METALLIAN - Defender

Members

Vocals

Deathwish, X-hausted, En Masse, Screaming Victor>>SIMON MENTING>>X-hausted, En Masse, Screaming Victor

Guitar

Angantyr>>HENK VERHEUL - The Emerald Tablet, November, Day Is Done>>STEF KÖHLER>>The Emerald Tablet, November, Day Is Done

Bass

Questionmark, Gutwrench, Goddess Of Desire, Heavy Metal Maniacs>>Harm Noort>>Questionmark, Gutwrench, Goddess Of Desire, Heavy Metal Maniacs

Drum

November, Mac-11>>REMCO BOUWENS>>November, Mac-11

History & Biography

This act existed at the same time as the German Defender between 1984 and 1990. They also reappeared, albeit briefly, like the other Defender, in this case in 2001 and 2006 - 2007. The last reformation included a promise of a new album. Tales Of The Unexpected was a 1985 demo. The group obtained a deal with the Metalloid label, which promptly went belly up and was unable to fulfill its promise. Guitarist Bart van Rixel (founding member, ex-Hammerhawk) left to join the family business and was replaced by Henk Verheul. Remco and Bart had met at a Dio/Queensryche gig in Amsterdam and started the band. Guitarist Jos 'Jozzy' Baltus had been with the act for less than a year having joined after the demo's recording.. He was fired and replaced by Stef Köhler. CBS Spain signed the act to a distribution deal and released the self-recorded City Ad Mortis EP in 1987. It displayed a genuine power metal band. There was a mini-tour called Hardrock Can't Tolerate Fascism. The group also opened for Cyclone and Agent Steel. Harm was asked to leave as the band wanted a more technical bassist. Journey To The Unexpected was a 1989 mini-CD sold at gigs and sent to record companies. The band played gigs with Toxik in January of 1990, but disbanded owing to a lack of success and want of a recording contract.

The band released a compilation of the above, called Remaining Tales, in 2001. Bouwens' Rusty Cage Records reissued the urban EP in 2006 as part of its Dutch Metal Cult Series. Hammerheart Records reissued Dutch act Defender’s City Ad Mortis EP, which stemmed from 1987, in 2025

Reviews

Interviews

Defender