Sceptocrypt

SCEPTOCRYPT 2025 The original Sceptocrypt formed on the island of Malta in 1992. Being from the smallest nation in Europe did not temper their intent: to forge a sound wholly theirs’. Its founding members being staunch members of the underground scene, running Rancid Soup zine & radio show, and music scholars alike, always keen for original sounds, as inspirations and as their own. Releasing only a demo & a rehearsal tape in its timespan to 1999, Sceptocrypt’s idea was received warmly by the leading press of the time – like Aardschock (NL), Fight Amnesia (DE), Ill Literature (USA), Koito (IT), MorticiaNumskull (NL), Dusk Woerot (Colombia), Death Bite (Lith), Fanfare (BE), Brutalism.com (NL), Eternal Darkness (USA), etc. – with worldwide reviews as “demo of the month” “one of the best demos of 1996” “ALL labels interested in progressive extreme metal please check in with Sceptocrypt” “not your everyday kind of metal” “a hell of a musical masterpiece” “one of the most brilliant demotapes I have heard in years” “Sceptocrypt have good solutions for their music, something that the majority of underground bands have not” “don’t know where to put this band in, maybe a big positive plus-point for them” “recommended for a zine editor with 5000 bands yet no-one sounding like Sceptocrypt” “such different and sophisticated music”. Metal labels like Holy Records (FR) defined Sceptocrypt as “experimental music, very well structured, unbelievable!!!” whereas non-metal Bliss Records (UK) opined that “death metal usually does absolutely nothing for me, but Sceptocrypt are more melodic, innovative and original than I was expecting”. All of this set the stage for Sceptocrypt to record their 1st full-length album titled !26 Hrs 72 mins …. the need to differ) in 1999. Yet, despite completing the recording process, circumstances conspired to prevent its release, with only some of its tracks teasing on compilations (Underground Media, Ematofagia, and Mass Metal), and the complete works remaining a whisper in Sceptocrypt’s inner circle. Until 2014, when it was made available for all at our Bandcamp, coinciding with the first attempted relaunch of Sceptocrypt, put on ice in 2015) due to not being able to complete a line-up. But the idea of reviving Sceptocrypt never left founding member Malcolm, and since beginning his search for musicians of just the right kind of insane in 2022, he gradually gathered his manic menagerie and began jamming songs he had been writing in the intervening years. In late ’23, The Unwanted Requiem was released. This track understandably featured a very different sound, yet still unyieldingly unique. Early ’24 marked the release of a song that is framed around recent asylum resident Antonin Artaud, pondering whether he was the man or the mirror: The Wards Outside. So far, these 2 new releases have been welcomed with lines like “the diversity is polarizing, a testament to the avant-garde/ progressive death metal route it seems like these guys are going” “this band really stands out alone for various reasons. They own what they play and they want to take you on their trip.” “Sceptocrypt add their own distinct spin to the subgenre” “an own musical and artistic universe! a succession of emotions! an obvious theatrical side! Quite avant-garde! Lots of creativity and originality” Throughout 2024 & 2025, Sceptocrypt focused on getting a full line-up together. Skyler stepped in on bass (replacing Dip), Pawel joined as frontman, and Jacek materialised as our samples player. Dr Sol initially replaced Dan on drums, but due to a foot injury, he was eventually replaced by Mark. At time of writing (09/25) the daring quintet are deep in the writing process for a full-length, aiming to deliver new sounds both live and on record (with a 3 song demo already available for press/labels) In closing, Sceptocrypt describes its new sound as Extreme Music Research, as per this manifesto! Extreme – driven by sonic experimentation, from over-the-top technical riffs to deliberate dissonance, complimented by time & harmonic changes that flow seamlessly, an extremity measured in the myriad of influences recalled to mould the final aural palette Music – in a time when visual media continually compliments the music industry, we aim to present you music that evokes you with eyes closed, aiding you to see colours with your ears, where colour has no limit set by your visual spectrum, and thus extreme! Research – we shall be free to research past effective music templates as we merge them with/as merchants to/for future sounds Line-up 2025 : Malcolm “Gool” Callus (founder) : guitars 1992-19, 2014 – 15, 2022 + main vocals 2022-24, backing vocals 1992-99, 2025 Skyler : bass & programming, 2025 Pawel : main vocals & additional programming, 2025 Mark : drums, 2025 Jacek : samplers & synth, 2025 Discography : ‡ Wild Code of Reverie (debut demo ’96) ‡ Oratorio Mortem (compilation only track ’97) ‡ Poor Crows, Give ‘Em A Deal (reh. promo ’97) ‡ Amaranth so Puissant Act 1 to 4 (live recording ’97) ‡ !26 hrs 72 mins ….the need to differ) (unreleased CD ’99) ‡ Oratorio Mortem 2 : The Unwanted Requiem (single 2023) ‡ The Wards Outside (single 2024) press@sceptocrypt.com to interview/ review us. band@sceptocrypt.com for record labels interested in preliminary song demos sceptocryptmusic@gmail.com for gig offers soundcloud.com/sceptocrypt to download our discography! @sceptocrypt – our socials, including teasers to new songs Visit https://sceptocrypt.com/2025/09/29/bio-band-vision-1992-1999-malta-2014-2022-london/ to read about our 90s history, our 2014 re-incarnation, past members, etc