The artist of the week: Luciferian (Colombia)

  Disclaimer: I may be biased a bit because I was born in Colombia and lived there for 27 years.

Luciferian – Black Metal from the Heart of Colombia (yes, “Colombia” not “Columbia” ) Since 1996

For you to understand Luciferian you gotta get to know some colombian history 101. Hear me out. During the 1990s — and especially in 1996 — Colombia went through one of its darkest, most chaotic periods, both politically and socially. The violence, corruption, and instability that gripped the country left deep scars on its culture and people. And like in many places around the world, extreme metal became a form of catharsis — a way to resist, to scream, and to survive.

To understand why a band like Luciferian emerged that year, you need to see the full picture. What happened in 1996 wasn’t just background noise — it was the soil from which something furious and raw could grow.

Colombia in the 1990s: War, Drug Lords, and Shadow

• Armed Conflict: Guerrilla groups like FARC, ELN, and EPL were at their peak, controlling vast regions of the country. At the same time, right-wing paramilitary forces (like the AUC) were rising — unleashing their own brutality in rural areas.

• Widespread Violence: Bombings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, massacres — it was all part of daily life. The news sounded like a horror film, and for many Colombians, fear was routine.

• Drug Cartels: Although Pablo Escobar was dead by 1993, the drug war didn’t die with him. In 1996, cartels from the North of Valle, Magdalena Medio, and other regions were still fully active — leaving a trail of blood and chaos.

• Government Corruption: The infamous Proceso 8.000 scandal exploded between 1995 and 1996, when it was revealed that President Ernesto Samper’s campaign had been funded by the Cali Cartel. The result? A full-blown political crisis, with international consequences.

• A Militarized State: Police crackdowns and military presence were constant — not just in cities like Bogotá or Medellín, but in quieter regions too, including the Eje Cafetero, where Luciferian was born.

So, What Was Happening in 1996 Specifically?

That year, Colombia was on the edge of institutional collapse. The U.S. revoked President Samper’s visa, and there were mounting calls for his removal. Public trust in the political system hit rock bottom.

• Forced Displacement surged. Over 200,000 people were driven from their homes that year alone, caught between guerrilla and paramilitary forces.

• Massacres became a tactic. 1996 saw a terrifying rise in the number of civilian massacres — used as tools of control by both sides of the conflict.

• Cultural Repression: Being part of any youth subculture — punk, metal, goth — meant getting harassed by police or worse. Long hair, black shirts, chains? That could get you detained, beaten, or targeted in the streets.

You’re welcome for the free history class.. but What Does Any of This Have to Do with Luciferian? Everything. In the middle of that dark, repressive, violent and hopeless atmosphere, Luciferian emerged as an act of pure rebellion. Black metal in Colombia wasn’t just about Norwegian influences or blast beats — it was a reaction to real-world chaos. It was a scream against violence, a way to embrace the darkness not as fantasy, but as lived reality.

Founding a black metal band in Armenia, Quindío, in 1996 — against all odds — when it wasn’t about being trendy. It was an act of cultural resistance. A spiritual war cry. A statement of intent. It wasn’t fashion. It was survival. 1996 — a time when the Colombian underground was brimming with chaos, rebellion, and unfiltered darkness. That’s the year LUCIFERIAN was born, right in Armenia, Quindío, Colombia. Not in the capital, not in the spotlight — but in the heart of the Andes, where the underground scene has always burned with its own hellfire. 

“The band’s influences are pretty diverse — ranging from classic rock and heavy metal to more current extreme sounds. But if we had to name the sound that’s left the biggest mark on us, it would definitely be the Swedish and Norwegian metal from the '90s. That era shaped us in a big way.” said Hector to Metal Detector. They withdraw inspiration from bands such as Marduk, Dark Funeral, Bathory, Emperor, Immortal, Dissection, Dimmu Borgir, so you have an idea of what we’re talking about.

At the helm: Héctor Carmona, a name that should already ring a bell in your skull if you’ve ever crossed paths with Colombian metal. He picked up the guitar and the mic and unleashed the first waves of what would become a cornerstone of South American black metal. From the beginning, Luciferian wasn’t here to mimic; they were here to ignite.

Early Chaos & Rise of the Infernal Legions

In 1999, they dropped their demo “Place of the Final Throne,” a lo-fi but relentless declaration of war. It didn’t take long for that raw sound to travel through tape-trading networks and underground zines. Fast forward to 2006, and boom — they hit hard with “Supreme Infernal Legions,” a full-length album that established them as a real threat. The sound? South American chaos meets northern coldness. Unrelenting, militant black metal with ritualistic precision.

And they didn’t stop. Luciferian has since completed five full South American tours, crushing stages in: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.
No gimmicks. No compromises. Just the fire of true metal spreading across the continent.

From the Andes to Norway

In March 2014, something big happened. Luciferian was invited to play at Trondheim Metal Fest in Norway — one of the most respected festivals in the Scandinavian scene. They shared the lineup with absolute titans like Behemoth, At the Gates, Carach Angren, Enthroned, and Keep of Kalessin. Think about that: a black metal band from Colombia standing tall on a Norwegian stage. That’s epic.

Then came Rock al Parque 2014, the 20th edition of the biggest free music festival in all of Latin America. Over 300,000 people. And yes — Luciferian brought black metal darkness to Bogotá in broad daylight, proving that their message transcends the shadows.

Blackhearts (2017) – The Documentary

If you haven’t watched “Blackhearts” yet, do it tonight. This Norwegian documentary explores the global influence of black metal, and Luciferian plays a major role. It doesn’t just show their music — it reveals the grit, the struggle, and the dedication behind what it means to be a black metal band in South America. Raw, honest, and unforgettable.

Current Line-Up (As of 2025):

• Héctor Carmona – Guitars & Vocals (1996–present)
  Founder, composer, and the soul of Luciferian.

• Edixon Sepúlveda – Drums (2006–2010, 2011–present)
  Also plays in Unchronicled and Feast. Ex-member of Maya, Twilight Glimmer, and La Legión.
  This guy hits like artillery.

• Alejandro Torres – Guitars (2008–2009, 2011–2012, 2025–present)
  Back in 2025 to bring razor-sharp riffing back into the fold.

• Angelik Perfra – Bass (2021–present)
  Ex-Sanctuarium. Adds deadly precision and stage presence. A rising force in the scene.

Bands They’ve Shared the Stage With (No Joke): Luciferian has opened for some of the heaviest names in the game:
Behemoth, Mayhem, Immortal, Marduk, Gorgoroth, Dark Funeral, Rotting Christ, Incantation, Enthroned, Arcturus, The Agonist, Krisiun, Purgatory, Naer Mataron, Nargaroth, Cattle Decapitation… the list goes on.

If you’re stepping into Luciferian for the first time, be warned — this isn’t black metal for the faint of heart. It’s not polished. It’s not trendy. It’s not trying to sound like Oslo in ’94. This is black metal forged in Latin American heat, soaked in real pain and spiritual war. And their sound? It’s changed over time, yes — but never softened.

From the beginning, Luciferian has had a sound that’s aggressive, atmospheric, and ritualistic. Their early work — like Place of the Final Throne (1999) — sounds like a transmission from the abyss: raw production, tortured vocals, piercing riffs, and an unpolished urgency that makes it feel more like a possession than a performance. It carried influence from the Scandinavian black metal wave, sure, but there was something earthier, angrier — a sense of lived darkness, not fantasy.

By the time Supreme Infernal Legions dropped in 2006, something had shifted. The sound became more focused and militant. The drums hit harder. The guitars became heavier and more deliberate. And the songwriting evolved — no longer just chaos, but a structured invocation. It wasn’t just furious — it was calculated, ritualistic. Luciferian began building their identity not just as a band, but as a spiritual force — and the music followed that path.

As the years went on, they started weaving in more depth without losing brutality. Slower, tension-building passages. Occult atmospheres. Sharp transitions. Moments that feel almost meditative — but never safe. They didn’t go progressive or technical for the sake of it, but there’s a clear sense that every album after Supreme Infernal Legions has been part of a bigger liturgy. Each record feels like a chapter in a larger ceremony — one more warlike, another more introspective, another drenched in mystical rage. But don´t believe me, try for yourself now and tell me in the comments your thoughts.

Luciferian is currently working on their 5th album “Where Rivers of Sorrow Flow”, art cover made by @ardha_lepa , which will be released via Mutilated Records.

"This new album is a catharsis, in which we seek to release pain and desolation through our music". Said Hector through their social accounts .

Speaking of that, as always, here’s their social media:

https://www.facebook.com/luciferian666

http://www.youtube.com/luciferianband

https://luciferian.bandcamp.com/

http://www.reverbnation.com/luciferian

https://www.instagram.com/luciferian_band