs. After the recording sessions are over, LUCA T-1000 quits the band to focus on different projects and CARLOS  takes over.
• November 13th, 2005 Amethista take part in the 6th edition of "Black Celtic Summit", supporting bands like Opera IX and Negura Bunget.
• December 4th, 2005: Amethista play at "Brutality Fair" festival (Faster, Turin) supporting Swedish death metal act Dismember.
• February, 2006: Amethista sign a deal with Necrotorture Promotion and, two months later, “Realitale” finally hits the streets. The album is distributed by Masterpiece Distribution.
• April 27th , 2006: the band celebrates the release of the album with a show at Fabrik Club, in Turin, along with Motus Tenebrae as guest band.
• August 23rd, 2006: Amethista play at "Mostra dei Mostri" (in Cellino Attanasio, a small place near Teramo), a festival that is also a competition: the winning band will have the chance to record some stuff at Temple Of Noise Studios and play one more show the second day of the festival. Amethista play in front of hundreds of crazy people that enthusiastically welcome the group. The gig turns out successful and the band wins the competition. The following night Aeretica and her fellows hit once again the stage, but this time as opening act for thrash metal gods Extrema.
• Between the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, the band enters Music Lab studios to work on the new album. Amethista temporarily stop playing live to focus on recording sessions. On March, Aeretica & Co. spend some days in Rome, at Temple Of Noise studios, to record a couple of new tracks, i.e. “Candles” and a cover version of Micheal Sembello's classic “Maniac” .
• April 12th, 2008: AmethistA play at "In Nomine Lilith Night", a special event featuring bands with female vocalists. The show is held once again at Fabrik club where the band support Cadaveria. In the meantime, the band starts to work on a new release, a single-CD entitled "AUGUSTA TAURINORUM", that is officially released on May 29th, during a concert in Turin at Da Giau.
• June 2008: Alexandros and Victor quit the band.
• July 2008: Yan replaces Alexandros on keyboards.
• December, 2008: the band takes part in a tribute to Mortuary Drape, "SOLVE ET COAGULA", produced by IMPERIALISMO PAGANO Productions and WAR KOMMAND Productions. This compilation features 13 Italian bands from the deep underground scene and will be out at the end of 2009.
• January 11th/12th, 2009: AmethistA record a Mortuary Drape's classic, "Obsessed by Necromancy", at Blacklite Studios (Turin). Yan is involved in the recording sessions also a sound engineer and there is a special guest on guitar: Fabio Novarese from Edenbeast.
• March 2009: the band signs a deal with HURRICANE ENT./ DEADSUN PROD. for distribution, promotion, and co-production of the new release "GRIMORION", that will be out in September.
• April 2009: The search for a new guitarist is over: Wall, versatile musician previously active with many underground bands, joins Amethista.
• November 2009: Amethista announces the recruitment of new members: Kheme (drums) and Ruach Alhim (keyboards) have officially joined the ranks.
• February 2011: the several line-up changes are finally over. New drummer Pandaemonium and guitarist G.R.I.M. (ex-Nightbreed) join AmethistA. Afterward, the band takes part in Walpurgisnacht Black Metal Festival as headliner.
• June 2011: AmethistA are now ready to strike again. The band is now at work to release GrimOrion's successor. New blasting black metal songs are on the way...