Belial

Belial was founded in 1991 in Oulu, Finland, by Jarno Koskinen (vocals), Jarno Anttila (vocals, guitar), Jani Lehtosaari (vocals, guitar, bass), Reima Kellokoski (vocals, drums) and Jukka Valppu (guitar). It was formed at the start of the first Finnish death metal boom. Guitarist Jarno Anttila was also with Impaled Nazarene. The two bands used a similar style, closer to the black metal of the time than to the death metal of their compatriots Funebre, Abhorrence or Demigod. In 1991, a rehearsal tape and the demo The Gods of the Pit were released. The band then signed a contract with the Austrian independent label Lethal Records, on which the EP Wisdom of Darkness was released in 1992 and the first album Never Again in 1993.