Proud to be recognised as one of the gloomiest bands in Europe. Over a series of finely crafted albums Sion's SAMAEL have built up an enviable reputation for quality Metal with a unique touch. 1999's 'Eternal' was widely acknowledged to be a classic of the genre. SAMAEL heralded their arrival with the 1987 demo recording titled 'Into The Infernal Storm Of Evil'. This session, crafted by vocalist / guitarist Vorphalack with Pat Charvet on drums, showed a band bursting with ambition but not yet in possession of the technical ability or experience to get their message across. Nevertheless, the chamber-like echo applied to the vocals hinted at a greater majesty to come. A second demo, 'Macabre Operetta', saw issue the following year, after which Charvet bowed out to join MISERY.

The group's 1989's 'Medieval Prophecy' three track EP, recorded as a duo of Vorphalack, credited with "vociferations" and his drumming brother Xytraguptor, featured a cover of HELLHAMMER's 'The Third Of The Storm' whilst demo track 'Into The Dark' was re-worked, bolting on a further five minutes duration, as 'Into The Pentagram'. Issued through Necrosound Records, two sleeve variations of Medieval Prophecy saw release, adding to collectability. SAMAEL's next release in 1990 was the demo tape 'From Dark To Black'.

Signing to the then newly established French label Osmose Productions SAMAEL published the 'Worship Him' album in June 1990, notably boasting the catalogue number OPCD001. For this creative congress, recorded in Taurus Studios that March, the band unit was enhanced with the addition of Masmiseîm (a.k.a. Christophe Mermod). 'Worship Him' unexpectedly generated substantial sales, eventually surpassing the 100,000 sales mark in Europe alone. Follow up 'Blood Ritual' arrived in December 1992 for German imprint Century Media Records. The record was cut at T & T Studios in Gelsenkirchen, Germany with production credits going to GRIP INC. guitarist Waldemar Sorychta.

A 7" picture disc EP, 'After The Sepulture' comprising a re-recorded variant of the title track and a cover of VENOM's 'Manitou', limited to just 500 copies, emerged in 1993. SAMAEL's next full-length offering, 'Ceremony Of Opposites' with Waldemar Sorychta once again manning the production desk, saw release in February 1994. With SAMAEL's profile rising, Century Media also issued a compilation of the 'Worship Him' and Blood Ritual' material as the November 1994 compilation '1987-1992'. The May 1995 'Rebellion' mini album, laid down at Woodhouse Studio, Hagen in Germany, boasted a cover of ALICE COOPER's 'I Love The Dead'. Also included would be an unlisted, "hidden" track 'Static Journey'.

The group added keyboard player Rudolphe H. for live dates in 1995 with SENTENCED and for the recording of August 1996's ' Passage' all drum parts were programmed and Xytraguptor (later simply 'Xytra' then 'Xy') assumed a new role as keyboard player. 'Passage' marked a new phase in the group's career, introducing heavily industrialised elements. Initial copies of 'Passages' came complete with a bonus disc entitled 'Xytras's Passage', this being a totally instrumental, ambient classical remix variations on the album by Xytra plus re-worked archive material 'Wintersonnenwende' and 'Der Stamm Kains'.

A second guitarist, Khaos from French Death Metallers GORGON, was also brought in for recording and live dates. SAMAEL's relationship to SENTENCED was strengthened as Vorphalack added backing vocals to the Finn's 'Down' outing. Xytra's's skills in the studio would be recognised outside of SAMAEL, gaining production credits on two albums , 'Sleep Of The Angels' and 'A Dead Poem' by Greek Black Metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST. Xy also operated his own label Parallel Union Records in collaboration with War D. of ALASTIS.

April of 1997 found the band back on European soil, heading up the 'Full Of Hate' Easter festivals alongside OBITUARY, DEATH, ENTOMBED, NEUROSIS, CROWBAR, KILLING CULTURE and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD.

The mini-album 'Exodus' was issued in June 1998. Promoting the 'Eternal' full-length, released in July 1999, the band headed out on a US trek throughout September and October that year bolstered by MONSTROSITY, DIMMU BORGIR and EPOCH OF UNLIGHT.

Upfront of schedule European summer festival performances guitarist Kaos announced his departure in mid 2002. As 2003 broke the band acted as special guests to UK veteran Doomsters CATHEDRAL and Hungarian newcomers WITHOUT FACE on a lengthy trek throughout Europe throughout January and February. SAMAEL united with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and CATHEDRAL for September North American dates dubbed the 'Redemption' tour. Product that year came in the form of an elaborate DVD set 'Black Trip' filmed at three concerts, 'Summer Breeze' festival in Germany 2002, Chicago in 1994 and Poland 1996. Century Media also collected together the entire band ouput for the mammoth box set 'Since The Creation' in December.

In 2004 the band, having fulfilled their contract to Century Media, signed a new label deal with Sweden's Regain Records for Europe and Asia but established their own imprint Galactical Recordings for the rest of the world. A new album, 'Reign Of Light' co-produced by Waldemar Sorychta, was set to arrive in the Summer. A listening session for the media took place on 10th August at the HR Giger museum in Switzerland. 'Reign Of Light' would subsequently be picked up by the Nuclear Blast label for a December US release as that same month the band conducted European dates in union with Electro-Metal merchants OOMPH! and Marseille's DAGOBA.

That same year the band would have their classic cut 'Into The Pentagram' chosen as a pioneering piece of music for a compilation assembled by DARKTHRONE drummer Fenriz, released through Peaceville Records and entitled 'Fenriz Presents The Best Of Old School Black Metal'. An EP, 'One Earth' in June 2005, included a cover version of DEPECHE MODE's 'I Feel You'.

Xy fractured his wrist in a snowboard accident during December, forcing him out of live work for a period. Nevertheless, SAMAEL lined up European touring in January and February of 2006 packaged with OBITUARY and MAROON as the archive collection 'Era One & Lesson In Magic #1' hit the shelves. This double disc involved Electro material originally put down onto tape in 2002 and further ambient tracks recorded in 2003.

Vorph guested on TRISTANIA's 2006 album 'Illumination'. SAMAEL set to work on pre-production tracks with producer Waldemar Sorychta in July.

The band formed up an impressive billing for the December 2008 'Death To Xmas' European tour alongside FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, HATCHET, DISMEMBER, HELSTAR, ONSLAUGHT, HEATHEN and MONSTROSITY.

'Above' the 2009 album from SAMAEL, entered the German Media Control chart at no. 99. This set was promoted in a novel fashion with 'Alliance' wine, a SAMAEL branded "assemblage made from grapes of Gamay, Diolinoir and Sangiovese".

Commencing 14th October in Tampa, Florida, the band teamed up with Portugal's MOONSPELL, BOOK OF BLACK EARTH and SECRETS OF THE MOON for the 'Night Eternal Above America' tour.