Agathocles is a Belgian political grindcore band. Founded in 1985, it is mainly known for producing a large quantity of split seven-inch EPs. They play a style of grindcore they have dubbed "mincecore". Their lyrical themes have focused on anti-fascism, animal liberation and anarchism. All of its members are vegetarians.

Their lineup has changed numerous times since they first started, the only consistent member being Jan Frederickx (also known as Jan AG).

Biography

1980s

Agathocles was formed in the Belgian city of Mol, aspiring to sound like bands such as Lärm and Hellhammer. Its original members, Jan and Erwin, were involved in the underground metal/punk scene since the start of the decade, releasing compilation tapes and zines. Only a few of their rehearsal tapes survive from 1984, their first year playing together, mainly as appearances on compilations.

Agathocles began playing concerts in 1985, although audiences were still small for the type of extreme music they produced. They had an on-air interview on the local radio station that year.

  • Nils Laureys - drums, vocals (2007-)
  • Koen - guitar (2012-)

Past members

  • Erwin Vandenbergh - drums (1985-1990) bass (1991)
  • Ronny - bass (1987-1989)
  • Jakke - guitar (1987-1990)
  • Guy - guitar (1989-1990)
  • Domingo Smets - guitar (1990)
  • Burt Beyens - drums (1990-2002)
  • Chris - guitar (1991-1992)
  • Dirk - bass (1991-1992)
  • Steve Houtmeyers - guitar (1992-1995)
  • Matty Dupont - guitar (1995-1998)
  • Dirk Cuyx - guitar (1998-2007)
  • Roel Tulleneers - drums (2002-2007)
  • Tony Schepkens - bass (2007-2008)
  • Bram Criekemans - bass (2008-2012)

Discography

  • Theatric Symbolisation of Life 1992
  • Use Your Anger 1992
  • Black Clouds Determinate 1994
  • Razor Sharp Daggers 1995
  • The LPs: 1989-1991 1996
  • Thanks For Your Hostility 1996
  • Humarrogance 1997
  • Split with Axed Up Conformist 1999
  • To Serve... to Protect... 2000
  • Superiority Overdose 2001
  • 4-Way Split with Abortion, Din-Addict and Malignant Tumour 2001
  • Bomb Brussels (Live Album) 2001
  • Alive & Mincing (Live Album) 2003
  • Mincemania In Bulgaria 2004
  • Mincer 2006
  • Get Off your Ass/In Noise we Noise Split with Ruido Genital 2007
  • Night Train To Terror split with Saul Turteltaub 2007
  • Split with The Vanishing Act 2008
  • Split with Armatura 2008
  • Abstract split with Cü Sujo 2008
  • Grind is Protest 2009
  • Split with Crowd Control 2009
  • "Imaginary Boundaries" 4-way split with Detrua Ideo/Violenta Dizimacao/Pissdeads 2009
  • This is Not a Threat, It's a Promise 2010
  • 4 way split with Kerenaneko, Prosuck and Rvota 2011
  • Kanpai!! 2012
  • Agathocles/Nauseate - Split CD 2014
  • Commence to Mince 2016
  • We Just Don't Fit 2018
  • Baltimore Mince Massacre 2020

LPs

  • Supposed It Was You (split with Drudge) 1989
  • Split with Lunatic Invasion 1991
  • Theatric Symbolisation Of Life 1992
  • Agarchy / Use Your Anger 1997
  • Split with Deadmocracy 1998
  • Until It Bleeds (Best Of) 1997
  • Live and Noisy (Live) 1997
  • Mincecore (Compilation) 1998
  • To Serve... To Protect 1999
  • Live in Leipzig, Germany 1991 (Live) 1999
  • Mincecore History 1985-1990 (Compilation) 2000
  • Keep Mincing (Compilation) 2001
  • Superiority Overdose 2001
  • Mincecore History 1989-1993 (Best of) 2001
  • Chop Off Their Trust (Split) 2002
  • Live Aalst Belgium 1989 (Split) 2002
  • Until It Bleeds Again (1994-1999) (Best of) 2002
  • Split With Sterbe Hilfe - Emoc T'now Modcnik Yht! (Split Album) 2003
  • To Serve... To Protect / Leads To... (Best of) 2003

EPs

  • If This Is Gore, What's Meat Then (split with Riek Boois) 1988
  • Split with Disgorge 1989
  • Split with V.N.A. 1989
  • Fascination of Mutilation 1989
  • If This Is Cruel What's Vivisection Then? 1989
  • Who Profits? Who Dies? (split with Morbid Organs Mutilation (M.O.M.)) 1989
  • Split with Blood - wrong band linked 1990
  • Split with Smegma 1991
  • Split with Putrid Offal 1991
  • Split with Psycho 1991
  • Agarchy 1991
  • Cliché? 1992
  • Split with Social Genocide 1993
  • Blind World (split with Nasum) 1993
  • Split with Starvation 1993
  • War Scars (split with Kompost) 1993
  • Distrust And Abuse 1993
  • Split with Nyctophobic 1993
  • Split with Bad Acid Trip 1993
  • No Use ...For Hatred 1993
  • Split with Patareni 1993
  • Split with Smash The Brain 1993
  • Split with Man Is The Bastard 1993
  • Split with Plastic Grave 1994
  • Split with Audiorrea 1994
  • Split with Averno 1994
  • Split with Punisher 1994
  • Mince-Mongers in Barna 1994
  • Split with Carcass Grinder 1994
  • Split with Rot 1994
  • Back To 1987 (Best Of Album) 1994
  • Split with Notoken 1995
  • Split with Voltifobia 1996
  • Split with Vomit Fall 1996
  • Split with Preparation H 1996
  • Split with Autoritor 1996
  • Split with Krush 1996
  • Bomb Brussels 1996
  • Minced Alive 1996
  • Split with Black Army Jacket 1996
  • Split with No Gain - Just Pain 1996
  • Split with Respect 1997
  • Split with Böses Blut 1997
  • Split with PP7 Gaftzeb 1997
  • Split with Looking For Answer 1997
  • Split with Monolith (grindcore) 1997
  • Split with Shikabane 1997
  • Split with Malignant Tumour 1997
  • Split with D.I.E. 1997
  • Split with BWF 1997
  • Split with Abstain 1997
  • Split with Mitten Spider 1997
  • Split with Comrades 1998
  • Split with Spud 1998
  • Split with Bloodsucker 1998
  • Split with Depressor 1998
  • Split with Hunt Hunters 1999
  • Split with Glass Eyes 1999
  • Split with Disreantiyouthhellchristbastardassmanx 1999
  • Split with Grind Buto 1999
  • Split with Piles Left to Rot 2000
  • Split with Kontatto 2000
  • Split with Din-Addict 2000
  • Split with Brutal Headache 2000
  • Kicked and Whipped/Keep On Selling Cocaine to Angels 2000
  • Split with Disculpa 2000
  • Split with Jan AG 2002
  • Split with Front Beast 2003
  • Split with Sodan Sankareita 2003
  • Split EP with The Mad Thrashers 2004
  • Split EP with Kadaverficker 2004
  • Split with ... Our Last Beer(s) 2004
  • Split with dios hastío 2005
  • Split with Archagathus 2006
  • Split with Seven Minutes of Nausea 2007
  • Split with J. Briglia, L. Butler, D. Schoonmaker & J. Williams 2008
  • Split with SMG 2008
  • Split with Armatura 2008
  • Split with Crowd Control 2008
  • Split with I Hope You Suffer 2008
  • Split with Repulsione 2008
  • Split with Disleksick 2009
  • Split with ShitFuckingShit and GAP
  • Split with Jandek (collaboration)
  • Split with Sposa In Alto Mare (7 inches) 2011
  • Split with Kurws (5 inches) 2013
  • Split with Necrology 2015
  • Split EP with G.I. Joke 2015
  • Split with GodCum 2018
  • Split with LtxDan 2017
  • Split with Antikult 2019
  • Split with Terminal Filth Wimpcore Killer (7 inch) 2021
  • Stabilithocles (split with Стабильность) 2022
  • Split with Ulrikes Dream 2025

Despite an extensive discography, Agathocles have no official presence on digital platforms such as Bandcamp or Spotify. The band does not use digital media, and any material appearing on such platforms is not officially released.[https://diyconspiracy.net/agathocles-interview/#:~:text=I%20have%20no%20idea%20about%20that%20Bandcamp%E2%80%94that%E2%80%99s%20NOT%20ours.%20Agathocles%20has%20no%20official%20digital%20media%20like%20Bandcamp%2C%20Spotify%2C%20or%20any%20of%20that%20shit.%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20like%20digital%20media.%20If%20Agathocles%20is%20on%20those%20platforms%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20all%20bootlegs.]

DTs

  • Cabbalic Gnosticism 1988
  • Live In Gierle 1989

DVDs

  • Superiority Overdose 2002

References