Slowly We Rot #8 / 2016

Issue 8 / 2016

6:33 Ancient Nuclear Overkill Enforcer Archgoat Mercyless Wombbath Goatwhore Kataklysm Graveworm Reanimator Under the Church Morbid Slaughter Dead Congregation Pensees Nocturnes

Greetings to you all and thanks so much if for reading this (it means somehow you're interested in printed zines and keep supporting this dying, moribund breed of the underground)! This is the first time I have to apologize for being late with an issue of Slowly We Rot, this issue 8 was supposed to be released in October / November and here it sees the light only in January, not a massive delay, but still so far I managed to keep things on time.

Since issue 7 my label, Loud Rage Music, kept getting busier and I plan on releasing more and more stuff in the future, my webzine, Pest, kept getting more and more attention and so I received tons of material to review and things to do, my daily job kept me busy, too, as always, and last but not least my wife is expecting our first baby and we were extremely busy with all sorts of preparations, this will also be the reason issue 9 will be released sometime in Summer, not in Spring as used to.

I want to thank all bands, labels, distros and individuals that supported and keep supporting Slowly We Rot, my devoted and hugely valuable writers / friends: Sonia, Chris, Heather, Leslie (this time J. from France contributed with an interview, Archgoat, but it will be a one-timeonly event since he decided to start his own zine and I thank him and wish his zine long life), Wolfy from The Crystallomantic Art for the compilation CD artwork, and I hope this new issue will turn out to be on your taste as it's on mine.

There are not many changes since issue 7, we have the same sections: Rising Demons and Fresh Assaults (read the interviews while listening to the compilation CD, they will give you a better insight on the bands featured), Merchants of Death (underground labels that keep the fire burning), Reviews on audio and printed material, but this time I chose to lose the Romanian Attack section or bonus zine simply because I had no disposition to take care of it after the accident at Colectiv club (Google it) which affected me tremendously (although I wasn't there I knew people that died or were seriously injured there), it will probably be featured in the next issue.

Until next time enjoy Slowly We Rot #8, your feedback would be much appreciated, so please send your thoughts on email, FaceBook, Twitter. Bands/labels interested in being featured in next Slowly We Rot issues get in touch, too.

Yours truly, Adrian

Contents:

Front cover: Goatwhore Compilation cover artwork by The Crystallomantic Art (facebook.com/crystallomantia)

3. Editorial 4-5. Ancient 6-7. Morbid Slaughter 8. Reanimator 9. 6:33 10. GoatWhore 11. Kataklysm 13. Dead Congregation 14-15. Archgoat 16. Bestia Cosmic Eve 17. Drap HellGoat 18. Infected Chaos Infection 19. KillRazer Legion Spine Crown 20. Tyrael 21-24. OverKill 26. Pensees Nocturnes 27. Mercyless 28. Wombbath 29. Enforcer 30. Nuclear 31. Under the Church 32. Graveworm 33. BitchHammer Designs of Chaos 34. My Silent Wake No Salvation Otargos 35. Plutonian Shore Premortal Breath 36. Fekete Terror Productions 37. Old Temple Vulgar Records 39-62. Reviews

All reviews, articles and unsigned interviews by Adrian All reviews also published in Pest Webzine at www.pestwebzine.com Slowly We Rot Contact: www.facebook.com/swrzine slowlywerot.miiduu.com swrzine@yahoo.com Slowly We Rot Team: Adrian (Romania) – editor – layout/interviews/reviews Leslie David (Hungary) – interviews Sonia Fonseca (Portugal) – interviews Chris Forbes (USA) – interviews Heather Williams (USA) – interviews J. (France) - interviews

Slowly We Rot Compilation CD #8 01. Bestia - Tüdinud tühjusest 02. BitchHammer - Raging Hell Rivers 03. Cosmic Eve - Where The Light Never Goes 04. Designs of Chaos - Darkest Storm 05. Drap - Min Förlorade Värld 06. Hellgoat - Ascendant Fire, Ascendant Death 07. Infected Chaos - Ia, God of War 08. Infection - Kidnapped and Killed 09. Killrazer - Salt In The Wound FINAL 10. Legion - Righteous Killing 11. Morthus - Blinded By The Holy Light 12. My Silent Wake - And So It Comes To An End 13. No Salvation - Veritas obscura 14. Otargos - Dominatrix 15. Plutonian Shore - Serpent's Ascension 16. Premortal Breath - Trapped 17. Spine Crown - Hellish Screams

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First of all, why losing the corpse paint? Are you just tired of it or this change has a deeper meaning?

In the latest promo photo you see us without any paint, but for live shows I will be using the crown and make up like before. I have had some mixed feelings about it to be honest, but after considering well, I have decided to continue with it, this image is sort of putting me into the character that I am on stage. I have been thinking that the corpse paint thing is kinda old now, it is, but still, personally I like to see a band on stage that doesn‟t just look like the fans there. The most important is always the music, sure, but I do like to give the performance that extra effect it gives. I am a person who appears in many different ways, that‟s just how I am.

You've also shortened your pseudonym from Azazel to Zel. How come?

My previous name was Aphazel. I have been using Zel as short, among friends etc. since like 15 years or so, and after a while I just decided I want to use this name. I have been going through some personal changes the last years as well, so yes you can say it was the right time for a name change, though it‟s more just a short version of Aphazel.

Probably because of your band image (but not only) I've always associated Ancient with my homeland, Transylvania's myths about vampires and always thought it would have been a killer combo for both the band and the region if Ancient would have been from here. What do you actually know about Transylvania?

Have you ever been here?

Yeah I know what you mean, though the kind of vampirism we were into back in ‟97- ‟98 was more like a “ spiritual vampirism” rather than then one connected to Vlad Tepes and so on, you see. I have never had the chance to visit the Transylvania region, but I am sure one day I will be able to, it does seems like a fascinating place, with the cold wilderness there etc. I do know it is a very big region in the middle of Romania, with the Carpathian forests and mountains etc, where Vlad Tepes lived and reigned around 1450, it must be a great experience to see this place. I do believe the vampire myth about Vlad Tepes is half true though, it was said he drank blood of his enemies or so, roasted children, took sadistic pleasure in torturing and killing his enemies, and that was made into some story that he was a kind of vampire I guess, in any case he seems to have been a very interesting character to say the least.

We did play a concert with Ancient on November 1, 2003 in Timisoara, that is the closest I have come to Transylvania, maybe next time we can also get a concert around Bucharest, and I will have a chance to visit the Transylvania region at last.

tour was a good thing or not, the promoter was a rip off, I decided to not participate, and the other guys did the tour without me, and got in big problems in south America with plane tickets not being paid etc etc.). Then in 2009, we started speaking again about doing gigs again, we met up with Nick Barker, as mutual friend in London connected us, and we did a small tour in Spain and Portugal in 2009 and 2010. We were getting inspired again and decided to start working on a new album. With the 3 of us being in different countries etc, it was taking really a lot of time to compose, meet up etc etc, but we started recording our new album in middle of 2014, and just next week we will be doing the final mastering at Finnvox and the master for the album should be ready at last.

So, the band was never officially “split up”, things were Norway. I am originally from Norway, yes.

So, today, the line up is me (who is sometimes in Norway, just quite for a long time and we weren‟t active. Around sometimes in Greece, sometimes in Italy) and Dhilorz 2007- 2008 I didn‟t imagine that I would be playing with (who lives in Como, Italy) and we are playing with Nick Ancient again, but we never really made some real Barker on drums (who is from the UK, but also he travels decision about ending the band. all the time, for touring with various bands etc). So, the situation today is a bit messy, being 3 members in You're currently working with Nick Barker on drums, different countries, but it works out even though we don‟t would you consider him a permanent member of the get to meet so often in person. We usually meet in Italy band, or only a session member? By the way, what's once or twice a year as that‟s the “middle“ of where we the current line-up of Ancient? all are, plus our management, Alpha Omega Management Yes, Nick is actually just a session member for the is there, as well as our session guitarist and other people moment, though I like to think of him as a full time we work with. For touring, north Italy is also a good member, maybe in the future he could be, but the location to travel from, rather than Greece, Norway or difference is mainly just about who‟s making decisions in UK, you know. I have sometimes been thinking to move the band, how we invest etc. back to Italy again, but for the moment I will wait with The current line up is: this decision, I like Greece, but for the band, Italy is still Zel: Vocals, guitars (vocals and bass for live performances) our “homebase”, so to speak.

Dhilorz: Guitars and bass (guitar for live) What happened since your latest album from 2004, Nick Barker: Drums Night Visit? It's 11 years of silence on discographic then, for live concerts we will have as session guitarist Ghiulz (of the Italian band Bulldozer). level. Was the band still active live?

After the release of Night Visit we did a European tour Ghiulz has been a friend of us since like 20 years or more, with the band Illdisposed and Final Breath. We also and he was a natural choice for choosing a live gitarrist, toured in Russia in 2004. But, with the decreasing sales of and he is an amazing musician as well. cds due to people downloading the music for free, Grom (the drummer) leaving the band, we all started losing motivation and slowly the band went on pause, with no new concerts booked etc. I basically was getting a bit tired of it all and at the time I also met my girlfriend in Greece and moved over there and started a new life. I was not very inspired with writing new music etc. Ancient actually did some concerts in south America without me in 2007 (we had a strange situation about arguing if this

You, and with you the band, too, relocated a lot during the years. Where are you based now? I've always had a doubt: originally you're from Norway or from Italy?

Yes, I have relocated many times over the years, and I still keep travelling a lot. Originally the band was a solo project which I began in Norway in 1992, then in 1995 I relocated to the USA to start working with Kaiaphas as singer and drummer. In 1998 I moved to Italy as I did not have the papers to continue living in the USA and the band line-up was somehow falling apart as well.

In Italy I recruited new members, one of them, Dhilorz, is still part of the Ancient line up today.

I moved to Greece in 2005 where I still have my “summer house”, though I work sometimes in

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As far as I know your seventh studio album, Back To The Land Of The Dead, is ready to be released. Could you please tell us a few words about the tracks that will be featured on it?

Ok, the album has 13 tracks, 12 of our own compositions and 1 cover of Bathory (it is very late now, but we did feel we wanted to pay a tribute to the late Quorthon, who has been one of our greatest inspirations over the years).

7 of the tracks are written by Dhilorz and 5 by me. Some people will maybe ask why I haven‟t written more for this album, I actually had some more material, but it is slower stuff that I will be using for another project of mine, to be released next year, so 12 songs is what we all had, and it‟s almost up to the limit as to how much space a cd can hold, the album is about 67 minutes, last time I counted everything. As usual for Ancient, the album has a variety of styles, there are several melodic slower parts, but mostly fast tracks. This is surely the most aggressive album ever by Ancient.

With a drummer like Nick Barker, it was natural to have him playing blastbeats and fast parts which he is so great at. We are really satisfied with the final outcome of this album, it has taken a long time, but in the end we have a great album with also a production which kicks ass, it has a rather analog warm powerful feeling, a bit old school as we like it, not too much reverbs and effects on this album compared to the older Ancient album, but the sound is really powerful and aggressive, I

band” (maybe just around ‟94-‟95 but even then, I didn‟t think we were pure “ black metal”) cause we have so many different influences and elements in our music. A lot of people will say that we are “some kind of black metal”, as there are so many styles you find these days, bands mixing genres, but to me, a pure black metal band, would be something like the old Darkthrone, old Gorgoroth, Marduk or so, a band with no keyboards, guitar solos, acoustic guitars etc etc, like we do. I never really cared for labels, I know they‟re needed for people and magazines to describe styles of bands and so on, but personally it‟s not something I am interested in, I always thought Ancient was a band different from the rest.

3. The Sempiternal Haze (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Although we‟re not 100% original in everything we do, people always keep telling us that we have a special Zel) 4. The Empyrean Sword (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel) sound, which is typical for Ancient, not to be confused with other bands, and I like that, we‟re not just a band 5. The Ancient Disarray (Music and lyrics by Zel) among thousands, we have our own certain style and feeling although we keep progressing with each album.

6. Occlude The Gates (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Zel) We have not used orchestrations, I don‟t feel that is something for Ancient, maybe in the future, but… I have mixed feelings about it. We do have one track with some The Excruciating Journey 7. Part I Defiance and rage (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by spoken female vocals, but nothing more.

Zel) 8. Part II The Prodigal Years (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics Are the album's lyrics part of a concept, or are they

by Zel) individual stories? What are they about?

9. Part III The Awakening (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by It is not a concept album exactly, although many of the songs are somehow connected. Most of the lyrics on this Zel) album speaks about the devil actually, the spirit of the 10. Death Will Die (Music and lyrics by Zel) devil, what it does to the humans, how it appears and so 11. The Spiral (Music and lyrics by Zel) on. Most of the bands on black metal glorify and worship 12. Petrified By Their End (Music by Dhilorz and Zel, the devil, but the very most of them does not actually know who or what the devil actually is, it seems to me lyrics by Zel) more like a kind of “trend” to worship the devil, or satan, Bonus track : without actually gathering knowledge about what this 13. 13 Candles (Music and lyrics by Quorthon) Music is mainly written by me and Dhilorz, but Nick spirit or being actually is. What almost nobody Barker has been involved in the creative process of all understands, is that the devil actually never wanted to be worshipped in the first place. One of the most important tracks as well. games of the devil is to make man believe that he (or “it”) Where was it recorded? I know you worked with does not exist, cause that is when he can actually do his Daniele Mandelli in studio Or he only mixed the work with us. This is a very difficult, vast and abstract material?), do we know any of his previous works? subject, but I have been slowly studying this over the last How was it to work with him? How long did it take few years, and I have to say that when you start you to record and have this new album ready for understanding and seeing clearly what the devil really is, you come to a kind of spiritual clarity that will change release? Have you missed this process?

This album has actually been recorded in many different your mindset and how you view the whole world in locations, and that is partly the reason why it has taken us general, why certain things happen and seeing the connection with things, seeing logic in things that most so long to put it together.

The drums were recorded in Como, Italy, vocals in people think of as strange, unexplainable or so. The devil Denmark, some guitars and keyboards I recorded in is a very real force, and has been here since the beginning Greece, all in all we used about 8 different locations I of time, but he (or it) is not some kind of physical creature think. We just chose the best place for every instrument, I sitting in a cave somewhere with horns and pitchfork, it is was determined to record my vocals with Jacob Hansen in a spirit we are talking about, an omnipresent negative Denmark, as he is really good with compressors etc. as we energy that is around us all, wherever on the planet or experienced when recording with him in 2001 for the whatever society we live in. You can see the devil especially in the city, on the news every day, and any Proxima Centauri album.

Honestly I have to say that I have not really missed the place where there are humans. The devil is always there process of recording in the studios etc. so much, cause and one thing I can say for sure, there is nothing positive many times it can be a stressing situation, getting coming from the devil, just destruction, confusion, everything to sound perfect, and this time around it has anxiety, lies, deceit etc etc. Some of the lyrics actually taken us so much time and work, that next time we make speak about how the devil influence politicians and an album, I think we will do it in the style of 2001‟s powerful people, and uses them for his agenda etc. The Proxima Centauri, where were just went into 1 studio to way the lyrics are written, you will not understand from record and mix everything in 4 weeks, but we will see. first look what they‟re actually about, as they‟re all Daniele Mandelli of Elfo studios has done a really good written in a non-explicit way, with many metaphors etc. job yes, it was good to work with him indeed and the but if you take time to study them a bit, you will studio is great as well. We knew about this studio as our understand more of what they‟re saying. I have had help friends in Forgotten Tomb has recorded several albums in from several people who have good knowledge in this Elfo and that was one of our main reasons to going here to subject, and they tell me they understand my lyrics 100%, mix the album (and they have a place with amazing red so I believe I have done something good, even though wine just next to the studio lol). many people will find them difficult to understand.

To finish the whole album has taken maybe 18 months or Especially if you are not familiar with understanding so, as well did it in so many locations and since we all metaphors etc. For instance, there is a song called “ The have different jobs and projects going on all the time, it Sempiternal Haze”, it is not about a physical kind of haze has been a really slow process, but we are glad to see the or fog at all, but rather a spiritual “fog”, it can feel end of it now and to have such a great product in the end endless, which is one of the many ways to see the devil‟s of everything we have spirit and what it can do to our minds etc. Ok, I could go gone through and on forever with this, but I think for now it is enough :) experienced.

There are also a few lyrics that are based on a dream I had, about the armageddon, the end of the world, and a How would you trilogy speaking about a guy growing up in a rebellious describe your style way, but also these have some connection with the subject on this upcoming of the devil and it‟s powers. album? Is it still The album title “ Back To The Land Of The Dead”, will Black Metal? Did maybe confuse some people, thinking we‟re saying you still used rich something like “ we are back from the dead” (the band orchestrations and makes a “comeback”), but it‟s different. On the cover you see a hooded figure coming out from some kind of female vocals?

Personally, I never passage or gateway, and below there are hundreds of really saw Ancient as zombie like creatures, these are the “dead” people, but a real “black metal they‟re not exactly zombies, like those in the zombie have been listening to the new mixes a lot lately, and it‟s the kind of album that makes you want to turn up the volume really loud, only in the car and in the studio I have been able to do this ! Many of the songs have have a kind of „90s feeling I guess, we have not been doing something new and “modern” this time around, but I think that‟s good, or at least that‟s just what felt natural for us with this album.

The track listing is as follows: 1. Born In The Land Of The Dead (Music by Dhilorz, lyrics by Dhilorz and Zel) 2. Beyond The Blood Moon (Music and lyrics by Zel)

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movies, you could call them “spiritual zombies” maybe, and with this I mean a large group of people in our society today, who are somewhat “spiritually dead”, they way they live and what they occupy their minds with etc, luckily I see that in the metal scene, most of us does not belong in this category, the metal fans are different than the rest of society, we have a different mindset and many of us are rebellious or/ and have different ways to view life and what is really important here in this life. This hooded figure is coming back to “wake up” the minds of some of these people (though for many of them there is no more hope).

Is the band currently signed? Do you know who will release the album?

Actually no, at the moment we do have some standing offers from labels wanting to release the album, but we decided to first finish everything with the album, have the mastered album ready and then evaluate the different offers we have, there is one label in particular we expect to sign with, but this will be decided I guess in 2 weeks from now, so mid-November or so.

How are the reactions so far, do you feel the "Metal World" is interested and curious about the new album? How do you find the Metal scene now compared to, let's say, 10 years ago?

We have had very good reactions from the people who have heard the new album, as I said earlier, we are a band with a special sound and our fans are very much appreciating this, and really look forward to the new album, it‟s not just one more album among thousands out there. It has been 11 years since Night Visit, and some of our fans have probably lost interest in the genre or so, but it seems a lot of our old time fans still follow the news and look forward to see us touring and releasing albums again, and this is great. Among new fans there seems to be a good interest, but these days the scene is so full of bands and it‟s difficult to reach the audience that is in our “target zone”, but with some work and promotion, touring etc, it will slowly be working out I believe, there is always work for a band with quality music, no matter what the genre is. I have honestly not followed the extreme metal scene so very closely the last 10 years, I have noticed that people have changed in attitude and so on, but there is always interest for good music.

Do you still keep in touch with your former band members, especially Grimm, Kimberly Goss and of course, Deadly Kristin? Are they still involved in Metal, or music in general?

With Kimberly I actually lost contact completely, Grimm I met a few years ago here in Bergen but we don‟t have regular contact these days, it seems he is not very active in music anymore unfortunately. I had some contact with DK but not recently, last I heard, she was still working on some musical projects but not extreme metal I think..

I have contact with most of the other ex-members and session musicians of the band though.

What's next for Ancient, are you planning some tours after the release of the new album? What are your expectations from the near future?

Yes, touring is necessary and also enjoyable, most of the time, it is always great to travel and come out to meet the fans and play live. I think we will start playing live in February (we are already booked to play in Bergen, Norway on the Blastfest festival on February 20).

Hopefully a full European tour before the summer, and other places of the world as well in 2016, we will see how it works out but we will indeed try to play more than ever after the release of this album.

Thank you so much for your time and best of luck with the return of Ancient!

You‟re very welcome, and thanks for your support, we need people like you to keep the band alive!! www.ancientband.net (new version will be up around November 20 or before), www.facebook.com/ancientband Interview by Adrian Answers by Zel October 2015

of my heavy metal band) just for one month. He didn't like the lyrics and started to not attend to the rehearsals, so he was fired.

The first line-up of the band was: Envenom, Ripping Corpse and Death Rider. I met to Ripping Corpse in high school. On January 2010, we went to a rehearsal room and He learned Cannibal Butcher, Evils Spells and one Bathory song (I guess). I have always valued that kind of things and how I said lines up, we need to feel us comfortable with the people around Morbid Slaughter, so naturally, the members always are close friends. Sure, we have fights and things like that, but hey, you can fight with your best friend, but he will be still your brother.

Since the beginning ha ha, my first songs were: Zombie (the first name was Tormentor, but you know, the name was whored to many times ha ha), Evil Spells and Beware, the night, and were composed when I was in "Savage Beast".

MORBID SLAUGHTER is a great underground metal band that has just released “A Filthy Orgy of Horror and Death” on Boris Records and here is an interview with band member Envenom.

What is the current line-up of the band and has the band been through many line-up changes and how many members of the band are original members?

Hi. The current line-up is confirmed by Ripping Corpse (Bass), Necrophiliac Sodomizer (Guitar), myself (vocal/guitars). We have found a fresh and young drummer at the end of our recording process, but he wants to hide his name until his official presentation.

He toured with us on "Beware the curse 2015". We have good chemical and the same ambition for the music, so, obviously, we have turned in good friends and that’s something very special for us.

We need to feel us comfortable with the people who are around this beast. It always was like that.

Yes, we have a lot of changes in our lineup, but you know, some people stays, and some ones will go away. It's sad, of course, but you have to go ahead if you have a goal.

Just two original members, Ripping corpse and myself.

Now in 2010 you released a demo called “Ensayo”. How long did it take for this demo to come together? How was it going into the studio for the 1st time as a band to record something? What are your thoughts on this demo these days?

It took about a year. It was recorded on August 2010. The whole demo (or promo) was a totally crap! Ha ha ha! I mean, seriously, was released on a cheap xeroxed paper and the sound was a totally crap! Some people on the scene used to say that I'm crazy and that promo sounds very powerful. I think that they were confounding "power" with a lot of ugly noise. Whatever, It was our presentation into the scene.

I see the band uses stage names and not your real names. Why is this?

Our stage names are part of the ritual as the clothes, the make-up and everything, it represents each of our personalities. Sure, we took this old tradition as a lot of bands and it happened when we were younger, and obviously, we wanted to sound cool, too (be honest, no one chooses an ugly name, so you think in the meaning and how it will sound).

I have conserved my stage name since my Heavy Metal band before Morbid Slaughter.

We call ourselves "Savage Beast". My stage name comes from the first album of Sabbat, and of course, sounds like a cool name for a young gun that just wanted to be the lead guitar, but I had no intention to sound evil or like a "hellbanger". Whatever. It helps you get into your personality. I never will feel comfortable wearing my daily clothes into the stage. I mean, I come from the rock and hard/heavy metal. So, my references are: The doors, Alice Cooper, Judas priest, Iron Maiden, Guns n Roses – even Misfits from my punk influence. They have this kind of theatrical wave in their concerts and that's one thing that I always loved. I mean, as a music fan, I always love to listen to the bands with my both eyes wide open. That's the kind of things that I always wanted, display a whole show to the people and penetrate in their psyche.

Now you also recorded 2 cover tunes, one by Bathory and one by Sodom. For those reading this, what are the names of these 2 tunes and why did you pick these 2 particular tunes?

The names of the songs were: Reaper (Bathory) and Blasphemer (Sodom).

Reaper was chosen because talks about death (Until these times we still use the reaper in our arts and he is always near to us on the lyrics). Blasphemer... Okay, a lot of people know that I don’t like too much the thrash metal, but I like very much “In the sign of evil” of Sodom (Sure, I don’t like too much thrash metal, but I have my exceptions).

Anyway, I liked that song because lyrics start with: “Black Metal is the game I play…”

So, in the rehearsal I used to emphasize the words.

Now in 2012 you released a 2nd demo, this one was only on cassette as the other one was on cd. Why only cassette? Do you feel you did a better job on this 2nd demo than the 1st one? Did you use the same studio or a different one this time?

Yes, "Torment in the crypt" was our demo tape on 2012. It was released on tape 'because looks pretty good with the feeling, ha ha. We used a different studio for that time. Yes, it was a little bit more worked, but still, it was just a demo. It helped us to get more public. I mean, the first promo was our presentation to the scene, but if you think that you will get something with that bullshit, you're wrong. You have to continue working.

Does it make you feel as different a person over the stage?

Yes, it does, and we feel very well with it. It doesn't mean that we are false and we have to create a fiction character. No, it doesn't. Each stage name represents the personality of each one. I mean, we let our bodies and souls be totally connected with them before going to the stage. In previous interviews, I talked about Morbid Slaughter as a beast and a bridge between our earthly life and our curse divine, and still think like that. I won’t to reveal each personality; you must to use your illusion, ha ha.

The following year (2013) a 3rd demo was released on cassette called “The Summoning of the Graveyard Ghouls”. Don’t you feel in some ways you’re limiting your audience by releasing stuff on cassette only? You also recorded another Bathory cover on this. What is the name of this song this time and what made you choose this particular song?

In fact, we never considered to “Ensayo 2010” as a demo. So, “The graveyard ghouls” was the second one. Yes, that’s the different, and the beautiful thing about make an album, you could re-release it one, two, three, four times, and on and on, and in different formats, no limits! Sure, it depends; if they don't buy the record it will be a bit difficult re-release it. So hope it have good sales. "The graveyard ghouls" was the first demo that we recorded with two guitars, that's because that was the first demo with Necrophiliac Sodomizer on the second guitar. We recorded Witchcraft from Bathory. Witchcraft feels good with the style of the demo, you know, the devil's rock n roll. So, I recorded the song.

How did the band come to be and where is the band based out of and is there a healthy underground metal scene where you are based out of?

The band starts as a one-man project when I was 16 years old. I was playing in my heavy metal band, but at the same time, I composed some songs to myself. You know, just to play them on my guitar at home. The heavy metal band was split-up, and had all those songs; so, I started the project of this lustful beast.

I was very into the horror movies (I'm still interested), and based my sound in the first wave of black metal: Bathory, Venom and Hellhammer, with some splatters of the old Mayhem, of course.

It started as a one-man project, because in that time, Lima was filled with this "retro-thrash" feeling and all bands were wearing white sneakers and wanting to sound like Sepultura and I never liked it. So if you want something done right, you have to do it by yourself.

There are a lot of good people and uninterested friends, but there are a lot of imbeciles, too. Sadly as in many places.

Now we go to 2014 and you had a compilation released by Putrid Records on cassette called “Rancid Death Awaits 2014”. What exactly is on this release and I assume it is sold out as only 250 copies were made.

Would you like to see this release be re-issued in the future?

It’s just a compilation which contains our both demo tapes. I was conscious

What were the early days of the band like and how long had the band been around until you started to write some original material?

On September 2009, I was playing with a session drummer (the drummer

6

I love the album, It makes me remember the "Killing is my business and the business is good". It has that twisted mix between the raw sound and the good performance.

Has the band ever played live and if so who have you shared the stage with?

Yes, we played some live shows, mostly with local bands. On 2014, we shared stage with Mortuary Drape.

It was a great show, was the first time as quartet and everything flowed very well. Early this year, we toured with the heavy metal band Cobra in a mini-tour through a few cities of our country. It was our first tour, and both bands are friends. So, we have good memories.

Do you think the band has pretty much kept the same style since you started? For those who have never heard the band what you say the band sounds like?

I don't think the band is changing their style. Quite the opposite! I think we are reaching how we always wanted to sound like. It's something a bit hard to explain. We could be based by the first wave of black metal, but we like the mighty power of a record like "Defenders of the faith" So, that's why I think we like to reach a perfect balance between the raw and perfection, and for sure, try to cover them with the atmosphere of the horror.

Whatever, the band sounds as dirty, as filthy, as black, and as fast as a rock band could play.

that not many people got the first tapes. So, when Putrid Cult presented the opportunity, I said yes. It was a good opportunity to spread the music in a minimum way to the Europe scene. No, a demo it's a demo. Why do you want to re-release it if you have now an album? Ha ha ha.

How did you come up with the band’s name and were any other names thrown around?

At very first sight, it was just a cool name it had to sound as a mighty beast. With time, each of us found a special meaning in the name of the band. Maybe I thought in other names, but nothing that it worth to remember.

Also in 2014 you had a 7” released on Boris Records called “Wicca”. Is this release sold out of still for sale? If it is sold out any plans on having this released again in the future?

Yes, Wicca was released by Boris Records. I'm so glad of it, because gave us the connection with the world. Yes, it could be better, it sounds a little bit raw, but we were learning at that time, we had never recorded for a vinyl, so we were a bit nervous about fuck something, I think, ha ha ha. The best part of this release was that I composed a new song for it, and I'm not talking about a new song because nobody have heard it before, it was truly a new song, "Nightly Breath of God" was composed two months before record it. Both songs will have their revenge at the future, for sure.

It’s not sold out; you can get it through Boris Records web page or contacting the band.

Have you ever seen any of your stuff on sale on Ebay or sites like that?

Yes, we did.

Would you ever like to see all your material released like on a double cd set maybe with some new tunes thrown in?

Yes, I would like to see a double cd of Morbid Slaughter on the future, but not with old stuff. I don't want to live from our past. We must to slaughter ourselves in every record to then reborn. That's why I feel happy with "horror and death"; we reached the sound that we always wanted for those songs. Now, Morbid Slaughter could engulf himself to reborn in a hungrier beast, and “horror and death” turns into a ghost who walks with us in our path. Whatever, a double cd it would be okay for an album on the future or a conceptual live show, I don't know, we'll see.

Now just recently you released “A Filthy Orgy of Horror and Death” on Boris Records. I think the release is excellent. Do you feel it is your best release and why only 300 copies as I think you could sell a hell of a lot more copies than that? In my opinion I think that is kind of dumb and if it is the label’s idea, they are out of their mind.

Thank you very much, I feel so damn happy about it, ha ha. When we released "Wicca" I used to say in all interviews that it was okay, but we could do it better. I was not wrong, we could and we did it. The recording process for the music was really nice, but hard. Drums where recorded at the same studio of "wicca", it was smashed and recorded

by Joel Noise Grinder, the owner of the studio. He and his girlfriend, Alice, always were nice with us. So, it was great to record with Joel again, and have the memories of that place marked in our first album. The strings were recorded with Nito Mejía in one night, living after midnight. We were there from 11pm to 8am. It felt very well, I remembered when I was very young and I used to see with my cousins "A year and a half with Metallica" because they recorded or get into rehearsal room all night long, so, see that kind of things are happening in “Morbid” was something very special for me.

Vocals were a totally challenge. I mean, I always wanted to reach the same intensity and the perfect mix between the vocals and the music, and it was a bit hard to get it. When I heard the first vocals take, I was like "What the fuck is that? Sounds horrible, fuck fuck fuck." I was totally frustrated 'because the vocals had not the same intensity or that psycho feeling of the violent death that I was searching for.

Some nights, I was just complaining around the whole studio, you know, "Why can't I get it? Fuck this, fuck that blah blah blah" - I'm very thankful with Nito and the guys of Inti Records. They play in a band too, and one of them is the vocal. So, He understood my frustration and search of a special feeling for, they were very patient, I feel lucky ha ha.

So, one night I went to studio with Sodomizer, and He’s the right person to get a good criticism, I mean, He shoots you straight between the eyes. He heard and said sounds too bored ha ha ha! He plays an old record and said: listen, it sounds as crap but you have intensity on vocals. I felt very angry 'because the plan it's be better with time. So, I took the microphone and I started to simulate as if I was singing in a live show, just as a vocalist. I mean, I was moving and feeling it while I was singing. That gave it a special feeling to the recording. We all said: Okay, this is the night, and it was. After it, we wanted to get drunk, but that's another story ha ha.

No, we don't have any intention to limit the record to just 300 copies in vinyl; it's just the first press! You know, you have to sell to have money and invest in other press, and on and on. Also, we will release a Deluxe CD Digipack edition with Inti Records, and we'll have a digital format available, but first needs to be out on the stores ha ha.

We have no intention to keep our music to a small number of people.

Any last words and horns up for the interview.

Thank you for the interview, horns up!

Interview by Chris Forbes

August 2015

7

Fortin, a well-known producer here in Quebec. The sessions went well, and all the songs we're already pre-produced by ourselves into our home studio.

I know it is a self-released release. Do you plan on sending it to any record companies to see if they might possibly release it?

We're not running after labels, we like to do business by ourselves. If there is any interesting offers coming to us we will consider it.

Reanimator is a band based out of Canada and they just released a very impressive release called “Horn’s Up” and here is an interview I did with band member Patrick.

How does the writing of a song come together and who writes the music and who writes the lyrics and what are some of the things you write about?

Most of the songs on "Horns Up" were written by Fred, except for "The Abominautor" that was written by Ludovic and "Mock a Mockingbird" that was written by Joel. All the lyrics were written by Pat and most of them are about self-experiences and created characters. There is no concept to the album in general.

How did the band form and were any of you in any other bands?

The band was formed in 2005 by Patrick Martin (Actual Lead Singer) and Maxime Cormier (Ex-Bass Player) with Julien Couture (Guitar), Etienne Boucher (Guitar) and Alex Gascon (Drums). Since the formation of the band, the line-up has change a couple of times and Patrick is still leading Reanimator with Frank Labelle on drums, Joel Racine and Ludovic Bastien on Guitars and Fred Bizier on Bass.

I know the release has not been out long, but how has the response been so far as I love it?

We're very proud of this new album and we're very pleased to see that most of our fans love it!

How is the underground music scene in Canada these days? How is the thrash scene too?

The Canadian scene, mostly in Quebec, is very active. There is plenty of great bands, in every subgenre of metal running their business. The Thrash scene here in Quebec is very active with bands like Alcoholator, Mutank, Openyourmind, Riotor, Eternal Judgment, Chemical Way, ect. There are some legendary bands still alive like Voivod, Anonymus, BARF and Soothsayer.

When you hear a song, what do you listen for and in your eyes and ears, what makes a good song?

Personally, as a singer, I’m listening to the vocals. A song with a good catchy chorus is the best. If you sing the song in your head after listening to it, you know it's a good song!

What were the early days of the band like? Did you start off fooling around with cover tunes?

In 2004-2005 we we're a couple of friends from high school doing Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Anthrax covers, and then we started to write our own material under the name of Reanimator, to finally record our first Demo "Living For Murder" in 2005.

Does the band have any goals for itself?

Our only goal is to fuckin' rock! We're planning to do some tours, in the upcoming months/years. We really enjoy being on the road!

Around how much time in any given week is spent doing band related stuff?

Being the singer, manager, booker of the band, I'm spending a LOT of time on band related stuff, but I love it, I wouldn't do it if it wasn't a passion!

When did you begin to write originals and how does a song come together?

Back then, in 2005 the main writer was Maxime Cormier, the bass player.

He wrote songs inspired by bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Iron Maiden, etc.

How did you come up with the band name and the album title release?

Back in 2005, we were young and we told ourselves that we should Reanimate Thrash Metal.

We also loved H.P Lovecraft horror movies entitled ReAnimator. For the album title, I can't really say how it came, one band member dropped it out and we told ourselves that it's the perfect album title!

Have you played live much yet and who have you shared the stage with so far in your career?

Since 2005, we did a couple of hundreds shows around Canada and even in Eastern Europe in 2014. We shared the stage with bands like Voivod, Municipal Waste, Exodus, Brutal Truth, Cauldron, Martyr, Disfear, and much more.

For those who have never heard of the band, what would you say you sound like and do you feel you’re an original band?

We're a Thrash Metal band merging old school and new school elements. For fans of Exodus, Annihilator, Megadeth.

How long as the band been around before you went into record your “Horns Up” release?

The band is 10 years old this year, we released 1 demo, 2 ep's and 2 LP since the creation of the band.

Thanks very much for doing this interview and any last words the floor is yours.

HORNS UP THRASHERS!

What studio did you go in and how smoothly did the recording go for this? Were all the songs pretty much ready to go when you went into the studio?

We recorded the album at the Badass Studio here in Quebec, with our good friend Jeff

Interview by Chris Forbes July 2015

8

6:33 is a surprising band that fuses all genres imaginable and the result is absolutely outstanding.

This French outift has recently released “Deadly Scenes” via Kaotoxin Records and have amazed the underground scene, therefore we decided to have a conversation with these awesome French men.

The band’s name is quite impressi ve! Why that exact time? What’s the meaning of it?

Howahkan: Some whisper that it refers to the verse of the gospel of Matthew ("Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you."). Some other think this may be some obscure numerology mindfuck. Others simply tell the band was created at 6:33 AM after a very long night. Who knows?

I’m allowed to let my several inside voices jump on the paper when I write my lyrics, and they’re inspired by the music they hear. Of course as I’m totally aware of that phenomenon it gives the lyrics a sarcastic and dark second degree sense of humor, like when I’m on stage.

On this album we’re dealing with the Seven Deadly Sins, through little scenes introducing several characters.

Your sonority is described as Experimental Metal. Do you think this is the best definition? How would you describe it to someone that hasn’t listened to the band yet?

Rorschach: It’s the hardest thing to describe about 6:33.

We mix many styles without limits: Rock, Metal, Boogie, Jazz, Fusion, Prog, Hardcore, Hip-hop, Orchestral music, even Cinematic music. Some people call 6:33’s music “Nawak Metal”, or “Avant-garde Rock-Metal”, I would say “Experimental Fusion” (in the large meaning of this term).

I believe all your albums have been released by different labels. The first one was on M&O Music, the second on Season of Mist and the third on Kaotoxin Records. Do you only sign one record contracts? Why the constant change?

Your videos are usually different and interesting, and Howahkan: Well, that is not entirely true. Our first they seem to be scenes taken from movies. How do you record came out on M&O Music, a small french record company that signs almost only first albums from young come up with creative ideas like these?

Rorschach: Our music is inspired by the cinema so it’s bands (and today I honestly wouldn't recommand them to obviously visible in our videos. We worked with different my worst enemy). After that, we released our second people depending on what what we wanted, until we met album ourselves, creating our own structure "Wafflegate Rusty Matalou (the director of our last video “Black Productions", and Season of Mist was our distributor. We Widow”). He just understands what we want and sublime quickly realized it was too much work for us and we were it in a way we love. We’re working on a new video with a little overwhelmed, so for "Deadly Scenes" we tried to him, and have many future projects… find a new record company that would support and understand us. Kaotoxin Records was definitely the way 6:33’s music would fit perfectly in some movie scores. to go! The next one will be with them, we promise !

If that were to happen, in what genre of films would (laughs) you like to be featured? Do you have a special director?

It’s definitely not easy finding information in English Howahkan: I think we would feel right at home in a Tim about the band. How big are you in France? What’s Burton movie, but it seems like we would have to wait for your main goal as a band?

Danny Elfman's retirement (laughs).

Rorschach: I would say that slowly but surely we’re digging our little hole in the french metal world. We’re Considering all the musical diversity in your album, respected by the specialized media, and our public is how difficult is it to put this in a live environment? growing concert after concert, videos and albums, and that is already a beautiful success for us. The main aim is What can one expect from your concerts?

Rorschach: It’s not an easy task to transcribe our world to sell thousands of albums and play all around the world, and music on stage, but we manage to do it by working a and we work the hardest we can for it! But with the music lot on the sound (you will hear everything that is on the we do what we know we’ll never be the new Shakaponk album on stage), the visual (it’s like a freaky musical (laughs). comedy with the masks and our way to play on stage), and the energy (our frontman is particulary crazy, people Arno is listed as a past member but he still say…). collaborates with the band. Is this information correct? Why are there videos that state “6:33 with Are you planning on doing a tour to promote “Deadly Arno Strobl”? How important is his collaboration?

Rorschach: The information is not totally correct. Arno Scenes”? Will you play outside of France?

Rorschach: Yes, we want to go on the road as much as had made a featuring on the very first album “Orphan of possible during at least the next two years, and most of all good manners”, and when the band separated with its outside France if possible. We have some plans outside of formal singer, Arno and 6:33 made collaboration on the France going on but nothing completely booked yet. EP “Giggles Garlands and Gallows”. I entered the band We’re looking forward for every fun plan so if you know at the end of the writing of this EP, but we wanted to push people that want us for his fest, wherever whenever, just it to a full album with Arno coz we were having fun, so call us! We would love to go and play in every country of we did “The stench from the swelling” under the name “6:33 and Arno Strobl”. the world!

But then Arno went to his other projects and we wrote “Deadly Scenes”. Arno has never been a member of 6:33, but a luxury guest. This collaboration with him has been as important for us as for him: he gave us some credibility and visibility in the media, and we gave the taste of creation back to him (he had lost it at the moment we met him). So it was a rich human and musical experience, deep and full (and I’m not talking about sex!)

You’ve been releasing new material every two years and you recently released “Deadly Scenes”. Your imagination is quite fertile! What inspires you daily?

What are your musical influences?

Nicko: We have many influences that come from music but also cinema and tv. We are geeks and you can notice many clinks to pop culture in the lyrics or the ambiances we develop. Musically our influences come from Pink Floyd as much as Devin Townsend, through Mickael Jackson and many, many more.

The music is quite pleasant and there isn’t a moment of boredom due to the variety of instruments, voices and all that. Yet there’s some grimness present in the cover and in the band members themselves… tell us more about the concept of the band and the members.

Rorschach: I wouldn’t say there is a grimness, it’s more a sarcastic second degree sense of humour, and that is 6:33’s signature. It’s like a Freaks Circus with its (nice) monsters, where you can feel attracted and repulsed at the same time, afraid and in love, dark and funky, sensual and dirty, serious and funny, crazy and wise… It’s a bunch of different emotions that makes the circus of our world, and 6:33’s soul.

The band has a rather peculiar look with members wearing masks… kinda reminds me of Slipknot. Is that the look you were aiming for? What’s the significance of all this?

Rorschach: We don’t wanna hide all the time like Slipknot or Daft Punk. We just have fun putting the masks on stage as a part of our costume. It’s inspired by the kabuki and ancient greek theatre, where the actors put masks on stage, but more with a superhero kinda game.

How does the composition process happen? Do you all sit in a room and write riffs and lyrics?

Nicko: We have a special way of composing. I write most of the music, Howahkan takes care of the drums programmation, then when the track sounds efficient, Rorschach writes the lyrics while we work together on the arrangements. After some preprods we enter the WhiteWasteland studio hold by Howahkan to record the songs.

The toy in the baby stroller is quite morbid with the pig’s head, the gun and the bra hanging from it. Care to explain its meaning.

Howahkan: This cover is related to the concept of the album, which is the Seven Deadly Sins. We wanted something visual, with a cinematic vibe (think "The Adam's Family" meets "Rosemary's Baby" here!) to express one simple idea : Are we born sinful, or do we become that way ? It's all about temptation here.

All reviews have been outstanding. Did you expect this?

Howahkan: Our previous album, "The Stench From The Swelling" was featuring a different singer: it was a collaboration with Arno Strobl from the cult band Carnival In Coal. The reviews were really great, and it pushed the band to a whole new level. But it was somehow quite hard to tell if people would still follow us in another album where Arno wouldn't be involved.

Finally, the reviews for "Deadly Scenes" were even greater and I'm immensely proud of what we've done on this album.

Many thanks for your time.

Please leave a message to Pest’s readers.

Howahkan: Thank you all for reading, and keep up supporting bands! Peace.

What lyrics/issues do you deal with? There seems to be some black humour in it.

Rorschach: Issues? I don’t know what you’re talking about (laughs). Actually I feel that my character in 6:33 is the extreme expansion of me, on stage, but even in my lyrics.

Interview by Sonia Fonseca

May 2015

9

Hi there and thanks for taking your time to answer my questions. You're in between tours now, right? What are you guys doing when you're not on the road?

Hey, man. Not a problem at all. We actually just got back from a couple shows out west. We played a show in Las Vegas and then at Knotfest outside of Los Angeles with Judas Priest and a bunch of other bands. We've got about a month until the next full US tour so we've been making the most of our time and working on new material.

Constricting Rage of the Merciless, your sixth album, was released last year, how do you see it now? How was it received by the public and media?

It's been out for over a year now which is kind of crazy to me. I think the record has gone over really well. The songs fit in seamlessly into our live set with the older songs and the fans have really taken a liking to them. I can't say I've gotten sick of playing anything off of this record live.

To me it seems you're at the peak of your career with Goatwhore, am I right?

Even your latest album seems to have been pushed more by Metal Blade, more than the previous ones, right? Is it also because of this "back to the roots" trend that's ruling the scene nowadays?

With each record things seem to keep progressing which we are very happy about. I guess that's our objective; to keep pushing forward and get in front of as many people as we can. Not sure of the "trend" you speak of as we have never jumped on any bandwagons or followed any trends. I'd say the opposite would be the reason for us sticking around so long and continuing to work hard at what we do.

and be respectful of people's boundaries. It doesn't sound very "metal" but we are all pretty courteous and well-mannered so that probably has a lot to do with the band getting along and not ripping each other's throats out.

Have you had time to write any new tracks since the release of your latest album?

Or do you plan to take a break from touring and concentrate on writing new stuff next year?

We've got a head start on writing but are waiting until after this next tour to really delve into the writing process. We have roughly four songs that we've been able to put together on time off between tours. I'd say by January we will be in full-on writing mode.

You've toured extensively, and will still do this year, aren't you tired of giving your best every night? Were there times when you just got fed up by this whole touring aspect, or is this all you're craving for as a band?

We love being on the road and personally, it's not something I take for granted. There are a lot of people that whine and complain about touring. That's understandable because it can wear on you at times but you've got to be able to see the positives in it.

It's definitely not for everyone but for us, we just enjoy playing every night, and everything else that comes with it.

Will you continue working with Metal Blade or it's still uncertain? How important is nowadays the support of a label?

Metal Blade will be putting out the next record and we are excited to keep working with them. I'd say the label is very important still, even though there are bands doing it on their own who still get it done. Having a good team like Metal Blade and a good manager, booking agent really allows us to concentrate on the task at hand.

How was your European tour, any places that got stuck to your mind? Any spicy stories you could share with us?

Europe has been great to us lately. We've spent about 11 weeks over there in the past year and it seems like the momentum is really picking up. We did a run with Dying Fetus last November/December and then came back with Skeletonwitch in March/April.

It was great to play some new places as well as familiar places we've hit in the past. Not sure I'm allowed to tell many stories from those trips!

Nowadays the metalhead image is quite dispersed, if in the '80's and '90's you knew metalheads had long hair, dressed in black leather chothes and/or denim jackets with bullets and spikes like you still do, now a metalhead can be the most hip dressed person at his high-school. How do you see this?

It is what it is, I guess. I mean, I know people who dress in suits who are diehard metal fans. There are certain trends within the many styles of metal that come and go but the image you mentioned seems to be a mainstay. It doesn't really matter to me. Do and wear what the fuck you want.

Is it better to play as supports to a bigger band or headlines? And is it better to play with bands close to your style of music, or with bands that play totally different kind of Metal?

I guess there's just a different objective in a way. If you're headlining, you're playing primarily for your own fans whereas a support gig, the objective is to win over a new group of people that may not be familiar with you. When it comes to touring with similar sounding bands or totally different kinds of bands, the objective is always the same which is to get up there and kill.

I saw you all had also side projects or bands you're playing in. Are you still able to play in multiple bands at the same time and keep offering your best to all?

We all find time to do other things musically but definitely can't devote the same amount of time as we do for Goatwhore. Sammy has got Ritual Killer and they just put out a new record but don't play live much. Ben still plays shows with Soilent Green from time to time and I've got a project called Doomsday that does the same. It all depends on the schedule, man. We just like to be busy playing.

You'll soon hit the road with the Black Dahlia Murder, a band that attracts a large amount of Metalcore and Deathcore fans. How do you think they (their fans) will react to your music?

We've toured with BDM several times and aside from them being great friends, they're totally on top of their game as a band and musicians. Like I said earlier, we're just going to get up there and do what we do. Even if someone absolutely hates us, we are still going to leave an impression.

There's a good variety of bands on that bill and we are going to do our part and bring the darkness.

Thanks a lot for your time, wish you all the best for the upcoming US tour!

No problem. Thanks! >^..^< Interview by Adrian

From what I see this may be the best line-up for Goatwhore so far, you all seem to have lots of fun. Is that right?

How do you cope with each other on tour?

We all get along very well. It's important to give people their space

Answers by Simmons (drums)

November 2015

10

Zack

this new album (well, the ones who hadn't listened to it yet, although highly unlikely)?

OGAG is definitely a Groovy, catchy, melodic, heavy and multidimensional album. It's all about making good songs, telling a story. The opposite of making a showcase of technical achievements of the instruments.

Greetings, how are you guys before the Kataklysm / Belphegor North American tour? You also played drums for Belphegor live, correct? What do you think of their music in general, and their latest album, in particular?

Hey Adrian. So many questions, so little time hehe! We're all doing really good. We are gathering today all in Los Angeles to kick off this US/Can tour madness with our bros in Belphegor. We are really excited to get back on the road again, starting off tomorrow full force with KNOTFEST in San Bernardino, California.

To answer to your second question here: yes, I did play live session drums for Belphegor back in 2011 on a 3 weeks South American tour. Thi raid was completely nuts with flights every day and very little sleep. I think their music is pretty cool.

It's an authentic and cool occult-sounding black metal band. What I've heard of their last album was pretty sick, keeping the same dark and melodic vibe that made their signature sound over the years.

This is your first studio recording with Kataklysm, correct?

How was it? What do you think you brought new to the band's sound? What's the difference between your playing and Max's?

This is my second album with the guys, first one being "Waiting for the End to Come". The process was quite long knowing all the work we put into this one. I think I helped modernize the band's sound while keeping signature bone-crushing heavy they always had. My goal was to try to "refine" what was already good to make in "great"! So far, the feedback we've gotten from all sides shows that we are on the right path. I think my drumming unlocked potential and ideas that were latent in JF, Maurizio and Steph. I think OGAG is a good display of that.

How were the Summer festivals in Europe? Anything out of the ordinary?

The summer fests we're completely insane!!! We did something like 17 open airs during the months of July/August. Between those big shows (Wacken, Summerbreeze, Leyendas Del Rock, etc.) we had some free vacation time to visit a little bit around in Spain, Hungary, Greece, Italy, which was amazing because touring usually means going from city to city without much free time.

This band has a bad history when it comes to drummers, there were a lot during the years. Why is that, in your opinion? You're a bit younger than the rest of the guys, so how did they welcome you and how did you integrate so far? Are they party maniacs? Are you?

Despite their crazy party reputation, I'd say my guys are "behaving" on tour, compared to what I've seen in other bands haha!! they still party, but not as hard as they used to in It's only a bit more than a couple of months since Of Ghosts and Gods was the past. I'm the youngest dude in the band, but you know that extreme drumming is not an easy job. You have to keep in shape, have good sleep, eat well, all these thingsâ&#x20AC;Ś I released, but how was it received by the public and media?

The reception of OGAG by fans and medias has been off the hook! We reached the couldn't keep up with the drumming if I wouldn't do it this way. That's also why the highest position in charts (Billboard) ever for the band and the magazine's ratings and band will never have any more issues on the drumming side of things, hehe. reviews were just incredible. As an example, OGAG received "Album of the Month" in Metal Hammer Germany the month it came out. The reaction from the fans was also By the way, why did you leave Neuraxis? Are you guys still in good relations? super positive, many calling this last record as a "modern masterpiece". It just feels good Neuraxis was a great band and I still often talk with Alex (singer) and Oli Pinard to have such good response from something you've invested so much energy and heart (bassist). I'm not sure about the actual status of the band, since I'm 100% commited with into, you know? Every band member pushed things up a big notch, you can also hear a Kataklysm now. As far as I know, this band is now history. big improvement over the new chemistry we established altogether as a band.

The band has recently released its own beer through a Belgium based brewery. How come a Is there a story behind the lyrics of this new album, or each song has its own story? How beer and not something else? How come important are the lyrics and the message for Belgium and not Canada for example? And Kataklysm? what do you think of this new fashion of bands Well the idea behind this record is that we as releasing their own drinks? human worship things that we can't see or that we I think it's great, and also a great boost of sales for have lost, meaning a person that can't let go of the otherwise anonymous breweries. someone they have lost that was dear of them Our delicious new beer the "St.Tabarnak" is now instead of keeping a strong and healthy memory being distributed all over Europe. Brouwerij and learn form it. They want to believe in the Eutropius from Belgium did a killer job with the GHOST of that person. The GODS part is religion recipe and the beer is just the best tasting beer and all the things that are more beyond the human Belgian you can imagine, seriously! We chose to capacity to see themselves as important to the make a "signature" beer, because first we love beer world. It's like needing that super power to (especially my bass player Steph which happens to validate human existence. The message this album have Belgian origins)! We chose Belgium because is trying to pass is the seize the MOMENT, as life they have the best beer makers in the world, is about experiences and moments. period. I know this fashion thing about bands releasing their own drinks, etc. Bands are trying to find original ways to make some You released a video for each of the 10 tracks of the album. How come? Who had money to keep the ball rolling, it's not a secret thing. We said to ourselves, "if we do the idea and how hard was it to materialize? As far as I know it's a first, are you something, better do it right!". So our new beer St-Tabarnak et and hot sauces "Ghost Fire" and "God's Fury" at fine products, that's why the demand and the hype is so high aware of any other bands taking this approach?

10 songs-10 videos was indeed a crazy idea. Maurizio and the label we're discussing around them, because they are not just another band merchandise itemâ&#x20AC;Ś they are trying to come up with something that has never been done before to also give visuals to serious stuff! Just try them, you'll understand what I'm talking about! songs as we all know how much they add to the actual music. They then thought about this idea of several videos for the album because we knew OGAG would be something Thanks a lot for your time, best of luck for the upcoming tour! very special. We reached out to video guy Tommy Jones, who also worked with Slayer, Thanks to you! Cheers.

Coal Chamber, etc. Even if he knew it would be an insane amount of work, the guy "in" instantly. We're happy of the result, as all of the 10 videos took different approaches, Interview by Adrian some more based on guys playing the songs, some others more movie-like.

Answers by Oli Beaudoin (drums) Are there any changes from the previous albums? What should fans expect from

October 2015

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spontaneous and energetic. Several factors prevented us from releasing the album sooner, our busy lives mostly and the fact that we never felt stressed to come up with a new release too soon.

Greetings Anastasis, how are you?

You're just back from the Old Grave Fest in Romania, how was it? Was it your first time in Romania?

Hello. Yes, this was our first time playing in Romania and it was great.

Really good crowd and personally I enjoyed a lot of the bands who I got to see that night. So overall a very good show indeed.

Do you have an idea how well this new album sold? Being one of the most acclaimed 2014 releases I guess it did pretty well...

Between CDs and LPs it’s at about 8000 copies so far – not counting digital sales of course. Not bad I guess for an underground release.

I'm just curious regarding your live shows: do you usually book single festival appearances, or like to link them with other live gigs as well? Isn't the first option more expensive?

Due to our regular jobs we cannot tour very much. We’ve done a few tours ranging from 6 to 13 shows but in general it’s easier for us to do one-off shows. I suppose this is more expensive for the promoters but they’re willing to cover our demands and fees so it’s all good.

Do you already have new tracks written? Do you play them live? Any idea when we'll see a new Dead Congregation album, or nothing is planned yet?

We already have too many tracks to choose from for our live sets, it always feels like we’re leaving out some songs that we’d like to play but can’t due to time restrictions.

So no, we’re not playing unreleased songs live. As for a new album it is definitely too soon to talk about it, ‘Promulgation of the Fall’ still seems very fresh to us.

Do you play live a lot? How was this year for the band in what concerns live shows?

We play quite a bit, I’d say around 20 shows per year which is quite much if you need to fly out for a weekend and be back after one day. Especially 2014-2015 have been very busy years, after the release of ‘Promulgation of the Fall’ we’re receiving a lot more offers. In October/November alone we’ve played in Italy, Romania, France, Ireland, Spain… Fortunately we’re still very passionate in what we do so we enjoy every gig very much.

How are the current economic and political situations in Greece affect you as persons and then as a band?

I don’t see how it could affect us as a band.

What are your views on the recent so called "migrants crisis" Europe and mostly Greece has been struck by?

It definitely seems unpleasant for the islands that took the strongest hit by the flow of migration, the center of Athens too has a lot of homeless immigrants wandering around.

It is easy to judge migration if you think about it egocentrically, however if our country was at war or hit by terrorism, I’m sure we’d all do the same and look for a better future in a more peaceful environment. The truth is that Greece’s economy is too weak to support additional population and the EU is not doing much to help about it.

As far as I know you've played live all over Europe, but never played outside of it.

Or am I wrong? Where was the best gig for Dead Congregation and why?

In fact we have been in the USA 4 times, played Maryland Deathfest, headlined Martyrdoom Deathfest and done 2 small tours as well – one on the West Coast and one on the Northern East Coast. We’ve also played in Istanbul which is partly in the European continent and partly in Asia. We have offers to play in Chile, Brazil, Israel and many other countries in 2016 but we’ll see if we can arrange all that somehow.

All of our gigs are special, the best I can remember is probably Brutal Assault fest 2015 with literally thousands of people having their hands in the air for us, great energy and a very solid performance from us.

It is said that Greeks are quite joyous as persons, but nonetheless you have some of the darkest bands in Europe when it comes to Extreme Metal. Is there any serious reason for that or it just happened?

Speaking for myself, I need to maintain my psychic equilibrium in order to create. If I’m miserable I don’t even feel the need to play the guitar. Also, I have met quite a few musicians who pretend to have a dark personality yet they don’t have anything interesting to offer with their music. Negativity is a driving force on many occasions but you don’t necessarily need to be bleak all the time to be true to your art. Besides, a wolf in sheep’s clothing is always more effective than a dog that barks but doesn’t bite…

Last year you released an album that the press and fans considered as one of the best Death Metal efforts of the year. What do you think you brought different to the scene with that album? What captured everyone's attention so much?

Our music might not be particularly original but we’d like to believe that we have good songs, nothing more, nothing less. We choose to be independent from PR agencies, managers and all that, we’ve built our name on our own without spamming the world with how good we are. We prefer our music to do the talking.

What do you think of the current Underground scene in Greece? Do you know / keep in touch with other bands? What other bands are your best friends in the scene? How united do you think your scene is?

We are in touch and have bonds with a few bands like The Psalm, Ravencult, Burial Hordes, Embrace Of Thorns, Acrimonious, Dephosphorus and more. We definitely have some bands that are worth checking out. Regarding unity, I’m not sure because I’m not a social media person and I don’t follow who is supporting who but to be honest I think the ‘support your local scene’ mentality is bullshit. A band needs to be supported only if it’s truly worth it, not because it’s from the same area as you. We already have too much crappy music to deal with so we will not support mediocrity for any reason.

Since your debut album was released in 2008 by an already cult label Nuclear War Now! Productions, and this one by a new name on the scene Martyrdoom Productions, I cannot help at wondering why. Is Martyrdoom your own label? By the way, how was your cooperation with NWN? As I said, we prefer to be independent. We’ve had the opportunity to sign with many big labels such as Century Media, Osmose, Season Of Mist, Metal Blade and more but it didn’t feel right at the time. We don’t like the idea of selling the rights of our own music for lifetime and we don’t like the idea of having our album sold for 15+ euros per CD. Nowadays most people download the music, especially the younger generation, so it seems more honest to have our album available for a cheaper price for those who are still loyal enough to buy CDs and LPs. So we kept the rights of the album to ourselves and sold a limited license to Profound Lore for America (so that we have better distribution in both continents) and the LP to Norma Evangelium Diaboli, because it’s a label that we always admired for its quality-over-quantity approach. We might have lost the chance to become even bigger but it feels good to know that we’ve accomplished everything on our own without any publicity bullshit. We haven’t closed any doors, perhaps in the future we might sign with a bigger label if we get tired of handling everything by ourselves.

Cooperating with NWN! Productions was alright, it was our first full-length album and we didn’t have many expectations and NWN! believed in us before we had become too known in the underground. They also gave priority to the LP version, which was something rare those days when vinyl was not back in fashion yet.

I have to add that the album will also be released on Tape by Iron Bonehead Productions, a label that has been loyal and supporting to us since the very early days so we wanted to make them involved somehow and gave them permission to do the Tape version.

Thanks a lot for your time and answers, hope to talk again soon!

Thank you for featuring us in Slowly We Rot, we hope to play in Romania again soon sometime.

Interview by Adrian October 2015

Back to your second full-length, what are its title, Promulgation of the Fall, and its lyrics all about?

The title is about the fall of Christ and the fall of Christian religion as a whole, the triumph of Satan, the triumph of Death, the triumph of Decadence. All our lyrics evolve around these topics in a surrealistic way. We like to make the mind of the reader create images from the lyrics, make them part of the haunting atmosphere of the music.

How come it took you 6 years to release something new? Was the band on a break or your tracks require lots of preparation until they're ready for launch?

The tracks had been ready since many years actually, we don’t like to work on the material too much because then it doesn’t feel

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It has now been 25 years when Archgoat spreads its dark philosophy to the world.

Without any concession and remaining faithful to their convictions, these Finns inspire the respect. Even after two decades, the trio is still following its own dark path, playing one of the most radical Black Metal. Since Heavenly Vulva released in 2011, the band had not released a new album but was still active on stage by doing live rituals. So we had to wait 5 years before the band returns with a new opus called The Apocalyptic Triumphator... during rehearsals or each for your own? Are your brother and you still the main composers or Sinisterror also took part in the composition?

I am writing all our music as well as write the lyrics. The normal process is that I have the guitar parts and a raw sketch of the song structure and then in our rehearsal place we start to work on the structure and also change guitar parts if not totally happy. Blessed Vulva was the first release I wrote myself and at the moment this is working for us. But there is one thing to remember – it is not relevant who writes what but the relevant thing is that it is Archgoat who makes it happen. I give the frames and the guys help me to pdraw the painting.

Hail Archgoat !

Welcome and thank you for accepting this interview! To start this dialogue, I would like to know how went the last four years for the band?

Was it simply the time which have been necessary for you to release this new album or have you had other priorities during this period? Did you simply wanted to take you time to make things well calmly?

We have played quite a many shows in at least 5 different continents and on top of that I lived in the States for 15 moths which delayed things for us. During this absence I composed Heavenly Vulva mLP which we released sometime 2012. The composing work for the Apocalyptic Triumphator really kicked in on 2013 November when I got one of my creative phases and com-posed riffs for the 3 first hymns. After this we rearranged the parts and I wrote the lyrics right away what I normally do only after all music is completed. I think there was 3 different creative phases for me and this is probably why there is more variation between the hymns than before. I took things on my own pace until in May the January/February 2015 tour with Inquisition was agreed and the schedule started to put pressure on things. All in all this was not the most difficult release I have done for. All eventually fell easily to its own place.

I would also like to know the various stages of the recording. How long was necessary to achieve The Apocalyptic Triumphator? Have you had periods more difficult than others? Were you able to invest in the technical aspect of the recording or did you needed a person from outside?

Overall the whole process lasted little more than one year from the moment I started to write the guitar parts till the moment we recorded it. On some phases or with certain hymns it went more easily than ever but there were few hymns that really were hard to complete. The Theophany of Lucifer specially was quite difficult to tune with its all mid parts and chants but we are satisfied of the hymn how it came out. The bass guitar played bigger and more controlled role than before where it was only picked fast but now more like the traditional way of playing bass and slower. I think this gave the album little bit extra heaviness and hypnotic pulse. Also on this one I really played a lead instead of just adding delays and echoes to dives.

You also just brought out a split DVD entitled Brazilian Ritual Second Attack shared with the bands Grave Desecrator, Impurity and Black Witchery. Can you present us this DVD and tell us how come you the idea to realize it?

Well « brought » is very strong word here. The promoter of the Brazilian show did this with the agreement by all the bands so it was not something that came straight out from our cave. To be honest I have not yet watched it so therefore I can’t comment it too much.

Satanism is a crucial part in the Archgoat concept. Can you tell us in which circumstances you discovered this philosophy and how did you knew that it was the one which corresponded you the best?

Satanism is crucial part in our lives and Archgoat is extension of us. This is not something that is only tied to the band but more a way of life. The occult and satanism started to interest us when we started Archgoat and wanted to include the philosophical elements of Left Hand Path. The hunger for more was guiding us like light guides the moth out of the darkness to unite with the light itself. The philosophy of Satanism has always strengthened me and guided me in my life towards values important to me.

What memories do you keep of this tour and this country that is Brazil? The South American fans have the reputation to be fanatics of Extreme Metal. How were you welcomed by the Brazilians?

In Brazil we did only play in Sao Paolo so it’s hardly a tour. Brazil was fucking cool country to visit and we would play there without a hesitation if a professional offer would come. I have also thought about visiting the country without the band to have more time to live, learn in inhale everything that Brazil is. The audience were well aware who we are and they welcomed us very warmly which turned into violence and mosh pit. Truly a place of great memories.

From a personal point of view, how do you succeed in combining your faith with your daily life? I guess the learning of such a philosophy is endless. Can you reveal us how do you manage to develop your knowledge?

I have not had too big collisions on with philosophy as I tend to keep my private things to myself and to those I trust. I am open for discussion but I also understand that with quite a many ordinary people it just doesn’t bring anything up to educate them with my philosophy. This philosophy works the best when you go and find it by yourself vice versa to the opposite where everybody is brought to the religion. I read occult literature and have discussion with like-minded colleagues and I think the most important is to learn from your own path.

Let us speak about the new entitled album The Apocalyptic Triumphator. I congratulate you for this great Black Metal album! From a personal point of view, how do you evaluate this album from its conception to its release? Are you completely satisfied with it? How do you see it compared to the previous albums?

Can one speak about a certain form of evolution?

I am satisfied of how the album came out. Of course you find little things that might have been different or tuned little bit more but there is always a time you have to let it go. I think overall this release was easier than the previous ones for me music writing wise. All pieces came out good and there are 3 hymns on the album that I used only 1 day for each. But on some hymns there were problems on getting the parts to work together but I think we managed to do what was our target. This album is in a way more complex song structure as guitar part wise. Also the bass guitar has more roles and this is a topic I will include more on our next release. We did a demo of the album before the recordings so in a way there was a second round of evaluating the material which we haven’t had before.

In general this album probably has more difference to its predecessor than any other our release.

In your lyrics, you celebrate the figure of Lucifer. According to you, in whom does the luciferian doctrine differ from Satanism?

Luciferian path is my chase after the Promethean fire. The journey inside the deep knowledge of the Occult and to join the energy of Lucifer. Satanism is more just philosophical and in some way can only be interpreted the worship of the Beast or something primal in man. In short in Satanism there is no Devil as in Devil Worship as the title itself says there is Devil and you, like me for example, have made pact with Him to dedicate your life to and to promote and spread the message of Rebel Angel.

That is why Archgoat exists. This is not a personal ride but for a bigger cause.

I would like raising the subject of the religions if you are willing. Your texts are showing a strong opposition to Christianity. Can you explain us your point of view about this opposition and the reasons of it?

I am against everything that stands in the way of evolution and seek for knowledge. The way of christianity to suffocate and oppress the thinking man is something that I really have problems with. When all is based on controlling the masses by ready-made answers and oppression it is unnatural and does not have place in the ever changing and developing system. I believe in greater things than man and my religion is everything but this mockery of intellectualism and reason.

Can you enlighten us about the title of the album. For me, I have the feeling that it is about a metaphor which can have several interpretations. What represents this title for you?

The title of the release symbolizes the day of Armageddon where they shall prevail and start the new millennium of the Lucifer. The title was on purpose written in a way that it can speak differently to different people and is not too obvious. It gives the reader challenge on understanding what the message of the release is about.

Your lyrics are handled in a direct way and seem to take the listener in a very precise direction. What are their foundations?

The point is that you understand what this band is all about. I don’t want to

How was your state of mind during the composition of this new album?

Do you rather compose all together

14

When you are on the stage the country and venue are not important but the energy. The audiences were good on all shows and I can’t complain about anything major. The sound on stage differs from venue to venue but we have had worse on many occasions.

Well, the Luxemburg back stage was really great with a private chef making really high 3 meal catering. That was something special. Then there was the Vienna venue which did not even have a back stage what was quite odd. You have in the same room a bad cook making junk food and 3 black metal bands putting gear and blood on. But we are not primadonnas and a healthy dose of good beer washes of the sadness.

I would like to go back to your early days… Which memories do you keep of your first rehearsals, your first demo? Which conclusion do you draw of all these years in the underground? Do you think you still have the same state of mind?

It´s been so many years that I really have hard time remembering this accurately. What I remember is that we used to rehearse 3 times a week 3 hours in row and it was really militant how we executed it. We recorded Jesuspawn in a studio which had never before done a metal release and you can imagine how weird that was for the sound guy, but he did well. I think that we are to the bone underground and if you see us overground that might come from the surroundings molding because of us not vice versa.

In a past interview, you declared you have brought Archgoat back in opposition to this early 2000 « plastic scene ». Do you still have the same opinion about the scene? How do you explain that Archgoat and other few bands stay faithful to their convictions while other bands turn their back to their roots?

The scene on most parts is quite tendent to alter according which sells and is « hot ».

That is something I have hard time understanding because as I see it the band should be the extension of the members in a way. How can you say your band is your representation if you take the riffs from Darkthrone, vocals from Burzum and image from Watain???? It is just bull shit. There are though bands that put their whole soul into their music and make the band a musical and philosophical image of themselves.

Those bands I value and support in any way I can. I can even count how many times we have been told to change something (most typically tuning and vocals) and try to fit into what the modern era has limited as the « tolerances of Black metal ».

write lyrics that nobody understands. The method of boot to the face works for us better than some quiet and nice whispering to the wind girly bullshit. Basically I have two different approaches to write where one is all about glorifying Lucifer and the other to blaspheme christianity and the church. On our previous the LP sides were constructed according to this to Left and Right Hand Paths.

How did you discover the Extreme scene? Which albums particularly marked you? According to you, what made the specificity of these bands at that time?

We were bunch of young kids who liked to listen to metal and every time something faster or heavier came we really liked it. The first release that lead me into harsher side of metal was Venom´s Possessed which really made the difference. I still today hail that as one of the most extreme albums. Among that also Celtic Frost´s Morbid Tales and Carcass´ Reek of Putrefaction as Symphonies of Sickness really affected me and my song writing. Maybe I should also mention Possessed´s Seven Churches too. Can’t top those.

When it comes to the cover of the album, you could again work with Chris Moyen who is your partner for many years now. Did you left him a total freedom of expression or did you guide him? Can you give us your own interpretation of the cover? How important is the layout for you?

I always give Chris very informal sketches of what kind of cover and which details to include. He knows and understand what I am looking for from an album cover and always during the sketching phase asks me about my opinion whether to or not to include details he comes up with. And as this cycle grinds on the final result is album cover. For me the album cover is one of the most important features of an album – you have there only one piece of art that has to represent the band, the music and the lyrical concept and to capture all that is difficult but he and we have always delivered.

I guess you kept good memories of this period with tape trading and paper zines...

You're answering to a paper zine. Do you believe that zines still have their place in the current scene?

Well, I am now going to break the « kvlt » ideology and say that I value much more the message than the form of spreading it. I have lived the days of snail mail and paper zines and know how slow and expensive those are. The current internet world makes communicating so much more effortless and fast that it in that way alone helps to deepen the connections.

On the cover, one can see the presence of two skeletons which could symbolize the dead. What is your vision of it? Do you believe it's a passage for something else?

I think the important aspect is to see what the skeletons are holding in their bony hands – one is holding a chalice and the other a time glass. These two symbols are equally important as the figure of skeleton = death. The time glass symbols the time to end as well as time to come = Satan´s Millenium and the Chalice the triumph of the victory.

So, that is one concept build from little micro concepts. My vision of death is that another journey in another form begins after the last breath. According to the Laws of Physics the amount of energy is always standard and stabile so only the form is altered.

How will the future of Archgoat looks like?

This year will see us doing 3 shows in the States as well in ones in Norway, Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary and Finland. We will have 4 re-presses coming out later this year as well as one very special release. Next year we will do a 3 week tour with a brother band and we have 4 countries in our single live show list where we have not played so we are busy. But this is the way we like it.

I already saw you on stage. According to me, you succeed in retranscribing the atmosphere of your albums. In which state of mind are you when you're playing live? Do you consider your live performances as rituals?

I always see a live show as a live ritual – the place where the energies of Satan are present and can be felt. The musicians on stage are mere the amplifiers of this energy or priests of Satan delivering the message and channeling the pure raw energy. And if the audience is willing to step in and take part to this sonic black mass they will be touched by the essence of Satan. For us it has always been a priority that what you record you have to be able to repeat that on stage. That is the main reason we have since one year included a keyboar player to enable us to achieve the album like result.

Many thanks for your time, feel free to end this dialogue the way you want!

Thank you for the interview and see you on the road!

Interview by J. June 2015

This month you start a European tour with the bands Inquisition, Ondskapt and Blackdeath. Do you look forward to start this tour? Is touring something you appreciate or do you prefer punctual dates? Is there a particular link between Archgoat and the other bands on the bill?

Well, I am bit late on this interview so the tour is done and buried. We did have the best tour of our careers with these bands and I see a continuation on this. I can only say from my point but there was formed powerful links between Archgoat to Inquisition and Ondskapt and I am sure we will play more together. I have to say that normally I prefer single dates but this tour went so smooth that we are already planning something for the next year. The main thing is the chemistry between the bands – if it does work like on our tour you will have great time but if not then it will be fucking hard.

You also had the opportunity to visit many countries during your various concerts. Are there places which left a deep impression on you in the good as in the bad side?

15

Rising Demons – Rising Demons – Rising Demons 1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

2. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?

3. Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

4. What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?

5. Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?

6. What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?

7. What plans do you have for the near future as a band?

8. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

3. If you want to get quality underground metal with some brutal mixture then we are the band for you!

4. The local metal scene has always kept us in high regard. We have released quite a lot some of them being re-releases of course but still we try to keep our stuff fresh and ready to strike.

Song, what is included on your magazines compilation is single track to present our new material. We also shot video for it, what could be easily located on our websites.

We have out two full length albums: Hallutsinatsioon (released by Perverted Taste Records / Hexenreich Records etc.) and Ronkade parved (released by Evil Distribution / Hexenreich Records etc.). Beside that, there are some re-releases, demos, promos, splits and so on.

For our 10. anniversary we filmed live DVD "Kümme surmatalve", what contains also older live clips in second half.

5. We have played most of gigs at homeland, also some outside of it and in really various places during years (from living room to big festival stage, he-he), gig count is currently around 70. We have toured in neighbour countries: in Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. We have shared stage with Shining, Nokturnal Mortum, Primordial, Satanic Warmaster, Arkona (RUS), Skyforger and many more.

BESTIA 1. Well most of the history is written on our website bestia.pimeduse.org. Roots of band lie in the end of nineties. But to recap the latest is that we‟re a pagan black metal band, the lyrics are always in Estonian, so if you can‟t understand the language you can at least enjoy the sound of it anyway. The band members have become close friends after these years. We have less concerts due to the drummer being enlisted to the military but other than that we still manage to do gigs.

6. We are a underground legend here where we live. And so far our fame has always kept us in high regard. Hopefully you will enjoy our material and ask for more.

7. We‟re looking for lives since we have a special bandmember joining us for the next few gigs with a special instrument. Also we‟re writing constantly for a new album.

2. I would describe it as pagan black metal with some hints of death and thrash metal and little keyboards in the background. Riffs are mostly influenced by the 90-s Norwegian Black metal scene, but we are trying not to copy anything and go our own way. On last album we integrated saxophone, flute and viola into our songs, without going too progressive.

8. You can go to our website: bestia.pimeduse.org or check us out on our facebook page: facebook.com/bestia.est. Our releases are available from Hexenreich Records: hexe.pimeduse.org but local distributors may have our stuff as well.

November 2015

on stage and being open about practicing witchcraft and magik. I thought how I could finally be able to share my true self with others in a powerful and musical way.

For now I am the sole soul working behind Cosmic Eve, as this was born from the ethers. Now my purpose is becoming fulfilled and I know which direction I would like to steer in. After the recording of my full length album this winter, I will have enough material to have built a solid foundation with. Other musicians who work with me will know what sort of vibe I am coming with and what I‟m about, really.

COSMIC EVE 1.

Cosmic Eve formed during a heavy psychedelic trip of mine, I was listening to King Diamond and really sort of flabbergasted by the lyrical prose and storytelling. I thought, “If Satan could have such a beautiful poet, then it‟s this man.” And I envisioned my own dream of being a poetic musician, so vivid and real, it was as if I was already in that reality. In this vision, I was a magikian, performing before a crowd that stretched further than my eyes could see. My music was the stage act and I would use the crowd‟s energy to send out ethereal dragons that exploded into fireworks, and whatnot. Just having a rocking metal time together with the audience. So, this flash of inspiration came to me and it was so strong, I felt I needed to connect myself with that reality.

I have a real imagination and knack for storytelling, and with print on the decline, my dream of being a fantasy author seemed to fall further away. I wasn‟t sure if my writing would ever reach people in the way I had hoped. I spent a lot of time in solitude, just writing and writing on an epic novel I couldn‟t just share with anyone. Through this time I was disconnected from society and became really obscure into magik and the occult. I had just discovered 1980s heavy metal and was really into the sword and sorcery appeal of epic metal. I was a big fan of fantasy illustrators Frank Frazetta, Clyde Caldwell, Boris Vallejo, and Chris Achilleos. Sort of just gave me this pinball wizard and castle vibe. In a want to reconnect and share my fantasy writing with others, I began writing songs and practicing singing. Cosmic Eve was born, and though I didn‟t have the voice to be a power metal singer, I found my true range to be in the deeper tones of doom metal. I had just seen female doom singers who were performing rituals

2. I would like Cosmic Eve to be operatic doom metal as my talent progresses more and more. I do have a Traditional Doom Metal vibe in my instrumentation, though the Epic Doom takes front seat as the fantasy lyrical content drives the songs forward. „The Ice Mistress‟ single is a testament to that and the upcoming continuation of this concept on „The Frozen Celestial Wastelands‟ LP will be loaded with lyrical content and more tales unfolding the story of the banished celestial queen.

As far as bands that have influenced me as an artist or have given me inspiration to begin this musical journey: King Diamond, Dio, Black Sabbath, Jex Thoth, Pentagram, Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, Tygers of Pan Tang, Heavy Load, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Hawkwind, & Uriah Heep to name a few.

3. Really anyone who finds a need to escape through music would benefit from listening to Cosmic Eve. The visual appeal of my storytelling and the hypnotic appeal of the instrumentation sets the stage for the imagination to really take flight from this mundane world. My forefront purpose as an entertainer is to take people away from themselves and escape from the pain of life, as much as singing does for me. My music is a doomer‟s answer to epic or power metal, telling tales of sardonic victories and heroic tragedy. On the flipside, I think the larger mainstream audience of power metal could turn to the underground of doom metal soul and find Cosmic Eve to be true to their shadows. There is a need to downtune and unwind and I believe through people finding my music, they‟ll have a chance to experience just that. Whether they buy my music or not, knowing people are taking the time to listen is what is most important to me.

4. I released „The Ice Mistress‟ EP as my first Epic Doom Metal debut on 8/8/2015. As an independent artist, I‟ve been able to take an indie approach and have gained a perspective by being on the frontlines of underground metal. I get to hear what each new fan thinks about my music, and I have a growing grassroots support system that has formed from the love of metal fans. Whether that‟s someone sharing one of my songs on an indie radio station, people purchasing my music & merch, or being featured on underground metal compilations from the recommendation of a good ear. Every new fan supporting Cosmic Eve furthers this purpose and solidifies that this music has taken

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a life of its own. So yeah, fans are digging Cosmic Eve and hailing the EP, so that‟s great. The fans asked for more, so I just released a Halloween single titled „Electric Nightmare‟ in October, which expresses a darker essence of Cosmic Eve in the role of a blood thirsty Countess stalking the night. Again, staying true to the fantasy element and creating an atmosphere capable of transporting the imagination is what characterizes each Cosmic Eve release. Vinyl requests are now being made by Cosmic Eve fans, and to me, that‟s a success in its own.

The continuation of „The Ice Mistress‟ EP is a concept album titled, „The Frozen Celestial Wastelands‟ LP, which I am currently wrapping up writing on lyrically and musically. So fans will be able to hear this record in Winter 2016 and be spinning Cosmic Eve on their turntables soon after.

Every fan means something to me, and to be able to put a face and name to someone who supports your music is special in its own way. I think when the masses become involved, there‟s a lot of room to invite negativity from people who didn‟t seek you out because they actually aligned with you. It‟s more of a record label advertisement at that level.

I‟d like to connect with indie distributors and seek out my local record shops to hold my music on consignment. It‟s special to pack up your own merch orders and know where every penny goes. Never doubt the power of a fan because in this scene, everyone is doing something and are willing to give something back in return for a musical gift. Whether that‟s linking you with a promoter, website, or radio host, etc.

Taking a DIY approach and relying on word of mouth through friends and fans is where Cosmic Eve hopes to gain respect and recognition.

5. Once I have recorded the full length album this winter, I will begin seeking out heavy musicians in the Bay Area and start booking for gigs. For now, I am getting together my stage wear and gaining the stamina to give fans beyond what they expect to hear. I have a long history in theater and drama from my upbringing, which I hope to incorporate into my live performances. I really want to treat each Cosmic Eve show like a stage play with skits and props and let the light shows and sound really take it to the next level as a magik ritual. So my goal is to be playing live with Cosmic Eve as a band by Spring 2016 and promoting the new album.

7. It is Cosmic Eve‟s ultimate goal to play metal and doom festivals around the world.

Until then, getting together a solid group of dedicated musicians, practicing as a band, writing more material, and playing local shows in California, Oregon, and Texas will be for starters. Definitely will be gigging strong in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach for a home base.

8. You can listen to Cosmic Eve through several avenues. „The Ice Mistress‟ EP is streaming for free on CosmicEve.com & you can pick up a download over at CosmicEve.Bandcamp.com. The individual songs, as well as the full EP are available for listening and sharing on YouTube when you search for the „Cosmic Eve Doom‟ channel.

I have cool merch available for purchase at CosmicEve.Bandcamp.com/Merch, including hand printed black light posters, long sleeve vampiress T-shirts, and Glow in the Dark dragon tees.

Shout out to the underground and those reading this fanzine. Thanks for taking the time to support. Doom on & stay heavy! Yours Eternally, Cosmic Eve

6. I think people, whether connected in the industry or not, will align energetically with Cosmic Eve when it is their time to experience my music. They will know Cosmic Eve by giving a true listen, and what each person divines may be unique from one fan to the next. They will know I‟m heavy, epic, and graceful. Some people may even say, creepy haha!

My goal is to release my own vinyl and maintain sole proprietorship of Cosmic Eve‟s musical rights and logo. If a record label granted me freedom and really worked with me, then maybe yes. I‟d like to start out on my own label as I figure my way through this adventure. I think fans sharing Cosmic Eve‟s music, coupled with playing live gigs will gain me more exposure. I‟m in no big rush to reach a certain level of stardom.

Everything happens in its own time.

November 2015

3. I'd like to recommend our music to people who appreciate bands like Deathspell Omega, Rotten Sound, but also Skitsystem, we deliver a rumbling mix of dissonance and hatred for a lifetime, high quality.

4. We skipped the whole part with making a demo and did an album directly.

I released the LP Version of the album ”En Naturlig Död” (A Natural Death translated) limited to 500 copies in the spring 2014. Later that year, our comrade Dave on Xtreem Music put it out on CD and did a really great job promoting it.

5. DRÅP is a liveband. The reason we are active are only because playing live is our passion. Most bands tour only to promote an album, we need to record a new album just to have a reason to tour again. We have done mostly shows so far in Sweden, Denmark and Finland, but we aim for some longer Europé tours when our next album is ready.

6. We are very unique to the extent that the lyrics are about real disasters, both personal but also on a global level. We did a music video with the track ”Preparat” which is more or less a visual re-creation of when a close friend was impacted by date rape drugs.

DRÅP is the Swedish word for murdering someone, but not on purpose. There is much about the feelings that cause us to act on pure instinct, but it is also a lot of criticism of the Swedish court. The music in general paints a good picture directly from a crime scene that you just cant stop watch when you walk by.

DRAP 1. Formed in the small Northern Swedish town of Sundsvall in Januari 2013 by vocalist Joachim Lyngfelt.

Catharina Ottander, Joachim's mother, passed away from cancer in 2010, and the initial idea was to record an album dedicated to her and not perform live, but when the pieces started falling into place and gig requests rolled in more and more, DRÅP became an intense live band with members from Decomposed and Legium.

7. We will settle down a bit and put all focus on making our second album ”Roten Till Allt Ont” (the root of all evil translated) that is in this case: Money.

2. Really rotten D-beat mixed with some death/grind parts. Very dark and aggressive.

October 2015

8. You should really check out Xtreem Music, many great releases and prices. You can find all our music an merch and stuff on theese links: drap.bigcartel.com, drapcrust.bandcamp.com, facebook.com/drapcrust

black metal. Satanism is at the foundation of our art and is our main influence.

HELLGOAT 3. If they seek something more than a regular metal band and can recognize the magic in our work they will be granted a glimpse into the chaotic lives of 3 devoted artists.

1. The band formed in 2004 with me as the sole member.

Vaedis joined in 2006 as the drummer and moved to guitar in 2013.

Aetheos joined on drums in 2013 and has not played on a release but he will in the future.

4. We have released 2 demos, 2 splits, 2 EPs and 3 albums. Growth has been steady with every advancement.

5. Live performance is our main element. We have spent many years gathering the right elements for this aspect of our art and feel it becomes more savage each time we go out.

6. We have always been a band that has forged our own path. Outside entities have never been a driving force behind us. The DIY approach will always suit our needs.

7. We plan on furthering the path we have set out for ourselves. Writing, recording and performing live will only increase as we continue our advancement.

8. Pale Horse Recordings is the main label handling distribution of our music. They are an elite record label with a flawless catalog of music. We are proud to be working with PHR and hope to continue our relationship.

2. We describe our music as harsh spiritual

November 2015

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Studios who did a brilliant job on our first full-length record „The Wake of Ares“!

Thanks for your fantastic work once more! The music is brutal and will make you want to bang your head against the nearest wall!

4. Until now we only have released our debut „The Wake of Ares“ which was completely recorded by ourselves, especially Matt and some help of our good friend Cook who supported us with vocal-tracking. As mentioned above we gave it to the hands of a professional for mixing and mastering. The album finally was released in March 2015 by Metalmusic Austria after we had a lot of trouble with our first label.

We got some very good reviews from all around the globe which can be seen on our homepage www.infected-chaos.at and on facebook.com/InfectedChaos.

5. We played several shows in Germany, Austria and Italy to promote our album. But it´s very tough to get shows where we are from as the club scene seems to be dying. We want to play a lot more and are contacting everything we can find. Clubs, festivals, no matter what. I gotta mention our second show here because we had the huge honour to open for the legendary Possessed which was just a blast for all of us! This night will forever remain in my head!

6. If you´re looking for a motivated and hardworking band then we are your men. We´re constantly working on our skills to get better and write more neckbreaking songs. We´re always hungry...

7. Currently we are working on our second album which can hopefully be released somewhen in the first half of 2016. And of course we´re always looking for shows. This is what we are doing this for. Getting on stage and going totally mad.

One big show is already scheduled for winter 2016 but I cannot tell you more yet, I´m afraid. Check out our homepage or facebook account regularly. We´ll anounce that and every other gig as soon as we got the ok.

INFECTED CHAOS 1. Infected Chaos was formed in summer 2013 from the remnants of Chaosreign. The remaining members Matt (guitars), Martin (guitars) and Flo (bass) wanted to give birth to the already existing material and therefore completed the line-up by longtime friends Christoph (drums) of the Austrian thrashers Preterior and myself – Christian – on vocals. I was singing in the now inactive band Breßack. We completely re-arranged the songs so everyone could bring his own influences into the music before we recorded them and headed for Iguana Studio.

8. You can find us on quite every known platform in the internet like bandcamp, youtube, etc. For a first impression I would recommend the fantastic lyricvideo for „Wolves in thy Pantheon“ our guitarist Martin created.

You can buy the record and some shirts at our label´s online shop http://www.metalmusic.at/shop/ or you can also contact the band directly via email: infected-chaos@gmx.at. Thanks for the interview and supporting the underground!

Cheers!!!

2. It´s just death metal warfare! Crushing yet very melodic from time to time. I definitely hear a lot more influences from European bands than American. It´s impossible to name a few certain bands as everyone has his own preferences that take influence on our sound.

October 2015

3. Because it´s honest, handmade music from sickos for sickos! And the album sounds fantastic. We offer professional mixing and mastering by Christoph Brandes of Iguana

4. Up to this moment we‟ve released an EP (“Nothing but Scum”), and two full-length albums: “Necrokindergarden” and “Acrotomophile Mutilator.” Reaction from the media was in overall positive. We‟ve receive great reviews from magazines, e-zines, blogs, and independent reviewers too. It‟s funny because opinions are divided between our two last records. Let me elaborate: some people like the rawness and obscurity of “Necrokindergarden” whereas other prefer the instrumentation and technical approach of “Acrotomophile Mutilator.” And that‟s good because it shows that our music is not stalled, that within the genre we we able to offer music that could appeal diverse tastes.

Let‟s see what will happen when our new album comes.

5. Playing live is great but since we‟re just a duo now it‟s rather complicated to do that.

We did gigs several years ago but now we‟re more like a studio band. But hey, doors are not closed so there‟s still chance to get back into the scenarios in the future.

6. First of all, I like to say Infection takes its business seriously. Proof of that is the release of our last album in vinyl format. You know, there aren‟t many independent bands committed enough to do that kind of investment so as to promote their music.

Besides that, I mentioned honesty as a differential before and I repeat myself here: we love what we do and that‟s clearly reflected in our music.

INFECTION

7. I‟ve been working hard this year to come up with new material for the band. So, at the moment we have enough songs to produce a full-length album and perhaps an EP. Therefore, the natural step is to record these songs and try to release Infection‟s new production at the end of 2016.

1. The band was formed around 2006. I was playing with the idea of forming a death metal band from some time so I approached Giuliano Canessa and told him about this.

He was pleased with the idea so we partner up and started looking for a bassist and a drummer. Yuri and Yesid were the ones that accompanied Infection in those early years. Without entering into much details, it can be said that personal circumstances, working obligations, and lack of time played a big factor to make them drift away from the band. So, at this moment only Giuliano and I remain as the only fixed members of Infection.

8. Here are the main distributors of our album: Bandcamp Here you can buy “Acrotomophile Mutilator” Collector‟s infectionmetal.bandcamp.com/album/acrotomophile-mutilator iTunes Purchase hi-quality audio files via itunes.apple.com/us/artist/infection/id524416274

2. We play death metal with influences from the thrash and grind scene. We‟re proud to say our influences come from Death, Cannibal Corpse, and Monstrosity. Other bands that appeal us are Suffocation, Napalm Death, Neuraxis, Beyond Creation, just to mention some of them. However, music is a constant evolution so there are many groups, not only from the metal scene, that have contributed to shape our sound.

Moreover, I try to listen as many genres as possible, to keep my mind fresh.

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Spotify Each song that you stream generates revenues open.spotify.com/album/6KdNXLcSNX3choKim5KFHk

3. I think the main reason would be that we‟re honest with what we do. We don‟t play for the money, we‟re not jumping into the wagon of what‟s hype and it‟s selling at the moment. The peak of traditional death metal was on the 90s, and we still do it because that‟s the kind of music we love. Our albums have been done with a lot of effort and we tried to give the best of us within each release. So, anyone interested in hearing straightforward death metal with some technical touches would be pleased to grab our albums.

GooglePlay It‟s Google so you must now this store: goo.gl/J81FMP

October 2015

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3. So they can feel safe in the fact that they will be getting an in your face, pulverizing dose of honest angry Thrash Metal, so holds barred,no bullshit, just pure aggression!!!

4. Our debut EP sold out very quickly as did the second pressing, it was recorded very quickly in need to have a release for the Children Of Bodm tour a few years back, so even though we love the release, it is very raw. But it did land us many more supports, tours, compilations, and led us to be able to all seperately hook up all those touring activites with other bands etc. It got us on the map here in Australia pretty quick. Our second release was the Salt In The Wound single which we got printed up as a teaser for the new album. We released it on the Coroner national tour we did, it quickly sold out too. It still gets good rotation on Metal radio out here and is still be added to compilations the world over, so were pretty stoked with that. The big one is our new album The Burial Begins, we have had some major set backs with lineup changes, final editing process and re-recording issues, so we are holding off until the new year with this once things have settled down.

5. This last year has been very quiet, we have done a few shows, all sold out, so thats good to know people still give a shit ha ha, next year will the busy one,. but up until last year, we would be playing around once every 2 weeks, with some great national tours/supports with bands like Coroner, Sodom, Vader, Malevolent Creation, Krisiun, Dismember, Children Of Bodom, and stacks more

KILLRAZER 1. Killrazer consists of Doug Dalton on lead vocals/guitar, Jimmy Lardner-Brown on guitar, Zoran Mrakic on bass and Graham Goode on drums. Killrazer are one of the few genuine headline bands in Sydney and Australia, having played countless shows and tours with local and international bands. Along as all members being involved in other projects such as being touring musicans for Paul Dianno, Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden), Ripper Owens (Judas Priest), Assaulter, Devine Electric, Darker Half and award winning guitarist Jimmy having a solo abum as well. Being featured on countless compilations both locally and internationally, with a few releases including our self titled Debut, our single Salt In The Wound and our upcoming release The Burial Begins

6. That where all seasoned musicians who in each way in their own have been an integral part of the Australian Metal scene for well over a decade within past bands we have been a part of. weve never had a bad live review, we always put our all into it, the odd vomit onstage even occurs from just a tad too much exhaustion he he. We mean what we do, and dont plan on going anywhere!

7. 2016 we have some touring plans with bands like Death Dealer, maybe something with Coroner again, but the main priority is the new album, just to get it out.

8. You can check out www.killrazer.com or type Killrazer into youtube, you will find everything you need up there.

2. Killrazer are proudly old school thrash/death, and i dont mean the pizza metal up turned hat stuff, classic Thrash like Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, Coroner but more aggressive and rip your head off blasts etc. To personify our sound, AGGRESSIVE!!!

October 2015 Vital Remains no particular style, I like and listen to various style of Death metal etc although I like them, as much as possible we don't wanna sound like them. We basically just do what the songs need. It depends on the songs actually.

3. Because as far as we know, we're the only one who sound like us in our country.

4. We've only released an ep in a cd format and split with a Canadian band in tape format. So far, the release was fine and we just established our own sound because of that.

5. Yeah we play live sometimes. I honestly choose where to play, because there are heaps of gig invites but only a few of them are good in terms of the lineup preferences. living in the Philippines and playing in an extreme band is really a very hard thing to do. We played once in Australia, but with session players only. Since that is my second home, I had a chance to play there because of the local friends there, and also, with the permission of the original members from the Philippines. I also had a chance to release an ep there and the gig turned out awesome.

6. Well, Legion is an independent band. All of our works and releases came from our own hard-earned money. I guess we can say we stick to our sounds and theme. Me and Hendrik the guitarist are very meticulous when it comes to creating a song.

LEGION

7. Our plan is to release this debut album as soon as possible, maybe at the end of 2015 or early 2016. And also, more songs to be recorded in the studio.

1. First of all thank you Adrian and Slowly We Rot fanzine for this interview. We are Legion from the Philippines and we started in early 2008. It was Hendrik the guitarist who basically formed this and asked me to be their bassist. There were five of us back then, two guitars, a bass, a drummer and a vocalist. As time went by we had a couple of lineup changes. I permanently took the vocals position and we ended up as a four piece death metal band. Me and axe-man were left as the pioneers and founding members of Legion. We came up with Legion even though we knew that there were heaps bands with that name around the world. Legion fitted well in terms of our theme and direction, and we knew that we were the only Legion in our country.

8. Right now, you can only listen to our soundcloud and can directly contact me for the hard copy. I'm still figuring out how to distribute outside the Philippines and Tasmania, Australia. We don't have fanpage and facebook page so you can just email me at legionpilipinas@gmail.com and legionphilippines at gmail.com or add me on my personal facebook account mraclegion@gmail.com for the legion music concerns.

October 2015

2. I can say our style is basically old death metal with a twist of modern metal as.

Personally, I like the style of Unleashed, Vader, Immolation, Nile Incantation, Absu,

creating a new project. Then in December 2013 we met and started writing a couple of songs. Peterson's brother, Iuri Martins joined the band in early 2014 as bassist. It was time to find a drummer, then we invited Thiago Hertel former drummer of the black metal band Forest of Demons.

SPINE CROWN 1. Spine Crown was primarily a project that was conceived a long time ago.

Peterson Martins and I (Rodrigo Marchetti) had already played together in other bands in the past.

Brutal and Horror Chamber.

Some time after we left Horror Chamber we started thinkig about

2. We describe our style as death metal. There are many bands that we love and that has influenced us over the years, but we believe that the main influences to create Spine Crown were, Six Feet Under, Death and Morbid Angel.

3. As musicians we've try to catch the essence of the style and add some personal preferences that we'd like to hear as metalheads. We think they can feel it in our songs and identified themselves with our work.

4. We've released a EP called The Evil Next Door. The reception has been great, we had the opportunity to have our songs played in international radios, we had good reviews and the public response has been very positive. We are very pleased with the results so far.

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5. We have not played live yet. After the recording of the ep, we had some personal problems that delayed a bit our debut on stage. Now we are finishing the songs for our upcoming full length that we should start record later this year.

7. We will have a music video coming out now on November 13th that is the new single from our new album. We are also planning an extensive tour for the next year to support the release.

6. What they should know is that we are a band that worked hard to create a quality material, with personality but without abandoning our roots. That said, we believe that our work has just begun, we are evolving musically every day and working to create something genuine and win our place alongside so many other great bands.

8. You can find, listen and buy our stuff on our pages: facebook.com/spinecrownpage, spinecrown.bandcamp.com, youtube.com/spinecrown October 2015

some more part in our songs, same some influences of melodic extreme metal of the early 2100 century.

Some bands who had influences are Sorhin, Naglfar (sweden, 90ies), Melechesh, formerly Nagelfar (germany), Kataklysm, Satyricon (90ies), Immortal, Third Moon, Dyers Straits, In Flames (90ies), Aeternus, Dimmu Borgir, Mörser, Alchera, Dark Funeral, The Abyss, Cryptic Wintermoon and some baroque composer.

TYRAEL 1. Sven: In 2000 Tyrael was founded by John (exdrummer), Joschka (former lead Vocals and guitars), Thomas (first bass) and me (guitars).

Thomas left the band in 2002, but Holger (bass until 2013) replaced him in the very same year. In the years that followed, the debut's tracks took roots in the minds of the band.

John got lost in his inner world in 2006, and the remainder of Tyrael decided to release the past live recordings on their demo "Raw Live Mementos". During the long quest for a worthy successor for drums, Fabian was introduced to the guitar parts, so that Joschka was able to concentrate on lending his shrieking and rumbling voice to the band's sound. Eventually in 2008 Mario, the drummer and second eldest band member by now, completed Tyrael again. Together Tyrael was able to explore new horizons. Tyrael won a regional band contest in 2008. Therefore we've been pushed for recording the long grown songs for our debut "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause", which connotes "The woods are my home".

Mario: In 2012 and 2013 the band took the innermost incisive and at once upgrading changes in its history. After the enduring success of "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause", some triumphant concerts an 5 furthermore songs beyond words, Joschka decided to leave Tyrael upon more than 12 years. Though not without breaking in his follower, the unfathomable Dave. In summer that same year Holger revealed his decision resign playing bass at all, and that he would depart in spring 2013. At that time the quintet concluded to perpetuate the from now on 6 songs to an additional disc. But only if there wouldn't be a suitable replacement for the depths in music. After febrile and delusional manhunt in January 2013, managed to find Marc (bass, 4-string) at the very last minute in the net. It was he, we facile were able to integrate and enthuse to our infernal work.

Sven: While easily rehearsing the songs of our debut, we became aware of two basses don't only support the interlaced melodies and rhythms in our style, but also seem to be indispensable to press ahead the preservation of diversity and complexness of Tyrael's music. So it wasn't surprising that "Der Jäger" had been performed live by the TyraelAllStars with 2 lead singers (Dave & Joschka), 2 guitars (Fabian & Sven), 2 basses (Marc & Holger) and Mario at the drums, in March 2013 in Koblenz, who set fire to the audience.

Mario: Since Fabian afterwards also wanted to tread paths without being active with Tyrael, we were really astonished in finding not only (the new) John, a passionate guitarist, but also Vitali "Duke", a long-time friend of John and creative bassist (5 strings). Both were fascinated straightaway about that type of music, and could barely believe, Tyrael realises exactly the music they always sought for. As cherry of the cake John and Marc disclosed their intent to add their voices for background to Dave's lead and Sven's backing vocals.

In the beginning of 2014 Dave couldn't take the time for rehearsing anymore, so Tyrael had to find again another lead vocalist. Joschka helped out until Raphael, the brother of John, decided in completing the line-up with his incredibly screams. Since "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause" both line-ups wrote 8 new songs, in which everyone took a lion's share in.

3. Raphael: For those who already listened to “Der Wald ist mein Zuhause” album, there´s nothing to add.

Our music stands for itself and is different to most metal albums of this genre. If you like time changes and rhythmic changes in music, changes of blast beats and melody or even moony acoustic parts, doubtlessly Tyrael is YOUR favourite!

John: Tyrael provides typical (melodic) black metal riffs, grind structures and melodic death metal parts to create an interesting composition.

You like hearing songs, which music is telling the story, not just lyric? Do you like surprising points of inflection in music and really insane lyrics, without non-essential brutality or religiousness? Of course you will like and buy our music.

4. Sven: In 2006 we released our live demo "Raw Live Mementos", which contains exclusive live stage and rehearsal recordings between 2003 and 2006. It's a gem for our fans, who are interested in Tyrael's history. We released 20 pieced by now, only! So it's really rare, and just a handful are still in stock.

"Der Wald ist mein Zuhause" is our main work by now. It reaches a playtime of more than 43 minutes with its 11 songs, and comes with an elaborate 16 page booklet, an atmospheric artwork and all lyrics. We pressed 1000 copies, there are now just 200 pieces of them in stock.

We have been at many regional and international compilations with songs of "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause". Based on that, we got some great feedback of our audience and some reviews, too.

Necroslaughter (germany) wrote: "Many fans of black and death Metal pisses the band with "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause" certainly true to his leg. But that's a good thing!

Polarizing is always good. Some are looking for friend at the pony farm, not necessarily in Heavy Metal!" And Infernal Masquerade judged: "Tyrael manages to achieve originality and freshness through relentless brutality. The album flows very naturally and the music is excellently crafted."

We also got great reactions of fans out of Peru, Brazil and Chile, where we distributed the album for some years.

5. John: Yes, we play gigs but we are no more interested in band contests. Tyrael played average one to four live shows per year. Some were band contests, also triumphantly, and many oneself organized gigs.

Since Raphael joined the band in December 2014 we played four gigs. Three out of them were in one band contest, we've been deselected in the third round, and the fourth was organized by myself. In the future we will apply for festivals or other possibilities to push Tyrael on stage. Doing live shows is the main aspect we're focussing on now, after writing new songs.

6. Duke: Tyrael surly is THE treasure trove in extreme metal. Even now all members of Tyrael act in concert by writing songs and organising gigs. All of us are sprouting ideas for new songs in common. Actually Tyrael has got some support of professional graphic designers, event mangers and a merchandise team. So we're able to focus in music and performance! Tyrael is none of those lazy bands, who are not able to wipe their asses clean. We're reliable partners for everyone who trusts in our vision of music!

7. John: At this state of time, we are inspired by the creativity of each member to complete new songs for the next album. We are planning to do the recordings next year but there are still some improvements to do. It's a pleasure to see everyone is motivated to break through.

Division of labor is essential in this kind of line-up and we are constantly working to increase the productivity. Recording the demos of the new songs will be the most important thing until the end of 2015. Besides that we try to organize concerts ourselves.

Raphael: My decision to join the band in December 2014 was influenced by the personal connection between a few members, especially John my brother an his best friend Duke, and especially the sort of music Tyrael does. It was always an aim to do black metal in a band.

I think due to the good workflow with the guys, the current work on the demo tracks will be done very quickly. If the demos are ready, we will apply for metal festivals and other live presences to gain more live appearance and band presence. I also hope we will be able to record our new stuff in 2016 and release the new album.

2. Sven: Tyrael's style is a multitude of extreme metal styles and even rock. For us it just was melodic black and death metal. After releasing "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause" we considered oneself to have to create an new genre called "green metal", because scarcely anyone who review our debut seemed do comprehend what we are doing.

"Green metal" was born out of the necessity to give Tyrael's music a shape outsiders could grasp.

Judgements like “That's not black metal” or “That's not death metal” are reiterated in old routine. Tyrael weaves black and death metal elements into a fabric of nearly grindcore song structures. No wonder people are having a hard time to locate Tyrael's music in that spectrum, the more so because the band does not chain itself to any of these genres lyric wise. Tyrael does neither just typical black metal, nor death metal, nor true black metal and all the rest of sub genres.

Marc: By now out opinion is, that's not necessary to establish another subgenre. We do melodic black and death metal, the influences by rock took a back seat since "Der Wald ist mein Zuhause". Do these classifications matter at all? For those they're doing: Our style is extreme metal!

We got some very good reviews from people who noticed what we are doing with our music in your head. Those stay, others leave.

Sven: Rumbling growls and skin flaying shrieks, relentlessly pushing and dashing drums and guitars that, in conjunction with TWO BASSES, lack neither brutality nor melody – that is what the songs are made of that took roots in the musicians' minds since the late 90ies and that comprise to their debut “Der Wald ist mein Zuhause”. And with 8 more indescribable songs beyond it takes the listener to the woods and shows all their facets – whether he likes them or not. Since our debut melodic black metal took

8. Mario: You can listen to some tracks at our homepage: www.Tyrael.net - We are also present at many social networks for example www.facebook.com/Tyrael.net .

Sven: At www.Tyrael.net we linked some shops, like Tyrael's online shop tyrael.bigcartel.com and for some merchandise tyrael.spreadshirt.de. Our music is also available at some well-known mail orders like Perverted Taste (germany), Trollzorn (germany), Sektor 12 (gemany), CCP Records (Austria) Sevared (USA), Weird Truth (Japan) and at amazon and iTunes. So stay tuned!

October 2015

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different from our other songs meaning that the beginning for example, should be just vocals and guitar. Blitz had some cool lyrics and Bobby had a guitar part that sounded like the horror movie ’Halloween’. I put all the parts together to make the song: simple powerful and memorable, and it worked. It has no guitar solo, but it didn't need one...Bobby thought it was supposed to have a solo...why? „Hammerhead” was the only brandnew track on the record, right? Why didn’t you put more newer material on the record prior to that the demo songs were known for the fans?

Every song that is on ’Feel the Fire’ was already played live at our shows. That's how we got them tight! The whole album was heard well before it was released... that’s due to the tape traders. And that's cool. That's just the way it was back then! We (my metal friends, not the band members) had been listening to ’Bonded by Blood’ for two years before it was ever released! What the fans don't understand is that bands can not just write endless amounts of material and have it be worthy of a record release.

Part II of the interview with Rat Skates about the legendary OVERKILL and more (part I published in Slowly We Rot #7).

Before you entered the studio to record the „Feel the fire” record you signed Megaforce and the owner of the label Johnny Zazula had been the fan of the band since the releasing of the „Power in black” demo and he sold 1.500 copies from the tape in his record store Rock ’n’ roll Heaven, would you say, that he helped a lot for the band back then? Was he a symphatic guy for you?

Johnny wasn't really such a great huge fan of Overkill back then. I was friends with him because I was always in his store, ’Rock 'n Roll Heaven’. I had become friends with him because we liked talking to each other about all the underground bands and cool things that were happening at that time. Johnny was amazed that I was able to sell so many demos out of his store without any major promtion or anything. Again, Johnny really believe in what I was doing and was confident in in my efforts to make Overkill succeed, no matter what the odds were.. And that's why he signed us... he knew that I would never give up.

Do you think, that Bobby „Blitz” Ellsworth is among the most distinguishable vocalists in the genre and his voice gave Overkill a unique identity from the very beginning?

Yes, absolutely Overkill had a very unique and strong identity in the very beginning, but obviously after I left, their overall identity dissolved and merged into what all the other bands are doing, being influenced by all the other thrash bands and ignored all of the roots that we grew up with. Each one of us had a unique style and approach and that's what got Overkill noticed in those early days. „Feel The Fire” is a fairly strong release with a coherent and energetic feel and although the differences between Overkill’s early albums are not that big, this one is quite an entertaining release, do you agree with that?

Unquestionably ’Feel the Fire’ is the best Overkill release and I don't just say that because I played and wrote songs on it...you just used the word ’coherent’, which makes a lot of sense because we did play very much together as a unit, there was a camaraderie amongst us that you could actually hear in our songs.

You were signed after seeing you live open for ANVIL at the L’Amours club in Brooklyn, what do you recall of that show? Would you say, that you satisfied Johnny that it’s worth signing the band?

Well that was a great show for Overkill. We absolutely blew Anvil way that night, and I do love Anvil, they are my friends and a very important band. We just happened to have a much better night than they did. I very much respect Johnny Z., and his efforts in helping to push the new genre of metal that became’ thrash metal’. By Johnny also is a capitalist. He is very much about making money and that is what is important to him.

So, he saw the potential to make a lot of money from Overkill. As with all the bands he signed...Metallica, Anthrax, Raven etc, that's the ultimate reason why he signed them...to make money.

The traditional/NWOBHM influences are definitely abound but there’s a lot more raw intensity and speed here and not to mention the aggression is pretty over the top, what do you think about it?

Yes, you said that correctly: raw intensity and speed. And all of that slowly disappeared album by album after I left, that's very easy to hear. I wrote and arranged music from my heart and from my influences, which were the bands I grew up with, which all disappeared when I left.

Was OVER KILL the first signing of Megaforce?

No, he had signed Metallica, Anthrax, I think Manowar, Exciter, Raven maybe even Mercyful Fate? But Overkill was not the first at all.

From start to finish, this album („Feel the fire”) is a relentless assault of memorable thrash riffs, crazy pentatonic shredding, double bass drum beats, and a rather impressive set of rough yells and banshee screeches and with the release of this album, a new breed of thrash metal was born, what’s your opinion?

As I've been saying the early stuff was the strongest. It's not my opinion, it's just a simple fact, that it’s very easy to recognize that the early songs will that I was involved with writing with are the classics... this is something that the Overkill fans have decided...not me!

What made Johnny to establish the label instead of a record store? Was he a great supporter of the underground scene those times?

Well like I said, the Zazula’s were capitalists. They are business people. They were very much in tune with the heavy metal scene that was going on. It was rebellious and he definitely had a rebellious nature, he decided to try to do things his way...which I do respect him for, because that’s how I was doing things with my band as well... he did a lot in those early days to help grow the genre. He had put on some very key shows around here. Like Metallica opening up for Venom... that was a classic. So John saw that there was a new market for these newer bands. But no labels would give them a chance. Also, he saw that he could make a lot more money from having a record label than just a record store in a flea market. So he definitely did take some chances in starting up a label.

What about the DEAD BOYS cover „Sonic reducer”? Was it the idea of Blitz to cover the song or was it a common choice?

All of the choices made in Overkill were mine and DD’s. Blitz did not make any decisions.

Were there any interests in the band from the part of other labels as well, such as Metal Blade, Combat or New Renaissance?

Yes, I kept in very close contact with all the labels and constantly send them updated press kits. They were interested, but...none of them were ready to take a chance on us, meaning that they weren’t ready to bet their money on Overkill.

The producer of the record was THE RODS drummer Carl Canedy, was he the perfect person for this job? Were you satisfied with his work or could have sound the record better?

Carl was a great choice for producing the record. He had just worked with Anthrax.

And of course he was in a heavy band himself (The Rods). We've all learned a lot from that session. I think he did a great job considering that no one was really quite sure on how to produce thrash metal music at that time. So that's why all of the bands first records sound much different than the ones that came after, because everyone was figuring out how to deal with this new unprecedented speed and heaviness. In retrospect, I think the record lacks some heaviness, especially in the low end, but it makes up for that in its raw, thrashy, straight out approach.

What about the recording sessions of the album?

It was a great learning experience for all of us...the musicians and producers as well.

We learned about commitment, professionalism and matured a lot in that recording session. We also learned about how partying and recording an album do not mix...(that is why I played sloppy drums on ’Hammerhead’, I had partied too much the night before).

As far as the title track, what was the difference between the demo and the record version? How much did you alter the song?

The song ’Overkill’ was recorded three different times: for the ’Power in Black’ demo, for the EP, and of course for the ’Feel the Fire’, LP. All are different versions were based on how we felt the song should be portrayed at that time. And of course they all sound different, because of the studios and money for the recording gear.

What were the shows to support the record?

Some of the shows that come to mind were quite a few with Nuclear Assault opening for us as well as S.O.D. and Carnivore.

Then we opened for some bigger acts like Venom, WASP, Anvil and Metallica too, they were pretty big at that point.

In 1986 was released the „US speed metal attack” video, featuring OVER KILL, ANTHRAX and AGENT STEEL and it was recorded live in Bochum, Germany on May 12th, 1986, how did the whole tour go?

Well, like everything else for all the bands involved it was a great learning experience. It was our first tour, and it was also Anthrax’s first tour. We became great friends, and we still keep in touch. The tour was a huge success for all of us and actually for even breaking the thrash metal scene. It was a big advance forward for the genre, especially for Germany.

„Over kill” became the first part of a story, what can you say about it?

Is/Was it a concept story?

I had decided that we should have a theme song, meaning that we should have a song like Motorhead did or Iron Maiden, or even Manowar....the name of the band should be the title of the song. I was mostly inspired by the song, ’Iron Maiden’, to make the song ’Overkill’. I decided we should try something very

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I was close friends (and still am) with Anthrax and the guys from Nuclear Assault. The other bands I don't really know that well. Too many bands started popping up, and they all sounded like each other.

New York was famous about the hc movement as well, did the hc movement have a strong background, fan base as well? Did the thrash and hc scene exist parallel side by side?

The hardcore scene and the thrash scene were all descendents from the mindset of the 70s punk scene. As I explained in BORN IN THE BASEMENT, the music from these scenes was genuine, it wasn’t based on hype.

That's what made them so special. And that's why the fans were so obsessive about this music because it was true and only understood by a limited amount of people within their scene. It took a few years for the hardcore guys and metal guys to coexist in the same place, but once we all realized that we were all about the same thing... mainly the energy...everything changed positively and grew from that point on.

One of the most know club was the CBGB’s, right?

CBGB’s is a club whose name is very overly mis-used.

This club became legendary because of the great bands that broke out of there...the Ramones, Blondie, the Dead Boys and other late 70s punk acts. When that all disappeared, it became a home to the hardcore bands of the early 80s, like Agnostic Front and the Cro-Mags.

However, there is a great history to that club before most of the metal guys knew that club even existed!

How do you view the other US thrash centers of those times, for example, LA, Texas or Bay Area compared to the NY/NJ one?

I don't remember any really significant ’Thrash’ scene to speak of in Los Angeles...even though Slayer was a Hollywood area band or not too much either in Texas in the early or mid 80s. There was a developing scene here in New Jersey/New York, but the stronghold was definitely the Bay Area of San Francisco with Exodus being the absolute leaders of that scene. They really were ahead of everyone else, and are responsible for everything that came after that in my mind. Exodus led the way for everyone else, including Metallica.

I suppose, you were in Europe for the first time, what kind of experiences did you gain during the tour? How was the European crowd compared to the American one?

When it I first got to Europe, I thought I was in the twilight zone. It was very very strange. That was my first tour, so it was my first experience in living out of a suitcase.

And I didn't enjoy it. I hated everything about touring actually... but I did what I had to do. This was a huge advancement for Overkill and for Anthrax. The European fans went absolutely crazy for us. I really did think that the European fans totally blew away the American fans. To this very day, Overkill has a much larger fan base in Europe. Most of the American ’metal’ bands do. Europe is a much better market for them. That's why they go there to play all the festivals. That doesn't happen in the United States like it does in Europe. Overkill and everyone else now goes to Europe and plays in front of 40,000 fans at a festival and take these really great live picture of the crowds, but they don't sell even close to that many records!

Talking about your shows back then, instead of playing with ANTHRAX at the Hammersmith Palais, you returned home, what happened exactly? Why did the show miscarry?

I think it was all just political bullshit...Anthrax was signed by the Zazula’s. And they were managed by the Zazula’s as well. We were not managed by the Zazula’s and that Hammersmith show was not part of The Metal Hammer Roadshow. So, for one reason or another Anthrax got to play there and we didn't. Anthrax was never really a part of the Thrash underground from day one. Anthrax always had money behind them. Scott Ian was always a businessman, so him and Johnny were always good friends from the very beginning. They never really worked that hard for anything, I mean as far as D.I.Y. stuff like I had to do to break Overkill. A lot of their early success was because there was money behind them.

Did you get on well with the other bands? What kind of memories, stories do you recall of that tour?

We all got along great. It was a real lot of fun and we all became good friends. The most difficult thing for all of us was the language barrier. My fondest and most bizarre memory is sleeping in people's houses, because there were no hotels in some of the small suburbs that we were playing in, throughout Holland and Belgium especially. We would actually stay in someone's house, meaning that we would sleep in someone's bedroom of a family that we didn't know and they most certainly didn't know us! That was just so bizarre, but we did what we had to do. It was very hard for us to understand the Germans, but they understood us a little better. I remember warm beer and lots of schnitzel!

You did, however, return to Europe later in the year opening for SLAYER, how do you remember about it?

Well, the shows were great, and Slayer and Overkill were obviously still breaking the Thrash Metal genre. It was another difficult tour, the money was very limited to support the tour, but the success for both bands helped push Thrash Metal well forward.

Around this time was thrash/speed metal on its peak, would you say that OVER KILL belonged to the first class, the first league of thrash, such as METALLICA, EXODUS, SLAYER, MEGADETH etc.?

Yes, that was definitely the time when thrash metal was at its peak, meaning 1985 to 1986. However I do not think that Overkill was in that first league of the thrash as you call it. I say this because the other members of Overkill were picking up their influences from the other thrash bands, meaning Exodus, Slayer...and Gustafson was obsessed with James and Metallica. But those bands didn't pick up any influence from Overkill, did they? I would define the first league of thrash as the bands that influenced other bands... even though I am very proud of our songs and what we were doing, I still don't think we were near as strong as the other bands you mentioned.

In 1986 you entered the studio to record „Taking over”, how did the recording sessions go with this album?

A lot of it was better than the ’Feel the Fire’ sessions because we were more experienced. However we did make some very big production mistakes, especially with the guitars. We just did too many guitar tracks, and we layered it so many times that it ends up sounding really muddy... I told everyone that we had a heavy guitar sound, and

Why was thrash so popular back then?

Thrash metal became so popular because it had pushed the envelope of traditional heavy metal. Since heavy metal has always been an extreme form of music, thrash metal blew the lid off all the previous parameters of what was considered heavy. Much too quickly the mosh pit and stage diving became commonplace. That is one of the things that ruined Thrash: the widespread mediocrity of all that, especially by kids who didn’t understand it, but they were following the trends.

As far as New York/New Jersey scene, was it a common scene or a separated one?

Would you say that the whole NY/NJ thrash movement started with the appearance of OVER KILL? The scene became unified in the United States when hard-core elements merged with metal elements. As I said many times, Thrash Metal was an evolution. It didn't start with one single band, or one player. Other bands like Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, Carnivore and Whiplash were all around at that exact same time, playing fast heavy music, just like it was out in the Bay Area. It was a group of bands that developed thrash, not just one...Overkill had the same timing.

A lot of bands started popping up, such as NUCLEAR ASSAULT, REVENANT, RIPPING CORPSE, TOXIK, WHIPLASH, were you close to these groups?

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even some reminiscences of traditional metal, „In Union We Stand” in particular is an amusing metal anthem or in your opinion it’s fast, lengthy, heavy, and has a more thrash sound to it that „Feel The Fire”...it’s a transitional album between Overkill's speed/thrash metal days into their late 80’s early 90’s thrash sound and it combines the best of these two different Overkill styles and delivers thrash greatness?

I think you're beginning to understand all this... all of these so-called ’thrash bands’ had started to rely on the production and the heaviness of their SOUNDS. The songwriting aspect was getting pushed aside by that and it was a big mistake! Once all of the bands figured out how to get that really heavy scratchy-chunky guitar sound, the sound was all that mattered! That's the reason that I so much love the hardcore bands. They did not have a very heavy sound and were always produced pretty poorly. But their playing was so hard and had so much energy and aggression that it was very easy to hear, and it was genuine and it was a pure, and I love it! To this day, I keep saying the same thing about it: ’Forget the sound, how about the song?’

that was great, but we are doing too many tracks of it and that's enough! The clarity of the other instruments was going to get buried and they did...you cannot clearly hear the drums on ’Taking Over’ hardly at all, it really has a terrible drum mix. I told everyone that the drums should sound clear and punchy, and they should sit in the music mix the same way that they did on the first Metal Church record...I thought that Metal Church record was produced very well, and that we should get our mix to sound like that. Well, no one listened to me until the next album after I left...they brought in Metal Church’s producer (Terry Date) to do just that very thing!

It was released on the 1st of January 1987, so you have celebrated really a happy new year, haven’t you?

Yes, that was a very cool, especially since we were now co-signed to Atlantic Records.

That was a big label, the same one that Led Zeppelin was on.

Would you say, that you became more aggressive, brutal and faster compared to the first record?

No, I would not say that... I think ’Feel the Fire’ is a much more aggressive and raw and definitely more true to the way Overkill started, in the tradition of Sabbath and Maiden.

I'm still proud of the songwriting on Taking Over, but it sounds too much like Metallica guitar parts to me.

Would you say, that you gave the old Overkill a punk feeling at times because of your style of drumming, Blitz’s vocals are very diverse on this album, ranging from low and melodic to very high pitched screams and the guitar work is top notch?

Oh sure, my drumming was driving a lot of our musical direction, those songs were arranged primarily by me. Mostly, they were always random guitar riffs, and some lyric sheets lying around, and they had some really great parts, but no one was ever able to put the ideas all together. That is the thing that I always loved to do, to make those parts into songs...and they now approach all of that much, much differently. I definitely think that Blitz and DD are very good at what they do, all of us had talent with our instruments. But, as I said earlier, the differences between then and now are very easy to hear...whether or not you like the old stuff or the stuff that they're doing today, the approaches are entirely different!

As far as myself „Deny the cross”, „Powersurge”, „Wrecking crew” and „In union we stand” are the highlights of the record.

Yes those are definitely the highlight songs... they’re the classics, the strong ones that were never duplicated again. I'm very proud of my contributions to those songs... the very simple guitar part of ’Wrecking Crew’ came from me showing Bobby a very simple snare drum pattern, and the song ’In Union We Stand’ was never going to be written because it wasn't super-fast and heavy like everything else we were doing. None of them wanted to do it. Blitz had some interesting lyrics laying around and a basic melody that I really liked. I told everyone ’let's just give this a chance and try it’, so I arranged some ideas to get their interest. I thought it could be a song that was a very reminiscent of ’Take on the World’ by Judas Priest. We all liked that song so what's wrong with doing something like that? So what if there’s no big guitar riff, let’s just open up our minds here! If we don't like it we won't play it... Well I'm glad I kept pushing for that song to be written because everyone says that's one of the best songs we ever did.

„Taking Over” is like the debut straight up thrash metal, with insanely catchy and very memorable songwriting and a good awareness of melody, but on this album, you reach higher extremes, and the very first song („Deny The Cross”) is heavier and thrashier than anything on „Feel The Fire”, how do you see it?

Yes, ’Taking Over’ is definitely is a very catchy record. Thank you for the compliments. ’Deny the Cross’ is a great song, but most of it does rely on the chunky guitar sound. Most of that song just stays chugging on the E-string... I love the chunky guitar just as much as everyone else but you cannot rely on just that sound to make great songs. That's what made Metallica so great. They had the sound, AND they had the songwriting. So what makes the band endure and become successful? Is it the sound? Is it headbanging? Is it a cool logo? Hey, all of those things are help but no matter what, at the end of the day it's all about the song... without a good song, you won't last long!

How happened that „Fatal if swallowed” was featured on the record, prior to that it was an old demo track?

That song always went over very well when we played it live. And we weren't completely ready with some of the other songs that were written for the next record to follow, which they used for ’Under the Influence’. So we stuck that one on there as kind of a filler song.

As far as „Deny the cross”, was it written against religion, against the Church?

I thought that Blitz wrote some very creative lyrics, but I didn't necessarily understand all of them. I was pretty embarrassed by the title of that song...actually I was VERY embarrassed.

It's really stupid and confused the young kids even more than they already were.. He explained to me that ’deny the cross’ meant. ’Don't put yourself in a position to get crucified’. I never would have figured that out by myself, it’s just a little too abstract.

A video was made for „In union we stand”, what about the footage of the song?

At that time, music videos had gotten very popular and were very much a necessity for bands to do. So again, with the limited amount of money we had and my homemade stage set we just lip-synced it ’live’ in front of a few dozen people. I think it turned out as a bad video, because like ALL the early metal video’s, it focuses way too much on just the singer!

Was „Wrecking crew” dedicated to the OVER KILL crowd or was it rather a philosophy of the band?

It was neither of those... the title ’Wrecking Crew was the name of that was given to our road crew, also it was the nickname of our local football team, The New York Giants, they were very popular and everyone's favorite, and a great team in those days. So the combination of those two formed the title of the song.

Was the purpose of the song to make popular of the record?

That song was the most sellable song on ’Taking Over’, so that's why we made the video for it: to try to sell more records and grow our popularity obviously.

How often was it broadcasted by the MTV or by other music channels back then?

Didn’t you think earlier about to make a clip for „Rotten to the core”? It would have been a good idea…

That was in 1987, and when MTV first came on the air they were showing very few heavy metal videos, so we were lucky to have gotten played on MTV at all! Doing that song was in not our choice alone, it was the choice of Megaforce and also Loud and Proud, who was our management firm. Again, we wanted to sell more records and become more popular, although we wouldn’t admit that at the time, because our thrashhead fans would have thought we were ’selling-out’ But that song had the most mass appeal to it without a doubt.

The story continued with the track „Over kill (The nightmare continues)”…

It seemed like a cool idea to continue with the whole theme of this imaginary figure of ’Overkill’, but obviously the original song ’Overkill’ from ’Feel the Fire’ was so much stronger. I was really out to make a lasting statement with that song, especially with the scream by itself and the ending: ’KILL’-’KILL’-’KILL’-’KILL!!!!!!!’... it was so heavy for that day, and again it’s something that I’m very proud to have thought of.

Do you agree with that „Taking over” sounds essentially like „Feel The Fire” with a heavier production?

No, I don't agree with that... ’Feel the Fire was much more raw and straight-ahead and it was very much in your face! As I said earlier, ’Taking Over’ sounds a lot like Metallica riffs. ’Feel the Fire’ was more like Iron Maiden riffs!

The record was produced by Alex Perialis who did a great job, were you satisfied with him?

I love Alex: he did a great job and is very very talented at what he does. However, every record requires good engineering AND good producing, both of which are two extremely different positions, and require different thinking... so I would say that Alex served us better as an engineer more than a producer.

Do you think, that the actual differences are very minor, but the band got the right attitude and it shows? ’Feel the Fire’ was just a much better record! For example, the way ’Taking Over’ starts off is with a long musical introduction...just like Metallica was doing, and all the other thrash bands were doing the same kind of thing... that really bothered me, and I could forsee what was happening to the band, and it did!

Would you say that his name was a guarantee for a good work?

Well, just like it was with Carl Canedy: these were two guys who had worked with a few other thrash metal-type bands so the chances of the product coming out well was much greater. But no matter what the production is like, or the budget or anything else, it all comes down to the songs... if the song aren't good then othing else really matters. I think that's been proven over the years

„Taking Over” is indeed a worthy follow-up to the awesome debut, right from the start, we get two of your best songs ever: „Deny The Cross” and „Wrecking Crew”, but the music is still not extremely thrashy, and a couple of songs have

How happened that the record was distributed through Atlantic?

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Did you follow what’s going on in the metal scene after your departure from OVER KILL? I almost did not follow it at all. It had disgusted me. The little bits and pieces that I did see had proven my thoughts about the mainstream trendiness of the metal scene. It had become generic. Thrash Metal especially became a big race, and everyone had lost most of their identity. I had then gone back to playing straight-ahead rock 'n roll, and I could not have been happier... and happiness is why I play music.

Since Johnny Z. sold off most of his stake in Metallica to Elektra and Metallica became so unbelievably huge, it was obvious that there was a need for mass distribution of these newer, heavier ’thrash’ bands.

Especially the bands that Megaforce was working with, so that’s why Atlantic picked up Megaforce’s distribution...everyone had their hand out looking to make money. And everyone did make money, except the musicians!

Do you like the other OVER KILL records? In my opinion, „Under the influence” and „The years of decay” are classics and I would say, around the „The years…” record was OVER KILL on its peak, do you agree with me?

I guess everyone has their own opinion. Well opinion or not, the fact remains that all the Thrash Metal bands had their best sales in that same time period that you’re speaking of...every single band with no exceptions. I had left, so obviously the songs were very much different. Whether that was good or bad, the fact remains that they were very different. So to say ’peak’, this means what? The best songs or the most recognized period of time for record sales and visibility? This period of time, which ironically is right after I left the business for a while, is when the Thrash Metal scene started to implode because it had become so generic and mainstream, that mediocrity of all the thousands of Thrash bands that appeared superseded the songwriting that established Thrash Metal bands in the first place. A good example of this: look at all of the major thrash bands first records compared to the records they did in 1988 and 89. Obviously, their first records all sound very very much different from each other, whereas the ones recorded in 1989 all sound very much the same, don't you agree?

In your opinion, did OVER KILL’s status rise sharply in the States through „Taking over”?

Well, it's not my opinion, it's a fact that the status of Overkill did rise dramatically through ’Taking Over’.

But, however, ALL of the thrash bands had equal amounts of success going forward during that period of time. As I said before, the genre of thrash metal had then broken and it was here to stay. So all of the thrash bands sold very well in 1987, ’88, ’89 and ’90...Thrash became the new mainstream.

You provided backing for Helloween’s tour dates to Europe, what do you recall of that tour?

That tour was a lot of fun because Helloween was such a huge band in Europe and we blew them away every single night. I remember some of the German kids telling me that Helloween were just a bunch of rich kids who got popular too fast and did no hard work to deserve their success. So they were young and didn't have much experience playing in front of these big crowds, so it was great for us to steal the show away like that.

How would you describe the career of the band as a whole?

Well, I and definitely very proud of what I was able to do with Overkill, and DD should be proud too, he also worked hard. I think the shame of it is that Overkill will never go down as a sincere iconic legacy to Thrash Metal, because their current mission seems to be in putting out records just to pay their bills. When we were putting out records in the 80s...of course, we were much younger then and did not have as many responsibilities, but it was all about the songs, and all about the fun, and all about the passion. I think that's all gone, and obviously that can never come back. I very much admire and respect bands like the Dead Boys for putting out only 2 records...but they were 2 absolutely legendary records! The Sex Pistols only put out 1 record, but it's one of the best records to ever exist. So, what's more important, 1 or 2 absolutely great records or 20 that are pretty average?

Your next release was the „Fuck you” EP, which is a cover song of a Canadian punk outfit D. O. A., was it Blitz’ band or did he sing in another D. O. A.?

Are you serious? No really, the band called ’DOA’ that Blitz was in was just the name of the cover band that he was in with Pisarek and I think they only were around for maybe six months or a year, anyway. But, the Canadian band DOA is one of my alltime favorites!

Have you heard about the successful fight of Blitz against the cancer? He has almost died…

Yes I did hear about it...he will be in my prayers, and I wish him the best of health.

The live tracks were recorded at the Phantasy Theatre, Cleveland, OH, June 2.

1987, didn’t you think about to release rather a whole live album?

I had decided that we should do a cover of the song ’Fuck You’ from DOA. It always went over incredibly well when we played it live. So we recorded it as an extra track when we went into the studio to record ’Taking Over’. We released it separately with those live tracks in the form of an EP for two reasons: so people would hear this extra song, and of course to try to make a little extra money, which we never did. All of these things are explained very well in the DIRECTORS COMMENTARY bonus feature of my DVD ’BORN IN THE BASEMENT’.

Are you still in touch with them? What about Bobby Gustaffson these days?

I got together with Bobby to film some interview material for another film that I coproduced, ’Get Thrashed’, and we talked a few times on the phone, but I don't talk with Blitz or DD at all. Since my separation from the band, they have things on their agenda that are more important than keeping in contact with their friends.

Would you have thought in the early days that OVER KILL will exist these years as well? Did you regret back then leaving OVER KILL? My regrets in leaving Overkill was not covering myself with our contracts to make sure that I get paid for the all the work that I had done. That was my fault and it was a mistake. I have started to talk about this on BORN IN THE BASEMENT, but we had purposely cut it off. I do not wish to publicly discuss the details of money because it is one of the things that has ruined friendships and musicians lives for many years, and it will continue to do that. My big regret is that....well actually it's just a disappointment...is that I never got a chance to finish writing the songs that I wanted to...Overkill could have been a very big band, should I have stayed. It really is a shame that we will never know how Overkill could have turned out, and it really is a shame that the business is so horrible that it forced me to leave playing music (professionally), the thing in life that I loved the most.

At which point and why did you leave the band? Do you still remember your last performance with OVER KILL? Once again, this is explained in great detail in my film BORN IN THE BASEMENT (www.ratskates.com). To sum it all up, the road sucks. The music industry sucks. I had worked my ass off for 8 years to put Overkill on the map and I had not made any money. I was broke. I did not like the direction that everyone else wanted to go in, meaning that everyone was becoming generic and mainstream and just trying to copy Metallica like everyone else. That used to bother me so much! It is one thing to be influenced by another band, but when you're copying someone directly...it is an embarrassment. And I'm talking about the music, about the way he they were dressing, and everything else. Overkill was an original band with our own identity that came from the heart of what I thought, and also what DD thought...that all started to slip away, and I saw that it was not going to come back because of the direction that the thrash metal scene had taken. I was right.

Is there any chance to see live on stage OVER KILL with classic line up? I mean, Bobby Ellsworth, Bobby Gustaffson, D. D. Verni and Rat Skates?

Ask them.

Does it mean that you didn’t contribute in the song composing process of the „Under the influence” record?

No, most of the songs on that record were written with me in it. I have a very interesting tape of all of those songs that we recorded in the studio as some scratch tracks during the ’Taking Over’ session, meaning they were almost completed songs for our next record.

So they used many of my ideas that continued on with them after I left: doing the Ramones cover ’I’m against it’, etc.

Rat, thanks a lot for interview and wasting the time for me, anything to add to the feature what I forgot to cover?

If you have not yet seen my film BORN IN THE BASEMENT go and see it now! It is available exclusively for worldwide delivery at www.ratskates.com. There is also a lot of never-before-seen historical Overkill information on my website, be sure to check it out. I have many exciting new projects in the works, both film and music, and be sure to check out my band BOMB SQUAD. I'll be releasing a CD later in the year from this amazing rock band (not Thrash!) that I had played in after my years with Overkill. It's a kick as heavy rock CD that I recorded in 1990’91, it's absolutely my best drumming and songwriting....and yes, I still do skateboard!

Did you part ways in a friendly term in the end?

There really were no terms at all, good or bad.

I know they were upset and nervous that the main guy was leaving them by themselves to run things, but we were friends, and friends should understand the needs of their friends. I learned my lessons in a very hard, very disappointing way.

Interview by Leslie David September 2010

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Greetings Vaeronh, how are you lately? How's your life in Paris after the recent terrorist attacks, do you feel less secure? How is your daily life affected by the recent developments in France?

I believe the best posture against these kinds of attacks is to change nothing about the way we live. These few ballless bastards will never manage to prevent me from drinking, attending concerts or enjoying the life I've chosen. The title “A Boire et A Manger” actually totally fits my point of view on that. Just enjoy life while you can, regardless when it will end. I don't embrace fear, I leave it to believers.

You've just announced A Boire et A Manger as being the title of your upcoming full-length album to be released on the 16th of January. I saw it has a direct link with the album cover. What's the story behind it?

Why "to eat and drink"?

“Il y a à Boire et à Manger” is a French expression meaning that something possesses several significations.

When referring to a liquid, it means it is pretty thick and opaque with many different solid ingredients. It is also used to express pejoratively that something has both good and bad things in it. Thanks to these different meanings and because of the fact that PN's themes mainly deals with materialistic topics, this rabelaisian title fits perfectly the album. There is actually à boire et à manger in this album.

For the cover art you worked again with the artist Cäme whom you worked before for Nom d'une Pipe!, it seems you're getting along very well. Do you think he somehow manages to capture and express the essence of Pensees Nocturnes through his works (it seems so to me)?

I would not say he is really into PN but Cäme is able to adapt himself to a project and even to suggest a lot of ideas. I think he understood the spirit behind PN and together we've managed to end up with a great lay out that fits perfectly to this album. There are a lot of exchanges between us during the making of the artwork which make it possible to be both eccentric and faithful to PN's spirit.

The new album was recorded again at Le Studio de la Pipe, which I guess it's your personal studio, a home studio. Or is it a real studio, with other customers, too? What equipment have you used? Is there anything special you need in order to record your music?

Le Studio de la Pipe is indeed my “personal studio”.

There is nothing special about it except the fact I'm the only one using it, whenever I want. That goes usually from 4 to 6 in the morning.

And since we're talking about that, what instruments have been used for this album?

Like “Nom d'une Pipe!”, to sum up I would say that I switched from the violin to the trumpet and the trombone.

However there is not that many instruments different from the other albums. I wanted to try to keep a relative homogeneity through the album and thus avoided the use of exotic instruments. Therefore I've mainly used the accordion, jazz instruments (brass, wind and the piano), and usual metal ones.

I saw you have 2 guests, Hazard (Way to End) and Vestal (Merrimack, Anus Mundi). How did they contribute to your new album? Did you need their input, or was it more because you wanted to have them "on board"?

There is actually nothing special about it. Hazard and Vestal are two friends I asked to sing in A Boire et A Manger in order to vary voices through the album. We know well each other and the recording was pretty instinctive between us. We've managed to mix their voice with mine and the result is quite natural.

As in other countries, only a few French bands produce music worth spending time on (like KPN, Diapsiquir, Reverence etc...). Others are worthless, even if they are French.

I put music before side issues (country, musicians, artwork...) and generally speaking I prefer to judge bands on a case by case basis and try to avoid cataloguing as far as possible. I don’t really try to fit to a style and what I’m used to listening to follow the same rules: I’m not led by any kind of chauvinism, only the way I feel the music and its spirit.

a positive or negative way. I would say that only a dozen reviews among the hundreds received on previous PN's album have retained my attention. We should favor quality over quantity when talking about critics but that's not in any label interest.

The only outside eye I actually find worth listening is my music mates I've been working with since years in other projects: I trust them enough to share freely.

I know A Boire et A Manger will be released as Digipak CD, will there be anything special about it?

How will you manage your distribution? How Can you please tell us a few words on the lyrics aspect important are CD sales nowadays in regards to digital sales for an act like Pensees Nocturnes? of the new album? What's the concept behind it?

A Boire et A Manger is a wandering in an old and quaint There will be no distribution nor promotion for this Paris full of jazz and circus references. There is obviously album. I will only press a few copies of A Boire et A plenty of plays on words and allusions to the Black Metal Manger for fans who really want it. The only way to get it scene or political, social matters. True music lovers will will be to contact me directly. With time I've understood also recognize many references to Jazz, traditional or that sales have nothing to do with the music's quality. classical music. It is the logical continuation of “Nom Only hype makes them happen and I don't want to be a part of this system. People who really get PN's music will d'une Pipe!” with maybe more consistency. come here by themselves. I don't want them to be sheep Ceci est de la Musique, your album from 2011 is like others and to have to take them by the hand to explain already a cult release since it was released in a very why PN is so awesome. limited format of 60 copies as an answer to the constant free download of music against the artist's I guess Pensees Nocturnes will never be a live act, but will. Do you feel anything changed in the meantime, do in an ideal setting how would you imagine a live gig?

Well I'm thinking about it right now actually. What is sure people start paying for the artist's work?

It's no that much a problem of money than a problem of is that it would be something original with less respect. The minute an album is released, one can find it instruments and effects. I indeed don't see it as a mp3 anywhere on the Internet, in every form possible, without running with metal over it but real instruments played regard to the artist's opinion and will. Therefore I chose with a real metal band. Thus to be playable, I need to not to release “Ceci est de la Musique” publicly. This reduce the number of instruments and to adapt songs for choice is the only freedom which remains to musicians live. But it is something pretty easy to achieve, the today. The fact I chose to share “Ceci est de la Musique” difficult part being actually to find the right musicians for with my reliable friends only is an answer to this web it. world in which music right belongs to every owner of an Internet connection. It's also a way for me to say that my In the end please tell us, are there any new regarding integrity and my freedom is more important to me than your other band, Way to End, it's already almost 3 fame and success. However, it seems that a small group of years since the latest album was released? fans follows PN now and with “A Boire et A Manger” I We had trouble finding a drummer during the last two wanted to try to release a small amount of copies for years. The problem is not solved yet but we have some clues to be able to play live again. By then we will record them. We will see if it's worth it or not. our next album during sprint 2016 in order to release it Nom d'une Pipe! was released by yourself, how well it during the year. Hopefully we will be able to play live to sold so far? It wasn't a particularly well received support it on the scene this year. album, like for example Vacuum or Grotesque were, why do you think was that? How do you see Nom Thanks a lot for your time and answers!

Thank you for your time. d'une Pipe! now, almost 3 years since it was released?

It has not been well received because it is simply an album difficult to receive. PN isn't a basic and easy music Interviewed by Adrian to get at the first listen like most bands that sell a lot are. Answers by Vaerohn It is not make to bang your head while driving or drinking bear with friend. But don't misunderstand me, I don't mean to disrespect basic Death, Black Metal or new “Post December 2015 black stuff” since I come from the same scene and I also get drunk during festivals with others. But PN is not meant to be put in the same box. I try to put a little more thought in it and I guess most metallers are not the right audience for this music. Meanwhile others don't get what metal is all about so PN is kind of condemned. But I'm not going to fight against it with big promotion or distribution.

Vacuum is today the most appreciated PN's album whereas it is also the one I've spent the less time to produce. There is not that much into it except basic Depressive BM and I consider it as forgettable. But most people prefer it to others. There is nothing to be added.

For A Boire et A Manger I guess you has total artistic freedom since it was again released by yourself.

Do you care for what listeners think of your music? Did you have any opinion from a listener that made you think or change anything in your music?

I've hardly heard something relevant enough to push me to change The Metal scene and especially the Black Metal scene anything. Too few people go into in France is extremely effervescent nowadays, but how details and can say anything precise do you see it? Do you consider Pensees Nocturnes as enough to be pertinent. Reviewers being part of it, or do you, as many others, reject that today have almost no culture, technical skills nor vocabulary to your music has ties to this genre? express something useful whether in

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to see our name in the mags... what a wonderful time!!!

We have put all our forces in this record!!! Young and sick!!

Mercyless is a death metal band from France and Great Dane Records had just re-issued their 1992 release called "Abject Offerings", which originally came out on Century Media Records and here is an interview I did with original band member Max Otero.

You guys have been around quite a long time. Who from the original line-up is still in the band and what is the current line-up of the band these days?

So I „m the last one of the original line-up, and so the current line-up is Merklen Matthieu (Bass), Michalak Laurent (Drums), Merklen Gautier (Guitars), Otero Max (Vox /guitars)!!

Tell me how the formation of the band came back to be back in the 80's and did you think in a million years that the band would still be around these days?

We are not sure about nothing, principally these days, no compromises, no guarantees, no regrets we started this band in the 80‟s because, we loved this music, and we want to play music!! That‟s all and that‟s the most important... in a million years... ha ha... we will be dead!!!

In 2012 an "official" live bootleg came out called "Visions from the Past Live 1989". I see only 500 copies were pressed so is there any chance this ever get rereleased?

Yes!!! This Collector Cd is still available through our facebook or the label “The ritual productions”!!

Is this release on Restless still available and if not has it ever been re-released or would you like to see it be re-released one day? Describe the style of music on this release?

Not available now with the original cover, but available Would you ever be open to the idea of a boxed set of with Great Dane Recs. With a different cover and the your music coming out and is there any unreleased tracks remastered!! The style? Pure Death Metal! stuff that you still have tucked away in a vault somewhere?

In 1993 you released another full length this time on We have put lot of material from our Demos, live, in the Century Media called "Coloured Funeral". How was double Cd “In memory of Agrazabeth” but I think it will possible to make a boxed set in a few months with very it working with Century Media Records?

Just incredible, because this label is just one of the best old stuff, rarities and new bonus songs!! record labels in the world, so the conditions were exceptional. They gave us all the possibilities to make a Do you think you’re a good live band and have you got good album with good conditions. to play many live shows over the years? What are some of the biggest differences you notice in crowds Now from 1993 till 1996 you didn't release anything. these days?

I hope that we are a good live band, it‟s our goal!!! And Why was there a 3 year gap in between releases?

After 1993 we made lot of shows and tours, in France and we take a lot of pleasure to play our songs live, to be on Europe, but we have changed our line up too; So we have stage... it‟s a moment of truth!!! The big difference it‟s spent lot of time searching for new members! probably the fact that lot of people go to see shows and extreme bands more than in the 90‟s; and now the crowd In 1996 you released "C.O.L.D." on Thunder wants to see professional bands, with a good sound!!! But Productions. What are your thoughts on this release the rage and the moshpit is still the same. these days and is it still for sale?

We want to discover new musical horizons... so with a Have you ever gotten to do any type of touring and new line up, different influences... we have made what are some of the bands you have shared the stage something really different... strange times and strange with? What are some of the biggest shows you have music!! It would be better to change our name at this played? moment, but its life... available on Ebay now! Not our Death, Cannibal Corpse, Morgoth, Samael. And the last best album!! Of course! biggest show was the HELLFEST!!!

You released 3 demos back in the 80's. What are your thoughts on these demos and what was the sound of the band like back then? Did these every get released on cd at all?

Yes these demos are on Cd now on a Cd version (Legions of death Recs.)... (sold out now!)... that our testimony of our history... I think the 3 demos are very important, because you could see our progression and the evolution What were some of the differences you noticed of the style during all these years. More thrash at the working with 3 different record labels? Had the beginning and more death metal and obscure in the 90‟s!! band’s sound changed much up until this time period?

We have only work with one important label, the rest are Now I was doing a print fanzine back then called smaller and not so serious... the different! Ah! The Metal Core that I do on-line now, what was it like investment and the professional work and ambitions!! being in an underground band back then? Did you know all about fanzines and tape trading and stuff and Now we fast forward to 2000 and you have another if so what were most of your reviews like for the band release called "Sure to Be Pure" on yet another label (System Shock). What are your thoughts on this back then?

We are from the underground since more than 20 years, release and is it still for sale? and I can say that we spread our name due to fanzines, Sale on Ebay I think, very different too... more intense, tape trading, etc. This is the blood of the underground but the style... a little bit poor for a band like Mercyless!! scene, and we work in the same vein these days, even Death metal was dead at this moment. I can‟t really today it‟s more sophisticated and probably simpler. explain all these changes but this album got a good sound but the songs, different but shitty!!

Fanzines rules!!

Were you in the band "Day Off Sin", which contained some members of the band and played music in the Experimental Electro/Trip Rock vein as according to Encyclopedia Metallum some of the members had lost interest in death metal. If you were in the band, why such a radical change in music?

The line-up was really different, and we would try some musical experiment, and at this moment the musical scene I read where the band is based out of France . Has was really shit. Neo metal, power metal... pfff it was the France always had a healthy metal scene and how is moment to try something else!!! But it was another band, not Mercyless... a radical change, yes but with different the scene there these days?

We have always been less important and smaller in musicians, and another band, another times, and with France than in countries like Germany, Netherlands, radical changes in our personal lives!!!

England, etc. It was more difficult for a French band to be well known due to the lack of comprehension of the press Tell me about this release in 2011 the band was and media, and probably the heritage of the culture in this involved in called "In Memory of Agrazabeth". Is this Country. But after more than 20 years the scene is more release still for sale? bigger and more professional than in the past... the new Sold out!! (Legions of death Recs.)... sorry again; see media and the revolution of internet gives us more chance Ebay!! and skill... so there is now good bands, the old bands like Loudblast, Agressor, No Return and the new generation Ad Patres, Affliction Gate, The Seven Gates, Torture Throne... and organization, labels.

In 1991 you changed your name. Now for those who don't know what was your old band name and how did you come up with your current name?

We change our name “Merciless” to “Mercyless”, just before to record our first album in 1991, because of the Swedish Merciless!! It‟ was simpler to differentiate the 2 bands!

In 1992 you released your 1st full length called "Abject Offerings" on Restless Records. Tell me what your thoughts are on this release and how exciting was it for you as a band to be going in doing a full length for a label?

It was a dream for us. To release an Lp in the 90‟s was just incredible; it was not so simple as today. Get a deal with a label was fantastic... it was really exciting to go to a professional studio with a very good producer (Colin Richadson), to see our album in the shops and distributed abroad,

Who came up with your cool logo to your band name?

At first it was an idea from me but the real logo was made by our first label “Jungle Hop Recs.”

In 2013 you released "Unholy Black Splendor" on Trendkill Recordings. How was it going into the studio to record this and how was it working with Trendkill Records?

It was pretty cool, we returned to the same first studio where we recorded “abject offerings” and it was mixed and mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound Studio. So we take our time to record this album in good conditions, and we think that the result is a raw sound, with our “in your face“ style, the real Mercyless!

How does a song come together and how about the lyrics?

We practice a lot, and we work on the guitar‟s riffs and then make all the arrangements with drum and bass... at the end the vocals and the lyrics... evil, with a lot of rage, based on the visions of this fuckin world and religions!

Around how much time is spent doing band related stuff in any given week and what are some things you like to do when now doing band related stuff?

We spent probably 2 days by week on Mercyless stuff... and after I like... 70 000 tons of beers!!

Now here in 2015 Great Dane Records is re-issuing your Century Media release from 1992. Are there any bonus tracks on it and what are some great memories you have of recording this release back in the early 90's?

(Our Vinyl solution recs. release!)... no bonus tracks, but the same album remastered as a testimony!!! And yes lot of good memories, working with Colin Richardson was a dream, we discover a lot of things every day, and the most important, how to produce a good Death metal Album. Good times!!!

Horns up and any last words to wrap up this interview.

Thanks a lot Chris for your support and interest in Mercyless. Check out our facebook page and we hope to see you all on live!!! Support your local scene, support the underground, and go to shows, support webzines, fanzines... And STAY EVIL!!

Interview by Chris Forbes Answers by Max Otero (v., g.)

February 2015

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Wombbath are a crushing death metal band with a new release out called “Downfall Rising” and have reunited after 22 years!!! Here is an interview band member Hakan.

Ok who is still in the band that was in the band way back when over 20 years ago?

What is the current line-up of the band these days?

It’s just me, Håkan, who’s still in the band and the current lineup is: Håkan Stuvemark: Guitars Jonny Pettersson: Vocals Al Riglin: Guitars Henrik Åberg: Drums Johan Momqvist: Bass This is the recording Lineup on the new album: Håkan Stuvemark: Guitars Jonny Pettersson: Vocals Jeramie Kling: Drums Taylor Nordberg: Additional guitar Thomas Von Wachenfeldt: Vocals Samuel Englund: Vocals

happened. 2010 Necroharmonic Records did a reissue of ICT album and it was talk about play at Rites Of Darkness fest in Texas U.S but some lost interest AND it’s about economy too to get there. And I as mentioned 2013 Pulverized Records did a reissue too of the ICT album. Not necessary to have the complete old crew?! How many bands are original 20 years later? I want it solid, all on the same line and I have always been in contact with Richard. Could say we were the core!

Now way back in 1992 you entered the studio to record an & Ep called 7" "Several Shapes”. What are your thoughts on this release days and I imagine the response to it was great as that was when death metal was on the ride big time back then? I imagine this release goes for a lot of money there days?

I think it’s quite a gory sounding Ep. Bad sound in my opinion ha ha but still has its charm. The response was quite good but as I can recall. I’ve seen it on Ebay and such for about 35 euro.

Was there any thought of using another name for the band and not Wombbath?

Nope!

Later on this same year you recorded your 1st full length called “Internal Caustic Torments". What are your thoughts on this these days and was there any pressure on the band at all as it was your first full length and death metal was about to peak so to speak? Is this release still for sale and who released it?

I think it is a very strong album, still kicking. I think we didn’t feel any pressure. Maybe we had some kind of euphoria. Nah it was all fun, very fun especially since we were young, 16-17 when we recorded it. We recorded the demo, Ep and full-length the same year. January, June and October.

How did you come in contact with Dark Descent Records and were any other labels wanting to sign the band?

Actually I signed for this album on Pulverized Records and they are cooperating with Dark Descent Records and there wasn’t any label hunt info’s this. This album happen, in one way, due to the 20th anniversary reissue Pulverized released 2013 on which I did a remake of Silent As The Grave entitled 20:13 Silence Unveiled. Though we have signed for two more albums on Soulseller records.

How was it going into the studio to record “ Downfall Rising” and how easy did the songs and lyrics come together?

It’s partially recorded in studio. I wrote the music and recorded the guitars and bass at home (Except for the song Paid In Blood that former bass player Richard wrote, with only a few adjustments by me), Jeramie recorded the drums at his Studio Smoke & Mirrors. However long story short, guitars and bass I did at home, vocals by the vocalists at their places. All sent to Jeramie for revamping and all that. Then the mixing journey began. Turned out quite Evil!

What are your thoughts these days on your 1994 release on Napalm Records called “Lavatory". Some have called in non-death metal. Would you agree with that?

Total crap! Nothing less and I can almost agree that it it’s non-metal. If you listen carefully you can hear a few metal riffs ha ha.

What caused the band to break up and looking back was that the right thing to do? Did you end up joining any other bands?

The reasons were that we just couldn’t write well and I guess it was quite boring. After Lavatory we recorded a full-length for Napalm records but it was never released.

The very last DM songs we wrote never got recorded in studio but can be found on You Tube on a live show 1993.

Yes I did join other forces. End of 1995 In Thy Dreams was born and did three releases, split up around 2000, in 2007 I joined Vicious (now Grand-Exit) and I left them in 2009 and started the project Skineater which released a full-length Dermal Harvest in 2013.

Now it’s Wombbath again and sometimes I do additional guitar stuff on some Just Before Dawn songs.

Obviously the music scene has changed big time over the years with fanzines pretty much gone and bands now having the internet and lots of other places to promote their music. Do you plan on taking advantage of this?

We have a guy doing promotion and booking for us now so that’s our thing out of it. It is not easy even when you have the internet ahead of you. You still need to know how to reach out and have and or use the right contacts. (totally agree-cf) Do you hope to play live a lot or do any type of touring at all? yeah, we will do live shows. Have a few already which I can’t say at the moment but it is out in Europe!

Now did you stay in touch over the years on what was going in the underground and how death metal for the most part has become a joke with only a few bands being any good?

No I have never since 1993 been good about what’ happening. I don’t have the cravings to. I like my old records and some new to of course. SO many other things to think of as well AND I do not only listen on DM. Any good music in my ears = Good music!

For someone who has not heard of the band, what would you say you sound like?

Hm, Ok. Well what shall I say?

Nowadays it’s more Entombed, Dismember, old Wombbath, US DM. Back in the days it was more UK and US DM. Any last words thanks for the interview.

Not more than you all out there should keep eyes and ears open for the Downfall Rising release and upcoming live shows!

So now how did the idea come about to have the band get back together and besides the only original member, were any of the other original members contacted?

Wombbath has always been close to me and the first idea, maybe not to give Wombbath life again but play DM, was 2005 when we had a reunion gig here in Sala but after that not much

Interview by Chris Forbes

August 2015

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that we generally have touched is violence, death and destruction.

Enforcer are a thrash band that play thrash metal the way it should be played with plenty of speed and aggression and songs that you won‟t soon forget. Here is an interview with singer Olof Wikstrand.

How did the band come together and what is the line-up of the band these days?

Did any of you come from other bands?

The idea of the band was founded in 2005 in Arvika as an anti-reaction stupid trends in the metal scene by that time. we wanted to take back what was real in metal create a band that once again was writing good songs, having a good sound and an image/attitude that was over the top in all aspects. After a few line-up changes, a move to Stockholm and four albums later the band consists of Olof - vocals/guitar , Jonas - drums, Joseph - guitar and Tobias - bass.

How long was the band together before you released “ Into The Night” back in 2008. Who released that and is it still available?

What are your thoughts on this release these days?

We played together for about a year before we started to work on our first full-length record Into the Night. It was first released

by Heavy Artillery records from NY that was bought

by Earache Records a few years later.

Now tell me about the recording went to your new excellent release „From Beyond”? Did you pretty much have all the songs ready before going into the studio?

We had all material deliberately written together in the rehearsal place before we entered the studio. We self-produced the entire album to have 100% control of every aspect of the sound and recordings year gap in between releases? How did you come up with the title to this release? Who release that release?

Less than 3 years actually. We had some problems with line-up and things within the band during this time. we toured a lot and it struck quite hard on the band. but we managed it well, got time to redefine ourselves and release a great album we can be proud over all our lives.

Have the band got to play live a lot and have you managed to do any type of touring at all so far? What

For someone who has never heard the band, what would you say the band sounds like?

Like a total outlet of energy. Aggression and speed.

When would you say you came up with the „Enforcer” sound so to speak and do you feel you‟re an original band?

It was something that sort of grew on us more and more. I would say that in the beginning of our carrier we were searching for our own sound and we found it first with Death by Fire 2013. I really feel that we are an original band. just because we're not influenced by modern poser metal it surely doesn't mean that we are more unoriginal than anyone else.

Do you plan on doing any type of promoting yourselves to help promote the release? Do you feel there is too many bands in the scene nowadays?

There are many bands, but there can never be too many good bands. unfortunately that's not the case. Can only think of a handful to be honest.

What are your thoughts on downloading and file sharing?

People can listen to music in whatever way they want. I prefer physical records.

I think your new release is absolutely fantastic and it totally blew me away.

What has been the feedback so far from people who have heard the album?

Thanks a lot! The feedback has been really mind blowing so far.

In 2009 you released your 2nd release called „Diamonds. Who ended up putting that release out and what are your thoughts on that release these days? Did you do anything differently with that release as opposed to your debut?

Diamonds was released in May 2010 by Earache Records. Most of the songs are just as present today as they were back then. The biggest difference on this record was that the entire band was working on the song writing together and we started to develop a more varied sound with different kind of songs compared to the debut.

How did you come up with the name for the band and were any other names thrown around?

We wanted something that could represent the power and simplicity in the music. No other band names were at this point mentioned. The band name actually origins from the song title of the band Avenger, which inspired the band much in the beginning.

Do you have any type of touring plans for this release and would you like to try and come to come to the US for some shows at some point?

We will tour as much we can with this release and we have some plans of returning to north american shores in January-February 2016. Stay tuned.

If you had to do a cover song, what song would it be and why?

We have done loads of cover songs through our carrier.

Savage, Overkill (GER), Judas Priest, Nagazaki, Exciter, Venom, Motörhead, The Misfits to mention a few.

are some of the bands you have shared the stage with?

We have played around 500 shows in the past 7 years on 4 continents and over 40 countries. We have played almost all major festivals in Europe so we have managed to share stage with most of our childhood idols and influential bands.

What country is the band based out of and is there a solid metal scene where the band is based out of?

We're based in Stockholm Sweden. Wouldn't say the scene here is specifically good. We have lots of bands around here but not much fans.

How does the writing of a song come together? How about lyrics, what are some of the topics the band likes to write about?

It's always different and it has been different on every album. Usually one or a couple of us develops a basic idea of a song and then we jam it together until we have all the input we can get into the song. For us it's important to have the lyrics in the same way as the music, delivering Now it took 4 years (2013) before you released your the same atmosphere as the music, so everything works in 3rd effort called “Death By Fire". Why was there a 4 one direction to deliver maximum effect. Lyrical themes

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In any given week how much time is spent doing band related stuff and what goals does the band have if you guys do have any goals?

It depends. Let's say all my life circles around the band.

The goal has always been total world domination.

Who came up with the cover art for your new release?

Concept comes from the band, illustrated by Squid Hrüschka and framed by Obsessed by Cruelty.

Is there any material that you have not released that might see the light of day one day?

Not at the moment, no.

Please plug any websites you have. google it..

Any last words and good luck with the band.

Thanks a lot for supporting ENFORCER. See you in USA in 2016!!!

Interview by Chris Forbes March 2015

Nuclear is just a crushing, wicked thrash metal of it and whoChile put that and is it still for band from andoutafter hearing thesale? band’s The titlerelease was “Ten Broken and itwas gotin released newest I knew anCodes” interview order in 2008well by here Koventry Records in Chile Concreto and it is with guitar playerand Francisco Records in Mexico. With that release we were able to Haussmann.

How did the band end up forming in 2003 and did you go through many line-up changes over the years? Did any of the members come from other bands?

Three of us had a previous band called Escoria back in the 90s which disbanded in 2001. We re-started the project again in 2003 under the name Nuclear and it was pretty difficult at the beginning. We were living in different cities at that moment and the members we had first just did not fit in. They came from other disbanded bands or bands with no activity at all. After a few years we just realized we needed a change and found the vocalist we have until this day and a bass player that lasted for 8 years.

How many members are original members and what is the current line-up and tell me a bit about each member of the band?

We are 3 original members since the 90s - Sebastian, Punto and I. We are friends since 86-87 and started listening metal music by the same time, around 89.

Current members are Matias Leonicio on Vocals, Roberto Barria on Bass Guitar, Punto Sudy on Drums, and Sebastian and I on guitars. By the time Matias joined Nuclear, he had another band called Bio-Terror, a thrash/crossover band. He likes a lot punk music and somehow brought that vibe to Nuclear. Roberto also had a band when he started playing with us, it was a more melodic project called Sacramento but he has been playing since the late 90s with a lot of bands. Punto, Sebastián and I practically grew up together and our musical tastes are similar - lot of thrash, death metal and also hardcore and punk music. As I mentioned above, we began playing metal music by the mid-90s when we were really young and have always being together.

play in Mexico for the very first time so it kind of opened some doors for us. It is also out of stock but it is included in the back catalogue release for this year.

How about release # 3. Who put this out and is it still for sale?

“Jehovirus” was released in Chile by two labels: Australis Records and Sick Bangers Metal Label & Distro and in Mexico by Concreto Records. It was also distributed in Europe by Code7/Plastic Head. It is still for sale on CD and vinyl and it is included in the back catalogue release as well.

“Apatrida” EP was released in 2012 by Sick Bangers Metal Label & Distro. It is definitely a breaking point of our sound. At the beginning we wanted to do a more “local” album, but it finally ended up being a 5-track EP. We tried a different work methodology and luckily everything worked out great. It has a much more raw sound than the previous records but it sounds very good.

Tell me about the Europe tour you did with Hirax and Bonded By Blood. How were the crowds and this led to you signing with Candlelight Records. Do you think that is one thing that makes the band a strong band, your live show?

A. That tour was great. Besides of sharing stage with Hirax and Bonded By Blood, we had a change to meet two other great bands on the road: Methedras from Italy and Crescent from El Cairo, Egypt. It was definitely a breaking point, we did 21 dates in 21 days and we learned a lot from it. Crowds were intense most of the times so we enjoyed our time there. Regarding your question, I’d say our live shows are one of the best attributes we have. We always give 200% onstage regardless if there are 5 or 500 people there.

Tell me about this split vinyl that got released. Who was the other band and who put this out and is it still for sale?

The other band is our brothers from El Salvador, Conceived by Hate. Jorge Montesinos from CbH asked us if we were interested to do a 7” split vinyl and we instantly said yes. It was released by two labels, Sick Bangers in Chile and Morbid Skull Records in El What are some of the places that you have played live Salvador. There are some copies still available. at over the years?

We have toured a lot in Europe and we have been How did you come up with the name of the band and practically in every country there. We have not visited UK and Scandinavia, but we are working on that. In were any other names thrown around?

FH:" It was around 2002 I think when I was studying America, besides Chile, we have played in Argentina and Chemical Engineering and I was looking for a powerful México. We would love to tour everywhere but concept to name the band. Nuclear seemed pretty good at sometimes it is complicated. We are also working with that time and we stick with it. I don’t remember if there our booking agency to go tour the States and the rest of America. was another name around.

Do you think you are an original band and for someone who has never heard the band, what would you say the band sounds like?

We write and play honest music and I think that’s all it takes to be original. For those who have never heard of Now from where the band is based out of, is there a us, I would say the best word to describe our sound is good underground metal scene and have you got to see “uncompromised”. We like to be as natural as possible – many underground metal shows over the years? fast riffs, strong lyrics with an organic sound. We don’t I’d say that the metal scene here still lacks of many like to over-protool our productions; we just like our important things such as labels, good promoters and albums to sound as close as we do when we play live. venues, just to name a few. We do not have a real metal market in Chile as opposed to what many people may Tell me about this live DVD that has been released. think watching DVDs recorded here. I think the Who put this out and where was it recorded and what underground metal scene always finds its way to keep do you think of it these days? going, to subsist, but we still need to comprehend how It was recorded in our home town Arica, Chile and was things are being done out there. Despite this, you always released through Sick Bangers Metal Label & Distro last see new bands coming out, great musicians but it is really year. In that DVD you can also find two other bands from difficult for everyone. I have had the pleasure to see many Chile, Lefutray and Conflicted. I still love it. It shows great underground acts here and Chilean metalheads are how intense metal shows can be in Chile. We had a great really supportive with overseas acts. Sadly it is not always time doing it. the same for local bands.

Tell me about the 2 live albums that you have released.

Tell me about your 1st release. How long had the band Who put those out and are they still for sale? been together before you released it? Did it come out They are just to download. Every now and then we like to on a label or was it self-released? Is it still available put a live album available for everyone. today?

“Heaven Denied” came out in May 2006. We were Now we go to release # 4. Who put that out and what together for 3 years when it was released. Actually that are your thoughts on this release these days? album was recorded one year before it got released but we couldn’t find a label back then and we did not have any money to put it out ourselves. At the end I think it was a good thing. A few months after the recording, Matias joined the band and we decided to change all the vocal lines.

Koventry Records, a label from Chile but in charge of a Mexican guy got interested in our work and decided to finally release it in 2006. The album is currently out of stock but Candlelight is releasing a 3CD boxset with our back catalogue any time soon, so it’ll become available again somehow.

Tell me about your 2nd release. What was the title

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Your 5th and new release called “Formula For Anachy” came out a couple months ago on Candlelight Records. How did the recording go for this? I assume you’re happy with it as it is quite a crushing release?

Yes, we are really happy with the results. The recording, mixing and mastering sessions took place in Santiago since January this year until the end of February.

Sebastian (guitar and also owner of Audiocustom Studio) lead the recording. His idea was to bring the rehearsal room to the speakers, to make a very honest and crude record and I think he did. For the first time we did not use a metronome, we just played as we were rehearsing. It turned out great.

How has the response been as I think it is a total crushing thrash release?

The response has been great. We have received a lot of feedback from everywhere. It is a very honest album, it is just we can play, no overproduction so we are really happy people dig it.

Do you still see thrash metal sticking around the underground scene?

Totally. Thrash metal started underground and has always stayed that way. I think it is not good to generalize because some bands decide to do more commercial stuff.

Underground thrash is still dangerous, it has the real essence and I don’t see the genre becoming commercial anytime soon and when sometimes it does, it just stops being thrash metal in my opinion.

Any last words, thanks for the interview.

Many thanks to you. To all the readers, if you like old thrash metal, be sure to check us out at www.nuclear.cl – from there you can access to our communities, watch some videos, buy stuff & more. If you like what you hear, let us know!

Interview by Chris Forbes

November 2015

there´s a whole bunch of bands doing fantastic stuff. Namedropping starts here: Black Trip, Monolord, Obnoxious Youth, Bombs of Hades to name a few.

Under the Church are a crushing death metal band and here is an interview with band member Erik Qvick.

Does the band as a whole have any goals for yourselves?

We have no goals, none other than that we´ll keep on writing death metal and try to release a new album no longer than a year from now, it would be nice to do some gigs abroad as well...we´ll see what happens.

So how long after the break-up of Nirvana 2002 did Under the Church form? How many members from Nirvana 2002 are in Under the Church?

We started the band not too long after the last gigs we did with N2002, we wanted to do some more playing.

It´s me (Erik) and Lars who were in Nirvana2002, who are also playing in Under The Church.

For someone who has never heard of the band, what would you say you sound like?

We play Death Metal. No more, no less.

Now how did you come up with your name and where any other names thrown around before you came up with the current one?

I "stole" the name from legendary fanzine editor/concert arranger/record label owner Sigge Sigfridsson back in the late 80´s....the name stuck with me through the years, it´s just a very cool sounding and confusing name I think. There were no other ideas for names for this band.

Do you feel it is tougher now more than ever with so bands and labels that it is harder for a get noticed seeing how there is so many shitty bands

band to out there?

It´s hard to say whether the demise of the traditional music industry and major record labels is a blessing or a curse, I think the same goes for the Internet, the Internet provides many opportunities but it's easy to get lost in a blur of static noise.

How long do you think it took before you came up with the sound that you wanted with the band and do you think you’re an original band?

The sound was there as soon as the first guitar chord was struck, we are what we are. I don´t think that we original, but there is a distinct difference in being original and being a copy, it´s a great misunderstanding that being unoriginal is synonym with being "Inferior Quality Music", we´re not original but we write really good tunes and that´s the only measurement that´s valid. We´re not copying a sound that is synonym with Swedish death metal, this is what we are.

Where do you see the underground scene in 5 years and do you hate when people steal music and then post it on-line for free?

I don´t have a clue how the Underground Scene will be in 5 years, but hopefully it will be doing well. I don't hate when people put my music up for downloading, but I think that it´s unnecessary for them to do that.

Do many people these days realize that there are members of Nirvana 2002 in the band at all?

I don´t know really, in a way it´s irrelevant who´s in the band...my guess is that if people knew that our guitar players were in Merciless and Morbid they couldn´t care less about N2002. The name Nirvana 2002 gets brought up a lot in interviews though.

How long had the band been around before you released that demo in 2013? What are your thoughts on that demo these days? Where did you record it and how did the recording go?

We started writing music sometime after those last gigs as N2002, I don´t remember how long that took until the demo was done though. The demo is way better than the self-titled EP that came out last year, but that´s how it usually is. Which is why the new full length actually is the demo that should´ve preceded it, that´s why it sounds so good!

We recorded and mixed both the Demo and the "Rabid Armageddon" at the same studio, it's a small dub reggae studio here in Reykjavik Iceland called History, the studio engineer is absolutely clueless when it comes to Metal, which is perfect for us, that way the sound can be exactly the way we want, when you´re working with a "Metal Studio Type of person" there's a big risk that they will impose their vast knowledge of how a "Metal Recording" should sound, which almost always include a sterile and boring sound. We recorded the album by ourselves with Gnuzi as engineer, but we dialed in the sounds and mixed it ourselves.

Any last words and horns up for the interview.

Thank you for the support and interest in Under The Church, stay tuned for more raw death metal!

Interview by Chris Forbes November 2015

Now a year later you released a self-titled Ep. Did you put that out or did a label put that out? Is it still for sale and what are your thoughts on the Ep these days?

Pulverised Records released the Ep that came out last year, they´re also releasing the full length. The Ep is still for sale on CD and digital format, the Vinyl and Tape versions are sold out I think. The Ep has some really good tunes but the sound of the mixed recording isn´t up to par with the music, the drum sound is horrible, hence the reason us recording the full length ourselves, I wouldn´t take that chance again having someone butchering the Debut Album at birth.

Now just recently you released an absolutely crushing album called “Rabid Armageddon”. Which label put this out and how did the recording go for this release?

Thanks, well, Pulverised Records releases "Rabid Armageddon" on Cd and Digital format, there´s a Vinyl version being released early 2016 as well. Then there's a limited edition on Tape/Cassette as well of the album, which is being released by the Spanish label Hexed Cemetary. So if you´d all please run out and buy all of these releases, our retirement is soon to follow.

How has the feedback been for this as in my eyes and ears it is one of the best releases of 2015?

Thank you for the kinds words, so far the feedback and reviews have been great...we´re really happy with the album.

Has the band been able to play many live shows and do you think you’re a good live band and do you ever play any live songs for fun and if so much ones?

Since the band is spread out over different countries it´s been a hassle with rehearsals and even worse being able to do gigs. But we´re finally getting our lazy band up on stage for the release party AND debut gig in Stockholm Sweden on the 28th of November, most likely we´re a killer live band....on the other hand we´ve never played live before, so maybe we´ll suck? Either way, we have a pretty good set list that we´re working on consisting of music from both the Ep and Full length.

Tell me a bit about each band member, including yourself.

I play drums in the band Under The Church. Lars plays Bass in the band Under The Church. MiK sings in the band Under The Church. Wallin plays guitar in the band Under The Church. Klacke plays guitar in the band Under The Church. We´re a bunch of old farts that plays death metal, that´s pretty much it really.

Is there still a good solid underground metal scene in Sweden these days?

It´s so many good bands in Sweden that it´s just ridiculous, I don´t know how "underground" any scene anywhere is these days with the Internet and all...but

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After the show a fan told us, that right after this festival, he had to go off to war. That’s so unreal for us.

Please introduce yourselves. Tell us your names and the roles you play in the band.

Hi! Well, there is: Stefano – vocals, Eric – guitars, Flo – bass, Maschtl – drums, and me, Steve - guitar and keyboards.

You played many festivals in various parts of the world with well-known bands such as Kreator and Destruction.

Which tour/festival was your favorite and why? Did you have one that was your least favorite?

We love touring in very foreign countries.

Colombia, Russia, China or Belarus was really special for us. Not a lot of bands are touring there. So a lot of metalheads are coming to the shows

Before you released any demo you were signed by Serenades Records because of an incredible show you put on in your hometown in Brunicio, Italy.

Do you remember what you guys were playing/doing at the show that made it so incredible?

Of course I can remember that day. It was a show in our hometown and a lot of our friends were at the show. We invited the guys from Serenade Records. It was quite impressive playing before 500 metalheads.

And I guess a lot of beer helped us as well. Our guests drank a lot.

To be honest, Serenade Records released a Graveworm demo first. So they could cancel the contract, if they would not been satisfied.

Any future tours or festivals lined up? Have you ever played a U.S. tour , and if not are there any plans to?

Ascending hate was released in June/July. Too late for the summer open airs. So we'll play the festivals in 2016.

In autumn we hope to do some shows in Germany.

In 2008 we had an US Tour with Kataklysm and Destruction. We'd love to turn back.

How was Graveworm born? How did you come up with the name Graveworm?

Graveworm was born as a cover band in 1992. We played some Death Metal songs. We were all thrilled by the upcoming melodies. Bands like Paradise Lost and Crematory awakens the desire to write some own songs.

The band name was easy to pronounce and is very Death-Metal-like.

I hear a different sound in your music by your fourth album Engraved in Black...as a matter of fact the first three albums dealt mostly, at least I thought with heaven, angels, death and basically good sort of winning over evil...but by the fourth album Engraved In Black your whole sound seems to have changed and even the theme had changed...Engraved in Black was about hell, demons and evil basically evil winning over good it seemed...why this turn around in your music?

As I said before, we wanted to do an album to play live. Our live shows are full of energy, wend that’s the best kind of music for headbanging.

Out of your nine studio albums which ones do you like the best and why? Is there one that is your least favorite and why?

Of course our best album is "Ascensing Hate", our new album.

But I love "Engraved in Black". It was written to play live. There are no bagpipes, string quartets or female vocals. Just powerfull metal to bang.

Where do you think your largest fanbase is?

I really don't know. The people in Mexico and Colombia were fantastic. Facebook tells us, that the most fans are living in Mexico.

You guys put out music very quickly. There is exactly two years between each album you've done except the last two which is three. Any particular reason for

What's different in the music industry today compared to when you first started?

I think the biggest differences are the sellings. When we started, you had to buy CDs. We spent all our money for our favorite bands.

Now, you can download/stream everything. Not good for the bands.

But we are playing in Colombia, and the crowd is singing our songs.

Without illegal downloads no one would know us.

Does metal get a lot support in Italy where youre from?

No, I don't think so. Metal is not very successful in Italy. And metalheads like supergroups like Metallica, AC/DC or System of a Down. Not the local underground.

We're playing most of our shows in foreign countries.

What artists do you cite as exerting influence on your creative process?

Edge Of Sanity, Hypocrisy, Dark Tranquillity.

What has been your most successful album out of all your albums?

I guess (N)utopia.

What has been the most "extreme" country that Graveworm has ever played?

It depends, what you mean with "extreme". Our tour in Eastern Europe was heavy. We had nothing to eat, the nightliner didn't start several times, it was hot.

But this has nothing to do with the shows....

that or just a coincidence? Any plans for an album in 2017 or 2018?

Yes, there was a reason!

Maschtl had some serious health problems. It was not possible for him to play drums.

But we are one family. His drums are very important for our sound. I'm sure that Ascending Hate would sound very different if we had to hire some studio musician.

We're sorry for the delay, but it was worth it.

Next album is planes for 2017! Haha...

Interview by Heather Williams August 2015

Track 5 on Scourge of Malice "Threnody" (an instrumental) was dedicated to one Max Maccani. Is it ok to tell us who he was?

Eric wrote this song.

Max was a good friend of him. He died in a traffic accident.

Stefan Fiori stated once that the title of your 2011 album "Fragments of Death" stood for "the ten musical pieces of a puzzle on the cd, and deals with different modes of death". Explain.

Every song on that album deals with a certain way or face of death. His idea for the album title was that all songs combined together where like a finished puzzle of death.

Every song is a fragment and if you put it together you got the whole figure of death On July 25th, you played the Carpathian Alliance Festival in the Ukraine. What was that like considering everything going on over there as far as fighting/war etc?

The festival was in Lviv. That’s in a very western part of the country. But the war is everywhere. In the head of the people.

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Fresh Assaults – Fresh Assaults – Fresh Assaults 1. Please tell us a few words about the new release, about the music on it as a whole or a few words on each track in part. How are you happy with the final release?

2. How would you describe/label the music on it? Does it sounds like anything we might have heard before?

3. Where was it recorded and how much time did it take you to record it? Any interesting stories from the recording / producing the material?

4. What can you tell us about the cover artwork? Is there a link between the artwork and the lyrics? What are the topics of your lyrics?

5. What do you expect to gain through this release? What are the band's aims at the moment?

6. Is there a special format the material is released in? Or is it released in multiple formats? How many copies were pressed?

7. Where and how will you promote this new release?

8. Where can we order it from?

Grindcore band Trigger. We recorded everything within three days, some more were spent on mixing and mastering. We sadly can’t remember any special story from the recording session, besides that it was a very nice one. One thing that was important to us was that we could record the instruments at the same time in the same room, so we kept the live/rehearsal feeling of playing together – and we think you can hear that.

4. Indeed, the artwork is an attempt to picture the title of the EP. We looked for some image that could represent a raging hell river and we think it fits to that. The title track is just about this river and the underworld, hell and mankind’s doom. The “Pestilator” could be described as some ghost-like apparition which is the incarnation of pest and plague that brings doom to the world, while “Crush Rome, Rebuild Sodom” is what it sounds like: a blasphemic tale of satanic forces winning against Christianity. “Northern Skies” is a tribute to the mighty (Extreme) Metal that has been coming from Scandinavia for many years.

5. We hope that people recognize some progression in our sound while enjoying the passion we put into it since the beginning. We like to see this release as the start of the next level for BitchHammer, musically, and we think the songs are able to convince the listeners that we are not only one of many young old school-infected bands out there.

Based on this, we were and are working on new material (possibly for a full lengthrelease next time). The already existing new songs have different faces again but are still pure old school metal, so it surely will be a quite entertaining new release.

BITCHHAMMER – Raging Hell Rivers (2014)

6. We would like to release it on vinyl, but at the moment (and without a label) we can’t affort that, financially. So we released it as a cd (in a nice digipack style) and made about 500 copies. Meanwhile the small Russian label “From The Dark Past” has produced a tape version of it which is limited to 100 copies.

1. To us the four tracks on the EP can be considered our most relentless songs (released) so far. It felt right to release these four together as an EP and they got the right sound during the recording, too – dirty like the first recordings, but also as well-produced as the songs for the Thrash split LP we released in 2013, and overall very heavy and raw.

So the result turned out as we wanted it to. The songs itself vary from punkish Thrash to D-beat driven Black metal, each one having an own grim visage.

7. We did no special release concert(s) or party for the EP (it just didn’t happen), but of course we try to promote it with every single concert we do. In addition we sent many copies to different metal zines in Germany and other countries this time – like Mexico, Poland and Romania, hehe. We nearly got reviews from all zines we wrote to – and all of them were very positive.

2. It is (still) a mixture of Black and Thrash Metal. Personally, we think that we mixed both genres best so far with these songs and added some punkish moments as well as a nasty black metal vibe to them. Since we play the old school metal style we love from the forefathers of the genre (and some young traditionals, too) you will for sure hear a sound you’re familiar with, although we hopefully can show our own way of playing that music. Besides the obvious pioneers of this music, for example Aura Noir and Urgehal were bands that we ourselves had in mind while writing and developing the songs.

8. Order your copy of “Raging Hell Rivers” by mailing us (throneofblasphemy@gmail.com) or visiting bitchhammer.bandcamp.com (where all other merch is available, too). The tape version can be ordered directly from the label at fromthedarkpast.bandcamp.com.

November 2015

3. We recorded the EP in the (small, but very decent) “Dampfhaus” studio (about an hour from our hometown), which belongs to Kevin Fricke who’s playing drums in the

recognize them, making everyone social ghosts. Darkest Storm is about going through dark times and having someone there to help you through it and strength in numbers is also about having the strength to get through the challenges life offers.

2. We get labeled as a thrash band a lot but we don't think of ourselves that way. We tend to just think of ourselves as a metal band. Some people have likened us to lamb of God which is a nice comparison as we all have a lot of respect for that band.

3. Our guitarist JD recorded it all some at home some in the studio, we recorded it all individually and had it mixed and mastered by Dan Abela who had worked on our previous release.

4. The artwork was created by the very talented Alex Ferreio, who is a friend of our guitarist JD. It's linked in a way to darkest storm as is a demon amongst the waves and darkest storm is about overcoming great difficulties and by being there for each other to make it through the darkest storm.

5. We have no agenda for this EP. For us the simple goal of putting out Chris' last work was all we wanted from it. We have been blessed with very kind words and some great gigs off the back of it and will hopefully have more shows come our way. We just want to play more shows and soon we will begin to write some new material.

DESIGNS OF CHAOS – Darkest Storm (2015)

6. We only related the EP digitally and got 100 CDs pressed for shows which we've pretty much sold or if now so might look to get some more.

1. We wrote the EP last year and recorded it in our guitarist JD's home studio. We intended to record more songs but Chris died before we have the chance. Social Phantom was originally going to be the title track but after everything that happened the meaning and lyrics of darkest storm were more meaningful to us and the EP became more about putting the last tracks Chris had worked on out for everyone who knew him and supported us over the years.

Social phantom is about how we all use social media more and more these days and yet are so much more distanced. You can walk passed a Facebook "friend" and not even

7. We've got digital copies all over the net and have CDs available at shows our from our merchant site 8. You can order the CDs from our band camp or the digital EP is on iTunes, Amazon, Google play and many other sites.

October 2015

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2. The album is a fairly straightforward heavy death/doom album with the usual influences from black metal, rock and gothic music. There are no acoustic tracks on this one.

We get compared to the Peaceville sound quite a bit but I would say that our music differs from this (as much as we like the early death/doom) in that the riffs are generally more inspired by Sabbath and Trouble type doom and the styles mentioned above. I don't think many people would say the album sounds like My Dying Bride especially on a track like Highwire.

3. The album was recorded just over a year ago at Greg Chandler's studio The Priory. It was recorded and mixed in ten days which is a lot longer than most of our albums. It is always a great time recording with Greg and there are a lot of laughs and total lack of stress in the studio. Greg did a special version of one of our songs which no one will ever be able to hear, but it had me in stitches.

4. This is by Juha Vuorma. He got in touch via another band I played in and I liked his work which was on his website. The cover art is called 'The Gardener' and I think the feel of it suited the album and lyrics (and album title) perfectly. The main artwork was done may years ago but is now ours. The rest of the layout was done by Juha. He is great to work with and very switched on. Lyric topics are listed above.

MY SILENT WAKE – Damnatio Memoriae (2015)

5. Just a bit more exposure and for the music to be enjoyed by a few more people. We hope to keep the band going for many more years to come but could really do with finding a supportive label for the next release.

1. The album has been released on CD by House of Ashes and vinyl and cassette by us.

This album sees a new line-up and a pretty full on sound this time. The production is heavy and raw and extremely full.

The song 'Of Fury' touches on the subject of the damage done by people who think they are acting on the desires of a god or obeying someone in power to kill and destroy; that completely innocent people can have everything taken away suddenly by the actions of others.

'Highwire' is about the feeling of not knowing which path to take at a major junction in life.

'The Innocent' is about child abusers 'And so it Comes to an End' is about a relationship ending because of one partners infidelity.

Various songs are about breaking apart from someone you love and coping with depression.

I am really pleased with the album and the response it has got so far.

6. The vinyl and cassette were done as a Pledge Music campaign and limited to 100 and 50 pieces respectively.

7. Some songs are being performed live and there have been plenty of reviews thanks to Imperative PR who helped us greatly with this release to stop it slipping under the radar completely.

8. House of Ashes on CD - on their website but hard to find. The other formats from us on bandcamp, Big Cartel etc or get in touch via Facebook..

September 2015

3. It was recorded in HUGEStudio. It took us about 8 months to finish it. The guy that recorded this album is also a member of a popular polish comedy group, so he don’t have much time for recordings and mix. But I think he did a really good job. It’s interesting that he'd never recorded death metal band before…

4. The artwork was done by our friend Sebastian Mon. The guy is amazing! Check out his work and You’ll see… We just gave him the basic concept of the album and he did the rest. Our first demo cover was also his work… As for the lyrics it’s rather usual death metal stuff, like horror, gore and anti-religious topics.

5. It would be good to be more recognizable in the underground scene, that’s all. We don’t want to be a rock stars, cause it’s impossible with this kind of music. At this moment we would like to play more shows, with good bands and promote “Defiling Verses” as much as we can.

6. There are two versions of this release, with two different covers (both by Seba Mon).

The first one is a cassette released by a polish tape label Morbid Chapel. It was limited to 250 hand numbered copies. The cd version was self-released, full-pro cd in jewel case. We pressed 500 copies of the cd.

7. We would like to promote this release via any underground channels, webzines and traditional paper zines. We're also sending the material to metal radio stations and, of course, we want to play some gigs to present new songs live.

NO SALVATION – Defiling Verses (2015) 1. Our new release is called “Defiling Verses”. This is our second album, the first one was a demo “Among the Mistakes of God”, released in 2011. The new album consists of five songs and an intro. This is a straightforward death metal, in the vein of the 90’s.

The last track is a bit different, slow, with black metal elements and with polish lirycs.

The final result is satisfying for us.

8.

You can order tape version form Morbid Chapel Records (morbidchapelrecords.blogspot.com) and the cd directly from the band (nosalvation666@gmail.com). You can also order new t-shirts with killer Sebastian Mon graphics!

2. It’s difficult to describe your own music. This is death metal for sure, and some people say that it it’s rather oldschool and in the vein of American scene.

November 2015

OTARGOS – Xeno-Kaos (2015) 1. The new release is entitled "XENO-KAOS". All tracks are based on W40K universe, its cataclysmic battles and its furious species.

DOMINATRIX: The opening song plunges you straight into warfares and Xeno-forces onslaughts. No mercy for mankind here! it's a violent and intense track.

THE RUINOUS POWERS: A darker song here with some stellar ambiences.The lyrics talk about the great forces of Chaos and the major "gods" dwelling within the immaterium.

CHARIOTS OV THE GODZ: Third track of the album. This one has some kind of oldshool BM influences, I would like to make this track sound a bit like a movie soundtrack. the main topic of the lyrics is linked to the ancient astronaut theory .

DARK MECHANICUS: Here comes the first mid-tempo track of "XENO-KAOS"! it's a pounding and heavy song, I wanted this one "pachydermic" cause it talks about mountainous titanic living warmachines treading on worlds, all devastating and nearly immortal.

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PHASE SHIFTERS: Some violence is coming back! I think it's the first track I composed for "XENO-KAOS". it's a mix of mid-tempo and blasting parts. if you know the species of W40K you can notice that we talk about Necrons here!

XENO-KAOS: It's war! the eponym track is just a kind of furious death/black/thrash metal attack! dive into laser storms and Xeno-napalm huricanes. Dark forces of Kaos, Alien monstrous incursions.... no place for us in this cosmic mayhem REALM OF THE DEAD: This second mid-tempo track will make you embrace the darkness of Chaos! The Ruinous Powers are unleashing their forces upon the material dimensions. Horror and madness reign!

HUMAN TERMINATE: the final song of "XENO-KAOS" is here to finsh you! ... A brutal sonic outburst for the end of humanity, no compromise, your life is dead.

The special edition of "XENO-KAOS" features a bonus track : "INFERNAL LEGIONS STRIKE A.E." an old OTARGOS song reshaped and modernised with also new lyrics written by former bassplayer XXX. We are really pleased of the result of this new album, it sounds just like we wanted to!

4. I think I already well explain the main topics of the lyrix. Concerning the artwork it was designed by M. Pliszke, our bassplayer, and it's linked to the lyrix of course. It represents some kind of lost cosmic artefact from the future or past aeons... we wanted something mysterious and mystic.

2. We define our music as "dark extreme metal". A mix of oldschool and modern blackened death metal. we don't want to talk about Black Metal style cause now our universe is really far away from BM one. Some will tell you OTARGOS new era sounds like Behemoth style.... I take this like a compliment, but we are not searching for this. personaly I write the music which fit the best to my lyrix and inspirations.

7. Rape as many stages as we can, that's our goal! We are starting the 2016 booking, HELLFEST festival is already confirmed! We have other dates coming, they will be revealed in time.

We planed to make some tour support through Europe.. We will see.

I can also announce you we have a new video clip coming soon!

3. We recorded and mixed "XENO-KAOS" between March and August 2015. We worked principaly with the VACARAMA STUDIO ( France), and his boss named "HK". He really understood the universe of "XENO-KAOS" and how it will have to sound! We wanted something massive and organic ... This is exactly what he did. For sure we will work again with him in the future.

8. "XENO-KAOS" shall be available everywhere but as I say if you want to the limited Box edition you have to order it from KAOTOXIN webshop, if some still remains !!

5. First we want to show what is the "new" OTARGOS. We started a new era with the previous album "APEX TERROR", now we want to impose the new OTARGOS style.

6. A special edition is available in a boxset format, only 100 copies. This box contains a lot of collector items such as Patches, numbred autographed cards, posters... but also a special edition of "XENO-KAOS" with a bonus track. a few still remaining at the official KAOTOXIN RECORDS webshop: WWW.KAOTOXIN.COM !

Beside this box, "XENO-KAOS" is available in common cristal CD format.

Maybe later we will offer an Lp edition.

November 2015

2. Plutonian Shore has and always will be a Black Metal entity. We draw influences for bands such as Impaled Nazarene, Katharsis, Incursus and Moonblood, however the sound is entirely our own. We are a minimal 3 piece band, with dual vocal attacks. Not for the weak.

3. The album was recorded in our hometown of San Antonio, Texas. The studio is owned by members of the band Sturmgewehr and goes by the name Sound Crater. The album was recorded all at once in a controlled live setting and took only a day to capture. Sound Crater allowed us to indulge in our personal poisons which greatly heightened the experience 4. The artwork was created by visionary artist Joseph Curwen. The drawing is actually much bigger than what we were able to use for the cover dimensions. The rest of can be found throughout the booklet included with the release. Our left hand path and antireligious agenda always creates an undertone for everything we do. However, the song content is purely devoted to aspects of the Qabbalic tree of life and the characteristics of Geburah. Geburah is a gateway that represents strength and severity, creation from destruction. The artwork has the corresponding color of red and various symbols such as the Goddess Kali that represent Geburah.

5. We just want to see this release reach as many countries as possible. The goal with any band is to progress with every release and I think we have been consistent with this.

6. The album was released by Pale Horse Recordings on CD limited to 500 hundred copies.We are open to releasing other formats in the future.

7.Pale Horse has done an excellent job of getting our album out to international distros and I have personally traded albums as well. We take advantage of online sources but we prefer to earn our followers by appearing live. We plan on taking Plutonian Shore across the U.S and into Mexico in 2016. We are in talks with a European promoter as well.

PLUTONIAN SHORE – Sphere of Geburah (2015)

8. The album can be purchased at any of our live performances or online at www.store.palehorserecs.com Thanks for the interview.

1. Sphere of Geburah is the third full length album from Plutonian Shore. I feel this is our strongest release to date. The album pushed our physical limitations. The album immediately takes off and envelopes the listener in chaotic hell with just a few moments to catch your breathe. We very proud of the final product.

December 2015 1. “They“ as the album is called is our first release. The tracks are a collection of old and new tunes that we wrote over the years since the band's inception. This also means the listener gets to know our roots aswell as the direction we are developing in.

The record opens with “Your Ruin“ one of the older tracks, it's got a nice thrashy vibe to it and is a genuine fan favorite. The second track is “Into The Light“, which is filled to the brim with melodies. “Fuck My Brain“ fucks your brain with progressive thrash riffing switching back and forth between different rhythmic patterns and also features some sweet growls and gang shouts. Next comes „Pain“: gritty, grooving and rather hard rockish. Track #5 is the album’s title track and it's about zombies cool, huh? „Pleasure“ opens with a passing train and keeps that chugging rhythm throughout, ohh, and the train is an allusion to Hitchcocks North By Northwest, that cheeky bastard. The next two tracks are the newest ones. „Trapped“ shines with thick layers of delay, ensnaring vocals and grooving drums. And then last but not least “Bloody Baby Shower“ - it's mean, eerie and the final breakdown is a blast to play live.

2. Man, that's a tough one. It's definitely metal, but we are not afraid to incorporate different styles and genres, as long as it sounds coherent to us. All our members listen to totally different bands or even genres. We've been compared to many different bands and we've been labeled thash metal, heavy metal, melodic metal, modern metal, hard rock and so on. Honestly, we don't care, give us a listen and decide for yourself.

PREMORTAL BREATH – They (2014)

3. The album was recorded at Logischdenker Records in Römerberg, Germany.

Logischdenker Records is the brainchild of Bastian Knochel, a very nice and talented guy. He also supported us throughout the whole recording process with his experience

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new songs – yes, we are already thinking about the next release - and on refining our sound – there is always room for improvement.

and advice. The recording took about three months. We alle have our jobs, families and duties, which made a long stay in a studio impossible. Bastian offered us great flexiblity, we could enter the studio whenever we had time and we only had to inform him on short notice. The most exciting part was when everybody had done his job and Bastian finally sent us his first mix. But the most important fact about the album is that it was crowdfunded by our awesome fans. Thanks again, we are forever grateful for the support!

6. You can get the album digitally on various platforms. If you are old school and prefer physical albums, we can gladly satisfy that need, too. The physical album comes in a high-quality jewel case with original artwork and a booklet including the lyrics and our thank-you's. However we only had 500 copies pressed and there is only a small amount left.

4. We had lots of different ideas about what we'd like the artwork to look like. So we needed some professional input which was provided by Six of Six Agency who also created the artwort for our shirts before. We had some discussions with the guys about the motive and the style. As the imagery of zombies is very metal and fits our song „They“ perfectly, we finally agreed on that motive.

Some lyrics are rather self-explanatory and don't have a deeper meaning, others can be interpreted quite differently. I prefer keeping my interpretation to myself but invite you to form your own interpretations.

7. We use different web platforms to promote our release and also offer merch at every gig. Last summer we did some radio interviews, which was an exciting experience and, of course, we contact magazines and webzines to gain some publicity.

8. You can order the digital album on: Deezer, Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, PlayStore, CD Baby, Bandcamp and many more online stores and streaming platforms. Just search for us in your preferred store or in the internet.

The physical album can be ordered via: booking@premortalbreath.com, CD Baby

5. Well, we hope to generate some buzz within our local metal community, increase our fanbase and establish connections with concert organizers. Currently we are working on November 2015

Merchants of Death – Merchants of Death – Merchants of Death 1. Please present your label, when and where was it started, who is involved in its activities and what genres are promoted by it.

2. Tell us a few words on each or the most important releases of your label, and which of them are still available for purchase.

3. What are the most important features you look for in a band that is or has the chance to be signed on your label?

4. How can a band get in touch with you? What should bands know before submitting their promos for your consideration?

5. What's the most important thing in the relationship between you and your bands? What is your label offering to its bands?

6. Is there anything you planned with your label and has not yet been completed?

7. How does the future looks for your label? Any major projects you would like to share with us?

8. How can anyone get in touch with you? Please list your website, webstore and/or social media links.

FEKETE TERROR PRODUCTIONS 1. Fekete Terror Productions started in September 2015 releasing 3 tapes. The name was given after the Fekete Terror fanzine. The concept is to support Hungarian bands by releasing tapes. I only support Hungarian bands or Hungarians on the other side of the borders. Foreign band can be only published together with a Hungarian band on a split release.

My name is Attila ’Dr. A’ Dudás, I am the manager of this label, but I have several support by others. I can be very thankful to Balázs Káger, manager of Neverheard Distro, and Anvil Kvlt should also be mentioned, who is managing the graphics, once it is required. Let’s not forget that he also makes the cover artwork for my fanzines, for Tales Of The Morbid Butchers and for Fekete Terror. He is very skillful and talented, I can only recommend him to everyone. The label supports black, death, thrash and doom hordes, but if I can see something special in anyone, let’s say in industrial music, that is also not a problem. It can happen that my personal relationship with a band is very good, but their music is not really my cup of tea, I will release it, perhaps someone else will like it.

It is not excluded that in the future I can find a partner for the label, with whom I can share the costs and the promotional works, but I cannot see a big chance for that as there are not too many maniacs in Hungary who would spare their money for this, respect for the exceptions, you know who you are.

This is a fresh formation from Budapest with Zsolt Bálint on vocal and guitars, who is a dear friend of mine. He also makes the band Kuth, which I can only recommend, too.

Previously Zsolt also played guitars in Mörbid Carnage and in Fagyhamu. Getting back to ’Köd’, this is a 30-minutes long album based on black metal, but it offers so much more. It could be labelled as post or avant-garde black metal. Apart from extreme vocal, there are also clean vocal parts, which create a hypnotic, enchanting atmosphere, a psychedelic inner journey in Hungarian language. I recommend it for the open-minded ones getting excited by not only the old school music methods. If I remember correctly, it was manufactured in 70 copies in the first round.

FTP004: Solus/Vrag – Awakening Of The Hungarian Witchwoods (2015) I guess you could already come across with these two bands on different internet forums and in printed metal press. They have already quite good reputation in the Hungarian and also in the international underground. Both bands are one-man formations, with whom I have good relations. They both play black metal, but not the destructive, heroic one rather then the quieter, melancholic, loner type of black metal. Both formations pay tribute to nature, which lacks from human parasites. Both bands have several other releases. From my point of view the most important thing in this release, that it was published together with Neverheard Distro. This is an important milestone for me, at least at the beginning of my label, as I have a really good relation with the boss of Neverheard Distro. It is important to mention that Solus continuous under the name of ’Hamvak’ from 2015.

3. First of all, it must be Hungarian.

Second of all, the music must catch my attention, but as I said before, there could be a case when I do not really 2. By this interview is published, I am sure that my first releases are still available, like the which are the following: music, but I FTP002: Princeps Daemonum/Hell Icon – Icono Infernorum Et Daemonium Malevoli am on very (2015) good terms From the Hungarian side, there is Princeps Daemonum with two brand new songs with a band committed by Gorthol and Malevolus. This is already the 4th release of the band. There and because were two shorter releases followed by a nearly one hour long album released in 2012. of that I will The music in the early days was noisy inspired by the instinctive Abruptum. At that time release it, it did not really catch my attention. On the full-length there was musical development perhaps other and it was more metal music then its predecessors. This fresh material follows the path people would of the 2012 album. In the music black metal is mixed with a hysteric, dark, desperate like it 100%. world and with a little bit of horroristic, doom mood. I blindly trusted the band, when I I talked about heard that Gorthol (Earth Plague, Evil Conqueror) was responsible for the music. I said the styles yes without hearing anything, I heard the music only after it was already manufactured already, on tape. Hell Icon was unknown for me and they neither caught my attention with this which ones I release, but Malevolus insisted to them and I gave my blessing. This is a nervesupport. Who wrecking, ritual ceremony from the depths of hell. This tape is a joint release together are certainly with Malevolus’ label, Villaemush Rex and this is its first publication. It was released in not getting 66 copies, so far. any support: FTP003: Ygfan – Köd (2015) glam, grunge, goth and

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other ladyboys. The different, trendy core-bullshits are also not welcomed. The music style of my label reflects my taste of music. First of all this is a black/death/thrash/doom metal label, but apart from that many other music style could come into the picture, the only important thing is that it must be Hungarian.

6. Yes, there is. The FTP001 catalog-numbered material was not yet released. It is November 2015 now. This will be the first two demos of Goatdominator. This is also a one-man formation, which plays really rude, old-school black/death blast after Blasphemy, Archgoat, Beherit. There is no glamour or flash, only primitive tempos 4. So far I contacted the bands, once I wanted to release their materials. As I am quite giving you the seventh hell. The recording session is almost done, the booklet is done, well-known (and I am not being portentous, haha) in the Hungarian underground, the hopefully it will be out by the time this interview is published. questioned bands co-operated with me with pleasure, but since the beginning of the label The 5th release (FTP005) is just around the corner, but there are still some work to do. in this September, 2-3 bands also contacted me that they would be pleased if I release This will be also a split production with the association of two atmospheric black metal any of their materials. That was very honorable, but unfortunately I cannot say always hordes. In particular, the covenant of Aornos and de profundis (Hun) will materialize in yes as the budget of the label is pretty slim. I always welcome promo packages, from the body of a tape. The world of Aornos mostly takes after Emperor. Csaba Tátrai is the which could be anything in the future. I am also happy to do different promotional multi-instrumental person behind the band, who also plays guitars in the legendary, works. For example, I sent different CDs from Hungarian bands like Drow, Vrag, Hungarian band Frost. He is very talented and I can only recommend his art. He has WitcheR, Kuth to labels and fanzines, magazines all over the world. already released an album, entitled ’Orior’. The first album of de profundis, ’This Winter In My Heart’, was already released, too. They play a little bit airier music than 5. As Fekete Terror Productions is a small label, which works low cost, you cannot Aornos. While Aornos is very complex music, de profundis is diverse, multi-colored expect for world-redeeming things. I always tell this to the bands and so far there was no band with many faces. In their music ambient parts, folk elements also occur together problem from this. In Hungary lots of people know me and they know that I take my job with the influences of the fastest Nordic black metal Gods. Clean vocals are also part of seriously. the music making the atmosphere even more elevated. I can only sing odes about their I help the bands wherever I can. I promote on the internet, sometimes I can organize an art, but I also heard some opinions that there is nothing extra in their music. I do not interview for the band in different fanzines, I send releases to printed presses and give a shit, I love it and they are having my full support. exchange releases with other distros, labels. As I work with Hungarian bands, I pay extra attention to the international promotion, as the local promotion is already given. 7. The future is unknown. There are plans, but I do not want to give away much, On monthly level this could be only a few exchanges, but the names of the bands and otherwise they will not come true for sure. I plan a big thing around next spring/summer, labels are being spread, slowly but surely. The personal contact with the band is also but I keep it to myself at the moment. The works are being done. First of all, the 1st and important to me, but in lack of that could be also a co-operation, that is not a problem, the 5th releases should be out. but luckily I personally know a lot of people from the scene. I am notorious, haha!

The most important thing is that this is a small underground label, the bands have 8. I can be reached on Facebook, if someone types the name of the label in the search. respectful relations with each other, we support each other wherever, with whatever we One can contact me also by e-mail: feketeterrorzine@gmail.com. could. Do not think of big things. Every release comes with a flyer, which also helps At the moment I do not plan any other webpage. Facebook is currently the most useful, spreading the infos. we should admit, though Big Brother watches our every step. I only use it for musical The physical form of the releases considered to be professional, the audio is factory promotion, I am not interested in any other bullshit offered by social network. Thank copied, the tape is cut to the size of the album and the booklet is also pro-printed. Small you for the opportunity! numbers of copies are being made, it means at least 50 copies per releases. The booklets SUPPORT THE HUNGARIAN UNDERGROUND!!! FEKETE TERROR are printed in much more copies, in case a release is sold out, it could be quickly re- PRODUCTIONS SUPPORT THE TAPE CULT!!! released. For example, the Solus/Varg split was made in 200 copies, which was divided into 4. Both bands and both labels took 50 copies, but there also more booklets, in case.

November 2015

activities and promote my products. Recently Facebook has changed my old profile to the company and forced to set up a second profile for servicing the first, this is total paranoia for me, it that way Facebook increases number of their accounts. If I didn’t have label I would not have these profiles. I just care about the releases and bands promotion. Everyone has access to the Internet so they can find me and ask what and how. Bands contact with me on various stage of creating recordings. Everything is a matter of contact and a possible agreement.

5. As I wrote previously important for me is the common ground with the band.

Without this, and without joint action release quickly lost in the sheer volume of what now are release. We just have to have a similar view of the music, underground, cooperative activity. How to write it must be the chemistry as in relationship with a woman hehehe. I do not approach , coldly and with accounting on the backs to choose what I will release in future .

What I offer for bands it depend on individual matter between me and the team. Nobody more should interesting in it. Of course bands will get their CDs copies which will guarantee them in contract , promotion by shipping CDs for review, arranging some interviews , advertising, help at eventually concert. Typical activities related to the issuance music at a level which will allow me my finances.

OLD TEMPLE 1. Hi Adrian. The beginning of my work can be accurately determined at 09.09.2003 this is the official date of run a business. The name you know hehehe, I chose the two module name specially and especially avoid and do not have in name words records, productions or similar . Somehow did not fit me from the beginning. I am unite with underground metal in 100 % and Old Temple is a small label. Since the beginning my activity is legal official. All the time I'm doing everything myself. It was clear that there are some people who are helping me, but only as colleagues, friends.

I promote different underground metal music. There were also episodes with dark ambient music / inustrial. I release music that I listen myself to and I'm listening different kinds of music that seems different varieties of extreme sounds. I do not try to focus label on one style of music. Recently I released more death metal, but it's absolutely the accident.

6. All the time I release something and all the time I spend planning next releases . In 2016 I have already planned 6-8 new releases . When and how fast I will release them I don’t know. The sooner the better hehe .

7. Recently I got a question from a well-known band, but I cannot say more because I do not know what will come of it . I plan to do a DOMAIN (under that name worked Pandemonium in the years 1995-2004) CDs re-edition. Besides, I still have contact with

2. All of my releases are equally important to me. Otherwise that release was not in my catalog. Each take up my time, money, etc. Of course I'm very proud of the Pandemonium releases because it's an absolute legend. I realize that I release some really great position and I am particularly proud of them, but not filed my releases for better or worse 3. It must appeal to me, it must have something in itself. I pay attention to all: music, text, graphics, cover. I like when everything fits and have a logical explanation and closes in one brace. I must also find common ground in contact with the band. I do not want to release bands whose members do not have a similar approach to music like me. In that way I avoiding larger conflicts. Bands from the beginning know what will happen, how the process of issuing looks like, what I can and what I can’t do. When band has lofty demands, I prefer to say goodbye at the discussion stage than avoid each other or make rumors behind back and make from oneself metal gossipers who writes shity rubbish on social networks.

4. I do not have any guidelines or rules set. Bands can eazy find me on the Internet at WWW.oldtemple.com and there write on e-mail. I also have a profile on Bandcamp and Facebook but on facebook I look occasionally, I do not like that social networking site, not at all like these. I have a profile there only because of the Old Temple

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many hordes from Chile and other South American countries.

8. You can find me at: Label - www.oldtemple.com/, Shop - www.shop.oldtemple.com/, Bandcamp – oldtemple.bandcamp.com/, Youtube - www.youtube.com/user/OldTempleEryk, Facebook - www.facebook.com/eryk.temple December 2015

VULGAR RECORDS 1. Hey Adrian, greetings to Romania! My name is Sille and I´m the owner of Vulgar Records, a vinyl only record label.

I started the label back in 1996. I played drums for PACKRATTEN, an old grind/noise band from Germany. We wanted to release our first split 7“ with our friends of BIZARRE X, and so we decided to do it for ourselves. 333 copies were pressed and this was the first release for Vulgar Records. No other guys were involved in the label yet, just me. An old friend helped me some times, but it didn`t work.

I prefer genres like grindcore, noise, crust, thrash or hc/power violence. But sludge, metal, punk or gory stuff is welcomed too.

2. Puh, that’s not easy. Each item was important for me. The first release was a great experience. Unforgotten to hold our own 7“ in our hands. My personal highlight is the YACOPSAE „Einstweilige Vernichtung“ LP. Released 2001 in cooperation with Scrotum Records. I was on the way to work and got the advance tape in my P.O. Box in the morning. Put it in my car tape deck and …BASH! What a blast, what a hit in the face?! Unbelievable! I was overwhelmed! Such power, such energy – absolute killer album. 1000 copies was pressed and never repressed from us. There is a poor repress around, so maybe you can find it.

And a pleasure for me was to release a SCHNAUZER 7“. SCHNAUZER was always a favorite band for me and Jim Teufel a good friend for many years. Now he is dead, what a shame!

The older releases are sold out, but here – this items are still available: -FETUS EATERS / BORSTELS RACHE spl LP -YACOPSAE „Tanz Grosny Tanz“ LP -SCHNAUZER / DOKTOR BITCH spl 7“ -SCHNAUZER / SOLIPSIST spl 7“ -„15 Years Vulgar Records“ comp 7“ (w/AGATHOCLES,MACHETAZO,APT 213,…)

-SLUMP / LIFE ENDS spl LP -FEMTEKOLONNARE / LOVE CHANNEL spl 7“ -FETUS EATERS „Manticore“ LP -EMBALMING THEATRE / TERSANJUNG 13 spl 7“ -MERCILESS PRECISION / NIDO DI VESPE spl 7“ -YACOPSAE „Krank ist normal“ 7“ -AGATHOCLES „From grey To Black“ LP -REGURGITATED INNARDS „Feeding The…“ 7“ There is enough stuff for you! Feel free and check the web shop or drop me a line!

4. I know bands of today use simple and cheapest ways to spread their promos.

CDr,mp3,bandcamp link, stuff like that.

Call me a lonesome loser but if I get a tape in my mail that a good chance with me for a band. Yes, I think very „old school“ in this way…it´s more likely that I will hear a demo tape than a CDr or so.

And if your band play very technical modern metal style I will not be the right label/person for you. Raw grindcore with groovy parts, thats my way!

5. I don´t like bands with a stupid message. That’s important. Nothing else.

Bands get 10% of the total amount of pressing, extra copies when they need. I send promo copies to magazines/fanzines and trade and distribute their release worldwide.

I´m open for special things like colored vinyl, extra cover etc.

6. Yes, with Jim from SCHNAUZER / NUNSLAUGHTER we had so many releases planned. Maybe never happen now, but I will try to put out some of our ideas. At the moment the AGATHOCLES / CAUSE OF DIVORCE split 10“ is in the pressing plant.

Other stuff is in the work, so check my webpage from time to time for information.

7. I have got some interesting offers in the last time. This would be great of course if all that was to be realised. Now I will also revive my old tape label – Vulgar Tapes. The first tape after a long time is the CEREBRAL HYPOXIA demo. Very Old School Grindcore with gory lyrix and short tracks around 30 seconds. No modern crap, for freaks only! I will try to made more tape release in the next time.

8. There are many different ways: send letters, E Mails, via Facebook, or whatever.

Web: vulgarrecords.com Mail: sille@vulgarrecords.com Shop: vulgarrec-shop.com FB: facebook.com/Vulgar-Records Feel free to get in touch with me! Thanx Adrian for the questions! Good luck with your mag!

3. In early days signed bands was good friends from me. And today it´s mostly so. And I get so many demos and questions/offers from bands to put out their stuff. Sometimes their stuff impressed me so that I get in touch with the bands and ask em for a release (last time LOVE CHANNEL or REGURGITATED INNARDS) But I´m looking for brutal, groovy and raw stuff all the time, so feel free and send your stuff. The feeling is important for me, not the talent!

November 2015

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Reviews – Reviews – Reviews ACTIVE STENOSIS (Greece) - Succumbed to Infection Eyes of the Dead - 2015 - Gore Grind Gurgling Gore Grind from the most stinking cesspool of hell - that's how I would describe what happens on this CD in a short sentence. But now let's see what's it all about. Active Stenosis is a one man band apparently started in Russia under a different moniker and adopting a Cybergrind path by the time, but the guy's relocation to Greece it seems to have changed his views and targets as the project is now Active Stenosis and plays a groovy and quite old-school type of Grindcore spiced with gurgling low-tuned pig-grunts like vocals that by the time these 25 tracks (half an hour) end will make you puke your bowels out. I like the fact it's perfectly produced so you can follow everything as careful as you want, it's not overly drown in effects and sounds quite organic (well, except for the vocals, of course), and it's not boring at all, but the label compares it to Regurgitate, I'd say a stripped down Regurgitate without the highpitched screams and without the excellent guitar work the Swedes deliver; yet Active Stenosis resembles somehow with Regurgitate so if you're a fan go for it, stream it on Bandcamp and you might like it. I hope for a more complex release next time but the premises are good, a promising project. 7 AEGORTON (UK) - Plaguelord Selfreleased - 2015 - Black Metal One man band Aegorton was started last year and already this year it released 2 demos. This one I'm talking about now is its second effort, made of 8 tracks and totaling 25 minutes of rough, rehearsal-sounding music that could be described as slow to mid-tempo Black Metal, or as Orthus (the man behind this moniker) likes to call it, Doom Black Metal. Unfortunately there are no vocals and after a while you get bored of it, it becomes more and more incomplete as time passes, but that's also because the compositions are quite simple, old-school Black Metal oriented, without much to surprise. I like the fact Orthus had the balls to record real drums, although they sound really amateurish at times, but that's not something many have the courage to do nowadays. In the end, although the obvious mistakes in execution, the raw sound quality and the crappy cover artwork, this demo has that old genuine Black Metal feeling to it, some might like it because of that, but beware, it's not aggressive or brutal as one can think, it's quite mellow if we take away the raw sound.

Limited to only 50 copies but they are very cheap. By next time I hope he finds a suitable vocalist to help him out. 5.5 AGATHOCLES / DISORDER (Belgium / UK) - Split Power It Up - 2015 - Mincecore / Hardcore Noisepunk Power It Up seems to be decided to bring forth releases of some giant Grind or Grind-related bands and this split falls right under this category, a split between the Belgian Mincecore kings Agathocles and the Bristol, UK based Punk legends Disorder, which I'm sure will be highly appreciated by fans of both bands. The release features 7 tracks, 4 from Agathocles and 3 from Disorder, totaling 15 minutes of total devastation and, of course, straight-inyour-face social message spewed from their lyrics.

Agathocles' side is, as we know it, intense, dirty and insane, with a raw sound quality a la '80's garage, and features all newly recorded tracks especially for this release; I admit I would have liked the sound quality to be better, but I'm sure fans of this band can get over it easily.

Disorder's side features 3 live recorded tracks with acceptable sound quality. Released on both CD and vinyl limited to 500 copies. 7 / ANAL VOMIT (Peru) Peste negra, muerte negra Gates of Hell / Icarus 2015 - Thrash Black Death Metal Fourth, long awaited, album of this Peruvian Extreme Metal legend, Peste negra, muerte negra gets released 6 years after the previous full-length, so I guess their fans are finally happy especially since this new album is released both on vinyl and CD, and I have a feeling it

won't be long until it will be out on tape, too. 9 long tracks totaling 40 minutes of total destruction and violence, something anyone familiar with this band is used to, a proper lesson in organic, visceral, hateful Extreme Metal stripped to the very bones, no effects, no tricks, no modern touches, just plain and simple traditional violence in music. If you're looking for aggressive, fast and punishing traditional Extreme Metal you won't be disappointed by this new Anal Vomit album, that's for sure: mid-tempo to (mostly) fast paced rhythms, catchy riffs, schizophrenic Death Metal solos, ferocious vocals, impressive bass lines with excellent influence in the overall music, and pounding drums where comes my one and only complaint, I'm not that fond of the snare drums sound, but except that this album absolutely rips you apart. Metal brutality in its purest form, mandatory!

9.5

as well. Antropofago started on Kaotoxin and seems to be happy where they are. This is the band's second studio album, a 14 tracks effort totaling a bit over 35 minutes of dark and technical Brutal Death Metal with highlights on the incisive bass lines, the almost comprehensive but still hateful vocals and the apocalyptic atmospheres. The instrumental work is so brutal, fast and precise you'll find yourself surprised a lot of times during the audition, the drums are absolutely insane, the guitar riffs are damn intricate yet clear, the bass lines are, as I said, highly incisive and dominant influencing the overall outcome big time, and the sound is absolutely crystal clear, you'll be able to distinguish each end every note like looking in the most clear water you can imagine and seeing every fish and plants in it. What I've enjoyed the most were the dark, heavy atmosphere and the fact that Antropofago's music is not your typical "full-on brutality and speed" from start to finish, they like to build up atmospheres, they don't feel ANARCHOS (Holland) constraint to be as brutal as possible all the time, so you'll - Descent into the have the chance to listen to some melodic leads and solos, some Black Death like demonic atmospheres and even a Maelstrom Helldprod Murder - part where their music is really mellow, but it's just the 2014 - Death Metal calm before the storm, the overall impression is of a After a demo in 2012 Anarchos are back with their first highly technical, highly fast and highly brutal release to official EP, a 5 tracks effort totaling a bit over 20 minutes be proud of. I'm not a Brutal Death fanatic, I prefer classic of old-school Death Metal, of course, what else? The Death Metal, but this album sounds like the perfect blend, expressive and quite memorable cover artwork by The and that's why I love it. 9 Crystallomantic Art perfectly introduces the listener in the atmosphere and offers a hint of what to expect. Anarchos APHYXION (Denmark) are a mix of Swedish Death Metal, local, Dutch Death Earth Entangled Metal and also a bit of Tampa Bay brewed Death Metal, a Mighty Music - 2014 bit of everything resulting into a mid-tempo to fast paced Modern Melodic Death Metal of Death well-thought and well-delivered, but Metal unfortunately not expressive enough to keep me interested Ok, so I have to admit I'm officially for more than a couple of spins. The guys are good impressed by all (or almost all) new releases from musicians, in terms of old-school Death Metal they are Mighty Music, they seem to have an excellent smell for doing everything as they should, but the atmosphere lacks performance because the last releases I've heard from the most inhere, throughout the whole EP I have the them are all very good. This one, the debut album from a constant feeling something's missing in order for this band that seems to be made of teenagers only (but they music to become as dark and somber as I'm sure these only look like that, the band was formed back in 2006, so guys initially designed it. Maybe I've been listening to too I'm pretty much sure they're all over 20), is a fantastic much of this Death Metal that I've become numb, I'm not display of modern and melodic Death Metal a la In sure, but it's certain the band is good but doesn't clicked Flames, At The Gates, Scar Symmetry and the likes; 10 with me. 6.5 tracks, 47 minutes of energetic, infecting, groovy, intelligent music that if you're at least a bit into this kind ANARCOTERROR (Italy) - Worms from Past of Metal is impossible not to catch and keep you tight Selfreleased - 2015 - Death Metal throughout its duration. The production is also something Man, this one looks all necro, starting from the band's worth mentioning, crystal clear, powerful and leaving no name, continuing with the DIY obscure release type and space for complaints. I couldn't mention a highlight of this of course ending with the band's music. Anarcoterror are album, I've liked them all, from the ballsy vocals, around since 2013 and this is their debut EP and first headbanging friendly guitar riffs, mesmerizing guitar official release; made of 6 tracks and clocking 16 minutes leads and solos, assaulting rhythm section... This is good of playing time, Worms from Past is a brutal, old-school, quality Metal music! 10 organic and visceral type of Death Metal, as underground as like still covered with dirt, defined by the necro sound, ARCHEMORON (Greece) - Sulphur and Fire fast paced rhythms, bestial screaming vocals supported by Cryptia - 2015 - Black Metal inhuman distorted low growls (I would have liked them If you're a fan of the bombastic Greek Black Metal scene, with a bit more volume though), fast and chaotic guitars, you most probably like this new Archemoron full-length, and demented drums. Although it all sounds very stuffed and I'm saying this because I too am a devoted follower of and raw at the same time, this is a promising piece of old- this scene and I have really enjoyed this album. school bestial Death Metal from, what seems to me, a Archemoron was active between 1999 and 2008 as very devoted duo. 7.5 Ancestor playing Heavy Thrash Metal, but in 2008 switched to Black Metal and three years later their first ANEWRAGE (Italy) - Anewrage studio album under the new moniker was released. Now it Sliptrick - 2015 - Alternative Metal was about time for a follow-up, and Sulphur and Fire Debut selftitled album from this Milan based quartet comes in form of a 10 tracks effort totaling almost 70 founded in 2009, Anewrage offers us 12 tracks and clocks minutes of atmospheric, melodic, expressive Black Metal, 45 minutes of playing time. The band plays a genre we actually a mixture of the second wave of both Norwegian don't usually cover inhere, so I'm definitely not an expert and Greek Black Metal scenes with some modern Black in it, but I can appreciate good music regardless of its Death influences here and there. Good and clever guitar genre, and Anewrage is a good band making good music, riffs, same goes for the solos, versatile vocals (although no doubt. This is Alternative Metal mixed with Post they can do even better), frantic rhythm section and Grunge, Nu Metal, and bit of Southern Metal and even excellently built dark and oppressing overall atmospheres. some hints of Progressive Metal and Post Rock, an easy I like the fact the band's compositions are not stale, they to listen music that can work anytime on any daily TV explore in every direction, even when it comes to music show, that's why I'd say they need more attention rhythms, so the listener can taste from slow, ambient and if they'll get it I won't be surprised to see them in the rhythms, to fast and energetic ones, but all heading mainstream Rock / Metal scene. This album is groovy, towards the same epic and sinister path. A good album, catchy, sounds fresh, it's varied, a good audition. give it a try! 8 ANTROPOFAGO (France) - Æra Dementiæ Kaotoxin - 2015 - Brutal Death Metal And here's the proof Kaotoxing haven't abandoned their initial path completely, the label started out (or at least that's what it seemed) on the Death Grind territory, but slowly started getting aboard other genres' representatives

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ARS IRAE (Germany) - Dunkle Klange Quality Steel - 2015 - Blackened Death Metal With 11 years of experience underbelt and a debut album released in 2010, for the German band Ars Irae it was about time to come up with a follow-up studio effort and here's their second album made of 10 tracks and clocking

a full hour of quite melodic and easily "digestible" Blackened Death Metal with a few Folk Metal influences and German written lyrics. Mostly mid-tempo, with occasional aggressive and fast outbursts of anger, the album flows nicely and doesn't follow any special narrow leads, it experiments on different territories that's why I'd say it would appeal to fans of multiple genres, Extreme Metal, of course. German fans will probably enjoy it more because the vocals are comprehensive and easy to follow, but if you're like me, and enjoy this language in Black and Death simply because it sounds cold and sharp, you'll like it too. Definitely not a boring album, but one that will make a good full hour audition, go for it! 8 (Switzerland) - Ilmasaari Crickets 2015 Blackened Doom Metal Debut album from this Swiss duo founded in 2012 by a Swiss lady and a Finnish guy, both previously or currently members of Phased, a quite established Psychedelic Doom Metal band. I guess this new band (or project) of theirs is like an escape towards a more mystical, a darker and blacker world since in Ashtar they even scratch Black Metal surfaces at least in the vocal part. The whole inhere sounds mysterious and mesmerizing as it should be, but to be honest with you I had to wait for the 5th track (from the total of 6) to enjoy it, and let me explain why: the first 4 tracks are traditional Doom with a hint of Black Metal in Witch's raspy vocals, but the fifth, These Nights Will Shine On, actually adds a bit more energy in the guitars and drums parts, too, it adds a bit more diversity and surprises the listener. I know, Doom should sound monotonous and heavy, but by now you're kind of waiting for Doom to surprise you, too, to be fresh and daring, and thankfully part of this album is, and it sounds great and promising. By listening to this 5th (also the 6th) track I feel this band is capable of delivering emotional, involving, entertaining and interesting Blackened Doom Metal fit for the years we live in; there are plenty, actually too many, Doom Metal bands nowadays, it's like a fashion again, so bringing something new to a quite stale genre won't hurt anyone and it's possible this duo might have what they need. 8 ASHTAR Czar of

ASTARIUM (Russia) - Nekrocosmo: Nocturnal Kali Yuga Metallic Media - 2015 - Symphonic Black Metal Unlike the previous release I've reviewed from this Russian project, the new Astarium album is back to the usual Symphonic Ambient Black Metal SiN used us with so far, and here I can include the totally synthetic sounding drums machine and guitar riffs, although it seems this time they sound less disturbing. SiN is getting better at using these computer generated sounds and almost avoiding getting annoying, but that's also because of his excellent skills in composing and structuring his music, or at least this new album is very good on composition level, the tracks have a soul and are pretty expressive sharing a variety of feelings to the listener. I still love the traditional, organic bands, but I have to admit again SiN is getting better at offering (good) music and so his Astarium project gets better release by release, so if you're into '90's sounding synthetic Symphonic Black Metal you should definitely give this a try, you might like it. 7.5 ASTARIUM (Russia) Winter Growths (Part II) Nihil Art / Dark East / NitroAtmosfericum 2015 - Dark Ambient Although recorded in the Fall of 2012, this material was released only last year on tape, and this year on CD, and contrary to my expectations it's a demo even though it features no less than 9 tracks and clocks almost 40 minutes of playing time, and on top of that is released professionally by this joint venture between 3 different labels. Maybe SiN, the man behind this moniker, decided to label it as demo because on this release he only features his Dark Ambient side of Astarium, no Black Metal, it's just an experiment, one that I have to admit I love. The 9 tracks are bringing me back to the beginning of the 2000's when there were quite a lot of such projects, and the music isn't far from those years, the sound isn't very modern but keeps that natural, naive production from those years. Built on keys, piano, drum-machine and nature effects this material

sound both theatrical and genuine, it manages to introduce band worth keeping under observation, and in the the listener to its own world, or at least that's what it did meantime you might try getting one of these 100 to me. Once in a while it's very nice to feel this epic, handnumbered tapes. 6.5 relaxing mysterious state of mind such a release offers, and I guess it caught me at the right time, exactly when I AXOLOTL (Germany) needed a break from my daily Extreme Metal, try it - Voices of Luna yourselves. For me it's back to violent music now. :) 8 Bret Hard Records 2015 - Melodic Thrash ATAVISMA / MAUR (France / Indonesia) - Buried in Death Metal I know Bret Hard for a the Ethereal Atavism - 2015 - Doom Death Metal / Doom Black Metal couple of years now and This is probably the first split tape released by Atavism I was always impressed Records, but it still keeps tracks of tradition in what by the high-quality local Metal bands they managed to concerns the edition, Buried in the Ethereal is again a tape bring to the table, and Axolotl is no exception to that rule; limited to only 100 hand-numbered copies. their name seems to mean Water Demon, but I have no Opening this split are Atavisma from France with a 10+ idea how would you pronounce it without breaking your minutes long track displaying a very heavy, oppressive I'd tongue. Anyway, the band is around since 2007 releasing say, Doom Death Metal highlighted by a deep growling two demos and a self-produced full-length album before vocal, dark atmosphere and typical slow, mortuary getting noticed and signed by Bret Hard. This second rhythms. A very good track that introduces a band with album is made of 10 tracks full of energy and melody, and definite potential in this Doom Death scene. There's not heavily inspired by the Swedish Melodic Death Metal much to say they have an own style yet, but playing the movement from the '90's. Their music sounds so very well old-school way seems to be natural for them, so hopefully curdled and well-built that you'll wonder where were they they'll also find something to be distinguished by in the hiding all these years, it's a fast paced and technical future.

Melodic Death Metal with influences from Heavy, Thrash Maur from Indonesia offer one track as well, again a 10 and Black Metal, a find blend of all good things in minutes long track that continues with the same Extreme Metal, not overly melodic or overly technical, oppressive atmosphere, but the mixing doesn't fit very but with just the right amount of everything in order to be well in their case. The guitar leads (good stuff) are way attractive and catchy for the listener. The production is too in from of the rest when it comes to volume, so you'll absolutely faultless, the tracks are all impressive, so we're have problems realizing this is not a guitar solo release; I dealing here with a hell of a good release from Germany, might be exaggerating, you can hear the drums, bass, and you shouldn't miss it, just try a couple of tracks on vocals, of course, but the guitars are really loud and since YouTube or anywhere online, you'll be hooked for sure. 9 this part is almost all made of leads and no riffs, it becomes quite annoying after a while. There is also a AZAGHAL / OATH (Finland / Finland) - Split calm part where the guitars are actually quite interesting Immortal Frost - 2015 - Black Metal / Black Metal and playful, so I'd say this band has potential, of course, Azaghal shouldn't be an unknown name for anyone who but hope they'll come up with something more curdled claims he/she is into Black Metal, they have been around and solid next time. 7 / 6 since the '90's and this year reached their tenth full-length album released being already a Finnish Black Metal ATOMWINTER legend. On this split they offer us 3 long tracks (totaling (Germany) - Iron Flesh almost 25 minutes), two of them in their purest ulra-fast Black Skull - 2015 - and razor-sharp Black Metal tradition, with riffs so Death Metal harmonious they sound almost melodic at times although Although a quite young band, extremely aggressive, an incissive bass line, fierce hoarse founded in 2010, Atomwinter vocals and extremely complex drumming that already at their second full- unfortunately isn't very well capitalized because of the length album, and if the debut was self- somehow stuffed sound quality. Their third track (which released, this one is being released by a proper label yet is actually the second listed here) follows a slow to mideven younger (established in 2012). These 9 tracks tempo Thrash Black meets Black'n'Roll path at start, and totaling a bit over half an hour of playing time are exactly then falls into the ultra-fast, venomous Azaghal type of what one could call Traditional Death Metal; from mid- music. Great tracks, great band! tempo to fast rhythms, all tracks reek of Death Metal Oath are a new name on the Finnish Black Metal scene, without compromises, without (too many) influences, a but they have already released a full-length album on mix of old Gorefest, Master, Obituary, Asphyx and the Immortal Frost last year, so I guess this idea to team them first years of the Swedish Death Metal scene; solid, up with Azaghal will give them even more credibility. powerful riffs, heavy drumming, demolishing bass lines Oath present us 2 tracks, also almost 25 minutes long, an and a monster of a vocalist that leads the band well. All atmospheric kind of fast paced Black Metal with slight tracks are good, but they lack a few more hooks here and keyboard backgrounds, not original but well executed and there to become memorable, and the stand-out vocals are even catchy, proudly continuing the great Finnish Black not enough, that's for sure. Fans of the '90's Death Metal Metal tradition, clowns-free.

An excellent split especially for Finnish Black Metal scene will appreciate this album, too. 6.5 followers, from my point of view the US Black Metal has AVITUM (France) - also a lot of roots in it, too, so its fans will enjoy a lot this split as well. 9 / 7.5 MMXIV Atavism - 2014 - Black Metal AZURICA (Germany) - Warriors Don't Die I have a special respect for AMRC - 2015 - Melodic Death Metal this label and its evolution so far; it Azurica is a funny name in Romanian, although it doesn't started as a tape Black Metal label promoting mainly (or mean anything it sounds funny, but joke aside this band exclusively?) French bands, and continued this way until was formed in 2009 in Bavaria and released this EP two Today; all their tapes have a special atmosphere around times, the first time in 2013 by themselves, and the them, you can say they know how they like their Black second time in 2015 with the help of AMRC (not sure if Metal and release exactly that kind of Metal. Avitum it's not their own label, though) with 3 extra tracks and in present us here their debut demo, a 3 tracks effort digipak format featuring lyrics, too. The music and the clocking a bit over 15 minutes, so there's plenty to enjoy; sound quality disappointed me quite heavily, and honestly a raw, organic, extremely aggressive and brutal kind of I can't believe this was mastered at Finnvox Studios as it Black Metal with a heavy dose of Death Metal influences. sounds like not mastered at all, it actually sounds like the whole is very expressive, most probably due to the recorded live at the rehearsal place... I don't like this desperate, menacing shrieks, and the atmosphere is heavy sound at all, sounds less professional than I would have and terrifying, but the instrumental part isn't that ever expected, very synthetic. The music is ok... for a interesting, not totally bad, but not impressive at all demo from the '90's; the vocalist feels like he's struggling either: the guitar riffs are overused most of the times, and too much throughout the whole EP to a point I pity him the bass and drums have no identity, but again, the (not sure why he doesn't sing in a usual, natural tone...), atmospheres they manage to create are exactly the the keyboards are like from the beginning of the '90's, and atmospheres one is looking for in an underground Black the compositions are way too broken apart by multiple Metal band, I know I've enjoyed it and that made me spin rhythm changes that have nothing to do with flow. The this tape a few times already (reminds me of the whole only element I liked in Azurica's music was the guitar '90's effervescent Black Metal scene, especially of some leads and solos, but that's it, the band plays a genre that German bands, not sure why...). If you're into Raw Black has reached an extremely technical and melodically Metal with organic sound, this might be another French advanced level at the moment in order for what they do to

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heavy, groovy and devastating Gore Grind recorded in 2013 and totaling almost 15 minutes playing time, released on 7"EP format with great cover artwork and solid, cardboard covers. Another proof that this band is BEAR BONE COMPANY (Sweden) - Bear Bone not just noise and no talent, the tracks are quite catchy even for someone who's outside of the scene, so I'm sure Company this could also appeal to some old-school Hardcore, or to Sliptrick - 2015 - Heavy Rock "Think Kiss meets Pantera and they all go partying at the Power Violence or even Punk fans, not only to those into famous Hollywood bar Rainbow where they hit it off with Grind and Gore. 8 members from Black Label Society, Gary Moore, Foo Fighters and moreâ&#x20AC;Ś" - well this is how the band CAPTAIN CLEANOFF (Australia) Rising describes their style and yes, it's that complicated to label it somehow or pinpoint it somewhere. This is their debut Terror Blastasfuk Grindcore album, a 12 tracks material clocking 50 minutes of a mix 2015 - Grindcore between Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Glam Rock, Hard'n'Heavy, and pure Metal, an album that could easily Holy shit, these guys have almost 20 years of activity become very commercial within the scene and uplift the underbelt and the experience they've accumulated during band's name in an instant. It's well dosed between all these years is clearly displayed on this (only) second fullthose influenced, catchy as hell, easy flowing, and well length album, a 16 tracks effort totaling a bit over 20 balanced between melody and power, very well balanced. minutes of traditional yet fresh and definitely energetic The three members of the band seem to get along well, Grindcore spiced with so many catchy guitar and clever their compositions sound curdled and although this album guitar riffs, insanely ruthless dual vocals, a brutal as fuck is not something to be considered innovative, I find it rhythm section, and a perfect (!!!) production. It took very entertaining, something to perfectly fit any bikers' them almost 2 years to record this album and 2 more to meetings as well as any TV or Radio Rock Shows, and release it but I'm sure their fans will be satisfied by it. If this due in no small part to the awesome versatile timbre you're a constant reader of my reviews you should probably know that I'm not a big fan of modern of their vocalist, too. 8 Grindcore, but I love the traditional violent and fast BETH-SHEMESH (Italy) - The Last Chant of the Grind, and here's another release that definitely meets all my needs in this genre, it's tough to even stand down and White Wolf writing while listening to it, that's how addictive and Magma Pure Underground - 2014 - Black Metal This one man band from Italy was apparently started in energetic these 16 tracks are. Amazing band, amazing 2011 but the first demo, this one I'm listening to right album, check it out if you're a Grind fanatic. 9 now, was released only in 2014, and it features only 3 tracks and an intro, so not a big deal of material also. In CARN DUM (Germany) - Carn Dum my opinion one starts a one man project when he/she has Dominance of Darkness - 2015 - Epic Black Metal some ideas already gathered and wants to show them, but This is a young band founded in 2012 but they already to me 3 years for one person to come up with 3 tracks is have 2 demos and a split with Swiss one man band Black way too superfluous. Anyway, let's see what we have Jade out by now. This is their debut full-length album here: fast, '90's type Black Metal highlighted by freezing made of 10 tracks and clocking almost 50 minutes of and piercing shrieks that emanate both hate and evilness, Tolkien inspired Melodic and Epic Black Metal. Although excellent intelligent guitar riffs (ranging from traditional they have a keyboard player in the line-up this instrument Black Metal to some primitive Thrash Black rhythms, is not overused, actually in quite subtle in the general too) that will totally capture your interest if you're into construction of this album acting well in the background, this genre, and organic (I guess live recorded) drums. enveloping the music in a mystic atmosphere perfectly fit Although there are some occasional, unavoidable for Nazgul's realms. Occasional semi-acoustic and mistakes here and there, the general impression on this melancholic parts have also a big influence on the final demo is a very good one; not original or innovative in any outcome, and regarding the core of Carn Dum's music I'd way, Beth-Shemesh still manages to capture and express a say it's mostly mid-tempo Melodic Black Metal with both perfect Black Metal atmosphere, evil, cold and simple and rich structures, raw and carnivorous vocals threatening as first meant. Cool debut, I hope it won't be singing lyrics in German language and this making them another 3 years until the next demo... 7 even more razor-sharp. unfortunately the production is not as professional as this music would require, it's organic BLEAK and honest sounding, yes, but I would have enjoyed it REVELATION better if more polished, more majestic, this album reuqires (Bulgaria) - Afflictive such a polished sound. CD comes with 8 pages booklet featuring the lyrics, but that's a joy only if you know the Seclusion Selfreleased - 2015 - language. the band has high potential. 7.5 Melodic Doom Death Metal CHABTAN (France) - The Kiss of Coatlicue Here's the first full-length album from this Bulgarian Mighty Music - 2015 - Death Metal Deathcore band, an 8 tracks effort totaling 50 minutes of melodic These guys are just back from an European Tour in Doom Metal with occasional but very influential Death support of Nile and Suffocation so we can easily guess Metal elements. Recorded in their capital city, Sofia, how dedicated and willing to invest in their future they Afflictive Seclusion is a very nice surprise, at least for are, I'm sure such a tour is not cheap for a young band, me, being used to the brutal side of Bulgarian Metal and especially for this niche or Metal investing large scene, the Death Grind acts that is; the album flows amounts of money only means you're fucking serious easily, and although at first audition I could have said about it. Kudos for that. The band was formed in 2011 they are mostly influenced by the '90's UK Doom Death, and this is their debut full-length album, a material that at now I wouldn't say that, they don't actually follow a first made me think I'm going to listen to some sort of certain period or territory in Doom, they take elements Greek Folk Metal band, it starts with a Greek Folk-like from the UK Doom Death, the '70's Psychedelic Doom, acoustic guitar that's really refreshing and not at all out of the current wave of Doom Metal, and of course a bit of place on this album. During its 46 minutes of playing time Death Metal and even a hint of Gothic Rock, so I'm sure The Kiss of Coatlicue will have some more of these this album will appeal to a wide range of fans of this melodic and unexpected elements that from my point of genre. Blending hoarse vocals (almost growls) with epic view only increase its overall value. In its core Chabtan is clean vocals' choirs, catchy guitar leads, repetitive riffs, a melodic yet aggressive mix of Modern Death Metal very complex drumming, and a subtle but supportive bass with Deathcore; lots of groove, catchy riffs, tempo line, Afflictive Seclusion turns out to be an impressive changes, nice guitar leads, and versatile vocals. There are work for a debut and I'd really recommend you to give some part where the lack of experience is quite obvious this band a listen, you might discover something on your (where they loose the listener by keeping things too static taste. 8.5 - especially during the groovy slow to mid-tempo rhythms), but overall I'd say Chabtan got it right for a BUTCHER ABC (Japan) - Road to Hell debut album, it's fresh, interesting, varied, catchy and Power It Up - 2014 - Gore Grind inventive, highly promising! 8 I was a bit nervous when I saw this is actually a Live EP, not a new studio recording from these Japanese masters of CHIRAL (Italy) - Night Sky Goregrind, anxiously waiting a crappy sound quality, but Selfreleased - 2015 - Ambient Doom Black Metal I was way wrong, the sound quality of this recording is I've given this CD a few spins already before starting to excellent, even better than what most similar bands have actually get some data on the band and its history and I on their studio recordings. So here we get 4 tracks of have to say after reading about it I'm even more surprised be even remotely interesting. I'm really sorry to be so harsh, but again, I was expecting more from a German band that worked with Finnvox studios... 4

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this one man band was started in 2013 and this is already its second full-length (both released in 2015), beside a couple of demos, EPs and singles, so we're dealing with a highly productive individual (Chiral) but one that doesn't settle for lack of quality in favor of quantity, or at least that's what I hear on this new album. There are only 5 tracks featured here but the total duration is an hour, so except The Morning Passage that's 3+ minutes long, a classy whispers + acoustic guitar + harmonica intermezzo, the others are not really radio-friendly. Chiral fully demonstrates his abilities on all instruments used here, but above all he demonstrates he knows how to create meditative passages without becoming boring; his music is a mix of Burzum like melancholic yet cold Black Metal passages supported by ambient keyboards and experimental and melodic parts a la Aggaloch and the final outcome is as enjoyable as possible, this is already the 4th time I'm spinning this CD and I'm still discovering new things and enjoying my (already) favorite passages.

A really good project that has the potential to become a household name in this field. 8.5 CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC (USA) - Your Doom Has Come Kinda Like Music - 2015 - Doom Metal I remember reviewing these guys' debut album last year and wondering how come they don't have a vocalist, now I know, they don't want one, plain and simple. CSS present us here their second full-length album, a 6 tracks effort clocking 40 minutes of playing time. Traditional Doom Metal is the name of the game here, with important Stoner influences and even an occasional Post Rock feeling to it, but all done without the use of vocals which at times can become a bit dull and to be honest there were a few times throughout the audition when I thought they really needed a vocalist, a good one. It's good that they reduced the tracks' length and so 6 tracks now are "only" 40 minutes, but the listener can react better to one or another. What else to say, I still miss that evil attitude the band's name suggests, but as for the rest we're treated with some really enjoyable Doom Metal based on catchy guitar riffs and groovy rhythms. 7.5 COMANIAC (Switzerland) - Return to the Wasteland Selfreleased - 2015 Thrash Metal Fouded in 2010, Comaniac managed to record and release this debut album this year, and I feel like it's a perfect introduction to the Thrash Metal fanatics out there. The band displays clear and wide imagination while still keeping things traditional and as "true" as possible, their Thrash Metal is pure but swings well, actually mixes both aggressive passages and melodic ones, and completed by a vocalist that has the potential to becoming original by blending Punk and Thrash influences, so all in all for a debut album I think Return to the Wasteland really did its job perfectly. Now you shouldn't expect something you haven't heard before, something to blow you away, but rather a very entertaining, headbanging-friendly, clean sounding Thrash Metal. the band did everything on their own, and they did it professionally, faultless in every aspects, I'm curious to see where this debut takes them.

8.5

CONCATENATUS (Chile) - Meditation Through the Inner Vortex Selfreleased - 2015 - Atmospheric Doom Black Metal Young band formed in 2014 by two not so young guys with already some experience on the Chilean Extreme Metal scene underbelt, Concatenatus presents us here their debut demo, a 2 tracks (+ intro) effort totaling 16 minutes of mystical, atmospheric and brutal Black Doom Metal with a good organic production. I was impressed by the atmospheres they manage to create, quite deep, scarry and as said earlier, mystical, perfect for this type of music, and that's due partly to the versatile and expressive vocal part. The instrumental part is ok too, but needs a lot more work on the originality side, at this moment it fails to create anything to become typical for the band, but since it's a first attempt this is quite normal. The selfreleased demo comes in ProCDR format with 4 pages booklet featuring the lyrics and it is strictly limited to 200 blood-numbered copies, yes each copy is manually numbered with blood, I assume their blood. True dedication, a band to keep an eye on. 6

unsurprising. The vocals, mainly growls with occasional screams supporting, are pretty ok, but also sound a bit weird, you'll rather meet such vocal type in Brutal Death bands. At times there's also a Groove Metal influence present, at times it's even Hard Rock (on a few guitar leads and solos), making the overall impression on this Thrash Death Metal Even though they look like a Metalcore band, album even more puzzled; the good part is that unlike the Condemnatory are quite set for going on a Thrash Death guitar riffs the general atmosphere is not generic at all, it path, somehow traditional I'd say, but also with its fair pushes your taste, but the question is how many listeners share of modern touches, Metalcore not being left out will be attracted by this mix. As for me, I'm not convinced from the influences either. This is the band's debut album by this album, sorry. 5 although they seem to have been founded back in 2003.

We're offered 13 tracks in a bit over half an hour of DAN DEAGH WEALCAN (International) - Who Cares playing time, as I was saying a mix between Thrash and What Music Is Playing In My Headphones?

Death Metal with powerful, heavy guitar riffs that become Total Metal - 2015 - Experimental Metal groovy at times, a screaming (a mix between DSBM and I've recently reviewed this duo's debut album and wasn't Metalcore) vocalist supported at times by background too fond of it to tell you the truth, so I started listening to growls, incisive and influencial bass lines, and tight and this new full-length rather suspiciously, but for my luck complex drumming, but above all lyrics in Swedish this either sounds like a totally different band or I'm a language which is a novelty and might prove to be their totally different person while listening to it. The trademark. The tracks are varied, energetic and sound Ukraine/Russia duo kept its experimental and chaotic side honest, these guys certainly don't lack of imagination, but but improved the compositions a lot, now it's a pleasure what I also have to mention is the organic, crystal clear and a really interesting journey while listening to these 9 production that makes things easily perceptible. Might be new tracks, the music is curdled, expressive, crazy and an album that will appeal to all types of Thrash, Death, daring and this time it feels like the two musicians care a bit more about what they offer to the listener rather than Deathcore and Metalcore fans, try it out. 8 just trying to be as incomprehensible and rebel as CONGIURA (Italy) - possible, this new album is not only digestible, it's actually a journey, a deranged one indeed, but a one that iBlood lets itself discovered and joined by the listener. Think of a Sliptrick - 2015 - Melodic Death Metal Debut album from this young and promising Italian band schizophrenic mixture of Devin Townsend and Nine Inch founded in 2012, iBlood is an 8 tracks effort clocking 26 Nails spiced up by influences from both '70's Progressive minutes of modern, melodic, and quite catchy Metal with Rock and the nowadays Post Rock, sounds interesting? direct and important influences from the Swedish Melodic Give it a try. I still don't like the drums sound, I find it Death Metal school. But that's not all, Congiura are in no awful, but the general impression on this new album is: way restrained by a specific genre, their music will appeal wow! 9 to Melodic Death Metallers, Modern Death Metallers, Metalcore / Deathcore followers or followers of generic DARK MANAGARM (France) - A Decade of (modern and melodic) Metal and even fans of more aggressive Alternative Metal, it's a broad take on music Terroreign Mortis Humanae - 2015 that can bring them more fans but that can also close them - Black Metal the way as the scene is so overcrowded by good and French quintet Dark excellent bands nowadays that I have no idea what it takes Managarm are celebrating to break through. The Italians are doing an excellent job decade of Black Metal through on this debut album, the guitar work is top-notch, the a vocals are good also (a screaming main vocal that at times this compilation of tracks recorded in sturio or live during is perfectly seconded by a clean backing vocal), and the their career, an excellent choice I'd say. Featuring 14 rhythms section is Swiss-clock precise, nothing more to tracks recorded between 2008 and 2014, A Decade of ask for. The best thing about this album is that the tracks Terroreign is a full one hour worth of uncompromising, are flowing naturally, are catchy enough to keep your traditional, fast paced Black Metal structured on layers attention high, and complex enough not to leave a upon layers of excellent guitar riffs, a devastating rhythm moment of boredom. A really good job, a band to keep an section that seems to never stop, never leave the listener take a break, and devilish Black Metal shrieks. Released eye on. 8 as 6 panel Digipak, I'd recommend this CD to all of you CORPSIA (Brazil) - into fast, offensive, satanic Black Metal based on intelligent guitar work, Dark Managarm really know how Order from Chaos Grotesque - 2015 - to do their thing, no compromise, no remorse, no weakness. Thrash Metal After 3 years of activity, or better said after a period of search of both permanent members and a path to follow DARK MIRROR OV TRAGEDY (South Korea) - The for the future, Corpsia managed to release their debut Lunatic Chapters of Heavenly Creatures demo on Grotesque Records which I think is their own WormHoleDeath - 2014 - Symphonic Gothic Power label as I wasn't able to find any info on it on the net. This Black Death Metal first effort features 4 tracks and clocks a bit over 12 I had no doubts this South Korean outfit would impress minutes, sufficient to get to know the band and what they me, and I was right, this third full-length album from are all about. Corpsia chose the old-school Thrash Metal Dark Mirror ov Tragedy is a mixture of Symphonic path, no compromises, no progressive ideas, no influences Gothic, Power Metal, Black Death Metal and Melodic from other genres, just pure and simple Thrash Metal, Death a la Children of Bodom, carefully built and mostly fast paced, but with some slower parts, too, a skillfully delivered by good musicians. It sounds like a groovy and raw at the same time mix of old Metallica, old polyphonic incursion deep into a technical, melodic and Sepultura and probably a little hint of Testament, too, old- highly orchestral world of Extreme Metal, but school and traditional to the bone, with good, repetitive unfortunately the mixing part of this album kills almost choruses, fat and headbanging-friendly guitar riffs, every drop of wish to spin it again; from the first track I incisive bass lines and oppressive, organic drums. Get in had the constant feeling I have 2 or more CDs playing at touch with the band and ask about this demo, you'll get a the same time and that made me somehow paranoiac; fair and honest slice of good Thrash Metal to enjoy. 7.5 maybe working with 7 different musicians and way more tracks for instruments was a bit too much to handle for CORROSIVE ELEMENTS (France) - Toxic Waste Ukrainian Morton Studio, and although the whole sounds crystal clear you'll have a hard time following the music, Blues it sounds so chaotic. Too bad, this is a band with definite GreyveStorm - 2015 - Thrash Death Metal A decade after their formation, French Corrosive potential, fans of Symphonic Metal should keep an eye on Elements manage to release their debut full-length album, them. 7 a 12 tracks effort totaling 50 minutes of fast paced Thrash DAUDEN (Norway) with death Metal influences especially on vocals (growling) and bass lines I'd say (very upfront, very My Soul Will Be incisive and metallic), but there are also some 100% Damned Forever Selfreleased - 2015 pedigree old-school Death Metal parts or better said Black Metal tracks featured. The guitars from my point of view are the The guy replacing weak point in this band, or at least on this recording they Johnto on drums at sound like they have a freakin' cold and except for the few Ragnarok, at least on live nice solos here and there the rest is pretty generic and CONDEMNATORY (Sweden) (R)evolution채r 책terv채ndsgr채nd Bleeding Music - 2015 -

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occasions, Malignant, has this personal project, together with Berserk on bass and other guests, since 2005, and this is its debut full-length album, a 7 tracks effort clocking amlost 50 minutes of menacing Black Metal without compromises. The album was selfreleased by Malignant on limited edition vinyl, but there are also plans of releasing it on CD soon. About the music on it, what can I say, it's definitely brutal, uncompromising and blasphemous Black Metal with multiple repetitive guitar riffs that last so long the whole atmosphere becomes mesmerizing, it takes you to other dimensions. Fast paced most of the time, highlighted by traditional yet catchy guitar riffs, devastating rhythm section and a hoarse, almost comprehensive Black Metal voice (not screams), a good audition for Black Metal fanatics, they will understand the little effects and the band's ideology, but I think occasional listeners will get bored pretty fast as it's not as varied as it should for a "mass" consumer. Organic, yet crystal clean sound quality, you won't have any problems with it. 6.5 DEAD TWILIGHT (Italy) - Endless Torment Selfreleased - 2015 - Brutal Death Metal I was about to say some rough shit regarding this band's decision to use a shitty drum machine instead of recording real drums, but then I saw they really don't have a drummer and yet they still continue playing and recording, and that's actually a respectable thing. Yes, the drum machine on this debut album is probably the shittiest and the most synthetic I've heard this year and it kinda ruined the whole audition experience for me, but if you don't mind such a recording you should know Dead Twilight are a mix between the old-school traditional Death Metal a la Cannibal Corpse and the '90's still US type Brutal Death Metal movement built on technical guitar riffs teamed up well with brutal growls and relentless rhythm section. The sound is fat and powerful, fit for this type of music, and I'd also say they're also right on the money when it comes to atmosphere, a heavy, oppressive, terrifying atmosphere. I really hope these guys find a suitable drummer soon as it's pretty obvious they'll continue to torment their instruments, this debut album displays a honest and continuous passion for Death Metal although the band was born almost 15 years ago.

Try it if you're into '90's brutal, underground sounding and a bit technical Death Metal. 6 DEADLYSINS (France) Anticlockwise Selfreleased - 2014 - Thrash Metal Thrash Metal, traditional Thrash Metal, that's what these Lyon based guys offer us on their second full-length album released two years after their debut and 14 (!) years after the bands foundation. 10 tracks, almost 40 minutes of playing time, and a huge 18 pages booklet that unfolds into a huge painting, similar to the one on the front cover, but with more familiar faces (Jack Black, Conchita Wurst, among others, and funniest of them all: Darth Vader buttfucked by Mickey Mouse). The music is, as I said, traditional Thrash Metal, mid-tempo to fast paced, featuring some kick-ass guitar riffs, a demented main vocalist (that could use a bit more flexibility though), and precise rhythm section. There are some incursions into Death Metal territories at times, but not enough to consider this Thrash Death, yet all in all I feel there's the need of something more, something to avoid monotony.

This should be fun if saw live, but on recording there's a slight chance you get bored after a couple of tracks as it's similar to many other things you've already heard. 7 DEATH DIES (Italy) - Legione Black Tears - 2015 - Black Metal A trip through the memory lane, that's what this compilation of Death Dies tracks was for me, their 20 years anniversary release featuring tracks from their previous releases with Death Dies, Satanel, Negatron and especially Evol, one of my all-time fave bands! The 12 tracks are re-recorded by the current line-up that features Demian and Samael whom we know from Evol, joined by Krom from Negatron on vocals, and they are a triumph of Black Metal structures. the guitar work is the highlight here, at times I can't believe how good some of the riffs featured here are, not to mention the mysterious and catchy leads and solos, and Krom's vocals fit perfectly with the whole concept, very vicious and evil sounding, absolutely perfect; the rhythm section is devastating most of the time, but unfortunately the production is not as good as I would have liked, quite rough and primitive for nowadays' standards, and ruins a bit of the overall fun in listening to this release, at least the drums sound awfully

clocking almost an hour of mesmerizing, atmospheric and at the same time energetic and aggressive as hell music, an album where the devastating fast paced parts often meet and intertwine with the captivating repetitive and almost meditative slow paced ones, all this while the vocalist constant screams are so well structured within the tracks that they sort of become a bewitching part of the DEATHINITION (Poland) - Art of Manipulation whole concept, even when it comes to the meditative / Selfreleased - 2013 - Thrash Metal A nowadays old (2 years) release that has been also used relaxing parts, the idea of leaving vocals behind, in the for a split with Canadian Terrifier this year, so I guess the background volume-wise makes them not disturbing at tracks are pretty actual nonetheless. 4 tracks, 16 minutes all. A release that will make you think, out on 6 panels of playing time, a very nice looking self-released CD with Digipak featuring all lyrics (French only). 8.5 a 4 pages booklet featuring the lyrics as well. Now here we have a problem, 3 tracks are in English and the DEMONIC remaining 1 in Polish; since I don't know Polish I MANIFESTATION (Mexico) - World of wouldn't know what to say about the lyrics, but regarding the English written ones, they really suck, their ideas as Horror pretty ok, overused in this Rock/Metal scene, but written Dan's Crypt - 2015 - Death Metal at a 3rd grade school kid level, so my suggestion would 2 seconds into this album and you already know you're be to lose the English version asap, native speakers will going to experience traditional, horrifying Death Metal, diss them for this. Regarding the music on this EP, now that's what I call straight in your face! Not that the Deathinition is pure US-style Thrash Metal with loads of cover artwork would indicate something else, or the label good riffs, excellent solos, nice harmonies, a good, stand- releasing it would be a different kind of label, everything out vocalist, and neck-breaking intensity, I think every here simply roars old-school Death Metal. Demonic Thrash Metal fanatic will find something to enjoy in this Manifestation is a quite young band founded only 3 years band's music, a really good '80's type Thrash Metal, as ago, and this is their debut album, follow-up to their 2013 traditional and bold as possible. 7.5 demo The Evocation & Death Spells, featuring half (2 tracks) from that demo. We're treated here with 10 tracks DEFORMITY (Costa clocking almost 35 minutes, a compact and entertaining Rica) - Obsessed with release that will please fans of both American and Swedish Death Metal, actually Demonic Manifestation is Death Visceral Vomit / Murder a mix of the two influences, delivering both mid-tempo - 2010 - Death Metal heavy and fast, menacing rhythms, tenebrous, horrifying Basically since I got this vocals (maybe a bit more versatility would be useful next for a review I suppose it's still available for purchase time), pounding drums, low tuned, explosive bass lines, although it was released 5 years ago and in a limited and Swedish type of guitar riffs, but above all, what edition of 300 handnumbered copies by two different captured my interest the most were the excellent guitar labels... That's too bad because this is not a bad demo, and solos and leads, really old-school, really well done. the band proves some potential on it, but a bit over 150 Probably most of the new generation fans won't "get" this units sold in 5 years is a shame. Deformity are a 100% sound production, it's less powerful than what we're used traditional Death Metal inspired by the US scene, mostly to nowadays in Death Metal, but that's how bands fast paced, but with occasional mid-tempo and quite (especially the Swedes) were sounding 20-25 years ago, groovy parts to spice things up. I find the vocals to be the so for me it's an excellent treat. Loved it! 8 highlight of this band, very raw, very aggressive and brutal, and at the same time I find the sound quality to be DEMONIC OBEDIENCE (UK) - Morbid Supremacy the lowest point of this demo, too thin for such a massive of Evil Death Metal music, but if you're used to the Death Metal Azermedoth - 2014 - Death Metal demos from the first part of the '90's you'll have no Wow, I spinned this CD a couple of times before deciding problem with this either. Fans of raw, uncompromising, to get a few info on the band and get on with the review, traditional Death Metal will probably enjoy this 7 tracks and I was quite surprised when I found out this is actually demo, and as a debut I find it not bad at all, too. 6 a one man project, not a real band; I don't know, especially these days when such projects are more than DEFORMITY (Costa Rica) - Endless Atrocity real bands and a lot of them sound so promising, this Viceral Vomit - 2013 - Death Metal particular act gave me the impression of a team work, of a Costa Rica is becoming more and more active on the result of several musicians. Anyway, Demonic Obedience Underground Extreme Metal scene lately, but Deformity means George Ntavelas, a Greek who, seemingly, seems to have been founded back in 2008 as Cadaver. recently relocated to Scotland, and here we have his debut They changed their name along the way and then released full-length effort made of 9 tracks and clocking a bit over a debut demo in 2010. This one I'm listening to at the 40 minutes of traditional US type of Death Metal heavily moment is their debut album, released or officially inspired by Incantation, immolation and Deicide, and distributed in 2013 by the vocalist / bassist's own label skillfully executed. The music brings nothing new to the Viscera Vomit Records as professional CD with 6 pages table so I'd only suggest it to fanatics of this genre who booklet featuring all lyrics, although the print is a bit wouldn't mind another such CD in their collection, and to blurred, and this limited to 1000 hand-numbered copies. them I'd say buy it without hesitation. George managed to The album is made of 9 tracks clocking a bit over half an build and develop a quite technical, dark and oppressive hour of playing time. The cover artwork seems interesting release complete with sinister solo guitars, multiple layers but again the blur issue gave me a hard time in of riffs and leads, a drum machine that doesn't feel understanding what I'm looking at. Music-wise Deformity synthetic at all, an overall perfect, creepy atmosphere for are 100% traditional Death Metal, mid-tempo to (mostly) this genre. Alongside Dead Congragation whom I recently fast paced rhythms, with no effects or influences from reviewed and found fantastic, here's another act from the other styles whatsoever, so if you're in search for pure Greek springs of Death Metal that impressed me. Fast, Death Metal this might be your thing. There's not much brutal, technical and ugly as hell! 9 variation or interesting ideas throughout the album, but I can appreciate their organic sound (although the drums DESERT CRONE (Sweden) - Distorted could have been mixed better, some obvious mistakes in execution pop up here and there) and enthusiasm. The Solitude guitar riffs are ok, but bring nothing exciting to the table, Bloodsoaked - 2015 and the same goes for the bass lines (quite hidden except Stoner Doom Metal for some solo parts) and vocals, they have a long way to This young Swedish trio go before being able to compete on international level. 6 was founded last year and this is their first official material, a 3 tracks demo DELUGE (France) - Aether clocking more than 20 minutes. Their music is a heavy, Les Acteurs de L'Ombre - 2015 - Post Hardcore Black heavy, heavy mix of Stoner and Doom Metal (and even a Metal pinch of Black Metal) based on oppressive guitars, This marriage between Post Hardcore and Post Black screaming vocals all over the place, a powerful rhythm Metal seems to be the next "thing" in the Avantgarde / section and plenty of emotions. There's a massive Doom Post Metal scene, I tend to get more and more such revival nowadays and there are plenty of new bands releases lately and the curious thing is they sound quite playing this style, but somehow Desert Crone seem to natural, music-wise nothing sounds forced or unfit as the have what it takes to succeed and hopefully they'll prove combination sounds. This quintet from Metz was founded me right. The screaming vocals are their trademark in 2013 and this is their first offering, a 9 tracks album although both guitars and bass lines are tasty as hell, plus synthetic at times, I'm not sure they are live recorded or programmed. Anyway, I recommend this release for the great, simply great guitar work, and for Evol suckers like me, just listen to Prologue which might be even better than the original I'd say. 9

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groovy and catchy drumming. A devastating debut demo that will make them noticed, I'm sure. Released on Bloodsoaked Records on tape, I think this is a limited edition so I'd suggest you to grab it asap if your thing is to discover new names. 8 DIABLERETS (Switzerland) - I Selfreleased - 2014 - Ambient Drone Doom Black Metal Limited to only 75 hand-numbered copies on red tape in an interesting cardstock sleeve, this debut album of Swiss Diablerets features 5 long tracks totaling almost 40 minutes of post-apocalyptic-sounding mix of Drone, Doom and Ambient with Black Metal influences on vocals mostly. The whole atmosphere is scary and depressive making you feel like the only one left alive in a World that's continuously crumbling (literally) and disintegrating around you, the bass lines sound like whole buildings falling down, the vocals (or better said screams) are like blood-thirsty demons waiting for you, and the industrial synths are perfect to create a hostile to humans horrifying World. Very interesting and well done music, but definitely not recommended if you're a fan of the Rock and Metal that's played on the radio... 8 DIE (Russia) - Close Friend of Death Metal Race - 2014 - Thrash Metal Ok, this is 100% dedicated and targeted for the Russian speaking territories, not even the band's name has a clear correspondent in Latin writing; in English the band's name could mean both "give" and "die", so probably the second option is the one the band members are aiming for. The Moskow based quartet is no longer active but Metal Scrap's owner seems to have been a huge fan back in the days so that he decided to release the band's demos from '90 and '92 on a single CD. Totaling an hour of mostly fast paced Thrash Metal, this compilation features 14 tracks and is a good occasion to discover the Russian Thrash from those years. The sound quality is very good, organic and rough, but very good for a demo status. Still some parts of these two demos betray the fact that they were just kids back then and the experience was lacking, some guitar solos sound sloppy and were really not necessary, some rhythm changes are not that well thought either, still the level of enthusiasm and the passion will win you over if you're into such traditional Speed Thrash Metal. 6.5 DISLOYAL (Poland) Godless Ghastly Music - 2015 Death Metal Fourth studio album from this almost 2 decades old band from the North of Poland, Godless is made of 10 tracks clocking almost 45 minutes of brutal, technical, precise, clean Death Metal, something that easily reaches the level of masters like Morbid Angel or Hate Eternal. I have to admit the band is all new to me, although I've seen the previous album was released on No Colours Records, a huge name in the scene, but probably one that doesn't know its promo ways so well as for its Black Metal groups. Anyway, Disloyal are absolutely ripping it on this new album, it sounds so well-thought, so mathematic and precise that at times you'll start to feel claustrophobic, the blasting drums, the tons upon tons of complex riffs and leads, the devastating bass lines, and the hateful (multiple layers of) vocals are all working towards the construction of a magnificent record for the Brutal and Technical Death Metal scene, one of those releases other musicians will listen to in awe. My only regret is that it's not a darker, heavier in atmosphere release, I would have liked it a bit more obscure, a bit more cavernous if possible. 9 DISTHRONE (Portugal) AntiSystem Helldprod - 2013 - Crust Thrash Metal First and so far only material released by this young band founded back in 2011, Anti-System is made of 3 own tracks + intro + a cover of Darkthrone's I Am the Graves of the 80's, all in a bit over 15 minutes playing time. To tell you the truth the band, except for the fact that's a female fronted band and the girl is as angry and ferocious as a wounded wild boar, doesn't impress with anything, the guitar riffs are ok but too repetitive and dull, the drums are organic sounding but a bit too in front and as repetitive and uninspired as the guitars, the bass is barely noticeable, the production is like the one of a live rehearsal although apparently this was studio recorded, and finally the lyrics are quite

childish, especially since the one who wrote them has quite terrible problems in English. So except for the excellent cover picture that attracts your attention, and the girl's angry and disgusting vocals (comprehensive also; I guess Asphyx-influenced), there's nothing to recommend this demo, sorry. Released in tape format numbered and limited to only 300 copies. 5

DOR FEAFAROTH (Russia) - Behind the Twilight Devastation Yar' - 2012 - Black Metal The band's name "Dor Feafaroth" means "The Land of Hunting Spirits" and it is taken from the books of Russian fantasy writer Nick Perumov, or at least that's what Metal Archives has to say about the band. It was founded back DISTRUZIONE (Italy) in 1999 and it's to be appreciated they are still alive and - Distruzione fairly active. This EP was first released by the band in Jolly Roger - 2015 - 2008 and re-released by Yar' Productions in 2012 on CD Death Metal with 4 pages booklet, around 20 minutes of playing time.

This album has one of the best Death Metal first few Dor Feafaroth plays traditional Black Metal with seconds I've ever heard, just imagine yourself facing the comprehensive (a la Pagan) kind of hoarse vocals, and girl from Grudge, backing up fast and with her this EP benefits from a quite clean ('80's Thrash Death approaching even faster; well, that's how the start of this Metal like) production so you'll be able to enjoy every album sounds like, terrifying, isn't it? Awesome! The instrument's work in full. Traditional Black Metal with band was first founded back in 1990 and played until occasional Death Metal influences on guitars, well 2007 meanwhile releasing 3 full-length albums and an executed, not boring at all, but nothing very impressive EP. In 2011 it seems they got back together, or at least either. 6 some of them, and here we have the first fruit of the new Distruzione (Destruction in English), a 10 tracks effort DOR FEAFAROTH (Russia) - Extermination Of totaling 42 minutes of traditional and powerful Death Spiritual Leprosy Metal with melodic inserts and excellent, really excellent Yar' / Symbol Of Domination - 2014 - Black Metal guitar leads and solos here and there. The vocals are This is the band's debut album, a proper celebration of hoarse but comprehensive, not reaching the growl point, their (first) 15 years of activity, a 7 tracks effort clocking so if you know Italian language you'll have no problem almost 35 minutes of Black Metal. This time, compared to following them, and I think that's their charm in the end, the previous release I've heard, the production is a definite not sounding like some other vocal we could easily step up, at least in volume, the atmosphere is more associate with. Yes, all lyrics of this album are in Italian, mysterious because of the keyboard backgrounds, and and that's great, in my opinion every country should have there's much more versatility on the vocal part, with Black at least a few Death Metal bands playing in their native Metal screams capturing all attention this time in respect language, this would allow young kids getting into this to the Pagan-like clean (and hoarse) vocals that are being music, just look how many kids are into Black Metal at a used as support now. The guitar work is also much better, young age... Another highlight of Distruzione are the fat, more technical and complex still welcoming Thrash and oppressive and crystal clear sounding guitar riffs Death Metal influences, the rhythm section is good and reminding me of the Swedish scene, but not copying it. I stable but without much to impress, and the keyboards, as have enjoyed a lot this traditional Death Metal outburst said, are being used as background layers to enhance the and would definitely recommend it to you, too. 9 mysterious atmosphere, but if you ask me they sound quite outdated. I'm still not sold on this band's potential, DOOMED (Germany) - so you should try it and make yourselves an opinion. 7 Wrath Monolith Solitude - 2015 - Doom DRAWN INTO DESCENT Death Metal (Belgium) - Drawn into 4 full-length albums in 4 years of activity, no demos, no Descent EPs, no splits, just plain and simple full studio albums, Immortal Frost - 2015 now here's a pragmatic band, and they are also backed up Atmospheric Black by a similar pragmatic label, Solitude Productions. This Metal fourth album from Doomed brings us the same Doom Belgian quartet founded in Death as before, but probably this time the band 2013, Drawn into Descent present experimented much more than before yet still keeping the us their debut album, a 6 tracks effort totaling 45 minutes same somber and grotesque atmosphere, brutal and of playing time. Their music is highly melodic and melodic at the same time but definitely grotesque. I'd like emotional at times, a fine blend between Atmospheric to emphasize the cover and booklet artworks of their Black Metal and Post Black Metal made on traditional albums, all in the same vein, with the same colors, instruments only: guitars, bass and drums, no keyboards probably done by the same (very talented) artist, or synths, no other instruments. To be able to hit the something that I haven't seen lately in another band, in emotions of the listener, to make him/her dream while short you can't mistake a Doomed album by just simply listening to Black Metal requires skills, and these guys looking at its cover. The music ranges from melancholic, have them, all tracks on this album are enjoyable, all have ethereal Doom to ferocious outbursts of brutal Death their own contribution to the final outcome, a good and Metal, to experimental Metal, yet the final outcome is very promising release that introduces us a band I'd like to definitely a modern yet traditional Doom Death Metal. hear more in the near future. I'd compare it with a clash Excellent album, deserves at least a spin if you're into this between the melodic UK Doom Death from the '90's with the Finnish Black Metal, plus the nowadays Post Black genre. 9 Metal movement, simple and effective, try it yourselves.

DOOMSHINE The only chapter I'd like an improvement on the next (Germany) - The End Is release are the vocals that sometime sound forced and unable to reach the desired timbre. Other than that kudos Worth Waiting For for this debut. 8.5 Metal on Metal - 2015 - Epic Doom Metal A few second into this third full-length from Doomshine and you already know you're in for a real treat of good DRUDENSANG (Germany) - Prinzipien der quality Doom Metal, yey! And indeed the third studio Grausamkeit album from this German band founded back in 2000, Black Blood - 2015 - Black Metal demonstrates they have reached a good level of One of the most original promos I've ever received, this understanding and creating / performing traditional Doom demo tape from Drudensang came in a small cardboard Metal with a heavy Epic feeling to it. The guitar box also containing a piece of tree moss, a piece of tree harmonies and solos are absolutely delicious, but to be bark, a fir cone and a small skull of some little animal, honest I have expected more from the riffs and actually pretty impressive package I tell you. This is the band's from the band as a whole, some parts of the album are second demo, a 5 tracks effort released as tape (limited to quite dull and uninteresting. in my opinion they should 99 handnumbered copies) by Black Blood Records and add more of those guitar solos and the vocalist should vinyl (limited to 300 copies) by Pesttanz Klangschmiede, become more of a leader in music, too, as he has an but after playing the tape I got the impression they were amazing vocal tone, comparable to Warrel Dane's from really deserving such a double release. Drudensang are Nevermore, but throughout this album it gives me the playing a traditional fast-paced Black Metal highlighted feeling he's afraid of pushing himself to the max of his by clever and catchy guitar riffs, analog sound, powerful capabilities. I have a word that could sum this album up bass lines, versatile vocals and subtle but influential for me: frustrating. Frustrating because this band could be keyboard lines delivering an overall mysterious and one of the best in the World in this genre (not kidding) yet mystical atmosphere. It's not innovative at all, but it's well they seem to be happy to settle for less. I'll probably spin worth your while if you're looking for a powerful Black this more in the future and hopefully it will grow on me, Metal band that plays traditional style and still manages to keep it interesting. A band to keep an eye on. 7.5 who knows. 7.5

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DRYOM (Russia) - 2 Solitude - 2015 - Funeral Doom Metal As the title suggests it, this is the second album from Dryom, a Russian one man band founded in 2012. 4 long tracks clocking almost an hour of Funeral Doom Metal, oppressive, slow, depressive and melancholic, with highlights on the use of jaw-harp and flute, not common additions in Funeral Doom, so a step forward in what concerns originality especially nowadays when Ethnic elements are seen in such high regard by fans all over the World. I'd say Dryom found a good way of combining the nowadays (in my opinion) stale and dry Funeral Doom with the '90's UK based Doom Metal and flavor it with Ethnic elements, I have enjoyed 3 out of 4 tracks, so I'd recommend the album to you, too. What I didn't like were the inhaling-like growling vocals, I find them really annoying, but that's my taste. 7.5 DYSYLUMN (France) Conceptarium Selfreleased - 2015 Progressive Black Death Metal Formed Antropofago guitarist Sebastien Besson and his lady friend Camille Olivier Faure-Brac are the two members behind Dysylumn, a project that seems to have been founded back in 2010 but only got active on discographic level in 2013 when they released the debut self-titled EP. Here we are, 2 years later, with their debut full-length, a 9 tracks effort clocking 40 minutes of Black Death Metal, also with the help of 4 other musicians as guests. Dysylumn is playing an atmospheric, sci-fi like, melodic and technical type of Black Death Metal with strong progressive orientation, but at least on this album the project lacks of a good production, a good enough for these complex compositions type of production, the sound gets too stuffed and curdled at times. The music is powerful, oppressive as hell, angry and quite mysterious, but unfortunately from my point of view the vocals are not rising up to the same level as the instrumental part, they tend to become monotone and boring, but I think this lack of apparent versatility may come also from the already mentioned stuffed sound. Anyway, an interesting project with bold ideas, worthy of being kept an eye on.

6.5 EBONY CODE (Spain) - Sistema Transgenico The Fish Factory - 2014 - Hevay Rock This band was founded back in 1998 and this is only their second full-length release, three years after their debut one, so I guess they started being active on discographic level only during this decade. A mix of classic and melodic Rock, Heavy Metal, and a bit of Alternative, that's what Ebony Code offer us here, and by listing the bands they say influenced the most their genre you'll get the point: Soundgarden, Black Label Society and Alter Bridge. A style that can easily attack the mainstream, especially the local mainstream since the lyrics are in Spanish only, a style highlighted by melodic guitar leads, metallic and powerful riffs, complex and groovy drumming, subtle bass lines and a vocal style that quite frankly is far from my taste. A release that will push this band's name even higher, but I think only within Spanish speaking circles, I doubt others will enjoy it that much.

The CD comes with an 8 pages booklet plus a band poster, a cool idea. 7 ECHO OV DESOLATION (France) - Je serai ma chute Selfreleased - 2015 Black Metal Man, this EP starts absolutely awful, didn't expect such a weak start from this French band who, in their promo pics, are looking like they'll seriously fuck your brains (and they do look awesome for such a band, chicks will go nuts about them!), but once again I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The sound production is organic, yes, but this feels more like recorded live at the rehearsals, including the obvious mistakes in execution and lack of synchronization. The compositions are quite weak as well and the vocals, although displaying a good tone, fail to have any individuality, any face of their own.

The most annoying thing on this EP are the childish guitar solos (can I call them solos?) and part of the leads, as simple as a 5 years old could perform after 2 hours with a guitar in his hands... I said the beginning of the EP was

I was not familiar with this band at all, but judging by the band pics and album covers, Emrevoid evolved towards a darker, gloomier type of music along the years, since their foundation in 2004. The band released only one fulllength album prior to this EP, so we're not dealing with a prolific band when it comes to discography, but at least this new EP is really good. We're treated with 6 tracks totaling almost 25 minutes, released in Digipak format limited to only 300 copies. Black Death Metal, or better said Blackened Death Metal is the name of the game here, EITHER WAY (France) - Behind the Light a music highlighted by the dark, omnipresent growls of Selfreleased - 2015 - Melodic Death Metal Debut album from this French quartet (although from the Gaetano displaying a good tone although here I might add album booklet you'll get the impression it's more a solo my one and only complaint regarding his American project of Ludovic Ciszewski...), Behind the Light, offers accent (although he sings in Italian, the American accent us 10 tracks totaling almost 45 minutes of playing time, a is really strong and quite stupid as well), then a heavy light and technical Melo Death heavily influenced by the wall of sound made by the drums and bass, and last but Gothemburg school. After spinning it a couple of times I not least the razor sharp guitar riffs seconded most of the can say they have some serious potential, the times by brutal and abrupt Death Metal rhythms and at compositions are solid as fuck, their musicianship the times even by Post Black Metal inspired riffs, and I same, and they seem pretty enthusiastic as well. Being a shouldn't forget the few but very efficient slow, mystical debut album I have some complaints, too: don't like the parts where you'll surely feel doomed. All in all Emrevoid cover artwork although that's a highly subjective feeling, I delivers a complex, tasty, well detailed stab of Blackened feel the vocals are way too forced, not natural at all, and Death Metal that's quite original and stand-alone (not the the lyrics would have been better written in their native usual Behemoth clone in any case), I'm curious to see if language (now they are pretty childish to say the least, they have the ability and desire to start releasing more although the topics and intentions seem legit), and the stuff more frequently or if this was the band's swansong. general production could have used a better, more 8.5 professional mix and master. But except for that you'll be EVIL (Slovakia) - Studna impressed by the excellent guitar leads and solos, Devil's Obsession - 2015 powerful guitar riffs, incisive and technical bass lines, and Black Metal why not, the melodic keyboards background. They have Slovakian Evil was founded potential, that's for sure! 7 back in 2001 and after almost a decade with lots and lots of ELVEN (Italy / splits, demos, compilations and Norway) The EP, they managed to release Nameless their debut full-length Selfreleased - 2012 Melodic Black Death Metal album, in 2013. This is One of the most interesting bands I've heard lately, the follow-up, a 5 tracks although I was familiar with them from a few years back effort clocking 35 minutes of when I reviewed their second EP. I've checked my traditional and somehow atmospheric Black Metal. To me previous review and it seems at that moment (back in they sound like a combination of Czech and Russian 2010) I wasn't very impressed by the EP production, Black Metal, highlighted by raw and abrasive but at the actually I hated it and ity pretty much ruined the audition, same time comprehensive vocals with sensible echo on but now it's almost a totally different story; the production mixing which gives them an atmospheric, evil edge, very on this new release, their debut full-length album, is much good, expressive guitar work, a bass line that seems to be better, yet still not professional to the bone, I'd still have quite interesting but unfortunately not distinguishable some issues with it, but thinking back this time I can enough, and an excellent drum part ranging from dramatic easily sit back and enjoy the music. Elven are creating mid-tempo rhythms to fast and furious ones which their own type of Melodic Black Death Metal which in honestly are my fave on this release. Also a notable my mind is a mix of late '90's Melodic Black Metal, element in Evil's music are the semi-acoustic guitar recent Black Death Metal, Gothic Black Metal and with interludes, which are like a breath of fresh air before the The Gathering's type of female vocals here and there. band unleashes a new ferocious Black Metal assault, but There are 2 types of vocals on The Nameless, but Ivy's are also the insertion (on the 4th tracks) of Shoegaze-like absolutely the highlight of this band, mesmerizing, repetitive and mesmerizing guitar riffs. A good, solid progressive, sweet, an absolute delight and if you're a release by a mature band, recommended to the ones of sucker for (old) The Gathering like me I have no doubts you looking for fast and aggressive but at the same time you'll love her timbre, too. The instrumental structures are atmospheric and almost epic Black Metal music, but don't also very varied and interesting providing moments of look for something innovative here, this is quite surprise and being interesting all the way. Like the traditional and unsurprising, a side they should improve previous material, which was also selfreleased, this one on their next release even though they plan to keep the comes with an original Digipak package, kudos for that. same path, something fresh is always good. 7.5 The band is currently working on their second album, honestly I can't wait to hear it. 8.5 EVIL CONQUEROR (Hungary) - Carnage Dominance of Darkness - 2015 - Thrash Black Metal EMPHERIS (Poland) - Ye Olde Varsovia A year after its debut album, Evil Conqueror, this one Bestial Invasion / Necroscope - 2015 - Thrash Black man band from Hungary, follows with a new full-length Death effort made of 10 tracks and clocking a bit over half an Released as some sort of tribute to both the band and hour of playing time. We're treated with raw, demo-like Necroscope zine, this live album was recorded during two production, catchy but quite overused guitar riffs, of band's recent gigs, one with Rotting Christ, Varathron mysterious raspy vocals, blasphemous lyrics and attitude, and Atropos, and one with Relentless, Ferosity and Hell and some of the most annoying drum programming I've Patrol. Adam from Necroscope (an amazing Polish heard this year, not only their sound is synthetic to death, printed fanzine that keep the flame burning since the '90's) but they are also simple and repetitive as hell. contributed to this release, and I've actually got this CD Unfortunately except for a few guitar Thrashy riffs, the from him. 11 tracks, half an hour of playing time, a mix morbid sounding vocals and the hand-drawn cover of Thrash, Black and Death Metal with acceptable sound artwork, I find nothing interesting or appealing on this for a live recording and unpolished execution (no album, I find it quite a repulsive release for both fans of mistakes in execution were removed, or at least that's old-school primitive mental and fans of more polished what I think), so you get the real deal, nothing less, Metal. 4 nothing more. Although I can find a few riffs and parts of the tracks that I can enjoy, this is not my thing actually, EVOKE THY LORDS (Russia) - Boys! Raise Giant I'd prefer seeing / listening to it live than on CD, or listen Mushrooms in Your Cellar! to these tracks studio recorded if at home, but on this one Solitude - 2015 - Psychedelic Stoner Doom Metal I don't like the vocals at all, and the music seems too Oh man, this one sounds so weed-friendly, so much more chaotic most of the time. Well, I guess I'm not true laid back than law allows, that it's almost impossible to enough, that's it, no offense. listen to it without at least once close your eyes and let yourself go on the wings of your thoughts, dream, EMREVOID (Italy) - Riverso fantasize, chill. The third album from this Russian combo Drown Within - 2014 - Black Death Metal follows the next step of letting oneself go, 2 years after being drunk (Drunken Tales), they thought becoming disappointing only because throughout the 5 tracks (20 minutes) you'll be able to hear also some good riffs and encounter some parts where the music sounds as it should: menacing and dark, and you'll get quite used to the rest of faults, but to be honest the overall impression is of a band that needs much more work before demanding to be taken seriously. Sorry, but there's much better coming out of France at the moment... 4

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farmers, modern farmers (Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar!). Mixing Stoner, '70's Doom with an almost oriental but definitely psychedelic flute, Evoke Thy Lords, and a hint of Doom Death also, are something else, a different kind of expression within this genre yet without abandoning its typical aspects: organic, fat sounding bass lines and low tuned guitar riffs. The other highlights of this release would be the awesome structured groovy rhythms that make me bob my head continuously, and some good Rock female vocals here and there, although the main vocals (Doom Death male growls) are less expressive than they should. All in all a highly enjoyable release for the ones of you in search of a good mix between Psychedelic Rock and Doom Metal.

8.5 EXPENZER (Switzerland) Kill the Conductor Czar of Crickets - 2015 Thrash Metal I was honestly expecting a Hard'n'Heavy / Heavy Metal type of music after seeing the cover artwork in black and yellow, this is a common practice for the Retro Heavy Metal and Retro Hard Rock bands to have their covers or tapes/vinyl yellow, but I was surprised to get a powerful and aggressive Thrash Metal, with a few Groove influences, but definitely Thrash Metal that's traditionally structured yet delivered with a modern and polished production. I'd say a groovier Kreator-like Thrash Metal with excellent guitar riffs, lots of guitar hooks all over, organic rhythm section and a versatile vocalist that's making things even more interesting than they really are.

Although the name is a new one, from 2014, the band is around since 1996 releasing 3 full-length albums under a different name, Pigskin, and playing a more "core"-linked type of Thrash. Since they are Expenzer they seem to be focused on delivering mind-blowing traditional Thrash, and that in my opinion, even without having listened to their previous work, is an excellent choice. This album is made of 11 tracks (one is a The Haunted cover) and clocks almost 50 minutes and if you're into Thrash Metal do yourself a favor and don't avoid at least giving a spin to it. One of the best debut albums I've heard lately, although it's not actually a debut. 9 FHOI MYORE / PESTIFERUM (France / France) - La forme crĂŠatrice du chaos / Le chaos religieux Ossuaire - 2013 - Black Metal / Black Metal One could think this is a new generation of French Black Metal split, but would immediately be forced to change oppinion as Fhoi Myore are around since 2008 and Pestiferum from 2004, it's just that they haven't been that active on discographic level yet. This split is made of 8 tracks, 4 for each band, and clocks 50 minutes of playing time. Opening are Fhoi Myore with a fast and aggressive Black Metal with a touch of melody in its guitar leads and riffs, a bit of an epic atmosphere at times, but far from having an own style, that being also the fault of a nonversatile vocal part. yes, the execution is good enough to avoid annoying you, but apart for the interesting guitar work there is not much to be impressed by although their part is quite enjoyable after all. Pestiferum are around for more than a decade now and right after this split they managed to release their debut album as well. Their side of this split is made of 4 tracks with raw, almost annoying sound, but if you listen carefully you'll discover a music that's based on interesting and complex guitar structures, with multiple leads and solos that for me are its charm.

Mid-tempo to fast paced rhythms, rough, decaying vocals that could have been a bit more versatile, live recorded drums that take most of your attention due to their high volume, and as I said before, good guitar work. I won't listen to their side of this split anymore, that's for sure, the sound quality is too poor for these days, but as a band Pestiferum might have some potential, don't know how their album sounds though. 6.5 / 5.5

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FIRELORD (Italy) Hammer of Chaos Sliptrick - 2015 - Stoner Doom Metal Straight out of Turin, this now power-trio band was founded back in 2007 and they already managed to release a length album and an EP before

this one, which is another EP, a 4 tracks (+ 1 cover) effort clocking almost half an hour playing time. A groovy, entertaining Stoner Rock with Doom Metal influences, or how they call it Doom'n'Roll highlighted by heavy Doom Metal specific bass lines, energetic drumming, groovy guitar riffs and a good vocal that's unfortunately quite hidden by the rest of the instruments (especially drums), so you can easily guess I don't like the production. The first track is also my fave, but there are also some other hooks and elements that I like on all other tracks, so all in all I'd say this is pretty much a well-done release that opened my appetite for this band's music. 7.5 FORGOTTEN PATHWAYS (Germany) - A Long Way Home Selfreleased - 2015 - Medieval Ambient Dungeon Synth 18 years after its foundation Forgotten Pathways manages to release its debut full-length album. The band was always a one man show, but it seems that after a couple of demos and an EP released in 2004 it kind of fell into an icy state. This debut album is way, way better sounding than anything released by this project (I've listened online), but keeps the exact same path called Medieval Ambient Dungeon Synth, and this label of its music is perfectly accurate. You'll travel through long forgotten times and worlds pictured by an instrumental music based on synth sounds, a calm at times, intense at other music that by the amount of instruments involved seems to have taken quite a long time creating to its artist, Cedric Hommel. I can easily see this music as soundtrack to any of the nowadays so popular Medieval TV series, and would recommend it to you too if you're in search of music that transports you away for the daily routine. 8 FRAGILE EXISTENCE (Canada) - Cataclysms and Beginnings Selfreleased - 2015 Death Metal I haven't had the chance to listen to their debut album, but here I have Fragile Existence's second full-length release to introduce me to their music. The band was formed in 2007 and by the sound of this album I'd says the experience they gathered in the meantime is obvious, Cataclysms and Beginnings is such a complete Death Metal material that I think every serious follower of this genre will find something on his/her liking on it.

10 tracks, 48 minutes of brutal, technical, melodic Death Metal, a successful take on Traditional Death Metal seen from a modern, fresh perspective even with a slight touch of progressive to it, their music has it all, from mindblowing guitar solos to incisive bass lines, blasting drums, from versatile and impressive vocals to semi-acoustic guitars, and from ultra-brutal parts to some more melodic and soft. One of the most complete traditional Death Metal releases I've had the chance to listen to lately, one that offers instead of excessive anything, a steady, wellcrafted and well-thought dose of everything, not sure if I make myself clear enough here. 9.5 FUMES OF DECAY (Holland) - Festering Abscess Fornication Murder / Visceral Vomit - 2010 - Brutal Death Metal This is the debut demo from Fumes of Decay, demo initially released by the band in 2009 as CDR and then picked up a year later by Murder Records and Visceral Vomit Records and released as tape limited to 300 hand-numbered copies with a sick and simple black on yellow cover artwork. The demo features 4 short track totaling 10 minutes playing time, a fast paced and brutal as fuck Death Metal with plenty of groove, intelligent guitar work, complex drumming, deep bass lines and incomprehensible pig-squeals type of vocals, not even sure there are any lyrics at all on it since there are none printed in the tape booklet either. Anyway, for a debut demo Fumes of Decay prove to be a pretty solid band with a bright future ahead, and as a proof they have signed with the US based Sevared Records and released their debut album a year later, but unfortunately things have been silent since then. 7.5

Although formed back in 1998, Gathering Darkness have only one full-length album underbelt so far, but they also released several demos and an EP before teaming up with Tyrants Blood for this new split CD that hopefully will revive them a bit (this split comes 5 years after their previous release...). The band offers here 5 tracks of American type Death Metal, or better said '90's American type of Brutal Death Metal with excellent guitar leads and solos, heavy as fuck riffs, demonic vocals ranging from low growls to demented screams, and a catchy, headbanging-friendly rhythm section. The production is not perfect, but one could pass over it easily and enjoy the music. So yes, as a first encounter with this band I'd say they are pretty skilled in this type of Death Metal, not innovative or original, but definitely dedicated and well prepared.

The second part of this split is presenting us 4 tracks from Canada's Tyrants Blood, an experienced Vancouver based ensemble made of members or ex-members of legends such as Blasphemy, Infernal Majesty, Witches Hammer or Aggression, and by reading these names you probably got it right, we're dealing with a bestial type of Metal, a chaotic and ultra-aggressive mix of Thrash, Black and Death Metal, fast, ferocious and at the same time technical display of sheer brutality and violence. I prefer my Metal a bit more expressive in the atmosphere or melody compartment, but I can surely appreciate a good aggressive band when I hear one, and Tyrants Blood are really a name to keep an eye on, their part of the split is like a fucking hurricane, it will rip apart all your senses.

If you're into organic, traditional sounding, devastating Metal of Death you should definitely try out at least this split CD and probably afterwards you'll search for more stuff from the two bands. 7.5 / 8.5

other territories, and I'm sure they are in for it. Gmork manages to change their music every time and at the same time keep their core intact; so the band's path is definitely Black Metal, but at times they add Ambient influences, at times Death Metal, and now, on their third studio album we're treated with a fast paced, aggressive and complex Black Metal with occasional Technical Death Metal influences, and a production that resembles the nowadays so popular Polish Black Death Metal, with occasional melodic touches, of course. A very good album, as usual, but not as good as their previous in my opinion, the general atmosphere isn't that involving or expressive; don't know, this one didn't impress me that much, but it might be also because of my higher expectations as well.

Definitely a leading name in the Russian underground Black Metal scene, Gmork deserves more attention so if you have the chance give this album a spin and decide for yourselves. 7.5

GORGASMICO PORNOBLASTOMA (Portugal) Gorgasmico Pornoblastoma Murder - 2013 - Gore Grind I don't have an official bio of this band and I wasn't able to find much info on the net either, but I think this is their debut demo, first selfreleased in 2012, then picked up by Murder Records and released on tape limited to 300 copies, quite much for an 8 minutes long demo tape I'd say, but I don't really know if the Grind community buys lots of such tapes. When it comes to the music on it, this demo features 5 tracks and as said earlier clocks less than 8 minutes, with almost half of this time filled by porn movies samples, so the actual playing time is around 5 minutes... Typical Gore Grind with simple but groovy and GENITAL GRINDER quite catchy guitar riffs, drum machine, deep growls supported from time to time by demented screams and (Italy) - Abduction Eyes of the Dead - 2015 some pig squeals. Catchy and probably fun to see live but not impressive or original at all. 6 - Brutal Death Metal Wow, Abduction represents the GREY SEASON (Germany) - Invidia culmination of this Noizgate - 2015 - Progressive Metal band's activity that was started 25 years back! Yes, the After a Metalcore debut album in 2014, this young band was founded back in 1990 as Mass Slaughter but German band is back with a follow-up, a 10 tracks effort changed name to current one a year later. They were lasting for more than a full hour. Although the debut inactive from 1994 until 2002 when they released a new, wasn't exactly a 100% Metalcore album, from what I've but since now there's nothing new in their discography. heard on Bandcamp it had a fair dose of Progressive This debut album features 11 tracks and clocks 25 intents, too, this new one is a step further towards minutes of brutal, fast and traditional Death Metal. All Progressive fields, it's way calmer and better thought, tracks are fast and furious asa raging wounded animal, better structured than the debut. It starts rather energetic these guys only know two gears: fast and faster, and their and quite angry, but it soon tones down by a point where compositions remind me the most of Cannibal Corpse, at times it hints towards Post-Metal mesmerizing although there's plenty of the European Technical and atmospheres. The band displays open-mind and desire to Brutal Death Metal thrown in, too. Unfortunately, like experiment in every way possible, but to tell you the truth many other similar bands, they don't have anything by the middle of this new album I kind of lost interest, original except maybe for the somehow cuffed-sounding somehow it becomes dull and the tracks seem to be too growling vocals. Their technical level is well above the long, too stretched. Anyway, definitely an interesting average, the brutality expressed on this release is band delivering an interesting album that has its share of tremendous, and the production is acceptable as well, so excellent parts so I'd recommend it if you're into fans of Brutal Death will probably enjoy it, but I think Progressive Metal. Production is absolutely top-notch, they have to come up with something unique to stand out and I also have to mention the 28 (!) pages booklet of this i this overcrowded scene. 7.5 CD, something not that usual. 7.5 GJUTJARN (Sweden) - Hard Sliptrick - 2015 - Progressive Rock Metal By looking at their band image, band name and also the cover artwork I was certain I was about to deal with a Pagan Black Metal band, or at least an aggressive Black Metal band, but I was wrong again, Gjutjarn, although calling it Progressive Rock Metal isn't very accurate, are playing an interesting mix of Rock'n'Roll, Stoner Metal, Groove Rock and Progressive Metal, quite catchy, but with lyrics in their mother tongue, so I guess they must be catchier for their countrymen. Anyway, Hard is made of 11 tracks and clocks almost 45 minutes of playing time, the tracks are catchy and quite varied, entertaining and although to me it seems the band doesn't bring anything new or over-exciting to the table, this album is well worth a listen, one that I think works very well live. There's also a tracks called Pest, which of course gets a thumb up, haha. 7

GRIBBERIKET (Norway) - Knefall Dead Seed - 2015 Doom Black Metal Debut demo from this Norwegian quartet founded back in 2008 (!), Knefall was first released by the band's label in 2013 on tape format and picked up

by Black Seed now for a CD release (actually a 3 panel Digifile - those slim Digipak formats). The music on it is supposed to have been recorded drunk and after the audition I wouldn't dare questioning this, just imagine a drunk band recording, little or no coordination, a lot of improvisation (or what seems like it) and way too much repetition. I have spinned it 3 times already and it started to grow a bit in regards to the first time when I wasn't even sure I'm going to finish the first audition, but it is still not something I'd call GMORK (Russia) - Ave Nihil valuable for someone's collection, sorry. The first two NitroAtmosfericum / Red Rivet / RTM - 2015 - Black tracks are tough to bear, the third is an acoustic interlude Metal with Black Metal screams, but the last 2 tracks are good Celebrating their first decade as a band, Gmork offer us and I have enjoyed them, a mix of Sludgy Doom with their third full-length album to date, a 7 tracks (plus intro depressive and desperate (Black Metal) vocals, with a few and outro) effort clocking a bit over 35 minutes of Post Metal influences, too. An interesting release, I have GATHERING DARKNESS / TYRANTS BLOOD Russian sung Black Metal. Although the lyrics are in to admit, but except for the fine packaging there's not Russian the CD booklet features all lyrics translated in much I'd spend my money on, sorry. 5 (Spain / Canada) - The Light Won't Save You English, too, which is a good thing if they want to reach Hecatombe - 2014 - Death Metal / Thrash Black Death

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GROTESQUE ORGAN DEFILEMENT (Canada) Body Horror Blastasfuk Grindcore - 2015 Gore Grind Here's G.O.D. from Toronto, Canada, a band founded 9 years ago although what I'm now listening to is their debut full-length album, a nice way to celebrate almost a decade of violent and disgusting music. Body Horror is made of 23 tracks and clocks a bit over half an hour, so compared to many other similar releases I'd say we have plenty to enjoy, half an hour of Gore Grind being not only an appropriate duration but I think most one can endure without his/her head would fuckin' explode. Well, I've spinned this CD for 5 or 6 times already and I'm still not bored; G.O.D. present us a traditional brutal and really sickening mix of Gore and Grind complete with guttural growls, gurgling inhuman sounds, desperate screams, ultra-fast paced rhythms, insane blastbeats, and an overall violent attitude that reminds me of all genre's monsters starting with Napalm Death or Repulsion and ending with Squash Bowels or Machetazo, there's so much energy and brutality on this record I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Go check a few tracks online and make up your own mind. Released on CD by Blastasfuk, with a 6 pages booklet featuring excellent artwork and all lyrics (warning! extremely small fonts, you'll need a magnifier.

8.5 GUADANA (Spain) Deryaz The Fish Factory - 2014 - Heavy Metal A few members of an already established Spanish Heavy Metal band, Huma, I guess because of inactivity, decided to start a new band in 2010 and that's how Guadana started on the local scene. This is the band's second fulllength album already and they seem eager to display their skills and concepts; still Heavy Metal, still melodic as Huma, I guess what Guadana brings new in their music is the modern touch, and maybe a Power Metal influence. I should also mention the band uses 2 vocalists, a lady and a guy, both with pretty powerful timbre, but although that's of course a novelty, I still believe the highlight of the band is the guitarwork, very complex, tight and melodic at the same time, inspired and very tasty. Well, the band uses Spanish lyrics so I guess that's why I don't appreciate the two vocalists' work for their real value, or better said I consider the guitarwork a better attraction for me. Generally speaking the tracks (11 tracks, an hour of playing time) are following traditional Heavy Metal patterns but there are also a Thrash, Power, Hard Rock and even Electro influences that made me say it sounds modern, and also the perfect production does well for the overall impression. I'm sure this will find a fair share of success in their homeland but also in Latin America. 7

After a debut out on well-known Darker Than Black Records in 2013, Hautakammio (sepulcher in English) is back with the follow-up this time out on Dutch Immortal Frost. The new album is made of 6 tracks and clocks a bit more than half an hour of Black Metal. What striked me at first was the excellent greyscale cover and booklet artwork that somehow made me aware I was about to listen to a traditional Black Metal band, and that's exactly what happened; Hautakammio are taking the traditional, '90's route of Black Metal without anything to even suggest the nowadays trends, and to emphasize that the band recorded this new material live, so the sound is deeply organic and honest but at the same time professional and well mixed and mastered in order to offer a perfect experience for the listener. The Finnish quintet does its job very well so what we get here is a topnotch traditional (and I can't stress that enough; stay away if you're looking for innovative things) Black Metal release, you will be impressed by their ability to blend (somehow) melodic guitar riffs with an extremely aggressive rhythm section and a desperate at times, evil at others vocalist; the atmospheres they manage to create even without the use of keyboards or other "additional" instruments are perfect for this type of music: dark, cold, frightening. Get it! 8 HEIMDALLS WACHT (Germany) - Ut de graute olle Tied - Deel Twee (Land der Nebel) Heidens Hart - 2015 - Pagan Black Metal It's quite hard nowadays to stumble upon such a consistent band; Heimdalls Wacht are around since 2004 and this is already their 6th full-length album, so an album every less than 2 years which, in my books, is the perfect distance in order to manage promoting the old album and also complete the composition work on the next one. This new album is made of 8 tracks, but it lasts for more than an hour, so we get some pretty long songs here. Musicwise the band combines Burzum-like guitar riffs with melodic Pagan Metal harmonies, with some medieval influences here and there, very versatile vocals, organic drums sound, and an overall epic atmosphere that leads you to other worlds, other times. the guitar work is excellent, blending technical and melodic Power Metal like leads with Burzum-like cold Black Metal riffs, and even a few Thrash Metal riffs here and there, there's a lot of good taste in these compositions so the final result is very catchy, varied, honest and organic to the bone, if you don't like it at first give it another chance (as I did), it will grow on you to a point where you'll completely understand and start to love it. 8

HELEGION (France) - Helegion: Ritualis Atavism - 2014 - Black Metal Helegion was founded back in 2003 and so far released only 3 demos, including this one, so we're dealing with a band that doesn't take it's path very seriously I think, although their music seems to be dead-serious, even more focused on the lyrics / concept side than on the music.

The music is quite simple, primitive Black Metal a la HAIDUK (Canada) - early '90's, with organic sound and a few good riffs as highlights, but not much to impress I'd add, plus the slow Demonicon Selfreleased - 2015 - parts aren't that successful either, and here's I'd add the Melodic Black Death cover of Beherit's The Gate of Nanna, again not Metal something to impress. That's why I think the band focuses Here's the new Haiduk full- more on the concept side, too bad that the tape booklet length album, 2 years after the release of its debut. doesn't come with lyrics, too. As a conclusion I wouldn't Demonicon follows the same path of Melodic Black say this is a bad release, but it's not as good as I was Death (with some Thrash influences, too) recorded and expecting from a band that hasn't released something new offered with a highly synthetic sound, something that since 2007... 6 reminds me of the one man Russian project Astarium, which I labeled once as Gamer's Metal. Luka, the man HELLCHARGE behind Haiduk, is an extremely talented musician, but (Portugal) - Necronoise above all he's an extremely gifted composer, what we get Purodium - 2012 - Punk here, if you manage to ignore the synthetic sound, are Black Metal some very interesting guitar riffs and leads, fast paced, This debut demo from surprising, fresh, and catchy, and I'm sure if Luka would Hellcharge was released have the chance to find suitable musicians and form a full by the band in 2011 and line-up for Haiduk this would become a Worldwide re-released a year later by Purodium, a Helldprod sensation. Recorded by his own, with drum machine and a division, on tape limited to 100 hand-numbered copies. weak sound, it still sounds ok, but not enough for this Judging by its sound I'd say this is a combination of album to be considered a top release, and that's too bad as rehearsal and live recordings but although its lo-fi sound these are clearly some masterpiece-material compositions quality you can still get what the band is all about that is right here. 9 tracks, a bit over half an hour of playing fast and uncompromising Punk Black Metal as primitive time, a highly recommended release if you're looking for and raw as possiblewithout too much to make you think some fresh ideas and you wouldn't a synthetic sound, of. It's a vomiting assault on your senses from start to Haiduk deserves support for making everything in a 100% finish, and if I mention the three covers featured here, GG pure DIY fashion. 8.5 Allin, VON and L7, you'll get what I'm saying. Could be fun to listen to at times, but unfortunately it has no HAUTAKAMMIO (Finland) - Pimeyden valtakunta musical value whatsoever, just pure energy and fun/hate Immortal Frost - 2015 - Black Metal depending on the track you're listening to. 5.5

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HELLIGATORS (Italy) - Road Roller Machine Slit Trick - 2015 - Groove Heavy Rock Straight out of the copycat city, this Italian quintet presents us here their second full-length album, a followup to their 2011 Against All Odds. The 10 tracks featured here totaling a bit over 50 minutes are quite hard to pinpoint on a genre or another, but to give you an image just mix Rock'n'Roll, Groove Alternative Metal, Stoner Doom, Southern Rock, well pretty much everything you can think of from Black Sabath to let's say Pantera, that type of mix that wouldn't scare a 10 years old kid (I know I would have enjoyed it at that age) and at the same time fit the taste of a senior 60 years old metalhead. The music is quite technical and melodic at the same time, ballzy, memorable at times, headbanging-friendly, and could work well from any cozy, intimate club to a huge stage, so in that aspect Helligators nailed it, they have all chances to get big in the scene. The only thing I would improve on this album would be the production, I would use a much heavier sound, but probably that's because I prefer the Metal side rather than the Rock one. Try it, you might discover a band that meets your requirements in Rock & Metal, something fresh and detached for the Extreme Metallers as well. 8 HELL:ON (Ukraine) Once upon a Chaos...

Ferrrum - 2015 - Thrash Death Metal Although it starts with important Indian influences (specific traditional instruments) on the first track, and you're led to believe the whole material will be in the same vein, this new album from Hell:On soon fixes its path on a brutal, fast and technical kind of Thrash Death Metal, modern and intense as it's done nowadays. The good thing about it is that throughout the whole material this mystical, oriental, mesmerizing atmosphere keeps wrapping the basic structures of the tracks, and from my point of view this is a winning move from Hell:On. This Ukrainian band has already released 4 full-length album prior to this one, although they're around only since 2005, and this constancy made them one of the most respected names in their local scene and not only. Well, their constant improvement and step up from an album to the next one must be the major reason for this, this new album is another step in the right direction and I must say they are pretty close to a perfect blend between brutality, atmosphere, technicality and innovation. Andreas Kisser contributes with a solo guitar on the Salvation in Death track, but not only because of that Hell:on sounds like a better, more modern, more brutal, and even more technical version of Sepultura, or how I would have liked Sepultura to sound nowadays (I'm an old Sepultura fan, one of those that don't appreciate the new version of it, mea culpa). So yes, I like this new Hell:on material a lot and I would recommend it to you, too. I'm also sure the next one will surpass this one, that's why this is not the perfect score. 9 HELLVOID (Poland) - Gloomy Wizard Selfreleased - 2015 - Bass'n'Roll Interesting approach from this young Polish band, they are a quartet, but instead of vocals-bass-guitar-drums they use vocals-bass-bass-drums, hence the labeling of their music as Bass'n'Roll. Actually Hellvoid's music is a combination of traditional Doom Metal, 70's Hard Rock and some Groove Metal and even Punk here and there, again an interesting mix that in my books is quite original, too, I haven't heard a similar band in recent years, maybe only the Greek Black Metallers Necromantia. There's plenty of groove in their music, the compositions are well thought and catchy, plus as instrumentists they are all topnotch, but I think they still need to bring in some more sounds in order to be able to keep the listener's attention high during a full album. I'm not entirely convinced by the vocals, though, they sound too Phil Anselmo wannabe most of the time, and I feel they do not fit with the music completely. As an EP this Gloomy Wizard introduces an enthousiastic band that has potential, and I would recommend it to you too even just for that fact that it's something different; fans of '70's Hard Rock will be treated with some of those excellent bass solos that used to be recorded back then. 6.5 HRAFNBLOD (UK) Fall to Ruins Winterblast Halls - 2015 - Black Death Metal One man band hailing from England, Hrafnblod presents us here its second full-length, a 9 tracks effort totaling 75 minutes of Extreme Metal. I

wouldn't say this is strictly a Black Death album since it's quite hectic and follows an undefined path or better said multiple paths. The album starts with a track that reminded me of Max Cavalera's bands at times, so way too groovy for a Black Death release, then at some point we're dealing with Dark Ambient inspired tracks, then others closer to Depressive Black Metal, others sounding like the second wave of mid tempo Norwegian Black Metal with intensive double bass drums, and in the end some mixes of Black and Death Metal, with clever guitar riffs. The guy is capable of good things, no doubt about that, but this album is so all over the place that I doubt it will be the next big thing. I liked how expressive and complex at times the vocals are, some of the atmospheres created, and the fact that Monslyht speaks his mind in his lyrics, he talks about geo-political themes, nature, war instead of creating fiction, and that's quite rare for such a band. The CD comes with a beautiful 12 pages booklet featuring all lyrics so you'll be able to understand what he's talking about, too. 7 I CHAOS (Holland) Masterbleeder Raped in the Face 2015 - Brutal Death Metal Joost, Rory and Koen from Dew-Scented started this side band back in 2009 and this is already their second full-length album to date, so they seem pretty much determined to move forward with it although I'm sure Dew-Scented remains their number 1 priority. This new album is made of 10 new tracks clocking 40 minutes of technical and quite groovy Brutal Death Metal. Solid and entertaining material full of everything you might look into such music, but quite scarce of unpredictable moments, of something original you could pinpoint the band on, and we all know how overcrowded this Brutal Death scene is nowadays and how tough is for a band to make themselves a name, so in my opinion this band will benefit mostly because of the band members' names, or at least more than how much their music will impress. Yes, it's solid as fuck, technical, well-done, powerful and easy to follow, but I still feel it lacks of something, of a highlight. I could name here the occasional excellent bass lines, and the Swiss-clock precision they execute their songs, but that alone doesn't make a masterpiece from an album, the potential is definitely there, but the band hasn't yet reached the masterpiece they're looking for. If you're looking for a mix between old-school European Technical Death Metal and the new type of North American Death Metal, I Chaos might be a good choice, the production is topnotch, the execution faultless, the brutality and power are not missing at all, give it a try and make your own mind on it. Released as Digipak CD featuring an 8 pages booklet with all lyrics. 8 IDIS ORLOG (Norway) Froya og Svipdag and Songs from Njartharlag WolfTyr / In the Morningside / Heathen Tribes / Aurora Australis / Fjordafolk 2015 - Pagan Folk Music Idis Orlog is the one woman project moniker of a Norwegian lady called Siv Idis. On this new album of hers she got help from Brenda Runahild, better known as Eliwagar, another Norse project that I think has more ties with the Metal scene.

After a couple of spins my conclusions are pretty confuse; there are a few songs that sound good and memorable (found myself humming them after the audition), but there are also others that sound below mediocre. To me it seems that when Siv Idis keeps things simple, without too many instruments, the tracks come out sounding good, but when she adds more instruments and multiple layers of vocals it all sounds chaotic and amateurish. Yes, part of this album brings you closer to the nature, but part of it is frustratingly boring, it feels like the whole was recorded in a single take, in a rush, without polishing it afterwards.

The fact that so many labels united onto releasing this album tells me this project has a good name in its scene, but at least I, as an outsider, wasn't impressed by it at all, I've heard much better, much more professional yet still organic work. Try it yourselves if you're into Folk Music.

IMAGO MORTIS (Italy) - Carnicon

Drakkar - 2014 - Black Metal I've already started listening to this album a couple of times with the intent of reviewing it, but soon realized it needs more time, a more in depth audition that usual, and that's because Imago Mortis present us here a real masterpiece in modern intelligent Black Metal, an album that actually required lots and lots of documentation and preparation since it's an incursion into their local witchcraft, occultism, esotericism and death stories / facts.

Using now defunct languages like vernacular '600, latin and Bergamasco, as well as current Italian, Imago Mortis manage to depict some really horrifying stories through their tracks, all dealing with death, and by also printing the real stories on which their lyrics are built on, the band manages to capture the listener even more, and don't worry if you don't know Italian, they are presented in English, too. The music on this new album is quite traditional '90's type Black Metal with occasional Thrash Black and even Doom influences here and there, good quality music. I would have only liked a bit more effects (like the wolf howling I think I've heard once, or the spell at the beginning of the track Lumere) to display the atmosphere even better, like a witch singing her spells, or the priest's chant, or things like that to give the album an even higher theatrical level. Anyway, if you take the time to get into this album by also reading the lyrics and the stories around them, you'll be able to discover a masterpiece, if not, you'll find it a good album but nothing more. 9 INFECTED CHAOS (Austria) - The Wake of Ares Metal Music Austria - 2015 - Death Metal Young Austrian band founded last year from the ashes of another band, Chaosreign, that activated between 2006 and 2013 and managed to release a full-length album, too. Infected Chaos present us here their debut full-length album, a 12 tracks effort clocking a bit over 45 minutes of playing time, a modern take on Swedish Death Metal if you ask me, a mix of Stockholm Death Metal and Melodic Death Metal, with maybe a bit of Black Death Metal, too, but very powerful sounding, professional and cuddled as it should be. To be honest I would have liked more of those good guitar solos you'll be able to hear here and there, but nonetheless as a debut album this The Wake of Ares is absolutely smashing, the compositions are well-thought and complex enough not to bore the listeners, yet at the same time featuring good hooks to become memorable; the vocal part is complex and interesting, too, the intense bass lines, the Swedish Death Metal-like tuned guitar riffs supported by melodic and technical leads, and the perfect sounding drums, all of these are making this album a very good release easily fit for the tops of this genre. A band to keep both eyes on! 9 INSANE ATTITUDE (Italy) - Swarming in Decadence Selfreleased - 2015 - Thrash Death Metal Man, I'haven't seen/heard a demo sounding this way since the '90's, and I don't think I'm exaggerating; the organic, home-made sound, minor mistakes in execution, Hardcore influenced but still somehow Death Metal growls, the generic yet good sounding guitar riffs heavily Thrash Metal influenced, the fat sounding bass lines, the chaotic solos, and the xeroxed black/white cover points towards a Thrash Death demo from the first years of the '90's. Not sure if this is something kids of Today will appreciate, but I have to admit it's pretty darn original in the scene Today, cool for nostalgics though. 3 tracks, less than 10 minutes in length, second demo from this Pisa based band founded in 2007. 5.5

spinning this a couple of times and enjoying it. So this is fast paced traditional Death Metal without compromises, highlighted by a good guitar work (especially on riffs), a dark and hoarse vocal that keep things comprehensive (kudos for that), and an intensive rhythm section (tight drumming and low-tuned, incisive bass lines). Catchy, entertaining, dark and fat sounding, a good debut although not as good as the one that will follow in 2 years time. 7.5 INSEPULTO (Costa Rica) - The Necrodex Memento Mori - 2015 - Death Metal The Costa Rican Extreme Metal scene doesn't sound so exotic and inexperienced thanks to these guys too, to bands they were or still are involved with (Paganus Doctrina, Mumified, Pseudostratiffied Epithelium, Auriga and others), and this new project (not sure if it's a real, touring band or just a studio project) is yet another proof of how much talent and potential this scene has to offer.

Insepulto's second full-length release comes 3 years after their debut on Polish Psycho Records, also a wellreceived effort. This new album is made of 11 tracks and clocks almost 50 minutes of traditional Death Metal delivered with the intensity of the South American bands and occult atmosphere of the US based Death Metal masters, in fact the lyrics part seems to have a very important role in what Insepulto creates, they are solid, well-written, far from the stale "blood and guts" topics many other such bands used us with. Music wise the band impresses through their energy and brutality although they are not in their teens anymore, and I have to also mention the good production, crystal clear but at the same time dark and atmospheric, exactly what this record needed. The compositions are quite complex and diverse, you won't get bored at all, so all in all I think we have here one of the top traditional Death Metal releases of this year, not original or innovative in any way, but very well crafted, entertaining, evil and expressive. 9 INSOLITUM (Brazil) - Infestus Murder / Sociedade dos Mortos - 2013 - Death Metal From an image and probably also ideologic point of view this band seems quite a strong competitor on the oldschool Death Metal scene from Brazil, but when it comes to the actual music unfortunately Insolitum still has a lot to work on, or at least that's how things were 2 years ago when this debut demo was recorded and released. 4 tracks totaling 15 minutes of slow to mid-tempo Death Metal with very monotonous drums line, laughable vocals that makes me think the guy is choking in his own spit all the time, a cover image that has been used by numerous other bands before; but the positive part comes when we're talking about bass and guitar, the bass helps in creating a dark and dense atmosphere, and the guitar work is very good, catchy and not boring at all, way better than the rest. Released as tape limited to 300 numbered copies. In the meantime the band participated on two splits, hopefully they have improved a bit since 2013, but it's good they're still active and keep releasing stuff constantly, that will make them better, no doubt. 5.5 INVOKER (Germany) - Aeon Non Serviam - 2015 Black Death Metal After a close look at the excellent cover artwork I proceeded with the audition of Invoker's second full-length album, a 9 tracks effort that will be released at the end of next month by this hardworking label proudly named Non Serviam. At first I kind of thought the music is way below the artwork quality, but then it grew on me and I've changed my opinion, but this is also because the band comes up with all sorts of melodic and/or atmospheric elements that will enrich the audition experience. Also if you team up the music with the lyrics you'll have a special experience as well, and I kind of think we're dealing with a concept album here, one that follows an individual through life and beyond.

The music is melodic at times, aggressive and organic at others, a mix of Black Death Metal with some Doom Death, especially towards the end of the release, and I find it pretty expressive and involving even though the vocals are a bit too monotone for my taste. The sound is quite raw, organic, but it fits well with the apocalyptic image the band tries to express, so all in all we have here a well-structured and well delivered mystical Black Death album, not the next big thing, but definitely not a timewasting audition. 8

INSEPULTO (Costa Rica) Morbid Spawn of Resurrection Concreto - 2013 - Death Metal Last month I have reviewed these guys' second album, the most recent one, and I remember I liked it a lot, and here I have their debut album (I should have started with this one, hm?), one that was initially released

by Polish label Psycho Records in 2012, and picked up by Mexican Concreto Records a year later. 10 tracks, a bit over half an hour of playing time, traditional Death Metal to the bone, nothing less, nothing more. I would have ISENBLAST (USA) - Altars of Blood liked the production to be a bit less stuffed and the drums Selfreleased - 2015 - Black Metal to sound less synthetic, but all in all I had no problem

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This is the fourth demo released by Detroit based Isenblast, not a common practice nowadays to release that many demos, it reminds me of the "good old days". This one features two tracks and clock almost 10 minutes of traditional mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal, a mix between old school Norwegian and US type of Black Metal. The riffs are quite generic Black Metal with Thrash influence and frankly I hate the opening riffs from the first track, but the leads and solos ('90's Thrash Death Metal sounding solos) are, in my opinion, the highlight of Isenblast's music proving this band has potential. Also the drums are worth mentioning, intense and complex, well seconded by a heavy bass line. The vocals could have been a bit more varied, but they are expressive nonetheless keeping it traditional, and here I also include the blasphemous lyrics. A demo that sounds like a demo and does what a demo should do, pushes the band's name to the World; I don't think a cleaner and more polished sound would benefit the band, they are not groundbreaking, but at this stage they could develop a substantial horde of followers if they'll keep releasing a demo every half a year or so. 6.5

come up every week. So in my opinion this is an excellent band but it still lacks something of their own, an element to make them unique, hopefully they'll find it soon. 7.5

with devastating rhythm section and a guitar work that's more intricate than usual but still in the boundaries of this genre, still not able to be innovative or original. Spanish language speakers will definitely enjoy this more as teh KAOSKULT (Poland) - vocals are somehow comprehensive and seem to be really, really offensive (as the cover artwork is, too). The Secret Serpent Odium - 2014 - Black sound, although still rough and aggressive, is better than Metal expected, so even if you're not into "as primitive as Seen from here I'd say the possible" Metal releases you'll be able to enjoy it. 7 French and Polish Black Metal scenes are the most active in Europe at the moment, with LA HORDE (France) the French one being the more inventive, more daring Dystopie one, and the Polish the more traditional and aggressive Fantai'zic - 2015 one. And here we have another Polish band with their Thrashcore debut album although it was founded in 2006 and only La Horde are a quartet from France presenting us here a released a demo prior to this. Kaoskult is wasting no time 14 tracks effort clocking almost 45 minutes of what they in attacking the listener right from the start with name as Thrashcore, or better said a mix of Thrash and venomous, intoxicating Black Metal rhythms with a twist, Hardcore, with a few other influences here and there. The with an impressive instrumental work, all instruments atmosphere is pretty Hardcore, indeed, but for the Thrash have a massive, massive influence on the final outcome of part of it I would have liked a much more powerful this release, and the result is extremely impressive. The production as this one sounds pretty soft, not aggressive vocals could have been a bit more versatile if you ask me, enough to impress anyone. The vocals are ok for a but nonetheless they are vicious and aggressive as they Hardcore band, too, but a bit more versatility wouldn't ISRATHOUM should be to complement such a wrathful work. 7 tracks, hurt, especially since the instrumental part isn't (Holland) - Antru Kald 50 minutes playing time, traditional, technical, evil mid- particularly interesting either. Unfortunately this album S.A.R.S. - 2015 - Black tempo to (mostly) fast-paced Black Metal recommended totally failed to catch my interest, but maybe for French to everyone, this release deserves lots of attention and speaking listeners it could be more entertaining since the Metal Got the tape version of should definitely be in the year end tops. Great stuff! 9.5 lyrics are in their native tongue. 5 this new Israthoum EP, a 3 tracks effort totaling 13 minutes KATACHTHON LAMBS (Italy) - Betrayed From Birth of well executed Black Metal with no Drown Within - 2015 - Blackened Post Hardcore (Greece) - Katachthon compromises at all. Actually the band was praised along Black Sun Cult - 2015 - Interesting take on Post Metal from these Italian the years for their unaltered form of Black Metal, musicians who are presenting us here their debut EP, a 3 Black Death Metal primitive yet complex, organic to the bone, hateful and Debut demo from this tracks effort clocking almost 15 minutes and offering a expressive, brutal and tenebrous as such releases should Greek duo, this self-titled dark and quite sludgy combination of Post Hardcore and all sound like. The Dutch trio manages to come up with tape is made of 7 tracks and Black Metal. Ranging from slow and heavy to fast and some clever and catchy guitar riffs that sound kind of is released in a grinding rhythms, Lambs' music easily fits the fresh, a versatile vocal part ranging from aggressive handnumbered tape format requirements of the new fashion in Metal, or better said in shrieks to deep, theatrical clean vocals, plus a devastating limited to 100 copies. We're dealing here with a fast Post Metal, but their music seems to be more somber and rhythm section that stretches from desperate mid-tempo, paced, raw sounding, rehearsal-like, organic Black Death oppressive than what you'd usually wait from a almost melodic to fast and razor-sharp parts keeping the Metal, or rather a bestial Death Metal with Black Metal combination involving or springing from Hardcore. whole interesting. The EP was released as tape by SARS influences and quite a blasphemic, offensive attitude I'd Interesting and promising approach, these guys have (most probably their own label), and CD by Daemon say. For a debut tape the sound is ok, but I wouldn't name potential, keep an eye on them. 7.5 Worship which will probably release the vinyl version this a good production although I'm pretty sure they soon enough. Recommended if you're in search for some wanted a final release to be as raw and brute as possible LUCID DREAMS (Norway) - Build and Destroy mysterious, intelligent, mesmerizing and traditional Black and at the same time to avoid sounding chaotic; from this Red Ball - 2015 - Melodic Heavy Metal Metal. 8 point of view they succeeded, you can easily follow all Second full-length album from this Norwegian band, instruments and if you're a fan of this genre I think you'll released 2 years after their promising debut, Build and KAIROS (Sweden) - enjoy it. Speaking for myself I wasn't impressed that Destroy is a bit shorter in playing time, 37 minutes, but much by it, it's pretty regular music without much to stand also features less tracks, only 8 this time compared to the Wicked Callings Bleeding Music - 2015 - out among the swarms of other such releases, and 12 featured on the first album. The band switched, subtly, Heavy Metal although it's performed well and delivers a suitable to a more melodic yet a more aggressive type of Metal, so Debut album from this atmosphere for this genre, I still think they need if in my opinion their debut was on a Poison / Motley young band that likes to keep something more in order to stand out. 6 Crue path, this new one is more on an Iron Maiden meets things as old-school as possible, Wicked Callings is a 10 Queensryche meets Dream Theater meets Van Halen, plus tracks effort clocking 40 minutes playing time. I'd say the KILLING GANDHI a healthy dose of personal touch; metallic guitar riffs, style of the band is a mix between European '80's Heavy (Denmark) - Cinematic melodic leads, incisive yet atmospheric keyboard Metal a la Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, even Mercyful Fate, backgrounds, solid rhythm section and again, an excellent Parallels with '80's US Melodic Hard Rock, guitar riffs based Crime - 2015 - Melodic Death Metal performance from the band's vocalist, absolutely one of music with excellent leads and solos, a feisty vocalist, Fffffuck, this made a huge impression on me! First time I the best around, smooth, powerful, versatile and capable incisive bass lines and tight drumming. Also features the hear about this Danish band founded in 2011, and I'm an of reaching expected levels. The fact that only one of the usual ballad track which is great, the whole album really instant fan, no doubts. This debut album is probably one 8 tracks is exceeding 5 minutes in length, and that one is takes you back in time, it's well thought and keeps all the of the best debut albums I've heard lately, it's as close to a the album's "ballad", makes me think the band took plenty patterns of the back then dominant Rock style intact. This perfect 10 as it gets! To be honest I wasn't expecting a of time to prepare and deliver this album, well-thought will make a good impression to fans of traditional Hard Melodic Death Metal album to impress me that much as I and above all well-targeted, so who knows, this might Rock, Heavy Metal, and even Glam Rock, I have no find this genre quite stale nowadays, with an acute lack of also be their break-thru, we'll see. Released I guess by the doubt. The cover artwork is kind of misleading, way new horizons, but Killing Gandhi proved me wrong, these band's own label, Build and Destroy comes in form of a 3 darker than what you'll find in terms of music inhere. Not 16 (!) tracks are as fresh and modern as possible yet still panels Digipak with complete booklet featuring all lyrics; sure what impact would this album have had 3 decades keeping the "traditional" path of this genre. The recommended for fans of old-school and also new ago, but now it's something different, something "new and production is absolutely perfect, the musicianship and Melodic Metal. 9 fresh". 8 composition skills top notch, execution is as tight as LUNA (Ukraine) - On the possible, the whole is as melodic as possible in order to KALI YUGA (Germany) - Kali Yuga still be considered aggressive and brutal as any Death Other Side of Life G.U.C. - 2015 - Melodic Death Metal Metal band should be, the balance between complexity Solitude - 2015 Germany seems to have embraced this genre, Melodic and catchiness is perfect, well, what can I say more than Symphonic Funeral Death Metal, the best, and doesn't seem to be willing to that? I'm really impressed by what these guys delivered Doom Death Metal let it go any time soon. Kali Yuga is another proof this here, this might become a classic, I'm sure the fantastic One year after its debut album was released, the one man genre is still strong in Teutonic lands; the band was cover art is already! That's it with this review, I like it too band Luna is back with another full-length, this time formed in 2006 and this is their third studio album to date, much to be objective, so give it a listen yourselves and made of 2 tracks, not only one as in the previous case. 2 a 10 tracks effort clocking a bit over 45 minutes, a solid make your own mind. (The rate is 9.5 only because I hope long tracks totaling 55 minutes of playing time, and again display of good technical skills and high quality the next album will be at least as good as this one!) 9.5 I feel like this new material should have been split in arrangements. Although the band comes up with some more tracks as there are some definite breaks and rhythm catchy and quite memorable riffs here and there, the KRATHERION (Chile) - Death Kult Church Omega changes in these 2 that clearly make you think you're guitar leads are delicious as well, the rhythm section is Selfreleased - 2012 - Black Metal starting a new song. Again I feel the lack of vocals as Swiss-clock precise, and the vocals are powerful enough Haven't heard of this band before, and this is not their pretty influential on the overall outcome, and throughout (although not versatile enough) to lead such a band, but latest releases either, but I somehow got it for review the whole album I am constantly feeling like there should the band lack at the originality chapter, unfortunately from someone. We get 3 tracks here totaling around 10 have been something more added in order for the music to although this album is very good and will make constitute minutes of Bestial Metal, a mix of Black and Death Metal be catchier. But despite that the production is excellent, delight for any fan of bands like Arch Enemy, Dark (with emphasis on the Black Metal part of it), with the musicianship of DeMort as well, and the music is Tranquility or even Amon Amarth, it won't be blasphemous attitude, ferocious vocals (both demonic exactly what he wanted it to be (or at least that's what I distinguished by the huge amount of similar releases that screams and guttural growls), mostly fast paced rhythms suppose): symphonic, emotional, depressive, dark and

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deep. The guitar work reminds me of a mix between the whole feel like you're in that forest from Avatar if you Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, so I like it a lot. Good remember. Very good stuff! Mondfish uses more sounds and effects, and its music, although still Ambient, still for meditation. 7 relaxing and calm, sounds a bit more stuffed by different MAD PARISH kinds of sounds. Mondfish also uses those kind of sounds that I think are called neutral sounds, that are making its (Canada) - Procession Selfreleased - 2014 - music feel more cosmic, more related to the space than to Earth and hence the Drone influence in its music.

Heavy Metal I knew from the very Very nice split, give it a try if you're looking for first track that this album is one of those that will something relaxing and meditative. keep my player busy for long time and here I am, a few hours later, still spinning these 11 tracks from Mad MARTELO NEGRO (Portugal) - Antologia Grotesca Parish's debut album, Procession. Although the band was MMVI-MMXII founded back in 2006 and they don't look like teenagers Helldprod - 2013 - Thrash Black Metal either so they might have some previous experience This tape is a compilation of different covers, unreleased underbelt, too, this is only their debut full-length effort, tracks, plus the band's debut EP from 2006, back then the selfreleased last year, so again we're dealing with a not so band was actually a one man project and was called Black productive band when it comes to releasing records. Hammer (English for Martelo Negro). The tracks These 11 tracks are a testimony of what (good) Heavy recorded with Black Hammer have an awful drumMetal used to sound back in the '80's, in my opinion a mix machine that sounds more like a bad Techno beat most of of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Accept and even some the time and that simply ruins the audition completely for Metal Church, a highly epic, catchy and memorable piece me, plus the guitar riffs are barely distinguishable and of Metal that fanatics of retro Heavy Metal will definitely when you can hear them they sound more like Punk riffs go nuts for. I'd say it's a traditional melodic Heavy Metal rather than Thrash or Black. The rest of the tape is pretty with parts of Epic Power Metal and even some hints of decent Thrash Black Metal with Punk attitude and AOR here and there, but 100% Metal, that's for sure. This Portuguese written lyrics so I guess they'll have a good album was released by the band in CD (digipak that is) appeal to their countrymen. The tape comes with a 2 and vinyl (2 versions), pick any but make sure you don't panels booklet and is limited to only 150 copies; the cover miss it! The absolute only thing I found they could have picture is awesome, hahaha. 5 improved here was the production, I think a tighter, more aggressive sound would have been even better for this MASK OF SATAN (Finland) - Promo 2015 outstanding record. 9 Selfreleased - 2015 Death Metal MAIEUTISTE (France) - Maieutiste Ok, we'll refer here only Les Acteurs de l'Ombre - 2015 - Doom Black Metal to fans of and within the Interesting new band from Saint-Etienne, Maieutiste confines of the retro started their career back in 2006 but only managed to Death Metal movement release their debut album, the one I'm talking about in this as Mask of Satan, review, in 2015, although it was recorded between 2009 and 2014... The album features an 8 persons ensemble although a young band founded this year only, plays with no less than 4 guitarists (!), a saxophone player and a exactly that and nothing else, no influences, no elements double bass player, so from this you can easily guess why from other genres. This is their debut demo, a 4 tracks it took them so long to come up with the complete effort lasting for almost 20 minutes of mid-tempo Death material; 11 tracks, almost 80 minutes of playing time, a Metal highlighted and lead by an excellent, horrifying mix between Traditional (second or even third wave type) vocal line that makes the focal point inhere, too. The Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post Black Metal, guitars are ok but a bit too generic and less aggressive Atmospheric, Jazz and even some Thrash Death than I would have liked, the drums are organic and quite influences here and there, all composed with impressive influential on the whole atmosphere, and the bass lines are precision and accuracy, a fine soundtrack to a trip through quite incisive, too, so all is legit, but unfortunately not their demonic world, just look at the cover artwork and impressive. The vocals remind me of Davi Ingram but you'll get a good hint of what you can except here. And with a more Horror edge to them so I'd say this is a very with Maieutiste French Black Metal continues to deliver good starting point for the band, once you have such an new powerful soldiers for what I'd call their own Art inventive vocalist you can only start building from there.

The 3rd track, Asmodeus, is the best in my opinion and Black Metal Army. Impressive work, don't miss it! 9 that's how I would like the band to sound for the future, too, including the guitar solos, of course. Keep an eye on MARE INFINITUM (Russia) - Alien Monolith God them, Mask of Satan might prove to be a successful act in Solitude - 2015 - Atmospheric Doom Death Metal After spinning this album a couple of times I have come the future. 7 to the conclusion that a single word can describe it: frustrating! Why? Well, simply because throughout the MELIAH RAGE (USA) - Before the Kill audition you get the constant feeling you're close to a masterpiece, it's a constant impression that these guys can Metal on Metal - 2015 come up with something to really pass the test of time and Heavy Power Thrash Metal become a classic. It's an Atmospheric Doom Death Metal Wow, this release is the perfect gift for any and all Meliah heavily influenced by Funeral Doom, highlighted by a Rage fans out there, actually it's a must have item in their solid vocal duo, a deep growling one and a clear Power collections as it perfectly depicts the band's first steps in Metal-like one, melodic and enchanting guitar leads, their career, around 30 years ago! No less than 16 tracks atmospheric and almost oriental at times keyboards, very gathered here in a 70 minutes playing time, a fine display influential bass lines and correct drumming but without of great quality US Heavy Power Thrash Metal influenced too much to stand out with. There are some genius parts by Exodus, Metallica, Riot, Judas Priest. The first 8 tracks here and there and those are giving me the impressions I are from a pre-Meliah Rage rehearsal tape that was saying about, but there are also some boring, surprisingly enough has an excellent sound quality and repetitive and uninspired Funeral Doom-like parts that are the execution is top-notch, too, so you can almost feel the dragging the material down. All in all I'd say this second enthusiasm in that rehearsal room; the music is closer to full-length from Mare Infinitum shows a tremendous Heavy Metal than later on, but this one was recorded in potential, hopefully next time we'll see/hear it in full. 8 '85 or '86 before the band even had a name. The next 4 tracks are actually the band's debut demo from '87 and MARIO GRONNERT / MONDFISH (Germany / display a closer sound to Heavy Thrash Metal, a fatter Japan) - In Two Seas sound; the guys were getting meaner and tougher and also they changed vocalist, but still the Heavy Metal patterns Selfreleased - 2015 - Ambient / Drone Ambient This is not something I usually get for reviewing, but I'm are predominant. Next are 3 tracks recorded live in their glad I received this, it's like a short escape from all the hometown, Boston, and you'll be amazed by the public's violence and brutality of Extreme Metal (well, I said reaction, these guys were the bomb back then; also the short, don't worry). This is a split between German recordings have an acceptable sound. Last but not least is musician Mario Gronnert, and Japanese act (not sure if a track from the band's second demo from '87 that has itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a one man project or if there are more) Mondfish also made it on the Japanese edition of their debut album; featuring 2 tracks from Mario and 3 from Mondfish into a Speed Thrash Metal tracks heavily influenced by early 37 minutes of Ambient music. Mario's tracks are very Metallica, short, fast, concise. relaxing, soothing, quite much nature-inspired, composed The CD comes with an impressive 12 pages booklet and executed on keyboards and synths. The second track featuring an interview with Anthony Nichols, founding has also some female ethereal sounding voices that make member of Meliah Rage, who talks about the band's first

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steps and of course, about this compilation of tracks, interview accompanied by cool band pics from those years. Another collectible release by Metal on Metal. MEMENTO WALTZ (Italy) - Division by Zero Jolly Roger - 2015 Progressive Metal Their band name automatically drove my thoughts towards a mix between Psychotic Waltz and Memento Mori, and to be honest I wasn't that much far off when it comes to their music, too. Memento Waltz were founded back in 1994 but only managed to release this debut album in 2013 by themselves, and I have no idea how much exposure it had before being picked up by Jolly Roger and re-released this year on both CD and Digital formats. The material is made of 7 tracks and clocks a bit over 40 minutes of complex, interesting, story-telling Progressive Metal with highlights on the varied, technically delicious (as any Prog Metal release should be) compositions and the impressive vocalist that to me sounds like a mix between Bruce Dickinson and Warrel Dane. The instrumental work is absolutely mind-blowing most of the times, you'll find yourselves constantly attacked by Jazzy yet energetic and Metal-plentiful (with occasional oriental-like parts, too!) structures that will make a second, then a third, then more auditions mandatory, quite frankly it's hard to define what's happening here with my humble few words, so if you're into Progressive Metal I suggest you listen to at least a few minutes of this album, it's one of the best I've heard this year, no doubts, I find it faultless, a masterpiece! 10

MENSTRUOPHAGIST (Italy) - Lollipocracy Eyes of the Dead - 2015 - Brutal Death Grind I'm not the best person to talk about a happy, ironic type Death Grind release as I never understood or supported it, but I have noone else to do this for me and throwing the CD away without giving it a few spins wouldn't be fair; thought you should know that before starting to read this review. Menstruophagist is, of course, a fun-infused groove Death Gore Grind trio from Italy and this is their debut album made of 20 tracks and clocking half an hour playing time. I have enjoyed a few old-school guitar riffs, fat-ass bass lines and organic drumming, and disliked the nonsense pig-like vocals (inhales?) and of course the concept. Some tracks are pure old-school Gore Grind, and some are Death influenced Grind and I have enjoyed them so all in all it wasn't a total waste of time; as musicians these guys are definitely not beginners, and I'm sure they have solid experience in Death and / or Grind, too; with a different type of vocals, keeping in mind that the concept can be easily ignored in this style of music, I would have loved this release! Anyway, if you're into fun-tastic bands a la Obscene Extreme give this one a try. 6.5 MENTALLY DEFILED (Greece) - Aptitude for Elimination Violent Solution - 2014 Thrash Metal Greece seems to be more and more into Thrash Metal in the last decade providing many such interesting bands to the Underground (and not only) World. Mentally Defiled are around since 2001 and this is their second full-length album to date, a 10 tracks effort totaling a bit over half an hour playing time, presenting us a band that likes to play it fast, faster, the fastest if possible, so this is actually a Speed Thrash Metal album in the purest '80's tradition. Catchy guitar riffs and guitar work in general, demented rhythm section, good vocals, and excellent production, if you're into this type of music you shouldn't miss this release; although it brings nothing new to the table, it's still a highly enjoyable effort that shouldn't go unnoticed. Comes as CD with 8 pages booklet featuring all lyrics and kick-ass old school cover artwork. 7.5 MEPHORASH (Sweden) - 1557 - Rites of Nullification Odium - 2015 - Black Metal With the release of this new (third) full-length album Swedish Black Metal tyrants Mephorash also switch labels from Serbia's Grom Records to Poland / UK's Odium Records a move towards the cult status I'd say just by seeing what other bands Odium offered so far. Then again if you check this album's package, digipak with an 8

pages booklet, you'll be firm to say it's the result of a assiduous work, all lyrics although sung in English (apparently) are listed in sanscrit in the booklet, not sure why. There are only 4 tracks featured here clocking over 40 minutes and Mephorash manages to capture your attention right from the start and keep it tight until the end, this in case you like Marduk with a bit more variation, some more slow, oppressive and occult passages. Here and there there's also a clean vocal tentative although not clean to the end, and that sounds like the vocalist can "stretch" his range much more than he did on this album and I think that will make Mephorash's music even more interesting. The overall atmosphere is oppressive, dark and mystical to the bone, I'm sure it won't disappoint anyone. The problem, from my point of view, are some slow passages with abrupt riffs that are being overused and become a bit boring after a while, although I can understand they are being used in order to induce a shamanic-like state of mind to the listener; well, they failed with me, I was continuously waiting for the mid-tempo and fast assaults. To me Mephorash sounds like Marduk, Behemoth and maybe even Saturnian Mist met for a drink and instead ended up performing satanic rituals. 8.5 MIZANTROPIA (Ukraine) - Oblivion Metal Scrap - 2015 Gothic Black Metal Probably the first band I meet with ladies in their line-up and no band pictures in the CD booklet, this should be a first I tell you, haha. Mizantropia is made of 5 members, 2 of them being ladies (one is vocalist, obviously), but I wouldn't know their names since the booklet is completely written in Cyrillic script so totally out of bound for someone like me who's not familiar with this type of writing. This is the band's second album to date, an 11 tracks effort totaling a bit over 50 minutes of organic and quite raw produced Gothic Metal with intense Black Metal influences, even a secondary shrieking male vocalist. Their music reminds me a lot of a US band that I think it's already disbanded by now, Rain Fell Within, from the vocals to the dramatic use of keyboards, but except to the Extreme Metal part of it, of course. At times the guitars take influences from a distant genre as Technical Death Metal which is pretty bold, but sounds good. An interesting combination, one that was in fashion about 15 years ago but one that died quickly, so at least for nowadays I don't know many other bands trying this path. Good choice if you like a hint of melancholy and (good) female vocals in your Extreme Metal, go for it! 8

Unfortunately the instrumental part is a bit too repetitive and simplistic for my taste, a mix of Speed, Thrash and Punk based on catchy but overused guitar riffs, fast paced rhythm section and occasional solos, nothing impressive.

Fans of '80's primitive Black Metal might enjoy this more than I did, as for me I keep my opinion that the vocals are the best part of this band's music. 5 MORTAL STRIKE (Austria) - For the Loud and the Aggressive Selfreleased - 2014 - Thrash Metal Debut album from this band founded back in 2009, For the Loud and the Aggressive brings us 10 tracks plus a cover of Tankard's Zombie Attack, a total of 47 minutes playing time. Fast and aggressive Thrash Metal highlighted by a vocalist that at first hear I thought would bore me to death, but luckily it didn't, on the contrary, it added a lot to the overall band's fury. The nervous drumming must be mentioned here, too, there are some parts where the guy playing them sounds absolutely inhuman, and of course, the fantastic traditional and highly catchy guitar work that I could describe as a proud follower of all German Thrash Metal giants, especially Kreator. This is one of those albums that if you're into Thrash Metal you won't let it out of you player for a long time, there are so many delicious riffs, drum beats, choruses and catchy hooks that you'll fell in love with it instantly. I love its genuineness and ease of making Traditional Thrash Metal sound fresh nowadays. 9

Mystical are a trio from Silves, Portugal, founded back in 2003, but a band that severely lacks in discographic productivity this one being only their second demo tape to date, a 4 tracks (+ intro and outro) effort released on tape limited to only 150 numbered copies by Helldprod. We're dealing here with traditional Black Metal without any influences from other genres, honest and organic music (although the drums are programmed), aggressive and blasphemic as it should be. I liked the guitar work on this release, quite intricate and not monotone as one could expect, but unfortunately the band lacks in a few areas: the atmosphere they create are not intense or mystical or demonic or anything close to horrifying as I would have liked so there's definitely something missing, then the vocals have an excellent tone for Black Metal, but they are way too tied with the general rhythms without looking for their own way, for their own identity, or at least that's my impression. Not a bad demo, but not impressive either; I liked the over artwork, too, blasphemic, oldschool, perfect. 6.5 NACHTSCHATTEN (Germany) - Prolog Selfreleased - 2015 Melodic Death Metal Oh, such a nice surprise coming out of Karlsruhe, a city that gave us such icons as Necrophagist for the Tech Death scene, Umbra et Imago for the Gothic scene or Pink Cream 69 for the Hard Rock scene; the surprise for me was actually the fact that this band is playing a style that was in fashion a decade or more ago, Melodic Death Metal, and I honestly wasn't expecting it to impress me that much. First this release comes in form of a professional Digipack CD with 12 pages booklet featuring all lyrics, all this self-released by the band, but unfortunately with a dull and not interesting cover and booklet artwork. Then the music is a "traditional" type of Melodic Death Metal, I'd say a mix of Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth and even or especially Crematory, just think of Crematory with a more Death Metal (still quite light and joyous instead of dark and brutal) edge, minus the female vocals and background choirs, and with a less incisive keyboard, one that's used as background filling only. Its main highlights are the skillful guitar work, clever compositions and powerful yet comprehensive vocalist. It's a very technical, heavy, melodic, complex and nice flowing release and although it won't amaze anyone with its originality I'd say is an excellent debut for Nachtschatten, one that presents us a band capable of eventually refreshing this nowadays so boring Melodic Death Metal scene, and hopefully they will. 8.5

MORTHUS (Germany) - Into Oblivion Selfreleased - 2014 Melodic Black Metal Debut EP from this German quartet, Into Oblivion is made of 4 tracks and clocks almost 20 minutes of playing time. The band looks good both from the look point of view and from the musical aspect, both displaying a band willing to invest in their future, a band with what seems a well curdled idea of what they are after. Melodic Black Metal is what we get here, highlighted by melodic guitar leads, intense drumming and a good vocalist with a hoarse but comprehensive tone, supported from time to time by a growling background voice. The music is catchy, well executed but unfortunately it fails in impressing with anything other MOONREICH (France) - than the professionalism it's all done, but since it's their debut release this is fully understandable. The potential is Pillars of Detest Les Acteurs de l'Ombre - definitely here, they need to come up with something on 2015 - Black Metal their own and I have no doubt they have a good chance of NAVIYA (Russia) - Vodokres Yar' - 2014 - Folk Pagan Metal Former member of The breaking into this scene. 7 Pagan metal project of members of the folk band Negation and current livesession guitarist of Glorior Belli, Weddir has his own MYHRDING (Sweden) - Gromovnik, Naviya was founded back in 2004 and this is project that's going strong from 2008 releasing three fullNordens mรถrkaste the band's second full-length album, self-released in 2009 and re-released 5 years later by Yar' Productions on both length albums so far, including this one. This one is made kapitel Unexploded - 2014 - tape and CD formats. At first I have to admit I wondered of 8 new tracks clocking 50 minutes of technical and why is this label re-releasing such old material instead of somehow progressive Black Metal offering a somber, Black Metal apocalyptic and evil atmosphere. Although I appreciate Second studio album just focusing on "new blood", and I'm still wondering the technical aspect and the high complexity of its tracks, from these Sweden based about that, but at least in this case I can almost Black Metallers formed as understand, Vodokres is a very complex, interesting I had the constant feeling that emotions are missing from this album even though Weddir is a quite versatile Myhrding in 2006, Nordens mรถrkaste kapitel album that sounds more like a compilation of tracks from vocalist; as a parallel it reminds me of the Technical features 12 tracks totaling 50 minutes of playing time. I different periods of the band's history. 14 tracks of Brutal Death Metal bands I can appreciate and respect for have to admit after seeing a few photos of these guys and Russian Folk Metal ranging from energetic, powerful their work and dedication but which can't get to me, can't the morbid (excellent though) cover and booklet artwork, parts to some others full of spirituality, with influences transmit any feelings to me. This is way more technical I wasn't expecting such a melodic music, Black Metal yes, from Black and Death Metal, too, yet avoiding to sound than you'd expect from a one man band, it manages to but a melodic, technical and quite epic type, not the raw offensive in the end. Lots of traditional instruments, blend well the mid-tempo mesmerizing parts (inspired by and brutal type I was expecting. Their music reminds me acoustic guitars, keyboard backgrounds, a wide an Post-Black Metal) with ferocious and fast parts. I would of the '90's scene, the Swedish Black Metal scene that is, entertaining album recommended to all followers of have liked it much more if Weddir had explored more in with occasional remains of the Medieval Black Metal underground Folk Metal; beware, this has nothing to do the direction he takes at the end of the 7th track, an occult, movement also from the '90's. Based on technical guitar with Korpiklaani, Ensiferum, Finntroll and the likes kind theatrical, ambient, and mixed it with his skills for riffs, melodic guitar leads and solos, organic and precise of Folk Metal, it's rougher, and of course, portraying a delivering Black Metal. Anyway, fans of Technical Black rhythm section, a vicious and quite versatile vocalist, and totally different culture. 7.5 Metal should definitely give this one a listen; it comes as backed up by a crystal clear production, Nordens a six panel digipak and can be streamed online in full mรถrkaste kapitel can compete at the highest Black Metal NECRONOMICON (Germany) levels, no doubts, but I wouldn't recommend it to the ones before buying it. 7 of you looking for the ugly, uncompromising side of this Pathfinder... Between Heaven and Hell MORBID SLAUGHTER (Peru) - A Filthy Orgy of genre, it's a good sounding album following the Swedish Trollzorn - 2015 - Thrash Metal Black Metal tradition, but bringing nothing new to the There are multiple Necronomicon bands around Horror and Death table, the band still needs a bit more work to come up nowadays but the German pioneers of Thrash Metal Inti - 2015 - Thrash Black Metal Debut album from this Peruvian trio founded in 2009, a 7 with something of their own and impress throughout the seems to be the first one and the most entitled to this tracks effort clocking a bit less than half an hour of nowadays overcrowded scene. 7.5 moniker as they were founded back in 1984 and they've playing time. It sounds like the Nazguls from the Lord of been more or less active during all these years (more than the Rings started singing in a band, the vocals give you MYSTICAL (Portugal) - Infernalis Creatura 30!). This album is their 8th, released on a similar amount that impression, they sound like evil, death-infested, Helldprod - 2013 - Black Metal of labels, so maybe that's one of the reasons why the band angry whispers, and I have to admit I enjoyed them. haven't really made it so far, a label promotion kind of

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stops once you sign with another label, and the lack of constancy affects even the best of bands. Necronomicon are back after 3 years with another opus made of 11 tracks and clocking 70 minutes of melodic and catchy traditional Thrash Metal, the softer and catchier type that will be probably enjoyed by Heavy Metal fans in equal measure; it actually sounds like a Thrashier version of Accept, the same type of compositions and song structures with loads of epic guitar riffs and leads, melodic solos, a raspy and cocky vocalist, repetitive and very memorable choruses in each track. Each track can be considered as a single on this album and I think that's how it was conceived from the start, to keep all tracks as catchy and memorable as possible. the rhythms on it range from mid-tempo to fast paced, but I'd say it's pretty balanced and there's even an epic track, more melodic than the rest, to spice things us, so all in all I think Necronomicon did a very good job on this new album, and although it brings nothing new or surprising to the game, it's a highly enjoyable material that displays the band is still up to compete with the young blood that's around nowadays. Old-school Heavy Thrash Metal forged with heart and good taste. 7.5

young French label, Ancestrale, that may have been lost in the meantime. Now Neptrecus decided to go for Mortis Humanae, another very promising French label which hopefully will last much more. We're offered here 9 new tracks in a bit over 50 minutes of epic, warlike, expressive traditional (second wave of) Black Metal built on an excellent guitar work, intelligent but unfortunately very synthetic sounding drums, barely audible bass lines, ferocious and razor-sharp but still comprehensive Black Metal shrieks, and a raw, unpretentious sound quality.

The multiple layers of melodic at times, or simply brutal at other, guitars are definitely the focal point of this album, of this band better said, the two guitarists are working well together and deliver a second wave of Black Metal type of melodic, mid tempo to fast paced, very catchy riffs, leads and solos that, the last because of the sound are barely distinguishable. Neptrecus are a band that should deserve a better studio, I sure their music would be much more welcome by Black Metal fans; if you haven't heard them yet don't miss any more time and give them a chance, you might like their work at least as I do. 8

NECROTIC WOODS (Germany) - The Nameless Dark Bret Hard - 2015 - Black Metal Usually German Black Metal bands use native tongue lyrics, or if not, they use such incomprehensive shrieks as vocals that it's impossible to get anything from their lyrics unless you read them along, but this band is an exception, Necrotic Woods use English lyrics for their songs, and at the same time the vocalist has a tone that allows you to simply listen and understand what's he singing about; I know, this has nothing to do with the quality of music, but it's a damn huge asset when it comes to the young generation, the real music fanatics (high-school or even younger kids), embracing this style of music, being able to identify themselves with the music or at least with part of it, and I'm sure this will be the biggest highlight and interest point in this Necrotic Woods' second album's success. The music is quite traditional Black Metal with lots of rhythms, clever riffs, very good production and correct atmospheres (think of the new Black Death trend, Necrotic Woods' sound is no less powerful), so everything is done as it should be, the music is good enough for any standards, but nowadays there are lots and lots of similar "high quality" bands, so everyone needs a niche or something to be original with, and in this case the vocals are. This is the band's second album, and since the first one was self-released and this one out on a respectable label as Bret Hard, I'd say they have a pretty good chance to becoming an important name in the scene. 8

NETHERFELL (Poland) - Between East and West Noizgate - 2015 - Folk Melodic Metal Metalcore Ever thought Folk Metal can be mixed with Metalcore and Djent on the same album? I never. But here's a Polish band that actually tries this stunt although the final result is not that convincing yet. This is their debut full-length album, first released by the band in March and then rereleased by Noizgate in October, this although the band seems to be around since 2008. Anyway, they seem like a school project where individuals with totally different ideas and conceptions get together for a common project, these guys (and a girl) even look like totally different, even without mentioning their music. Music wise they are a mix of older Eluveitie (complete with whistles, violin, and instead of the hurdy-gurdy a bag pipe and even a recorder) with Metalcore and Djent kind of guitar riffs most of the time. There are some tracks that can be considered as clear Folk Metal which I'm sure fans of this genre will enjoy, but when the Metalcore and Djent guitars kick in it all stops being natural, it becomes weird and I have no idea how I should react, but the bottom line is that this is not the best they can give / come up with from this mix, and I hope they'll keep searching for the best way to fit these totally opposite genres well as the idea is totally worth it weather one likes it or not. Not spectacular but definitely interesting. 6.5

NEGACY (Italy) - Flames of Black Fire Jolly Roger - 2015 - Heavy Power Metal After bands like Labyrinth or Rhapsody took this genre to totally new heights at the end of the '90's - beginning of the '00's it was a tough job for newcomers not to reach those heights but even to satisfy the Metal World's thirst for more quality Power Metal made in Italy, and I still remember how many copycats the beginning of the new century spawned in Italy, a lot of them with no real chance. Probably it's about time for these lands to offer us a new and refreshed side of this genre, and they are capable of doing it, they should do it before someone else takes the lead. Negacy is one of those newcomers that seem to take thing seriously, and in their 3 years of activity they have already released 2 full-length albums, this one I'm listening to now being the second. One might say the band has been around since 2005, but they were named Red Warlock until 2012 and were supposedly playing a more traditional type of Heavy Metal. Now the band blends its Heavy Metal roots with Power and Progressive Metal and the result is impressive; complex, catchy, metallic to the bone, powerful yet melodic, technically faultless and boundless, Flames of Black Fire flows brilliantly throughout its 10 tracks, 50 minutes of playing time. My only regret and complaint would be that they didn't bring any new elements, anything surprising or innovative beside the traditional Progressive Metal way of innovating, so it's either they want to stay traditional or haven't found a suitable way to experiment yet, we'll see.

Anyway, the musicianship, the compositions, the production, everything is top-notch here, so go for it without second thoughts. 9 NEPTRECUS (France) - Frères de Sang Mortis Humanae - 2015 - Black Metal I remember reviewing (and enjoying) this band's debut album 2 years ago released back then on a very promising

album features 6 tracks, actually 5 and an intro, of traditional Death Metal, US scene inspired, fast paced, very technical, featuring some quite rad guitar solos here and there, and managing to build a tight brutal and dark atmosphere that will probably impress the listeners, an atmosphere that reminded me of Brutality to be honest.

Good, catchy guitar riffs, epic US type guitar solos, intense drumming, subtle but heavy bass lines, and an angry, incomprehensive growling vocalist; the sound quality is crystal clear so you'll easily "get" everything.

The tracks are pretty different one from another, from '90's US style Brutal Death Metal to traditional, groovy Death Metal, to a Death Metal with blasphemous, Black Metal-like atmosphere, but all in all the material sounds curdled enough; the excellent cover artwork is perfect for this release, very expressive. If you're into '90's US Death Metal a la Vital Remains, Brutality, Deicide, give this a try, CD version is released by the band, and there's also a tape version released by Morbid Chapel Records. 7.5 NORMAN SHORES (France) - Le tombeau de brume Ossuaire - 2015 - Black Metal I've just finished reviewing the Obscurite debut album and wasn't too impressed by it so honestly when I saw Fog (one of the two guys involved in Obscurite) is the man behind this one man project, I wasn't too keen on listening to it. But once again my prejudices proved to be wrong, Norman Shores, although following a similar Traditional Black Metal path, is way, way more interesting and catchy. This is the second full-length under this moniker, a 9 tracks effort totaling almost a full hour of freezing cold and dark Black Metal with epic melodic guitar riffs and leads, and a dense, oppressive atmosphere that's perfectly portrayed by the cover and booklet artwork, you'll feel alone in a dark forest, terrified, but with a glimpse of hope though; some guitar riffs are quite hopeful and folk-ish if I could say so, but the overall impression is of a frantic and well-crafter Black Metal material. Impressive even though not innovative or original; recommended! 8.5

NOVEMBER-7 (Switzerland) - Awaraxid 7mg Dark-S - 2014 - Modern Melodic Metal Wow, everything about this band screams professionalism, from its music to its image, to its marketing and promo strategy, I have to admit that although this album seems to be self-released (by their own label), it's at least as professional-looking as if released by a major label. November-7's new album looks like a prescription medicine, and it actually came with a foil of pills that seem to increase awareness in what's around you; didn't try them, so let's see what about their NEVERENDINGHATE (Spain) - La CaĂ­da de los music. November-7 are a modern, melodic mix of Electro and Metal, with (excellent) female vocals, I'd say fans of Ă?dolos bands like Rammstein, Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil, Morbid Shrine - 2014 - Death Metal Spanish duo (not to be mistaken with the Chilean band will totally dig this Swiss band. The guitars are metallic with the same name) made of Erun-Dagoth, known from enough to be considered tough, and the vocals and electro his work in Eldereon, Briargh or Undernoise, and insertions are commercial enough to reach a larger Enserune, most probably his lady, and founded in 2013 audience. They still need something to be easily identified although the general concept was created by Enserune by, something of their own, but from what I can hear on since 1998. This is their debut demo, a 3 tracks (+ intro this album they have everything they need to make it. and outro) effort totaling 12 minutes of bestial, grim, Energetic, melodic, modern, varied, interesting, give it a horrifying Death Metal, a mix between the US and the try yourselves. 8 South American scenes from the beginning of the '90's, NYR GATA (Germany) defined by mostly fast paced rhythms intersected by some slower and darker ones, good quality riffing, devastating Seraphim short solos, a terrifying atmosphere and above all the Dominance of Darkness / bestial screams of lady Enserune that sound like a witch Narbentage - 2015 in flames, enraged and demented. Yes, I have enjoyed this Black Death Metal debut demo a lot, I have also tasted the sad, yet hopeful Young duo founded in acoustic guitar outro, a breath of air after a highly 2014 by two guys that energetic and brutal release. This demo was released by were already colleagues Morbid Shrine in a nice black tape format with 6 panels in 4 other bands, which booklet featuring the lyrics as well, not sure if it's limited means they get along but I suggest you don't miss any more time and get this pretty well these two. one. 8.5 Indeed this debut full-length album sounds very complex and seems to have been carefully planned before they NO SALVATION (Poland) - started recording. 9 tracks, almost 40 minutes playing time, a mix of Black (mostly) and Death Metal with Defiling Verses Selfreleased - 2015 - multiple melodic elements, and short incursions into different other styles from time to time, just like Black Death Metal I wouldn't say this is a Death started visiting the neighboring territories but didn't proper full-length album stick to any of them too much in order to be as it features only 6 tracks and clocks only 26 minutes of contaminated, just had a drink with them, especially with playing time, but if the band (or maybe only Metal Folk Metal and maybe even Technical Death Metal (the Archives?) decided this is their debut album so be it, no light part of it), yet the final outcome is definitely and one cares for these "rules" anymore. No Salvation are totally Black Death Metal. The guitar work is excellent, hailing from Pszczyna, a little city in the South of Poland, very complex, very fresh and expressive, being the and they were founded back in 2006 but only released a highlight of this band, no doubts, but from time to time demo in 2011 prior to this album, so I couldn't say they the drums, bass and different layers of guitars become are a productive band whatsoever. As I was saying this quite chaotic, although that won't ruin the audition at all; I

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would have also liked the bass lines to be a bit more till suicidal / depressive. Anyway, definitely a very, very prominent. The album builds in time and it's for sure it good album you should give a chance to. 8 will get you by the end of it; if at the beginning I wasn't that impressed I have to admit by the end I love it, and the ORIZEN (Switzerland) - Of Life, second audition was even more catchy, so I guess if you Death & Salvation decide to give it a chance try to listen to it at least a Selfreleased - 2015 Black Metal couple of times before deciding if it's your cup of coffee.

A band with great potential. 8 One man band from Switzerland started in OBSCURITE (France) 2005, Orizen is the result of Richard Leishman's work, a seemingly Contemplation Ossuaire - 2014 - Epic young guy, and here is have its second full-length album to date, a self-released 8 tracks effort totaling a bit over 70 Black Metal Another band coming out of the nowadays so effervescent minutes of playing time. At first I want to remark the French Black Metal scene; this time we're dealing with a excellent cover and booklet artwork (pencil drawings) and duo started in 2013 and with their debut album, a 9 tracks the fact Richard tells a story, an interesting story effort totaling almost 50 minutes of Black Metal. Their throughout this album and tries to link everything in a style I'd say is a '90's type Black Metal highly influenced single concept. I think he succeeded to blend everything by the Scandinavian scene, especially by the monotonous, in a complete, expressive and well delivered project, this repetitive and almost mesmerizing guitar riffs creating a album being a definite proof of his abilities both as certain epic melody in the overall atmosphere. composer and musician. Melodic, melancholic and Unfortunately in Obscurite's care we're not treated with mesmerizing mid-tempo Black Metal with plenty of such an expressive and interesting vocal type as in, let's excellent guitar work, versatile vocals, deep atmospheres say, Burzum's case, the vocals here are quite linear and and emotions, at times hinting at the Melodic Doom leading to a boring state after a few listens. The drums are Death scene. Although it's such a long album I'm sure the mostly mid-tempo and quite boring as well, except for a listeners will appreciate the effort and by the end will few faster parts where they seem to want more from this want even more, but the problem is that this material was release. The guitars are actually the most complex and composed over a period of 6 years, so I don't think we'll interesting but suffocated at times by their own overuse to get a follow-up anytime soon, especially since we're a point where all tracks sound one like the other. Well, talking about a one man band, so the ideas come from one I've slammed it a bit too much, but such a release was person only, and that limits the possibilities as well. mediocre even in the '90's, no offense guys, there's Anyway make sure you don't miss this album if you're nothing exciting here; although the execution is not into Melodic, Ambient, Emotional Black Metal. 8.5 amateurish, the potential might be there and the sound quality is also quite good, but that's not enough. 5.5 OSSUAIRE (France) - Le Troubadour OF SPIRE & THRONE (UK) Necrophageophile - Sanctum in the Light Nihilistic Holocaust Aesthetic Death - 2015 2015 - Death Metal Doom Sludge Metal Uncompromising, fast, This (interestingly ugly and brutal Old-School Death Metal is the name of named) band is around since the game on this Ossuaire debut demo tape that was 2009 and after a demo, a few EPs and a split initially released by the band in 2005 on CD, and now with Ortega they seem to have decided it was picked up and released on hand-numbered tape by about time to go for a full-length album, and this Nihilistic Holocaust. This one absolutely reeks of oldSanctum in the Light was released by the band in October school, from the music itself, to the band's logo, to the and probably then picked up by Aesthetic Death and tape graphic artworks, and even the tape booklet look, released in Digipak format, but I'm not sure if there ever printed black on yellow cardboard with typing machinewas a self-release though. Anyway, Of Spire & Throne, as like fonts, and black tape with sticker; love it! The music this album's cover artwork perfectly depicts, is all about is excellent for fanatics of straight-forward Death Metal a slow and absolutely oppressive riffs, dying growls la old Morbid Angel, without any effects, or additives, meeting desperate screams, demolishing bass lines, and just plain and simple fast, violent, dark, hideous Death apocalyptic drumming, or better said a painfully slow and Metal lead by a good growling vocalist and highlighted decaying mix of Sludge and Doom Metal with heavy by blasting drums, heavy ass guitar riffs, short, distant and Funeral Doom inserts here and there. Their guitars give haunting guitar solos. The sound is organic and at the me a '70's fear of the nuclear war picture impression from same time clear enough to let you enjoy this good dose of time to time, but that's about all I could single out as kind brutality. The demo is made of 4 tracks plus intro, around of original on this release; it's not a boring work, not at 15 minutes of playing time. Cool release that takes you all, and the atmosphere is spot on, but still there's back to the early '90's. 7.5 something missing in order to make it the next big thing in this genre, and after this audition I wouldn't say if they OTARGOS (France) - Xeno Kaos have what they need or not, it's a very niched and well- Kaotoxin - 2015 - Black Death Metal targeted release. Try it out yourselves. 7 After their departure from Rupture Records, Otargos changed label for every new album, and this is no OMHETEN (Sweden) - Sjalv exception, Kaotoxin being the band's new home and Unexploded - 2015 - Depressive hopefully for them they'll keep a longer and better Suicidal Black Metal relationship. The new album, Xeno Kaos, is as heavy as Here's a proud continuer of they come, the band soaring more and more over this genre called DSBM, a atmospheric and evil Black Death Metal territories genre that has reached its fronted by acts like Behemoth or Hate, and where many peak of popularity in of Today's Extreme Metal bands are heading for, if they recent years and became manage to achieve the required technical capacity. somehow a fashion driving lots of such bands to change Otargos manage to fit in those areas perfectly, their their genre labeling to other stuff just to be dissociated technical skills, compositional potential, and overall with the trends, and for good reason too. Omheten seem ability to create dark and menacing atmospheres certify to be proud of this moniker and that's how they should be, them as a solid name to challenge Behemoth's supremacy. the music on this debut album, released 3 years after the 9 tracks, a bit over 45 minutes playing time made by band's formation, introduces us a very skilled and talented excellent guitar riffs, a rhythm section that ranges from ensemble capable of reaching the tops of their craft. Sjalv heavy mid-tempo to devastating fast pace attacks, a is made of 6 tracks each one lasting for 6:06 minutes. The comprehensive yet demonic and hateful vocal, and subtle compositions are both repetitive to a point they yet extremely effective dark atmospheric keyboard and mesmerize you and complex avoiding any weak points in synth backgrounds. There are some occasional cyber captivating the listener's attention, it is very expressive touches here and there that could have been exploited and shows the band spared no efforts in working on this better, but which can be a solid stepping stone for the album that in my opinion has only one fault, but one that's future Otargos, something to achieve more originality. pretty important, it fails to induce a depressive state to the This is a very professional, powerful and entertaining listener, most of the time the instrumental part seems release, recommended to all fanatics of Black Death more inclined towards being clever and well balanced, Metal, but it's quite clear itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the best the band can forgetting about being ugly and depressive, at most it's offer or wants to offer. 9 melodic and melancholic at times, but there's a long road P.L.F. (USA) - Ultimate Whirlwind of Incineration

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Blastasfuk Grindcore - 2014 - Grindcore From '99 when they formed until '07 P.L.F. was acronym to Pretty Little Flower, hahaha, but then they decided to change it for Pulverizing Lethal Force which, if you ask me, is way more appropriate for the music they are doing nowadays. PLF are straight-in-your-face traditional Grindcore played fast, brutal and threatening. This one is their 4th studio album between a ton of split releases, an album made of 15 tracks and clocking 25 minutes of Grindcore with solid influences from Death Metal and even Thrash Metal, and with lyrics (and artwork too) more suitable for Death Gore bands than Grindcore.

There's nothing out of the ordinary, it's not a masterpiece release, but it is highly enjoyable and to be honest I have nothing to comment on it, it's your typical (not funintended like many other such releases from nowadays) brutal Grind release I'm sure fans of this genre will openheartedly embrace. CD comes with a 6 pages booklet featuring all lyrics. 7 PAGANUS DOCTRINA (Costa Rica) - OmnipotencE AeternaE DiabolouS Satanic / Ashen - 2015 - Black Metal This is one of the oldest and most probably influential Costa Rican Metal bands; founded back in 1994 Paganus Doctrina only managed to record and released their debut album this year, but oh what an album it is. Although it visits my player at the end of the year this one will certainly be among my top Black Metal releases of 2015.

We're treated here with 8 tracks (almost 50 minutes) of devastating and blasphemic Black Metal with important Death Metal influences. The highlights of this release are the amazingly expressive vocals and an excellent guitar work coming up with some very interesting and catchy riffs every time, and I shouldn't forget the demonic, antichristian intros and the occasional catholic chants and / or bells in the background that amplify the overall evil atmosphere of this release to a point I feel evil myself just for listening to it. The production is not the best around, but I can appreciate and praise the organic drumming, and the dark bass lines when audible. As far as the atmosphere concerns this is one hell of a blasphemic album, you'll feel it in your veins, and that's one of the most important aspects I look for in every band; if you do too, don't miss this amazing release, it's definitely a masterpiece of Costa Rican Extreme Metal that will make its mark. 9.5 PANDORIUM (Germany) The Human Art of Depression Bret Hard - 2015 - Thrash Metal Great debut album from this German quartet that already presents itself as a solid contender for the tops of this genre, and I'm seriously thinking that. The Human Art of Depression was released a year after the band changed both the drummer and a guitarist, so after a deep split in the band's continuity, and that proves how capable is the new line-up to recover and regroup. The album is made of 3 acts, 9 tracks, and clocks a bit over an hour of old-school type of melodic and technical Thrash Metal with excellent, modern sounding production, so a fresh release I'd say, and it was firstly selfreleased by the band in 2013, and now picked up by Bret Hard Records. The strongest element on this release is the excellent guitar work, both guitarists are coming up with amazing hooks on riffs, leads and solos, so definitely a point every Thrash Metal maniac will love; the rhythm section is precise and quite groovy, so here's another catchy thing about this band; the vocals are angry and energetic, comprehensive and easy to follow but they sound like something's missing in order to hit you right in the face, they don't have the same impact as the guitars.

All in all The Human Art of Depression brings us plenty of melody, catchy elements, metallic elements and energy to enjoy it to the core, a very good debut album that should be followed by a new one asap not to lose momentum. Recommended for fans of modern sounding traditional Thrash Metal without compromises. 8.5 PIAREVARACIEN (Belarus) - Down the Broken Path Wolftyr - 2010 - Folk Pagan Metal Initially released in 2008 seemingly for the local market only, this debut album from Piarevaracien was then re-released 2 years later by Wolftyr for the Western territories, too, with all lyrics translated in English, although the material wasn't rerecorded, the lyrics are still sung in native tongue. So I'm

dealing here with an old release that I got for review 5-6 years after a normal promo campaign, I guess it's still available for purchase from the label. It is also the debut release from this back then young Wolftyr Productions, and what a release it is. Catchy and organic Pagan Metal with occasional Folk insertions, with raspy Black Metal like male vocals supported at times by enchanting nymphlike female vocals, and all this based by powerful and at the same time melodic guitar work like they used to be done back in the '90's. The rhythm section, drums and bass lines, reminded me of Temnozor, very upfront, very incisive and playing an important role in the overall result. If you're looking for an alternative to the nowadays World-renowned Arkona you should try Piarevaracien too, this album is a total blast and if you're not bothered by a clean but somehow unpolished sound, you'll find it impressive, too, it has that genuine, ingenuous honesty that a lot of bands in this genre lack nowadays. 8

RASHA'IM (USA) An Invocation Nauseating Whiff - 2015 - Black Metal Debut demo from this new US based trio founded only a year ago, a definite statement of what they are all about and what's their chosen path: raw, bestial Black Metal with oppressive, gloomy atmospheres.

I have to admit at first I disliked the somehow amateurish way of building the guitar part, but after a while I got into the whole atmosphere and it kind of grew on me. I don't know, probably the way the whole is mixed and mastered, or the very expressive and at the same time impressive razor-sharp shrieks, or the whole repetitive elements, turned out this demo better than expected after a couple of PLACENTA (Germany) - XV Greatest Hits tracks. Don't expect anything innovative, but you can Noizgate - 2015 - Deathcore expect a band that seems to know how to create proper Celebrating 15 years of existence, this quintet based in Black Metal atmospheres, they might be a nice surprise in Berlin has decided to release a Greatest Hits material, so the future; this demo is made of 5 tracks totaling 23 here we have XV, a collection of 15 tracks (as the title minutes of playing time, and if you're a fanatics of demo suggests) that present us a band that has been quite tapes you can give it a try, that if you'll manage to find it faithful to their path, if you listen carefully you'll discover as it's limited to only 66 handnumbered copies. 7 links between all tracks no matter if they are from 2007 or 2013. Since this was my first encounter with the band I've REANIMATOR (Canada) - Horns Up discovered a very talented outfit offering highly technical Selfreleased - 2015 tracks, catchy, well executed and interesting, and I have to admit I found them much more brutal than I initially Thrash Metal thought, so I'd recommend them not only to Deathcore Not sure why this Quebec based quintet decided to release fans, but also to followers of Modern Death, Brutal Death their second full-length album by themselves, in CDR and Grind. The material comes as digipak with a 16 pages format, 6 years after their debut was released booklet that opened becomes a poster with the band, cool professionally by local Galy Records, some, including me, might consider this as a step back for their career. choice for their fans, that's for sure. This time they decided to go for an Indiegogo campaign POLARIZED (USA) - to release this material, and the campaign proved to be very successful ($3k+ raised in a month). Anyway, as I Western Hypnosis Mighty Music - 2015 - said this is the band's second studio album, a 9 tracks effort clocking 35 minutes of organic sounding, (mostly) Thrash Metal Here's a new band made fast paced, traditional Thrash Metal, highlighted by of not so new members (with experience from Carnal catchy guitar riffs supported from time to time by Forge, Rosicrucian, Node or Gory Blister) from Sweden Megadeth like excellent guitar solos, a very energetic and Italy who apparently met in New Haven, Connecticut, rhythm section and a kick-ass vocalist that does his best and decided to start a new project 2 years ago. Here's their throughout the whole album. If you're a Thrash Metal debut full-length album, an 8 tracks effort clocking almost fanatic you most certainly like your records to be full of 40 minutes of classy, perfectly executed Thrash Metal tasty riffs, and that's an area where Reanimator doesn't with a deep Progressive and Technical edge, just imagine disappoint at all, their riffs are catchy and memorable and a mix of Megadeth, Testament and Death and add on top I'd name them the main reason (but not the only) this the best of nowadays Modern Thrash Metal plus an album is a total success. A must for fans of traditional excellent, top notch production. The tracks are catchy and Thrash Metal and not only! 9 easy to follow, and although the general impression is that the band follows traditional patterns without many REGARDE LES "outside" influences, the music is fresh, open-minded and HOMMES TOMBER (France) - Exile very, very promising. Taken individually, each musician Les Acteurs de l'Ombre in this band is great, strongly influencing the final - 2015 - Sludge Black outcome, so I couldn't pinpoint a highlight, they are all Metal working towards the same result. I've spinned this at least The first time I met this 5 times already and I'm still not bored, that's why I French band I was warmly recommend it to you too. Definitely a band to impressed by their band keep an eye on, and a very well done debut album that name, I don't know why, will visit my CD player again often. 9 it felt natural although I PSICORRAGIA (Peru) hated these kind of multiple words names, their felt the right thing; and it feels the same now, the perfect band - Presagios de AgonĂ­a Deathcult - 2015 - name for this band and the music it produces. The new full-length, their second effort, is made of 7 tracks and Doom Death Metal This band has already clocks almost 45 minutes of mesmerizing, dramatic Black passed the celebration of 2 decades on the Peruvian Metal with a heavy dose of Sludge and Post Black Metal, Extreme Metal scene, quite impressive I'd say, but this is and everything delivered with fine taste and excellent my first encounter with their music. This is the re-release technical skills. It's not the next big thing in Black Metal, of their 2005 EP with the same title, plus a few bonus but it's very well done and overflows of epic atmospheres, tracks, a total of 8 tracks clocking 40 minutes of technical emotions and exceptional tensions throughout the and melodic Doom Death Metal that remind me of the audition. The production is good, the cover artwork is a scene in the beginning of the '00's in Europe, of the monumental work of art, the music is exactly what I've underground scene I'd say. Psicorragia's music is quite expected, all in all I'd say this is a great release and complex, maybe a bit too complex and stuffed at times, recommend it to you, too. Comes as a six panel Digipak with highlights in the excellent guitar work displaying featuring all lyrics. great potential, a soft, enchanting female vocal, and that's 8.5 about it. The production is not the best ever, quite rough REGICIDE (USA) for this type of music, and at times the drums sound too synthetic, annoyingly synthetic. The compositions, due to Fall of an Empire Nasty Mammoth - 2014 the already mentioned varied guitarwork, are reaching - Heavy Thrash Metal progressive heights at times, some other they remind me Founded in 2009, Regicide of My Dying Bride and maybe even old Anathema, and managed to release their debut some other they are pretty Death Metal, too. Interesting re-release, but if not followed by a proper new material by album only this year, and unfortunately, after a first the band I'd say it's pretty useless for other than their fans. audition I must say I'm not at all impressed by it, and Professional Digipak release featuring an 8 pages booklet that's mostly because of the generic instrumental part and the vocals that have nothing appealing in my opinion. 8 with lyrics and the story of the band / re-release. -

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tracks, a bit over half an hour of playing, weak compositions that you've heard before in lots of other US based bands, lack of energy, lack of a good rhythm section, no real potential. The guitars part is, on the other hand, good, with a few leads and solos that work well, but unfortunately that's not enough to make this a worthwhile album, sorry. I liked the 6th track, but that's about it; if you're heavily into this genre and don't mind a raw sound, a few execution mistakes too, you should check it and make your own opinion, but otherwise I won't bother, sorry. 4 REGURGITATED INNARDS (Sweden) Feeding the Abominable Vulgar - 2015 - Death Grind I think I've met these guys' band before, but I have no idea if that's really true, and if it is, under what circumstances, but they have been around since 1998 and this is their debut full-length (in a way, as it's way under 20 minutes in playing time) album made by 12 short tracks. Their music is fucking intense, devastating, disgusting Gore Grind with Death Metal influences, in the old-school vein, with sickening vocals, abominable lyrics, heavy as shit guitar riffs, incredibly fast rhythms, and an overall atmosphere that can compete at any moment with the legends of the genre, so if you haven't already, go grab yourselves a copy of this album, it's probably become a classic in short time, not kidding. Released in both black and white vinyl versions by Vulgar Records. 9 REPULSIVE AGGRESSION (Norway) - Preachers of Death Schwarzdorn - 2015 Thrash Death Metal This is one of those albums that I'm sure will sell well because of its cover artwork, too. Repulsive Aggression's second full length album benefits from a perfect design for any old-school Death Metal follower complete with snakes, skulls, inverted crosses, pentagrams, and even skeletons dressed in typical old-school metalhead clothes, an instant hit, I tell you. Now regarding the music on this album, it's less old-school than the cover suggests, less aggressive than the band name suggests and more technical and somehow melodic than the overall package suggests; the compositions are quite complex and inventive yet still blending only Thrash and Death Metal, so from this point of view Repulsive Aggression is a nice surprise, I couldn't pinpoint any similar band at first thought, they seem pretty original. The 10 tracks (approximately 37 minutes of playing time), although the vocals are not that versatile and / or expressive, are quite varied mostly because the guitarwork sounds fresh and very inspired, but also because the rhythms range from steady and groovy mid-tempo to Thrash fueled fast paced.

The production is very good, organic, and sounds honest so no problems on this part either. From my point of view this is a very entertaining album, not ground-breaking in any way, but well thought in order to satisfy both oldschool and modern Thrash Death followers. 7.5 RESURRECTURIS (Italy) - Nazienda Mighty Music - 2015 - Progressive Metal Italy based Ressurecturis has changed a lot since I first met their music, in the second part of the '90's, but at the same time they have kept their path intact, they still like to push boundaries and experiment as much as possible like then, only this time they have drifted away from their Death Metal roots, a long way from them, replacing them with some modern influences. The band celebrates 25 (!) years of playing Metal music, and I always felt they were always an underestimated band, they always deserved a bit more recognition, but that's most probably also because of their approach on music, way too progressive, way too experimental and maybe futuristic for their times.

This new album, their fourth, continues the saga, again a release that will make waves only within the most open minded circles, one that requires high attention and full audition (auditions actually, multiple) to provoke a concrete and final impression on it. Starting with the absolutely brilliant album title and continuing with the expressive track names and the straight-in-your-face lyrics, the album portrays a day in the life of a corporation employee, a prison life like most of us are living

nowadays; quite depressive and very thought-provoking.

All in all this is a new masterpiece of an album, one that will challenge your intellect, and again one that will keep Ressurecturis well tied to the underground, no chance for something like this to reach the mainstream, not in a million years. Released as digipak with a huge 24 pages booklet featuring all lyrics (read them!), a highly needed addition to the music itself. 10 REVELATION (Belarus) - Consciousness Darknagar - 2011 - Gothic Doom Metal Revelation is a studio project founded back in '99 by two guys, Moon the Loon (instruments) and Warcraft (vocals), a project that released 3 full-length albums and an EP by 2008 when Warcraft decided to quit. Nikolay Popov joined Revelation as vocalist in 2009 and here we have the first fruit of the new collaboration, a 9 tracks effort totaling a bit over 50 minutes. Traditional, '90's type of Gothic Doom Metal with occasional Death influences here and there, that's what Revelation offer their audience, and they do it quite well. Although there's nothing to surprise, nothing innovative or highly unusual to make the band an actual revelation, these two guys are moving well inside the above mentioned genres, the material sounds curdled and well-structured, it flows well and manages to captivate your attention, of course if you're into those styles. Some might have a problem all lyrics are in Russian, also the booklet is printed completely in Russian, but in the end it's the music that counts, and Revelation do a good job. Too bad they are not trying to come up with their own stuff, with something innovative and original. 7 ROTEM (Portugal) - Nightmare Forever Rot'em - 2015 - Death Metal Rotem is the name of the label, the band and the guy behind them both so he's leaving not much to imagination.

This one man band was started back in 2012 and last year (2014) it managed to release the debut album, Dehumanization. This is the follow-up, a 10 (!) tracks EP clocking a bit over half an hour of playing time. Rotem's music is quite experimental ranging from groovy to modern to melodic to brutal, whatever you can imagine and if until now there was a slight touch of Black in its music, I'd say now it's a solid Death Metal with various experiments all over. The guitar work, including the fatass bass, and vocals are quite ok, but I find the drums sound too synthetic. The sound is ok but don't expect something over-polished, this is recommended only to underground followers. The execution lacks good pace here and there and unfortunately at times it becomes a mess (for example the 7th track starts with a metronome and the guitar sounds like looking pace although it probably didn't happen that way, but it's awfully annoying). Imagine a '90's type Death Metal with plenty of brutal, melodic and even technical parts, with a serious inclination towards experimentation. 6.5 RUSTY PACEMAKER (Austria) - Ruins Solanum - 2015 - Alternative Doom Metal Alternative Doom Metal is just a label I would give to Rusty's music simply because it sounds like Doom Metal but with the production and range of an Alternative Metal release on one hand, and on the other hand an extremely weird take on vocals, like the guy really doesn't care for this element in his music. The instrumental part is excellent, very atmospheric and emotional, mesmerizing at times, ranging from doomy and calm rhythms to more metallic, aggressive ones headed by powerful guitar riffs.

But the vocal part is weird, as I said the first time, very atipic for such professional instrumentation, it seems like Rusty has nothing in common with vocals, but there are some part on this and the previous album where he proves to have an excellent tone and rhythm ranging from warm clean vocals to Black Metal screams; the bottom line is that he chose to sound completely out of tone and childish here and most probably that's what he was after, to come up with something unique. Don't get me wrong, if you listen to this CD (same as the previous) a few times and really take your time to get into it, it will grow on you and you'll discover something interesting and professional, but the problem nowadays is exactly the oposite, the lack of time, I don't know how many will get this from a few tracks listened online. 7 SAVAGE (USA) -

WIZDOM A New

Beginning Selfreleased - 2014 - Power Metal To be honest with you lately I have a kind of restraint when it comes to US Power Metal bands, as I've seen/heard some that are absolutely joke bands despite

their cool look and interesting first impression, and such bands tend to become in majority, but luckily there are also bands like Savage Wizdom that are doing their thing well. At first this second full-length album of the band impresses through its kick-ass cover artwork, typical for this genre, especially in Europe where this wizards & dragons topic has been exploited to the max. Then I guess the album's title is also a statement of how professional they are or at least want to be, which is encouraging, indeed a new album 7 years distance from the previous is a new beginning for the band. Then getting to the music Savage Wizdom are an excellent blend of US and European Power Metal scene and being fronted by a powerful and very capable vocal is the cherry on the cake, an excellent addition to some of the best guitar leads and solos I've heard lately and a heavy but at the same time inventive rhythm section; the guitar riffs on the other hand are a bit too generic, but catchy nonetheless. This is what the Power Metal underground wants from a band, power, tradition, melody and good skills, and above all an epic story played so proud that it inspires. The sound quality is, opposed to the highly polished European, quite organic and rough at the edges, but this is not something that might disturb your audition much. 9

seems to be their real start since they managed to release 2 demos, this one, and The Rite of Dehumanization back in March. Unfortunately I wouldn't say I'm impressed by this new effort of the band; first the sound quality is totally a la '90's demos, including the quality of the instruments or probably the effects they chose for guitars are totally inadequate for Black Metal, during the midtempo parts the listener can easily "look elsewhere", then the vocals are way too abrasive and that's because of the final mix, the tone is quite amazing at times, razor-sharp and full of anger, and at times quite unprofessional (not to say laughable). Apart from that I'd say on the guitar part there are some very good ideas they could exploit more in the future, and the bass lines are fine how they are now.

The general impression after listening to this demo 3 times is that they haven't spent enough time recording it, it's like recorded in a rush and also they could use some new instruments next time, too. It was released in both CD and Tape format, and I have here the tape, limited to only 66 copies, so it will certainly become a rare release, hurry up if curious about this band. 6

SLOWTORCH (Italy) - Serpnte Selfreleased - 2014 - Blues Rock Stoner Metal Well, I'm not sure what to think of this band's decision of SCALA MERCALLI (Italy) - New Rebirth releasing this album in a limited edition of 100 handArt Gates - 2015 - Heavy Power Metal This band has been around since 1992 and although their numbered Digipak CDs only, but my guess is they'd use it name sounds familiar to me I'm not sure if I've actually to hook a suitable label to take things further, or at least heard of them before. This is their third full-length album that would make sense, they're not an obscure Black and the first on Art Gates after a short collaboration with Metal band interested in preforming only for the "trv". local Heart of Steel Records more than 5 years ago. 13 Slowtorch is is actually a quite experienced band with 10 tracks, almost an hour of classic mix of Heavy and Power years of activity underbelt and 3 EPs plus a demo released Metal highlighted by an awesome guitar work and a so far; this one I think is their debut album, an 11 tracks weirly attractive vocal style. The drums on the other hand effort clocking 36 minutes of groovy, bluesy, stoner blend I absolutely hate, they sound so synthetic it ruins of Rock and Metal with slow and laid back to mid-tempo everything for me, and the same goes for the organic but and metallic rhythms that at times remind me of Black very dry production, far, far from other Italian bands that Sabbath. It would need some more hooks, something to made their country famous for this genre or music. The be more memorable, but all in all it's a very good audition guitars and bass lines are absolutely worth your time, for all fans of Stoner-like Rock & Metal I'd say, just give there are so many hooks and interesting riffs that after a it a try. 7.5 couple of spins the album starts to grow on you even if SORDIDE (France) - La you hated it at first (my case, too). The vocalist has a tone that to me sounds like a mixture of Progressive, Heavy France a peur Avantgarde Music and Power Metal, high pitched but also warm and not 2014 - Black Metal disturbing at all, a master. This album could have been so Debut album from this much better with a majestic production (like for example young Black Metal Rhapsody used to have) and drums that don't sound like a power trio from Rouen, fucking PC keyboard... But you should give it a chance France, an album that even only for the combination of good guitar work and interesting vocals, that is you're into traditional Heavy already has a high advantage being released by the well known Avantgarde Music label that will, undoubtedly, Power Metal. 7 provide a good distribution and promotion. Since the SCHNAUTZER / SOLIPSIST (USA / USA) - Mr. French Black Metal scene is so efervescent and interesting nowadays I have to admit I'm always waiting MHS / Night of the Wolf Vulgar - 2013 - Thrash Death Grind / Groove Thrash for something out of the ordinary from each new release I get from there. Sordide's music is quite puzzling if you Death Schnauzer, the band opening this split 7", had Jim Konya ask me, they are blending raw, primitive Black Metal with from Nunslaughter, whom we tragically lost this year, as the French school of DSBM, with Burzum inspired vocalist, and although until now I didn't know the band Ambient Black Metal and finally with Post Black Metal I'm now convinced they are a World-class act! elements as well, it seems they are not yet decided what Instrumentally they are a mix of Punk, Thrash, Death and path to follow. I have enjoyed most of this debut album, Grind, simple and catchy as hell, but the vocals are and to me the highlight of this band, or at least on this amazing, very groovy, very entertaining and involving debut, would be the very incisive and oppressive bass. screaming vocals that will rip your head off. Throughout the 7 long tracks totaling almost 45 minutes Unfortunately there are only 2 tracks on this split, but of playing time, the band keeps things interesting and fortunately the band has plenty of such splits for your quite varied as you might have guessed. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rough and dramatic atmosphere and the last track who reminds me a (and mine, too) guilty pleasure. Great!

Solipsist offer us only 1 track here, a 4 minutes track bit of Pest Noire's Dans ma nuit, plus their obvious that's on a way more technical path, mixing Technical, potential make me think this band has a lot more to offer Modern and Melodic Thrash Death with Metalcore, witha and I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the top of touch of Traditional Death, too, a professional band that French Black Metal in short time. 7.5 can easily aim high as their skills allow it. To keep an eye on this band, they have a new album out this year, go SORROWFUL (Mexico) - In the check it out.

This one is such a good split it would be a shame not Rainfall Solitude - 2015 - Doom Death having it in your collection! 9 / 9 Metal SKVARA (Ukraine) - Old-school, obscure Doom Death Metal, that's what this Carpathian Pagan young duo from Mexico (now Sweden) offer us on this debut album. The band was actually formed back in 2009 Terror Depressive Illusions - but after a couple of years they quit and returned last year 2015 - Black Metal again at it. In the Rainfall offer us 9 tracks clocking 45 I'm not familiar with any minutes of playing time, a mix of Swedish and UK based other bands coming out Doom Death scenes from the '90's, the incipient Doom of the Ukrainian city of Death Metal, with an emphasis on Death Metal, and Odessa, although I'm sure highly reliant on its heavy, attacking guitar riffs and there are plenty there, too, comprehensive growling vocals. I tell you, there's not since Ukraine is such a prolific country much originality here but nonetheless fans of Doomy when it comes to Metal bands, especially Black Metal Death might enjoy it. I would have liked a bit more of bands. Skvara were formed back in 2012 and this year those rare guitar leads and solos (like the ones on the 8th

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track) and more of those heavy-ass bass lines that reminded me of Benediction, in order to make things catchier, more memorable. The rhythms are actually quite varied, from slow (naturally) to mid-tempo and even fast paced parts here and there, so I wouldn't say their music is boring, it's just not memorable and you'll forget it soon, but since it's a debut album this is ok. 7 SOUTH OF HELL (France) - Rising of Hate Sliptrick - 2015 - Death Metal Debut album from this French combo after more than a decade of activity, Rising of Hate offer us 9 tracks in less than half an hour playing time, fast and to the point. Even if at first sight this might seem a cheap and hurried release (the cover artwork is taken from DeviantArt, haven't seen this practice in a long time, and it's not even a good picture; the booklet only featured a band picture, no lyrics, no nothing), the music is quite enjoyable if you're into '90's type Death Metal, a US style Death Metal with lots of groovy rhythms and a hint of (old-school) Brutal Death here and there, too. A solid release where mid-tempo rhythms mix well with the fast-paced ones, and the powerful production is making its mark, too. Not impressive through its technicality or through its brutality, Rising of Hate rather impresses through its cohesion and lack of compromises, so this turned out to be a good debut album after all presenting maybe a band that has a waken and will start releasing more stuff, more often. 8

Not sure why or if the two previously released albums weren't that successful for the band, but with this one Spellbound should make a mark on the New Wave of German Thrash Metal and finally spread the resonance of their name all over the World. This third full-length effort is made of 11 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of US influenced Thrash Metal, I'd say a healthy combination of Testament, Onslaught and Exodus but without sounding like a copycat of any of these. The guitar riffs are so solid you'll feel them like a wall of bricks hitting your head, then the rhythm section is Swiss clock-precise and the vocals are easily comprehensive but at the same time raspy and powerful, with a hint of growl sometimes. The only fault I could find on this release was the vocalist inability to deliver when it comes to clean, melodic tone, the slow song (the ballad of this album) isn't that appealing if you ask me; the rest of the time David manages to keep the attention and interest high and his tone is perfect for such a release. Anyway, this won't spoil your audition, trust me, this is one of the best Traditional Thrash Metal releases coming out of Germany this year, but a bit far from the traditional Teutonic style Thrash though. 8.5

album is a concept story about a man who gets jailed for an unknown reason (my guess is that it's all about a communist times imprisonment), about his time in jail, his feelings and happenings, and the music helps a lot in developing the story, it's astonishly accurate and complex, and although I wouldn't be able to name any hit on this album (probably its only fault), I feel it's almost a masterpiece. As said, the only fault I could find was the absence of an easy, hit-ish song, something to stick to the listener's mind after the audition, but instead, like me, he/she will probably remember the complexity of the compositions, and the overall story behind it all. One track, The Menippeah, features the guest appearance of Tom Englund from Evergrey. The label names a few bands as hints for Stormy Atmosphere's music: Dream Theater, Nightwish, Symphony X, Evergrey, and others, but it's a long shot, they have their own thing here, really worth your time if you're looking for a Gothic-like melodic Progressive Metal album to be listened like you're reading a book (not sure how much sense this makes, but that's how I feel). 9.5

STYGGELSE (Sweden) - No Return Unexploded - 2013 STEORRAH Black'n'Roll (Germany) - II: Thin Although the album title is White Paint No Return, this is definitely a return Bret Hard - 2015 - Progressive Death Metal back to the roots of Black Metal. Styggelse's It seems every time I get something new from Bret Hard is something extremely well done, and Steorrah from second full-length album is a mix of old-school Black Bonn are no exception from the rule, this is their second metal a la Venom with a Crust-like production and Punk full-length album, a 10 tracks effort passing over the one Thrash attitude, very energetic and quite catchy; lead by hour milestone when it comes to playing time. The album an expressive screaming vocalist (although he could use a is amazing, a real journey through the band's world built bit more versatility, too), and highlighted by an excellent and offered to the listener with the utmost guitar work ranging from traditional, razor-sharp riffs to professionalism, a Progressive Death Metal journey with melodic and technical leads and solos, to some more various sights, from acoustic elements, to avantgarde simple and straight to your face parts, No Return offers 7 SPASMODIC structures, to jazzy influences, to alternative rhythms, to tracks and clocks half an hour of angry, dirty and groovy (Sweden) - Mondo melodic, meditative parts, but of course without Black Metal. The CD comes with a 12 pages booklet neglecting the traditional basics of Death Metal. Opeth featuring all lyrics and a simple but effective cover Illustrated Unexploded - 2013 - comes first to mind while trying to somehow label artwork, not more to say about it, I liked it and would Brutal Death Metal Steorrah's bold courage to experiment and the fields they recommend it further. 7.5 Here's a band that features members from Diabolical, are "visiting", but that doesn't mean Steorrah is a copycat, October Tide or Centinex but has quite little to do with that thought is far from me, they pretty much have their TERRORDOME (Poland) - Machete Justice their somehow melodic style and follows a much more own sound and their own individuality. I would have Defense - 2015 - Thrash Metal brutal and disgusting way opened back in the '90's by liked the vocals to be a bit more versatile, or better said to After presenting the band with a compilation of their Deranged. And indeed Spasmodic's music resembles with be more varied most of the time not only from time to previous EPs and demos, Terrordome and Defense the titans of Swedish Death Metal, but to get a more time, but that doesn't stop me to say this is as close to a Records step up with a studio album release, a year later. accurate picture you should throw in some Napalm Death, masterpiece as it could be. Don't miss it! 9.5 Machete Justice follows the same path the band is already Gorefest, Dying Fetus, UK Death Metal and even some set on, hyper-fast, hyper-active, hyper-energetic Sepultura (last works with Max Cavalera) at times.

STILLNES (Spain) - Crossover Thrash Metal for fans of Slayer or Dark Angel.

Although the band was formed back in 2002 and released The production is excellent, the overall atmosphere as Sin destino Selfreleased - 2015 - well, the compositions are quite similar one with the a full-length album as Metaphor, they got this new Thrash Metal moniker in 2005 and haven't been that active so far on other, but the vocalist manages to give them each an own No, it's not a typo, the way. The album also shows the very good technical skills discographic level this being their debut album, but man I band is really named Stillnes, without of its members, from time to time you'll hear some tell you their maturity formed in all those years shows without a doubt on it. The 13 tracks featured here last for the last "s" doubled, so when they started, in 2004, maybe displays of their knowledge, but all in all I would less than half an hour, they are short, concise and to the they had something else in mind, or it was simply a characterize Machete Justice as a relentless, merciless point, you absolutely can't get bored by this material, but mistake that was too costly to correct afterwards. The killing avalanche of Thrash Metal debris, absolutely that's also due to the band's potential to create brutal but at band presents us here their second full-length album, 4 terrifying. I love it! 9 the same time highly calculated and clean sounding Death years apart from their debut, and these 9 tracks are Metal, there's no nonsense here. If I'd to come up with a passing over 40 minutes playing time, so there's plenty to TERRORDOME single word to express what's happening here I'd choose: enjoy if you are already familiar with their music. Stillnes' (Poland) - We'll Show tight. The CD comes with a 20 pages booklet featuring all lyrics are in Spanish, that's why I feel Spanish speaking You Bosch, Mitch! their insane lyrics and an artwork that in my opinion listeners will enjoy much more what happens here, for the Defense - 2014 - Thrash Metal doesn't rise to the level of the music. 8 others the band will sound good but not spectacular at all, Poland had a lot of Thrash Crossover band in the '80's and I mean everything they do here we've already heard '90's, I know that from the amount of reviews from their SPEEDEMON countless times before, a Heavy Metal inspired Thrash local zines back then, but lately I think Black and Death (Portugal) - First Blood Metal built on powerful guitar riffs and headbanging Metal band became more and more leaving Thrash behind Selfreleased - 2015 - friendly rhythm section ranging from mid-tempo to fast somehow. Here's a band that sounds exactly like in the paced. I'm not sold on vocals though, not at all, they are '80's, but using and taking good advantage of nowadays Speed Thrash Metal Debut release from these Portuguese Speed Thrashers, less expressive then this music would need, and they benefits of modern recording, so that what in the '80's First Blood comes after they released 2 singles might even become dull towards the end of the album. would have been speed, they took it to hyper-speed now, previously, one of them, Road to Madness being part of The guitar work, on the other hand, is great, just listen to to Brutal Death Grind speed-like yet remaining in the this EP, too. 4 tracks, almost 15 minutes of playing time, the 7th track, the instrumental one, and you'll discover a boundaries of Thrash Metal. Small dose of Thrash, Speed, enough to make an impression on what the band wants Thrash Metal band with high potential of hitting the Punk, Death and even Grind may be heard here and there, and what they can deliver. We're dealing with a fast paced melodic and, why not, even progressive side of this genre, but the general impression and the overall labeling of this material is definitely Thrash Metal, old-school but very (of course), energetic Speed Thrash Metal a la '80's but too. 7 with polished and modern sound; powerful bass lines, exciting, very energetic and entertaining I'd say. This compilation material is made of no less than 22 studio very good riffs, catchy guitar leads with springs from the STORMY ATMOSPHERE (Israel) - Pent Letters '80's Heavy Metal as well, fast paced drums, and a hoarse Metal Scrap - 2015 - Symphonic Progressive Metal recorded tracks and 6 live recorded ones, a total of 28 vocalist who's actually not the best around, but he has his Oh, this is such a fabulous piece of work I couldn't short tracks clocking 50 minutes of music. Crystal clear own timbre and sounds honest and enthusiastic enough believe my ears, the band's name to be honest lead me production, cheeky and intensive execution, more not to fall way behind the very good instrumental part. All nowhere, and it actually sounded quite Gothic Metal technical than expected, traditional sounding, an in all this is an ok debut displaying a very capable citch, but I'm glad these Israel based musicians proved me absolutely devastating CD that needs your attention. instrumental side and a vocal that needs something more wrong. Stormy Armosphere's second full-length album is to catch up, maybe a backing vocal or more catchy not an easy listening, not by far, but on the contrary, it THE ARISEN (France) - Rising Times requires loads of spins before developing itself entirely to Selfreleased - 2015 - Progressive Death Metal choruses. 7 the listener, and I don't mean those superficial, ambient This young quartet from Lyon present us their debut EP, a auditions, but rather the "study" ones, preferably with the 7 tracks effort totaling half an hour of Progressive Death SPELLBOUND (Germany) - Nothing by the Truth booklet in the listener's hands to read the lyrics. The Metal. Intricate rhythms, lots of rhythm changes, Bret Hard - 2015 - Thrash Metal

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complicated structures are mixing with groovy at times, and melodic at other rhythms resulting an interesting material. I have enjoyed the guitar work the most here, although the drums and bass lines are also not to pass over quickly; unfortunately I don't like the vocals that much, the growls seem more like burps, the screams have no expressiveness, they were far from capturing my attention and that's why I don't think I'll spin this material again (I did it already lots and lots of times Today). An encouraging debut that introduces us a serious band, that seems to be determined to invest in their future (and I'm not talking about money only), I'm curious to see if they'll step up on the follow-up release. 7 THE A.X.E. PROJECT (Bulgaria) - Stories from a Lost Realm: Part Two Art Gates - 2015 - Gothic Metal The A.X.E. Project is a new name to my ears although they've apparently been around since 1994 but so far they worked on their own or with labels that didn't push them too much on international level. Now they've signed with Art Gates, a label that seems to work hard for its bands, a perfect home to grow their fanbase. This is the band's second full length, released almost 6 years after their debut, so all in all we're not dealing with a highly active band. these 7 tracks are clocking almost 50 minutes and what The A.X.E. Project (what an uninspired name...) offers us is a fairly good piece of Symphonic and Operatic Gothic Metal with interesting instrumental part influenced

by Power Metal here and there and a vocal part that's actually a mix of male (clean and shrieks) and female (operatic) vocals. The music flows well, the production is good enough, and the compositions are complex, but where I see the album failing is both the buildup of the general atmosphere (too many changes, too many ideas in each track) and with coming up with something new, something of their own. If you're enjoying this genre and you're a proud follower you'll get everything you expect from this album, but 15 years ago bands were doing this thing over and over again, there's no progress here. There are some guitar solos and leads that are absolutely killer, but that's not enough, the vocals, the keyboards, the rhythm section (well, the bass lines are kinda cool, too) will only keep your attention high if you're a maniac of the genre, but give it a chance nevertheless, maybe this only caught me in a different mood than I needed. 6.5 THE KILL (Australia) Speed Freak Killer Blastasfuck Grindcore 2015 - Grindcore First time I hear about this band that has been around since the year 2000, so they have a decade and a half experience so far, experience proves via countless Splits, EPs and two full-length CDs. This new EP of theirs is made of 9 tracks and clocks a bit over 10 minutes but I tell you I've spinned it already a bunch of times and I'm still not bored at all. This is definitely one of the finest Grindcore I've heard this year, it's exquisitely fast and heavy, with the right amount of craziness, very technical, excellently produced, and even though I'd say it's following the traditional Grindcore way, doesn't feel outdated at all, on the contrary. Not much to say more about it, just that if you're into Grind and similar genres, if you like violent and ultra-fast Metal, you shouldn't miss this band for the World, just give them a try online, hopefully you'll be as impressed as I am. The second track, Uphill Battle, is a fucking Grindcore hit! 9.5 THE NEGATION (France) Memento Mori Kaotoxin - 2015 - Black Metal I have enjoyed this band's debut album, back then a Mortis Humanae release, and here they are now on Kaotoxin presenting their second studio album made of 8 tracks + intro and outro, and clocking almost 45 minutes of dark, oppressive, fast paced Black Metal with heavy atmosphere, a modern touch that pushes the music towards what's new in Black Metal, borrowing influences from Post Black Metal, too, but the overall impression if of a highly intense, extremely hateful and quite mystical Black Metal without compromises. Although on the vocal part it lacks versatility and variety, Memento Mori proves to be an

interesting album from start to finish, the instrumental EP from a very promising band, I'm sure they won't be part, highlighted by some of the fastest and more unsigned for much longer. 8.5 devastating drums you'll ever hear, and by a classy, clever guitar work are taking this new album from The Negation THRONE OF EVIL to new heights in this genre. The band's image will (Chile) - Muerte por definitely be a great addition to their ascension, so don't creencias waste any more time and get this release before they'll hit Selfreleased - 2013 us with yet a new one. 8.5 Black Metal We're dealing here with a not so productive band if we THE PETE FLESH take into account they only released an EP prior to this DEATHTRIP (Sweden) debut full-length album, and that was back in 2008, a year - Mortui Vivos Docent after their foundation. Anyway, probably this is the click Critical Mass - 2015 - that will make the band be more active on this level, Death Metal although this album was released almost 2 years ago, and Although it might seem as the debut album of this one their Social Media still has no mention of a follow-up... man band, Mortui Vivos Docent is actually its fourth as Talking about this debut album, it is made of 9 tracks between 2004 and 2009 the band activated under the totaling almost 50 minutes of raw, aggressive Black Metal Flesh moniker as a duo as far as I know, but since 2009 with rare Ambient parts to stir things up. At first I was when Peter Karlsson, aka Pete Flesh (also known from his impressed by the cover and booklet artworks that previous bands Deceiver or Maze of Torment), decided to although quite childish in style, are probably very linked continue on his own, The Pete Flesh Deathtrip wasn't that with the lyrics and primitivism of this band. The active on discographic level. This album also is not a production of this album makes me use the word novelty since it was originally released in 2013 by "primitive", and unfortunately not in a good way; Pulverised Records, and now picked up and re-released although quite clear and comprehensive it's thin and on vinyl with new artwork by local label Critical Mass. doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help at all in creating a dark, offensive, and scary Pete Flesh likes to keep his ways traditional, following the atmosphere throughout the album. the drums are also patterns of what Today we call Swedish Death Metal awful, at times loosing pace, at other being too fast for the fronted by acts like Entombed or Dismember, he keeps general pace of the music. The vocals are great, at least the same devastating guitar sound, adds a bit more the Black Metal screams, because the Pagan clean vocals aggressiveness a la US Death Metal, and one more twist: sound a bit dull. And the guitars are a mix of traditional a Black Metal-like atmosphere heavily inducted by Pete's Black Metal with traditional (Thrash?) Metal riffs, good amazingly visceral vocals and part o the guitar work. The but not impressive. All in all some of you will like it guitar riffs and leads and absolutely delicious, and because it's really raw and piercing, but it brings nothing completed by a dark sounding rhythms section are to impress, nothing to stand out from the crowd. 6 creating and offering a versatile full-length with everything a fan of Swedish Black and Death Metal fan THY FLESH (Greece) could ever want. Released on both black and black stained - Thymiama Mannan white vinyl by Critical Mass, most probably limited to a Odium - 2014 - Black few hundred copies. 8.5 Metal Not sure if the band is still active since there seem to be THE WARD (Moldova) - Part of Humanity no more news from them since November 2014 on the social media, but anyway, here I have their debut album, Metal Scrap - 2015 - Atmospheric Melodic Death Metal These moments when I get to review a Moldovan release an album that comes after exactly 10 years since the are so rare I can't even remember the last time I got the band's foundation (even thouth during this decade the latest release by a Moldovan band, but here are The Ward, band was active only 4-5 years). 7 tracks, 38 minutes of a band I never heard before that was founded back in fast paced, vicious, offensive and grim Black Metal, the 2009 and this is already their second full-length effort, traditional way; although not the Greek traditional way, three years apart from their self-released debut. We're I'd rather place them on a Norwegian mixed with Swedish treated with 11 tracks in almost 45 minutes playing time, traditional (second wave of) Black Metal path. An a technical, stuffed, and quite massive sounding explossive, very thick and oppressive music highlighted Atmospheric Death Metal highlighted by a by enraging comprehensive Black Metal shrieks, a very comprehensive growling vocal, '90's sounding keyboard pronounced and impressive bass line, blasting drums, and backgrounds (I remember Black Metal bands using these excellent guitar work both on riffs, leads and even solos. types of tragic keyboards), and old-school guitar riffing Everything seems to be well-thought and well-crafted with a few breakdowns here and there. Not bad at all, but here, the music becomes mesmerizing at times and yet the sound quality is below average, and that goes for the keeps its occult, terrifying essence, and the top-notch release quality, too, the covers are on low quality paper, I production of all this is also impressive. What can I say, I guess the label tried a new factory, but they should go haven't expected such a great release, I really hope they'll back to the previous, definitely. The two guitarists are be back soon with a follow-up as this debut deserves it, working well together, and supported by these ethereal also the piano outro of this release seems to open a new keyboards they could bring the band to new heights, but chapter not close one. 9 not with this sound quality. The track 10 the band tries a beauty and the beast kind of vocal part, with the lady THY LEGION (Malta) - Promo playing the keys stepping up as vocalist, too; again, not 2015 bad, but not interesting or spectacular either. Sorry, I'm a Selfreleased - 2015 fan of this genre, but this release left me quite numb. 6 Death Metal This is a short preview I THERMIT (Poland) got from Maltese Death Metal combo Thy Encephalopathy Selfreleased - 2013 Legion, a 3 tracks teaser Heavy Thrash Metal for their upcoming third will probably see the light of the day This mix between Heavy and Thrash Metal might be the album that trickiest in Metal as far as I'm concerned; a band has to sometime next year. The band music is have a solid instrumental composition and execution but highlighted by the two vocalists, one growling and one also a strong, powerful vocalist to lead the band, not only screaming, and I can say they complete each other very to sing. Luckily enough Thermit has both these aspects in well and sound very good for this type of band, reminding order, the instrumental part is damn impressive, technical, me of the first Deicide albums where Benton was melodic, inventive, complex and catchy, and the vocalist recording several layers of vocals. I can't say the same is one of the best I've heard in the underground lately, about the mixing and mastering though; or at least on the very energetic and effective, with a timbre that sticks to first and second track the guitar sounds sloppy when your mind. There are also a few ballad-like moments that playing on mid-tempo rhythms, but as soon as the pace I appreciated a lot, short times to recharge the batteries fastens the guitar is getting brutal, too. I would have also just to be then hit again by their excellent Metal. If you liked a bit more power to the whole mix, there are parts like bands like Annihilator, Testament, Metallica, where the compositions really kick-ass, but the sound is Megadeth, Exodus, basically the monsters of this genre, not powerful enough to impress. Thy Legion's type of you'll probably appreciate Thermit, too. The EP is made Death Metal is traditional to the bone, but quite technical, of 5 long tracks (4 to 6 and a half minutes, probably a bit yet still not stepping into Technical Death Metal realms, shorter tracks would have been even more sticky) plus an and quite brutal but without being labeled Brutal Death even longer tribute to Metallica, an 11 minutes medley Metal (despite some obvious influences on guitars). called Thermitallica that was a nice addition but didn't Organic traditional semi-technical and semi-brutal Death actually add anything to the package. A very promising Metal with a slight keyboard background for atmosphere

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here and there (should have been more from my point of view). 7 TINE (USA) - The Forest Dreams of Black Selfreleased - 2015 Symphonic Black Death Metal Interesting debut album from this US based duo formed in 2011; The Forest Dreams of Black is a 9 tracks effort clocking a bit over 50 minutes playing time, so a real, proper fulllength. Maybe mentioning "symphonic" when labeling their music is not that accurate, but the keyboard backgrounds provided by lady Vanth give the impression of a mystical, mysterious symphony all the time. To understand their music better even before playing it just look at this album's cover artwork and imagine the little girl jumping around happily singing children songs (this part being the keyboards) while the death-like looking silhouettes indulge in a most cruel and ferocious massacre you can imagine (this part being the raw, absolutely flesh ripping vocals supported by the instrumental army). I don't do usually such comparisons, I'm a more realist person, but believe me that's the impression their music gave me and I had to write it down. So yes, Tine's music is brutal and aggressive as hell, theatrical and expressive, technical and well varied and it sounds very curdled although or maybe because there's only two persons involved in the creation process. A mix of '90's vampiric Black Metal a la Ancient with satanic Death Metal a la Deicide highlighted by Count Murmur's vocal brutality and precision, by the weird mix between keys and the rest of the instruments, and from time to time by the incisive and complex bass lines. I have to mention and congratulate their good documentation on Vlad Tepes for the tracks The Crusade of Dracul. The weak point of this album from my point of view would be the drum programming that makes the music lose a bit of credibility, but that's absolutely not to a deal-breaker point. Try it out! 7.5

stuff and keep the same attitude, the rest will be taken care of by the fans. The truth is Ripper's vocals are fantastic for this type of Punkish Thrash Death Metal, powerful, harsh, commanding and dark, combined with a professional studio work they turn out to be absolutely perfect sounding. This fifth full-length studio work is made of 12 tracks clocking 40 minutes of playing time, a mostly fast paced, dirty, drunken and highly satanic / antichristian (definitely Swedish school) Thrash Death Metal that I believe most followers of bestial and blasphenic Metal will enjoy. Ripper's vocals are the highlight of this album, but the compositions are so simple and catchy you'll fell hooked right away. What I liked about it, besides the devastating power it unleashed, was that they also added a bit of diversity in pace, for example you'll also meet some Doom inspired parts on the album, and that makes it even more interesting. Perfect production, an explosive album that shouldn't be missed by any Extreme Metal followers out there. 10 TWIST ENDING (USA) - Musica di Morte No Visible Scars - 2014 Punk Death Metal Debut demo from this young US band made of Stevo (ex-Impetigo), Vanessa Nocera (Razorback Records, Wooden Stake, Howling, etc) and drummer Gregg il Macellaio, a demo that was intended to be a tribute to the masters of Italian horror flicks of the '70's and '80's. And indeed there are plenty of movie cuts in these 20 minutes, ending with a full 4 minutes track that could be a horror movie soundtrack at any moment, and that's my fave track on this demo, too. The other three tracks are a mix of primitive Death Metal guitar riffs, Punk drum rhythms and disgusting vocals; the vocals are the absolute best part of Twist Ending, very expressive and efficient, and if you're into stuff a la Impetigo / Autopsy you's love them.

The drums and guitars on the other hand are way too generic although quite fun and entertaining, but I have to admit that combined with the awesome vocals and the equally awesome horror movie cuts and effects the atmosphere this band creates is spot on deranging, exactly what they intended I guess. Oh, and a little advice: if you know Italian language try not to follow the lyrics during the audition, the pronunciation will ruin it all for you believe me; Stevo should stick to English next time! This demo comes in pro tape format with excellent artwork and look (blood-red tape, black ink spattered). 6.5

TORCHIA (Finland) - Ending Beginning Selfreleased - 2015 - Melodic Death Metal The fuck just happened here? 3 tracks, 14 minutes, as energetic (and melodic at the same time) as it all starts it continues and ends the same way: fast, aggressive, technical, ingenious and catchy, one of the most interesting Melodic Death Metal TZELMOTH (Colombia) - Rehearsal demos / EPs I've heard in a while. The guitarists are some excellent composers and instrumentists, rivaling at any - XII-I-MMXV Arkaiko - 2015 - Raw time with their countrymen from Children of Bodom, the Black Metal drums are intensive, progressive and groovy, the bass Hmm, this band seemed lines are like bulldozers, and the vocals typical for this quite serious and honest type of music, but good and powerful enough to keep about their path; they are pace with the instruments. All in all we have a highly skilled, very promising act to keep the flame burning in 100% underground, "no Facebook page" - or at least that's what they say, I found a page about the band, maybe its this niche coming out of Finland, give them a chance. 9 run by a fan, "no live shows" - except I found a live video TRIGGER (Russia) - on YouTube... Not sure what to believe about them anymore. There are so many bands nowadays that are Under Hypnosis NitroAtmosfericum - trying to look like they are the most underground, the truest, the most misanthropic of them all, that you really 2014 - Death Metal Wow, this new Trigger cannot believe all of them. I hope this band is honest album is a blast! The though, at least they look like they are... This latest second full-length effort release of theirs is a rehearsal tape featuring 7 tracks, 5 from the Russian Death Metallers features 8 old and 2 from their upcoming album, but since I'm not tracks and clocks 37 minutes of playing time. Mid-tempo very familiar to their work I wouldn't know which ones to fast paced traditional and groovy Death Metal, a mix of are the new ones. Anyway, there are no real differences Six Feet Under, Bolt Thrower, Debauchery, Deicide and between tracks here; Tzelmoth is pure raw, violent and maybe a hint of Dutch Death Metal, too, a brutal, well- fast paced Black Metal straight to your face, no thought and well-executed piece of music that compromises, no influences, no additional effects. I really demonstrates that you don't have to be the most technical, like some of their riffs, and I'd say their music is based on or the most melodic, or the fastest, or the most brutal guitar riffs, insane drumming and bestial vocals, around to deliver fresh, intelligent, complex and catchy somehow it reminds me of Peruvian Goat Semen.

Death Metal. Kudos! I like everything on this release, this Released on both tape and CD, although I'd say tape is the is clearly something right up my alley when it comes to perfect medium for such recordings. 6 this genre. 9.5 UNDER THE OCEAN (Italy) - Dark Waters Drown Within - 2014 - Melodic Death Deathcore TURBOCHARGED (Sweden) - Militant Founded as Firstborn Underocean in 2006, the band isn't Go Fuck Yourself - 2015 - Thrash Death Metal Lead by Ronnie "Ripper" Olson of Gehennah or that active releasing only one demo until 2010 when they Vomitory fame, Turbocharged are slowly but surely decide to change moniker and move forward as Under the climbing up the current Underground Bestial Metal Ocean. A year later they release Gates, debut album, ladder, and I wouldn't be surprised in they'll acquire cult under Moonlight Records, and since then silence until last status in short time, they only have to keep releasing new year when they decided to sign with Drown Within and

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here I have the first fruit of their collaboration, this 4 tracks EP professionally recorded and released to demonstrate the band's potential. And they did well, it's my first encounter with the band and I'm absolutely positive they have a big potential as a band, although I wouldn't know if to label their music more as Melodic Death Metal or as Deathcore. Anyway, the 4 tracks are quite fresh, binging in elements from Death Metal, Deathcore, but also some hints of Thrash Metal, Progressive, and even Brutal Death or Black Death at times, all flowing well, all carefully blended so that the end result sounds compact. Their only problem, as I see it, is that "je ne sais quoi" that's missing; throughout the EP audition you have the constant feeling that something's missing, or at least that's what I felt. But on the other side they as musicians are very skilled, the compositions are quite complex, the vocalist very versatile and devoted, the production of this EP is top-notch, and the music is modern and brutal as the times require, so I'd definitely recommend a spin or two. 7.5 VALDUR (USA) - Pathetic Scum Bloody Mountain - 2015 - Black Death Metal If it's Valdur and also if it's Bloody Mountain Records we're certain to get only ugly, disgusting, horrifying music, and once again this custom proves to be respected by both the label and the band, the new, fourth, full-length release from Valdur is a definite declaration of war, a display of brutality and merciless assaults on all your senses. If this band is not a kult band yet I'm sure they will be soon as they are some of the best purveyors of US forged Black Death Metal, the ugly, absolutely devastating kind of Black Death Metal that makes you feel the same emotions as Metallers 25 years ago had when they were listening to the first Black Metal spawns.

The production is dirty yet allowing some atmospheres to carry the listener away, and somehow I feel this is the absolutele perfect production for such a music, I wouldn't get the same feelings with a polished, high class studio work. If you like your Black Death Metal as terrifying as it gets you should not miss Valdur's latest offspring, this is slowly becoming one of my fave US Black Metal bands alongside Sxuperion and Famine (even if I haven't heard from them in a long while). 9 V-ANGER (Italy) - In Shovel We Trust Sliptrick - 2014 Hardcore Thrash Metal Here's another band that sounds 100% influenced by Max Cavalera's work, starting with the guitar riffs, sound, rhythms and ending with the vocals, everything springing from Max Cavalera's influence along the years, and I mean here all his bands, not only Sepultura. V-Anger was formed in 2012 and this is their debut album, a 13 tracks effort totaling a bit over 40 minutes of playing time.

Ranging from straight, traditional Hardcore to American Power Thrash, to catchy and energetic Thrash Metal, In Shovel We Trust is a well done record that lacks only in originality, except for that the vocals are tight, the instrumental part quite catchy, and the production is classy as well, so I have nothing bad to say about it. I'd mention the vocals and the demolishing bass lines as the highlights of this band, at least on this record, and as minuses I'd say the puzzling album title, the cover artwork and their too obvious influences, but I'd say if you're into stuff like Max Cavalera's work, Hatebreed, Slayer, Soilwork, you should definitely give this a try. 7 VARANG NORD (Latvia) - Fire of the North Metal Scrap - 2015 Folk Viking Metal Following paths already paved well by the likes of Amon Amarth, Turisas, Finntroll, or countrymen Skyforger, Varang Nord was founded last year, or better said re-founded after a 20042008 period when it was active under a different moniker and even released a full-length album, and they've already scored a deal with Ukrainian Metal Scrap Records which re-released their debut EP, previously self-released by the band. 6 tracks, a bit over 20 minutes of playing time, offering a solid slice of Viking Metal with highlights on the accordion parts. A heavy, well rhythmed Metal with heavy influences from Melodic Death Metal, with native tongue lyrics, I guess this one will do well in their home lands but all in all I think it needs something more to break the ice internationally; it's good they've tested the seas with an EP rather than throwing out a full-length, but now it's time to prove what they are worthy of. Fire of the

North will probably catch the attention of abovementioned bands, but it's only the beginning, the music needs more hooks and the accordion parts need more personality in order to impress, on this EP it's a nice surprise, but its influence on the general music is still not as important as it should be. I like the fact the lyrics are translated in English, too, the listener will get a closer insight of their music. 7 VARDIS (UK) - 200 M.P.H. Hoplite - 2015 - Heavy Metal Oh man, are you serious? These guys are around as a band since 1973 (!!!) when they started as the Status Quo cover band Quo Vardis and continued that way until '77 when they switched to the present moniker. In '86 they disbanded but having 3 fulllength albums, 4 EPs and lots of Singles underbelt, yet quite unexpected I'd say, right after releasing their third album on Raw Power Records, a label that was doing pretty well at that time releasing stuff (not sure if official though) from Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Venom or Tank.

If their first release, an EP, was named 100 M.P.H., this new effort is called 200 M.P.H., times are different, things move way faster nowadays, so I think it's a natural and well-thought name for the new EP. The 5 tracks featured here are clocking 25 minutes of playing time, a fine mix of Hard Rock and old-school Heavy Metal, much more energetic than probably one might think some 50+ year old guys would sound, so although the tracks are not innovative or original, the joy of playing and the energy they transmit to the listener make from this new Vardis release one well worth your time. So if you think some Hard'n'Heavy mixed with Rock'n'Roll and even touches of Blues would make your day the latest Vardis release is a good choice. All respect! 7 VARGSANG (Germany) - In the Mist of Night Obscure Abhorrence - 2014 - Black Metal Here's an example of (I guess) involuntary multiculturalism: Vargsang means wolf's song in Norwegian, the project (one man band) is based in Germany, and its website has 2 versions, in English and in Polish... The EU rulers would be mighty proud of Vargsang. The project is around since 2002 and this is its fourth full-length album to date, a 10 tracks effort clocking a bit over 40 minutes of raw and quite traditional Black Metal with emphasis on guitar riffs which are trying also to cover the fact that there's apparently no bass involved, and sometimes the fact that they are mixed so loud in comparison to drums might feel annoying. The vocals are raw and moribund with high influence on the overall outcome of this album, although the instrumental part of it build up a good, heavy, dense and dark atmosphere on its own, too. For a self-proclaimed label like "Raw Hateful Black Metal" you'd expect nothing but fast and furious rhythms, but gladly for me this is quite varied in both rhythms and compositions, there's plenty to enjoy here and plenty to avoid getting you bored, even the slight keyboard touches present here and there are bringing a plus in the generally mysterious atmosphere of this album. If you're into hateful, horrifying, clever Traditional Black Metal I'd say you go for this without any worries. 7 Various Artists - Evocation of the Demons Vol. I Helldprod - 2015 - Extreme Metal Martelo Negro - a mix of Thrash, Black and Death Metal, fast paced and headbanging-friendly; the guitar solo on this track sounds stupid though Sinister - what can I say, Legendary Dutch Death Metal band presenting their mid-tempo to fast paced brutal Metal with incomprehensive animalic vocals Neoplasmah - fast, uncompromising, diabolic Black Metal; catchy track highlighted by good guitar work, incisive and complex bass lines, energetic drums and vicious male vocals supported by melodic female vocals at times Amen Corner - slow to mid-tempo Doom Black Metal highlighted by simplistic riffs and rhythm section, melodic guitar leads, organic sound and a fucked up mastering (you're constantly feeling the track's about to end as the volume fluctuates a lot - like an old tape) Marginal - dirty sounding Thrash Metal with heavy Black Death Metal influences Scum Liquor - a mix of Punk and Heavy Metal with Thrash Black kind of vocals; trendy path nowadays...

Filii Nigrantium Infernalium - mix of Heavy, Thrash and Black Metal, fast-paced, with cool Heavy Metal guitar riffs and demented screaming vocals Anarchos - old-school Swedish necro-sounding Death Metal, slow to fast paced rhythms, two layers of vocals, catchy guitar leads Insolitum - traditional mid-tempo Death Metal with Gollum-like vocals, incisive bass lines and repetitive but not boring guitar riffs; not impressive though Villainy - fast-paced Crusty Thrashing Black Metal; this tracks has a bit too repetitive riffs for my taste but the band is great The Sorcerer - the initial Thrash Black like riffs of this track last so long you start to wonder when is the real track going to start; and when it starts it's totally different than what expected, a fast paced, uncompromising traditional Black Metal Alcoholocaust - fast, dirty and drunk Thrash Metal with rehearsal-like sound quality Mystical - traditional Black Metal without too much to impress other than the awful drum sound and childish vocals Disthrone - Punk Thrash Black Metal with rehearsal quality sound; raw female vocals Scarificare - although the sound is awful, compositionwise this is one of the most professional bands on this compilation; traditional Black Metal with heavy atmospheres; to keep an eye on Grog - uncompromising ultra-fast Brutal Death Grind; good stuff Decayed - Lusitanian masters of dirty Black Metal; a bit too simplistic for my taste, but I appreciate their devotion and will to keep the banner high Goatfukk - mix of Punk and Black Metal, not my type, I feel the guitar riffs are stupidly simplistic Grave Desecrator - mix of Black and Death Metal, a band that fits perfectly in the current leather'n'spikes trend; unpolished sound, but quite ok for this type of music; catchy, simplistic track with some good guitar riffs Gorgasmico Pornoblastoma - insane porn infused Grindcore with awful pig squeals here and there, but a good mix of growls and screams as main vocals Helldprod presents us here their most recent jewels, all these bands are or have been signed on this Dutch / Portuguese label. Fit for fans of the retro Extreme Metal movement so in fashion Today.

An excellent incursion into the Polish Thrash Metal scene, don't miss it if you want to discover some new bands in this area.

Various Artists - We'll still be Metal Mighty Music - 2014 - Various Sea - classic Heavy Rock from Denmark highlighted by groovy guitar work and a very powerful vocalist Black Book Lodge - groovy, spacey, very powerful Stoner Heavy Rock from Denmark Chainfist - modern and melodic Metal with a vocalist that to me sounds like a mix of Limp Bizkit, Slipknot and the new melodic US "core" wave of bands; not my type but I admit it's very professional sounding and catchy Lou Siffer... - excellent Rock'n'Roll meets Hard Rock meets Groovy Metal, fun-filled, professional and at the same time dirty Unfaithful - Groove Metal heavily influenced by Pantera's type of Metal and Southern Metal; catchy Lucer - Rolling Stones meets Aerosmith meets AC/DC type of Rock from Denmark; a complete blast of energy and fun Shredhead - '80's type of fast paced Thrash Metal with a heavy dose of Pantera influences Distance - Thrash Metal meets Hardcore meets Nu-Metal meets Progressive Metal, an interesting and complex combination Ruinside - Melodic Thrash Metal perfect for fans of, let's say, Nevermore A Road to Damascus - Rock a la 30 Seconds to Mars, not my cup of tea Estate - I was expecting some sort of Dance music by the band's name, but Estate from Russia are a Helloween-like Melodic Power Metal band, very catchy and positive, with lots of synths Mike Tramp - Southern Blues Rock, not my type either Electric Guitars - great band name! A soft Melodic Rock Shotgun Revolution - again a soft type of Rock music that's not something we usually cover here 23 Acez - Melodic Rock with Heavy Rock and Groove Metal influences, compared to some of the previous tracks this sound like Grindcore, haha The Boy That Got Away - Punk Rock, not my type Annominus - blending Hard Rock, Metal, Metalcore and even Folk Rock, this is an interesting act Saint Rebel - melodic, emotional slow-paced Hard Rock with some fine '70's like guitars, excellent vocals and Various Artists - Thrashing Damnation Thru slick guitar solos Vicious Art - oh man, after all this soft Rock listening to Compilation vol. 2 this track feels like hitting a brick-wall, numerous times; Defense - 2013 - Thrash Metal Driller - opening this compilation with 2 tracks of quite fast and uncompromising Death Metal to the bone simple mid-tempo to fast paced '80's type Thrash Metal; Iniquity - fuckin' masters of disgusting Danish Death Metal! Masters! good but not impressive The No-Mads - excellent female fronted old-school Danish label Mighty Music proves a point with this Thrash Metal, fast, violent, angry to the bone; I've known compilation: they are among or maybe even THE best this band since their 2006 album and I'm impressed by Rock and Metal label from Denmark, and the variety of then since then, although they bring nothing new to the their offer is astonishing, all bands sounding professional and impressive. Respect! scene either; Striking Beast - this band seems to be already defunct despite being formed in 2011, so you'll probably only find VEER (Hungary) - 27 Abismal / Neverheard - 2015 their one and only demo out there; fast paced, sharp, Caverna Black Metal aggressive Thrash Metal with crazy vocals; entertaining enough Veer from Hungary have prepared and released their Komutator - old-school fast paced Thrash Metal with a fatter sound, something more common to Thrash Death or second full-length album 6 even Death Metal; nice guitar solos, interesting vocals, years after their debut, but at catchy riffs, yet not memorable enough least it's out on two different Rusted Brain - '80's US type Thrash Metal with good formats, CD by Caverna potential vocals, catchy riffs, short solos, angry rhythm Abismal Records and tape by section; an energetic band Neverheard Distro. 7 tracks, half R.O.D. - again a Thrash Death sound, but this time the an hour of mid-tempo Black Metal band is closed to Death Metal, too, although keeping it highlighted in my opinion only by the expressive still in Thrash Metal territories; fast paced, brutal, with vocals of Jim Jones; to be honest this new album didn't do excellent sounding guitar riffs and ferocious vocalist it for me, it doesn't have too many things that could make Tester Gier - Crossover Thrash with lyrics in Polish me get back to it at a later date, but for me the biggest played from mid-paced to as fast as possible; fun attitude, draw-back was the way too abrasive sound and mastering energetic and I guess very catchy for local fanatics of the tracks, maybe a sound quality of a higher level Repulsor - traditional fast paced Thrash Metal with would have increased the impression it left on me; the nothing impressive except maybe some slick guitar riffs sound is clear though, you won't have problems Raging Death - a more underground sound on this band, distinguishing the instruments, but it's too raw for what with again a hint of Thrash Death; fast paced Thrash with they seem to create here. But anyway, this new material, weak vocals although the guy tries his best to imitate his as I said is a mostly mid-paced Black Metal with heroes; nothing impressive or worth mentioning here occasional fast parts, mostly dedicated on creating a Menthrass - a more professional sounding band; Thrash somber-like atmosphere; the vocals are a mix of Mayhem Metal with catchy guitar work but weak (annoying at and Shining, raw, abrasive type, very disgusting, almost times) vocals vomiting, and even almost crying at times, and the Rotengeist - a decade old (now) band playing traditional instrumental part is not monotonous at all, I'd say quite Thrash Metal with quite intricate guitar work, something imaginative, but not as expressive and interesting as the to appreciate vocals. I'd say if you think you'd like a mix of Shining and (mostly) Mayhem, give it a try, maybe you'll like it more than I did. 6.5

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VEIN OF HATE (Belarus) - Dualist NitroAtmosfericum / More Hate / RTM - 2015 - Technical Death Metal Debut album from this Belarus based Death Metal band, Dualist crowns 10 years of activity highlighted so far on a discographic level only by singles, demos and EPs. The 10 tracks featured here in a bit over 40 minutes of playing time, are a modern take on Death Metal spiced with all possible influences, from Brutal Death, to Technical Death, to Thrash and even synth and sympho touches here and there. An enjoyable release, quite complex and interesting, with new and different elements that pop up every time making it unforeseeable. The problem is that it's not that memorable in the end, you'll soon forget it although at first it will impress you; so it certainly not be the next big thing, but it will satisfy fans of both Modern Death and Brutal Death, an album that was certainly well prepared and well thought before entering the studio. The production is top-notch, nothing to complain on that level, and the album is also delivered in a nice CD format with 12 pages booklet featuring all lyrics. If you're looking for something sounding different, not Brutal Death, not oldschool Death, not modern Death, not Black Death, but definitely something as technical and brutal, something in between. 7.5

If you read these guys' pseudonyms on Metal Archives you won't ever think what they are doing with Vingulmork is actually serious, but fortunately Lethal Semen, Shitstain Jackson, Cockzilla and Dolph Grizzly decided to move forward in their career and present themselves with their actual names on this debut album, and from my point of view, playing this music, gives them more credibility. 9 tracks, a bit over half an hour of playing time, a Blackened form of Thrash Metal where (sometimes generic, but luckily most of the times quite interesting) Thrash Metal riffs are mixed with Melodic guitar leads, a vicious Black Metal type of vocals, all of these supported by a fantastic rhythm section (both the drummer and the bassist seem to be excellent musicians) and a crystal clear production, very professional work.

Most of the time the music is fast and aggressive, and quite dark towards mysterious, too, but there are also moments where you'll consider it melodic (Melodic Black Metal influenced), so all in all I think Vingulmork, although not delivering the next Metal masterpiece with this album, have done a very good job, a solid debut album that will undoubtedly push them towards the tops of the upcoming and promising bands. To keep an eye on this band and in the meantime get a taste of this album released by Crime Records in digipak format with a 12 pages booklet featuring all lyrics (English written lyrics that is). 8

VERHEERER VIOLENT REVOLUTION (USA) - Damaged Society (Germany) - Archar Selfreleased - 2015 - Crossover Thrash Metal Selfreleased - 2015 - Agent Steel's founding member and original bass player Black Metal George Robb is now a member of newly founded Violent Wow, straight from nowhere comes this mysterious band Revolution, and here we have their debut demo made of 5 that presents us a debut EP that will certainly make some tracks (well, 4 real tracks and an intro) and clocking waves, I've already seen comparisons with the band of the almost 15 minutes of fast paced old-school ('80's type) moment, Mgla, so let's see if there's any solid basis for Thrash Metal with serious Crossover and Punk influences. such comparisons. At first I have to mention this Angry, dirty, aggressive and highly energetic traditional impression of mine that bands that had success in Black Metal, in my opinion a mix of Slayer, Body Count and Metal recently were all about the music and less or not at S.O.D. that will easily find its followers quite soon. all about the look, and that's valid for Verheerer (German Although not having the best production, this demo for Devastator), this EP comes in simple form, 2 pages impresses through its variety and energy, each track has cover with tracks, credits and links listed and that's about its own identity and they are also quite catchy, I've it, a front cover that suggests we're going to deal with spinned it 5 or 6 times already and I'm not bored yet, not obscure compositions and atmospheres related to religion. even close. They are currently working on a debut album The lyrics are in English, and although the vocals are raw that should be out sometime in the beginning of 2016, be but quite comprehensive, I have no idea what they are alert. 8 about, they're not listed anywhere, but I think it's antireligion and death. The music is fast paced, varied, VOLTUMNA (Italy) entertaining and involving, developing a sinister yet Disciplina Etrusca melodic atmosphere with grandiose spaces. The cold and Selfreleased - 2015 razor-sharp leads intertwine with traditional Black Metal Black Death Metal riffs and melodic harmonies, an upfront bass, complex When we say Black Death nowadays we immediately drumming and ferocious vocals supported at times by think of the Polish scene, but fortunately enough there are clean vocals and various speeches. To sum it up the bands some other forms of Black Death still available out there keep things traditional but raises the bar when it comes to and Voltumna have nothing to do with the highly little effects and inserts in order to create an excellent orchestral and highly polished type of Black Death a la atmosphere that will impress the listeners for sure. A Behemoth let's say. These guys are playing their own type debut EP that presents us a band with very high potential, of music, with definite influences for many other genres and since I have mentioned Mgla, I wouldn't be very like Technical Death, traditional Black Metal and even surprised to see Verheerer reaching a similar success Slam Death Metal if you can believe it. This is their soon, too. 8 second full-length album, released 2 years after their debut saw the light of the day, and still an in-house VILLAINY (Holland) - production, fully selfreleased although highly professional Demo 2011 / Demo in both look and sound; the album has 12 tracks and clocks almost 45 minutes, and comes as CD with 16 2012 Helldprod - 2014 - pages booklet featuring all lyrics and an excellent artwork Thrash Doom Crust throughout, perfectly linked with the band image. From Death Metal this we understand these guys are in for the kill, they give As the title of this material suggests it, we're dealing here it all their best and seem to have massive trust in what with a compilation of the band's previous 2 demos, both they do. Back to the music Voltumna managed to gather selfreleased and CD and now picked up by Helldprod for all sorts of influences and still deliver a curdled product, a a tape release. Opening up is the 2011 demo, a 3 tracks nice flowing Extreme Metal release that deserves your effort totaling almost 15 minutes of intense and attention. In terms of flaws I'd only say they could have atmospheric at the same time Extreme Metal, a strange used the keyboards more intensively, the backgrounds and original mix of Crust, Thrash, Doom, Death and could have been a bit more powerful than they are, and Black Metal very dirty sounding, mystical and somehow that's because at times the music sounds a bit empty, like satanic, just think of a Crustier and Doomier Swedish it's lacking something. But overall a very good release Death Metal (first wave) with the energy and atmosphere from Voltumna, one that should rise this band's name a bit the Dutch Death Metal bands managed to deliver. The more in the Extreme Metal scene; if you have the chance second demo, the one from 2012 is made of only 2 tracks get it or at least give it a chance on the net. 9 and clocks 12 minutes, and is more inclined towards Thrash Metal this time, but without losing the Crust VOMIT BREATH element. A very, very interesting band highlighted by a (USA) - Confessions of clever and open-minded guitar work and a charismatic a Necrophiliac Priest vocal type a la Death, I'm sure Villainy will make their No Visible Scars - 2015 mark on the underground scene soon. Make sure you - Death Grind check them out asap. 9 Oh man, this is one of the filthiest, ugliest, most disgusting materials I've heard lately! This Knoxville VINGULMORK (Norway) - Chiaroscuro based duo was founded in 2010 but only released a demo Crime - 2015 - Blackened Thrash Metal prior to this EP and this is my first encounter with their music. Oh well, what can I say, this is brutal and heavy as

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hell Death Grind, the old-school way, with groovy double-bass driven drumming, horrifying guitar riffs with an effect that sounds like a fucking chainsaw, and demented, monstrous growling vocals, complete with a raw, lo-fi sound quality that doesn't ruin at all the audition experience, it actually enhance it! 16 damn tracks, around 25 minutes of insanity, horrifying Death Grind a la Autopsy, Regurgitate or Repulsion. Loved it! Released on pro tape by No Visible Scars, this will become a cult tape soon! 7.5 WARFAITH (France) Wise Man Is Dead Selfreleased - 2015 Thrash Metal A band from Nancy that during their only 3 years of activity is already at their third bass player, hopefully this one will continue more than the previous. This is their debut album made of 11 tracks totaling a bit over half an hour of Thrash Metal with heavy influences from Punk and Hardcore and even Death Metal from time to time; a fast paced, angry, energetic Thrash Metal, but one that doesn't impress too much. The production is ok, but so organic you think they recorded it somewhere live and never mastered it, although you'll have no problems enjoying every sounds in crystal clear quality. Warfaith impress through their energy, but I guess that's normal and absolutely mandatory for a young Thrash Metal band; fans of Crossover Punk Hardcore Thrash Metal will enjoy it more than I did, that's for sure, to be honest I found it monotonous after 2-3 spins. 6 WELTERING IN BLOOD (France) - Rise of the Necronaut Ossuaire - 2015 - Black Death Metal A few tracks into this album and I was about to lose interest, I tell you, but all of a sudden it started to grow on me, if you listen carefully I have no doubt it will happen the same to you, too. This is the debut album of a one man band with Fog also known from Aurvandil, Norman Shores, ObscuritĂŠ or Ulfberht, as the main man, a project started in 2013 that sees, after not even 2 years the release of its 10 tracks (almost 50 minutes in length) as a debut full-length by Ossuaire Records. As I said, at first I thought it was a bit too dull and betting more on the atmospheres rather than the actual playing; don't get me wrong, atmosphere is the first thing I look for in any release, it has to be as expressive as possible in order to catch my interest, but in this case I felt like the guy is trying to be as dark and mysterious as possible forgetting about the real music. I was about to be contradicted by the evolution of this record, basically it remains as dark and mysterious as it starts, but it's adds a bit of epic touches, melodic riffs, Death Metal influences, demolishing bass lines and the vocals become a bit more versatile to a point where you'll hear Pagan-like clean vocal choirs, too. In the end I think the production is a bit too stuffed, but the overall impression is very good, I could listen to this again and again and still find new things to like. 7.5 WHEELFALL (France) - Glasrew Point Sunruin - 2015 - Sludge Doom Post Metal After a debut album released 3 years ago, for Wheelfall it was about time to release a follow-up, but I'm sure the magnitude of this new work will impress their fans. It comes in form of a Double Digipak CD featuring 14 track and totaling almost an hour and a half of mesmerizing music, a sort of postapocalyptic soundscape as I see it. Wheelfall successfully blend Doom Metal (as main genre), Sludge, Industrial, Ambient and Post Metal, and the final result, although at times it may seem a bit too stretched and watered down in order to reach a higher length, is quite astonishing, very catchy and involving, altering between the meditative Industrial and Ambient parts and the devastatingly heavy Sludge Doom ones, with highlights on the excellent composition level and also on the good tone of the vocalist that reminds me of Crowbar at times. A long and impressive release for the most dedicated fans of these genres. Kudos for the dirty but at the same time crystal clear production and the mysterious, interesting band image as well. 8.5 YGFAN (Hungary) - Kod

Fekete Terror - 2015 - Post Black Metal Ygfan is a new name on the Hungarian Black Metal front, being founded in 2013, but being, unlike many other names in this genre, a full line-up band with four members.

Not sure if they consider this material a full-length album or an EP, but it's their first release and consists of 4 long tracks totaling a bit over half an hour of playing time. Post Black Metal or better said a mix between Atmospheric Black Metal and Progressive, almost Stoner-like Metal, with long hypnotizing instrumental parts mixed with others more intense and aggressive as highlights. The guitars and drums do an excellent job, very refreshing, nice flowing and curdled, but I should also mention the drummer and bass player's potential, they are all skilled musicians capable of delivering tasty compositions and this debut EP / album is a definite proof, they seem to have serious backgrounds as musicians. The vocals are a mix between raspy, raw Black Metal shrieks and clean, but to be honest they don't convince me although the guy is giving his all and has good versatility and imagination. Kod was released so far digitally by the band and on pro tape by Fekete Terror

Production; good idea to list the lyrics in both Hungarian and English although they are sung in Hungarian, that means the band wants to emphasize the concept of their music as well. A new band to follow closely. 7.5

some interesting moments, as an overall impression this didn't satisfy my thirst for good Black Metal at all, sorry.

Try it yourselves, it's available online streaming in full, maybe you'll like it more. 5

ZAKLON (Belarus) - The destroyed greatness YAR' - 2014 - Black Metal Zaklon is a one man band from the capital of Belarus, Minsk, started back in 1999, and this is its 2006 demo originally released on tape I believe by Forestland Productions, and picked up last year by YAR' to be released on CD format, although honestly I don't see the point of doing it as I doubt Zaklon is such a big name (even in its homeland) to be worth a re-release; anyway, their money, their business, their decision. This is made of 6 tracks and sounds and looks like an album if you ask me, and on top of that it clocks almost 40 minutes of playing time. The music is not very impressive for these days, and even for the end of the '90's I think this would have been a mediocre release, it simply doesn't have anything to impress, and except for some Folk-influenced parts it's just repetitive fast paced, aggressive Black Metal with some melodic, good but overused guitar riffs here and there. The vocals doesn't inspire anything, and the synthetic drum-machine neither, so even if the album has

ZENTAURA (Spain) - Made with Blood Art Gates - 2015 - Goth Industrial Metal This one is quite far from what I usually review here so I have to admit from the start I'm not a specialist in either Goth Rock or Industrial Metal, actually there are very few bands playing these styles I find appealing. Zentaura are a trio from Madrid presenting us here their debut album, a 12 tracks effort clocking a bit over 50 minutes playing time. A mix between Goth and Industrial Metal that sounds pretty natural, not forced at all, like the two genres were intended to go well one with the other, a mix that I would describe like a meeting between Type O Negative, Moonspell, Clawfinger, Fear Factory, Lacrimosa and Sisters of Mercy, but even though I've mentioned some pretty Metal bands try to imagine this mix with their softest, less aggressive side, something like half-Metal if I may say so. Not bad stuff, I'm sure fans of Goth Industrial will find a lot of stuff to dig in here, but unfortunately for me it has nothing to offer. -

Zine Reviews â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Zine Reviews â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Zine Reviews

By This Axe I Rule #3 / 2015 (Germany) English, 92 A5 pages The new issue of this excellent zine is out and I have to admit I haven't finished reading it by the time I'm writing the review, but so far, everything I read was top notch: great interviews with interesting bands from both the new wave and the old-school covering everything from Heavy and Doom to Black, Death and even Grind, objective reviews, and a great section where the editor presents 50 underground Metal releases from the first part of the 21st century he thinks should be given a chance to, with both his comments and excerpts from various reviews and interviews of the time. Tons, tons of new stuff to discover here, don't miss your chance!

Contact: bythisaxeirulefanzine@gmail.com

look like they are done in a hurry but believe me, it's obvious they spent a lot of time designing this zine and basically conceiving this entire atmosphere (zine, band, label, and even a festival) look old-school underground and honest. I find it cute, they are building their own '80's from scratch (but with plenty of finances I imagine...). Contact: gravewave@meatgrinder.eu

Headsplit #5 / 2014 (USA) English, 84 A4 pages The new issue of Headsplit zine is another incursion into the ugly world of Extreme Metal, especially Death Metal, but not only. A mix between cut & paste and clean layout, with lots of handmade artworks everywhere I'm sure will delight a lot of zine fanatics. The interviews are short and sometime featuring also not so serious questions a Cremation #12 / 2015 (Slovakia) la old Slayer zine so you are warned, the fonts are big and fat like typical for US zines, Slovak, 68 A5 pages the reviews are short and concise as well but I like them, and there's also live reports, The first time I hear about this zine although it was started back in 1997, but since it's movie reviews, games and a bit of porn (well not really, topless pics better said). Most written in native language I guess it was only distributed locally. Unfortunately I don't probably this zine comes in a very limited print-run so if you want to get a copy hurry know Slovak language so I can only comment on its look. Cremation is printed on up, they don't last that much. In the meantime the editor released 3 more issues! Contact: normal copy paper, with color covers, professional lay-out, and honestly it looks very darklyastir@gmail.com well, something I'd definitely read on a monthly basis. This issue they focused on bands like: Galadriel, Cruadalach, Craniotomy, Typhoid, Catastrofy, Nomenmortis and other, Imhotep #11 / 2015 (Norway) so there's plenty of diversity, too, hope the local scene supports it, too, and it moves English, 86 A4 pages forward with many more issues released. Contact: cremationzine@outlook.com Man, I was expecting some long and very in-depth interviews in Imhotep, but this one surpassed any expectations, the new issued of Imhotep only features 3 bands, Abigor, Evil Metal #2 / 2014 (Mexico) Mayhem and Watain, presented in very detailed interviews mostly about the band's English, 48 A5 pages recent, current and future situations, and reviews of all their works. Fans of A new Mexico based fanzine released in limited edition of only 100 hand-numbered abovementioned bands should consider this new Imhotep issue as a must have one, copies, so I don't think you'll be able to find available copies anymore, but from what especially fans of Mayhem, as the zine also features a poem and a drawing by Dead, I've read on its Facebook page issue 3 is in works and should be released soon. Evil supposedly never published before. I don't agree with everything the editors and Metal is, as the name suggests, about Evil Metal, from Heavy to Black and Doom, it interviewed individuals state in this zine, but who cares, I still feel like this is one hell of covers mostly evil bands, either new, demo-level bands, or old, established ones, but I an important zine issue for the whole Black Metal scene, a great addition to the genre's have to admit they are all chosen perfectly, and I'm glad to have discovered some new, ongoing history. Apart for the already mentioned material, there's also a little reviews awesome bands through it. The interviews (Attic, Possession, Demon Head, Witch section with a few reviews on current (2014) releases, and a few others on old stuff, Cross, Wederganger, Eternal Champion, etc) are short but very informative and to the good for a second opinion on stuff you already know (most reviewed material is not point, and the same goes for the few (around 20) reviews, a very good evening read actually underground to say the least). Order it while copies last, I don't think this will while searching the featured band's music for a taste. Note to self: fanzine to follow! last for long time. Contact: roy.kristensen@gmail.com Contact: mourning2002@hotmail.com In Extremis #55 / 2014 (France) Forgotten Chapel #9 / 2015 (Poland) French, 64 A5 pages English, 60 A4 pages Wow, issue 55, that's highly impressive and shows a tremendous dedication and This must be one of the best fanzines in 2015, no doubts, the new issue of Forgotten perseverance from the editor of this French written zine. Although by the look of it you Chapel is highly interesting, starting with the interviews (informative chats with think it's a Black Metal zine, it's actually more inclined towards Death Metal, the Sartegos, Graveyard, Abysmal Grief, Temple of Adoration, Paragon Records and incipient type when Death Metal was the Satanic and offensive genre on the scene. Of Fistbang Records among others), going through reviews (from short, to long opinions, course there are some Black Metal bands featured, and overall the content, together with the zine has them all), and ending with 2 articles, one about Horror in Heavy Metal and the simple but very effective creepy layout, make out an awesome zine. The interviews Heavy Metal in Horror which was pretty cool, and the second about the editor's are not very long (I like them this way) and seem to be very interesting, but the reviews experiences throughout his trading years, one that had a lot of valid points that made me on the other hand are long and indepth and seem to be quite harsh. If you know French think. The zine is pro-printed, cut'n'paste fashion, quite chaotic at times (reviews and here's your new favorite zine! extremis666@hotmail.com interviews have no particular order), with absolutely no wasted space, lots of drawings, very well thought and carefully planned although the final result might "trick" you into Invocation of Obscene Gods #4 / 2014 (USA) believing something else. Highly dedicated editor, long running zine, all respect from English, 88 A5 pages me. Contact: metalmat@go2.pl This is the fourth and unfortunately the last issue of IoOG zine, Doug, it's editor, decided to end it here after covering all bands he ever wanted. The zine is very, very Grave Wave #1 / 2015 (Switzerland) varied in content, ranging from Punk and Hardcore to Black and Death Metal, and in English, 34 A4 pages what concerns bands from Rupture and Hellstomper to Goatpenis and Nuit Noire or A new zine, apparently the only one in Switzerland nowadays, run by two young guys Massgrav. Very interesting mix of content, built exclussively on its editor taste. I have who seem to be also the owners of Meatgrinder Records and also members of Hotel also discovered new bands through this zine, like the totally nihilistic Ride for Revenge Greulich band. They are trying to copy 100% of the '80's European Underground of or the totally fucked up Grinders from Gonkulator, and if you'll devote about a couple Extreme Metal, and in terms of zine, to copy the first issues of Slayer Magazine and hours of your time to reading this zine, you'll do the same, I promise. Too bad Doug bring those ideas to modern times meaning that the zine is cut & paste, focused on decided to end it, but I totally understand his decision. Contact: dudehate@gmail.com young local bands, Black Metal especially, with loads of handmade artworks made to

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Isolated Distort #3 / 2014 (USA) English, 24 A5 pages One of those zines open to everyone and everything, in this 3rd issue we have an interview with Hardcore band Lifes I wasn't really interested in, a live report from a DIY punk / hardcore festival, and the rest is made of reviews of releases from Punk / Hardcore to Black Metal, the editor is really open-minded. The layout is also a mix of cut'n'paste and regular contents. You'll finish reading it in half an hour, so not much else to say really. Contact: milano.nicholas@gmail.com Knife #1 / 2014 (Denmark) English, 36 A5 pages Oh boy, I paid 6 Euros (not a lot of money but definitely wasted) for this piece of crap, and now I'm starting to understand why people have second thoughts before buying fanzines... The editor of this one had the nerve of calling it magazine, well, nothing more wrong as this is an awfully photocopied fanzine, written by a fan, and has nothing professional in it, starting with the bad quality of the pictures and ending with the crap bands featured and the crap interviews as well. Read the other zine reviews, I appreciate well written zines even if they are printed on toilet paper, but this is just a bad wannabe copy of the worst Slayer interviews, from when Metalion was a kid. Sorry to be so harsh but I see no effort in creating this debut issue, I'm pretty much sure we won't see many issues of this zine. Avoid! Contact: kongerneafkaos@gmail.com Lidless Coffin #1 / 2014 (Norway) English, 56 A5 pages Here's a zine I traded for with its editor and had to act like a beggar to get my copy after about half a year after the trade (in this case his excuse was not being able to find a copy machine... really? in Norway? nowadays?). Anyway, after this fail to properly keep his word the editor told me he never plans to release a new issue again, at least he's sorry and seems to be honest. The content of the zine is pretty cool covering obscure bands from mostly the local scene, from Heavy Metal to Black Metal, inclined towards the old-school way of doing things, so I got to know some new and interesting bands through a natural and entertaining fanzine (not magazine as he names it in the editorial though), from this point of view I'm sorry the guy decided to quit, he had a good start and could have had some positive influence on his local scene. Contact: lidlesscoffinmag@gmail.com Metal Horde #17 / 2015 (Portugal) English, 60 A5 pages I wish I had time to read all these awesome zines time and time again like I used to do in my teens, but now I have to get used to reading a zine only once, and even that incomplete, and maybe hope for a revisit after retirement, haha. The new issue of Metal Horde is full of info, interesting interviews with, among others, Nightfall and Agalloch, objective reviews, all in all a healthy and necessary incursion into the current underground scene. People should read zines more often, they are offering a cheap guide to what's good and what not in the scene, including recommendations that are lacking in the nowadays metal kid's life. As I'm writing this I know Nuno is already close to releasing his 18th issue, get in touch with him, he might have older issues as well. Contact: metalhordezine@gmail.com Necroscope #29 / 2015 (Poland) English, 140 A5 pages No new SWR issue without talking about a new Necroscope issue, and Adam is close to his 30th issue! What a maniac, what a dedicated individual, I never cease to amaze myself each time I get a new issue of his amazing zine. This 29th issue is again a behemoth of a zine with no less than 140 pages (!!!) absolutely packed with information, from long, in-depth interview to objective reviews, presentations / reviews of local new releases, suggestions of old pearls, a section I personally find very useful. There are too many bands featured to be mentioned here, but be sure you'll get to know some new (and not only) blood to make your day. Simply wow!

Support! Contact: necroscope1@wp.pl Sangwitok #12 / 2015 (Malaysia) English / Malaysian, 88 A5 pages Mr. Ed is like the Adam (Necroscope) of Malaysia, he continues delivering tons of information in yet a new issue of his Sangwitok zine, and although his English is far from perfect you won't have problems understanding what he's trying to say and above all you will definitely understand and feel his utmost dedication to this passion of his, Metal music. This new issue features interviews with all kind of bands (mine, Loudrage, included - an interview with yours truly) some written in English, and some in Malaysian, not sure based on which criteria, loads of reviews on audio and written stuff, a couple of articles and the local bands section where Mr.Ed presents a few bands he finds interesting. A good lecture! Contact: sangwitok@yahoo.com Underworld #6 / 2015 (USA) English, 44 A4 pages I remember this zine since the early 2000s, back then Roy Sierra, its editor was in Philippines or Singapore I believe, then he moved all over Asia and It seems he’s back home now, in Texas. This new issue, the 6 th, features interviews with Funeral Rites, Toxemia, Istidraj (what a nice surprise seeing this band is still active), Demona, Dethrone Records and others, in medium sized interviews that won’t bore you and won’t clear all topics either, plus a few short reviews on printed zines, and strangely enough no reviews on audio material. It’s great that the zine comes with a compilation CD that features the bands featured plus a few tracks from Roy’s favorite underground bands; it’s an excellent compilation for all followers of Death Metal, amd it fits well with the zine, while reading it you can “relax” with a heavy dose of brutality and devastation. The zine comes as photocopied copies, stapled, with simple layout, a mix of cut’n’paste and computer editing, nothing impressive in this area. It seems Roy is already working on his issue 7 but you can order this one in the meantime. Contact: underworldzinecomp@gmail.com

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TRAGACANTH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anthology of the East (out March 2016 via Loud Rage Music) Jewel-case CD with 12 pages booklet Exquisite technical and symphonic Black Death Metal from the Netherlands For fans of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Carach Angren, Dimmu Borgir, Nile www.loudragemusic.com loudragemusic.bandcamp.com