Astarte

Going down in history as one of the earliest female-dominated Black Metal bands (there were others preceding them, such as Turkey’s EBONSIGHT or the Swedish DRACENA) and arguably the first to release a full-length album, ASTARTE was formed in Athens in 1995 under the name LLOTH (a spider queen from the D&D/Forgotten Realms RPG campaign series), under whose name they released one demo tape before re-christening themselves as ASTARTE in 1997. The original lineup of ASTARTE included band mastermind Maria “Tristessa” Kolokouri (vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards – INSECTED, VORPHALACK), Kinthia (guitars, acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Nemesis (guitars, keyboards) – drums were provided by session musician Nikos “Ivar”/”Ice” Asimakis) on each of ASTARTE’s full-length album.

In 1998, the debut album “Doomed Dark Years” appeared on the Greek Black Lotus Records, run by NECROMANTIA’s George “Magus Wampyr Daoloth” Zacharopoulos, who also produced the album at Studio 5 (Athens). A far cry from the neutered romantic/gothic nonsense normally expected from a band being primarily promoted as “female-fronted” in the late-1990s/early-2000s, ASTARTE’s first offering comes across as a tribute to the by-then mythical early 1990s Black Metal scene. Not so much its Greek offspring though, but rather the frostbitten Nordic counterpart in general and DARKTHRONE in particular. Droning and relatively slow blast beat-driven compositions centered around a static of melancholy-drenched tremolo riffs, over which croaking vocals spew forth a longing for times long lost. Thus, the image derived from the music is not so much Satanic as it is dark and introspective. Although perhaps a bit on the lengthy side, with most the lengthy 7+ minutes songs overstaying their welcome, “Doomed Dark Years” proved that ASTARTE was indeed serious in their efforts and not trying to cash in on the novelty factor. The latter being further emphasized by the asexual, corpse-painted photos of the band members, who could just as well be mistaken for your average teenage guys posing grimly in the forest.

“Rise from Within” (2000) followed roughly two years after the debut. Featuring the same core lineup trio of Tristessa, Kinthia and Nemesis along with session drummer Nikos Asimakis and Iraklis Yalantzides on keyboards, “Rise from Within” gave witness to a development of style beyond the monochrome sonorities of the debut towards the melodic and rather technical Black Metal the band would become synonymous with in later years. Once again, George Zacharopoulos handled production, and if you listen carefully, it is possible to pick up some a slight influence from the contemporary works of NECROMANTIA. Despite the relative complexity of the compositions, the music also become a bit catchier, with songs like “Liquid Myth” showcasing an almost hit-like potential, while staying firmly within the Black Metal mold.

The third, and most ambitious album to date, “Quod Superios Sicut Inferius” (2002) arrived almost exactly two years later, once again with the same lineup, on Black Lotus and with “The Magus” in charge of production. Stystically, the album operated roughly in a similar style as “Rise from Within”, but brought more focused, versatile and engaging songwriting – making it a serious contender as the band’s finest work. In typical Hellenic fashion, the music also hints at a deep love for classic Heavy Metal, which works well with the band’s core sound at this point in their career.

Internal troubles seem to have arisen around this time, with the three-album contract with Black Lotus having been fulfilled. While the information available is too scarce to present a clear case, it appears as if the band was fractured into two camps, with Tristessa fighting a court battle against the combined forces of Kinthia, Nemesis and Black Lotus over the legal rights of the band name. Eventually, Tristessa – being after all the main composer – won the dispute and was able to pursue creative work under the ASTARTE moniker, with new band members Hybris (guitars) and Katharsis (keyboards) along with perennial session drummer Nikos A. The result was “Sirens” (2004), recorded in the classic Tico-Tico Studios in Finland and released through Avantgarde Music. In general, the album follows in the footsteps of “Quod Superius…”, but with harsher, more basic and accessible compositions that reflects Tristessa’s contemporary work with her Death Metal band/side project INSECTED, featuring Nikos A. on drums and Tristessa’s husband Nicolas Sic Maiis (vocals – LLOTH, NAISSANT). All in all, “Sirens” was probably a good seller but didn’t reach the equilibrist songwriting heights of its predecessor.

By now a firmly established international act, ASTARTE unleashed their fourth album “Demonized” (2007), featuring along with the core trio (plus Nikos on drums) and the new session guitarist Lycon, a host of guest appearances by luminaries such as Attila Csihar (vocals), Angela Gossow (vocals) and Henri Sattler (vocals). Taken as a whole, “Demonized” brought some substantial changes to the band’s sound. This time, Tristessa decided to focus solely on vocals and songwriting, delegating the instrumental performance to her bandmates. In terms of style, ASTARTE here partly abandons their Black Metal roots in favor of modernized Melodic Death Metal with elements of Thrash Metal. Once again, we witness a shift towards even more accessible songs that might’ve alienated some fans due to its quasi-mainstream flirtations.

Sadly, “Demonized” would prove to be the ASTARTE’s swansong album, with Tristessa being with diagnosed leukemia and eventually leaving this world behind in 2014. Prior to this, Tristessa had reformed LLOTH in liaison with her husband Nicolas Sic Maiis around 2013, preparing for the recording of a new album. But with regard to Tristessa’s condition, further activities were terminated. However, Nicolas Sic Maiis eventually reactivated LLOTH in autumn 2014 as a tribute to his departed wife and the band has so far released one single “I (Dead Inside)” (2015) and a full-length CD on Sleaszy Rider Records entitled “Athanati”.

Compilation appearances:
* In the Cave of Pan [Cass, Comp, Limited (100), Numbered: Black Trip Tapes, 1998]
* Shadows in Silence Compilation Tape Volume 1 - Dancing with the Shadows [Cass, Comp: Self-released, 1998]
* Warzone IV [CD, Comp: Metal Invader, 1998]
* Wrath from Hades #1 [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Black Trip Tapes, 1998]
* Awaken Compilation III [Cass, Comp: Awaken Productions, 2001]
* Celtic Frost Tribute – Order of the Tyrants [CD, Comp: Black Lotus, 2003]
* Metallian – Metal Female Voices [CD, Comp: Metallian Editions, 2004]
* This is Metal [3CD, Comp: Magick, 2005]
* Black Metal Hellenic Cult [3CD, Comp: Azermedoth, 2017]
* The Ark of Metal – Compilation Vol. 1 [CD, Comp: Black Lotus, ?]
* Warzone XV [CD, Comp: Metal Invader, ?]