Be'lakor

Be'lakor
Be'lakor
	Be’Lakor live in 2023
Background information
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Melodic death metal, progressive metal
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Kolony, Prime Cuts, Descent, Napalm
Members	George Kosmas; Shaun Sykes; Steven Merry; John Richardson; Elliott Sansom
Past members	Jimmy Vanden Broeck
Website	belakorband.com

Be'lakor is an Australian melodic death metal band from Melbourne, Victoria. The band's name originates from the character Be'lakor the Dark Master, in the Warhammer Fantasy game setting.^[1]

History

Be'lakor formed in 2004. In 2007, the band self-released their debut album, The Frail Tide, which received generally positive reviews.^[1]^[2] In 2008, Be'lakor signed with Descent Productions, and re-released The Frail Tide in digipack form.^[3] In 2009, Be'lakor embarked on a national tour, and signed with Prime Cuts Music.^[4] Their second album, Stone's Reach, was released on 20 June 2009^[3] and received much praise by reviewers.^[5] In November 2009, Be'lakor signed with Kolony Records.^[6]

In March 2010, Be'lakor's album Stone's Reach took first place in Metal Storm's "Best Melodeath/Gothenburg Metal Album" for 2009.^[7] Be'lakor also supported Turisas on their national tour of Australia in May. They were the opening act for Alestorm in Melbourne for their "PLUNDER DOWNUNDER” tour in June 2010. The band also performed at the Summer Breeze Open Air Festival in Germany in August 2010.^[8]

Be'lakor released their third album Of Breath and Bone in June 2012. They began touring Europe, playing Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic. They also performed at the Summer Breeze Open Air Festival in Germany during August 2012. They supported Apocalyptica in Melbourne during their 2012 Australia tour in September, and At the Gates in Melbourne during their tour in November. On 24 June 2016, Be'lakor released Vessels, the band's fourth album. Coherence followed five years later, on 29 October 2021. In March 2025, the band announced their first ever North American tour, covering cities in United States and Canada.^[9]

Band members

Current

George Kosmas – vocals, guitars (2004–present)
Shaun Sykes – guitars (2004–present)
John Richardson – bass (2004–present)
Steven Merry – keyboards, piano (2004–present)
Elliott Sansom – drums (2015–present)

Former

Jimmy Vanden Broeck – drums (2004–2015)

Touring

Matt Dodds – guitars (2015)

Timeline

Discography

The Frail Tide (2007)
Stone's Reach (2009)
Of Breath and Bone (2012)
Vessels (2016)
Coherence (2021)

Awards and nominations

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.


Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
Music Victoria Awards of 2016	Vessels	Best Heavy Album	Won	^[10]^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b Lords Of Metal - Issue 77: January 2008 (January 2008). "Be'lakor". Lords of Metal. Retrieved 28 November 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "Belakor, The Frail Tide". The Metal Forge. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
^ ^a ^b deathbringer (22 May 2008). "Be'lakor Signs With Descent Productions". Metal Underground. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
^ deathbringer (1 June 2009). "Be'lakor Announces Australian Tour". Metal Underground. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
^ "Be'lakor - "Stone's Reach" (Australia)". Masterful Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
^ xFiruath (20 November 2009). "Be'lakor Signs To Kolony Records". Metal Underground. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
^ The Best Melodeath/Gothenburg Metal Album. MetalStorm.net. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ News/Newsletter Archived 2010-05-04 at the Wayback Machine. Summer-Breeze.de. Retrieved 16 September 2010 and 2012.
^ "BE'LAKOR Announces First Ever North American Tour". Metal Injection. 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
^ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
^ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.

External links

[interviewnl-1] Lords Of Metal - Issue 77: January 2008 (January 2008). "Be'lakor". Lords of Metal. Retrieved 28 November 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[2] "Belakor, The Frail Tide". The Metal Forge. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2009.

[primecuts-3] thbringer (22 May 2008). "Be'lakor Signs With Descent Productions". Metal Underground. Retrieved 28 November 2009.

[4] thbringer (1 June 2009). "Be'lakor Announces Australian Tour". Metal Underground. Retrieved 28 November 2009.

[5] "Be'lakor - "Stone's Reach" (Australia)". Masterful Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.

[6] xFiruath (20 November 2009). "Be'lakor Signs To Kolony Records". Metal Underground. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.

[7] The Best Melodeath/Gothenburg Metal Album. MetalStorm.net. Retrieved 16 September 2010.

[8] News/Newsletter Archived 2010-05-04 at the Wayback Machine. Summer-Breeze.de. Retrieved 16 September 2010 and 2012.

[9] "BE'LAKOR Announces First Ever North American Tour". Metal Injection. 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-08-06.

[10] "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.

[11] "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.

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