About us
Emerged in 1989 with a raw and uncompromising sound. With their upcoming album Solitary Bleed (2025), they take a darker, more theatrical direction while staying true to their extreme roots.
Ceremony
Ceremony was founded in 1989 and belonged to the first wave of Dutch death metal bands, together
with icons such as Sinister, Gorefest and Altar. Their fast and brutal death metal fit in seamlessly with
the emerging extreme music scene of that time.
In 1991 the band made an impression with their
debut demo Victims of Morbidity, which was chosen ‘demo of the week’ in the influential Aardschok
Magazine. This success quickly led to the release of the EP Inclemency in 1992 by Cenotaph Records,
which further refined their raw, uncompromising sound.
A year later the full-fledged debut album Tyranny From Above (1993) followed, released by Cyber
Music Records. The album established Ceremony as a promising name within the death metal scene.
But after the final promo in 1994, the band went quiet.
The restart
After years of silence, a restart came in 2015 thanks to the famous Vic Records label, Tyranny From
Above re-released. This reissue brought the band members back into contact with each other
and eventually led to a reunion. Which eventually resulted in the second album Retribution (2019),
released by Vic Records. The album marked a fresh start for Ceremony, with some new band
members and a more varied sound in which, in addition to the familiar death metal, influences of
black, doom and atmospheric elements could also be heard.
Bandmembers
Johan
Mark
Peter
Solitary Bleed
In 2024, Ceremony began recording their third album, Solitary Bleed. This album marks a new step for the band, offering a darker, more theatrical sound with the intensity of their previous work. The album was produced by Erwin Hermsen (Toneshed Studio), known for his work with Legion Of The Damned and Dead Head, among others. Frank Schiphorst (Mayan) provided the orchestral aspect, which gave the music a layered and epic dimension. Linn Liv (Sisters of Suffocation, Everything Decays) provided guest vocals on the title track Solitary Bleed.
