currents
10
PORTRAIT: FIGHTING ALL THAT IS RIGHTEOUS
BLACK WITCHERY: BESTIAL WAR MACHINE
DEICIDE: AT WAR WITH SATAN
EDITORIAL
ULCER: COVER & TRACKLIST UNVEILED
These last few days have been quite eventful. The Swedish vikingmachine known as Amon Amarth premiered a track of “Surtur Rising”. Earth did one better and put the whole “Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light” album online. Few headlines caused more havoc, though, than Hellfest's decision to throw Satanic Warmaster of the bill due to reasons unknown. All this discussion has brought up the subject of censorship. A subject that Extreme Metal has seen it's fair share of through the years. Some of you might remember Tipper Gore's attempt to protect the innocent youth from the violence of regurgitated bowel movements. Cannibal Corpse became one of the world's most well known Death Metal bands when the German government tried to prevent anyone German from hearing their music. Good job there, Fritz! Is Satanic Warmaster a victim of censorship, a victim of a bigger band getting them booted off the bill or is this just all down to some sort of changed plans that have been blown out of proportion? As much as the Internet is ripe with rumors on this there's little of actual facts going around. We know Satanic Warmaster isn't playing, we just don't know why. Should it concern us? Is it any of our business what bands promoters want or don't want or if they change their mind at the last minute concerning an artist or two? No, it's not our business if they drop an act because of personal reasons but if outside factors are to blame, then I do think this is something we should concern ourselves with. currents[@]currents-online.com
The Polish Death Metal diabolists in Ulcer have published the artwork & tracklist for their upcoming album on Pulverised. The tracklist is: 1. Grant Us Death 2. Devilspeed 3. Bloodpainted Salvation 4. The Love Song 5. Godcremation 6. Thanatoeuphoria 7. Devitalized 8. The Pact 9. My Lord Has Horns 10. When Horror Comes myspace.com/ulcerdeathmetal myspace.com/pulverisedrecords
EARTH: NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE ONLINE
Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1, the latest organic opus from EARTH, is now streaming in its entirety as an NPR "Exclusive First Listen." It will stream there for free until February 7th. Set for release on February 22nd, once again for Southern Lord Recordings, Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1 represents yet another new chapter in the EARTH lineage, as the band continues to expand their trademark slow-morphing drone a bit beyond the realms they've explored on their last handful of releases and recent years of touring, and continuing to reproduce continually inspiring music as they have with every recording to date. EARTH have also announced an offcial hometown record release show for Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1, scheduled for March 3rd at The Tractor Tavern in Seattle. myspace.com/earthoffcial myspace.com/southernlordrecordings
Some of you might know Portrait and the members quest against everything rightous! Some of you might even remember them from back in the Ep days when �His Glowing Eyes� was making waves in the underground. Those were good times and as Portrait has progressed the good times have kept on rolling. Three years ago they severed heads with their selftitled debut but now they face their biggest challenge; the curse of the sophomore.
IN LIASON WITH SATAN PORTRAIT So, how does it feel being on Metal Blade, a label that's been going on for longer than perhaps a few of Portrait's members? As the average age of the members is 28, we are in fact pretty equally aged. How does it feel? Well partly interesting, partly like a relief – especially concerning the aspect of it we’re dealing with in your next question. What were the main differences with the recording of your second album in contrast to your frst album, when you were on a smaller label? Did the label switch add considerably to your studio budget? The studio budget itself was the main difference you could say, or that there was in fact one, as this second album was recorded in an actual studio and not with the help of some portable unit or someone’s home computer. We also spent a lot more time on this recording, and felt happy instead of sorry afterwards. You've been booked a bit on the road this year, any plans to do a Venom-esque series of some sort? Any places you would like to visit that you haven't had the chance to yet? I can not think of any place we would not want to go. Evil has no boundaries, and no country shall be spared. For now we will however be humble enough to spare the world from the “assault” kind of releases. Through the years it's always been a blast visiting your MySpace site to check out what old band you were loosing yourself over now. Now, things have changed and Cacumen is no more. Will Cacumen rise from the ashes? Will you spread the plague further? Was Cacumen not the only one we mentioned on there? Did you know that they had once an actual skeleton for a
vocalist? Nothing has changed I tell you. Last time we covered “Broken Man” was two weeks ago I think. I did not know that. I did do a bit of googling and discovered a few videos by them and read a bit about them online. The promo video for “Longing For You” is such a classic! No, you did also have that Jurgen fellow on the site but I had it in my head that you had Pokolgép there too but I could be mixing that up with Deathexecution. There's been a bit of a discussion about the cover of your new album. Some say it's the long lost cover that was supposed to be on Repugnant's debut but wasn't. Kind of reminds me of an almost 20 year old story concerning Dissection's debut. What's the story with the cover? Why did you choose it and who made it? Those who say so are right. We came to think about that picture and how it would suit our vision for the cover, and that it would be a shame if it was never put to use. Forge willingly handed it over. What was that Dissection story again? I don't remember it word for word but Dissection used a cover that was previously destined for another No Fashion album, but which one I can't remember right now. Always felt there was a heavy “Abigail” feeling in “The Somberlain” cover artwork. Any last words to conclude this interview? Look out for our new album “Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae”, and have some Pucko too. Hail Satan, hail death, fuck you all. myspace.com/portraitmetal
STILL FIGHTING JEHOVAH DEICIDE For the last twenty-four years this band has been spreading blasphemy across the world. Search as you might but I think you will fnd very few bands as controversial as Deicide. The band is now shy of releasing their tenth album so I sent Steve Asheim a few, very naïve question. A new album, a new label. Are you still as psyched when it comes to new albums as you were back when the band had just released “Deicide” back in '90? Any bloodsmeared faces? HEHE YOU WANT THE TRUTH? THE ANSWER IS NO, IM NOT AS PSYCHED. WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, IT'S YOUR FIRST RECORD, YOU'RE FREAKIN' EXTATIC ABOUT IT. AFTER A FEW YEARS OF GETTING KICKED IN THE HEAD BY THIS INDUSTRY YOU REALISE TO CHOOSE WISELY WHAT TO GET PSYCHED ABOUT. DONT GET ME WRONG, IM STOKED ABOUT THE NEW RECORD AND ALL THE PLANS. ITS A GOOD ACHEIVEMENT. IT JUST TAKES ALOT TO GET ME RILED UP ABOUT ANYTHING THESE DAYS. How did the deal with Century Media come about? How did Earache treat you guys? NOT SURE. WE WERE APPROACHED OR WE APPROACHED THEM. EITHER WAY IT GOT WORKED OUT. EARACHE IS ALL RIGHT I GUESS. AS LONG AS YOU'RE STILL THEIR BAND THEY'LL BE FAIR WITH YOU. AS SOON AS YOU'RE NOT THEIR BAND, GOOD LUCK GETTING THE TIME OF DAY. IT'S LIKE THAT WITH ANY LABEL OR BOSS I SUPPOSE. Throughout most of Deicide's existence things have been stable although there have been a few notable events like the departure of the Hoffmans. When you look back down the last few years is there anything that stands out? Anything that is particularly pleasing to have acheived? HEHE REALLY? THE APPEARANCE OF DEICIDE OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN ONE OF STABILITY? HEHE WHAT DEICIDE HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING? THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH TURMOIL OVER OUR CAREER I'M
AMAZED WE'RE STILL HERE. I DONT KNOW I GUESS IT'S DIFFERENT LOOKING AT SOEMTHING FROM THE INSIDE. IN FACT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE THING IM MOST PLEASED ABOUT HAVING ACHEIVED IS THAT WE'RE STILL A FUNCTIONING BAND. With Deicide getting closer and closer to the 25 year mark is there anything you guys have planned for that particular event? How does it feel having been behind the kit with Deicide for close to a quarter of a century? HEHE NO, WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PLANS FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE DONT REALLY FALL IN FOR THESE SELFGLORIFYING ANNIVERSERIES OR LISTENING PARTIES OR BS. AND YEAH IT'S GOOD TO STILL BE DOING THIS AFTER SO LONG. IM REALLY JUST GLAD I HAVE A JOB THAT I LIKE. I GET TO DO WHAT I WANT, NOBODY FUCKS WITH ME. NO REAL WORLD COMPLAINTS. If there's one thing Deicide has never become its docile & tame. What's in the water at your place that ignites the brutality & hatred that you have spewed out since 1987? HEHE, WHAT'S IN THE WATER? 99% ANGER WITH 1% ASSORTED MINERALS. I STILL USE HARD WATER HERE AT THE HOUSE, MAYBE THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. myspace.com/theoffcialdeicidemyspacepage
WAR MACHINE BLACK WITCHERY Ever since "Desecration‌" I've noticed a rise in way of an industrial element in Black Witchery. The rhythm becoming almost mechanical at times. Is that something that Black Witchery was striving for intentionally or just a side-product of explorations through extremities? Black Witchery is extreme black/death speed desecration metal...no other infuences but pure darkness and hatred. Are death, darkness & destruction still as vital infuences as they were back when Black Witchery was starting out? When you try to create the domination of barbarism is it only on a personal level with the listener or is this something that you would like to see on a worldwide scale? Very much both. Listener should be overcome with primal urge to destroy and desecrate. What would you reckon to be the three most infuential bands on Black Witchery from the beginning to the place where it is now? Do spirits or remnants of the earth play an integral part in the creation of the music or the lyrics? Old Bathory, Blasphemy, and Archgoat. One thing I've particularly enjoyed while watching videos of your shows is the ferocity you guys seem to put into your shows. If the cameras were any closer I'm sure they would catch quite a bit of spit, sweat and blood from you guys. Some bands have certain rituals or works they do to get themselves in the right mood before a gig. What is it that you do before going on stage? It's a demoniac possession ritual which cannot be described in words...I think only few maniacs involved in the most EXTREME black metal hordes can relate to these inner demonic blood. commands.