Also known as Vorphalack, Vorph Years active 1987–present Instruments Guitar, vocals | Occupation(s) Musician Name Michael Locher | |
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S a m a e l vorph facebook interview
Michael Locher (a.k.a. Vorphalack, or simply Vorph) (born 7 January 1969) is a Swiss musician who provides vocals and is a guitarist for Swiss industrial/black metal band Samael. He co-founded the band in 1987 with his brother Alexandre Locher (also known as Xytras or Xy) on drums. Michael's musical influences include Celtic Frost, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Venom, Bathory, and early Possessed. Michael particularly points to Bathory as a source of inspiration for vocals:
Quorthon from BATHORY for the vocals I think was a big influence. To me, at that time, he was probably the guy who pushed the boundaries the furthest in terms of that style of music.
His guitar is a customized ESP Viper with Ernie Ball guitar strings, Boss GT pro, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. During Samael's black metal period, Vorph (then called Vorphalack) played a Jackson King V guitar too. During the Passage era Vorph played a black Jackson Kelly.
Vorph stated in an interview with Dutch webzine Lords of Metal that he does not eat junk food and that he is a vegetarian.
Vorph was born in Sion, Switzerland.
The Estonian band Horricane published a cover version of the Samael song Rain, and credited Vorph as Michel (instead of "Michael") Locher.