A fictional melodic blackened death metal group that appears in a popular webcomic of the same name, Belzebubs was created for the page and screen in the late 2010s by Finnish artist and author J.P. Ahonen. Conceived by Ahonen as an "improvised therapy project" during a time of personal upheaval, the comic strip parodies the dourness and gravitas of the black metal scene via the very metal adventures of bassist Hubbath, lead guitarist Obesyx, vocalist/guitarist Sløth, and drummer Samaël. Citing bands like Dimmu Borgir, Rotting Christ, and Immortal as influences on the group's greasepaint-heavy look and brooding musical style, Belzebubs eventually found their way into the studio -- the actual musicians involved remain anonymous -- and released their first studio album, Pantheon of the Nightside Gods, in 2019 via Century Media. ~ James Christopher Monger