Satan (band)

Satan is a British heavy metal band, originating from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1979, during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. Despite never achieving mainstream commercial success, Satan is highly regarded and influential within the metal community, particularly for their technical and melodic approach to the genre.

The band's lineup has experienced several changes over the years. Key members include guitarists Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins, whose dual-guitar harmonies are a defining characteristic of their sound. Vocal duties have been handled by various singers, most notably Brian Ross (later of Blitzkrieg) during the early years, and subsequently by Steve Ramsey himself, Michael Jackson (no relation to the pop singer), and most recently, Brian Ross again, since the early 2010s reunion.

Satan has gone through several name changes and hiatuses, performing as Blind Fury in the mid-1980s to avoid potential controversy surrounding the band's name, and later as Pariah in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite these changes, the core musical identity, driven by Ramsey and Tippins' songwriting, remained largely consistent.

Their debut album, Court in the Act, released in 1983, is considered a landmark of the NWOBHM era and a classic of the genre. It showcases the band's signature blend of speed, melody, and technical proficiency. Subsequent albums, including Suspended Sentence (1987), Life Sentence (2013), Atom by Atom (2018), and Earth Infernal (2022), have cemented their reputation as a consistently high-quality act.

Satan's lyrics often explore themes of good versus evil, social commentary, and philosophical questions, avoiding the overtly satanic or occult themes that the band's name might suggest. Their influence can be heard in many later thrash, speed, and power metal bands. The band continues to tour and record, maintaining a loyal fanbase.