Mystifier

From listening to Mystifier's corrosive, hyper-speed, symphonic-tinged black metal, you'd never guess that they hailed from the very tropical, richly historical seaside city of Salvador, Brazil. Yet, this is the truth and the whole truth (honest!) behind this long-running satanic metal group, which was first formed by guitarist Beelzebubth in 1989. Vocalist Naosouninguem, bassist Behemoth, and drummer Lucifuge rounded out the lineup that recorded the ten-song Tormenting the Holy Trinity demo, as well as the locally distributed "The Evil Ascension Returns" single before signing with France's Osmose Productions and releasing 1992's Wicca debut. Second album Goetia introduced new vocalist Asmodeeus, but further member defections and various financial difficulties sidetracked Mystifier for the next three years, so that they only returned to action with their career-defining (in most every way, actually) third LP, The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn't Live Here. New drummer Louis Bear joined the group at this time, and good fortune finally smiled upon them when Greek black metal gods Rotting Christ picked them as the support act on their South American tour. To commemorate their tenth anniversary in 1999, the band's now legendary first demo was given an international release by Eldritch Music under the title The Fourth Evil Calling from the Abyss — Tormenting the Holy Trinity, and 2001 saw the arrival of Mystifier's fourth official album (fifth overall), Profanus, released worldwide by Crash/Pavement Music two years later.