May 1998 : Birth of the French band Benighted. Benighted is the result of the gathering of the former members of death and black metal bands Dishumanized, Darkness Fire and Osgiliath. Back then, the band's line up is Julien (vocals), Olivier (guitar), Liem (guitar), Chart (bass) and Fred (drums).
May 1998 to 2000 : the band works on their first self- produced album and performs a few concerts in France in order to introduce the band to the audience. Benighted's music is a combination and is influenced by death and black metal. For the first album, the seven tracks that sounded the best are recorded in June 2000 at the Plaza Records Studio, near Lyon. Besides, the reviews of that first album are amazing and very positive in the underground press.
January 2001 : The label Adipocere Records comes in contact with Benighted in order to distribute and market the record, and about the output of the following releases.
August 2001 : The band is back at the Plaza to record 11 new tracks for the second album, Psychose. This time, the influence of death metal is stronger. This opus sounds more brutal and more technical than the previous one. Furthermore, the artwork is carried out by Jean-Pascal Fournier, who also worked for Immortal, Impaled Nazarene, Rain or Edguy among other bands.
It's also at that time that the band decides to part from their bass player, Chart.
April 2002 : After a lot of problems, Psychose is finally available. Again, the critiques are very positive and the band goes on tour with Carcariass, Furia and Rain. Moreover, to complete the band for the tour and to succeed Chart, a new bass player, Rémy, is hired.
December 2002 : Benighted begins to work on their third album, Insane Cephalic Production, always with Adipocere Records. The new songs are more brutal than anything Benighted has ever done before. Unfortunately, personal issues lead Remy to leave the band.
August 2003 : Benighted goes to the Kohlekeller Studio in Seeheim, Germany for the recording of their new album. The production / achievement of this record is amazing. Kohle, the owner of the studio has done a great job for the band! What's more, Mick from Destinity joined Julien to sing on the track Puerperal Cannibalism.
February 2004 : Insane Cephalic Production is released. For the up-coming gigs, Bertrand from the band Winds of Torment stood in for Remy. And, one month later we eventually found the current bass player: Eric.
April 2004 : Many concerts are scheduled alongside bands like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Fear Factory, Slipknot, Soulfly, Impaled Nazarene, Loudblast, Destinity, Dew-Scented, Graveworm, Inhumate, Dying Foetus, Aborted and Nasum. Furthermore, Benighted is invited to play at great festivals such as the Fury Fest or the Nuclear Fest.
2005 : Benighted is on tour to promote Insane Cephalic Production until March, which marks the beginning of the work on the fourth album.
August 2005 : Benighted goes back to the Kohlekeller studio for the recording of Identisick which was to be ready at the end of the year. This album contains 10 songs, and a Napalm Death cover: Suffer the Children. The record is very effective with its fast and groovy tracks. Actually, it's a combination of brutal death metal and some influences of trash, grind or hardcore. Hence, it's probably the best opus Benighted has done.
February 2006 : Fred leaves the band. Benighted welcomes Kikou as their new official drummer.
February 2006 - June 2007 : Benighted is touring for the promotion of Identisick and perfoms at some great festivals like Tomawok Fest (Fr), the VS Fest (Fr), the Inhumanus Fest (Ch), and the Death Feast Open Air (Germany). Meanwhile, a new album is being composed.
June 2007 : Since Adipocere stopped all their production activities, Benighted is signed on a new label: Osmose Productions.
Summer 2007 : Icon is recorded, mixed and mastered at the Kohlekeller Studio. This time, the artwork is done by Phlegeton (Mortician, Avulsed...). Furthermore, this new album contains 12 new brutal, furious and death/grindcore songs. Plus, Jagger from Disbelief appears as a guest on the track "Human Circles".
October 2007 : Icon is out on Osmose Productions. And, the Terrorize the sick tour gets organised alongside Kronos and Recueil Morbide for French promotion.
2008 : Promotion for « Icon », the band is touring around Europe and will play at great european festivals like Neurotic Death Fest and Houten Death Fest in Holland, Hell Fest, Metal Ride Fest, Reperkusound Fest, Klonosphere Fest and Chaulnes Metal Fest in France, Inferno Fest in Norway, Obscene Extreme Fest in Czech Rep, Rock Area Fest in Germany, Rape The Escape Fest in Austria…
2009 : Tour with Aborted & writing process for the next album.
