Trinity Music Hong Kong

REQUIEM AETERNAM (Uruguay)

Requiem Aeternam began its activities during September of 1995 in Montevideo (Uruguay) featuring its first single (“Emergent”) in a local compilation (Underscream). The line-up that recorded such a track consisted of Martín López (Amon Amarth; Opeth) on drums, Martín Méndez (Opeth) on bass, Pablo Magallanes on guitar and José Romero Sum (Inner Sanctum) handling guitar and vocal duties.

In 1996 the line-up turned into Fabián Redondo on drums, Marcelo Aguilar on bass and Romero Sum, recording "Eternally Dying" (EP), which was released that year by Death Row.

At the end of 1997 the band entered the Studios Record in Montevideo to work on its first full-length release. The outcome was mixed in Santiago de Chile (Chile) by José Corral (Criminal; Inner Sanctum) and mastered at Digisound Mastering in Buenos Aires (Argentina) by David Santos (Riff; Hermética). "Eternally Dying" (LP) was released in July of 1998 by ICorp and distributed worldwide by Furias / Orion Music.

As part of the promotion, "Infamy" video clip was aired by MTV Latina and MTV Brazil as well as many other channels in Latin America. Afterward, the band shot another video: "Come Back". Finally, the promotional efforts were consummated with the "Eternally Tour" (1998-2000), which included several shows in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

In April of 2002 Romero Sum published a book entitled "Forbidden Writings". This work deals primarily with philosophy and economics. It also features a poetic chapter, which includes the original Spanish version of the song that names Requiem Aeternam's debut album.

Later that year Romero Sum moved to New York (USA) in order to organize the production of the second album. While completing the latest material, the band drafted a new line-up with addition of Maciej Kupiszewski on bass and Alex Hernández (Immolation) on drums.

"Philosopher" (LP) was recorded and mixed between May and June of 2004 at Big Blue Meenie Studios in Jersey City (USA) by Joe Pedulla and Arun Venkatesh (Overkill; All Out War), and mastered the following July at Bionic Mastering in New York City by Tom Hutten (Iggy Pop; Foo Fighters; Cro-Mags). This album was finally released in December of 2004 by Trinity Records Hong Kong in Asia, Europe and North America; in March of 2005 by Raw Force Records in South America except Argentina and by Furias / Orion Music in Argentina. It was also distributed in exclusivity by The Art Records in Mexico.

Each "Philosopher" lyric is based on the work of a specific philosopher, including Gautama, Seneca, Rousseau, Heraclitus, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and Lao Tzu. There is also one track based on Romero Sum's book "Forbidden Writings". Musically, Requiem Aeternam defines its deed as "Philosophical Metal", since it attempts to grasp different philosophical doctrines through sound and words: music and philosophy as one entity.

During 2005, as a way of promoting the second album, Requiem Aeternam was listed in the main metal festivals throughout the USA, including Milwaukee and Norwest Death Metal Fest among others and participated in several metal compilations in Europe and North America. It was a remarkable event to have played its first gig for "Philosopher" at CBGB (New York City) right before this legendary venue was shut down. Besides, it was completed the video clip of “Wisdom”, which was aired by several channels in North and Latin America.

Line up:

• José Romero - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards (Inner Sanctum (Ury))
• Maciej Kupiszewski - Bass
• Alex Hernández - Drums (Immolation, Fallen Christ, Disassociate)