Zemial

Zemial is a one-man music project formed in Greece in 1989 by the multi-instrumentalist Dimitrios Dorian, also known as Vorskaath.
History
Sleeping Under Tartarus (1989-94)
After a number of demos, Zemial's first official release, Sleeping Under Tartarus, was released by Torched Records in 1992 to great acclaim, placing them amongst the pioneering black metal bands in Greece at the time. However, unlike other Greek bands at the time, Zemial’s sound was influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost.
By 1993, the first themes for what became For the Glory of UR, Necrolatry and NYKTA had been written.
For the Glory of UR (1994-2006)
In 1994, Vorskaath moved to Australia.
Zemial’s first album, For the Glory of UR, was recorded in 1995 and released in 1996 by the Greek label Hypervorea (later Black Lotus).
In 1997, a rehearsal for what was planned to be the album NYKTA was recorded on a 4-track machine, with Vorskaath on drums and his brother Eskarth on guitar. With bass guitar and vocals overdubbed, this was released as a demo for the album titled Necrolatry. The demo received an overwhelming response and was subsequently released on black and picture vinyl as well as compact disc by Iron pegasus Records.
Despite various recording sessions from this era, Zemial's output became limited as Vorskaath gave more time to his brother’s band Agatus and co-founded two new projects, Alpha Centauri and The Watcher.
In 1998, Zemial recorded their mini-LP Breath of The Pestilence in Germany with the famed thrash metal producer Harris Johns. They toured Europe in 2001.
Around 2000, Vorskaath took a serious interest in drumming and composition studies and subsequently played in various genres, from progressive rock to jazz, classical music and contemporary percussion music and became the timpanist of the Elder Wind Orchestra between 2003 and 2006.
The exposure to different compositional and performance considerations had a definite effect on Zemial both in terms of live presentation and composition as would be seen and heard later.
In 2003, with the mini-album Face of the Conqueror, Vorskaath revisited the thrash era yet with all of the elements that characterize the sound of Zemial. The band toured Europe again in mid-2003.
In Monumentum (2006-11)
In June 2006, Vorskaath moved to Germany.
As a mark of respect to the memory of Thomas Forsberg (Quorthon) - the greatest inspiration of Zemial in the early years - Vorskaath wrote a cycle of compositions that were independently released on 1 May 2006 titled In Monumentum and a tour followed in June 2006.
The single "I Am the Dark" was released in 2009 in two editions: a European edition by Temple of Darkness Records (Spain) and a North American edition by Hells Headbanger (USA).
In June 2011, DUSK was released as a 7" EP as the precursor to the album NYKTA, with progressive rock now playing a significant part in the direction of Zemial. The recording of NYKTA began in Germany.
Nykta (2011-2016)
After almost 18 years, Vorskaath returned to Greece where he also re-established his Studio 9 recording facilities.
On 31 October 2013, NYKTA, Zemial's most ambitious, experimental and technical work to date, was released to great acclaim and placed Zemial firmly in the avant-garde ranks of metal.
In 2014, Vorskaath announced, on the band’s official Facebook page, plans for Zemial’s next album titled Lurking.
On 30 September 2016, Vorskaath announced the release of The Repairer of Reputations EP, which marked Zemial's definite turn toward an older progressieve rock sound with classical music and jazz elements found in the style of composition.
2016-present
In October 2016, Zemial’s EP The Repairer of Reputations was released. Inspired by Robert W. Chambers' tale, The King in Yellow, the 15-minute, two-part epic narrative formed the greatest story told by Zemial thus far. It was the first time that the band drifted away from its metal sound completely and adopted a more progressive and avant garde approach. The EP was released only digitally via the band’s Bandcamp page.
On 1 January 2019, the band announced its collaboration and signing with Agonia Records. Later that year Proscriptor McGovern (ex-Absu) joined forces with Zemial for the upcoming American and European live shows. After 25 years of conversations and planning Zemial’s Voorskath and Proscriptor finally shared vocal duties on stage at 2019's Face(s) of the Conqueror Festival Performances.
Later that year, Proscriptor McGovern (ex Absu) joined Zemial for the upcoming American and European live shows. After 25 years of conversations and planning Zemial’s Voorskath and Proscriptor finally shared vocals on stage at 2019's Face(s) of the Conqueror Festival Performances. The shows were at Maryland Deathfest XVII (Rams Head Live) in Baltimore Maryland: USA (24 May 2019), Metal East/Nove Kolo at Kharkiv Ukraine (31 May 2019) and Darkness Guides Us in Glasgow, Scotland V
Musical style and lyrical themes
Through the years, the music of Zemial has encompassed diverse styles ranging from old style black-thrash and epic heavy metal, to progressive rock, electronic soundscapes and avant-garde art music.
Lyric themes include Vorskaath's views on philosophy, religion and the metaphysical, ancient mythology and history, occultism, the observation of nature micro and macro coscmically, and the nature of dreams and dreaming.
Discography
* 1992: Sleeping Under Tartarus (EP; Torched Records, later re-released by Gothic Records)
* 1996: For the Glory of UR (EP; Hypervorea, Sub-Terra Records)
* 1997: Necrolatry (demo)
* 1999: For the Glory of UR (re-release with additional tracks; Iron Pegasus Records)
* 2003: ΔαÎ¯μων (split EP with Kawir; Apocalyptor Records)
* 2003: Face of the Conqueror (EP; Iron Pegasus Records, later re-released by ΝΥΞ with Necrolatry demo)
* 2006: In Monumentum (ΝΥΞ)
* 2009: I am the Dark (EP; ΝΥΞ)
* 2011: Dusk (EP; Hells Headbangers Records)
* 2013: Nykta (Hells Headbangers Records)
* 2016: The Repairer of Reputations (EP; ΝΥΞ)
Personnel
*Vorskaath: vocals, guitars, bass guitar, synthesizers, drums, percussion, lyrics, production
*Session collaborators:
::Brian Barrit: vocals
::Melanie Krötz: vocals
::AR: bass guitar
::Aenceorg: guitar solo
::Scorpios: bass guitar
::Jarro Raphael: backing vocals
::Eskarth (The Dark): guitars, bass guitar, backing vocals
::Magus Wampyr Daoloth (Morbid): keyboards
::Themis Tolis: drums
::Necromaniac/Therthonax: bass guitar
*Live musicians:
::AR: bass guitar, vocals (2014 - present)
::Aenceorg: guitars(2016 - present)
::Chaosmos: guitars, vocals (2013 - 2015)
::Eskarth (The Dark) - guitars, bass guitar, vocals (2001-2011)
::Scorpios - bass guitar (2008-2011)
::George Antipatis - guitar (2011)
::Ralf Strzalka - guitar (2007)
::Jarro Raphael - bass guitar (2003-2006)
::Damon Good - bass guitar (2001)

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