Legendary metal band from Nottingham, England. Sabbat began when Martin Walkyer and Frazer Craske formed a rock band called Hydra, back in 1983, when they still attended school. After hooking up with Andy Sneap and Simon Negus, the band reformed as Sabbat in 1985. After recording a demo in 1986, called "Fragments Of A Faith Forgotten", they landed a spot on the BBC radio show "Friday Rock Show", which in turn led to a record deal with Noise. The original line-up recorded 2 albums, and then Martin and Frazer left the band. The remaining members recorded one more album, but shortly after disbanded. Simon, Andy and Martin have lately re-appeared as Return To The Sabbat. Martin was also the main man in the folk metal band Skyclad. Andy Sneap went on to become a highly acclaimed producer.

HISTORY OF A TIME TO COME (1988, 2000) NOISE/MODERN MUSIC

  1. Intro
  2. A Cautionary Tale
  3. Hosanna In Excelsis
  4. Behind The Crooked Cross
  5. Horned Is The Hunter
  6. I For An Eye
  7. For Those Who Died
  8. A Dad Man's Robe - instrumental
  9. The Church Bizarre

Line-up:

Andy Sneap - Lead Guitar

Martin Walkyer - Vocals

Frazer Craske - Bass Guitar

Simon Negus - Drums

My first memory of this album is when I met a now great friend of mine for the first time. A mutual friend introduced us, as he knew we both were metalheads. We started talking, and he asked be if I liked Sabbat. "Of course I like Black Sabbath", I told him. But it wasn't the legendary English band he was talking about. It was another English band, and they played thrash metal with some hints of death metal! And the first time he played it to me, I was blown away. Sabbat have a unique sound, and mostly because of Martin's machine-gun like vocal approach. I mean, sometimes it's as if he never shuts up, and you wonder when the heck he is drawing his breath. The music is like rolling thunder. I've always compared their sound to Sodom. 'History Of A Time To Come' is a concept album, but I've never really taken the time to find out what it's all about. The lyrics are quite insipid! Still, I love this album, and I consider it a classic. 'History...' was long out of print, and pretty hard to come by, but in 2000 Modern Music reissued it. So finally I've secured a copy.

Killer tracks: It's impossible to pick tracks, because the album should be heard as a whole.

DREAMWEAVER (1989) NOISE

  1. The Beginning Of The End (Intro)
  2. The Clerical Conspiracy
  3. Advent Of Insanity
  4. Do Dark Horses Dream Of Nightmares?
  5. The Best Of Enemies
  6. How Have The Mighty Fallen?
  7. Wildfire
  8. Mythistory
  9. Happy Never After (Outro)

Line-up:

Andy Sneap - Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars

Martin Walkyer - Voice

Frazer Craske - Bass

Simon Negus - Drums & Percussion

Simon Jones - Lead Guitar

Sabbat returns with more of the same. Absolutely nothing is changed, except for the addition of one guitar-player. The story is based on the book 'The Way Of Wyrd' by Brian Bates, and it is a fantasy-tale. But it is the music that I'm into this band for. Another stellar thrash metal platter indeed. I also love the cool artwork, done by Tim Beer.

Killer tracks: The Clerical Conspiracy, Do Dark Horses Dream Of Nightmares?, Wildfire

MOURING HAS BROKEN (1991) NOISE/BMG

  1. The Demise Of History
  2. Theological Void
  3. Paint The World Black
  4. Dumbstruck
  5. The Voice Of Time
  6. Dreamscape
  7. Without A Trace
  8. Mourning Has Broken

Line-up:

Andy Sneap - Guitar

Ritchie Desmond - Vocals

Wayne Banks - Bass

Simon Negus - Drums

Neil Watson - Guitar

The third album sees a lot of changes in the band. Gone are the founding members. And without Martin's signature voice, things are bound to sound different. Their new vocalist isn't that bad, but he's not Martin. Andy Sneap has always been the one who writes the music, so I still think this is a good album. But maybe they should have renamed the band?

Killer tracks: Paint The World Black

Andy Sneap guest appearances:

Fozzy - Happenstance (as Lord Edgar Bayden Powell)

 

Related artists:

Blaze