ACTIVE: 1999-
Aeon is a Swedish death metal band. Right now, I consider them one of the best death metal bands out there. What’s more, they are one of the best bands that are relatively open about their anti-religious approach.
For a long time, I thought that among “mainstream” bands, only Behemoth and Deicide were still stubborn enough to focus on Satanic themes. But of course, Sweden has always had this covered as well. Dark Funeral comes to mind, but they’re black metal, so it kind of goes with the territory. The Project Hate MCMXCIX has also been on the subject since 1999, though they expand beyond death metal.
I consider Aeon to be slightly heavier and more technical—and these days, more “evil”—than their US counterparts. That’s saying a lot, since I’ve been a Deicide fan since 1991. Maybe the closest comparison is that Aeon is like Cannibal Corpse with Satanic lyrics… and a slightly more Scandinavian sound.
When Aeon released what I consider their best album to date, God Ends Here, I just knew I had to paint the title — somehow, somewhere. So, I started with a sketch, then moved on to painting. And three years later, I felt the need to revisit the theme, this time just through sketching.
AEON – God Ends Here | spraypaint on plywood | 2021
AEON x 2 | pencil & fineliner on paper | 2021, 2024