Pantokrator (band)

Pantokrator is a Swedish Christian metal band that was formed in 1996. The band's name means "Lord Almighty" in Ancient Greek. Several members have been in Crimson Moonlight and Sanctifica.[3]

Pantokrator
OriginLuvehult, Sweden
GenresProgressive death metal, Christian metal,[1] death metal,[1] melodic death metal
Years active1996-present
LabelsRottweiler,[2] Whirlwind, Soundmass,[2] Rival, Tarantula
Associated actsCrimson Moonlight, Sanctifica, Holy Matrimony, Melech
WebsiteOfficial site
MembersJonas Wallinder
Rickard Gustafsson
Mattias Johansson
Karl Walfridsson
Johnathan Jansson

Background

Pantokrator was formed in fall 1996 as a cover band.[4] The band then decided to play songs written by themselves. It has had six members overall: Jonas Wallinder (bass guitar), Rickard Gustafsson (drums), Karl Walfridsson (vocals) and Matthias Johansson and Johnathan Jansson (guitars).

Style

Pantokrator's common genre has been death metal.[5] In a review of Pantokrator and Sanctifica's split EP, the band's style was described as "Crunchy death metal". The full review stated, "A classic brutal release with two great bands. Sanctifica plays Symphonic Black Metal & Pantokrator plays Crunchy Death Metal. Really cool stuff that shouldn't be miss if you are into brutal metal."[6] Another review described them as Brutal, Doomy Death Metal.[7] Art For The Ears webzine, reviewing the band's album Aurum, said, "It's always pleasant to hear a band making progression. Aurum is the second full-length studio-album from the Swedish death metal band Pantokrator. On Aurum they've abandoned the Swedish lyrics they wrote for Blod. Now all songs are in English and the growls are quite easy to understand. This can't be said of the printing in the booklet. They are almost impossible to read as the texts have almost the same color as the backgrounds. But the music makes up for the lack of care for the booklet (the cover is also one of the dullest I've ever seen). What is immediately clear after I popped this disc into the player, is that the band has progressed. The songs are more mature and the sound quality is very good. Most of the songs are uptempo. A few are slower, more depressive and doomy (like the excellent "Thy Feeble Flame"). Pantokrator is not a band with lots of guitar solos, but the solo in "Where Lilith Found Her Peace" is really tasty. What I miss on this album, is the violin playing that Blod had. Nonetheless, Pantokrator has moved forward and the result is a very nice piece of melodic death metal."[5]

Members
Current members
  • Jonas Wallinder - bass guitar (1997-present)
  • Rickard Gustafsson - drums (ex-Golden Resurrection) (1997-present)
  • Mattias Johansson - guitar (1996-present)
  • Karl Walfridsson - vocals (1996-present)
  • Jonathan "Steele" Jansson - guitar, backing vocals (Crimson Moonlight, ex-Sanctifica) (2003–present)
Current live member
  • Johan Ylendatrand - bass guitar (2013–present) (Crimson Moonlight)
Former live member
  • Linus Pilebrand - bass guitar (2011)

Discography
Demos
  • Ancient Paths - Unclean Plants (1997)
  • Even Unto the Ends of the Earth (1998)
EPs
  • Allhärskare (2000)
  • Songs of Solomon (2001)
Splits
  • In the Bleak Midwinter/Songs of Solomon (2001; Split with Sanctifica)[8]
Studio Albums
  • Blod (2003)[9]
  • Aurum (2007)[10]
  • Incarnate (2014)[1]
  • Marching Out of Babylon (2021)[11]
Compilations
  • 1997-2000 (2001)
  • A Decade of Thoughts 1996–2006 (2007)[12]
  • Sands of Time (2014)
Compilation appearances
  • Arachnid Terror Sampler (2002; Tarantula)[13]
  • Christian Deathcore: Volume 3 (2014)
  • Christian Deathcore: Volume 4 (2015)
  • The Pack Vol. 1 (2016; Rottweiler)
  • Kill the Ill (2017; Various)
  • Metal from the Dragon (Vol. 2) (2017; The Bearded Dragon Productions)
Singles
  • "Leviathan" (2007)
  • "The Initiation" (2010)
  • "Awesome God" (2016)[14]
  • "Crossroads" (2020)
  • "We the People" (2021)[11]

References
  1. Simula, Colin. "Pantokrator - Incarnate". HM. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  2. "Pantokrator signs with Soundmass and Rottweiler Records". Untombed. October 15, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  3. "Pantokrator". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  4. "Interview with Pantokrator". Metal Resource. December 5, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  5. "Review: Pantokrator - Aurum, Whirlwind Records". Art For The Ears. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  6. "Metal For Jesus - History - Pantokrator/Sanctifica - Split". Metal for Jesus. 2001. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  7. Morrow, Matt. "Pantokrator - Blod". The Whipping Post. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  8. Morrow, Matt (July 2002). "Pantokrator - Split". HM.
  9. Stevenson, Stewart (July 2003). "Pantokrator - Blod". HM.
  10. Beck, Chris (October 2007). "Pantokrator - Aurum". Heaven's Metal. Missing or empty |url= (help)
    - Pelt, Doug Van (November 2007). "Pantokrator - Aurum". HM.
  11. Stagg, David (January 8, 2021). "HM PREMIERE: Pantokrator Is Back After Seven Years With New Single And Music Video For "We The People"". HM Magazine. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  12. Larson, Michael J. (October 2007). "Pantokrator - A Decade of Thoughts". Heaven's Metal. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. "Turn Or Burn: Tarantula Promotions release compilation CD of extreme metal". Cross Rhythms. March 1, 2003. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  14. "Listen to "Pantokrator" Version of "Awesome God"". The Metal Resource. March 27, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
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