Hellhammer "Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D."

Formed in May 1982 under the name Hammerhead, which was soon changed to Hellhammer. The band was formed by Tom Warrior and Steve Warrior after the collapse of their previous band, Grave Hill.

Hellhammer are widely credited as pioneers of extreme metal (black metal in particular) along with Venom and Bathory. Tom G Warrior and Martin Ain formed Celtic Frost the day after Hellhammer disbanded.

Hellhammer had two more short-term bassists in '83 that time has since forgotten (Mike Owens has previously been listed as a drummer, however Hellhammer's new website credits him as a bassist). Despite the "Warrior brothers" thing, Steve and Tom are unrelated. Steve was originally a roadie for Tom's previous band, Grave Hill.

The last thing planned with Hellhammer was a full-length called To Mega Therion in mid-1984 with new tracks called "Beyond the Beyond", "Ride on the Wings of Sabbath", "Defeat of the Serpent", "Demon Entrails" and "Phallical Tantrum", among others. The band split up before the songwriting process was finished and none of these tracks were ever formally recorded. However, Tom Warrior and Martin Eric Ain used the title To Mega Therion for the first full-length Celtic Frost album.

Compilation Appearances:

- "Revelations of Doom" and "Messiah" on Death Metal (Noise Records, 1984)

- "Crucifixion" on Metal Massacre V (Metal Blade, 1984)

- "Triumph of Death" on Lords of Chaos - The History of Occult Music (Prophecy Productions, 2002 / Index Verlag, 2008)

Apocalyptic Raids is an EP by the Swiss extreme metal band Hellhammer. It was recorded and released in March 1984, and was the band's only commercial release.

The record was a major influence on the then-emerging death metal and black metal genres. It has served as an inspiration to such varied and respected bands as Napalm Death and Sepultura, both of whom recorded cover versions of "Messiah".

Hellhammer would split up only three months after recording this EP, and later regrouped as Celtic Frost. The EP would be reissued six years later as Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D., boasting new artwork and two bonus tracks.

A reissue of the original 1984 release. The two bonus tracks were originally included on Noise Records' Death Metal compilation.

The cover art was drawn by José Guadalupe Posada. Inside the CD inlay is a small message written by Tom G. Warrior about the history and origins of Hellhammer.

According to the booklet of this release, Martin Eric Ain and Tom G. Warrior left Hellhammer three weeks after the recording sessions of Apocalyptic Raids.

Recording information:

Recorded at Caet Studio, Berlin, 2-7 March 1984.