BIOGRAPHY

REQUIEM stands for nearly 25 years of old school Death Metal! No compromises!

Founded in 1997 by Phil Klauser (Guitars), Ralph Inderbitzin (Guitars) and Roger Kradolfer (Drums) this band still delivers – relentless and uncompromising. In a world full of changes – some refuse to deviate from the path of real and authentic underground music.

In the beginning of 1998 Michi Kuster (Vocals/Bass) from Swiss Black Metal band Moonfog joined the line-up. With this new line-up they recorded a demo CD called «Prophecies Of A Dark Millennium» at a friend’s home studio. This album has never been released, they’ve only made some copies for promotion. REQUIEM’s first shows started during that year.

In early 1999 REQUIEM replaced former drummer Roger Kradolfer with Adi Fuhrer (former drummer of Swiss bands Corruption and Megora) and started writing new blasting songs. The typical REQUIEM style was born. During the years 1999 to 2001, REQUIEM played a lot of single shows and some short do-it-yourself tours all over Europe.

In the middle of January 2001, REQUIEM recorded a 5-song EP called «Nameless Grave» at the Dynamo Studio, Zurich, which was released in March 2001 through Fastbeast Entertainment (CH).

After playing lots of gigs and festivals and signing a deal with Revenge Productions (GER) in February 2002, REQUIEM decided to record their first full-length album, called «Formed At Birth». Meanwhile drummer Adi Fuhrer was replaced by Reto Crola from Swiss Death Metal machine Punish.

In January 2003, REQUIEM recorded «Formed At Birth» at the Dynamo Studio in Zurich again and released the CD in March 2003 through Revenge Productions (GER). Again, they played a lot of shows and festivals all over Europe and even supported legendary band Messiah (CH) at their first ever reunion show «Reanimation 2003» at Abart Music Club in Zurich.

At the end of 2003 Reto (Drums) had to take a break due to his job and other projects. As a result of that former member Adi Fuhrer was back in REQUIEM as a session drummer. Additionally, they received support by former Messiah bass player Patrick Herrsche. That development allowed Michi Kuster to concentrate thoroughly on his vocal duties.

The year 2004 started as a great year: REQUIEM played at the Fuck The Commerce Festival (GER), the Obscene Extreme Festival (CZ) and had a great tour with Benediction (UK), Master (CZ) and Divine Empire (USA) through Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Due to health problems of bass player Patrick Hersche, bass player Ralf W. Garcia from German Thrash Metal band Uppercut and Curare took over the low-end duties in November 2004 for the recording sessions of the new album and further shows in 2005.

In early 2005 they recorded a new full-length effort «Government Denies Knowledge». This production was mixed and mastered by Canadian masterminds Jean-Francois Dagenais from Kataklysm (CAN) and Bernard Belley. Many record labels showed interest in releasing «Government Denies Knowledge» finally signing a contract with long-running German metal label Massacre Records. REQUIEM hit the road in September 2005 as support for US Death Metal veterans Vital Remains on their European tour.

The full-length CD «Government Denies Knowledge» was released on January, 27th 2006. After the release and fantastic reviews in magazines and fanzines all over the world the band went on the road again as support of Swedish Death Metal institution Dismember. During December 2006 REQUIEM recorded another album entitled «Premier Killing League» with producer Andy Classen at Stage One Studio (GER). The release date was March 23rd, 2007. Again, released on Massacre Records (GER). «Premier Killing League» was supported by a severe live attack leading the band throughout Europe.

In the meantime, second guitar player Ralf Inderbitzin left the band due to personal reasons. REQUIEM continued as a four piece and played some festivals in summer 2007. Another tour followed in June 2007 supporting Vader (PL) and Belphegor (A) throughout the UK and the Netherlands. On August 25th, 2007 REQUIEM shot their first video clip for the title song of their new record «Premier Killing League». The video was introduced to the audience on youtube.com, myspace.com and several other online platforms. In addition, it even had a TV appearance broadcast on Swiss national television (SF2) in March 2008. Shortly after that REQUIEM began with writing and arrangements for another new album.

In September 2008, a scheduled European tour supporting Extreme Noise Terror (UK) was cancelled due to several problems within the organization. Instead of that REQUIEM went on tour with Florida Death Metal band Lowbrow – again throughout many European countries. December 2008 marked the second time with producer Andy Classen for the recordings of the album «Infiltrate… Obliterate… Dominate…» at Stage One Studio (GER). After the postproduction of the new record REQUIEM went on a full European tour co-headlining with the US veteran band Lividity.

Shortly after that tour and followed by long proceedings with different labels worldwide REQUIEM finally signed a new deal with German based label Twilight Records in May 2009. «Infiltrate… Obliterate… Dominate…» was released on July 31st, 2009 followed by massive live and media promotion. In addition, two video clips were be published prior to the release containing live shots and spectacular views of a real salt-mine.

Forward to February 2010: After 13 years vocalist Michi Kuster had decided to leave the band due to his new parental duties. It was not possible anymore to take part in the busy band schedule. REQUIEM made the decision to continue as a three- piece band with Phil Klauser on guitars, Ralf W. Garcia handling vocals and bass and drummer Reto Crola. REQUIEM entered Stage One Studio in Borgentreich, Germany, in December 2010 again with producer Andy Classen for recordings of their 6th release titled «Within Darkened Disorder».

The album «Within Darkened Disorder» was released on May 6th, 2011 via Twilight Records again. After the release onwards REQUIEM played a lot of club shows and hit the road again for a co-headlining European tour with Demonical (SWE), Tormention (SWE) and Erupdead (CH). Sometimes life gives you bigger obstacles to overcome: this tour was a full-out disaster – all bands were forced to cancel the last 3 shows of the tour due to the financial situation of the tour agency.

In summer 2012 Ralf Winzer Garcia left REQUIEM. It was the right time for him to pursue a new path, finally finishing his music studies at a world-renowned College of Music and becoming a full-time musician and guitar/bass tech for various international touring bands.

After that REQUIEM continued to move on with a new lineup and additionally inked a deal with MDD Records (GER) which re-released their latest album «Within Darkened Disorder» in autumn 2012 due to the bankruptcy of their old label Twilight Records.

Sometimes things don’t work out within band line-ups and so it happened that in autumn 2013/early 2014 the classic line-up with original front man Michi Kuster on vocals, band founder Phil Klauser on guitars, longtime bassist Ralf Winzer Garcia, drummer Reto Crola plus new addition Matze Schiemann (Guitars) reunited for further live shows and another album recording session. This classic line-up of REQUIEM recorded three albums «Government Denies Knowledge» (2006), «Premier Killing League» (2007) and «Infiltrate… Obliterate… Dominate…» (2009) and toured massively across Europe with bands like Dismember (SWE), Debauchery (GER), Belphegor (A), Vader (PL), Lividity (USA) etc. Between 2014 and 2017 REQUIEM played a few shows every now and then and concentrated on writing new material for another full-length album.

In 2017 they entered Iguana Studios (Necrophagist (GER), Deadborn (GER), Maladie (GER), Unlight (GER) etc.) with producer Christoph Brandes to record their latest effort entitled «Global Resistance Rising». Recorded in January and February 2017 and finally mixed and mastered in August and September 2017.

In the beginning of 2018, they signed with long-running German extreme metal label F.D.A. Records for the release of «Global Resistance Rising» on March 23rd, 2018 on CD, LP and Tapes. 7 years of a so-called release-break were intensely used to write their most brutal material to date. 10 brand new tracks of undisputed brutal old school Death Metal! Shortly after the release many live appearances followed like for example at Protzen Open Air (GER) with Firespawn, Illdisposed, Entombed AD, Inhume or Lifeless and another show at Switzerland’s Meh Suff Festival on the main stage together with bands like Krisiun, Misery Index, Dool, Abbath and Venom.

Requiem are very deeply rooted in the European Death Metal scene and therefore played more club shows and a few indoor festivals throughout 2019 in various countries across Europe.

At the end of 2019 they had another full European tour scheduled and more club shows for 2020. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic all of these already booked shows were cancelled as it had happened for so many other bands too. They all had to come to terms with these new circumstances.
But… Requiem did not hesitate for too long and decided to make the best out of the situation. The goal was very clear: to write another album that would combine all typical elements this band stands for. The songwriting and all the lyrics for their 8th release, entitled “Collapse Into Chaos” were created and ready until summer 2020. The recording sessions started in autumn/winter 2020. Again at Iguana Studio in Freiburg (GER). Mixing and mastering is already scheduled for February 2021 at Little Creek Studio (CH) with a definite global release in 2021.

REQUIEM will always be uncompromising with soon 25 years under their belt there is no slowing down or cutting corners for this veteran extreme metal band.
Premier Death Metal from Switzerland still lives on – more crushing, relentless and fierce than ever before.