One of the very first black metal formations in Central Europe was undoubtedly the Hungarian band Tormentor. In their early work, they combined fast thrash/black riffs with a darker atmosphere, and their debut material Anno Domini (recorded in 1988) quickly achieved cult status.
The band began its journey under the communist regime, which significantly limited their ability to release music. Their recording of Anno Domini was completed in 1988, but due to state censorship and various organizational obstacles, it couldn’t be officially released until the end of communist rule in Hungary. As a result, Tormentor’s music spread primarily through underground tape-trading networks, earning the band an international reputation even beyond the borders of the Eastern Bloc.
One of the most distinctive figures of Tormentor is vocalist Attila Csihar, whose unique vocal style became a defining element not only of the band itself but later also of Norwegian Mayhem, where he took over as frontman following Dead’s death. Csihar’s deep, theatrical voice gave Tormentor a uniquely dark and mystical aura that set them apart from most other black metal bands of the era. After the group disbanded in the early 1990s, its members pursued other projects, and Tormentor remained inactive for a long time — from 1991 to 1999, and then again from 2001 until their return in 2017, when they reappeared on stage and reaffirmed their cult status among fans of extreme music.
