Decapitated is a Polish death metal band formed in Krosno in 1996. The group is composed of guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Eemeli Bodde, bassist Paweł Pasek and drummer James Stewart. Decapitated are recognized as one of death metal's most respected bands and one of the finest exponents of technical death metal. The band earned an international fan base in the underground music community and became an innovating act in the modern death metal genre.Decapitated's 'Winds Of Creation', 'Organic Hallucinosis' Released On Vinyl For First Time - July 20, 2010, Blabbermouth.net
Vogg and his younger brother, drummer Witold "Vitek" Kiełtyka, founded Decapitated with vocalist Wojciech "Sauron" Wąsowicz in their mid-teens. Bassist Marcin "Martin" Rygiel joined them a year later. After releasing two demos, the band signed with Wicked World (subsidiary of Earache Records) and released their debut album, Winds of Creation, in 2000. In 2002 and 2004, the band released the albums Nihility and The Negation, respectively. The band's fourth album, Organic Hallucinosis, was released in 2006 with vocalist Adrian "Covan" Kowanek, who had replaced Wąsowicz the year before.
In late 2007, the band was involved in an automobile accident. Vitek died at the age of 23 on November 2, 2007, from injuries he suffered in the accident. Covan survived but slipped into a coma as a result. After a period of disbandment, Vogg reformed Decapitated in 2009. The band has released four more studio albums since then: Carnival Is Forever (2011), Blood Mantra (2014), Anticult (2017) and Cancer Culture (2022). Alternative Press described Decapitated as remaining one of "death metal's elite" bands.
History Winds of Creation, Nihility and The Negation (1996–2004)
Decapitated was founded in Krosno, Poland in 1996, by guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, who was 15 at the time, his brother drummer Witold "Vitek" Kiełtyka, who was 12 years old, and vocalist Wojciech "Sauron" Wąsowicz, who was 16. One year later, bassist Marcin "Martin" Rygiel, 13, joined the band. Decapitated released its first demo, Cemeterial Gardens, in 1997 and its second demo, The Eye of Horus, in 1998. After signing to Earache Records subsidiary Wicked World, the band released its debut album, Winds of Creation, which included a cover version of Slayer's "Mandatory Suicide", and was produced by Piotr Wiwczarek from the Polish band Vader, in April 2000. The band toured with Vader in early 2001 in the United Kingdom. Allmusic states that "Decapitated have quickly gained recognition as one of Poland's, and even Europe's, finest exponents of ultra-technical death metal."
Decapitated's self-produced second album, Nihility, which was released in February 2002, fulfilled the high expectations that followed the well-received debut album. Nihility also included a cover version of Napalm Death's "Suffer the Children". Decapitated was chosen to perform at the Polish Ozzfest event in late May and toured in North America and Europe in August. Sławek and Wojtek Wiesławscy produced the band's next album, The Negation, which was released in February 2004. The album received a positive response from critics and was followed by a tour in Europe and the United States throughout 2004., Blabbermouth.netDecapitated To Tour U.S. With Cannibal Corpse - Apr. 29, 2004 , Blabbermouth.net
Organic Hallucinosis, accident, Vitek's death and hiatus (2005–2008)
In mid-2005, Sauron announced his withdrawal from Decapitated, stating: "It was not an easy decision. However, I could reconcile the welfare of the band with my personal plans, and hence quitting appeared to be the best solution not hampering the evolution of Decapitated.(...) Moreover, another reason that contributed to my decision have been some health complications."Decapitated Part Ways With Singer, Announce Replacement - July 4, 2005 , Blabbermout.net The band chose Adrian "Covan" Kowanek, a previous member of Atrophia Red Sun, as his replacement and entered Hertz Studios in Białystok in August to record their ambitious fourth album Organic Hallucinosis, which was released the following February. According to Allmusic, the band's musical change of direction on this album was "likely to polarize longtime Decapitated fans".
During the following tour in December 2005, Marcin could not perform with the band due to military conscription issues and was shortly substituted by Richard Gulczynski, but joined again in February 2006. During the year, Decapitated toured with American bands Suffocation, Six Feet Under, Fear Factory, and others., Blabbermouth.net, Blabbermout.net In June and July 2007, Decapitated played with Cephalic Carnage and others in the Summer Slaughter trek across the US.Cephalic Carnage Completes Work On New Video - May 16, 2007 , Blabbermouth.net Once the tour ended, Marcin departed from Decapitated to live with his family and to move to California.Former Decapitated Bassist: 'My Thoughts Are With The Guys And Their Families' - Oct. 30, 2007 , Blabbermouth
On October 28, 2007, the remaining three band members were involved in an automobile accident that injured Vitek and Covan. Their tour bus collided with a truck carrying wood in Gomel, near the border from Russia to Belarus.Update: Decapitated Vocalist, Drummer Injured In Road Crash - Oct. 30, 2007 , Blabbermouth.net Vitek died on November 2, 2007, at the age of 23 in a Russian hospital from the injuries. Covan slipped into a coma and was later moved to Poland. In 2008, Metal Mind Productions released the concert DVD Human's Dust.Decapitated: First-Ever DVD Due In June , March 14, 2008; Blabbermouth
Reformation and Carnival Is Forever (2009–2013)
On March 8, 2009, after a period of disbandment, Vogg announced he was planning to continue the band and was searching for a new drummer and vocalist.Decapitated Guitarist: 'We Are On Indefinite Hiatus For Now' - Aug. 12, 2008 , Blabbermouth.net Covan was unable to continue with Decapitated due to the slow improvement of his condition.Decapitated Announces First Shows In Three Years - Oct. 20, 2009 , Blabbermouth.net In early 2009, Vogg participated on recording of the guitars for Vader's album Necropolis and continued with the band on a tour in support of the album, starting in September.
In mid-2009 Vogg stated: "It has been the hardest thing for me to move on without Vitek by my side, but he would have wanted me to continue with the band. Finally, I have found some great musicians who can continue the work of Vitek and Covan." "There's no sense in stopping this amazing thing we built up so many years ago together with Vitek, Sauron, Martin and Covan."Decapitated: New Lineup Announced - Nov. 20, 2009 , Blabbermouth
On July 31, 2009, the Austrian drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner of Thorns of Ivy joined Decapitated.Decapitated: New Drummer Announced - July 30, 2009 , BlabbermouthNew member in the band , Decapitated at MySpace On November 20, 2009, the new line-up was completed with the vocalist Rafał Piotrowski of the band Ketha and bassist Filip "Heinrich" Hałucha of Vesania and Masachist.Exclusive rebirth UK tour, announce new members , Decapitated at MySpace Decapitated continued with support of Nuclear Blast record label and Hard Impact Music management. The band toured in United Kingdom in February 2010 as well as in April and May in Australia, New Zealand and European festivals and the Summer Slaughter tour in United States in mid-2010.Decapitated, The Faceless, All Shall Perish Confirmed For Summer Slaughter Tour - Apr. 15, 2010 , BlabbermouthUK Tour 2010! , Decapitated at MySpace
The band entered RG Studio in Gdańsk on February 9, 2011 to begin recording their fifth studio album entitled Carnival Is Forever. The album was produced by Vogg; while mixing and drums production was done by Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand, who previously worked with Behemoth and Meshuggah among others.Decapitated To Enter Studio Next Month - Jan. 21, 2011 , blabbermouth.netDecapitated Recording New Album; Photos, Report Available - Feb. 14, 2011 , Blabbermouth.netEksperymenty Decapitated. Wkrótce nowy album! . interia.pl. January 21, 2011. Decapitated: Poważny cios . interia.pl. February 14, 2011. Decapitated w studiu: "Naprawdę świetnie" . interia.pl. February 20, 2011. Decapitated jak czarne burzowe chmury . interia.pl. February 28, 2011. Decapitated: Przestrzeń, głębia i pszczoły szatana . interia.pl. March 14, 2011. Heinrich departed from Decapitated after the recording in order to concentrate on Vesania,Decapitated podany ze smakiem .interia.pl. July 4, 2011. and Carnival Is Forever was released on July 12, 2011.Decapitated: 'Carnival Is Forever' Track Listing Unveiled - May 13, 2011 , Blabbermouth
On November 1, 2011, the band was on board LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16 when the crew were unable to extend the landing gear and were forced to land the aircraft on its belly. Everyone aboard the flight survived.Decapitated Survives Plane Crash Landing (Video) - Nov. 3, 2011 , Blabbermouth.net Decapitated went on a European tour with Meshuggah in mid-2012.MESHUGGAH And DECAPITATED Announce European Tour. Blabbermouth.net. June 22, 2012. Lechner left the band in September 2012 and was replaced by former Vader drummer Paweł Jaroszewicz. In late 2012, Decapitated played concerts in Nepal, Japan, and Thailand,Decapitated - Spheres of Madness (Live) The Rock Pub, Bangkok 11th September 2012. NME. among others. In 2013, the band joined Lamb of God on a tour in North America.Graham Hartmann. AMB OF GOD, DECAPITATED, TERROR + THE ACACIA STRAIN – 2013 MUST-SEE METAL CONCERTS. Loudwire. March 28, 2013.
Blood Mantra, Anticult and members' arrests (2014–2020)
On March 13, 2014, the band announced the addition of drummer Michał Łysejko to its lineup, who had been touring with Decapitated since January 2014. Decapitated recorded Blood Mantra during March in Hertz Studio in Poland, and released the album in September. During a tour in United States in October, the band was involved in serious van accident on the way to a show in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nobody was seriously injured and the band continued on tour. Decapitated accompanied Soulfly on their 2015 We Sold Our Souls To Metal Tour.
The album Anticult was released on July 7, 2017.Aaron Lambert. Hear one of the most brutal cuts from Decapitated’s upcoming ‘Anticult’. Alternative Press. July 6, 2017. Vogg stated about the songwriting process: "[This] album is one that we created together as a band. Our drummer, Michał [Łysejko], [helped] a lot with the arrangements and the songs. He's like the co-author of the songs. It's like I used to do with Vitek [Witold Kiełtyka]."