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Infernal Majesty hails from Toronto, Canada. Formed in 1986, their four-track demo garnered significant media attention and underground recognition, eventually leading to a contract with Roadrunner Records. Their self-produced debut, None Shall Defy, was released in 1987 and has since become a cult classic. Thrash fans around the world regard None Shall Defy as one of the greatest thrash albums ever, with some considering it the best Canadian record of its time. Despite this acclaim, it remains criminally underrated?a fact the recent reissue by High Roller Records aims to correct, giving thrash-heads a chance to (re)discover this searing, aggressive, and ultra-heavy piece of thrash history.
In an interview, vocalist Chris Bailey shares insights into the band's history and their exceptional debut album. Initially known as "Overlord," Infernal Majesty underwent a name change due to another band already using the moniker. Chris recalls: ?After discovering another band named Overlord, we brainstormed and became Infernal Majesty while still working on our demo. The umlaut in our name was simply for distinction.? The band?s influences at the time included Slayer, Venom, Manowar, Exciter, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Voivod, and others. As Chris puts it, ?The dawn of thrash metal was an amazing experience to be part of.?
Toronto has a history of producing thrash legends like Razor, Anvil, and Exciter. While the city?s metal scene was close-knit, Chris remembers the rivalry: ?It was competitive, but that pushed the boundaries of the music.? He fondly recalls Larry's Hideaway, a breeding ground for thrash in Toronto, where bands like Sacrifice frequently performed.
Reflecting on how their 1986 demo caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, Chris explains, ?Borivoj Krgin of Blabbermouth sent the demo to Roadrunner, and the rest is history.? Chris is currently writing a book that will detail the band?s journey, but he shared memorable moments from the recording of None Shall Defy: ?I remember riding the Finch bus through the cold winter nights to our studio. We would record each session, listen to it at home, and return the next day to make changes.? He also recalls how his girlfriend, a psychology student, influenced the lyrics for "Skeletons in the Closet."
Although the band had only been together for a year before releasing their debut, the musicianship on None Shall Defy is impressively polished. Chris was new to performing, but his bandmates had previous experience, which contributed to their tight, cohesive sound. ?We spent nearly every day working on the album and rehearsing,? Chris says, recalling their dedication.
Despite positive reviews, Infernal Majesty didn?t receive the support they needed from the metal press. Still, None Shall Defy gained a cult following. Chris reflects on the album?s lasting appeal: ?We wanted to write the most evil music we could. We were united and working together?much like now, as we feel the winds of change coming.?
The album?s production also stood out. ?We spent a lot of time mixing, and the engineers at Metal Works were amazing. The sound came naturally, blending Steve and Ken?s guitars into a wave of evil,? says Chris. The band?s imagery, lyrics, and sound were heavily influenced by their fascination with the occult. ?Rick, Psycopath, and I were into the Satanic Bible and other occult teachings. It was part of expressing ourselves.?
Infernal Majesty?s music has been categorized as thrash, black thrash, or even death metal, but Chris believes their style leaned more toward black metal. ?We defined it as satanic thrash metal, but our songwriting always leaned toward black metal.?
The cover artwork for None Shall Defy is striking and unique, with the Lord of Hellfire devouring the heavens. ?We commissioned the artist, gave him the concept, and he painted exactly what we envisioned,? explains Chris.
Looking back, Chris has no regrets about the album itself, but he admits there were business decisions he would change: ?We don?t have a crystal ball, but you live and learn.? The band had hoped to tour Europe with Pestilence and Death Angel after the album?s release, but internal conflicts with Roadrunner halted those plans. Despite these challenges, None Shall Defy became an essential part of the band?s history.
The album?s first reissue by Displeased Records inspired the band to reform, record new material, and tour Europe with Malevolent Creation and Vital Remains. The current re-release by High Roller Records excites Chris. ?I?ve been trying to get None Shall Defy re-released since I reunited with Steve and Ken to start writing our new album, No God.?
The High Roller edition of None Shall Defy won?t include tracks from the demos Nigrescent Dissolution and Creation of Chaos, but Chris hints that the original demo will be released in the future. As he concludes, ?We hope many more people discover None Shall Defy, and we look forward to seeing you on the road soon.?
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