I Shalt Become

Lore & Background

I Shalt Become was formed in 1995 by S. Holliman, who handled vocals, guitar, and bass. Before the project disbanded in 1999, Holliman recorded two official demos: Wanderings in 1998 and In the Falling Snow in 1999. In the same year, the In the Falling Snow demo was released as a bootleg under the name Birkenau. The project became active again in 2008, when In the Falling Snow was remastered and reissued as an I Shalt Become record. Drummer A. J. Scherer joined in 2010. The band's lyrical themes deal with abstract concepts such as desolation and emptiness.

Reader's Guide

I Shalt Become occupies a niche within the atmospheric–depressive black metal subgenre, known for its focus on abstract themes of desolation and emptiness. The project's early demos, Wanderings (1998) and In the Falling Snow (1999), were foundational to its sound, with the latter being bootlegged under the name Birkenau in 1999. After a period of inactivity, the project was revived in 2008 with a remastered reissue of In the Falling Snow, followed by several full-length albums including Requiem (2008), The Pendle Witch Trials (2009), Poison (2010), and Louisiana Voodoo (2013). The project's significance lies in its consistent exploration of depressive atmospheres within black metal, and its re-emergence after a decade-long hiatus helped solidify its place in the underground scene. The addition of drummer A. J. Scherer in 2010 marked a shift toward a fuller sound, though the project remains primarily the vision of S. Holliman.

Did You Know?

• I Shalt Become was formed in 1995 and disbanded in 1999 before becoming active again in 2008.
• The demo In the Falling Snow (1999) was bootlegged under the name Birkenau in the same year.
• The project's lyrical themes focus on abstract concepts such as desolation and emptiness.
• Drummer A. J. Scherer joined the project in 2010.