The legion of Astriaal coalesce elements of varying extreme metal genres to create an arcane cacophony of unique antiquity. Conjuring a melancholic furnace of blasting misanthropy – all members derive diversifying influences, which is evident in the dark and fluent atmospheres that result. Astriaal was given life in the winter of 1998... In this initial incarnation, Astriaal recorded the now infamous Glories of the Nightsky demo in October 1998, and supported Nazxul on their diabolical Black Seed tour in November of the same year.

The new millennium saw Astriaal sign with Dissident Records and unleash their debut label release in October 2000 entitled Summoning the Essence of Ancient Wisdom. Astriaal has toured Australia on numerous occasions, and debuted at the tenth anniversary of the Metal for the Brain festival in Canberra in late 2000. Early 2001 saw Astriaal perform a number of dates with Melbourne's Destroyer 666 as part of the Summoning the Phoenix national tour, which saw both bands perform shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Astriaal spent the remainder of 2001 headlining the Bloodlust I, Overcranked I and Metal for the Brain XI festivals, before retreating from the live arena to focus on the writing of the debut album.

The acclaimed follow-up to Summoning the Essence... was the opulent Deception Revelation release in November 2002, and after only two months of airplay the mCD was voted fourth best Australian metal release for 2002 by the listeners of JJJ's national Three Hours of Power program. Earlier in 2002 Astriaal performed on the main stage at the Overcranked II festival to over one thousand people, and headlined the Bloodlust II Extreme Metal Festival in Sydney. The later stages of 2002 brought about Astriaal's first international support shows, the first with the notorious Mayhem in Brisbane in September. Astriaal then supported Germany's Destruction on the Canberra and Brisbane legs of their Australian Tour, before heading to Sydney late 2002 to commence the mixing of the forthcoming Renascent Misanthropy album.

The dawn of 2003 saw Astriaal support Austrian death legends Pungent Stench in Brisbane, before returning to Sydney early February to complete mixing the forthcoming album and to co-headline the Black Apokalypse Festival. April 2003 saw Astriaal support legendary Swedish melodic metallers Opeth in Brisbane, before yet another trip south to perform to the Sydney and Canberra legions at Easter, and to master the Renascent Misanthropy opus with Steve Smart at Sony's Sydney Studio 301.

On the eve of the national release of the highly anticipated Renascent Misanthropy album [through Blacktalon Media / MGM Distribution] and with a support slot for Incantation and festival appearances already booked for the Bloodlust III [Sydney], Overcranked III [Brisbane], Winterfest [Sunshine Coast], Metalsurge IV [Adelaide] and Metal for the Brain XII [Canberra] Festivals – 2003 promises to be the zenith of Astriaal's sonic quest thus far...

Behold the Spiritual Dawn of Misanthropy...