Paul “Shorty” Van Camp - All Guitars, Bass Guitars , Vocals
Vanne Opdebeeck - Drums, Backing Vocals
Jan Anthonis - Bass, Backing Vocals

Killer is a Belgian heavy metal band formed in Antwerp in 1980. Considered one of the pioneering forces of the Belgian metal scene, the group developed a direct and energetic sound combining traditional heavy metal, hard rock and the emerging speed metal style of the early 1980s. Their fast tempos, rough dual vocals and power-trio format frequently led to comparisons with Motörhead, although Killer also drew considerable inspiration from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

The band was founded by guitarist and vocalist Paul “Shorty” Van Camp and drummer Leo “Fat Leo” Felsenstein following the dissolution of their previous group, Mothers of Track. Bassist and vocalist Ivo “Spooky” Van Doren soon completed the original line-up. Only a few months after forming, Killer recorded their debut album, Ready for Hell, which was released in 1981. The record introduced the group’s raw mixture of hard-driving riffs, melodic guitar work and aggressive vocals.

Fat Leo was replaced by drummer Robert “Double Bear” Cogen before Killer recorded their second album, Wall of Sound, released in 1982. The album helped establish the band outside Belgium, and Killer subsequently performed extensively throughout Europe. Their growing reputation made them an important early representative of the Belgian heavy metal movement.

Killer’s third album, Shock Waves, appeared in 1984 through Mausoleum Records. Often regarded as one of the strongest releases of their early career, it received positive attention in Europe as well as in markets such as the United States, Japan and Brazil. The band’s association with Mausoleum placed them alongside other prominent Belgian metal acts of the period, including Ostrogoth, Acid and Crossfire.

In 1985, Killer recorded a double live album titled Still Alive in Eighty-Five during a sold-out concert in Antwerp. Despite being fully recorded and mixed, the album was never officially released because of legal and financial problems surrounding Mausoleum Records. The collapse of the project proved deeply frustrating for the musicians. Although Killer continued performing and undertook a successful tour of Poland in 1986, the band eventually separated in 1987.

Shorty and Spooky revived Killer in 1989 with drummer Rudy Simons and second guitarist Jan Van Springel. This expanded line-up recorded the fourth studio album, Fatal Attraction, which was released in 1990. The band concentrated much of its activity in Germany during this period, but the reunion was relatively short-lived, and Killer disbanded again in 1991.

After several occasional reunion performances, Killer returned on a more permanent basis in 2002. Shorty remained the central figure, principal songwriter and only continuous original member. The comeback produced Broken Silence in 2003 and Immortal in 2005, both of which maintained the band’s traditional heavy metal foundations while presenting a more modern production.

Killer continued performing at European festivals and released their seventh studio album, Monsters of Rock, in 2015. The record demonstrated that the group’s uncompromising approach had changed little: forceful riffs, energetic rhythms and Shorty’s recognisable voice remained at the centre of the music.

In 2023, Killer released their eighth studio album, Hellfire. The album celebrated more than four decades of activity and reaffirmed the band’s position as one of Belgium’s longest-running traditional heavy metal acts. Killer’s current line-up consists of Paul “Shorty” Van Camp on guitar and vocals, Ian “Jakke” Anthonis on bass and vocals, and Ivan “Vanne” Opdebeeck on drums.

Throughout their career, Killer have remained committed to an old-school style rooted in the formative years of European heavy metal. Although they never achieved the same international recognition as many of their British contemporaries, their early recordings have become respected cult releases, and their influence on the development of Belgian heavy and speed metal remains significant.

Ready for Hell (1981)
Wall of Sound (1982)
Shock Waves (1984)
Fatal Attraction (1990)
Broken Silence (2003)
Immortal (2005)
Monsters of Rock (2015)
Hellfire (2023)
The Grand Finale (2026)

Heavy Metal/Speed Metal
Belgium