Blasphemous Death Metal band ALTAR, based out of Hardenberg, Overijssel, released a 1992 demo titled 'And God Created Satan To Blame For His Mistakes'.The group had been created as MANTICORE during 1988, switching to the ALTAR title in 1990.

Signing to Displeased Records the band opened with 1994's 'Youth Against Christ', recorded at Franky's Recording Kitchen with producers Ronny van der Wey and Berthus Westerhuis. At this juncture ALTAR comprised vocalist Edwin Kelder, guitarists Bert Huisjes and Marcel Van Haaff, bass guitarist Nils Vos and Marco Arends on the drums.

The second album, 1996's 'Ego Art' once again laid down at Franky's Recording Kitchen, features ex-MANDATOR guitarist Marcel Verdermen, replacing Marcel van Haaf, and new drummer Marco De Groot, previously of BLIND JUSTICE. ALTAR, evolving once again with the incorporation of guitarist Richard Ludwig and drummer Sjoerd Visch, would cover the ACCEPT classic 'Fast As A Shark' for their 1998, Attie Bauw produced 'Provoke' outing. Meantime, the ousted ALTAR drummers found employ, Marco Arends subsequently worked with GOD DETHRONED whilst Marco De Groot featured in Gouda Deathsters ROUWEN.

ALTAR switched labels to US concern Pavement Music for the 1999 set 'In The Name Of The Father'. Limited editions of this outing included a rendition of IRON MAIDEN's 'The Trooper' and bonus original 'I Am Your Provider'.

The 2000 release 'Until Heaven Forbids' was a stop gap release intended to plug the gap until the arrival of the 'Red Harvest' album for Crash Music. 'Until Heaven Forbids' would not only witness a cover version of IRON MAIDEN's 'The Trooper' but spoof its famous cover art too. One new track, 'I Am The Provider', bolstered by a collection of demos, live cuts and a video clip for 'God Damn You'. A further album, 'Red Harvest', saw issue in April 2001 on Spitzenburg Records but ALTAR folded that same Autumn.

Drummer Sjoerd Visch left the group in September 2001 to be replaced by INRI's William Vliereman. Visch founded a high profile Death Metal formation billed as MONOLITH which erstwhile ETERNAL CONSPIRACY members guitarist Michiel Dekker, also citing credits with DEAD HEAD, and vocalist / bassist Martijn Moes, former EXPOSING INNARDS guitarist Corvin Keurhorst and singer Robin Kok of EXPOSING INNARDS and SLAYNE. Visch is also involved with Gothic Metal band TO ELYSIUM.

A reformed ALTAR would be assembled by guitarists Marcel Verdurmen and Richard Ludwig, enrolling bassist Reinier de Vries and former DEVIOUS singer Arnold Oudemiddendorp. Ex-drummer Sjoerd Visch joined BEYOND BELIEF in 2005.

A four song demo was issued in 2007, the group by now featuring new singer Michel Coppens plus the IRMIN and DEVIOUS credited Frank Schilperoort on drums.

Garry Sharpe-Young