Edition for true metalfans
#5†30.07.2019
CRADLE OF FILTH IN BOGOTA REVIEW ROTTING CHRIST IN BOGOTA REVIEW ACHERONTAS IN BOGOTA REVIEW CRADLE OF FILTH IN MOSCOW REVIEW BELPHEGOR/DARK FUNERAL: DEVASTATION ON THE NATION 2019 (LIVE IN ATLANTA) News•Reviews•Interviews•Exclusive
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CREW A special thanks to... www.nocleansinging.com and Tør for provided pics and review (Devastation on the Nation Tour in Atlanta: Incantation-Belphegor-Dark Funeral) Evgeny Stukalin for pics (Cradle of Filth in Moscow) Diego Molina for Cradle of Filth, Rotting Christ and Acherontas shows reviews Helmuth Lehner (Belphegor) for his TOTAL support Evgeny-Destroyer Editor-in-chief, design https://www.facebook.com/ evgeny.dubovskoy Mail: destroyerr78@mail.ru WhatsApp: +79180242178
Olga «Blackie» Schneider Editor, interviewer, text corrector https://www.facebook.com/ olga.metalheart Mail: olgaschneider.1997@gmail.com Inst:https://www.instagram.com/blackie_metalheart/
https://destroyerr78.wixsite.com/insidethedarkness https://www.facebook.com/InsideTheDarknessWebzine/ https://vk.com/insidethedarknessmetalwebzine
Editor’s brief
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...and especially to these people for the interviews Karl Sanders (Nile) Hellcommander Vargblod (Khaospath) Cristiano and Francesco (Stormlord) Wampyrion (Funeral Storm) Roman (Alone In The Mist) Stefan (Asphyx)
Hail to everyone who’s reading it! 9 months have passed since the project was founded, so this is kinda mini jubilee and so, our fifth issue is finally here. The quality of people who follow us is growing every day, and that was the time when we got especially many offers for cooperation. Not every band ended up here of course, but this is only time issue, so it won’t be any trouble to fix it. We express our gratitude to everyone who has taken part this time, especially to our dear headliner. Your help is priceless, man, just so you know that. As always, we’re waiting for new offerings and always open for any kind of cooperation. Stay tuned and enjoy! Olga Schneider, editor
CONTENT Nile Interview with Karl...............8 Khaospath Interview with Hellcommander Vargblod...............12 Funeral Storm Interview with Wampyrion...............16
News from hell..........................................4
Cradle of Filth in Bogota review...........44 Rotting Christ in Bogota review...........50 Acherontas in Bogota review................54 DARK FUNERAL, BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION — live in Atlanta..........58 Cradle of Filth in Moscow review.........62 Alone In The Mist Interview with Roman......22 Asphyx Interview with Stefan.........12
Stormlord Interview with Cristiano and Francesco.....16
Best metal releases..............26
Inside The Darkness reviews............66
Metalheads are wait it............70
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World Metal News Wacken Open Air is a
massive German festival for all fans and friends of metal music! The festival takes place since 1990 and has featured over 1400 different bands from all over the world already. And also the metalheads are coming from all over the planet, in 2017 we welcomed fans from more than 80 different countries! Each year, 75.000 metalheads are transforming the small village of Wacken to one of the biggest Metal cities in the world. Wacken has become more than just a festival and it is called “the Metal Mecca� for a reason! The 30th edition of Wacken Open Air! Look forward to old mates, loyal friends, young heroes and a lot of surprises. All 75.000 tickets for W:O:A 2019 are sold - the 30. Edition of Wacken Open Air is sold out! Extreme Lineup: Slayer Anthrax Cancer Cradle Of Filth Dark Funeral Downfall Of Gaia Eluveitie Equilibrium Gernotshagen Grave Helsott Legion Of The Damned Meshuggah Nailed To Obscurity Necrophobic Night In Gales Nordjevel Opeth Primordial Saor Septicflesh Skald Suidakra Testament Unleashed Vampire Venom Inc. Vltimas Wiegedood Zuriaake
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Beyond the Gates is a metal festival dedicated to the true spirit of the underground, located in Bergen, Norway. The festival has been running since 2012 and the main venue is USF Verftet. The 2019 edition of the festival will take place 21.08 - 24.08.2019. 4 days of Darkness in the heart of Bergen.
FULL LINE-UP WEDNESDAY 21.08 HULEN Watain Ritual Death Imha Tarikat THURSDAY 22.08 USF VERFTET Mayhem Marduk Behexen Svartidaudi Obliteration FRIDAY 23.08 KVARTERET Misotheist Inculter FRIDAY 23.08 USF VERFTET Emperor Primordial Arcturus Horisont Varathron SATURDAY 24.08 USF VERFTET Abbath Candlemass Midnight Lucifer Necros Christos
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World Metal News
The festival is held at unique site of historic fortress! Come enjoy great atmosphere, cheap czech beer, tasty food, crazy fans and 130 bands from all round the world in 4 brutal days! After 24 years in the game, Brutal Assault has put Czech Republic on the world map of premium metal events, despite the fact (or maybe rather thanks to it) that it’s lineup is uniquely curated and it’s not based on allcapturing mass-attracting headliners. The attractive lineup is only part of the success as it’s complemented by the interesting location of a historic military fortress, the accompanying art program and great ‘bang for your buck’ ratio.
Complete Line up: ABORTED, ANNAL NATHRAKH, ANATHEMA, ANTHRAX, BATUSHKA, BRUTALLY DECEASED, CARCASS, COMBICHRIST, COVEN, CROSSFAITH, CULT OF LUNA, DR. LIVING DEAD, DECAPITATED, DECULTIVATE, DEICIDE, DESTRUCTION, DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA, DISCHARGE, EKTOMORF, ELYSIUM, EMPEROR, ENSIFERUM, ENTROPIA, EXUMER, FORGOTTEN SILENCE, GODFLESH, GUTALAX, HEILUNG, HYPOCRISY, IMMOLATION, JINJER, KAMPFAR, KRISIUN, MESHUGGAH, METAL CHURCH, MGŁA, MYRKUR, NAPALM DEATH, NECROS CHRISTOS, NORDJEVEL, THE OBSESSED, OCEANS OF SLUMBER, OMNIUM GATHERUM, PARKWAY DRIVE, PRIMORDIAL, PRONG, RAISED FIST, ROTTING CHRIST, SACRED REICH, SAOR, SHAPE OF DESPAIR, SKELETAL REMAINS, SODOM, SOILWORK, TAAKE, TANKARD, TAPHOS, TESTAMENT, THERION, THY ART IS MURDER, TOSKA, UNPROCESSED, VAMPILLIA, VARGRAV, VENOM PRISON, VIOLATOR, VOIVOD, WALLS OF JERICHO, WOLFBRIGADE, WORMED, ZURIAAKE and many more.
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SUMMER BREEZE Open Air is a German metal music festival which takes place in Dinkelsbuehl, Bavaria annually. The first edition was in 1997. ThefestivalhadbeenheldinAbtsgmuend until 2006 when it was moved to its new location of Dinkelsbuehl. The festival draws around 40,000 attendees annually. In 2017 a new main stage was introduced and the 20th Anniversary was celebrated extensively. SUMMER BREEZE pays special attention to a balanced line up of bands from different Heavy Metal genres. Each year the festival attaches major importance to how the line up is put together. From bands that are deeply rooted in the underground to genre representatives with the highest standing in the worldwide music scene SUMMER BREEZE Open Air is trying to present a diversified billing each year. Being aware of the significance of supporting younger bands the festival has began to lay emphasis on a growing (social) media coverage of the prospective heros of tomorrow. With nearly 1000 different bands in the last two decades and bands from around 20 different countries each edition there is a lot to experience at SUMMER BREEZE, that’s a recurring promise and an honored pledge. The festival is a heavy-metal international institution, curating a roster of metal that caters for sub-genres ranging from thrash metal to metalcore, from death metal to metal legends; Bullet For My Valentine, Parkway Drive, Meshuggah, and Dimmu Borgir top the list in 2019.
Lineup bands: Aborted, Anaal Nathrakh, Cradle Of Filth, Cypecore, Deicide, Deserted Fear, Dornenreich, Downfall Of Gaia, Eluveitie, Emperor, Equilibrium, Gaahls Wyrd, Hamferd, In Flames, Izegrim, Kambrium, King Diamond, Krisiun, Legion Of The Damned, Lik, Meshuggah, Myrkur, Napalm Death, Rotting Christ, Skalmold, Unleashed, Winterstorm, Zeal & Ardor etc.
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Nile• Technical Death Metal from United States
Interview with Karl
Interview by Olga Schneider
Let’s begin that interview with a question that has been torturing me for so long... How does the band feel now without one of those who had ac-
pletely new ways for you and for him, but however... Why did it happen? We are feeling great. We have been blessed to find new guitarist/
of Nile. As to why, well we have already said as much publicly about it as we intend to, ever. He quit, we wished him well. End of discussion.
Metal keeps you young tually become one of its faces? Of couse we realize that it’s not the end, just a beginning of com8
vocalist Brian Kingsland. Of course it is not the end; just the end of that chapter in the book
The band is moving forward, fearlessly, without getting caught up in any more time wasting drama.
Since this is kinda new era for Nile, tell us a bit more about the causer. How did you learn about this dude and how did he manage to mesmerise your soul so much that you decided to get him in the band? Brian was a suggestion from Brad. He had to audition like anybody else; with a “Call to Destruction” playing/singing video. He fucking nailed it, with a first class job. We also saw what kind of person Brian was, and felt strongly that he was also a team player who could make genuine contributions to the band. I Really liked his guitar ideas and vocal style, and I realized he could not only do the job required, but also take it to the next level. Since you’re working on your new album now, how do you feel this... Difference in working with the two different people? You understand what people I mean of course. Have these chang-
es made things much easier for you or it was hard adaptation process? New people always have their own good and bad sides
we have to get used to after all... I would say the change has made things much easier for the entire band. Right now we have a high level of team spirit, unity, and genuine brotherhood in Nile. I haven’t felt this positive about the lineup in Nile for many years. Things within the band had begun to drift off track for a few years, I felt the band was off course and there was a lot of unnecessary, pointless tension with the previous lineup. But right now things are very fresh, and positive, and this new group of people are very enthusiastic, full of refreshed energy and focused on making music. OK, enough about people moments. Could you probably make some spoilers about the new album itself? Is that kinda return to the roots or we have to wait something completely new? In some ways, it’s a return to the original ideals of the band. 9
Nile• Technical Death Metal from United States 10
We have again the triple vocal attack; and a concerted focus on writing brutal, interesting Nile SONGS; songs whose
off course for awhile; but this and other thrash? (I mean album sees the band the most in a positive way of course!) This album has taken the lonfocused its been in years. Listeners can expect to hear all gest of any Nile album to write.
sole purpose is for the Metal listening experience of the fans. In other ways, this new album is a testament to what four people can do if they work together to write and hone the compositions and craftsmanship to deliver an album that any metal fan can enjoy. Like I said earlier, I felt that Nile had drifted
the familiar elements of classic Nile, but this is a very fresh, to-the-point, song oriented distillation of the band moving forward. Expect to be crushed. How many time did you take for writing lyrics this time? And what caused you to get interested in ancient Egypt hystory, executions
From the start of writing/demoing songs to mixing the record, has been 2 years. We got interrupted a few times to tour – cause one has to generate some income to pay the bills lol I also took time to go to Egypt to work with Nader Sadek and do some long awaited holiday time, seeing the sights of Egypt.
It was very inspiring, and actually helped me write some of the songs on the new Nile record. 3 years ago you were called satanists while your Russian tour. All we remember this terrible incident, and I must say once again that you were incredibly strong. But it’s not about that now... Do you feel that your music is any protest against any religion? First of all against Islam... Nile isn’t anti – ANYTHING. We write songs about Ancient Egyptian history/mythology. Some of that of course includes some discussion of ancient religions; but it is an irrelevant external sidetrack to try and say we are for or against any of the modern religions. That’s outside the context of what Nile is about. Now a bit more about you personally. You’ve recently turned 56, but you’re in truly great shape and you look so much younger. It makes me think that you have your own portrait somewhere in your house, and this portrait is getting old instead of you, haha... But to be honest, what is your secret?
Dorian Grey. It comes in a bottle, available at your local pharmacy. I do train Martial Arts 3 nights a week – but truthfully I could be in much better shape. Living a
l i f e spent mostly in tour buses, hotels, airplanes, airports, shitty metal backstages, cramped up in a recording studio rabbit hole, and hot sweaty rehearsal rooms is not exactly conducive to a healthy lifestyle. I would prefer to quote the old saying “Metal keeps you young”. As for egyptian themed Death Metal, this is a very specific and really complicated genre. What bands are high-
ly recommended to listening, in your opinion? And as for music in general, what music inspires you, besides Metal? Egyptian themed death metal. Well when Nile started playing, there was no such thing. Lol In general, I like soundtrack music, film scores, world music. I particularly enjoy Le Trio Joubran – a palenstinian oud trio. I love their music, and many of their oud melodies find their way into Nile metal riffs. How soon will you start touring with the new album? Do you already have any plans about countries and all? Europe and USA in the fall. After that, who knows. We intend to go everywhere possible on theirs next album touring cycle. In Russia we are working with Vadim at Flaming Arts – so I fully expect a Russian tour sometime next year. A traditional questions. What would you like to say to our readers and, of course, editorial board? Thank you for spending your time with me here today, I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of our fans, and for your readers, for being Metal as Fuck.
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Khaospath• Black Metal from Sweden
Interview with Hellcommander Vargblod
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Interview by Olga Schneider
The Khaospath band and you personally stand out from the huge mass of bands of the modern Metal scene and we would really like to talk with you and tell metalheads who respect the extreme metal scene about you. What we actually do now. At the very beginning of the interview I would like to get a couple of links from you, where can I buy your stuff? Hail and thanks for the interview opportunity! At the moment all merch and
music can be obtained directly through the band or through Wolfmond Production. So those inter-
changed with the band itself and has it affected your work? Where is it easier to play the music of your genre? Of course the music obtained a wider range of audience after the move. Also for a while I had members who lived in the area who joined in and made gigs. Khaospath is though a one man band in recordings, just as it started out originally.
pread s o t e iv r h t k r o w y m In all er. the word of our Fath ested can talk to me directly through the Facebook page and we can sort it out! Initially, the band was located in Malta, but then you moved to Sweden. How do you think the situation has
I would like to know your opinion about Metalheads of these two countries that are not foreign to you, are there any similarities and differences in something? How is Black Metal perceived in Malta and in Sweden? Black Metal in Malta is not one of the most popular genres of metal, but it has gained popularity during the recent years. It can never be compared to Sweden though of course. Sweden has one of the biggest Black Metal scenes in the world and championing some of the biggest bands ever in the genre as well! Black Metal in Sweden is generally taken more seriously, which is a good thing! Not so long ago, at the end of May, Khaospath realized the third album. What’s happened to the band? You left alone and the band turned into a one-man band again? As mentioned before Khaospath is a one man band. For a while I had members with me but songwriting was almost all the time done just by me. I decided then to continue just on my own after the drummer moved from our hometown,
which made it quite diffi- these are 10 separate stocult to rehearse and also due ries of your worldview? to lack of interest from oth- The album is a total venerer members in songwriting. ation to the Dark Side, Demonic manifestations, and an embodiment of my beliefs and practices. It is not quite a concept album as the themes are varied but I can say it feels very personal. Each and every song has a big meaning to me and to what I hold on to. In all my work thrive to spread the word of our Father. Music throughout all ages has always been a way to communicate with the divine world, it channels our energies and lets us express our deepest and darkest feelings. Much so with Looking at the titles of Khaospath. For me the the tracks in the album, it music I write is an expresseems that these are some sion of my darkest nature. kind of litany and ritu- This is the third full-scale al hymns. Tell me what is work of the band. Lookthe meaning of these songs ing back and summing up, and if there is any con- what can you say in gennection among them? Or eral about your work? 13
Khaospath• Black Metal from Sweden
Are there any visible parallels among these albums, or are they fundamentally different from each other? Is there any musical development from album to album? Or do you think that this is the classic, which will be forever claimed and changes are not suitable for it? They are different from each other of course. Musically Khaospath always matured from one album to another although trying to keep the albums sound like it is the same band of course. I am influenced by a lot of other styles, not just Black Metal, and it shows in the songs, as in, one can feel immediately that there are different musical styles (in metal) that are included in the material. Lyrically, the second album “…For the Devil Speaks the Truth” is quite different from the new album. It was a retelling of a Shakespeare play Macbeth, in my own words, and exploring the occult aspects in the story and bringing them out more prominently. As a rule, the author put 14
the meaning not only in the lyrics, but also in the cover of the upcoming album. What does the cover of your new album “Gospel of the Serpent Tongue” mean? The cover of the album
which was done by Mordiggian Art, was not originally worked for Khaospath. I came across this guy’s work and he had this piece of art he made and it spoke to me and I immediately envisioned it as the front cover of the album. Honestly there is no story to it, but coincidentally it was
something that I was looking for as a front cover artwork. Since Khaospath has now become a one-man band, I can assume that no progress is planned in terms of organizing gigs and concerts. But I really want to hope that this is not the last creation of the band and it definitely has a future. No at the moment there are no plans for live gigs with Khaospath. It will certainly not be the last work of the band. I already have ideas for the next release in fact but we shall see about that in due time! Besides Khaospath, you are still involved in several projects. Tell me, what are these bands, what results have they achieved and what are they striving for now? Yes apart from Khaospath I also am involved in Draugul, an epic pagan metal project, and also Myronath, a new band I am with, alongside Malphas from Throne of Heresy and Blood of Serpents, and Lars Broddesson as session studio/live drums, who people may know from Marduk and Funeral Mist.
We have just finished recording and mastering the album which was mastered by none other than Devo from Marduk and currently searching for a record deal so we release the album in the coming months hopefully! Myronath shall be playing its debut gig this October at MĂśrkaste SmĂĽland festival alongside Gra and other acts. Recently, with the development of the Internet, musicians have become, on the one h a n d , more difficult to distribute their work because of the opportunity for anyone who wants to download an album without leaving home, but, on the other hand, the Internet is like a magic wand for many with the advent of various platforms, where the author can easily sell the albums both on physical media and in digital format. What can you say about this? I can say that the internet had both good and bad sides in the music industry. Before the internet the music especially
in the underground scene was hard to obtain, but it also had a kind of mystery to it and magic. Nowadays since it is so easy to spread the music on the web, a lot of that mystery has disappeared. I agree yes it made it more accessible to vast audiences and in a way easier to distribute, but I still
am the fan of the old fashioned collectors, meaning physical copies instead of digital. You are not the first year in the music industry and, probably, you had a lot of different gigs and live performances. Is there something most memorable? And which bands were the most pleasant to share the stage with? Yes before these bands we mentioned I had another band in Malta, Martyrium and have played with them for 12 years before moving to Sweden. In my musical ca-
reer I had the opportunity to gig a lot and had some tours as well. All of these have their precious moments and I cherish every single gig I ever made as they always add up to the experience. Probably my most precious memory in gigs was sharing the stage with the Greek Titans Rotting Christ. A great band and very humble people. I respect them a lot and will cherish that night till my dying breath! Thank you for giving us some of your time. And finally, our traditional question - your wishes to our readers. Thanks again for this interview, it was a pleasure! And also thanks to all the loyal Khaospath fans who supported me since the birth of the band. You are the reason I keep doing what I do! Your feedback means a lot to me! HAIL!
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Funeral Storm - Black Metal from Greece
You are the founder and the only constant member of Funeral Storm. It would be interesting to know the details of the formation of the band: what did inspire you for that and why at that time? It was like a need to create something of my own. I was a member of some bands, who as kids, played covers but that was not enough for me. The only problem is that everyone else was into Heavy Metal, Thrash and Death but not Black M e t a l . M a i n influences back then w h e r e bands like Von, Sarcofago, Acheron, Maniac Buther but the main inspiration even back then
was bands such as Varathron, Rotting Christ, The Elysian Fields and Necromantia. The band was formed by you back in 2001 as a one-man project. Did you think then that you would be put on a par with famous countrymen? Why was the name originally chosen for the band Raven Throne, and then, after a short time, renamed Funeral Storm? Never! Raven Throne was chosen pretty fast actually but with the limitation of
decided to change the name. Over the past years, the composition of the band has changed frequently. What is the reason for this and why did you go to your first album for so long? Dedication! Most of the members where not fully dedicated or passionate about our music. After some time I felt tired of being always in search of new members. Also the Hellenic scene after the 00’s was like a “team” of wannabe rockstars in Athens so that made me want to stay away from them and Black Metal too. Your album is called Arcane Mysteries. Reveal
We wanted the listener to dive in the album’s atmosphere and be a part of our vision.
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the internet I found out on a magazine that there was another band back then so I
Interview with Wampyrion
Interview by Olga Schneider
the secret to which sacrament it is dedicated. We wanted the listener to dive in this atmosphere and be a part of our vision. Like being a part of a cult during our offering to the sons and daughters of the Night and the Stars. Arcane Mysteries has received many positive and wonderful reviews, in which you are often compared to well-known Greek bands of the genre, such as Necromantia, Varathron and Rotting Christ. In my opinion, this is a great honor to debut. What can you say about that? I personally feel honored. All these bands and era of the scene are my favorites. Nothing would be the same without the bands you mentioned. Did the composition of the band changed before the release, did the formation of the album, or all the details were already thought out and only realized by the current composition? I started composing the songs a couple of years ago. Arcania was a big help to finalize the tracks, record guitars in her own perspective. We also composed and recorded together the keyboards and of course Necroabyssious
who contributed with lyrics. Tell us about the current lineup of your band. Why are there only 3 members in the band? The main core will remain the same as it seems. As mentioned earlier it’s a matter of dedication! Perhaps sometime in the future there will be other members for some live shows but who can tell? The album contains a cover of the track Varathron “Flowers of My Youth”. Does this mean that this band influenced you and you decided to make this cover as a sign of respect for them or
did you have other reasons? Exactly! At first a label asked me to help get some bands cover Varathron for a tribute that was never released. In the meantime I always had in mind covering “Flowers Of My Youth” as it’s one of my favorite songs from Varathron. So after a long time we decided to include it as a bonus on the album. What are your plans for the near future? Will there be a tour or concerts? We are already in the studio working on our 7” EP “Shapeless Congeries” and a split 7” with Vorphalack “Sabbat Des Sorcières”. In the meantime we slowly compose riffs and songs for the second album! We would like to set foot on stage but it’s not really easy for us. Only future will tell. I sincerely hope that the history of Funeral Storm will not end of Arcane Mysteries and that you will please us with good quality music in the future. Thank you for the interview and finally I would like to hear something from you to our readers. Thanks a lot for this interview! Ad Majorem Satanael Gloriam!
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Stormlord - Extreme Epic Metal from Italy
Interview with Cristiano and Francesco
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Interview by Olga Schneider
First of all, I’d like to thank you for this opportunity. We wanted to do an interview with you for a quite long time, and now here we are! How is the band feeling now? (Cristiano Borchi - vocals) Thanks to you for this opportunity, the feel Inside The band is really great we are really happy of the new album and the feedbacks we get from the audience. As we can see, you don’t tour so much with your
new album at the moment, and that’s a bit atypical for a band after a new release. What’s hap-
As for the album itself, it turned out to be a monumental opus after so many years of silence. Why has the pause been so long this t i m e ? (Francesco Bucci – bass) We’re not that kind of band who release an album every two years, this is sadly known to every Stormlord fan and you can blame our control mania for this.
sound o t m u lb a w e n y r e v e t We wan t a c y p o c a e b o t t o n d n unique a pened? Are you planning some more live concerts at the moment? (CB) We are planning the shows for after the summer, so don’t worry you’ll meet us on stage soon!
On one side, we don’t feel obliged to follow the times of the music business, since this is not our work, but our strongest passion. On the other side, the kind of music we play is not very easy to write, and we want every new album to sound unique and not to be a copycat of what we did in the past. Talking about personal stuff, between “Hesperia” and the new album “Far” a lot has happened for most of us: marriages, sons, change of works, change of homes and change of lifes. It’s our choice, not to play following the rules of the music biz, but releasing and album only when we feel that it could add something important to our previous albums. Of course, it takes a lot of time. As for my personal impressions of the new album, I can feel very strong influence of late Equilibrium. What bands inspired you most this time? (Francesco Bucci – bass) I’ll be honest with you, I barely know Equilibrium and they
In that days we were looking for inspiration at the metal tytans that introduced us to the world of heavy metal, and this has not changed as today. The names are always the same: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Venom, Slayer, Bathory, some Darkthrone, Immortal and Summoning. Looking back at your past, your music was pure Death Metal. Some years ago you added some Power Metal elements and found your own perfect
had no influence on our music. This is not a critic to the band, maybe I could like them a lot but, so far, I’ve never heard more than a few notes from them. Stormlord exist since 1991, we were among the first bands mixing black metal, death metal and epic music (apart for the mighty Bathory, of course), and back in the time we had absolutely no reference for a sound like that.
sound. What made you to do such drastic changes? (CB) it’s happened long time ago, the main reason is I was bored of the limits of a standard style. 19
Stormlord - Extreme Epic Metal from Italy 20
Why don’t to expand the range and to add elements to the music? Our intent has ever been to play epic and extreme music, no matter from witch style elements come from. We has been precursors of pagan, viking and folk metal. You have been making music since 1991. Is it hard to be a Metal musician in such a catholic country as Italy? What’s become easier with the time and what’s getting even harder now, in your opinion? (CB) There are not so many problems here at the moment, exept of historical big names metal is underground in Italy and the situation continues to deteriorate, so no one cares so much about what metal scene do.
We know that your keyboard p l a y e r is also a sound producer of Theatres des Vampires at the moment. T h e s e guys are our good friends. Have you ever met them live? P r o b a bly you have ever thought about using Ricardo as a
sound producer as well? Or do these two roles seem incompatible to you? (Francesco Bucci – bass) we are good friends with TDV, we know them since eons and, many years ago, Gabriele, the drummer, was a member of Stormlord of a short time. We had a lot of crazy times with Sonya and we also shared the stage in some occasions. We’re really looking forward to do that again, since is always nice to play with friends.
Riccardo is an excellent sound engineer and we already worked with him in that way: he coproduced and mixed our new album “Far” together with Giuseppe Orlando from Outer Sound Studios. To be a good producer is always a good thing for a musician, because it gives you experience to look beyond and deeper the music you are playing. That’s why most of us, even if we’re not as good as Riccardo, know how to deal with a DAW or a home recording session. Sometimes bands that once very much changed their sound decide that it’s time to return to some extent to the roots, at least for one album. Should we expect something like that from you? (Francesco Bucci – bass) I can’t see a drastic change in the music of Stormlord since our first album (of course, if you’re talking about the first demos, it changes everything), but I see a slow and coherent evolution. The only difference that I
hear, nowadays, is a band with a lot more of experience, that know his style much better than in the past, that plays a lot better (I
mean, almost 30 years have passed since our foundation, and 20 years since the release of the first album) and that is less afraid to experiment in different ways. Apart from that, the roots of Stormlord are always here, and the music that we play can still be described as Extreme Epic Metal. I think that your request could fit better to bands like Opeth o Ulver that
have drastically changed style and sound since the beginning but, if you ask me, I think that in our new album you can still found a lot of echoes of “Supreme Art of War”. Last and traditional question. What would you like to say to our readers and our staff? Thanks for your time and for your support. I hope that Russia will loves Stormlord and we hope to play there soon. Please, keep in touch with the band and be updated with the latest news following us on: www.facebook.com/stormlordband www.instagram.com/stormlord.official www.twitter.com/stormlordband www.stormlord.net
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Alone In The Mist - Black Metal from Russia
Interview with Roman
Interview by Olga Schneider
We have long wanted to do this interview, but it was all postponed, somehow it did not work out. Now this is all in the past and it is time to introduce the metalworkers of the world community to the Russian band Alone In The Mist. Roman, you founded the band several years ago and during this short period you managed to realize three full-length albums, all of which were released during 2018. At that time, the band existed as a one-man band. Tell me how you alone managed to do so much in such a short period of time? This productivity is explained by the usual desire for creativity and the influence of the environment. My music is a reaction to what is happening to the world and myself. All this is reflected in the music. How did you come up with the idea to create a band and find your niche in the Atmospheric Black/Doom Metal genre? And why did you decide to
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mix Black and Doom? I did not make a decision in terms of mixing something. The main thing is that there are unpleasant emotions, to one degree or another. I’m tired of doing this alone. More precisely, it became boring, I want to share my views, pay attention. Secondly, concert activity is also necessary. What is the meaning of the name of the band? How can you characterize your project? Initially it was conceived as a one man project. Everything that I record, what views I have, what periods in my life arise, all this reflects my project. I do not give up my words, I can not erase or delete everything recorded. Everything that happens should be the way it goes. This is a story, this is my life. Therefore, perhaps the question arises, why the name of the project means loneliness, and there are four people in the band ... Because they may not
be, and I will be left alone again. Or I will not. This is all part of my story. Which bands have influenced you and with whom can you compare your band, draw an analogy? What does Alone In The Mist look like? Well, I like Belphegor, Forgotten Tomb, Nortt, Cannibal Corpse. I don’t really listen to anything else. The rest is enough for a couple of days, and you can listen to these bands for a long time, although it also starts to annoy everything. Somehow they influence my work too. In most cases, from album to album in many bands, there is a change both in the quality of the material and in the desire to develop. However, there are those who do not want to change anything and should be a particular genre, believing that the changes will not lead to anything good and only those who have a source of inspiration are experimenting. How do you think and what can you say about your band?
I also conduct experiments both in terms of sound and accents on genres. I can move closer to the Duma or to death, or something else. I can do completely different things, and all this will relate to one project, because it is a story. And yet, in the third album, a noticeable change. The main thing is the appearance of vocals. What is the reason? Perhaps it is time to voice your thoughts and put them on music? Why did you decide to dilute the instrumental and add a voice here? I bought a microphone more or less normal, in order to record it somehow. Well, as normal ... 2000 and 150 rubles, if you compare. At present, the band is already a full-fledged team. It will somehow affect the work of Alone In The Mist, or everything will remain the same as before with the only difference that now you won’t have to perform all the parts of the instruments alone, but will you retain the authorship of everything? We collectively solve issues, try to come to a common opinion, but still, in some situations, if I don’t want to give up at all, I will do it my way. Usually, when a band is formed, this means that soon it will be possible to see it on live performances. Is it possible to hope that your team will participate in some festivals or perform in clubs in the foreseeable future? This is one of the main
reasons for creating a band. Therefore, as we are ready, so we will begin to speak. Well, after a year and a half... How do you see the future of Alone In The Mist? Should we wait for your fourth album to appear soon? I don’t know exactly about lineup, genre and other things, but it definitely is. I believe in my project. Decapitated video was recently recorded. It is based on the rehearsal of your band. Tell me how the recording took place and will such videos still appear in the future? Recording took place in our usual place for rehearsals. Sunday, 10 am The role of the operator was performed by the brother of our drummer. 2 hours played this track. Well... rehearsed.
Cool video turned out, I would not mind to do more. We’ll see. I would like to ask you to give links to ads where you can buy your albums, because after listening to them, I am sure there will be people willing to support you and purchase your discs or tracks in digital format. B a n d c a m p https://narcolepticaprod. bandcamp.com/album/useless https://ghostforce.bandcamp.com/ album/alone-in-the-mist-thunder-of-doom https://narcolepticaprod.bandcamp. com/track/alone-in-the-mist My labels sell it, but I advise you to order directly from me in VK, since two disks are very cheap together, and I will get at least some penny from it. But this is unlikely by sending to the Khabarovsk Territory, I, on the contrary, went to the negative. But the main thing is that people take it, the very fact of it is pleasant to me. So write: https://vk.com/gaak_aitm https://vk.com/gaak.aitm I also advise you to go to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC1cGvYLyBIphV85LNDJqTvQ. Thank you for the answers and wish you and your band prosperity, success and of course loyal fans around the world. From you I would like to hear a few words to our readers. Mutually thank you. I hope there were those who were interested to learn about me and my band, have read to the end. Thank you all. 23
Asphyx - Death Metal from Netherlands
Interview with Stefan
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Interview by Olga Schneider
First of all, we’ve noticed that Asphyx don’t tour so much this year nor did you last year, except summer festivals of course. What’s happened? What’s the reason for this silence for a time? Hello, Asphyx is not a real touring band. We try to concentrate our power on weekends. Also 3 of us have full time jobs, so we can’t do that much within the week! But we play a lot of weekender and love being
on the road! But of course, if we go to America, South America etc we need to play a few shows in a row which you can call “touring”… but believe me, our livers don’t like long tours! ha-ha Your last album was released in 2016. What are your plans concerning some new content at the moment? Yes, my first full length with mighty Asphyx was released 2016! Incoming Death was its name. I love that album… we are
working recently on new songs and maybe we can record them still in 2019. But Asphyx don’t rehearse that much, or better never. So mostly Zaagmeester Paul is working out ideas at home, which we put together in one of our mega rare rehearsals! The band got disbanded several times in its history, but fortunately you didn’t meet these times. What’s the situation, the atmosphere, whatever you call it in the bans right now?
I am in Asphyx since 2014 and since that we played a lot of great shows and the atmosphere in the band is amazing. Asphyx is really a bunch of friends, not only a band… or 3 dutch with a mof (which is a very bad word for a german in dutch, hahaha!) It is an honour being part of the Asphyx family! Asphyx is the (un)holy grail! Also our booker and main soundguy is part of the band, which is very important for us! When you joined the band, it has already had a really great experience in the background. Did you meet any difficulties on your way to becoming a part of a world Metal band? Before I joined Asphyx I played in many bands and had many experiences and with everything you do you learn more. Like in normal life. I played many shows back than with my ex main band Desaster. This band is/was more a do it yourself band, so we made everything by ourself and so of course we had some difficulties, but you learn and learn. But at the end I had never really rough negative things! You also joined another world Metal band in 2018. Is it hard to combine intense touring schedules of Asphyx and Sodom sometimes, especially now, during summer festival season? It’s all about organizing, but yes, here and there are some shows on one day or something… but I try
to make it all. Last year I played Asphyx show is a special one! Friday Finland, Saturday afternoon What’s your main feeling after shows as a rule? Besides hunger, hehe... I mean it was really nice to meet you all on food court after your gig at Steelfest ^^ There is no rule! We just have a great time together and we are always happy to meet friends and maniacs after the show! Maybe we love to drink, but we do that also before the show! Haha And yes, we love being in the audience… Belgium and same day in the We are also just Metalfans who night Denmark. So all is possible! like to make music together! By the way, about festivals. The traditional question. What can you say to our readers and editorial staff at the end of this interview? Thank you so much for this nice interview. Always a pleasure playing in Finland… a lot of my fave bands coming from there! Urn, Sentenced, Oz, The Black League, Convulse, Demigod, Xysma, Impaled Nazarene, Hooded Manace, Lantern, Lordi, Tarot, Flame, Chaos Your live show at Steelfest open Breed for example! Yksi, Kaksi, air this year was a blast! But what Kolme! Kippis! Terve, ja kiitos! live concert was the most intense www.facebook.com/ for you guys this year? With Asphyx EVERY show is TormentorHusky666 something special and we enjoy www.facebook.com/officialasphyx staying together on stage, bang our www.facebook.com/sodomized heads together and having fun! So w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / we do everytime all the best possible c o n t i n e n t a l c o n c e r t s and I think people seeing and feel that too! So I don’t want to put any show special, because EVERY 25
Latest releases
Old Star Darkthrone, the Norwegian Black Metal legends, marks its 2019 return with a sublime slab of relentless riffing in the true spirit of the underground. Over the course of 30 years, Darkthrone has become a staple of the global Black Metal genre, forging a legacy as one of the most influential bands in its illustrious and often infamous history. Old Star displays a mastery of the art of the riff, with its 6 epic tracks taking in the best of the old school of Heavy and Extreme Metal
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combined with a large dose of Darkthrone released the eighteenth Doom channelled through the full-length Old Star May 31, 2019. Tracklist: grime of the underground. Line-up: 1. I Muffle Your Inner Choir Fenriz - Drums, Vocals 2. The Hardship of the Scots (additional), Bass, Guitars 3. Old Star 4. Alp Man (additional), Lyrics Nocturno Culto - Vocals, 5. Duke of Gloat Guitars, Bass 6. The Key Is Inside the Wall Fenriz about Old Star: ÂŤAll in all it is our most 80s album so far and our most metal one to date with drum sound typical for the 80s USA/German market and damned lyrics, which are all written by me. We feel that OLD STAR is the big brother of ARCTIC THUNDER. More solid and with even better riffs.Âť
Outstrider Legendary metal icon ABBATH makes his thunderous return with the new album ‘Outstrider.’ Three years in the making, ‘Outstrider’ proves that the infamous mastermind is one of the genre’s most incisive songwriters. As the furious stomp of the title track, the churn of «Harvest Pyre» and the neck-snapping «Scythewinder» prove, ‘Outstrider’ is a must-have album and ABBATH is indeed the master of the riff. ‘Outstrider’ sees a maturation in sound, delivering a tighter, well-rounded offering from the band as they come into their own identity. The album delivers a full-on aural assault from start to finish with
massive riffage and a robust pocket that are layered with vocals from one of the most identifiable voices in black metal. If you thought ABBATH came in hot with their first record, just wait until you hear this!
Line-up Abbath - Vocals, Guitars Ukri Suvilehto - Drums Mia Wallace - Bass Ole Andre Farstad - Guitars (lead) Tracklist 1. Calm in Ire (Of Hurricane) 2. Bridge of Spasms 3. The Artifex 4. Harvest Pyre 5. Land of Khem 6. Outstrider 7. Scythewinder 8. Hecate 9. Pace ‘till Death (Bathory cover)
Outstrider released July 5, 2019.
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Latest releases
ENTHRONED, a name Black Metal fans are no strangers to. Over the course of the last 25 years, they have pushed the boundaries of black metal and the deepness of the Left Hand Path philosophy further within. The quintet has channeled that dedication into their newest record; a dark and crushing black metal album where cold riffing, blood chilling atmospheres and ritualistic drumming are keys to forging their most mature and accomplished opus to date. Condemned again to channel the darkness into a sonic trip, Enthroned are back with their most reckless
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forces within the world’s cultural heritage and its direct relation to the occult. Tracklist 1. Ophiusa 2. Hosanna Satana COLD BLACK SUNS 3. Oneiros 4. Vapula Omega album: «Cold Black Suns». An 5. Silent Redemption ode to the arcane of cosmic 6. Aghoria matter and what holds historical 7. Beyond Humane Greed certainty, our vision exalts 8. Smoking Mirror the manifestation of physical 9. Son of Man 10. Womb of Violence Cold Black Suns кeleased June 7, 2019 Lineup Jeff Becerra - Vocals, Songwriting, Lyrics Emilio Marquez - Drums Daniel Gonzalez - Guitars, Songwriting Robert Cardenas - Bass, Vocals (backing) Claudeous Creamer - Guitars
Since 1991 Hate have lived up to their name, responsible for some of the angriest and most ruthless death metal unleashed upon the world. With 2017’s Tremendum they took a step toward a darker, more atmospheric, black metal-oriented style and began exploring Slavonic mysticism, and new album Auric Gates Of Veles boldly continues in that direction. «We wanted to go deeper into the subject, both musically and lyrically,» asserts vocalist/ guitarist ATF Sinner. «We also wanted to record a sharper and better defined rhythm section, a more death metal-oriented one. When it comes to guitar sound, it was meant to be a wall of sonic destruction with dark ambient elements in the background.» To say that they achieved that which they set out to create is an understatement, for Auric Gates Of Veles is a titanic record that is both more organic and dynamic sounding, and may well be the finest of their storied career.
Tracklist 1. Seventh Manvantara 2. Triskhelion 3. The Volga’s Veins 4. Sovereign Sanctity 5. Path to Arkhen 6. Auric Gates of Veles 7. Salve Ignis 8. Generation Sulphur 9. In the Shrine of Veles (PreProduction) 10. Path to Arkhen (PreProduction)
Lineup Adam the First Sinner - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Samples Pavulon - Drums Domin - guitar Tiermes - bass (session)
Auric Gates Of Veles out June 14, 2019
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Latest releases
Arcane Mysteries Melodic Black/Death Metal band from Greece released the second Full-length album Arcane Mysteries May 31, 2019. FUNERAL STORM was formed in 2001 by Wampyrion Markhor Necrowolf under the name Raven Throne
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as a one-man-project. The name was later changed for legal reasons, and after several changes, the moniker FUNERAL STORM was chosen. Lyrical themes were set early on, and are heavily inspired by occultism, legends, myths, evil, mysteries, horror, and the Cthulhu mythos.
Tracklist 1. Invocation of the Great Red Dragon (intro) 2. Ego Sum Filius Draconis 3. Martyr of the Lake 4. Wandering Through the Abyss 5. The Necromancer 6. The Necromancer Part II 7. Funeral Storm 8. The Origin of Utter Evil 9. From the Great Deep of the Primordial Waters of Creation 10. Flowers of My Youth (Varathron cover) Lineup Wampyrion - Bass, Drum programming, Keyboards, Vocals (backing) Necroabyssious - Vocals Arcania LVI - Guitars, Keys
With a career spanning over 20 years, six full-length albums released and hundreds of live gigs performed worldwide, Stormlord is one of Italy’s most celebrated extreme metal bands. The year 2000 saw Stormlord moving to Scarlet Records for the release of their “The Curse of Medusa” EP, and, along with 2001’s second album “At the Gates of Utopia”, these established Stormlord as top metal contenders across the Italian boot, earning them appearances at many major festivals in the process. The sixth album, «Far», has
been released on May 24th 2019, anticipated by the successful single «Leviathan», and sees the band’s triumphant return to Scarlet Records. Tracklist 1. Leviathan 2. Mediterranea 3. Far 4. Sherden 5. Crimson 6. Cimmeria
7. Invictus 8. Romulus 9. Vacuna 10. Levante Lineup Cristiano Borchi Vocals Francesco Bucci - Bass, Vocals (choirs, backing) David Folchitto - Drums Gianpaolo Caprino Guitars, Keyboards, Effects, Vocals (clean, backing) Andrea Angelini Guitars Riccardo Studer Keyboards
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Latest releases
Sweden’s Dark Funeral are without doubt one of the most notorious and highly regarded of the Black Metal genre. They epitomize the dark essence that is and always will be at the true heart of the European scene. «25 Years Of Santan Symphon i e s » contains all of the band’s studio albums, l i v e albums, and EPs.
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The box also includes an exclusive flag (95 * 95 cm with artwork by Necrolord) and certificate. Boxed set 25 Years of Satanic Symphonies released June 28, 2019.
Discs 1. In the Sign… / Dark Funeral 2. The Secrets of the Black Arts 3. The Secrets of the Black Arts (Unisound Version) 4. Vobiscum Satanas 5. Diabolis Interium / Teach Children to Worhsip Satan 6. De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine 7. Attera Totus Sanctus 8. Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus 9. Where Shadows Forever Reign 10. Live in Buenos Aires 2006 Line-up: Lord Ahriman - Guitars Chaq Mol - Guitars Heljarmadr - Vocals Adra-Melek - Bass Jalomaah - Drums
Temple of Nihil Black Metal band from Russia released the first Full-length album Schadenfreude June 21, 2019. Black Metal band Temple Of Nihil was founded in Kaluga in 2015 by Pavel Guslyakov and Pavel Kurilenko musicians who had long experience in other bands. In the spring of 2016 the band recorded an EP ÂŤSoul ExtremistÂť, which was released in December of the same year by Symbol Of Domination and Narcoleptica Prod. In 2017, drummer
Nikolai Vykhodtsev joins the band. In this line-up the band is working on a recording of the album, which was held at Tyrant studio and Pentagram house during 2017. The conceptual basis of the
album is existential nihilism and the Nietzschean idea of overcoming the human being. Also lyrics of songs a r e
devoted to chaos, death and nothingness. As on the debut EP, Warkhoros did the mastering of the album. The artwork by W.Smerdulak. Tracklist 1. Descending 2. Into the Slough 3. Ode 4. Schadenfreude 5. Snakes in My Skull 6. Htrib 7. Postbeing 8. All Turns to Nihil 9. To Fireburners 10. With Flames and Chaos Lineup Pavel Kurilenko Vocals (backing), Bass Pavel Guslyakov - Vocals, Guitars Nikolai Vykhodtsev - Drums
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Latest releases
Gor Morgul Black/Death Metal band from Italy released the third Fulllength album Elohim June 16, 2019. Gor Morgul is a blackened death metal band born in Villacidro, Sardinia, in 2007. Through the years released two albums («In the Sign of Blackness» in 2010 and «Heresy» in 2015 via Satanath Records & Death Portal Studio) and an EP («Ruins on the Icons of God» in 2013). The new album «Elohim» is born after few years of work on the songs. Lyrics are mostly in English, Ancient Greek and Latin. Everything is about Elohim’s myth. Fast riffs and blast beat up to 260bpm put the
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album into a great obscure atmosphere. After 4 years Gor Morgul are back with their 3rd full-length album «Elohim», the second one under Satanath Records and Death Portal. The album is made by eight tracks of extra fast blast beats and atmospheric riffs. Everything concerns with mediterrean and middle east mythology, from the begining of life to the final extinction. Lyrics came after a study in ancient
rites a s reported in some of these songs. Gor Morgul are recommended for the fans of Behemoth, Origin, Belphegor, Gorgoroth. Tracklist 1. I Begin 2. Elohim 3. Portal to Underworld 4. Rising the War for Ashtoreth 5. Atum-Ra 6. Sentinel 7. Lamastu 8. Extinction Lineup Simone «ArcOndA» Piras Drums Leonardo Lantini - Guitars Andrea «Morherdir» Murgia Vocals Marco Soggiu - Bass
Svadilfare Atmospheric Black Metal band from Norway released the fourth Full-length album Fortapte roetter. In the Poetic and Prose Edda, Svaðilfari (Old Icelandic for «The one who makes an unlucky journey») is the male horse that fathers Óðinn’s horse, Sleipnir. In the Prose Edda, it is said that it Sleipnir’s mother is no one else bu Loki/i in the form of a mare. Svadilfare was formed in 2005 by Svartmunin, but set on hold for some years before he picked up the instruments and rewrote some old
songs in 2010. 2012 he released his debut “Den Som Herjer” and one year later “Makt Til Uskyld” and a contract with Naturmacht Productions followed. 2015 “Krig I Kunst” and 2019 “Fortapte Roetter” were released. «Fortapte Roetter» is all about love and war to preserve the Scandinavian heritage with dark and depressive artforms in a minimalistic but epic sense.
Tracklist 1. Tenn flammen paa ny 2. Breidablik 3. Brutalt fortalt 4. Hordalands skimmer 5. Vemodig farvel 6. Fortapte roetter 7. Sjoelvmord Lineup Ildsint Svartmunin - All instruments, Vocals Album released July 13, 2019.
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Latest releases
Tongue Black Metal band from Germany released the second Full-length album What Do We Know of Horror. TONGUE about their new work: «For us, the release of «What Do We Know Of Horror» marks the conclusion of a rather long process which was sometimes easy and sometimes difficult, sometimes exciting and sometimes tedious, and which challenged us both as a band and as individuals. We do
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feel, however, that it was all worth it and we can say that we are genuinely proud of what we have achieved together. We love this album and we hope you do, too.»Release date: July 5, 2019
Tracklist: 1. The Secret Shared with Everyone 2. What Do We Know of Horror 3. A Grave Deeper than Any Dug by Mortal Hands 4. I Spit Venom 5. Für niemanden von WertLineup B. - Bass W. - Drums J. - Guitars, Vocals T. - Guitars, Vocals
Doom Death Metal band from Spain released the second Full-length album God Has No Name June 5, 2019. Spain’s best kept secret, HEX, return with a pummeling new full length of death/doom metal music with unconventional riffing and delivery. This is mid-paced death/ doom metal that is reminiscent of early RUNEMAGICK, BOLT THROWER, PARADISE LOST, HYPOCRISY and UNLEASHED. But there’s more than meets the eye, as the music is interspersed with exotic riffing, female vocals, interludes and even breakdowns. There’s a certain appeal to their music that makes it stand out from the derivative lot as this doesn’t owe too much to any particular style or band. It’s a cohesive fusion
God
has
No Name
o f various influences melded into a sound that Hex can now call their own. With members of experienced bands in the lineup such as VIRULENCY, TOMB, INCURSED, to name a few, the outcome is simply phenomenal. The fiercely titled release ‘God Has No Name’ will go down as the breakthrough album for the band and perhaps even the whole of the current death/doom style with the band’s innovative and thoughtful approach towards it.
Lineup Endika - Bass Asier - Drums Jon - Guitars Adolfo WB - Guitars Jonathan - Vocals Tracklist 1. Thy Kingdom Gone 2. Soulsculptor 3. Worshipping Falsehood 4. Daevangelism - The Dark Sunset 5. Where Gods Shall Not Reign 6. Apocryphal 7. All Those Lies That Dwells...
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Latest releases
Khaospath Black Metal band from Sweden released the third Full-length album Gospel of the Serpent Tongue May 29, 2019 Line-up Hellcommander Vargblod Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards Döden - Bass Gheist - Drums Gothmog - Guitars Tracklist 1. Evangelium Lingua Serpentis 2. Wolves of Khaos 3. In Black Thorns Crowned 4. Bleed for Satan 5. Ars Magica Khaotica 6. Hex of Inferno 7. I Am the Black 8. Circulum IX 9. Demonic 10. The Call of Death
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Vananidr Melodic Black/Death Metal band from Sweden released the second Fulllength album Road North May 31, 2019. Vananidr playing black metal with melodies and influences from scandinavian folk music. Tracklist 1. Cold Dead Skin 2. Melancholy March 3. Bleak and Desolate 4. Drowned in Hells Fire 5. Raining Fire 6. Plains of Desolation 7. Shadow of the Past 8. Beneath the Glimmering Surface 9. Introduction to Ancient Powers 10. Ancient Powers 11. Purgatory Lineup Anders Eriksson Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Wormheart Black Metal band from United States released the first Fulllength album Wings of a Celestial June 2, 2019. Wormheart is the blooddrenched knife in the grave of your childhood dreams--the fire that burns in the cold, dead silence beyond the stars. Tracklist 1. I Too Will Be a Shadow 2. Cosmic Dysphoric Dissolution 3. Lord of Ruin 4. Delusion and Endless Night 5. Denizens of Nine 6. Centuries of Blood and Fear (Wormtongue’s Revenge) 7. The Black Dragon’s Bastard 8. Wings of a Celestial 9. Funeral March for a Lightless Wanderer (Outro/The Execution) Lineup Sarnath Wormheart - Guitars, Lyrics Errol the Faceless Wraith Vocals, Drums
Maelstrom Aeterna MeloDeath Metal band from United Kingdom released the first Fulllength album Hellweaver June 1, 2019. Maelstrom Aeterna is a collaboration of some of the cream of the UK’s and Swedish underground Melodic Death Metal talent, featuring past and present members of Bloodshot Dawn, FuryBorn and The Deathisodes! Many months were spent writing, programming, orchestrating, tweaking and then mixing and mastering at Alex’s studio, evolving them into the living, breathing vortex that is, ‘Hellweaver’! Tracklist 1. Fallen Accretion 2. Vultures Embrace 3. In the Absence of Light 4. Hellweaver 5. Affection Flame 6. From the Dark 7. Beyond the Relay 8. The Ghost Within 9. Terminal Creation 10. End Game 11. Chronicle 12. For What We’ve Become 13. Hellweaver (Piano Rendition) Lineup Alex Loader - Guitars, Songwriting Nick Richardson - Guitars (lead), Songwriting Isak Asplund - Vocals, Piano, Drums, Lyrics Guests Appearances: Ollie Roberts (Metaprism), Matt Powell, Oscar Wahlqvist (Archaea) Andy Gillion (Mors Principium Est)
Eternal Rest Death Metal band from Australia released the third Full-length album The Picture of Hatred June 7, 2019. ETERNAL REST are a death metal act from Brisbane, Australia. Intense and uncompromising, the band demonstrate a prowess and sound that is comparable to high profile death metal acts such as NILE, BEHEMOTH and DYSCARNATE. Tracklist 1. Sanctuary Alight 2. This Will All End in Violence 3. Obscured Faith 4. The Will of Death 5. Chained to Nothing 6. The Painted World 7. The Picture of Hatred 8. Water Me Not 9. Walk with Me 10. Awaken, O Fury Lineup Anthony Postlethwaite Bass Mick Hunter - Drums Jake Kaiser - Guitars Shanon Davern - Vocals
Winter Eternal Black Metal band from Greece released the second Full-length album Realm of the Bleeding Shadows June 1, 2019. Winter Eternal formed in April of 2011 by Soulreaper. W I N T E R ETERNAL, although not innovating, surely are highly noticeable because they capture the essence and the emotion of old school fantasy melodic Black Metal, having, at the same time, admirable technical integrity. Tracklist 1. Futile Quest 2. Realm of the Bleeding Shadows 3. Darkness Guides Me 4. The Promise 5. Embrace the Old Ways 6. The Secrets of Time 7. A Tearful Song 8. Monument to the Ruined Age Lineup Soulreaper Guitars, Bass
Vocals,
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Latest releases
Manipulation Death Metal band from Poland released the fourth Full-length album Mind Control Ultra June 10, 2019. Tracklist 1. Instruments of Change 2. Worshipers of Mirage 3. Slaves of the System 4. From the Inside 5. MK-Ultra 6. Limits 7. Energy of the Universe 8. The Skull with Acid in Eye 9. Room 216 10. Trample the Weak 11. RFID 12. Tale Told by an Idiot Lineup Rado.Slav - Guitars Bysiek - Bass Kriss - Drums Vulture - Guitars Kret - Vocals
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Dark Doom Melodic Black/Death Metal band from United Kingdom released the second Fulllength album The Journey June 12, 2019. Dark Doom returns once again with another offering of melodic atmospheric black metal. The tortured shrieks and dread filled instrumentation bringing a sense of impending doom and misery, which guide you through the five epic tracks from one of the UK’s best upcoming extreme metal bands. Tracklist 1. Spectre 2. Sigil 3. Portal 4. Ancient 5. Wilderness Lineup Alex Wills - Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Synthesizer
Nocturnes Mist Black Metal band from Australia released the fourth Full-length album Marquis of Hell June 13, 2019. The flame of 90’s black metal burns with ferocity and hellfire against midnight’s depths. Symphonic nocturnes haunt night skies as the fleeting mist encircling a raging pyre of pure malice, darkness and Black Metal. Formed in Adelaide in 1997 Nocturnes Mist embodies the spirit of 90’s Black Metal combining ferocity with symphonic darkness. Tracklist 1. Abyssus 2. Eyes in Fear 3. Cursed 4. War Machine 5. Wolves of Satan 6. Marquis of Hell 7. Summoning 8. Treacherous Ways Lineup Ominous - Guitars (lead) Deceiver - Vocals Inferus - Guitars (lead) Zy - Drums, Anunnaki - Bass Grotesquery - Keyboards
Frijgard Pagan Black Metal band from Switzerland released the third Full-length album Chapter Zero June 14, 2019. On June 14th 2019 Frijgard released their third album CHAPTER ZERO. The lyrics on this LP changed from german to english which fits the story of the album. Soundwise the tracks on Chapter Zero unveil new facets of the band while carrying on with Frijgard typical Heavy and Black Metal riffs combined with captivating acoustic melodies. Overall Frijgard’s lyrical themes are inspired by nature, historical events, science fiction, paganism (early songs) and fantasy. Tracklist 1. Blazing Ark 2. Blurry Horizon 3. Falling Stars 4. Crimson Skies 5. Haven 6. Red Lines Crossed 7. Aftermath 8. Tilia Lineup Sandro - Bass, Vocals Michael - Guitars Alex - Guitars Maxi - Drums
Worsen Black Metal band from United States released the first Full-length album Cursed to Witness Life June 14, 2019. After several years of silence, North Carolina black metal entity WORSEN returns with the long-awaited follow up to 2014’s Blood EP in the form of a violent and somber 40 minute full length album called Cursed to Witness Life. Worsen mastermind and sole member Rick Contes speaks further on the new album:«Just like previous releases, all vocals and instruments were recorded and/or programmed by me. For me this ones a pretty personal and cathartic record, so I wanted to put my best effort forward and cut no corners. It’s something I started alone that I needed to finish alone.» Lineup Rick Contes - All instruments, Vocals Tracklist 1. Open Grave 2. Aspirations Rusted Shut 3. Weakened World 4. A Blade in the Dark 5. Cradled by the Cold 6. Cursed to Witness Life 7. Haunting My Mind
Plague Melodic Death Metal band from Netherlands released the first Full-length album Dead Is the Day June 14, 2019. Tracklist 1. Bubonic Masterpiece 2. Dead Is the Day 3. Satan. Lord of the Underworld 4. Instant Inferno 5. Erection Divine 6. Brothel of Death 7. Serpent of Old 8. Nameless to the Void Lineup Robin van Stigt - Bass Jeroen van Hagen - Drums Stijn van Hagen - Guitars Bram van Kerckhoven - Guitars Joeri van Riel - Vocals
Ashx Raw Black Metal band from Costa Rica released the first Full-length album Until the End June 15, 2019.
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Latest releases
Batushka Black Metal band from Poland released the first Full-length album Hospodi July 12, 2019. This is album of Bartłomiej’s version of Batushka.. Tracklist 1. Wozglas 2. Dziewiatyj czas 3. Wieczernia 4. Powieczerje 5. Polunosznica 6. Utrenia 7. Pierwyj czas 8. Tretij czas 9. Szestoj czas 10. Liturgiya Lineup Bartłomiej «Bart» Krysiuk - Vocals Paweł Jaroszewicz Drums
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Warthrone Black/Death Metal band from United States released the second Full-length album Crown of the Apocalypse July 4, 2019. Epic Symphonic blackened death metal FFO: Old man’s child, early Dimmu Borgir, early Cradle of Filth, Marduk, Setherial. Featuring Sarah Jezebel Deva on backing vocals and other guest appearances by members of Dying Fetus, GWAR, Nader Sadek, Witch-hunt and Cystic Dysentary! Tracklist 1. The Eyes of Kings 2. Crown of the Apocalypse 3. The Beast That Ascendeth 4. Seven Eyes Seven Horns 5. The Blood of the Prophets 6. Upon the Golden Altar 7. Apollyn 8. As Pillars of Fire 9. Unto the Face of Serpents Lineup Erik Sayenga - Drums, Guitars, Vocals Kristel - Keyboards, Bass
Donarhall Atmospheric Black Metal band from Germany released the fifth Fulllength album Helvegr June 25, 2019. Donarhall is an instrumental black metal one-man project from the far north of Germany. All music was composed, played and mixed by Gnev (Nihilisticon, Urschmerz, Delens Humanitas). Helvegr consists of eight soundtracks, each with its own character and poem. And this time Eugen again remained true to his principle, having created the album without vocal accompaniment. Tracklist 1. Byrdh 2. Vinda 3. Hyrr 4. Heimr 5. Vagr 6. Sunna 7. Natt 8. Liflat Lineup Gnev - Everything
Rogga Johansson Death Metal band from Sweden released the second Full-length album Entrance to the Otherwhere July 19, 2019. ROGGA JOHANSSON is the eponymous band of the unheralded death metal legend who’s responsible for masterminding other bands such as PAGANIZER, REVOLTING, THE G R O T E S Q U E R Y , NECROGOD and many others. This here is his solo project and he’s created some of the best music you’ll hear where classic Swedish death metal goes. He’s found a way to incorporate searing melodies without compromising on the trademark heaviness, and it’s a balance that few have managed to pull off in recent times. Tracklist 1. The Re-Emergers 2. Till bergets puls 3. When the Otherwhere Opens 4. Giants Walking at Night 5. As Evil Seeps Out 6. Berget vaknar 7. Entrance to the Otherwhere 8. A Journey into Fear 9. In the Grip of Garpedans Lineup Rogga Johansson - Everything Brynjar Helgetun - Session drums
Man Daitõrgul Black Metal band from Spain released the second Full-length album Gosk e’ Vidʒera July 19, 2019. Man Daitõrgul means Fortress of the Thousand Towers in Ancient Baaldro, a language created by Nagh Faëre for the novel he’s writing. Music and lyrics are based on the history and mythology created for the book. All lyrics were written in Baaldro excepting verses in VII, in Old Persian (and Horna’s cover, which keeps the original lyrics in Finnish). Tracklist 1. Gosk e’ Vidʒera I 2. Gosk e’ Vidʒera II 3. Gosk e’ Vidʒera III 4. Gosk e’ Vidʒera IV 5. Gosk e’ Vidʒera V 6. Gosk e’ Vidʒera VI 7. Gosk e’ Vidʒera VII 8. Kuoleva lupaus (Horna cover) Lineup Nagh Ħvaëre All instruments, Vocals
Varanger Melodic Death/Pagan Metal band from United States released the first Full-length album Dark Traditions July 23, 2019. Varanger (pronounced Veran-gar) is an extreme metal band from the Central Florida area. The band incorporates many different musical styles into its music which creates a massive sound, captivating melodies and an unforgettable performance. From death and speed metal to blackened and folk sounds, Varanger’s melodies capture the spirit of early historical battles while the band’s lyrics focus on the trials and tribulations faced by Northern Europeans in the 9th century. Tracklist 1. Varanger 2. Fly Ravens, Fly! 3. Sahti 4. 10 Years Time 5. Curse of the Swamp 6. New Stars to Follow 7. Hadrian’s Wall 8. Fields of Misery Lineup Cyn Bakeeff - Bass James Whitehurst Drums Tyler Futrell - Guitars, Vocals Angel Colon - Guitars Fred McCarthy Keyboards
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews Review from “Lustmord and Tourgasm” Tour 2019 of Cradle of Filth that passed in Bogota Colombia on May 15. The author is our friend and great photographer Diego Molina of Colonia Records f r o m Bogota, Colombia.
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Event organized by: Backline America Corporation Venue: Auditorio Mayor CUN Date: May 15, 2019 Review & Pictures by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
The opening of the event was in charge of Soul Disease, who began to open up space in the local scene and recently released their debut video «Beating the End»; followed by them the Guerra Total and finally Soulburner, responsible for delivering the stage to CoF.
† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
It was almost nine years that we wait for the return of the English band of extreme metal Cradle of Filth, who on Wednesday May 15 would be presented in the framework of their «Lustmord and Tourgasm», in the Auditorio Mayor 46
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fourteen dates for South and Central America, where the group would interpret the totality of one of its pieces insignias and CUn of of Bogotá. of greater admiration, We can confirm that the the «Cruelty and the Beast wait was worth it, given «, LP that would see light in that the band led by Dani 1998 originally under the Filth, would announce label Music for Nations.
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The show would be like having the CD in your hands, putting it in a player and pressing play ... nothing was saved, they played it completely and in
the original order in which it was recorded. In this way, the connoisseurs of this work will already know the theme with which the concert «Thirteen
Autumns and a Widow» began, a theme that would sound after its introduction «Once Upon Atrocity». «Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids», «Venus in Fear»,
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
«Bathory Aria» are just some of the songs that are part of this work and that as we mentioned, they sounded in the order in which they were included in the record label. However, there would be five extra songs included in his setlist, just to finish off an evening hard to forget, among them: «Malice Through the Looking Glass», «Nymphetamine» and the closing with his remembered «Her Ghost in the Fog» «Extracted from the» Midian «. The passing of the English would occur after their presentations in Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica, after an unforgettable night continue with his «Cruelty and the Beast Exclusive Shows 2019» by Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil.
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Cruelty and the Beast 1. Once Upon Atrocity 2. Thirteen Autumns and a Widow 3. Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids 4. Beneath the Howling Stars 5. Venus in Fear 6. Desire in Violent Overture 7. The Twisted Nails of Faith 8. Bathory Aria: Benighted Like Usher / A Murder of Ravens in Fugue / Eyes That Witnessed Madness 9. Portrait of the Dead Countess 10. Lustmord and Wargasm (The Lick of Carnivorous Winds) Encore:
11. Malice Through the Looking Glass 12. Heartbreak and Seance 13. Nymphetamine (Fix) 14. Saffron’s Curse 15. Her Ghost in the Fog
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
Rotting Christ («The Heretics Tour», Bogotá June 9)
Review from Latin America Tour 2019 of Rotting Christ that passed in Bogota Colombia on June 9. The author - Diego Molina of Colonia Records from Bogota, Colombia.
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Bands: Rotting Christ (Greece), Second Death (Colombia). Liturgia (Colombia). Event organized by: Lemmy Productions and Blasting Store Records Place: Ace of Spades Club Date: June 9 Review & P i c t u r e s by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)
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Closing one of the weekends with the largest number of events so far this year in Bogotá, on Sunday, June 9, the greeks Rotting Christ would appear in Ace of Spades. «The Heretics Tour» will continue through Europe where they have confirmed more than 50 dates, which will be performed in the company of Moonspell. The opening of the event oversaw the groups: Second Death (black death metal from Sogamoso) and one of the legendary groups of Colombian black metal, Liturgia (from Manizales); both with the responsibility of opening one of the most important metal bands in the world...
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
And is that perhaps since its announcement in March, without hesitation was one of the most anticipated days for fans of the band and lovers of the musical genre. «The Heretics» is the name of the most recent piece of the group, released just in February of this year and pressed by the label Season of Mist; almost simultaneously his tour would begin to become official, including as usual an arm of his tour for
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South America and Mexico, with presentations in Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia (Manizales and Bogotá) and the closing with 4 presentations in Mexico. «The Heretics Tour» would begin with the song «Hallowed Be
his new songs «Fire, God and Fear»... henceforth his show would be a review
Thy Name», f o u r t h section of his work «The Heretics»; followed by this «Kata ton Demona Eautou» and another sample of
of some of his key themes, including «Under the Name of Legion», «Apage Satana», «Grandis Spiritus Diavolos» and the closing after a short break with «The Sign of Evil Existence» and «Non Serviam» which I could not miss. As we are used to, the Tolis brothers would provide an excellent show.
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Rotting Christ setlist: 1. Hallowed Be Thy Name 2. Kata ton Demona Eautou 3. Fire, God and Fear 4. Elthe Kyrie 5. Apage Satana 6. Dies Irae 7. The Forest of N’Gai 8. Societas Satanas 9. Demonon Vrosis 10. King of a Stellar War 11. In Yumen-Xibalba 12. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos 13. Under the Name of Legion 14. Gloria de Domino Inferni Encore: 15. The Sign of Evil Existence 16. Non Serviam
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
Acherontas «Faustian Rites Over Latinoamerica in Bogotá» June 22 Review from Faustian Rites Over Latinoamerica Tour of Acherontas that passed in Bogota Colombia on June 22. The author - Diego Molina of Colonia Records from Bogota, Colombia.
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Event summary: Bands: Acherontas (Greece), Theurgia (Colombia), Endeathed (Colombia). Event organized by: Sismika Producciones. Place: Ace of Spades club Date: June 22 Review & Pictures by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)
Reviews
Acherontas would perform for the first time in Bogotá, they would make their show at Ace of Spades on Saturday, June 22, as part of their «Faustian Rites Over Latin America» tour, a tour that takes place after their visit to Europe and that included previous presentations in Brazil, Chile and the closing of its passage through Latin America in Mexico (one day after passing through Bogotá).
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
About an hour and a half was enough for Acherontas to give a short tour of most of his discography, showing the key issues of some of his works. They began their presentation with the theme «Voluntas Supra Materiam Vocatio Prima» of their «Amenti», published in 2013.»Theosis» of 2010 and «Faustian Ethos» (their most recent production), would be the works of which more contribution would be given to the setlist of the night, of the first with the themes «Conjuration of the Five Negatives» and «Legacy of Tiamat», while of its work with a year of life and pressed by Agonia Records, we could listen to «Sorcery and the Apeiron «and the closing of the show with the track «Vita Nuova». The passage of the band led by Nikolaos, would end with a short meeting with some of the fans who were present at the venue, in which photos and autographs would be exchanged to seal their first and perhaps only visit to our country.
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Reviews
The opening act took place after seven thirty in the evening; the bands chosen to initiate this rite would be Theurgia and Endeathed, bands that gave samples of the great level that the local groups have, as they had demonstrated weeks ago in the event The Return of Darkness, level that was not only demonstrated in its presentation, but also in the technical support provided to the greeks to continue with their show, after the setback that arose on Nikolaos’ guitar.
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews DARK FUNERAL, BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION — live in Atlanta, June 6, 2019. Review and photos by Tør for https://www.nocleansinging.com.
(Our Atlanta-based contributor Tør was in the audience at The Loft on June 6th when the Devastation on the Nation Tour made its stop in
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Atlanta, and he provides these impressions, with his own excellent photos following the text.) I have been looking forward to this night for
months. The Devastation On The Nation Tour is in full swing, and coheadliners Dark Funeral and Belphegor are being supported by a host of
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bands including legends Incantation, HATE, Vale of Pnath, Nightmarer, and Malformity. I make it to The Loft and have to walk up the stairs past some teeny-bopper event going on in the first-
floor
lounge area. Yes, I am a metal snob. I walk in the middle of
HATE’s set, and Sinner’s vocals hit me like a brick. After a short setup, death metal
legends Incantation take over the stage. With every riff and groove, I’m reminded of why this band has such a cult following. Incantation embody American death metal in the most imaginative way possible and I have a total blast watching their set.
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews But the
night is about to get even more brutal. Austrian masters Belphegor are up, and I am standing about a foot and a half from the man-giant Helmuth Lehner. In
riffs, atmosphere, and image. By the time it all ends, I am soaked in sweat and delirious with all the mayhem. It has been a bloody great night so far, but it is not over yet. I make my way to the tiny photo pit and await the wickedness that is about to grip me. an hour-long set, Belphegor entertain the crowd with their unique blend of blackened death metal, grinding every note with precision and delicate brutality. The crowd go wild with excitement as they watch the bellowing beast salute them with his deep gaze. Belphegor bring all to the table: chaotic
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Dark Funeral walk out and kick things off with “King Antichrist”, “Ravenna”, and “Temple of Ahriman”. The setlist has a healthy mix of early and recent albums, perhaps more so than when I saw them last year. “The Secrets of the Black Arts” comes right before the encore. The band finish off a fantastic night with “Unchain My Soul”, “My Funeral”, and “Where Shadows Forever Reign”, one of my
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favorites from the last album by the same title. As I leave the venue, I am grateful for having witnessed one of the best shows of the year so far. I blast “In My Dreams” from Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus on my way home and wonder when the new Dark Funeral record will be released.
We thank www.nocleansinging.com for their permission to use their review for our webzine.
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
Cradle of filth russian tour 2019, Moscow, June 15, 2019 REVIEW By Olga Schneider
We expect our gratitude to Evgeny Stukalin (https://www.facebook.com/EvgeniyStukalin) for provided pics! Follow the link to see more: https://www.facebook.com/EvgeniyStukalin/media_set?set=a.2438468956184168&type=3 In June 2019 Cradle unexpected to learn get the band here, of Filth returned to about their return this and of course all of Russia again, while time, just because us remember a big less than a year had some years ago it scandal in 2014 with a passed since their last had been something series of cancellations visit. That was truly almost unreal to of Metal concerts.
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Nevertheless, they returned again to kick some ass, because this time should be something really special. Yeah, Russia was one of those countries where the British vampires brought their l e g e n d a r y Cruelty and the Beast because of its anniversary. This album has a personal meaning for me, this was one of the first band’s creations I heard 9-10 years ago and it mesmerized my fukking soul, even if redheads don’t have any soul. So, this was the time to finally hear it live. I remember their first show in my life (March 2018), I
Reviews
remember my shaking hands before the show (yeah, not only was I worried, but it was also fukking cold outside the club) and I remember how few it actually was. So I expected much more from this time, especially looking at the setlist of this tour. A little bit of new content and immortal classics. And of course the whole Cruelty and the Beast. Due to u n k n o w n circumstances, the beginning was strongly delayed, but it was forgotten with the first intro notes.
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† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †
Live on stage Reviews
However, I have to be honest and make a remark... The sound was absolutely awful unfortunately. Dani’s specific maneer demands very scrupulous setting, but this time,
it
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seemed that he shouldn’t even know his own lyrics by heart, since we couldn’t even make out anything. And it a l w a y s spoils any
i m p r e s s i o n . Nevertheless, it was an evening of nostalgia. So many old stuff, so many memories from different life periods. Dani is still on f i r e ,
his technique was perfect and he still sounded strong and fresh after so many time on tour. It’s always a pleasure to hear one of your favorite singers like that, it almost always means no less strong future for bands. I would also like to note their amazing guitarists and bassist, Richard Shaw, Ashok and Daniel Firth. Genuine and amazing dudes without any excessive pathos. As for pathos and other things like that, there are also some unpleasant moments. It’s always sad to see one of you favorite bands getting kinda commercial band. It’s something about attitude of the «driving force» of the band and all you know. My words won’t change anything of course, this is an irreversible process. But anyway, thanks to the dudes for bringing Cruelty and the Beast to us. It’s always a pleasure for a metalhead with a big «experience» to remember about the past.
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https://www.facebook.com/gravefields/
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Gravefields is a Black/ Death Metal duet from Cairo, Egypt founded in 2006 by Alan Hurley, after 2 decades playing in various bands, and working as a sound engineer. The main idea of that project was to pay tribute to Swedish Old School Death Metal. A few years ago Alan bands as Benighted, Hurley met the French Nile, sometimes even old vocalist DM (Helioss, Bloodbath. While everyone Wrath From Above and of us knows the trends Gastropode) and they of modern Metal bands, started working on their such mix is really missed firt album. Some days sometimes. Mix of torment ago Alan contacted Review by Olga Schneider us with the news of their and infernal power, these new album called Embrace the walls of skull-hammering Void which was released guitar sound, drum flurries June 7th on Redefining making your heart beat faster and sharp vocals Darkness Records. As for the album itself, running from growls to I wouldn’t say that it’s hysterical screams and vice something completely versa tearing it apart. Dark new, but on the other side of life. Cruel reality. hand, it’s not the main Enernal sorrow and internal point of the project. and external struggle when You can notice very you’re the one against strong influence of such yourself and the others. This
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music keeps you suspended the whole time and demands k i n d a
special mood for listening. The album is multifaceted and you never know what to expect, what will happen right now etc, and this is one of the strongest sides of this mix of genres.
scream voice, the range is not so large but it definitely makes the atmosphere. Generally, Opus V released in 2018 Review by Olga Schneider wasn’t anything completely new for Metal music, but their album Opus V, it’s too this is an interesting mix of erect for Doom I’d say. The Black and Thrash which is biggest part of their music good for listening when you is actually Black with strong just try to relax and not to influence of Thrash. The load ya brain so much. music is incredibly raw and at the same time the riffs are quite speed and technical, so they don’t sound as typical Black Metal riffs, and the same for drums actually. As for the vocals, I’d describe it as harsh hysterical marginal dudes characterize their own style as Black/Death/ Doom Metal. But as for
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https://www.facebook.com/PHILOSOPHIESOFTHEREALITY/
Politics... One of the sorest points nowadays. Some people have the tendency to talk about it almost everywhere, while the others prefer to avoid this topic at all. Same shit with Metal bands actually. That was a popular topic back in the days, especially in Thrash Metal, but many bands shut up about it with the time. This is not surprising though, since not only the biggest part of Metal community, but also most of people don’t give a fukk nowadays. And now the question: how many times have you ever seen any Black Metal bands for which politics is the main topic? Sounds like a dangerous mix, doesn’t it? So, Graveyard who have recently contacted us are one of such bands. The band was founded in 1991 in Shoreham, New York and still exists nowadays. The
https://www.facebook.com/obeythemoon.official/
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Obey the Moon is a Melodic Death Metal band from Mexico City. Generally, I should note that Mexico is one of those countries where Metal community is incredibly well-developed now, and of course the quantity of bands grows every day. Nowadays it’s a true quest for young bands to stay loyal to the traditions of the genre they’ve chosen but at the same time not to be considered as some copyists. Obey the Moon is a brand new band, they don’t even cooperate with any record label yet. Just as a lot of new Metal bands of our time, they’re looking for their own style, and that’s a completely normal process. But at the same time, I wouldn’t say that they limit themselves to one style. Their song Lightless is a wild mix of Melodic Death, Black and as for the intro, this is pure fukking Gothic. All of you know these acoustic guitars in minor, full of hopelessness and kinda damned... followed by Death riffs and clearly pronounced
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bass. The pace is constantly changing in general, and that always brings some new elements. Sometimes it sounds like mix of Cradle of Filth and Carach Angren, sometimes it
This type of vocal is more like jazz vocals, with amazing range and a little bit «cold». As for the video, it doesn’t have any specific plot. This is not any story, but just aesthetic orgasm for those who like such Review by Olga Schneider typical elements as full moon, forbidden forests, pale sounds like classical Swedish zombie skin and... contrasts of MDM. The band also uses the course! I don’t want to do any schema we’re all so used to -- spoilers here, just check it out. clean female vocals combined So, there’s nothing left with male scream/growl voice. than praise the band for its But in this case, female voice is originality, while they follow kinda special. This is not any the they follow the traditions, high soprano which is often and wish the dudes good luck! boring nowadays to be honest.
eternal touch with the nature, got fire taking many efforts and it was considered a holy force. Those motives follow the whole album with all those raw Black Metal riffs and howlings reminding about the same old good Mayhem. De mysteriis dom Satanas on its maximum! So you leave this world for about 40 minutes but the outro gradually gets you back to the earth, to the reality. Yeah, after listening you still need some time to realize you’re still here, but it doesn’t feel like a hit in ya face. But attention: you definitely need a special mood and moment for checking it out to feel the whole atmosphere.
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https://www.facebook.com/dizzinessvault
Sounds of traditional Black Metal reminding w a s in you about some old founded Mayhem? If some decades Greece, the motherland ago such music did kinda of Rotting Christ, Septic resonance in the world, Flesh and another titans it doesn’t sound like who have always made Black something surprising Metal sound uniquely. The nowadays. Even boring for dudes contacted us wanting some listeners sometimes. to show their album Cosmic But at the same time, the quantity Review by Olga Schneider of bands who find new ways to make it fresh again and again is just growing Echoes to the world. So, the nowadays. Some of them name of the album explains add symphonic parts, everything. some of them use folk The album begins with motives etc... Dizziness otherworldly sounds highly with shaman is a band who decided associated to do it with the help of rituals, just like you end Cosmos, and this is the up back in the time when direct meaning. This band people lived in rocks having
Upcoming albums
Second album from Swedish melodic Death Metal Queens Frantic Amber. Compared to the previous album «Burning Insight», the songs on “Bellatrix” are more developed, complex and brutal with a cinematic touch, each with their own ethnic identity. FRANTIC AMBER started in 2008 as a project in Stockholm by founding guitarist Mary Siebecke, with the intention to play metal with women. Their music can best be described as melodic death metal with thrash, black, progressive, classic heavy metal and symphonic elements. FRANTIC AMBER continue to conquer stages all over the world with their fierce and powerful live-show and will stop at nothing to share their passion for music with metal fans around the globe. Line-up: Mio Jäger - Guitars (lead) Elizabeth Andrews Vocals Madeleine Gullberg Husberg - Bass Mac Dalmanner - Drums Milla Olsson - Guitars Auric Gates of Veles will be released on August 23rd, 2019.
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Zerfall sees Black Forest Metal act FINSTERFORST return to the serious and elegiac soundscapes of classics as Mach Dich Frei (2015) on their fifth studio album, instead of the stylistic intermezzo of predecessor #YOLO (2016). The Germans` emotional brand of post black metal gives vent to endless rage with pounding riffs and astonishing orchestral elements (”Wut”) – and then flows into the somber choirs of the title track. The centerpiece and culmination of it all has to be the 36-minute long (!) “Ecce Homo” though that unfolds into a majestic post metal journey crowning FINSTERFORST’s songwriting career so far. A complex and mature piece of art that will mesmerize old and new fans alike. Lineup Tobias Weinreich - Bass Simon Schillinger - Guitars (lead), Guitars (rhythm), Guitars (acoustic) Sebastian «AlleyJazz» Scherrer Keyboards David Schuldis - Guitars (rhythm) Cornelius Heck - Drums Oliver Berlin - Vocals (harsh, clean, choirs) Will be released on August 2nd, 2019.
Progress without estrangement is a rare craft that very few bands truly master. All too often, a band ventures so far from its roots it that loses its trademark sound. And every so often, a band’s stagnation drains all of its charm. Finding that rare balance between the two is a huge task not easily accomplished. And yet there is a band that has been coming close to that perfect balance more and more over the course of the past few years. A band that, ironically, already bears that balance in its well-known name: EQUILIBRIUM. Born in 2001 in Southern Bavaria, the band has long become an Epic Metal powerhouse, a force to be reckoned with. Now, their latest, sixth record “Renegades” is heralding a watershed, the turn of an era for this genre. “Renegades” shows a band unleashed, a band triumphantly marching to the very top. This is metal at its most epic and most monumental, bearing huge songs, resting firmly in the Zeitgeist with a massive, modern production and sporting quite a number of eclectic influences. Lineup René - Guitars, Keyboards Hati - Drums Robse - Vocals Dom - Guitars (lead) Skar - Bass Skadi Rosehurst - Keyboards Will be released on August 23rd, 2019
A cross-continental entity, Asagraum was founded in the autumn of 2015 by vocalist/ guitarist Obscura who was joined by drummer T. Kolsvart, to create pure Satanic black metal with the old-school feeling of the eternal 90’s greats and with dark psychedelic influences. At the end of 2017, T. Kolsvart was replaced and drummer A. took part in the coven. Many live performances commenced with this new lineup, and Asagraum’s black flame burned brighter than ever, as they spread that flame across Europe, Canada, and Latin America, aided in these live performances by Mortifero or Makhashanah and additional guitarist V-Kaos. Asagraum burning with equal intensity in songwriting, execution, and atmosphere, staying true to their original aims whilst pushing their classicist sound further into the present. This is pure, traditional black metal above all. Asagraum continue to sound fresh among that modern BM landscape, outstripping the prevailing trends and the pretenders who enable them.
Imperium Dekadenz was founded in the late summer of 2004 by Horaz and Vespasian. Their band name was inspired by the 70ies movie “Caligula”. Imperium Dekadenz’ lyrics reflect genretypicaltopicslikedeath,mourning, hate and desperation,while religious and political topics are not a part of the band’s concept. Generally their music style can be described as atmospheric Black Metal, to the same time also depressive, ambient and acoustic elements are a part of the compositions. Characteristic style devices are epic melodies of mid-tempo speed, which induce in their changeover to the next part, a kind of dramatic and dynamic perception. Special features are the acoustic and ambient tracks which are more comparable to Classic (piano) and Neo-Folk music. Imperium Dekadenz already belong to one of the most acclaimed Black Metal bands the current scene has to offer! «When We Are Forgotten» enriches their history with a strong masterpiece full of atmosphere and class. In Summer 2018 the band signed a new contract with Napalm Records. The 6th studio album “When We Are Forgotten” will be released on August 30th 2019. Lineup Vespasian - Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keyboards Horaz - Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Risen from their slumber, Sweden’s coveted metal phenomena Pandemonium are finally back. Known for their dazzling compositions of enthralling harmonies in a perfect blend with light-speed rhythms, the return sets to rectify their long absence with a promise of an earth-shattering new album that will far surpass any expectations of past and future fans! For fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Emperor, Cradle of Filth, Carach Angren. Pandemonium was formed back in autumn 1997 when a group of young metal heads aspired to take the world by storm with their unique take on melodic death metal. After a long wait, the album finally has a release date. Monuments of Tragedy will be released on August 30th, 2019. Lineup Johan Bergström - Vocals Thomas Ahlgren - Guitar Johan Aldgård - Bass Jacob Blecher - Drums
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