In may 1999, Stijn Van Cauter founded a project, named Macabre Destiny. The music could be described as a mixture between cold black-metal and melodic doom, only consisting of electric and acousitc guitars and drums. Later on, the music developped to a slower form of doom, completely leaving out the black-influences.
In february 2000, the name of the solo-project was changed into Until Death Overtakes Me (taken from the song Black God, by the doom-gods My Dying Bride who had a lot of influences on the music in those days). From then on, the compositions kept on slowing down, and the influences of other bands completely dissapeared.
In august 2000, Elke De Smedt joined the project (acoustic guitar and keyboards) and in September of the same year Jo Renette (Guitar, Bass and Keyboards) joined to band. At that time, we had some songs and thought about recording a demo, some of our songs were slow and heavy doom, while others were very experimental with electronics, dark ambient, and guitar-FX. In November 2000, Pamela Turrell (Flute and Recorder) joined our Doom-collective.
Early 2001, S started recording the demo Deep Dark Red, our music being a mix of very slow and heavy doom, gothic, ambient and some influences of classical music, by that time S also decided to leave out the drums completly and replace them by Timpani, thus adding to the heaviness of our compositions. We decided not to release the demo, because most of the work originated from the solo-period and was thus written only by S, who also played all instruments on the demo (except for the Saxophone), so this first symphony was no exact representation of the band at that time. After that demo, our music still was evolving , going back to the idea of the early days (an idea that was already present from the beginning, but then the project lacked experience to fullfill its dream). So after two years of experience, i now come up with lyrics based upon my own way of life, on my rather negative view on the world and its society nowadays and with my music i don't follow any commercial trends, my only source of inspiration comes from our feelings, dreams,…trying to honour true music, in my own, simple ways…
During the recording of the second demo 'Absence Of Life', both Pamela and Elke left the band, because of lack of time for the recording and the band. As soon as the mix of the album was finished, Jo also left the band to concentrate his time and work on his black metal-project 'Duystere Kercker'. The second chapter of UDOM starts with a new full-length demo, released on the 30th of november, a serious line-up change and the rerelease of the first demo 'Symphony I - Deep Dark Red' on the 7th of february.
In the meanwhile several side/solo projects were formed, to focus on other music-genres, such as : electronic, black, noise, drone, and more ambient and extreme doom.
Since May 2002, the new concept 'Monolith' has been evolving, resulting in 'Prelude To Monolith', which was released by the Finnish label 'Firebox'. The concept shall continue in 'Symhpony III', which shall be the start of another, new concept...
Current Line-up (since October 2001) :
Stijn - Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Timpani, Electric Violin and Vocals.