Vocalist Toshiya, guitarists Ozny and Elizaveat, bassist Gezol and the drummer Valvin started a black metal group in 1983. They named it EVIL, and performed for the first time in August of the same year. The group was forced to rethink their plans for the future already in the next year, as Toshiya left the line-up: the members decided to change their name to Sabbat and the bassist Gezol ended up singing, next to handling his own instrument. They released their first releases under their own label, Evil Records, in 1985, being one of the pioneers of Japanese black metal. It was around then when Valvin left, and Samm, Gezol's brother, took his place. A year later, Ozny quit the band, leaving Sabbat down to three members.
Sabbat took a break in performing between the years 1987 and 1989, only recording a couple of short releases. This pause, however, ended up rather fateful in terms of line-up; as Gezol was regrouping the members to come back as full-strength Sabbat, he found out the others had already became rooted elsewhere. The guitarist Elizaveat played one more concert with the group, and Samm had already been replaced on drums by Zorugelion, who soon became an official member and is still in Sabbat today.
However, without a guitarist Sabbat once again ended up with no live performances at all and decided to concentrate on something they were able to do - record their first full length album, with the friendly help of Elizaveat. Envenom was released in 1991, together with announcing the band's next official guitarist Temis Osmond, who had played a few solos for the album.
Elizaveat did another guest appearance in the compilation called Black Up Your Soul..., which was released in 1994 in celebration of Sabbat's 10th anniversary. In it's sequel, ...for Satan and Sacrifice, not only did Elizaveat have a guest appearance, but also Ozny. Both of the albums introduced good old songs in re-recorded versions. Both of the parted members were also on stage at the anniversary live.
In 1995 Gezol started a project called Metalucifer, which exploits a more traditional heavy metal sound, and has later on been seen, for example, on the stages of Wacken.
Sabbat's specialties include the international Harmageddon series, of which parts have been released in several different countries of Europe, Asia and America - and even in the Africa located Tanzania. Within the years, the band has also modified their classic track Black Fire's lyrics from Japanese into English, Swedish and Swahili. They've toured in Europe several times since 1997.
Several different labels released anniversary records for Sabbat's 20th anniversary in 2004, while the band celebrated, touring Japan with their commemorative tour. Already, the year after that, the band performed for the first time in United States, where fans had the possibility to be a part in making the long awaited tour become reality by purchasing the album Live Sabbatical Hamaguri Queen that was released for this purpose. Later on, the live recording of the show in New York was released under the name Brooklyn Blackfire.
Temis Osmond left the group after a farewell concert in Nagoya on November 26th 2005, when Sabbat also released a reminiscing album called Tribute to Temis. According to Temis, he quit his long participation in the group due to difficulties scheduling Sabbat together with the rest of his life. While searching for a new guitarist, live gigs are supported by MAGNESIUM's Ishidamien.
