Sabbat were an English thrash metal band from Nottingham consisting of Martin Walkyier (vocals), Andy Sneap (guitars), Simon Jones (guitars), Frazer Craske (bass) and Simon Negus (drums). They are considered one of the "Big Four" of British thrash metal along with Acid Reign, Onslaught and Xentrix, who were all responsible for developing and popularising the country's thrash metal scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Over their initial six-year run, Sabbat released three studio albums, four demos, two split singles/compilation albums, two singles and a live VHS. In 1988, the band released their debut album, History of a Time to Come, which earned them further recognition. Their second album, Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays) (1989), was also critically acclaimed. Shortly after the release of Mourning Has Broken (1991), tensions with the band began to surface, most of them revolved around money and Sabbat disbanded as a result. After an attempted reunion in 2001 that was blocked by Sneap, the original Sabbat line-up reunited in 2006. In December of that year, they performed together for the first time in sixteen years at five venues in England, one a warm-up gig in Nottingham, the other four in support of Cradle of Filth. The band continued to perform live around the world but did not release any new material. In a January 2014 interview with Decibel, Sneap confirmed that Sabbat had once again split up.

History

Early history (1985–1986)

The origins of the band began in June 1985 with a band called Hydra. Future Sabbat vocalist Martin Walkyier and bassist Frazer Craske were members of Hydra as was Andy Sneap who joined the band as a second guitarist. Former Striptease and Fallen Angel drummer Simon Negus' arrival and replacement of Mark Daley as well as the departure of original guitarist Adam Ferman coincided with a name change to Sabbat.

Andy Sneap:

<blockquote>"Let me shed a bit of light on things here. Martin and Frazer had this band called Hydra back in 84/85. The most impressive thing about the band was the fact that Frazer had already printed some 2 colour t shirts and he had a car! I met Frazer at a local Hell gig in Long Eaton and it turned out they were thinking of getting a second guitarist. I heard a tape (which I still have, it's priceless) of a show they did in a pub in Nottingham and decided to have a jam as I was wanting to get some experience playing, after all I was the ripe old age of 15. Hell, two weeks after I joined, the original guitarist quit (i think this was in the cards) and the drummer left (thankfully) after we did our first demo a couple of months later, I think this was due to me having a go at his girlfriend in the studio (you see: good work ethic back then!) It was Tim Bowler (the drummer from Hell) who introduced us to Simon Negus. The name Sabbat came from a book on witchcraft but I actually found some old school books of mine with ideas doodled on them so I'm sure I had some doing in suggesting it. I do remember we liked the way the word looked in the scrawly type of writing so we went with it. Yeah the flexi disc for white dwarf was an odd one, John Blanche, the art editor painted our first cover so it all came about quite easy. It does sound shockingly bad though."</blockquote>

After rehearsing for nearly a year they released the Fragments of a Faith Forgotten demo which was well received and with immediate interest from several record companies and a two-page spread in Kerrang! magazine.</blockquote>

After releasing a Warhammer-inspired flexi-disc on the front cover of White Dwarf magazine, the band penned a deal with German Noise Records in mid-1987. Signing had previously been delayed because Andy Sneap was under 18 years of age and not legally an adult.

Further recognition (1987–1990)

In September 1987, the band travelled to Hanover, Germany to record their debut album, History of a Time to Come (1988). The album demonstrated Walkyier's deep-held beliefs in Wyrdism, Anglo-Saxon spirituality, Celtic mysticism and paganism. </blockquote>

The introduction of new guitarist "Jack Hammer" – Simon Jones – made a vast improvement on the guitar attack, as acknowledged by Andy Sneap, in his interview with Renee Ackerman of Rockworldtv at his back stage studios in 2007.

Jack, as he was known professionally prior to joining Sabbat, and indeed is still referred to as in the band, previously played in Holosade, and was brought in midway through the recording of Dreamweaver as a rhythm and lead guitarist to complement Sneap's contribution.

Breakup (1991–2000)

Tensions within the band began to mount, most of them revolved around money. The band were developing a very good following and selling a lot of merchandise, however they were victims of poor management and with a label (Noise) that did not seem to care what the band did. Martin Walkyier recalled:

<blockquote>"With the Noise contract, people were telling us 'Don't sign it,' but we did. Bands who were doing well at the time – Celtic Frost, Helloween, Kreator – were all on Noise. We had complete artistic freedom, but not for the right reasons. It was because they didn't give a flying fuck."</blockquote>

Martin Walkyier commented in late 2006 that Sabbat were in severe financial distress in 1989 and that he was living on government state benefits, such was the stark financial situation the band faced. Walkyier commented that he felt that they were becoming "like Rush" due to the overtly technical nature and length of their songs – combined, these issues forced tensions within the band.

Martin Walkyier:

<blockquote>"All the things that went wrong with Sabbat in the old days were really nothing to do with me and Andy Sneap, even though we had our disagreements in the days when we were young. That was largely to do with record labels and management and things that were happening around us – the fact that we were selling hod-loads of records and not actually seeing any money at all and having to live on benefits at the time.</blockquote>

First to jump ship was guitarist Simon Jones during their 1989 UK Dreamweaver tour with British thrashers Xentrix supporting. He left the band only moments before the gig at Sheffield University refectory on 15 November 1989, Sabbat did finish the gig though with just Andy Sneap on guitar. Andy Sneap has stated that this was a drink related departure and Jones himself has said he regrets his departure in a recent video on Andy Sneap's Myspace site.

Guitarist Neil Watson was brought in for guitar duties,</blockquote>

Walkyier, Jones and Craske performed under the name Return to the Sabbat for 2001–2003, Skyclad drummer Jay Graham played on drums, after Simon Jones left (replaced by Andy Newby), the band continued for a while playing at Bloodstock indoor festival and a gig in Camden, London after which Return to the Sabbat disbanded.

Andy Sneap said in 2014 to the "Talking Bollocks" podcast, that Sabbat is over and he is happier in his current band, Hell, doing what he wants to do, and it is better if he and Martin "do their own thing." Sneap joined Judas Priest in February 2018 as a touring guitarist, filling in for Glenn Tipton, who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Musical style and lyrics

Sabbat were initially labelled as "thrash" and "satanic" in the Midlands metal scene. Fraser Craske: "We're not Satanists. It's more theatrical. We're interested in religion and philosophy and it follows that we write tracks about things like that." The band's early lyrics were "primarily Satanic or [...] influenced by the Occult in some way"; in Walkyier's interpretation, Satanism "doesn't say 'let's go out and kill people' or anything like that", referring to The Satanic Bible which has "nothing to do with sacrifice" but with a selfish outlook. Walkyier sees Satanism as a rebellion against orthodox Christianity. As he considers Satan and the Devil to be "in a lots of ways [...] a bogeyman invented by the Christians" to make people follow them, and "started to look more into the old religion of Europe [...], and that's sort of where my... my kind of personal beliefs lie really".</blockquote>

Martin Walkyier has left a fitting tribute to Dave G. Halliday within the sleeve notes of 2006 The Clan Destined release, In the Big Ending, which reads:

<blockquote>"These recordings are dedicated to the memory of Dave G Halliday. A man who was literally decades ahead of his time, but who tragically never had the chance to witness the enormous & positive influence he had upon the worldwide Metal scene. Whilst i still have breath in my body, you will never be forgotten."</blockquote>

Line-up

Final line-up members

  • Martin Walkyier – vocals (1985–1990, 2006–2011) (ex-Skyclad, The Clan Destined)
  • Andy Sneap – guitar (1985–1991, 2006–2011) (Godsend, ex-Fozzy, Judas Priest)
  • Simon Jones – guitar (1989, 2006–2011) (ex-Phantom, Holosade)
  • Gizz Butt – bass (2007–2011) (The Prodigy, English Dogs)
  • Simon Negus – drums (1985–1991, 2006–2011) (Fallen Angel!, Striptease)

Former members

  • Fraser Craske – bass (1985–1990, 2006–2007)
  • Neil Watson – rhythm guitar (1990–1991)
  • Wayne Banks – bass (1990–1991) (Blaze, Messiah's Kiss, Godsend)
  • Richie Desmond – vocals (1990–1991)
  • Richard Scott – rhythm guitar (1988, live only) (No Excuses)

Discography

Albums

  • History of a Time to Come (1988)
  • Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays) (1989)
  • Mourning Has Broken (1991)

Singles

  • Blood for the Blood God (1987)
  • Wildfire/The Best of Enemies (1989)

Split singles and compilation albums

  • A Cautionary Tale/And the Brave Man Fails (split album with Vendetta) (1988)
  • Doomsday News III – Thrashing East Live (Live) (1990)

Demos

  • Magic in Practice and Theory (1985)
  • BBC Sessions (1986)
  • Fragments of a Faith Forgotten (1987)
  • Stranger Than Fiction (1987)

Video

  • The End of the Beginning (1990) VHS
  • Keep It True 8 (2008) DVD

References

  • Sabbat.live
  • Sabbat history at Rockdetector