---
title: "Ancient Rites"
type: "MusicGroup"
url: "https://themetalnet.com/band/ancient-rites"
genre: "Black Metal"
country: "Belgium"
formed: 1988
---

# Ancient Rites

**Ancient Rites** is a black metal band, from Belgium, active 1988 to present.

Ancient Rites is a Belgian black metal band formed in 1988. Initially, the lineup consisted of guitar players Johan and Phillip, drummer Stefan, and Gunther Theys on bass and vocals. In 1990 the Dark Ritual demo was released in the underground scene, getting worldwide attention just as black metal was gaining importance in the metal scene. Soon after the release of this demo Phillip died in a car crash and not long after, Stefan committed suicide. However painful this episode was to the band, they decided to continue and Stefan's position was taken by his drum roadie Walter van Cortenberg.

Biography source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rites

## Facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Name | Ancient Rites |
| Genre | Black Metal |
| Parent genre | Black Metal |
| Origin | Diest, Belgium |
| Formed | 1988 |
| Releases in catalog | 9 |

## Genres

[Black Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/black-metal)

## Line-up

| Musician | Instruments | Years | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Domingo Smets](https://themetalnet.com/musician/domingo-smets) | Keyboard, Bass guitar | 1999 to present | Current |
| [Davy Wouters](https://themetalnet.com/musician/davy-wouters) | Keyboard | 2001 to present | Current |
| [Erik Sprooten](https://themetalnet.com/musician/erik-sprooten) | Guitar | 1996 to present | Current |
| [Günther Theys](https://themetalnet.com/musician/gunther-theys) | Lead vocals, Bass guitar | 1988 to present | Current |
| [Walter Van Cortenberg](https://themetalnet.com/musician/walter-van-cortenberg) | Membranophone | 1991 to present | Current |
| [Jan "Örkki" Yrlund](https://themetalnet.com/musician/jan-orkki-yrlund) | Guitar | 1997 to 2003 | Former |
| [Bart Vandereycken](https://themetalnet.com/musician/bart-vandereycken) | Guitar | 1991 to 2007 | Former |
| [Franky](https://themetalnet.com/musician/franky-c2e9210b) | Guitar | 1991 to 1991 | Former |
| [Johan Vrancken](https://themetalnet.com/musician/johan-vrancken) | Guitar | 1989 to 1990 | Former |
| [Pascal](https://themetalnet.com/musician/pascal) | Guitar | 1991 to 1993 | Former |
| [Philip Bollengier](https://themetalnet.com/musician/philip-bollengier) | Guitar | 1988 to 1990 | Former |
| [Raphael "Raf" Jansen](https://themetalnet.com/musician/raphael-raf-jansen) | Guitar | 1996 to 2006 | Former |
| [Stefan](https://themetalnet.com/musician/stefan) | Membranophone | 1989 to 1990 | Former |
| [Wattie](https://themetalnet.com/musician/wattie) | Bass guitar | 1988 to 1989 | Former |

## Discography

| Year | Release | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1992 | [Evil Prevails…](https://themetalnet.com/album/985a9509-6ca1-3702-b24c-06faa2e57185) | EP |
| 1993 | [From Beyond the Grave II / In Blood We Trust](https://themetalnet.com/album/aedaac9f-aac9-4d39-b36c-c8ffb67c39b3) | EP |
| 1993 | [Uncanny / Ancient Rites](https://themetalnet.com/album/bb0cd06d-edb8-4e53-b9e7-81fbcdffe22f) | Album |
| 1994 | [The Diabolic Serenades](https://themetalnet.com/album/9ffb5ab1-1d93-3ae6-b068-718413932d34) | Album |
| 1996 | [Blasfemia Eternal](https://themetalnet.com/album/3aa44bf0-6fae-341f-b611-3f10f59ac99b) | Album |
| 1998 | [Fatherland](https://themetalnet.com/album/013ac741-ade7-35a8-8474-f784012359e0) | Album |
| 2001 | [Dim Carcosa](https://themetalnet.com/album/f74b75a6-d38f-3979-aeae-16bbafee9b93) | Album |
| 2006 | [Rubicon](https://themetalnet.com/album/d9849bbf-fd35-3008-b524-09a9c3836e2e) | Album |
| 2015 | [Laguz](https://themetalnet.com/album/d95d6906-a91f-4319-980f-f93c90e77b45) | Album |

## Related bands

- [Dark Tranquillity](https://themetalnet.com/band/dark-tranquillity) (listened together)
- [Ensiferum](https://themetalnet.com/band/ensiferum) (listened together)
- [Darkthrone](https://themetalnet.com/band/darkthrone) (listened together)
- [Thyrfing](https://themetalnet.com/band/thyrfing) (listened together)
- [Summoning](https://themetalnet.com/band/summoning) (listened together)
- [Borknagar](https://themetalnet.com/band/borknagar) (listened together)
- [Catamenia](https://themetalnet.com/band/catamenia) (listened together)
- [Bathory](https://themetalnet.com/band/bathory) (listened together)
- [Slayer](https://themetalnet.com/band/slayer) (listened together)
- [Satyricon](https://themetalnet.com/band/satyricon) (listened together)
- [Amorphis](https://themetalnet.com/band/amorphis) (listened together)
- [Immortal](https://themetalnet.com/band/immortal) (listened together)

## Official and external links

- youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AncientRites89
- spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0okB1HEJFLD98VkNzLtTBJ
- deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/56228
- metal archives: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Ancient_Rites/28
- facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancientrites

---

Source: [TheMetalNet https://themetalnet.com/band/ancient-rites](https://themetalnet.com/band/ancient-rites). Catalog data from MusicBrainz and Metal Archives. Full site index: https://themetalnet.com/llms.txt