Callenish Circle Bio

The early roots of Callenish Circle go back to the autumn of 1992, when vocalist Patrick Savelkoul and former guitar player Jos Evers decided to form a Death Metal band, with which they started playing covers from their favourite bands like Death, Pestilence, Bolt Thrower and (old) Paradise Lost. Some line-up changes followed and it wasn't until early 1994 when the first serious line-up was gathered. From that 1994 line-up Ronny Tijssen (guitars), Gavin Harte (drums) and Patrick Savelkoul (vocals) still form today's core of the band.
The band immediately started writing own material and in 1995 they entered the Beaufort Recording Studio, where they recorded their one and only "Lovelorn-demo". The demo was celebrated by the underground metal scene all over the world and it quickly sold out with 1.000 copies.

With the success of the Lovelorn-demo also several record-companies started showing their interest in the young Dutch band and early 1996 the band signed up with the also young and promising Dutch metal label Hammerheart Records. The band entered the Beaufort-studio again, where they recorded their debut-album "Drift of Empathy" with producer Han Swagerman sr. (known for his work with The Gathering on their cult "Always"-album). The album received good reviews worldwide but due to unexperiences of both label and band they couldn't achieve the (little) breakthrough they all hoped for. The album is out of pressing for a long time now but it will be re-issued with new cover-artwork, a complete new design and digitally re-mastered some day.

After the split with Hammerheart Records it took some time to get things together again and to close the gap to the 2nd full-length album the band entered the Beaufort-studio once again where they recorded the "Escape" mcd, released in 1998 as an appetizer to the 2nd full-length album, on the now defunct Polar Bear Records. The response towards the mcd was positive as well and although the little label lacked a descent distribution network over 3.000 copies were sold. As Polar Bear Records didn't have the financial means to support the band with a descent studio budget the band decided to finance their 2nd album completely on their own expenses and to look out for a new record deal afterwards.

Furthermore the band decided to switch studios as their sound developed into a more aggressive, more intense and more powerful direction. So they decided to record their 2nd album "Graceful... yet Forbidding" in Franky's Recording Kitchen with God Dethroned-mastermind Henri Sattler. The album was mixed by Bertus Westerhuis (a.o. God Dethroned, Severe Torture, Dead Head).

The band immediately gained interest from not less than 8 record-companies and eventually the band signed a very promising deal for 2 albums with DSFA Records. Finally a bright future was waiting for the band as DSFA Records was known for the massive promotion and support of their bands. But how different things turned out in the end. DSFA Records got into serious financial problems and the album could only be released officially in the Benelux-countries. Therefore the band claimed back the legal rights of the album and started searching for new license-partners to release "Graceful... yet Forbidding" in the rest of the world as well. For Europe the band closed a license-deal with the small Norwegian label Edgerunner Records. Edgerunner Records has in the meantime released "Graceful... yet Forbidding" in the rest of Europe with the Escape-mcd as bonus. Besides the album was licensed in several other territories on CD and tape format. Even though the band faced a lot of misfortune with the troubles on DSFA Records they decided to continue their path of seemingly endless struggle and after all these years there was finally light in the end of the tunnel.

Almost 10 years of hard labour finally started paying off when major US label Metal Blade Records offered the band a worldwide record deal for 4 albums. The first album on Metal Blade Record (released early 2002) titled "Flesh_Power_Dominion" was recorded at Germany-based Stage One Studio with producer Andy Classen (former guitarist of German cult-band Holy Moses). The cd-booklet was created by Niklas Sundin (of Dark Tranquillity fame) and last but not least the album was mastered in the famous Wisseloord Studios in Holland.

The "Flesh_Power_Dominion"-album received massive feedback from the press; over 200 interviews were done with magazines and radiostations all over the world. After doing a Benelux-tour to promote the new album, Callenish Circle finally hit the European road in May 2002 with their Swedish labelmates Amon Amarth and Vomitory. Two other Swedish bands (Diabolical and Sins of Omission) were added to the bill as support-acts. 4 weeks long the band cruised all throughout Europe and left a crushing impression on the fans. In the summer the band played the world famous Ozzfest in Holland and several other festivals. After the summer months the band started focussing on new material again.

Soon it became clear that the new material was going to be again a step further into extremity, without loosing the typical melodies and atmosphere, which always have been trademarks in the Callenish Circle-sound. More power, more intensity and more over the top. Because of the ultra-fat sound of "Flesh_Power_Dominion" the band decided to work again with producer Andy Classen in the Stage One Studio. Niklas Sundin was again responsible for all artwork and the release for the new album 'My Passion // Your Pain" is set on the 5th of May.

Expect an ass-kicking and furious cocktail of Death / Thrash on LSD!

You've been warned!