The nucleus of the Dutch rock act WICKED MYSTIC was formed way back in 1992, when guitar player HARALD TE GROOTHUIZEN en drummer WILY VAN HAREN first teamed up to form a band. During the first 5 years however they were unable to keep a steady line-up together, and new members continuously drifted in and out of the group. In 1994 they nevertheless managed to release the mini album MEND OR END, a record which justly earned them critical acclaim as well as the beginnings of a loyal, and ever-growing, fan following. They were even offered a serious recording deal, but that came unstuck when – once again – the vocalist quit the band. They plodded on, rehearsing day and night, and simultaneously honing their songwriting craft. Mercifully in 1997 the line-up stabilized when vocalist REMKO ROES, second guitarist NIELS KUENEN and bass player ERIK SCHUT joined the founder members of WICKED MYSTIC.

Soon after they signed a management deal with the BOLD BROS., which in turn lead to a recording agreement with ROKAROLA RECORDS, a division of MUSIC AVENUE. In the autumn of 2000 WICKED MYSTIC recorded THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION, their first full-length album, which was released all over Europe in the beginning of 2001. The album was produced by DICK KEMPER (the former bass player with VANDENBERG, the semi-legendary Dutch hard rock formation which even cracked America for a while), and contained melodic thrash metal of the finest alloy. The reviews were unanimously favorable - which enabled WICKED MYSTIC to solidify their rock solid live reputation by headlining the METAL GRAND SLAM tour, as well as through playing numerous opening slots for acts such as; MEGADETH, MOTORHEAD, NEVERMORE, METAL CHURCH, MERCYFUL FATE, ANNIHILATOR, OVERKILL, BRUCE DICKINSON. RONIE JAMES DIO, SAXON en JUDAS PRIEST.

And now WICKED MYSTIC has wrought LITHIUM, the band’s second album. LITHIUM essentially contains uncompromising power metal with shredding dual-guitar work, but WICKED MYSTIC also illustrate their creative versatility by including a soaring melodic ballad such as THE REVERIE.

This time around MARC TE BRAAK and HARRY WIJERING handled the production chores, and LITHIUM was recorded in the HARROW STUDIOS, the same recording studio that years ago spawned the celebrated MEND OR END mini-album.

In the intervening time WICKED MYSTIC also jumped labels, trading ROKAROLA for MAUSOLEUM, the other MUSIC AVENUE subsidiary, which enjoys more international acclaim.

On June 1st WICKED MYSTIC will play at the OZZFEST in Holland, together with giants of the genre like; OZZY OSBOURNE, TOOL and SLAYER, to name but a few. Later in June they will embark on a pan-European tour with OVERKILL and BLAZE, and in September they will trek across the Benelux, headlining the second edition of the METAL GRAND SLAM tour.

Enjoy LITHIUM, definitely NOT a sedative!