Inside the Darkness #6

Page 1

Edition for true metalfans

#6†30.09.2019

IMMOLATION IN BOGOTA BRUTAL ASSAULT VARATHRON IN BOGOTA BRUJERIA IN ROME ACHERONTAS IN BOGOTA WACKEN OPEN AIR BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR MIDGARDSBLOT ROTTING CHRIST IN MOSCOW News•Reviews•Interviews•Exclusive

1


CREW A special thanks to... http://metalfesteurope.com Mark Walsh for Bloodstock Open Air review Katha for Wacken Open Air review http://www.hitkiller.com Anastasiya for Brutal Assault review Carl Eek Torgersen for Midgardsblot review Luca Lottini for Brujeria review Diego Molina for Immolation, Varathron, Rock Al Parque and Philip Anselmo’s 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

...and especially to these people for the interviews Elizabeth Andrews (Frantic Amber) Scorpios Androctonus (Crimson Moon) Vulak and L. (Orgg) Angelica licona (Pagan Curse)

Hails to everyone! Open air festival season is over, so it’s harvest time, motherfukkers! We express our eternal gratitude to everyone who took part in this issue sending us huge reviews from big summer festivals around the world. Really, dudes, without you, the biggest part of this issue wouldn’t be possible. It was also extremely nice to be able to continue working with people we’d cooperated before and, as always, get a lot of interesting offers from great bands that we’d never known before. As for the next issue, it’ll be a blast, especially concerning interviews. We promise. So, stay tuned and enjoy! Olga Schneider, editor

2


CONTENT

News from hell..........................................4

Brujeria in Rome review......................42 Immolation in Bogota review...............56 Varathron in Bogota review...................60 Rock Al Parque in Bogota review..........64 Frantic Amber Interview with Elizabeth......10 Philip Anselmo in Bogota review..........70 Bloodstock Open Air review..................74 Brutal Assault review............................78 Wacken Open Air review.....................86 Crimson Moon Midgardsblot Metalfestival review.....90 Interview with Scorpios Rotting Christ in Moscow review......92 Androctonus.........14 Orgg Interview with Vulak and L......16

Pagan Curse Interview with Angelica licona.....20

Best metal releases..............24

Inside The Darkness reviews............96

Metalheads are wait it............100

3


World Metal News Mayhem say in a

4

statement: “Once again, Mayhem is writing a new chapter in its 35-year history. We are excited to now have joined forces with Century Media and are eager to see what this partnership can do for us both in the future.» To coincide with the album news, Mayhem have also announced that they’ll head out on tour across Europe this coming winter with special guests Gaahls Wyrd and Gost. The run of 20 shows will get under way in Nijmegen on October 31 and conclude with a set in Gothenburg on November 30. 31.10. Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje 01.11. Leiden, Netherlands Gebr De Nobel 02.11. Leeds, UK - Damnation Festival 03.11. Dublin, Ireland - Academy 04.11. London, UK – The Electric Ballroom 05.11. Paris, France - La Machine Du Moulin Rouge 06.11. Rennes, France - L’Etage 07.11. Lyon, France - CCD 08.11. Toulouse, France – Le Metronum 09.11. Barcelona, Spain - Salamandra 10.11. Madrid, Spain - Mon Madrid 12.11. Milano, Italy Magazzini Generali 13.11. Genova, Switzerland - PTR 14.11. Vienna, Austria - Szene 15.11. Prague, Czech Republic - Meet Factory 16.11. Berlin, Germany - Astra 17.11. Lille, France - Tyrant Fest 19.11. Kassel, Germany Musik Theater 130BPM 20.11. Wetzikon, Switzerland – Hall Of Fame 21.11. Mannheim, Germany MS Connexion Complex 22.11. Oberhausen, Germany Turbinehalle 23.11. Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob 24.11. Copenhagen, Denmark Pumpehuset 26.11. Tampere, Finland - Pakkahuone 27.11. Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia 29.11. Stockholm, Sweden Fryshuset Klubben 30.11. Gothenburg, Sweden - Pustervik 4


Continuing the tradition of Glasgow leading the extreme metal scene within the UK, with a number of unique festivals each year featuring extraordinary line-ups, the team of organizers present to you Darkness Guides Us - a two-day festival on the 23rd and 24th of November, with a lineup featuring lots of UK exclusives and rarities! 2 Days of extreme metal in the center of Glasgow in a historic venue. Darkness Guides Us Fest 1st edition will feature a big number of UK exclusives and several UK Debuts.

FULL LINE-UP ANCIENT IMPALED NAZARENE NARGAROTH VARATHRON SARGEIST KAWIR HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY KRODA ZEMIAL SARKRISTA TOTALSELFHATRED ENISUM KARG FEN AKLASH NECROSADISTIC GOAT TORTURE

55


World Metal News The WAY OF DARKNESS FESTIVAL is back. Who knows, this heartfelt festival which took place every year in the Franconian Lichtenfels and closed its doors after 6 years. There were many heavy shows played, a lot of beer and much great time. Over the years, the Lichtenfelser Stadthalle has hosted well-known bands such as Possessed, Sodom, Asphyx, Destruction, Morgoth, Entombed, Pungent Stench, Grave, Dying Fetus, Kataklysm, Unleashed, Napalm Death Vader, Marduk and countless more. So it’s time to bring this original back to life and make it a successful event. The year 2018 will be the re-birth of this great festival, again in Lichtenfels and again in the well-known Stadthalle. It will again be about Death, Thrash and Black Metal — the full broadside. Whoever knows it should come back, who wants to experience it again, comes too. Call it the big round: the WAY OF DARKNESS is back. Finally! Complete Line up: Sulphur Aeon Darkened Nocturn Chapel Of Disease Slaughtercult Nile Deathstorm Pripjat Marduk Hell:on Artillery Corpsessed Deserted Fear Exhorder Indian Nightmare Graveyard Illdisposed Dawn Of Disease Darkness The Flesh Trading Company Metal Inquisitor Hate Eternal Cancer

6

6


Scandinavia Deathfest October 11-13, 2019 Stockholm Sodermanland, Sweden @ Kraken Sthlm & Slaktkyrkan Venue info: The event will take place at Kraken Sthlm and Slaktkyrkan. For anyone that isn’t familiar with either venue, they are just a 1 minute walk (100 meters) apart from each other. On Friday (Oct. 11), only Kraken will be used. On Saturday (Oct. 12), both Kraken and Slaktkyrkan will be used with alternating sets between the venues that will allow you to see every band. Friday, October 11th @ Kraken Sthlm: Benediction Demilich Demonical Interment Purtenance Rippikoulu Sorcery Unanimated Wombbath Saturday, October 12th @ Kraken Sthlm: Centinex Dismember Entrails Nuclear Assault Putrid Vision Sarcasm Toxaemia

Undergang Saturday, October 12th @ Slaktkyrkan: Birdflesh Death Toll 80k General Surgery Iron Lamb MartyrdĂśd Massgrav Rotten Sound Soils of Fate Sunday, October 13th @ Kraken Sthlm: Dismember (second set) Dreadful Fate Grave Impure Vanhelgd

77


World Metal News The band have lined up a total of 21 dates which will get underway in Vienna on November 14 and conclude with a performance in Amsterdam on December 15. Arch Enemy and Hypocrisy confirmed as special guests for UK dates. Amon Amarth say: “We cannot wait to return to Europe and tour the UK with our fellow Swedish Berserkers Arch Enemy and Hypocrisy. We will be bringing our biggest headlining show yet and this truly is going to be an epic heavy metal party that is not to be missed.” Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott adds: “I can’t think of a better way to wrap up an intense and exciting 2019 touring year than heading back to the UK with our Swedish friends Amon Amarth and Hypocrisy. “This will be a celebration of everything that is awesome about heavy metal, the Scandinavian way.” Hypocrisy’s Peter Tägtgren says: “Hypocrisy are very much looking forward to this UK run and to share the stage with Amon Amarth and Arch Enemy. This will be epic.”

Amon Amarth 2019 European tour

Nov 14: Vienna Gasometer, Austria Nov 15: Munich Zenith, Germany Nov 16: Ludwigsburg MHP Arena, Germany Nov 17: Prague Tipsport Arena, Czech Republic Nov 19: Zurich Samsung Hall, Switzerland Nov 25: Paris Zenith, France Nov 26: Brussels Forest National, Belgium Nov 28: Birmingham O2 Academy, UK Nov 29: Manchester O2 Apollo, UK Nov 30: London O2 Brixton Academy, UK

8

8

Dec 02: Esch Zur Alzette Rockhal, Luxembourg Dec 03: Frankfurt Jahrhunderthalle, Germany Dec 04: Berlin Velodrom, Germany Dec 06: Gothenburg Partille Arena, Sweden Dec 07: Stockholm Annexet, Sweden Dec 09: Helsinki Black Box, Finland Dec 11: Malmo Arena, Sweden Dec 12: Aarhus SCC, Denmark Dec 13: Hamburg Sporthalle, Germany Dec 14: Oberhausen König Pilsener Arena, Germany Dec 15: Amsterdam Afas Live, Netherlands


Belphegor and Suffocation to hit their second coheadline tour through USA in 2019. That will be Belphegor’s last tour this year before they start recording their upcoming new LP which [June 2020]. 10/24 Sauget, IL - Pops 10/26 Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar & Grill 10/27 San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger 10/29 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall 10/30 Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live 10/31 El Paso, TX Rockhouse Bar & Grill 11/01 Mesa, AZ - Club Red 11/02 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick 11/03 Los Angeles, CA - 1720 11/05 Oakland, CA Oakland Metro 11/07 Portland, OR Bossanova Ballroom 11/08 Seattle, WA - El Corazon 11/09 Jerome, ID - Diamondz Event Center ** 11/10 Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell 11/11 Denver, CO - Oriental Theater 11/12 Lincoln, NE - The Royal Grove 11/13 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room 11/14 Minneapolis, MN - Cabooze 11/15 Joliet, IL - The Forge 11/16 Detroit, MI - Sanctuary 11/17 Grand Rapids, MI - Elevation 11/19 Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse 11/20 Richmond, VA - Canal Club 11/21 Clifton Park, NJ - Upstate Concert Hall 11/22 Patchogue, NY - Stereo Garden 11/23 Reading, PA - Reverb **no Belphegor

Afterward, BELPHEGOR will head over to Mexico and play the last two Rituals over there for this year before they enter the studio 9th December and start tracking the new album

9 9


Frantic Amber• Melodic Death Metal from Sweden

Interview with Elizabeth

Interview by Olga Schneider

I guess the very first question should be kinda traditional. How does the band feel after having released the new LP? Do you already have some plans about tour etc?

ing for us. As for touring we are now booking shows and looks forward to getting back on the road. You can follow us on facebook and our website to see the updates as they come in.

culties did you meet after such a long pause? The first riffs and ideas were started a couple of years ago still in the “Burning Insight” tour cycle but it wasn’t until the last 4 months

Making music and working with the right people is more important than gender. We feel great! We worked so hard and long on this album and to put it out tot the world is very excit10

Tell us a bit more about creative process this time. How much time did it take? What diffi-

of 2018 that we stopped everything else to solely focus on writing and completing our new album Bellatrix.


We haven’t had a pause, we keep busy doing everything we can to play more and it takes time to put everything together to release a new album. Moreover, as we know, you have released only two fulllength albums since 2008 when the band was founded. What’s the reason? Probably everyday work which always interrupts to concentrate on creativity or something? It all started as a project of the founder Mary but it wasn’t until 2010 that the first lineup was complete and the music direction settled. Since then we have released and EP, two full length albums, 7 official music videos and toured Europe, Russia and lots of fes-

tivals. T h i n g s do take longer time when all members have to work to have an income to support the band yes. We are unsigned and do everything ourselves.. Despite the fact that you didn’t have so many

releases since 2008, you have already got strong impact in Swedish MDM. How can you describe Swedish MDM scene nowa d a y s ? T h e Swedish metal scene is thriving and is full of great local bands. A lot of concert places have been closing lately which is a shame but we truly hope that new ones will pop up and give birth to more metal concerts. How do you manage to keep your own spirit at the time when a lot of Scandinavian bands of the same genre which are considered kinda top leaders have become some kind of divas now after getting such a strong popularity? We don’t know anything about this, all we want to do is to play our music and travel the world. 11


Frantic Amber• Melodic Death Metal from Sweden 12

Is it true that your band was originally planned as “all-girls-project”? Was it connected to the stereo-

important than gender. Being an “all-girl” band was never our only purpose. What are your plans for

and booking shows. We hope to elevate up to having a dedicated booker that can get us further into

type about women in Metal which still has its place? Our first drummer was female and as such we were an “all-girl” metal band, which was the intention at the beginning. The idea was to make music with fellow female musicians and add some girl power to the metal scene. How did you get the idea to leave this idea and take a man as a drummer? Making music and working with the right people is more

the near future? To get back on the road to support Bellatrix as much as we can! We are planning a release-fest, music videos

the music business but until then we do as we always have done on our own. Another traditional question. What would you like to say to our readers and editorial board to end this interview? As always we thank all our fans and supporters from the bottoms of our hearts and hope to see you all on tour very soon!


Second album from Swedish melodic Death Metal Queens Frantic Amber. “Bellatrix” translates to “female warrior” in latin, and is a concept album about warrior women that have lived and fought throughout history. It is a tribute to highlight these real life heroines and tell their story through band’s music and words. The songs on “Bellatrix” are more developed, complex and brutal with a cinematic

touch, each with their own ethnic identity. Bellatrix released August 23, 2019. Line-up Mio Jäger - Guitars (lead) Elizabeth Andrews - Vocals Madeleine Gullberg Husberg - Bass Mac Dalmanner - Drums Milla Olsson - Guitars

Tracklist 1. Warrioress Overture 2. Scorched Earth 3. Lagertha 4. Jōshitai 5. The Ghost That Kills 6. Khutulun 7. Hunted 8. Crimson Seas 9. The Black Knight

You can Buy Compact Disc or Vinyl here: https://franticamber.bandcamp.com/album/bellatrix 3 1


Crimson Moon• Black Metal from Germany

Interview with Scorpios Androctonus

14

Interview by Olga Schneider

Dude, first of all I’d like to say that your last album was just a fukken blast! How do you feel about your new creation yourself after two years of silence? The response has been extremely good. We put a lot of work into the album so it is what we were anticipating. I would not say it was 2 years of silence however as we released the Canticles of Dust ep on the vinyl edition of Oneironaut, played several shows (mainly festivals) and had numerous updates

on the recording process of Mors Vincit Omnia. Crimson Moon has never been a band that experienced a lot

We don’t know that much about your history and all. So tell us, how did everything begin for you? It’s a long story as I started Crimson Moon in 1994. So anyone interested should simply read our bio at the Debemur Morti Productions website. But, long story short, Crimson Moon began in 1994 with the self titled demo I recorded and released on my own and

of t r a p e g r la a is lt u c c The O sic... u m e h t in n io t a ir p s the in of hype within media and the ‘scene’ as compared to whatever are currently the ‘cool’ bands to listen to. This tells me we are doing something right and we have not been distracted from our path.


distributed solely through tape trading when I was living in the US. I relocated to Germany in 1998 and over the years worked with a few different musicians and line ups in Crimson Moon but in 2016 established the current line up, which is hands down the strongest line up we have had. Despite the fact that your bands uses quite popular topics in Black Metal, such as magic, witchery, necromancy etc, you’re one of those bands who still keep unique. What hepls you with that? The Occult is a large part of the inspiration in the music and from personal interest. It’s nothing new in this kind of music, I guess it’s more about the approach and sincerity that can differ from other bands. It’s an aspect in my life that has been there for so long, it’s simply part of me, so there is no real trick or method to doing it, it simply is how it is. I think a lot of bands/people into the occult like to see themselves as individual, lone wolves but in reality are very closed minded and think just because they read a lot of

books and follow some sort of path someone else thought of, they are gurus or some sort of true occultist. I see this too

often, where these people can quote authors and other occultist all day long, get praised for it like they are some sort of genius wizard but probably would struggle to produce

anything interesting from their own mind and thoughts that was not just a spin off of what other people have done long before them. When did you feel that you had found your own sound at all? It’s been there since the beginning, but it has definitely progressed and matured over the years. There are some key elements I tend to use in the song writing but it’s a bit difficult to pin point those in quick terms. I guess to simplify it, I would say the music for Crimson Moon is something that sounds dark. I have written a lot of material, intended for Crimson Moon that ended up not being used simply because I did not get the feeling I am looking for in it I think each release has it’s own unique aspects, each release has improved in quality but it’s all recognizable as a sound unique to Crimson Moon. 15


Crimson Moon• Black Metal from Germany

Every musician has some bands who always inspire. What about you? Sure, I have tons of influences. it started out with a lot of the 2nd wave of Black Metal in the early 90’s. These days I don’t listen to Black Metal nearly as much as I used to, it’s kind of a phase I go in and out of lately when I am in the mood to hear it and I honestly have a hard time finding the same feeling/interest in a lot of the newer stuff as opposed to the old. I also tend to go through more and longer phases now of not listening to music, or completely different styles of music such as classic rock and heavy metal to Classical and more obscure/ unique music. When I am deeply into the writing phase, I tend to listen to less Black Metal as I don’t want to get any influence from what becomes the current norm or trend in the music. I guess that’s one thing that really gives me an ad nauseum effect in this music, a new band comes up that is successful and widely excepted and then it’s followed by a 16

bunch of bands that mimic it whether it be in sound, image, ideology or all the above. I have said this many times before, we are a black metal band and we are not trying to reinvent the wheel

when it comes to black metal, so the most challenging thing in this music is to stay innovated and build your own sound and style towards the identity of the music. As we know, Crimson Moon is not your only project. Would you say that each of your projects has any

impact on the others? Or do you think that each of them is completely separate? They are all different entities to me. Sometimes they do intermingle, particularly Akrabu where you can hear this type of sound in parts of the Oneironaut album and even older tracks such as Under the Serpentine Spell. Why did you move from USA to Germany some time ago? Did you suppose that Europe is much better for development of your music? If that’s true, why then? I felt more and more like a foreigner living in the US. I grew up in Southern California, so everything from the weather to the people just felt out of place to me. At this point I have lived longer in Europe than I have in the U.S. I moved here for several reasons, music being one of them. I was just talking to an old contact from the US who still lives in Los Angelos area and he was saying how he normally has to record and work on music at night, because during the day it’s too distracting with the noise pollution of a city (traffic, police sirens, helicopters etc).


I love in a secluded location, so to think to be back in a place like that and trying to work on music is like a nightmare for me. You actually don’t tour so much, especially nowadays. Do you plan to do more activities in the near future? No, we don’t really tour, we play mainly festivals for the last 3 years. Up until now these were booked mostly by promoters who contacted us and just recently we started working with a booking agency, Redback Productions to start booking more shows. I don’t want to put a ton of time and focus on simply playing live as it takes too much time and inspiration away from creating new music. I get most of my inspiration in solitude and nature, if I am constantly playing live, I am around things that are anti-inspi-

rational to me, ie. Large crowds, big cities, etc. The traditional question. What would you like to say to our readers and editorial board to end the interview? For accurate news and updates, the best sources would be our

Production’s website and social media pages. A lot of things are currently in the works, so that would be the best way to be notified of those in the future. The new album is available now since the 30th of August on vinyl and digipak formats and digitally, virtually everywhere. Those interested in supporting our work can do so by listening to the music throughout these sources and by following our social media. In this day and age it’s a necessary evil to have likes and comments, so if there is a band you wish to support and have a chance of playing in a location close to you, that is one way of helping to make it happen.

Facebook and Instagram pages linked below, as well as our label, Debemur Morti 17


Orgg - Black Metal from Italy

- Orgg was born in 2018 and you have not so long history. But if you look back, what can you tell us about this period? Have you found something of your own in a huge world of music or are the searches still ongoing? Vulak: Orgg was born as a band in 2018, but it started long before as a project. However, in just a few months it went from being a folder in a hard drive to a complete album. The hardest task was putting the right musicians together: it was all downhill from that point. - There is no drummer in the list of band’s members. Do you have any session drummer or some from the bands takes this mission? Vulak: The band started without a drummer: I took care of drum programming for the first demos and while writing songs. But we needed a real drummer for the album so we hired a great session drummer

(Nocnitsa). He’s been really great at it, but he could not take part to the band, so in the last few months Nazgaral joined as a rehearsal and live drummer. - Had Orgg members already have any experience before the band was created or did you gain experience already within your band? Vulak: We all come from different backgrounds with one thing in common: we’re all neck deep in metal. Iblis (the bass player) is well known in the italian black metal scene as the mastermind of the Iblis project and playing bass in the cult act Funeral Oration. I had experience in several bands,

Interview with Vulak and L.

Interview by Olga Schneider

live drummer for some major italian acts (Vidharr, Frostmoon Eclipse). Also the latest to join the band, Osten (keyboards and songwriting) has played in black metal bands such as Raven Legacy and Anguish Dimension. - As I think, your debut album is conceptual and is dedicated to one of the most unreleased topics in human history. How did the idea come to plunge into the depth of the human cruelty of the first World War and why chose precisely the theme of battles taking place in the Dolomites area between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian empire? Vulak: I think music should bring a message, and black metal is no exception. Since I spent a long part of my life in the dolomitic area, I have always been fascinated by how that scenario, with its majestic landscapes, mountains, quiet valleys had in a previous time been raped, tortured and transformed into a huge tomb.

Music should bring a message, and black metal is no exception.

18

ranging from Black to power metal as a guitarist, and so has L. as a singer. Nazgaral has played as


When you walk these places, you can still come across some military stuff that has been there since more than one hundred years now. With the rising temperatures, the glaciers are releasing the bodies of soldiers. Cold, extreme weather, extreme conditions, war, death. I thought black metal as the best art form to represent all of this. [L.] This project, as I see it, is also somehow our small contribution to the commemoration of our past and a way to not let all that is happened - the heroic courage of soldiers, but also the tragedy and, ultimately, the absurdity of it all - being forgotten and sunk into oblivion, material for few historias. I strongly believe art, and music in particular, is one of the best means to connect more directly and emotionally with a concept and a story. To do that with such an important part of our history is for me an honor. - I will quote from your remarks: “Orgg is not celebrating war. Orgg is celebrating the survival of nature over the actions of men.” How can you explain/comment it? Vulak: If you take a walk in the places we wrote the album about, it will be easier to understand. The mountains were both protagonists and silent watchers during the war. Sure, men were able of incredible feats of courage and strength, and some are narrated in our tracks, but this does not mean we are celebrating war or one faction over another. The real enemy for both armies was the scenario: the winter, the heights, the lack of supplies. Whole armies survived in “cities”

carved in the glaciers; others dug huge tunnels in the rock (dolomia) to come up under the opponents and blow them up. All these men had a common enemy: the mountains. - Many bands, having released one album go on and continue to develop the theme. Is it worth expecting this scenario from Orgg or have you made a point and there will be something else? We feel there’s still so much to write about! After “The Great White War” we’ll dig deeper in war history and in the local folklore. - I know that your country has a very difficult attitude towards Black metal bands. I do not recall any famous bands from Italy in this genre, except Opera IX, Forgotten Tomb, and Theatres des Vampires at the beginning of their career. Why do you think this situation has developed? Vulak: Black metal struggles in Italy. This country produced its share of great bands (for example, in addition to the ones you remember, Stormlord, Aborym, Handful of Hate, just to name a few, but there’s lots more) but probably what lacks the most is a well organized scene, a cohesive movement. - Each musician has his own sources of inspiration and preferences. And what about you? For me the source of inspiration is usually nature. Hiking mountains automatically brings me ideas. Also I usually retire once a month in a small town

in the mountains of Tuscany and write most of the songs there. [L.]Also books about war and folklore, pictures, postcards, even old stories passed through in family meetings… all that is connected with this not-so-distant past, the bloodshed and sorrow, becomes the fuel that moves forward our art. The more I get to know the battles of the Dolomites, the more I strive to get under the skin of those who lived them and channel, through myself, all the pain and grief. - What are the plans for the future? In autumn, your debut album The Great White War is released, what happens next? What do you plan to do to support your release? Perhaps there will be performances of the band with new material or will you decide to shoot a video on some track? The theme of the album has to the fact that the video can turn out to be insanely interesting. We are rehearsing to be ready for a gig someday, but we have no real plans at the moment. We are mostly focused on songwriting for the next album. - Thank you for your time for the interview. I wish your band prosperity and great creative success. And at the end of our interview I would like to ask our traditional question: what will your wishes to our editorial office and of course to those who will read these lines. Thank you for your support! You are doing a great work giving space to new bands that would linger in darkness otherwise! 19


Pagan curse - Black Metal from Mexico

Interview with Angelica licona

20

Interview by Olga Schneider

First of all, tell us a bit more about the creation of your band. What was the main idea initially and how did it change while the band was developing? The creation arose by members who came together to play covers after covers and thus the main idea emerged, to compose our own material. So, at the very beginning you were trying to play covers of some Metal titans, just as many young

Metal bands do. How and when did you feel that you were ready to compose your own material?

the vision of the band was to grow and that they knew us. Did you and your guys have any experience before or it was your first project? Well the lead guitar (Blasphemeitor) and the drummer (zarnus King) it was their first project but Amourtus (Bass and Rhythm guitar) and me (Hecate Pagan) yes,

out of e ic o v a o d o t d a h I w someho g and in k a e r b t r a e h , y p e e r c , feminine rted a t s I n e h w , s u o r e d n u tho Precisely because of that experience of playing covers we felt the need and that it was time to compose our own music, since


we came from another projects that it was called volrisch and kadath, bands with original music and with experience in the world of the metal. Metal scene in Latin America is developing quite fast now and the community is growing with each day nowadays. What do you think, it would be much easier for your band to develop if you would start maybe 10 years later than you did? Or are you kinda motivated by this competition that really exists now? We have been motivated since the beginning, maybe it could have been much easier to get to people cause forms, social networks than now there are digital plat- 10 years before, when the

band did start everything were by propaganda like flyers, you had to spread the word of the venue or the gig. Here in the Mexican republic always have had been a lot of competition, however, in South America there was not to much scene than nowadays, the example is that here in Mexico have arrived to play many bands from South America of Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, etc., and that is the reason to us to create better music. Here in Mexico there is a Festival that is call Total Death and it is celebrated year after year, and play many bands from all over the world. 21


Pagan curse - Black Metal from Mexico 22

One of your band’s outstanding characteristics is your voice. It’s really bloodcurdling and highly associated with some kind of banshee. What is your secret and what singers inspire you? Yes, definitively I had to work in my voice because here in Mexico when I started there was a lot of “Machismo” and it was not common to see a girl on the stage and less singing guttural in a band of Black Metal somehow I had to do a voice out of feminine, creepy, heartbreaking and thounderous, when

I started I had the influence and inspiration of Legion of Marduk, Satyr of Satyricon and Gaal from Gorgoroth. As for your first full-length album which was released this year, the creative process was quite long as we can see. Tell us a bit more about it. Were there any factors which interrupt you to finish it faster? Definitively the process was to long and this was for many factors, there was a lot of changes of members of the group, could not be defined as we stopped rehearsals until the arrival of new members had not reached something satisfactory musical, we needed the key pieces to be able to specify the output of the album was like this when four member of the group were established that now we are the ones we are

for to be able to make our album “Evil Revelation”. What are your plans for the near future? Definitively continue to make music that is what we like, take it to other continents, transmit it through our albums to make some tours out of Mexico. The traditional question. What would you like to say to our readers and our editorial board? Well, thanks to the readers and you the advice as they are important, because you are those who make one inspire to follow, with their support for us and we can reach many people of the metal in the world. We will continue doing Black Metal for your crazy heads, hails!!!


You can Buy Digital Album here: https://pagancurse.bandcamp.com/releases

Pagan curse is a Black Metal band formed in 2005. At the beginning they try covers of bands like Slayer, Satyricon, Hipocrisy etc. Already at the end of 2005 they begin to compose original material. Already with a solid alignment for 2014 at last and after many ups and downs and delays due to the changes of members, the group enters to record their first album in 2016 in the studio (cromophonia) with the engineer

Julio Cain. So they capture EVIL REVELATION a disc with 7 issues within black metal a furious attack with devastating fast drum riffs and a heartbreaking voice which gives it its own stamp. Evil Revelation released August 2, 2019.

Line-up Angelica licona (Hecate Pagan) Voice Daniel Garcia (Amourtus) BaSs and Rhythm Guitar Rodolfo Ramos (zarnus King) - Drums Hector Rojas (Blasphemathor) - Guitar. Tracklist 1. Evil Revelation 2. Sempiternal 3. Legacy of Apostasy 4. Witchery 5. Sexual Blasphemy 6. Sacrifice 7. 666

23


Latest releases

Dawn of Infinite Fire Asagraum was founded in the autumn of 2015 by vocalist/guitarist Obscura. Second album has arrived under the ominous (and prescient) title Dawn Of Infinite Fire. 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. Dawn Of Infinite Fire sees Asagraum burning with equal intensity in songwriting, execution,

2424

and atmosphere, staying true to Asagraum released the second their original aims whilst pushing full-length Dawn of Infinite Fire their classicist sound further into September 13, 2019. the present. Tracklist: If Potestas Magicum Diaboli 1. They Crawl from the Broken Circle walked a delicate-but-bold 2. The Lightless Inferno balance between aggression and 3. Abomination’s Altar atmosphere, both unapologetically 4. Guahaihoque modern and authentically ‘90s 5. Dawn of Infinite Fire in its sterling black metal, then 6. Dochters van de zwarte vlam Dawn Of Infinite Fire is the sound 7. Beyond the Black Vortex of Asagraum perfecting that 8. Hate of Satan’s Hammer balance, spellbinding the listener 9. Waar ik ben komt de dood across a deceptively vast ninesong / 47-minute journey. Line-up: Obscura - Vocals, Bass, Guitars A. - Drums


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. Bellatrix released August 23, 2019.

Line-up Mio Jäger - Guitars (lead) Elizabeth Andrews - Vocals Madeleine Gullberg Husberg - Bass Mac Dalmanner - Drums Milla Olsson Guitars Tracklist 1. Warrioress Overture 2. Scorched Earth 3. Lagertha 4. Jōshitai 5. The Ghost That Kills 6. Khutulun 7. Hunted 8. Crimson Seas 9. The Black Knight

25 25


Latest releases

Crimson Moon Occult Black Metal band est. 1994 in Southern California USA, relocated to Germany in 1998. CRIMSON MOON began in 1994, when founding member Scorpios Androctonus recorded the self-titled demo as a solo project and began circulating material via tape trading. In December of 2016 Scorpios returned to the roots of CRIMSON MOON’s creation recording the highly acclaimed, and commonly deemed «comeback album» titled Oneironaut. And now the legendary CRIMSON MOON return

2626

is expertly built from punchy second-wave riffs, cathedral-sized hooks, cosmic synthscapes, o r g a n adornments and ritualistic choral MORS VINCIT OMNIA incantations as catchy as they are cryptic. with fourth full-length ‘Mors Tracklist Vincit Omnia’ (death conquers 1. Vanitas all), eight epic tracks of propulsive 2. Altars of Azrael occult grandeur, constructed in 3. Godspeed, Angel of Death homage to Azrael: Angel of Death, 4. Upon the Pale Horse Destruction and Renewal. 5. Parcae - Trinity of Fates This newest set of mystical hymns 6. Mors Vincit Omnia 7. Funeral Begotten 8. Tempus Fugit Mors Vincit Omnia released August 30, 2019 Lineup Scorpios Androctonus - Vocals, Bass, Keyboards Agreas - Guitars Sabnoc - Guitars, Vocals (backing) Blastum - Drums


Mgla is a Polish black metal band. The band was formed in 2000 in Krakow by vocalist and guitarist Mikolaj «M.» Zentara, who is also a member of Kriegsmaschine. The band consists of M. and drummer Darkside, who are backed up in live performances by bassist The Fall and guitarist E.V.T. Following various EPs, Mgla has released four studio albums: Groza (2008) With Hearts Toward None (2012) Exercises in Futility (2015) Age of Excuse (2019) On August 3, 2019 the band revealed that their fourth album would be titled Age of Excuse and released the track «Age of Excuse II» on the No Solace YouTube channel. Age of Excuse was released on September 2, 2019 on the band’s Bandcamp and on CD through their label No Solace, they also announced that the album will be released on vinyl and that they would also upload the album on music streaming platforms in the following days.

AGE OF EXCUSE

The band announced a European tour that would last throughout September in support of the new album, they will also embark on their first Latin American tour on 2020. Tracklist 1. Age of Excuse I 2. Age of Excuse II 3. Age of Excuse III 4. Age of Excuse IV 5. Age of Excuse V 6. Age of Excuse VI

‘Mgła’, is a polish word for ‘fog’, which further extends upon the nihilistic, dark style of both music and lyrics. Lineup M. - Vocals, Guitars, Bass Darkside - Drums Age of Excuse out September 2, 2019

27 27


Latest releases

Throne Behind A Black Veil Death/Black Metal band from Germany released the fourth Full-length album Throne Behind a Black Veil August 2, 2019. Throne Behind A Black Veil sees the Franconian band once again en route to present the ferocious and cold

2828

sound of painkilling black metal altitudes of the 1990s. Much like previous outputs, TOTAL HATE -- known for its luminaries and zealots in the sphere of ancient black metal -- continues the path set forth by bands such as Darkthrone, Urgehal, Gorgoroth, Throne of Ahaz and others.

Tracklist 1. Psychopath 2. Decline of Human Life Part II 3. Thou Shalt Kill (Killing Spree Unleashed) 4. Raven Wings & Witchcraft Spells 5. His Throne Behind a Black Veil 6. Death Raid Apocalypse 7. Lunatic Beast 8. Venomed Seed Lineup Adrastos - Vocals, Music, Lyrics Aer - Guitars, Music Erebos - uitars Lykos - Bass, Lyrics Serrator - Drums


Grima Atmospheric Black Metal band from Russia released the third Full-length album Will of the Primordial August 3, 2019. Grima is two-piece project, which exists since 2014 performing only in studio. It is an atmospheric black metal from Siberia with pagan influence. Their mythology is based on the worship of the elder forest, its power and magic, where the Grima is a supreme god. It is a powerful spirit, who protects only those who lives in a forest, and punishes everyone who does not respect the nature. Their lyrical hero keeps his way through the

impassable taiga forest, and his only hope to survive is to pray to the Grima to have a mercy on him. Tracklist 1. Siberian Sorrow 2. The Shrouded in Darkness 3. Leshiy 4. Instrumental Composition I 5. Enisey 6. Blizzard 7. Howl at Night 8. Instrumental Composition II Lineup Morbius - Guitars, Bass Vilhelm - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards

29 29


Latest releases

A f t e r 6 long-awaited years, DEVOURMENT return to form, embodying brutality with their ferocious new album, Obscene Majesty. Featuring d r u m m e r Brad Fincher and Ruben Rosas back on vocal duties a lineup previously o n l y h e a r d on the band’s 1999 landmark

3030

album Molesting the Decapitated, the pioneers of brutal death metal sharpen their blades once again, and unleash some of the most disgustingly heavy slam ever! Obscene Majesty released August 16, 2019.

Tracklist 1. A Virulent Strain of Retaliation 2. Cognitive Sedation Butchery 3. Narcissistic Paraphilia 4. Arterial Spray Patterns 5. Profane Contagion 6. Dysmorphic Autophagia 7. Sculpted in Tyranny 8. Xenoglossia 9. Modum Sui Morte 10. Truculent Antipathy Line-up: Brad Fincher - Drums Ruben Rosas - Vocals Chris Andrews - Guitars, Vocals Dave Spencer - Bass


Deadspace Depressive Black Metal band from Australia released the fifth Fulllength album The Grand Disillusionment August 15, 2019. A descent into the hollowed out void of a dejected soul, rejecting comfort, choking light, foreboding darkness. Deadspace are a band that deliver an emasculating and claustrophobic live assault. Unwanted, uncomfortable, unrelenting and unforgiving. Most of this material is more aggressive but obviously not secondwave enough to label as simply black metal, nor atmospheric enough to call atmospheric black metal.

Tracklist 1. Inhale the Slime 2. As Time Moves Backwards 3. The Funeral March 4. Horrors to Endure 5. Infliction 6. The Seventh Death of a Fascist Sun 7. The Ashes of the World 8. Masturbation Ritual 9. Lungs 10. The Bones Beneath My Feet

Lineup Chris Gebauer - Vocals Herb Bennetts - Drums Thomas Major - Guitars Dan Jackson - Bass John Pescod - Keyboards

31 31


Latest releases

Isole Epic Doom Metal band from Sweden released the seventh Full-length album Dystopia August 23, 2019. ISOLE formed under the name Forlorn back in 1990 with two sole members, Crister and Daniel. After a few years of turmoil, in which the band suffered myriad line-up changes, I Hate Records approached them in 2003. With a newly signed contract and much motivation, the band saw it fit to adopt a new moniker, thus becoming ISOLE.

3232

This is a big album, with big songs and a big sound! Mandatory if you like: Solstice (UK), Candlemass, Solitude Aeternus, (old) Anathema. With their first releases, Isole were able to secure an excellent reputation within the doom metal underground. Then with Bliss of Solitude and Silent Ruins they elevated

their s t a t u s e v e n f u r t h e r . Now with their anticipated return with Dystopia Isole will secure their well-earned position in the doom metal scene. Tracklist 1. Beyond the Horizon 2. Written in the Sand 3. The Beholder 4. You Went Away 5. Forged by Fear 6. Galenskapens land 7. Nothingness Lineup Crister Olsson - Guitars, Vocals Daniel Bryntse - Guitars, Vocals Jimmy Mattsson - Bass Victor Parri - Drums


Weight of Emptiness Doom/Melodic Death Metal band from Chile released the second Full-length album Conquering the Deep Cycle August 31, 2019. Weight Of Emptiness is a chilean band of metal which practice a mixture style in which can be distinguished progressive, death, doom, and black metal. The band has its origins in 2012, when the former members from the missing band Twilight Mist, Juan Acevedo and Alejandro Bravo on guitars and Alejandro Ruiz on vocals, started to make their first compositions. On Twilight Mist they had a career path of

almost 10 years, innovating on progressive metal trends, so decided continuing the legacy, adding actual elements to their music. They established the first formation with David Hernรกndez, bassist which simultaneously takes part of the progressive metal band Morver, and Mauricio Basso on drums, leader of Letargo band, having about 20 years of career, both incorporating a rhythm base full of progressive elements, which make Weight Of Emptiness their unique and avant-garde sound recognized into the chilean metal scene.

Tracklist 1. Conquering 2. Invisible Mind Workers 3. Chucao 4. The Flame 5. Lapse of Insanity 6. Lamentos 7. Eleven Ravens 8. Drainers 9. Lurking Hope 10. Two Tears Alone (Twilight Mist cover) 11. Deep Cycle Lineup Mauricio Basso - Drums Juan Acevedo - Guitars Alejandro Bravo - Guitars Alejandro Ruiz - Vocals Mario Urra - Bass

33 33


Latest releases

Baest Death Metal band from Denmark released the second Fulllength album Venenum September 13, 2019. BAEST are Denmark’s hottest metal export right now and have been followed by Danish National TV during their tour with Decapitated for the primetime documentary series ‘Den Satans Familie’, appeared at ‘Aftenshowet’, won two Gaffa awards in 2019 and played at festivals such as

3434

Tracklist: 1. Vitriol Lament 2. Gula 3. Nihil 4. Venenum 5. Styx 6. Heresy 7. As Above So Below 8. Sodomize 9. Empty Throne 10. No Guts, No Glory (Bolt Thrower cover) Lineup Mattias Melchiorsen Bass Summer Breeze, Ruhrpott Sebastian Abildsten - Drums Metal Meeting, Copenhell, Lasse Revsbech - Guitars Roskilde, Royal Metal Svend Karlsson - Guitars Fest, Eurosonic, Spot! Simon Olsen - Vocals and supported bands like Abbath, Decapitated, Hatebreed, Dying Fetus, Entombed A.D and more.


SPIRITUAL RESONANCE

Darkend Symphonic Black Metal band from Italy released the fourth Full-length album Spiritual Resonance September 13, 2019. The band refers to its music as Extreme Ritual Metal. As stated in «The Canticle of Shadows» booklet, the name Darkend was created by anagramming the Sanskrit word «Rekda’dn», meaning «mist of the elsewhere». DARKEND is Extreme Ritual Art: arcane symphonies exalting ancient ceremonial chants lost in nocturnal remembrances, sulphur riffs engraved on black metal patterns and progressive freedom. At the border between magic and

spirituality, where cults and rituals can wander free in the wisdom of infinity, at the crossroads between life and death. Swallowed by the energy of the ceremony, engulfed by the dense smoke of incense, for DARKEND there’s no difference between good and evil, dream and reality, life and death, for they belong to the unique grandeur of the Universe.

Lineup Animæ - Vocals, Songwriting, Graphics, Art direction Valentz - Drums Antarktica - Grand piano, Orchestrations, Soundscapes, Songwriting Ashes - Guitars (lead) Nothingness - Guitars (lead) Vinterskog - Bass, Cura, Saz, Mandolin Tracklist 1. The Three Ghouls Buried at Golgotha 2. Scorpio Astraea High Coronation 3. With Everburning Sulphur Unconsumed 4. Vessel Underneath 5. Hereafter, Somewhere 6. The Seven Spectres Haunting Gethsemane

35 35


Latest releases

Blackhelm Melodic Death/Black Metal band from Australia released the first Full-length album Dark Clouds of the Inferno July 26, 2019. Line-up Tim Anderson - Bass Matt Cleary - Drums Cam Wilson - Guitars (lead) Mika Kohlman - Guitars Rob Widowmaker Vocals Tracklist 1. One Thousand Years 2. Banished and Powerless 3. The Infinite Void 4. Of Serpent and Stone 5. Carving a Titan 6. Embrace the Ravenous 7. Ghost in the Flame 8. Dark Clouds of the Inferno

3636

Black/Death Metal band from Brazil released the first Fulllength album Khásma July 30, 2019. In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Khazaddûm was an enormous underground complex in north-western Middleearth. Tracklist 1. I Lust 2. He Who Fights Fiends 3. Khásma I (Floating) 4. Dol Amroth 5. The Penitent 6. Celebrimbor 7. The Call 8. Flood 9. Khásma II (Falling)

Mylingar Death/Black Metal band from Sweden released the second Full-length album Döda själar August 2, 2019. ‘Mylingar’ is the plural of ‘myling’. In Scandinavian folklore the word «myling» indicates a wandering ghost of an unbaptized child. Savagery in musical form takes a further step toward total sonic annihilation with ‘Döda Själar’, the culmination of a bestial trilogy from the eccentric intensity called Mylingar. A tempest of whirlwind blackened death metal barbarity and animalistic filth, unrelenting in its intent to rend flesh from bone and inflict torment. Tracklist 1. Obalansen 2. Nedstigningen 3. Offret 4. Bländningen Lineup 5. Mållösheten Gothmog - Bass Noatún - Guitars, Vocals 6. Giftet 7. Förlusten


Nocturnal Departure Black Metal band from Canada released the first Fulllength album Cathartic Black Rituals August 7, 2019. The album’s ten relatively compact tracks (which include a discombobulating prelude that’s part weird electronica and part monstrous recital), have been produced to deliver hard-hitting, heavyweight rhythmic power, scorching vocal mania, and riffing that itself has heft as well as a distorted fuzziness. The relative clarity and naturalness of the production allows the vibrancy of the bass and the cymbals to surface, and brainspearing leads to dart and slither through the mauling heaviness of the surrounding sounds. Tracklist 1. The Incantation (Intro) 2. Dismal Existense 3. Ritualistic Vomit 4. Astral Transcendence 5. Mental Abyss 6. Ethereal Enlightenment 7. Cathartic Black Rituals 8. Monolithic Decay 9. Morbid Existence 10. Insidious Strangulation Lineup Illartha - Bass Kryptys - Drums Funeror - Vocals, Guitars

NTIZKVM Black/Death Metal band from Philippines released the first Full-length album Genocidal Supremacist Kvlt August 11, 2019. NTIZKVM is about misanthropic supremacy, literal genocide and the extreme non conforming terrorism. The killings started on 2017 and is continuing. Genocidal Supremacist Kvlt can be found on cassette tape through Iron Front Productions or through the band directly. Limited copies exist, get them before they are all gone. Tracklist 1. Annihilation Absolute 2. Legacy ov Mass Murders 3. Wardemons Descent 4. Institutional Serial Murderers 5. Ultra-Fasci 6. Imminent Withdrawal ov Cowards 7. Nekro Totalitarian

WarTroll Folk/Death Metal band from United States released the second Full-length album Frozen Hordes August 14, 2019. From far beyond the eastern hills... through the icy moors of the frozen north and the scorching sands of the southern wastes... the trolls have come. Feasting, drinking, and drinking and feasting... Crushing all in their path... Tracklist 1. Frozen Hordes 2. Oathstone 3. Ice Mammoth 4. To Devolve 5. Sorrow 6. Meadhall Mishap 7. Valkyria 8. Death March (Settle the Grudge) 9. Silver Tower 10. Foehammer

Lineup Nvklear Warhead - Bass, Vocals (backing) Sauron 88 - Drums Zkvmkiller - Guitars, Vocals

Lineup Tomas Thundersong - Bass G o r e b a s h Hammerhand - Drums Dagathor Fleshrender - Guitars Thorruk WarTroll Guitars, Vocals

37 37


Latest releases

Deadwood Lake M e l o d i c / Atmospheric Black Metal band from United Kingdom released the second Full-length album Immortalised in Death August 16, 2019. Tracklist 1. Visions from the Faded Years 2. The March of Time 3. Immortalised in Death 4. Guidance 5. My Ashes Will Remain 6. Alone I Fly 7. Drowning Reality 8. Vigils Lineup Ryan Wills - Guitars Bruce Powell - Vocals, Bass Tom Warren - Vocals, Drums

3838

Bastard Grave Death Metal band from Sweden released the second Full-length album Diorama of Human Suffering August 16, 2019.

Funeral Oration Black Metal band from Italy released the second Full-length album Eliphas Love August 16, 2019. 23 years (!) after their debut album ‘Sursum Luna’, Italian iconoclasts are back with a new album: ‘Eliphas Tracklist Love’. 1. Drowning in an Ocean For the good, this long switch-off of Bile from the active music had at least 2. Diorama of Human the positive aspect to have them Suffering preserving a pretty much original and 3. Transubstantiation into unique sound, distant from all trends Feces coming and going in this music scene. 4. Inner Carnivore Tracklist 5. Life in the Sewers 1. Intro 6. Translucent Visions 2. Furor eretico 7. Madness of Creation 3. Anatema di Zos 8. Non-Functioning Pile of Rot 4. L’abisso 9. Stench of Infection 5. Marcia funebre Lineup 6. Tregenda Maria - Bass 7. Vuoto mistico Peter - Drums Lineup Andreas - Guitars Luca M. - Drums Daniel - Guitars Luca La Cara - Guitars, Rille - Vocals Keyboards TheOldNick - Vocals


Sublime Eyes Melodic Death Metal band from Norway released the third Full-length album Corrocean August 23, 2019. More brutality, more melody, more groove and more energy. The sound is more epic and powerful than before, where Sublime Eyes have taken the best of the first releases and injected new inspiration to make the metal crowd tremble all the way to their raised metal horns. Tracklist 1. We Must Unite 2. Beneath the Black 3. Left in the Dark 4. Med Tiden Gror 5. King of Suffering 6. Follow the Brave 7. Ocean Cries 8. Dark Waves Lineup Remy Dale - Drums Tom Arild Dalaker - Guitars Jan Terje Vinningland Guitars (lead) Arvid Tjelta - Vocals Jørn Håvard Helseth - Bass

Noen hater oss Black Metal band from Norway released the second Full-length album Bastarder September 4, 2019. NOEN HATER OSS was formed in the year 2016. It began as a one man project, based on the ideas and visions of multi instrumentalist Raum. The name “Noen hater oss” was inspired from the John Ajvide Lindqvist 2008 novel, “Menneskehavn”. The lyrical concept revolves around the darker side of norwegian folklore and nature, old superstitions and the fear and wonder of something we can not see with our eyes, only with our hearts. The musical genre in which they dwell can best be described as black metal, plain and simple. Lineup Raum - Guitars, bass, drums Morlock - Vocals Vocals Tracklist 1. Bastarder - Intro 2. Den sorte byrde 3. Flammenes rov 4. Lucifer natt 5. Skumringstanker 6. Den døde gjesten 7. Mot pandemonium 8. Fra vugge til grav 9. Kalde ord

Raventale Black/Doom Metal band from Ukraine released the ninth Full-length album Morphine Dead Gardens September 5, 2019. It’s a 60-minute long concentrated atmospheric funeral doom metal album, full of empathic melodies, catatonic viscosity and ether saturation. «MDG» will make a listener embark on a slow journey through the withering gardens of melancholy, soporific dormancy of ashen landscapes and cernuous boughs, clouded mind and cherishing mirages. Tracklist 1. As an Empty Shell 2. Lorn and Deserted 3. This Forsaken Place 4. In the Bitter Pain 5. Morphine Gardens Lineup Astaroth Merc Everything

39 39


Latest releases

Omophagia Death Metal band from Switzerland released the third Fulllength album 646965 September 6, 2019. Tracklist 1. Intro 2. 646965 3. Evolve 4. Pride Before Fall 5. Radicalized 6. Mortal Dissociation 7. Narcissus 8. First Light 9. Nothing Special 10. Absolute Zero Lineup Bartłomiej «Bart» Krysiuk - Vocals Paweł Jaroszewicz Drums

4040

Warbell Melodic Death Metal band from Poland released the second Full-length album Plague September 13, 2019. That’s the simplest way to describe their music! The music of Warbell is melodic, but very powerful with characteristic female growl. Tracklist 1. Dualmind 2. Every Storm 3. Plague 4. The Fallen 5. Wolfpack 6. The Flames of Truth 7. Dethronement 8. Wheel of Life 9. Icaros 10. Marcenary’s Fate 11. The Passenger Lineup Erik Sayenga - Drums, Guitars, Vocals Kristel - Keyboards, Bass

Formicarius Black Metal band from United Kingdom released the second Full-length album Rending the Veil of Flesh September 13, 2019. Album consists of nine new tales from history’s darkest pages, the most harrowing of nightmares and the endless void that lies between the stars. Tracklist 1. Beyond the Veil of Flesh 2. Dieu Et Mon Droit 3. Within the Depths 4. Early Will I Seek Thee 5. Inherit Our Sickness 6. The Fourth Horseman 7. Stalker Among the Stars 8. Crimson Plague 9. O Dread Impaler Lineup Hægtesse - Bass, Vocals Nazarkardeh - Guitars (lead) Lord Saunders - Guitars, Vocals Morath - Keyboards


Blood Red Throne Death Metal band from Norway released the ninth Full-length album Fit to Kill September 13, 2019. Norwegian death metal kings, BLOOD RED THRONE, celebrates 21 years in the scene and Mighty Music released their 9th album, Fit To Kill, with following live shows to support their best album so far. The band was started by still remaining member, Daniel «Død» Olaisen, when he played in Satyricon in the 90’s. They have done big festivals as Wacken, Hellfest, Bloodstock, 70.000 Tons of Metal and many more. Tracklist 1. Requiem Mass 2. Bloodity 3. Killing Machine Pt. 2 4. WhoreZone 5. Skyggemannen 6. InStructed InSanity 7. Movement of the Parasites 8. Deal It or Die 9. End Lineup Freddy Bolsø - Drums Død - Guitars Ivan Gujić - Guitars Yngve «Bolt» Christiansen Vocals Stian Gundersen - Bass

T h e Agonist Melodic Death Metal band from Canada released the sixth Full-length album Orphans September 20, 2019. More extreme, more melodic, more exciting and simply larger than life: The Agonist are back! “Orphans” is a true monster feeding on melodic death metal, metalcore and almost rocking moments. The music is only right when it can be translated from the stage to The Agonist’s rabid fanbase. So, expect to see The Agonist in 2019 and 2020 all over the world. And be fully ready to hear the full brilliance of Orphans. Tracklist 1. In Vertigo 2. As One We Survive 3. The Gift of Silence 4. Blood as My Guide 5. Mr. Cold 6. Dust to Dust 7. A Devil Made Me Do It 8. The Killing I 9. Orphans 10. Burn It All Down Lineup Chris Kells - Bass Danny Marino - Guitars Simon McKay - Drums Pascal Jobin - Guitars Vicky Psarakis - Vocals (lead)

Bryan Eckermann Melodic Black/Death Metal band from United States released the fifth Full-length album Zychodia September 21, 2019. Bryan Eckermann Guitarist of Wings of Abaddon, Scars of the Flesh, Producer at Bonespill Studios. Tracklist 1. The Journey to Enceladus 2. Cell 913 3. The Omega Virus 4. Zychodian Winter 5. Call of the Abyss 6. The Armageddon Code 7. Empire of the Pheks 8. Lunar Tides 9. Escape from Glyl 10. The Arrival of Zyrn 11. Transmigration Protocol 12. The Human Dominion 13. A Portrait of Desolation Lineup Bryan Eckermann Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals

41 41


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews BRUJERIA CONCERT REVIEW By Luca Lottini MAY 14, TRAFFIC LIVE CLUB, ROME

The moment has arrived! Brujeria return to Rome, in fact, after two and a half years of absence from our beautiful country, Hellfire Booking is proud to announce the return of the Mexican band to the eternal city, for their «Amaricon czar Europe 2019». The tour starts on three of May in the Netherlands and will end in Germany on 26 May, touching various European countries and including a couple of gigs in our country

42

(Italy). The first one, as I mentioned before on May 14th at Traffic Live in Rome and the second one the following day at the Legend club in Milan. The tour follows the release, last February 22nd, of the new single Amaricon Czar, which, besides the title track, includes another track entitled Lord nazi ruso. The group has now reached the thirtieth year of its career from concert hall voices it is necessary to repropose

beyond the two new singles, also the pieces that have made their thirty-year history. As support bands for this tour the Californian metal trash/groove Sangre, the old style trash Canadian quartet Aggression and as main support band is chosen the expert hardcore/grind quartet Venomous Concept. It promises to be a very intense concert as it is obvious when groups like Brujeria come for a gig in your moreover their supporters are not less!


SANGRE The Californian quintet began his career in the small town of Pomona in Los Angeles area in the summer of 1999. They found their sound in a mixture of melodic death and thrash metal combined here and there with Latin rhythms. Since the beginning, the band has achieved much success and has left its mark on the Californian scene and beyond. With over fifteen years of presence on the musical scene, this band has come to know that longevity requires commitment, unparalleled work ethic, creative energy and unwavering determination that is fundamental to their ethos. Their musical production from 2001 includes two full lengths Carrion and The Great Tribulation in 2011, as well as several eps and a split. For the summer of 2019, the third studio album of the band is announced, which will be titled Mas fuerte que la muerte. (Stronger than death) The current line-up is formed by, Henry «El Sangron» Sanchez on vocals, Mike Reyes on guitars, Josh «The Roach» Durante on drums and Sergio Lopez on bass. They performed live the cover of the classic Brujeria song Matando Gueros. Moreover, Brujeria decided to bring Sangre on tour over the years and in 2014 invited the Sangre frontman Henry Sanchez to join them as their second singer. Henry took on the stage name «El Sangron» and now has played in over 200 shows with Brujeria and is flourishing as a

Reviews

singer in both bands. On the contrary, to what usually happens this time I manage to get to the Traffic club even before the concert began therefore I had time to take a coffee before the concert (I needed to get it!) and I do not have to enter the concert hall on hurry. I take this opportunity also to look at the merchandising banquets, there really is everything? All the bands present have their part and obviously more space is dedicated to Brujeria and Venomous Concept. The first song is the single from the upcoming album coming out this summer. At 21.00 o’clock Sangre came on stage despite the Traffic is still practically empty, as often happens when the first support band is playing (I

think I too early and the people cannot come at that time. I take place in the first row waiting, while the Californian quartet is preparing for the show. The setlist proposed for the evening contains six tracks starting with the new single Pharmakon and continuing with others stuff from the upcoming album. Without any sort of warnings, the four Californians begin to play! A persuasive guitar intro opens the exhibition until it comes out the powerful rhythmic and heavy sound of the hit single Pharmakon on which El Sangron begins to drains its energy and its anger, some more melodic moments are alternated with others more furious. Mike Reyes’ guitar continues to strike the ears of listeners with its acid sounds with it the end of the song comes: “Thanks! Gracias” screams Henry Sanchez before the second song. El Sangron presents the band in Spanish and English: “We are Sangre from Los Angeles, California” and presents the following song “This song is about war and all the fucking atrocities and all the bullshits happenings all over the world, in the name of war. This song is called the Hand of God from the beginning this song is fast and destructive like a cannonball Josh during the song beats on the skins of his drums like a madman, as always Henry Sanchez, differently from beginning roars and screams into the microphone with more emphasis.

43


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

The concert became more aggressive and Henry incites the crowd to have (more) fun. Then he repeats roaring the chorus of the song following the rhythm time, the drums push at full speed ... the drummer is in great shape! In the final part of the song, a slow motive closes up with a guitar and bass melody: “Thanks you! Gracias! Right! Continues Henry… “This is our first time in Italy and our first time in Rome; we got a fucking tour package we play with ... Aggression from Canada, Venomous Concept and Brujeria. Then Henry interacts joking with the audience and asks: we need some more beer... We need some more weed… Some more weed... weed por favor... marijuana por favor... Yes ... there is this here, from the audience someone suggests

44

to ask one of the spectators who stands in the front row. The guy showed a clear sense of embarrassment: but it’s all a joke! In fact, after some laughs Henry presents the third song: “Este cancion se llama quarenta tres 43”. A rhythmic guitar riff increases in intensity and power supported to a piercing scream even if not fast as in the beginning the

drummer makes the audience feel his heavy presence, Henry shouts to the public: “Rome let me see your hand in the air!! The beautiful and precise accelerations of the drums supported by a granitic guitar are appreciated, the text is in Spanish, a beautiful solo of guitar precedes other harrowing screams by Henry that are really powerful even if the voice is a bit lower,

a rhythm from funeral march closes the song: «Thank you very much! Gracias «does not forget to say once again the burly Sangre singer. It is time to go ahead with the concert and the Mexican frontman announces, “Todo los Dias es una March de muerto, here is where Death march starts with the same reason that closed the previous song but this one is characterized by a rhythm more thrashy. The line of the drums is beautiful and decisely original as well as played with mastery, the voice to my ears is still a little bit low in volume and El Sangron struggles to make the audience feel his contribution. To be noticed again another interesting guitar solo. The song ends with an alternation of shouted verses and a slow but heavy line of music. People applaud and Henry thanks again: «Muchas Gracias


... (another short pause), que pasa? Do you want to hear more? Asks Henry to the enthusiastic audience. Therefore, Sangre prepares the next song that it is called At what cost. A AGGRESSION With a few minutes of delay compared to the sale stage on the stage, the old school Canadian quintet Aggression. The band was formed on Halloween night in 1984 (originally under the name «Asylum»), by the two guitarists. Denis Sasquatche Barthe and Bernard «Burn» Caudron. After a few changes, the line-up Botcher completes the vocals, Dug on bass and Gate on drums. After a couple of demos they record the first full album The Complete Treatment 1986, then a second new album Forgotten Skeleton whose release was scheduled for 1987, but unfortunately the album will not see the exit until 2004 (Almost 20 years later!) and that sees the band reunite at the Montreal

beginning from more classic heavy metal on which Henry says some phrases that I can’t understand, but the rhythm increases in speed and, in this phase, reminds me a little of Motorhead, if not for the intense and powerful scremaing as in the first songs. At this moment, we begin to feel some variation and then a return to already played motifs, the song continues with a frenzied guitar that is produced in a good-quality solo: “Grazie!” continues Henry. “One more fucking song… one more… we are Sangre from Los Angeles, California… Thank you for being here with us… have a good night we got fucking Aggression next… Venomous Concept and Brujeria! This is American Nightmare!

Metal Massacre fest 2005. Due to some problems among the members, the band was almost dead by 1989. Silence until 2005. Year of the Montreal Metal Massacre the band decides to dissolve once again, noting the inability of a more lasting commitment of this concert. In 2014, was celebrated the 30th anniversary with the a brand new line up after a break started in 1989 and suspended for two shows in 2005, Aggression returned to

Reviews

This song after a beginning tending to the more traditional metalcore style melody starts to pound the listeners ears with a decisely heavier rhythm that winks at death metal. To tell the truth this a bit chaotic, but very engaging, yet another solo and screams over screams! All the member are all in great shape especially guitar and drums. Unfortunately we reached the end of the show, now is the time for the ritual greetings (in three languages!): Grazie, thank you, gracias, with an invitation visit their merchandise stand to buy some stuff and have a chat with them. Without any doubt a good concert. Sangre is a band to follow carefully.

shake the stages all over the world with dirty vocals and fierce guitars, supporting the release in 2016 of Fragmented Spirit Devils, the band’s third album and first studio album after 29 years. Finally, this year we observed the release of their fourth effort entitled Feels like punk, sounds like thrash. Currently Aggression consist in Denis ‘Sasquatche’ Barthe on guitars and the only one of the band’s founders left, Ryan Murray Idris on drums, Dave Watson on the second guitar, Brian Langley on vocals, all these three joined the first guitarist in 2014 and Jon Power on bass who joined the band in 2016.

45


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews But now in time to let’s go again, on describing their concert more in detail, the setlist is made up of eight songs that span all over the main releases of the band. We are around 22.00, and after the soundcheck (it was a little bit long but anyway a good check of the instrument is always a good choice to have a more impressive concert), here is the old style thrash of the Canadian quintet. They started immediately without compromise with the granitic Halo of the maggot. Taken from the album Fragmented Spirit Devils. The rhythm starts already at full speed, even if in this case, the volume of the voice is quite low and despite Brian Langley you pull out a furious vocals is not “correctly” supported by amplification. Lots of drums! Ryan Murray Idris is really doing a good job and produces in numerous time variations that sustain Bryan’s furious and piercing howl and accompany us to the end of the piece, I must add that even guitars and bass do not have in my opinion an adequate volume even if not serious problem.

At the end of the first song, the burly Canadian singer who answers to the name of Bryan Langley thanks the audience and asks the console for help on the guitar, saying: “Grazzie Okay the guitar stage needs more

of what it is ... really. .. the guitar needs more just ... (this is what I understood)”, and then thanks the audience for coming to the concert: “Thank you so much for coming out tonight... We are Aggression from Vancouver Canada”. A guy standing behind me screams: Old school!

46

And Bryan satisfied answers: «Old school! Fuck old school! Then he names some of the most famous bands of the genre: Annilathor, Anvil, Exciter, Oblivion, Soothsayer, Voivod, and dulcis in fundo Aggression! Then he presents the title of the next song: «This is Unleashing the ghost!» Also from Fragmented Spirit Devils. In this song, Bryan’s voice sounds louder as the guitars. That’s good! Really appreciable is also, his refrain in which Bryan passes from a heavy and powerful to acute vocals without big problems as the well-chosen guitar solo. The settings of the song are not substantially different from the previous one even if there is some more variations on the guitars and towards the end also the voice changes in a style that turns more on the scream style. The audience, still not very numerous, however is satisfied with the performance of the Canadian quintet and applauds with heat: “Fuck yeah!” A few seconds off and Brian talks to the audience: “Right We going to hit you with some old shit right now”, “Yeah!” responds the public compactly.


And he continues: “Yeah… that’s what you need, that’s what you gonna get... we will break your peace right now… all right here... we go this one for you… this is Forsaken survival, we suddenly we are thrown back violently to the first record The Full Treatment. Furious drums open this new song, the voice returns more towards the classic thrash. The audience has a lot fun and begins to mosh energetically. The short song ends with a very strong applause to which Bryan replies: «Fucking right, thanks guys! Right! We keep it going on… Who is ready for Venomous Concept and what about the almighty Brujeria right now? It is now the turn of the fourth song of the evening, with a sharp scream Bryan asks: «Do you want some candy little boy? Here is Green Goblin taken from the album Forgotten skeleton, the short and very fast song in which the band experiences a more “grind” sound. Bryan has a powerful voice and the drums are precise. After a momentary slowdown, the hammering restarts at full speed. The public follows and moshes without practically stop. The rough stop of the song triggers other convinced applauses. Therefore, we came to the middle of the exhibition. Bryan continues: “Right... Now... we going to pick a piece from the past... right now a little bit from The Full Treatment for you. This song is called Dripping Flesh the audience exults. It takes up the pounding rhythm, a tornado that abounds on the listeners. In my humble opinion, perhaps this is the most beautiful song played tonight by the Canadian quintet. Heavy, compact and precise. From the beginning to the end, here too there are numerous time changes.

Here is a very long, sharp solo by Dave Watson that tonight seems to me more fit than his colleague... I haven’t even finished to think about it that Denis ‘Sasquatche’ Barthe responds to his colleague just as effectively. Bryan Langley together with the drums this evening is not intending to take prisoners. They are real “murderers”… “Thanks!!” Screams Bryan to the audience, near me someone comments: «Really a good band good, good, good ... and how to blame him, I add. At the end of the song, Bryan continues to chat with his audience, which has become more numerous, although of a few units. Unfortunately, i really don’t understand what he’s talking about… anyway in the end he tells the audience: “We have a few more for you ... we are here to play from our brand new album for you… normally when a band comes up with new material it sucks… With that in mind, we tried to do our best trying not to be one of those bands… then with a low voice, slow and cavernous presents the next song: “This is… Stench of the mediocre existence!” Another bone-breaking track that proceeds with violence and precision along the lines of the previous ones. Not bad, and above all, the public really likes. Many of those who are absent are missing a great concert. The refrain again, in this case, is one of those that remains in the head, and give to the head itself. It is supported by a simple but convincing guitar line. Here it is final raging scream

Reviews

closes the song. Again, Bryan without any pause screams...: “Tortured by... tortured by”, Bryan’s voice in this case, has a powerful sustain, in fact, the new song is Rotten by torture, another beautiful as well as convincing and wellarranged song. The guitar riff that is used as a variation, remembers in some respects the old 80’s Metallica sound, and of other bands of that era, but maintaining its own personality. Still a rough end perhaps a little too much ... Thanks! One more time, we are Aggression from the Frozen frostbit north of Canada ... Bryan continues to talk to the public: “This is our last song” and “thank you so much … this is our thank you to you, this is Demolition of hour face! Here begins to resound the notes of the last piece of the show, taken from the album The Full Treatment that in the end turns out to be the most played album this evening. Another song that the audience liked very much, especially the melody of the guitars. The voice seems to lose a little bit of grit and volume, even if the good Bryan has really well figured, but the guitar riff is really nice and the rhythm is breathless, a long solo followed by another pounding melody, although slightly less incisive the last song ends in beauty. In the end, Bryan never fails to give a further thanks to the public: “Grazzie! Thank you!” As expected, it was a tough show, with no compact frills and killer as planned. This is the first time I see Aggression live and, honestly, i was fully satisfied, they fully respected my expectations.

47


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

VENOMOUS CONCEPT Now is the turn for another tasty live review to be done. As for the previous two bands, is the first time I see the Venomous Concept in concert. V.C. is a band formed in 2004 by Kevin Sharp (Brutal Truth) and Shane Embury (Napalm death), the two were joined by Danny Herrera and Buzz Osborne, who was later replaced by Danny Lilker. The group was born from a common passion for Black Flag, Poison Idea (to be noticed the semantic similarity between the name Poison Idea and Venomous concept), and Systematic Death. Venomous Concept plays basically, hardcore punk but fouled by the previous grindcore and death metal experiences of the various members. They have released three full-length albums: Retroactive Abortion (2004), Poisoned Apple (2008) and Kick Me Silly VCIII (2016). In addition to a couple of splits at the beginning of their career. Their splits with the grindcore band 324 and the extreme metal band Blood Duster are very appreciated. Currently the line-up is formed by Shane Embury on bass, in the absence of Dan Lilker and on guitar Danny Herrera on drums, Kevin Sharp on vocals, Dan Lilker on bass and John Cooke on second guitar. For the concert in the eternal

48

city, they choose to play seventeen songs ranging throughout all their record

production. Nevertheless, let’s go more in detail for what concerns the exhibition planned for this cool Roman evening. It’s about 22.45, the band is already on stage but they need a few minute more to be ready for the show... meanwhile Kevin sharp jokes with his guitarist John Cooke… some more second more… ok they are ready Let’s starts! We immediately notice that on the drums there is or rather,

there is not Danny Herrera, but a substitute that I don’t know and the lack of Dan Lilker. Venomous Concept in

fact tonight present themselves in formation with only one guitar. Here is the beginning of the concert, an intro on which Venomous Concept they put themselves in poses exhilarating poses just after the majestic intro vaguely reminiscent of the melodies taken from great movies of the past for example 2001 Odyssey in space. Here is the first song! Without any presentation, here it is Half full taken from the album Poisoned Apple, in this song the voice, is more acute and scratching than in the original version with its massive and cadenced mood almost new metal style, but with really powerful scream. This commistion between new metal hardcore / grind and death is interesting. In this case, the drums is (again) really in perfect shape! Immediately after, without a stop, Venomous Concept catapults us towards decisely more hardcore rhythms and here, is from the first album entitled Retroactive Abortion the song Group Hug. Kevin Sharp produces tons of scream, in this short song (it does not last even two minutes) but in V.C. concert there will be shorter songs afterwards). We immediately can feel the fury of Mr. Kevin Sharp accompanied by a guitar riff really well arranged. At the end, a short talk between the members of the group. To tell


the truth, it was very difficult for me to follow their speech because Kevin speaks into the microphone, but the other members don’t have it. In addition, my ears were already a little bit under pressure, because of the fierce pounding of the previous bands and they decisely struggle to grab the meaning of a speech even in my mother tongue! Anyway, from the back of the hall someone shouts something in English and Kevin with surprise answers: “What?” After a moment of perplexity, here it comes the ferocious scream that serves as intro for the song number three, that is Rhetoric (another one from the first full length Retroactive Abortion). It is opened as i mentioned before, with a piercing scream sustained by a guitar riff with a more thrashy taste that after a while gives vent to an incredible violence that, therefore is a distinguishing character of the songs of Venomous Concept. The voice of the choir is barely perceptible even if the sound is incredibly clean and precise. Immediately, without stopping V.C. hammer the ears of those present with another violent track still taken from the first album Retroactive Abortion it is the very short Oink that last a little beat more than a minute, very chaotic but intense. After uttering some phrases with a meaning obscure to me, talking also about the Enlightened, Kevin asks the audience: “Who

is having a good time tonight?” The audience that is now became more numerous s c e a m s : “ Y e a h ! ” replyes the public very powerfullly. Then Kevin continues: Right… tell some good jokes and have good time then presents the next song. Who’s up for farmers and here it starts with Farmboy taken from their latest album Kick Me Silly - VC III, also here the intro winks at other thrash/death genres and then turns towards more hardcore trends, even if less chaotic than before. Even Kevin’s voice now gets closer to the growl and then go back to a more screamy mood and the drums really make a great test of skill, as is the tradition for these bands, even this song is definitely short. After another a n e c d o t e incomprehensible to me at least here: then the frontman shouts: “Jesus Christ” along with some laughs with his companions. It is clear that the members of the group have a great desire to laugh and have fun as well as to smash up the

Reviews

stage. After this last moment of hilarity Kevin with a scratching voice screams Potters ground (again from the album Kick Me Silly - VC III), I still do not understand these anecdotes! My English comprehension skills are not very high! The rhythm of the song returns with fierce screams to a more decisely death mood, the melody is engaging and the audience responds with a nice pogo. After two interesting minutes the song ends, the audience applauds and whistles approving the performance. Still the members of the group interact with each other at some point from the audience a person screams: “She’s got the weed ... she’s got the weed ... and Kevin is surprised answers to the boy she’s the weed? We can talk ... who does have the weed? That beautiful young girl over there ... she’s got the ahaah a lot to talk about that... Then she goes on to say to the public: «We just came from Switzerland man wow- welcome to your holidays in Switzerland!!». Here in fact Holidays in Switzerland again from Kick Me Silly - VC III. The song begins with a long roll, the drums then open towards a very unrestrained line and still marked by devastating rhythms, this time accompanied by a guitar riff of a slightly different tenor than the previous ones. Honestly, the text as in other songs, it is difficult to

49


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

understand but I really liked this «excursion» in Switzerland and, there is to say not only to mem, in fact, the public approves applauding and whistling once again in a convinced way. A brief pause and it is still the time to travel around Europe. Kevin asks: «How many people going out to the Czech Republic, to go to the party Obscene Extreme? A part of the audience seems not to understand and Kevin starts again a cheerful conversation with the other members of the group that concerns the Obscene Extreme festival in which even the public is often involved and at the end of this digression as if an agreement had been made Kevin screams ... perfect !! Moreover, start a new track. Here is the song Fucked in the Czech Republic from the last full-length, here we begin our journey in the Czech Republic! This song with a much more hardcore mood even if it is certainly less devastating than the previous ones, but, for sure it makes its honest part even if towards the end the rhythm of the rolls begins to grow until the fierce stop at the end. Kevin is very sweaty, the evening is hot and spits a lot: “I’m leaking everywhere... dripping shit...” Then we go back a few years to the previous album Poisoned Apple with another heavy punch in the stomach with a battery and a devastating voice that’s in fact as in the setlist now is the turn of White devil. Venomous Concept’s songs hardly last more than two minutes and even this is not an exception:

50

New scream to charge the audience: “Are you ready and wild… Alright!” We return to the last album with a quick presentation Busy with your debt just whispered and here it is perhaps the most violent song of the evening with a decise stop and then again the fierce rhythm a This song is uncommentable... it’s too short! However, should be noticed that the audience continues not to miss his systematic support with long applauses. Then with just a very short pause, here is the next very short song, even just 11 seconds, in fact here is the song Johnny Cheeseburger. Second brusque braking and Kevin screams: “Fuck off!”. How to comment a song that lasts 11 seconds? I have no idea! In this part, I have to say that the concert is a bit confused and the very short pauses between one song and another do not give the possibility to understand which song they are playing exactly, however it is not a bad thing that there is in a concert of such a group. Anyway, let’s go ahead there seems to be some problems with the guitar spy a technician has to climb to fix the problem… problem solved let’s go! Another one from the album Kick Me Silly - VC III and we come back with what is the longest song of the set. It is Forever war, this song has a slow and pounding but heavy rhythm that reminds

the style of the Sepultura (Roots era) and similar bands, even in the sung a song very different from the previous ones and surprisingly pleasant. But let’s continue with the review of the concert, Kevin announces: «We still have a couple of songs… I want to thank everyone for coming here all here… Sangre, Aggression ... Brujeria and all the good things in life ... enjoy life because it’s the most important thing. And again, this is an absolutely acceptable motto: «Laugh more, cry less». After this philosophical moment, Kevin and the other members of the band talk to each other’s. They like to laugh, unfortunately, most of the times i don’t understand what they are talking about. i notice that according to the set list there should be the song Rise but they didn’t play it and continued with Water cooler from Poisoned apple. The rhythm slows down in the singing; you can notice some influences from groups like Faith no More. With an incredibly fast drumming At the end of the song, a very short pause and another anecdote (unknown), some more thanks: “Is the last song in the night I hope you had a good time… thank you so much then a scream: “Drop Deeaad”. Here comes the song chosen to close the show again from Poisoned Apple, the classic Drop dead. The audience get crazy with this again this pounding drums reminds me something about Faith no more, but the sound is harsh and the chorus difficult to forget.


Reviews

BRUJERIA Here we are finally arrived the moment of the Headliner of the evening Brujeria. The Mexican American band appears to be constantly laying between death metal and the extreme grindcore, given by the influences of the members. The image of the Brujeria is however that of a group without half measures, a group which is extremely opposed to all that is traditionalism and presents itself as a heavily antiAmerican and anti-Christian. A drug cartel sought by the FBI, Brujeria in their texts deal with sex, satanism, illegal immigration and politics, hiding behind it dances, bandanas and helding machete between the hands. By doing a bitter and violent dark satire between the lyrics. When the band first emerged from the burdens of Los Angeles in 1989, was formed by Juan Brujo, Ghost, Billy Gould, and Asesino (who formed Fear Factory around the same time. They quit their activity a lot of times because of members leaving the band or being constantly

involved in other projects. in 1993 they had their debut album, Matando Güeros («Killing White People»). Then two years later, in 1995, came out the second fulllenth Raza Odiada after five year came out the best album of the band the legendary Brujerizmo in the year 2000, after the split up there was a reunion in 2007 with tour after they reach a stable formation a new album Pocho Aztlan in 2016. In their thirty years of carrier, they have made only four full lengths, but numerous ep’s, singles, and compilations such as the latest very recent Amaricon Czar, which also gives the title to the tour. Currently the line-up of the band includes in addition to the historical members Juan Brujo main voice, Hongo on bass, Pinche Peach samplings vocals and choirs, we find Hongo Jr on drums, El Sangron on El Criminal on guitar. Brujeria’s legend has

proliferated for nearly three decades. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the formation of the band that he still has active. Here it is a couple of minutes after 23.40 the scheduled starting time of the concert. The audience is waiting impatiently but suddenly we begin to earn a nice and childish tune that makes band’s intro. The members come one by one on stage starting with Hongo Jr, who sits behind the drums, then, all the others. At the end, a scream accompanies the entry of the group’s star Juan Brujo, who shows off his classic look: jeans, leather gilet (barechested) and leather boots, a bandana with the colours of the Mexican flag that covers his face, the bandana has a hole at the mouth, to allow him to sing. El Sangron and the others also wear the same type of bandana but in different colossal of them wear black baseball caps with the name of the band in white.

51


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

The notes of the first song begin. It is the song Cuiden a los niños, (Pay attention to the children) with which they

from the album Raza odiada. (Hated race) Juan Brujo that first seems to be slightly subdued compared to the colleague, this time i n s t e a d takes over by precisely following the rhythmic and pounding melody that distinguishes often started their concert’s. this track. The track is taken from the The Roman audience legendary album Brujerizmo. applauds and El Sagron Here it is evident how the responds: “Gracias Rome! vocal presence of El Sangron Que pasò? (What’s up?). is important, despite having returned from the previous exhibition with Sangre. El Criminal as well starts immediately at full speed and with extreme precision draws the guidelines of this song. The riff marks the melody of this song. As well as his other The audience responds colleagues Hongo jr seems with an energetic Yeahh !! really in good condition as all Furthermore, from the back, the drummers this evening he someone suggests Juan seems to have an extra power). Brujo to play the The melody supported by a song El Patron devastating drum continues on (dedicated as this road until the end of the Pablo Escobar), song. but he refuses After the song, the second and says: «Oh frontman presents the second no, no El track in the setlist by shouting patron, no ... La ley del plomo!! The lay of te pone tristes, the lead). Thus starts another no quiero hacer classic song taken this time todos tristes ...

52

Juan Brujo es el patron aqui! (Oh, no el patron no it will make you sad… I don‘t want to make you sad… Juan Brujo es el patron here! El Sangron continues: «Tenemos dos canciones nuevos… two new songs for you ... the first one Amaricon Czar! The new song starts, it is furious, the drums don’t miss a beat and have lots of very nice ups and downs (I mean variations on the main theme) and the alternation between the two singers especially in the first part is particularly pleasant. The chorus, finally took up practically everyone around me infact, many are repeating the words ehy-ehy-ehy following the rhythm. At the end again El Sangron tanks the audience: “Gracias a todos” “... Gracias!” and Juan adds: “Hijo de puta… Fuck Donald Trump…” “… we have a new vinyl record for sale… and shows the area where the merchandising stand is located. Dos canciones! (Two songs) La segunda se llama (the second is called) Lord nazi ruso!!!


Reviews We ear the first notes of the second track of the new single (I had not yet ear it), whose beginning is characterized by an alternation of voices, more substantial and violent that of Juan Brujo and more acute and childish that of El Sangron. In the continuation of the song that increases the speed towards an increasingly violent and devastating rhythm, even the voice of El Sangron becomes more and more bad. “Lord Nazi ruso ...” Juan Brujo ends up between his teeth. El Sangron asks the public again how the evening goes: Todo bien? Todo bien cabrones de Roma! (Everything is ok Motherfuckers of Rome). Este cancion es por todos los greñudos locos (this song is for all the crazy headbangers) Hechando! Hechando! Lo sabes? Hechando Chingazos! (Making Chingazos!). It is now the time for Hechando chingasos (Greñudo locos II) again from Raza Odiada, during the melody played by the drums, the singers accompanied by a particular movement. The thrashy rhythm perfectly matches the singing, the refrain is really fierce here too all the singing sounds particularly suitable for the musical base. hechando! Repeat Juan low voice at the end of the song. Juan presents the next song spelling out the Name: La migra! Here La migra (The immigration) (Cruza la frontera II) from Raza Odiada here the rhythm becomes more unleashed. At the end el Bujo screams chinga tu madre pinche migra… (fuck your mother pinche migra) que paso cabrones migrantes!? Someone from behind screams something incomprehensible to me but on the stage they catch the meaning ad reply Damela,

marjujana, marjuana por todos, todos chichona por todos poi passano a presentare la canzone successive: “Este cancion is a story of creature parte hombre parte monstro. Satomo!! The two simger start to dance like fuckin’ monkeys?! Again drums rides super fast! Despite the very high speed the song results very well played. For now makes it the best of the set, but now we’re not even halfway through! Other applauses at the end. The people really feel that concert! They are having a lot of fun and want them to know it. Brujeria usually when they talk to the audience they talk a little not so loud and many can’t understand what they are saying!

There are some Latinos, in the public, and Juan notices it and asks: “Latinos, Mexicanos a guy is from Perù and a girl from Guatemala. Listos pa el desmadre! (ready for the riot) Yo quiero ver desmadre cabrones! I want to see riot motherfuckers) Here is one of my favourite songs! I cannot add anything more to this short song but make further praise to the violent drums and the guitar as precise as it should be. The slightly bass feels little mixed up and the two voices they get a little “taken” by the rhythm, making it a bit chaotic, but here i would say we can be ok in this situation. Are you having a good time tonight Rome? Screams Juan and the public, including me, responds with a scream and many applauses … Mucha cervezas, marijuana! Cocaina. Hoy-- soy? AntiCastro responds the audience! And suddenly Juan Brujo replied: “Nooo, no no no ya no… no more… hamas… ya no es AntiCastro… es Castro muerto! Here is the “remake” of the famous song from Brujerizmo, here differently from the previous ones, it is instead the frontmen to rule it, dispensing energy and malice that the audience including me totally, supports singing the chorus loud together with them, so many of us know it! The final phrase was modified: “Traheme la cabeza de Raul Castro! Castro muerto! Gracias!! Ok donde estan los soldados de grito de Brujeria… Brujeria soldiers, vamos arriba! Soldados preparase por la marcha… marcha- de-odio!

53


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

Here is another success from Brujerizmo. the guitar has a different sound more scracthy and slow at the beginning of the son the singers stand with the right arms crossing the chest. Juan Brujo seems to have little breath, but he wants to have fun! The march continues a little more slowly as here, too, the audience responds positively. Without any pause, the concert continues with another song from Raza Odiada here is Revoluciòn. Juan Brujo seems to have found his breath. Not a fast song but heavy with a nice chorus. Again without pause, suddenly starts to play the initial unmistakable tune of one of the most famous song of the

54

band. A big scream from the title track of the legendary Brujerizmo the singers “stretch” the strophes like madmen, perhaps making the text a bit chaotic. The slow but heavy drums riff is really devastating. The singing part is full of pathos, even too much! A bass lighter than before still makes you feel its presence. Hongo Jr and El Criminal really have some extra powers. The audience is in rapture! “Lo que tienen Pocho Aztlan?” Asks Juan tres… quatro… (who’s got Pocho Atzlan three… four…) Tenemos discos de mercanzia adds El Sangron (We have merchandise records), este cancion de Pocho Aztlan se llama Angel de la Frontera (this song from Pocho Aztlan is called Ángel of the Frontier). This is the album that i know less than the others and, as well, the less played tonight. The music winks at more classic metal with a particularly suitable drum line. Particularly successful is also the chorus that the public sings loud. Now it’s time for a pause the singers talk with the public: Esta bien… (it’s ok), asks Juan continues asking about… Marijuana… weed… In fact, they noticed some smoke coming from the public so Juan asks: “Estan fumando… you? Weed… Esta marijuanos, Marijuaneros! Donde esta la marijuana, cabrones! Now they

sing a little tune improvised about marijuana…marijuana… “SI!” replied the audience. “MARIJUANA!” asks louder and “SI!” replies the people of the Traffic live all together and louder. After that Juan Brujo asks for help:“Necesitamos de unas muchachitas para ayudarnos… una… and a girl went on the stage to help them with a board… “Marijuana!” again El Sangron and whispers the name of a new song that is Consejos narcos (Narcos tips). This a pounding and old song, in this case the board with written on one side SI (yes) and on the other no, the girl turns it according to the text of the song for example Mariuana yes el Polvo- No!


Reviews At the end, both the singers thank the public: “Gracias!... Muchas Gracias… Gracias Mas Si Que No. the subsequent song as well from Raza Odiada is the shortest of the set Juan screams “Colas de raa--taaa (Rat tails). It is short at the same time is very harsh, the chorus is not really clear in this version. Another well known guitar riff starts now is the title track of the album Raza odiada (the most played album of the night), dedicated to Pete (Pito) Wilson. In the melody of this song, I feel something like new metal moods that suddenly turns in something heavier; here it is another well-known chorus. The audience knows in very well and sings along. It is absolutely headbanging! “Chinga tu madre Pito Wilson” shouts Juan. Unfortunately seems that El Pinche Peach will not join the concert tonight. Estas cansados? (Are you tired), demands El Sangron “No” we replied al together: “Estas listos por mas… Are you ready for more! “Esto es Brujeria! (This is Brujeria), Esto… es… Brujeria! No aceptan imitaciones (They don’t accept imitations) now is the turn of a quite new song for me it is No aceptan imitaciones from the album Pocho Aztlan. Another kickass song. Pure Brujeria’s style. Fast and furious! Even is the vocals is a little bit low.

Esto es Brujeria!roar Juan Brujo: “Thanks everyone for being here tonight, Gracias! Uno mas! Gracias a todos por su apoyo (thanks everyone for the support) for the all the

times… there is some merchandise there camisas CD, todos Thank you! “Gracias! Screams again Juan. “Uno mas, una cancion que quieres… (One more, what song do you want?) asks el Sangron:

“ M a t a n d o gueros shouts the crowd que… (what?) again louder Matando gueros! que… M A T A N D O GUEROS! And Juan slowly Matando gueros! From the homonymous first album Matando güeros the audience is moshing to death to the powerful drums and turmoiling guitar riff, maybe a little bit too fast played, but is just a detail. It is a very energetic, violent song. Needless to comment that this is the most played song in Brujeria concerts! But I have to say that the singers approached the edge of the stage wielding decorated machetes. Classy! At the end of the song, everyone though that the concert was finished but suddenly starts the tune of the song Macarena that Brujeria cover with the name of Marijuana, and obviously a new text. With this funny dance/pop extra track the number sixteen the concert is really over. What to say at the end? I love Brujeria! The show, is not only music there is more tense rage, violence and a little bit of gloom and… I like the decorated machetes!

55


† 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 Immolation “Latin America Tour” in Bogota that passed in Bogota Colombia on July 3&4. The author is our friend and great photographer Diego Molina of Colonia Records from Bogota, C o l o m b i a .

56 56

Event organized by: Colombian Shows (Rock/ Metal Show Agency) Venue: Ozzy Bar Date: July 3-4, 2019 Review & Pictures by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)


Reviews

57 57

† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Directly from New York, Immolation would be visiting us in the framework of its “Latin America Tour 2019”, a tour that would include five dates starting in Ecuador and passing through Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

T

h e i r dates (July weeks before the lovers could not miss

Immolation with more than 30 years in the metal scene, would be presented for the first time in Colombia (Bogotá) on July 3 and its show with an 18-track setlist would show the power of the band and make things clear from the first song… his presentation would be blunt!, starting with the songs “Close to a World Below”, “The Distorting Light” and “Father, You’re Not a Father”. They performed songs from approximately 8 of their record labels, with 58

58

passage through our country included two 3 and 4) due to the «SOLD OUT» of the first show presentation ... and that is that old school death metal any of the Confirmed appointments with the American band.

emphasis on their most recent LP “A t o n e m e n t ” pressed by the Nuclear Blast in 2017 (five tracks would sound from this work); the end of his presentation could not be better, 5 tracks that left an exhausted audience with an endless moshpit, but with the satisfaction of seeing one of the creators of the genre, in addition to being with them in a very intimate way, since that


Reviews

Ozzy Bar is a suitable place for it. Thus, the setlist would close with the songs: «Immolation», «When the Jackals Come», «A Glorious Epoch», «What They Bring» and «Dawn of Possession» taken from his first work that saw light there in 1991 with homonymous name to the subject.

The presentation of Immolation on its second date (July 4) would not have changes in the setlist and then very surely those attending both shows will not forget the passage through Colombia of Ross Dolan and Robert Vigna. Both appointments had impeccable opening shows at the

height of the evening, Bonestorm who came from Bucaramanga (Colombia) would be present on the first date; while Mortalem of Bogotá (Colombia) would be the opening of the second date, in which, among others, they would show us one of their most recent releases “Storm Depravity”.

59 59


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

Varathron («30 Years of Darkness», Bogotá July 27, 2019)

Review from «Latin America Tour 2019 - 30 Years of Darkness» of Varathron that passed in Bogota Colombia on July 27. The author - Diego Molina of Colonia Records from Bogota, Colombia.

6060

Bands: Varathron (Greece), Bloodhymns (Colombia). Esbbat (Colombia). Event organized by: Sismika Producciones and Weapons of Conquest Place: Ace of Spades Club Date: July 27, 2019 Review & P i c t u r e s by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)


Reviews

Varathron, a band formed in Greece and that turns more than 30 years in the black world scene, would perform for the first time and perhaps only once in Bogotรก on July 27. The opening of the event was in charge of Bloodhymns, Bogota band of black / death metal that is currently preparing for the launch of their first work and followed

by a group that does not need presentation ... Esbbat, with more than 20 years in the black metal scene of Colombia, would be responsible for leaving the stage to the greeks, to complete an evening of which the assistants will most likely not forget the chair that Varathron gave in his first and only visit to our country.

61 61


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

As part of his tour «Latin America Tour 2019 - 30 Years of Darkness», a tour that began in Mexico and passed through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Brazil, Varathron would present us completely his debut work «His Majesty at the Swamp ”, which was originally pressed in 1993 under the Cyber Music label; however, this would not start their show. Near midnight, the greeks would jump to the stage with the theme «Ouroboros Dweller (The Dweller of Barathrum)», track with which they would begin their presentation, showing from this first piece why they are pioneers of “Hellenic Black Metal” and their experience accumulated of 30 years. Songs like “Cassiopeia’s Ode”, “Tenebrous” and “Saturnian Sect” were the introduction of the setlist that Varathron would have prepared for his most loyal fans. They would interpret the whole «His Majesty at the Swamp» and it was almost like putting the work in any audio player from start to finish, without cuts, as expected their guitars created that atmosphere, that melody that at times

62


Reviews

Varathron setlist: 1. Ouroboros Dweller (The Dweller of Barathrum) 2. Cassiopeia’s Ode 3. Tenebrous 4. Saturnian Sect 5. Son of the Moon 6. Nightly Kingdoms 7. Unholy Funeral 8. Lustful Father 9. Flowers of My Youth 10. Legions of Profane Wrath Encore: 11. The Tressrising of Nyarlathotep (Act I) 12. Genesis of Apocryphal Desire 13. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi / Outro became hypnotic. «Son of the Moon», «Lustful Father», «Legions of Profane Wrath», would be just some of the songs with which the band would close the first set of their show. The band led by Stefanos (Necroabyssious) would include a luxury closing, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi” of their LP “Walpurgisnacht” was the track with which they would end their presentation.

63


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

Festival Rock al Parque June 29-30. July 1.

Review from Festival Rock Al Parque that passed in Bogota Colombia on June 29-30. July 1. The author - Diego Molina of Colonia Records from Bogota, Colombia. Assistance: >340000 people (3 days).

64

Event summary: 31 international artists, 32 local artist. Event organized by: IDARTES, Alcaldia Mayor de Bogota. Place: Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolivar Date: June 29-30. July 1. Review & Pictures by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)


Reviews

A short view of the 25 years of the “Festival Rock al Parque”. Festival Rock al Parque is an international rock event that has been held in Bogota (Colombia) since 1994 and is organized by the Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá; this event, held year after year, has become the largest free and open-air festival in Latin America. The festival, with its 2019 edition, turned 25 years and had the participation of 3 1 international artists, 32 local artists

(including special shows and selected groupings by call), 7 invited national artists and a closing show with the Orquesta Filármonica de Bogotá together with great artists of the local scene, who have left their mark throughout the life of the festival. As usual, the event was held for 3 days (June 29, 30 and July 1) in the Parque Simón Bolívar, in addition to a special show at the “Teatro Jorge Eliécer Gaitán” and reached a record attendance l e v e l that exceeded 340 thousand

attendees (84 thousand on day 1, 95 thousand on day 2, plus another 5 thousand people who attended the special show of the Teatro JEG and the rest on the third day, this is about 160 thousand people). Additionally, the festival includes an academic component which takes place before and after the festival in other settings and that includes, among others, conversations with invited artists for these activities. The festival would dedicate its first day (June 29, 2019) to metal and extreme sounds, this is the 3 stages (Plaza, Bio, Lago) with 21 groups distributed as follows: Plaza Stage: Buitres (Guest band “Crea” program), Power Insane (Band selected by contest), Kariwa (Band selected by contest), Tarja (International artist - Finland), Tenebrarum (Guest national artist), Angra (International artist - Brazil ), Under Threat (Special Show - National Artist) and D e i c i d e (International Artist USA).

65


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

Bio Stage: Info (Band selected by contest), Lucifera (National guest artist), Capilla Ardiente (International artist - Chile), High Rate Extinction (Band selected by contest), Internal Suffering (National guest artist) and Dying Fetus (International artist - USA). Lago Stage: ROR (Guest band “Crea” program), Razón de Ser (Band selected by contest), Vaquero Negro (International artist - Mexico), El Sagrado (Band selected by contest), Grito (Guest national artist), Tras las Púas (Band selected by contest) and Here Comes the Kraken (International artist - Mexico). We could extend talking about each of these presentations; however, we will focus on 4 of the most anticipated shows in the metal music day…

66


Reviews

Under threat is one of the most emblematic bands of Colombian metal, formed in Bogotá (Colombia) in 1997, has 5 LPs recorded to date, «The Prison Within» being its most recent production. The band of melodic death metal would give one of the 7 «special shows» of the festival, its presentation being a view of all their discography, which takes place within the framework of the celebration of its 20 years of the band. Under threat is David Bermudez (Bass), Alejandro Rojas (Drums), Nicolas Bermudez (Voice and guitar) and Juan Burbano (Guitar).

The Under Threat presentation would give way to one of the most anticipated bands of the day, Deicide, legendary US death metal band that would be presented for the fourth time in Bogotá, but for the first time in Colombia before the more than 80,000 people present in the venue. The show was composed of 17 tracks, including all their great songs, including «When Satan Rules His World», «Once Upon the Cross», «Scars of the Crucifix» and a close of not forgetting show, from his debut album «Deicide» and «Lunatic of God’s Creation». Decided with 30 years, it would be the band that would close the festival’s metal music day.

67


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

Deicide (Festival Rock al Parque setlist) : 1. Dead by Dawn 2. When Satan Rules His World 3. Scars of the Crucifix 4. They are the Children of the Underworld 5. Once Upon the Cross 6. Serpents of the Light 7. Seal the Tomb Below 8. Oblivious to Evil 9. Dead but Dreaming 10. Trifixion 11. Excommunicated 12. In the Minds of Evil 13. Kill the Christian 14. Sacrificial Suicide 15. Homage for Satan 16. Deicide 17. Lunatic of God’s Creation

Meanwhile, on the Bio stage, around the middle of the afternoon, there would be the presentation of one of the national bands invited to the festival, Lucifera black / thrash metal band formed in Pasto (Colombia) in 2008, have in its trajectory with 3 studio LPs and would show their most recent release «La Cacería de Brujas», which saw light at the beginning of 2019 under the german label Dunkelheit Produktionen. Excellent presentation of the band led by Alejandra Blasfemia that for the first time would be at the festival, but that already has tours in South America and Central America.

68


Reviews

The closing of the day on the Bio stage would be in charge of Dying Fetus, a US band formed in 1991 that would be presented for the first time in Colombia and would show why they are one of the most recognized death metal / grindcore bands on the planet. What to say about his show, it was blunt, a setlist with 11 songs prepared for a continuous headbanging of one hour, which surely left some broken necks.

Dying Fetus (Festival Rock al Parque setlist): 1. In the Trenches 2. Fixated on Devastation 3. One Shot, One Kill 4. From Womb to Waste 5. Grotesque Impalement 6. Panic Amongst the Herd 7. Destroy the Opposition 8. Eviscerated Offspring 9. Seething With Disdain 10. Your Treachery Will Die With You 11. Wrong One to Fuck With

If you want to know more about the other presentations of the 25 years of the “Festival Rock al Parque�, you can enter the following link that includes a summary of the entire festival: https://coloniarecords.com/rock-al-parque-2019/

69


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews Philip Anselmo «Choosing Mental Illness Latin America Tour 2019» August 27. Review from Philip Anselmo’s Choosing Mental Illness Latin America Tour 2019 that passed in Bogota Colombia on August 27. The author - Diego Molina of Colonia Records from Bogota, Colombia.

70

Bands: Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals (U.S.A.), Vein (Colombia). Event organized by: Lemmy Productions/ Blasting Records Store Place: Auditorio Mayor Date: August 27, 2019 Review & Pictures by Colonia Records (Diego A Molina)


Reviews

Almost a year has passed (October/2018), since Philip Anselmo’s visit was announced for the first and perhaps only time to Colombia and although this visit had to be postponed twice it was a success to wait, since now it was not just about of being as close as possible to one of Pantera’s living legends, but also being able to enjoy a setlist dedicated mostly to Pantera «Perform a Vulgar Display of Pantera».

Philip Anselmo’s historic visit to Colombia takes place within the framework of his «Choosing Mental Illness Latin America Tour 2019» tour, which includes a tour that began on August 22 in Santiago (Chile) and before arriving in Bogotá on August 27, he was present in Montevideo (Uruguay), Lima (Peru) and would end with their shows in San José (Costa Rica) and Mexico DC + Monterrey (Mexico).

Vein (band from Bogotá - Colombia), would be responsible for opening the historic event…. After half past 7 pm and for about 45 minutes, Vein would interpret a setlist composed of themes from his first work “Chapter I” and would include some new tracks, which will be included in the second LP, which were released days ago in the presentations that the band gave in New York and Washington.

71


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

The nerves reached their greatest expression, when around 9 p.m. The Illegals begin for half an hour with the sound test of their respective instruments, giving way to a Philip Anselmo who greeted Bogotá with his open arms and came giving to the audience of the Auditorium. The expected presentation, would begin with themes extracted from his project Philip H. Anselmo and The Illegals, being these «Little Fucking Heroes», «Bedridden» and «Choosing Mental Illness», which were like in the mouths or preparation for what is would come… the string of Pantera songs; after years of waiting and perhaps a pending appointment with Colombia, which had the founder of projects such as Down, Superjoint Ritual and many others in which he has participated, Philip Anselmo would announce the theme “Mouth for War” and it was from that moment on that Anselmo did not sing alone, he did it together with all audience attendees ...

72


Reviews

Hardly forget this presentation that included among others, songs such a s «Becoming», «Walk», «This Love», «Domination» and a giant mosh that was formed in «Fucking Hostile»... unfortunately and as every concert has its the end and «A New Level» was the theme with which his presentation would be closed, followed by a few short lines of «Stairway to Heaven» a cappella and in the voice of Anselmo ... satisfaction of each assistant who would withdraw from the enclosure accompanied by the theme Queen’s «Killer Queen»...

Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals Bogota’s setlist: 1. Little Fucking Heroes 2. Bedridden 3. Choosing Mental Illness 4. Mouth for War 5. Becoming 6. Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit 7. I’m Broken 8. Walk 9. This Love 10. Fucking Hostile 11. Domination / Hollow Encore: 12. A New Level

73


Reviews Bloodstock Open Air Catton Hall Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, August 8-11, 2019. Review and photos by Mark Walsh for http://metalfesteurope.com

Please check this site and you can see many information about great European metal fests! http://metalfesteurope.com

† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage

Bloodstock Open Air is a British heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire. BOA 2019 took place at Catton Hall between Thursday 8 August and Sunday 11 August 2019. Dimmu Borgir were booked to play the Ronnie James Dio stage on Sunday but pulled out due to illness, they were

74

replaced by Batushka. Code Orange were booked to play the Ronnie James Dio stage on Saturday but pulled out and were replaced by The Wildhearts. Shvpes were booked to play the Sophie Lancaster stage on Saturday but pulled out and were replaced by Lotus Eater. Due to windy conditions, the Ronnie James Dio

stage was unsafe for use on the Saturday evening, leading to Cradle of Filth being moved to the Sunday, taking Batushka’s slot, with Batushka being moved to the Sophie Lancaster Stage, resulting in The Lazys being moved to the New Blood Stage. As well as this, Parkway Drive’s and Anthrax’s performances were both delayed until the Stage was deemed safe to use.


When arriving at Bloodstock on the Thursday lunchtime there was a slight feeling of interpretation as the weather forecast was mixed and we had just had some pretty severe storms the previous week.

However, throughout the day and evening it was hot and sunny and I had a great afternoon in Midgard campsite eating, drinking and catching up with my Bloodstock pals. There were just as few bands lined up to play

Reviews

the Thursday evening and after a few short sets from the opening bands, a load of pretty drunk people descended on the Sophie Tent to see Rotting Christ who treated us to a great set of old and new tracks.

Friday. On the Main Stage it was Thrash Metal afternoon with Xentrix followed by Death Angel and then Metal Church. I managed to catch most of Children of Bodom before

heading off to the Sophie Stage to see Sulpher who after overcoming some sound problems were able to proceed with an awesome i n d u s t r i a l sounding set.

A l t h o u g h Countless Skies were sounding really good on the Sophie Stage, I wasn’t going to miss Powerwolf so headed off quickly to the Main Stage and enjoyed what was one of the best bands of the weekend. Front-man and lead vocalist Attila Dorn was right on form, cracking jokes and absolutely having the whole crowd following his every command in a heavily based audience participation set. Along with their great music, and magnificent Gothic church stage set it was a fantastic hour of Power Metal. Sabaton followed Powerwolf and likewise, with an amazing World War I stage set and some great tracks to hear, they played out an enjoyable set and were worthy headliners. Talking afterwards though many people did prefer Powerwolf and found themselves converted.

Saturday.

I was keen to see both Swallow the Sun and Helheim for the first time and both bands met my high expectations. Evil Scarecrow were as usual, an exceptional comedy act with some decent metal included.

75


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews Now since as far back as I can remember, whenever I am at a Metal festival, whether in UK or abroad, I always manage to spot Rockin’ Roy who is a short blond haired Welsh guy and will never be without a drink in his hand. Bloodstock 2019 was no exception and it was a pleasure chatting to Roy who is a bit of a legend and understandably seems to know so many people at festivals.

That led us to the headliners for the night Parkway Drive. Much anticipated and looked forward to by some, and conversely not so by others who doubted their right to be headlining. What we got from Parkway Drive was one of the best headlining performances ever seen at Bloodstock and a massive crowd who mostly were in awe of pretty much

76

As the afternoon drew to a close, the high winds that had been swirling around us all day started to gain momentum and when all the main stage lighting rigs came down just before Cradle of Filth were due to start, it looked ominous. A couple of hours later, after some rescheduling of bands and a sterling effort from the Bloodstock team on the Main Stage, Anthrax were able to take the stage and played a really good set of which many people made a of point of saying how good they were.

everything t h e y did. Their well constructed set led with memorising tension before moving into upbeat tracks that had the who audience bouncing. They mixed in some heavier tracks while at the same time

contrasted with a string section. Add the exceptional fire effects and pyro and this all contributed to an absolutely splendid set and a great evening.


Reviews For me, the evenings music was far from over. I was really looking forward to seeing Taake and they were just brilliant. I got pretty close to the front of the stage and was really absorbed by the way they superbly play Black Metal. Later at the Campsite there was a pretty impressive parade of people marching around in search of wheelie bins so they could have the traditional bin jousting competition. Wheelie bins though seemed to be quite sparse, which I think may have been deliberate from the organisers.

Sunday.

The final day of the festival started off pretty wet and we had constant heavy showers up until mid-afternoon. Incredibly though, the site didn’t get too muddy and compared to Download or Wacken it held up very well. I did intend to watch Hypocrisy during the afternoon but after taking a seat at Lemmy’s bar, time just flew by chatting to people and Hypocrisy came and went without me realising. Everyone at Bloodstock is so friendly it isn’t hard to get engaged in all sorts of interesting conversations with complete strangers, who then become friends. Cradle of Filth had to swap from Saturday to Sunday due to the high winds and I did feel for them as they also had to swap about 2 weeks prior at Wacken due to thunder storms and also got stranded a week before at Heathrow airport due to airport technical issues. The band were fantastic and I really enjoyed their set. Lots of fire added to the Gothic stage set and it all came across really well. Batuska were better than I expected and surprisingly made up for the absence of Dimmu Borgir. Cloaked, masked and combining music with ceremony, they played out a really powerful Black Metal set. Reflecting back on the whole weekend I w o u l d have to say it was a fantastic 4 days of live Rock We thank & Metal Music. A really well organised festival http://metalfesteurope.com with a great atmosphere in the campsites and for their permission to arena, and loads of really friendly people which use their review for our we know Bloodstock is renown for. webzine.

77


Reviews Brutal Assault, fortress Josefov, Jaromer, Czech Republic. August 7-10, 2019. Review by Anastasiya for http://www.hitkiller.com /Photos by David Surovec.

Brutal Assault is an open-air extreme metal festival that takes place in the 18th-century army fortress Josefov, located in Jaromer, Czech Republic. It is held each August early in the month from Wednesday until Saturday. The festival started in 1996, originally focused on grindcore. For many years, it was a small event with mainly Czech and Slovak bands

78

The album with all photos made by David Surovec specially for Brutal Assault you can see here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/brutalassault.cz/ photos/?tab=album&album_id=2455534104504312&ref=page_internal

The original review you can see here: http://www.hitkiller.com/brutal-assault-2019muzykalnaya-narkomaniya.html

† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage

performing. It changed location several times and grew into a large event by 2006, when over 7,000 people attended the festival in Svojsice. After moving to Josefov, attendances grew further to 15,000 in 2012 and the festival has operated two alternating main stages since. Currently, Brutal Assault features artists that perform all forms of extreme

metal. 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 all-capturing massattracting headliners. The festival motto is: «Against violence and intolerance».


Reviews

Everyone who goes to Brutal Assault each year knows this feeling: you get addicted of this festival like of sweet hemp smoke, which has long anointed the surroundings of Jaromer. The maniacs have been visiting the “brutal” for more than ten to fifteen years (next year the fest, by the way, will celebrate its 25th anniversary), and judging by the fact

monoxide, cozy, sincere and still quite budgetary European fest, which you leave in tears and upset feelings: only now it seemed that everything was rooted in it, it was saturated with metal, dust, that in recent years the communication, soldiers have happened fried food and a variety before the announcement of booze, like the fourth of the full composition, the day is drawing to a the Czech team is doing close, and again wait everything right. This is another year. a comfortable, carbon

Fortunately or unfortunately, the quantity “Assaultians” has nowhere to grow in breadth: the capacity of the fortress is limited to two tens of thousands of people therefore it’s growing deeper. This year, new official campsites and hotels have been added; there seemed to be even more points with food; and also - the main innovation - in addition

to the natural stands (tickets for which are sold out within about six months), two VIP zones

40 euros, those who wanted to avoid slam and crowds could stand on the platform exactly opposite acting gangs. And although part of the people reacted on the news negatively (the view from the stands deteriorated a little), on the whole, the decision was also appeared in front of the understood by those who scenes, above the sound wanted to «go broke» on engineering “cabinets” such an upgrade. - therefore, having paid

79


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews By the way, in 2019, prices for all types of tickets increased slightly, but food and other things remained in the same range. Also, in case of heat, the organizers put several taps with drinking water - and on the second or third day, a watering hole, from a hangover and hot Czech temperatures, gathered black-logo-hairy crowds. On the fourth day, water was already pouring from the sky.

you will be fine.” In his leather robes, resembling a fat Dracula, Vincent was handsome, imposing, and incredibly p a t h e t i c . H o w e v e r , the roar has not yet been forgotten: the characteristic brutal readable vocals broadcast about Something Wicked Marches In and Marching On. Wonderful album, flawless performance; the vocalist’s scenic behavior is amateur. Although they practically stopped the rain then; when COMBICHRIST flew onto the stage with electric devils, the hellish dances began in puddles and mud: to stand under a high-octane “Hey, why are you aggro tech was simply worried because of the unrealistic. It’s a pity, rain? - asked David Vincent at the VLTIMAS performance, theatrically shaking hands, “just think about the sunny weather, and

80

only a couple of tracks were played from the new

One Fire album: the new material is exceptionally cool. Well, since there was talk about the last day (have no clue why I started with it), it should be noted that there were a lot of powerful sets in it. Unfortunately, she missed GUTALAX: the grind-shit-terrorists were set at the earliest time, at 10.30, and getting up at eight to be in time was unrealistic. Therefore, having appeared at the performance of the VAMPIRILLA brutal orchestra, I watched only the toilet paper field, which proudly fluttered in the air, among the brushes, inflatable pussies, the most idiotic outfits and the real toi-toi toilet that was engaged in crowd surfing. It is inhumane to start such holidays at the earliest!


On the other hand, she enjoyed the fuckfuck-fuck-fuckings of singer of DEMOLITION HAMMER, spitting out their thrash parts

with absolutely notoldman-rage. The plague performance of ageless and unchanging NAPALM DEATH (Barney in his shorts impresses with the vitality and sincere desperate foolishness he has been showing on the scene for two hundred years; more than screaming, this

man loves only to push socialism and politics). A dizzying set of CARCASS (despite the fact that Walker claimed that he was extinguished in trash this was one of the most lethal and capacious performances for the

entire festival: the old guard of tank furrows does not spoil at all!). ANIMALS AS LEADERS, which I saw for the fifth time, but invariably stick to their phlegmatic guitar filigree, like a lizard; ROTTING CHRIST with ritual spells under the rising moon and stylish stage design (although, to be honest, it really stuck only at the end of the set, under “In Yumen-Xibalba” and “Grandis Spiritus Diavolos”: oh, the demons of the fortress were enraged to this rhythmic Satanism!); MGŁA, which, like a couple of years a g o , gloomily c l o s e d festival d a y s . M G Ł A t h a t always l o o k and play exactly the same. And it always works. A curious and anticipated band of this «brutal» were ANAAL NATHRAKH. From the evening hours the team was displaced for the night - and they tore this night into flags.

Reviews

British “Obscene As Cancer”, “Forward!”, “Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes”: concentrated multi-level horror, hysteria, flurry, brutality - everything was with them. I don’t know why there is an opinion that AN live is disappointing. They sounded as if in a recording. And in the intervals between frenzied screams, he managed to push something about democracy (oh, I feel Birmingham hardening) - as a result of which the

Pole who stood behind, obviously a big fan of “Anaal” music, started to go into a jerk and yell: “Kurrrrva, come on, come on ! Kurrva! ”I say, fest is about drug addiction. I urgently need a dose. Urgently.

81


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews Stylistically, in 2019, there was an abundance of trash. EXHUMER, D E M O L I T I O N H A M M E R , DESTRUCTION, TESTAMENT, SODOM, ANTHRAX, SACRED REICH and another

AGNOSTIC FRONT, SICK OF IT ALL, WALLS OF JERICHO, etc., existing for the sake of mosh, broken faces and breaks to eat, as well as wandering around the metal market with merch and music carriers, and entertainment locations of the fortress, where this year there were art galleries, and a horror room (for a fee), and a photo zone stylized as “Mad Max”, and traditional cinema in the brutal hall. By the way, in the list of broadcasts, u s u a l l y exhausted by base horror movies, noir and horror classics, I was surprised by the presence of a serious and really scary movie “Go and

couple of a lower rank. Not being a fan of style, honestly, I delved into each only a little bit, besides the “Hammers”, I looked only at the confident, simple and effective, like a baton, SODOM, as well as an impressive visual and vocal TESTAMENT. An attempt to listen to ANTHRAX (one must understand why this band is in the top three thrashers of the planet!) Was unsuccessful: after all, Joey has incredibly nasty vocals. Traditionally, hardcore also passed by: speakers on each “brutal” Watch”. Very weakly,

82

he correlated with the general detachable atmosphere. The Belarusian export of 2019 was, however, not only a film about the war. WOE UNTO ME was the third band from the Republic of Belarus to perform at the Brutal Assault - on the first day, on the small stage inside the fortress, among the stone walls that seemed to be crushed and compressed under the heartbreaking screams and cloudy funeral riffs of the team performing with such concentrated doom that the skies

above Jaromer burst and consecrated the still fresh public with the first rain. There were a lot of people, which was nice, despite the fact that EYEHATEGOD and BATUSHKA played on other stages, and the number of metalheads in the “Father” t-shirts went off scale. Even more than that: the merchandise has already appeared on the inscription “Fake


Reviews

Batushka”, and many, I think, were interested in what the band was under the direction of Krysiyuk. In general, I would also be curious to compare with the previous, presplitting version that I watched on a solo album in Kiev - but ... no, no. Do not change your own. The first one, shortened for obvious reasons (until you reach the hotel, check in, pass control, that’s all), the day was also remembered by the performance of JINJER, which was killer in material and presentation; THERION nostalgic set with Theli program and demonic Vikstrom in a cap, who under the «The Siren Of The Woods» was doing some obscenities with the vocalist; a good, albeit without fire, HYPOCRISY returning exit and decisively, absolutely, perfectly suicidal, tearing down roofs and shutters,

absorbing and spreading with hopeless melancholy over the centuries the appearance of CULT OF LUNA. Oh, it’s not without reason that they returned to activity: after such performances, the September A Dawn To Fear will be waiting with special attention. In fact, there was only one other band for the festival that was first seen and made out by the brain as clearly as the Swedish

Sliders: the Swedish nutty maths from MESHUGGAH with an elaborate, furious mechanical sound that absorbed the meticulousness of a giant watch factory that suddenly exploded in your head. Incredible, apocalyptic-epileptic appearance, in flashes and

rattle of psychotically cut into neat strips of iron. The blast!!! Who else? Certainly, the extraterrestrial lightness and sentimental touching of ANATHEMA in the rays of a dying sunset; the riffled, slaughtering nonsense of ELECTRIC WIZARD (the band under which everyone is tinkered with - but completely unnecessarily: it clouds the mind without any dope); polished EKTOMORF; hypnotic shamanism HEILUNG; technical cutting GOROD. So many bands, impressions, everything so many that the words end and, returning, vainly unravel the disheveled emotional lump. And then Anneke, pretty, energetic, lively, with her amazing voice and VUUR playing her own, then THE GENTLE STORM, then THE GATHERING. “Strange Machines”, and it’s as if you are already gone, there is only sound, and salt on your lips, and the memory of something unrealistic. Or come true; what’s the difference what the team plays while Anneke sings. Honestly, you somehow don’t even listen to music.

83


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews But PRIMORDIAL should act that evening, bringing the piercing epic of the

moment to unacceptable values. And then the special project HELLHAMMER - TRIUMPH OF D E A T H w i l l sprinkle v e t e r a n wounds with galloping old-school ashes. It’s a shame to hell that D E I C I D E c a n c e l e d their set: bad weather broke out in Orlando, and the band could not fly out on time, and therefore the wild holywar flared up on the official Instagram. At first, Benton associates apologized and were polite; after the twentieth

84

comment in the style of “you shit, shit-eaters,

motherfuckers, continue to sit in your f u c k i n g

hole” they started telling visitors to go fuck themselves. But it’s easier, of course, to no one. Unless the Czech team

BRUTALLY DECEASED, which played an early set that day, but suddenly got a chance to re-kick off the headliner instead of Deicide. And, be sure, I tried for everyone. As for deathsters, by the way, KRISIUN were not bad at all; Aborted’s act was simply a triumph. IMMOLATION seemed boring against their background - although I listen to the band with pleasure in the recording.


I will not say anything new about the headliner star set EMPEROR: with the same program, the band “triumphantly returned” in 2017, and in 2019 everything turned out exactly the same. Nostalgia f o r blackers, not bad money for Ishan and company, a g e l e s s melodies and rhythms - and the persistent feeling that the band is all, in general, uninteresting, but ... you understand. Although there is no claim to the quality of execution. In general, apart from the fail of DEICIDE, Brutal Assault 2019 did not bring disappointments. Great sound, mostly good w e a t h e r , c o m p e t e n t organization - so if there are crowds, everything happens without queues and overlays. The wired-chip system (I can’t imagine how much money and effort has been invested in the development) works perfectly - and in general,

everything is done in a way that will not happen in our country, I am afraid, never. The drawback, in fact, is only

n e : everything ends too quickly. Four days long in rapid half a year. Music, people, stories.

Reviews

And now you stand, lost, and see off another festival to the mournful rhythms of SHAPE OF DESPAIR, and Daniel Neagoe plays his last show as part of this team. Everything ever ends. But perhaps only to repeat it again.

o

85


Reviews Wacken Open Air village of Wacken, northern Germany, August 1-3, 2019. Review and photos by Katha for http://metalfesteurope.com

Please check this site and you can see many information about great European metal fests! http://metalfesteurope.com

† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage

Wacken Open Air is an open-air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in summer in the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, 80 kilometres northwest of Hamburg. W:O:A is usually held at the beginning of August and lasts four days. The festival was first held in

86

1990 as a small event with about 800 visitors and six local German bands. The international significance of the festival is shown by the attendees in recent years consisting of 30% foreigners, with up to 10% non-Europeans, from about 30–40 different countries all around the world. During the festival, the

small town of Wacken submits itself to the heavy metal overlords, with stages, stalls, campground etc. spread out throughout a massive section of flat land. Wacken 2019 was held from Thursday 1 August to Saturday 3 August.


Wacken 2019 Review: A 30th Anniversary Party & Some Amazing Live Bands 2019 saw Wacken Open Air take place for the 30th time, and it was a birthday party at its finest!!! This festival is very special, and I think you have to have been there to fully understand what this name stands for. I’ll try my best to find words for it:

… 30 years of metal madness … a brand, a promise and a big enterprise in the background … a bunch of metalheads from all over the world, celebrating peaceful their passion for music. The basic conditions are good: many food / drink offers, free drinking water, the sanitary situation is ok, a supermarket especially for the festival, special offers for handicapped people… They’re doing a lot that the visitors can have a great time, and they make changes due to feedback if it’s reasonable. But the incredible amount of people brings it all to a limit sometimes, especially in the evening. Can’t imagine the enormous organizational Wacken is… effort – My greatest … a little town in North respect for the team Germany with 1900 people, that grows up to 85.000 people for one week in August … the epitome of a metal festival … a spirit … crazy and loud … rain or shine (famous for the mud after rain)

Reviews

behind!!! Travelling: Depending on where you come from, there are many ways to head into a bigger city near the festival. For the last miles, you can use bus shuttles or you need a car. Wacken visitors are good recognizable on the highways due to W:O:A tapes on the vehicles. During Wednesday and Thursday, there have been huge traffic jams. The campgrounds open already on Monday, so it’s highly recommended to travel there as early as possible. For those visitors who are not on the campgrounds, there are day parking areas available, with only 15 minutes walk to the festival area. Next up is the way to the ticket exchange (after a walk around the main area, 30 minutes when it’s dry, 60 minutes with mud. But the fun starts already here, and you get a first impression how big this event really is). With your wristband, you also get the “Full Metal Bag”, filled with useful

87


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

things like earplugs, a foldable water bottle, rain poncho and some other gimmicks. It is the only bag you are allowed to take through the security checks at the entrance, to make the controls easier and faster. Now, you can finally head into the Holy Ground. It opens on Wednesday, and there are already first shows (what is misleading, as the festival officially is announced from Thursday to Saturday). The festival field itself is divided in different areas: Infield with 3 stages (opens on Thursday) Bullhead City, a huge tent with 2 stages History stage (the first original Wacken tent), where “Metal Battle” takes place Beergarden Wackinger Village in Viking and Middle Ages look Wasteland, Mad Max theme. The themed areas are amazing and offer lots of different food, theme related games, attractions, and each one a stage for bands as well. It’s really worth to stay there for a while… Lots to discover.

But let’s talk about the music: All stages have a fantastic sound, so it’s really listening fun. There are many pyrotechnical effects and big video screens, so everyone can enjoy the shows. Around 200 bands were announced. Most of them need no introduction, many well-known

88

and they all delivered full power shows!!! People all around really names in the line-up. enjoyed themselves while I saw round about 30 dancing, crowd surfing bands over the 4 days, and in the pit. Many shows got enormous attention on social media or could be seen at the livestream, so everyone could follow the event even if not there. So let me pick just a few of my personal


highlights (even if there would be so much more to tell…) Vane started the Wednesday for me. They are from Poland and were part of the Metal Battle finale. They delivered 30 minutes pure power. Amazing gig, and in the end, they made it to the 5th place. Congrats!!! Emil Bulls came, saw… and destroyed at noon already. What a blast!!! Battle Beast kicked ass (and took names). Saw these crazy Vikings 6 times before, and it was always fun, but this show was on another level. Band and audience were on fire!!!

Reviews

safe. To sum it up: This festival is huge and insane, and I really had a great time. There is a special spirit that can be felt all around. A big “Thanks” goes out to the organizers and the thousands of helping hands!!!! Nevertheless, I decided not to go there again next Myrath from Tunisia were year, as I prefer small or absolutely mesmerizing. midsized festivals with Great music and an a more various line-up amazing performance, besides the big names topped with a fire in music business. But

show, a beautiful belly dancer and a magician. One of my most anticipated shows would have been Evergrey, but unfortunately it had to be cancelled due to a thunderstorm evacuation, and they couldn’t f i n d another Uriah Heep played their slot for them… first ever Wacken show The evacuation in 49 years band history, worked straight relaxed. and the amount of people and and who showed up was Security incredible. They’re still M e t a l h e a d s that living the dream, and handled that could be felt during very good, so everyone stayed the whole set.

that’s just my personal point of view. If you want to join the world’s biggest metal party and haven’t bought your ticket yet for 2020, you probably have to wait till 2021, as the 75.000 tickets for next year were sold out within 21 hours!!!

89


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews Midgardsblot Metalfestival, Borre, Vestfold, Norway August 15-17, 2019. Review and photos by Carl Eek Torgersen

The festival features major metal bands as well as more niche performers who sing in Old Norse and utilise instruments that would have been used in the Viking Ages. In addition to the music, the festival also features the recreation of a Viking society with feasts in a reconstructed long hall, costumed re-

90

enactors, and Vikingstyle ‘battles’. The festival takes place at the site of the Borre mounds, a vast Vikingera burial ground that has several massive burial mounds in a picturesque setting on the edge of the Oslofjord. This evocative setting gives the metal festival a unique atmosphere

you won’t find at any other music event. With historically-inspired performances, detailed reenactments, and incredibly enthusiastic crowd, Midgardsblot is routinely called one of the best metal festivals in Europe and is sure to be an event you won’t forget.


Reviews Midgardsblot is a celebration of norse heritage along with extreme metal. Open for all, and with the background of the old burial mounds of old Viking Lords, the setting is quite exceptional. Music wise it stretches from extreme metal, to EDM/ ambient/synthwave to more primal viking-esque music. Great food, great beer, great company. Also a series of lectures on varying subjects, and a separate Viking village for those in the mood for reenactment. The opening ceremonial blot was larger than usual, with attendees making an offering to Odin and smearing pigs blood on their faces. Tormentor delivered a brutal performance, as well as Memoriam and Deicide. Enslaved had an ensemble of dancers with them on stage wich i didn’t really get the point of. Heilung once again showed their on stage prowess with a powerful show. On the small gildehall stage, Urarv, zuriaake, and golden core delivered intense and intimate gigs.

91


† 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 live in Moscow Club, Moscow, Russia 28 September 2019. Review and photos by Olga Schneider

Rotting Christ... One of those bands which went through so much for all the time of their

92

existence, and many challenges around the world because of their lyrical content

in particular. So, here is the coincidence: time to visit Russia - a country which


have seen so many shit that happened with some of Metal shows here last years. Of course, such a decision is always a though call for musicians and a very challenging thing both for them and also for booking agencies and for the audience. That’s why Alliance C o n c e r t A g e n c y decided to play it safe and the code name of the band in this tour became Non Serviam. The show in Moscow took place in quite a small club near one of the railway stations, and this fact made a big part of the audience really sceptical first, considering previous Metal gigs there. Spoiler: it was the strongest fail ever. One of the most nice things was the lack of a partition between the stage and the audience, since it always make

Reviews

the stage, the musicians w h i c h approached the bar sometimes to get some drinks all that made the feeling that you came to see a concert of your old friends. And again, this incredible contact back to the even stronger. So, sound. When the band the size of the club, entered the stage and started, from the first notes it was so clear that the sound should be absolutely amazing, what was absolutely surprising for such a small club. Also great respect for the lighting which was perfectly matched to every song. the people around, As for Tolis brothers front row right near themselves... These are not humans. Or how else would you explain this endless flow of energy emitted by them every fukking second?! First they keep you tense, then you get kinda mad, and in the end, you reach the

93


† Hellfest † Wacken Open Air † Tuska † Brutal Assault † Summer Breeze † Rock Fest † Rock Am Ring † Rockest † Download Festival † Resurrection Fest †

Live on stage Reviews

ecstasy state. It seems that your power is out and you cannot anymore, but they give you more and more energy again and again. At some moments it seemed like Sakis didn’t need any microphone, like he could outshout the crowd by himself... Sometimes they get you enter into trance, not only by their music, but also by their behavior on stage, manners etc, it’s just a pleasure to observe it on a physical level. These two are incredibly handsome men, and their stage charisma can make you think for some

94

time that you’re watching some epic movie. Concerning the setlist, some part of the audience was a bit upset that the dudes played so few old songs, but... For me personally they’re one of those bands who never disappoint with content, anyway. A special thanks to the band for being so kind with us after the show. They’re not any «rock stars», they keep united with their supporters, and this is one of the main things. Looking forward for the next time. ευχαριστώ.


Reviews

95


https://www.facebook.com/nilecatacombs

96

Okay... 2 years ago Nile made the statement that really sho cke d many of us. Yeah, all of you understand what I mean for sure, and when they suddenly announced that Brian Kingsland had joined them, I was very sceptical, to be honest... My thoughts were like: oh shit, who the fukk can replace Dallas? On the other hand, Karl Sanders has That’s always been a dude still the who definitely knows s a m e what he’s doing, Review by Olga Schneider so in the end, all we needed was just to Nile, but this time that’s wait. especially noticeable. The So, 6 September the same technical guitars, but first track from the this time they’re especially upcoming album was vivid. All the music is finally released, and... higher mathematics Now I’m taking my where everything is clear, words back. predefined, one clearly The first thing that you follows the other and no notice while listening retreat possible. The bell to Long Shadows of sounds on the background Dread is that kinda perfectly emphasize this poisonous atmosphere. cannibal-like atmosphere.

96

And the most intriguing part of the track... Vocals. Well, as for Sanders, it seems that nothing can change his brutal uterine roar, and it seems like it’ll remain the same even when this dude is 80 years old or something. As for the new one which is actually gonna be the face of the band... I only can say that Nile have made an amazing choice. Yeah, Toler-Wade is hard to replace, but they’ve been able to do it in the end and found a dude of the same calibre. In this way, since the first track sounds r e a l l y prom i s i n g , we can we can assume that this is only the beginning of 100% hell.


https://www.facebook.com/Necroheresy

And this one is kinda throwback to the past. 2014, to be more exact... Since in this section we’re trying to review something new the whole time, you may ask: why? Just because we received some LP’s from our dude Alexander Gorbanyov, the chef editor of the Russian HELLZ ZINE, and, even if some of those albums are quite old nowadays, this fact never spoils music you know. So, back in 2014 Necroheresy from Slovakia released their first EP called Divine Betrayal. In 2012 the insanity of both Witcher’s and Sadist’s minds created a beast with the name Necroheresy. The band was joined by drummer Askold and ideological father Kazatel (The Preacher) thus the lineup was complete and this diabolic creation was ready for its mission. The goal was to take the local underground into a

little separating from Thrash. Yeah, these are the good old Thrash Metal structures, but as for the sound and general Review by Olga Schneider atmosphere, that’s mostly Death Metal. Just like many old Death Metal bands, its mud with their death/ thrash demo called Chram Necroheresy use atmospheric Pomsty. Divine Betrayal was intro and outro which sound released by Satanath Records, like fragments of some Darknagar Records, Wings catholic masses. Of Destruction, Grotesque Divine Betrayal is made following one of the best Sounds. The first thing you notice traditions and taking the best listening to this one is the from this underground sound, sound, raw and kinda hunker. and probably it would provoke It sounds like true ols school some kind of nostalgia deep Death Metal from those times inside some of you. when the genre was little by different level and dwell even deeper into

97 97


https://www.facebook.com/TIRANofficial/

98

Okay, this one is kinda continuation of the previous review. So, when I opened the parcel I’d received from our brother from Hellz zine editorial board, I found there several disks of the Russian band called Тиран (Tiran). Then I asked myself: why so many attention to one band? After having checked out some information, I realized that was our brother’s band. I must confess that I’m really sceptical to modern Thrash Metal, and especially to Thrash Metal bands from small cities, since as a rule, the existence of such bands lasts not so long. At the very beginning, they don’t find enough support from local audience, lose all their motivation, and then just say fukk it and completely stop it. But it turned out that Tiran have existed since 2005 and even take part in some foreign underground festivals, what’s really rare for a

98

band from a small Russian town. As for their music generally, it seems that the dudes don’t care so much about lyrics which touches quite typical

Thrash, is completely absent, in my opinion. This is the same good old Thrash which can provoke really strong nostalgia attack. The most interesting thing is vocals which varies the Review by Olga Schneider whole time from growl to hysterical screams. topics: war, destruction Dude, in the end, I’d like to and so on... The band is say thank you once again for very much concentrated on your support and attitude. techniques part, and from Keep the fire burning! the first sounds you can hear really strong influence of Kreator. Death Metal impact, which is so typical and kinda sane for modern


if the previous album was kinda 50/50, then this time the dudes are more concentrated on Black Metal part which is much more bright than last time and the vocals are emphasized especially strongly. We’re looking forward to hear something more from you guys and we highly appreciate our cooperation. Thank you once again!

99 99

https://www.facebook.com/dizzinessvault

We have already wrote about Dizziness from specifically Greece before, in our last new issue to be more exact, for this band, but I still but some weeks ago these find its sound truly unique dudes contacted us again, and strong cause this mix proud to inform that of otherworldly sounds of they’d recently released shamanistic rituals, cosmos their next album. That’s etc and Black Metal sounds why first of all we’d like to really killer and even relaxing express our endless gratitude to Review by Olga Schneider those bands who continue to keep in touch with us and inspire us periodically sometimes. One of the most sending something really important details is that the quality of their sound is interesting to work with. So, the new Dizziness’s still growing and this album creation is named is the confirmation. The Reroute and that’s just instruments sound clearer, a continuation of their the background is more own traditions. I didn’t multifaceted this time. As for hear anything completely the musical parts themselves,


Upcoming albums

Finally Karl Sanders is back with a brand new NILE album called «Vile Nilotic Rites» Technical Brutal Death Metal at it’s very best!!! Vile Nilotic Rites was recorded and produced by Karl Sanders at Serpent Headed Studios in Greenville, South Carolina with the exception of the drums which were recorded at Esoteron Music Studios in Athens, Greece with engineering handled by Jim Touras and George Dovolos. The album was mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis at MRL Studios. It’s a seamless transition for the group who still retain the distinct vocal characteristics Toler-Wade brought to the band and «Long Shadows of Dread» delivers a pummeling four minutes of blistering, spidery guitar work and George Kollias’ blast beat marathon endurance fraught with crunching doom. Line-up: Karl Sanders - Guitar/Vocals George Kollias - Drums Brad Parris - Bass Guitar/Vocals Brian Kingsland Guitar/Vocals Vile Nilotic Rites will be release November 1st via Nuclear Blast.

100 100

The most notorious black metal band of all times is back! By the power of darkness and the might of black-hearted will no two MAYHEM albums have been or will be the same. Thus, the newest offering »Daemon« is unto itself. It’s not the next chapter but rather the next tome in MAYHEM´s authoritative oeuvre. Composed and decomposed with the same lineup that handled »Esoteric Warfare« and performed »De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas« in its entirety over the last few years, »Daemon« also isn’t a retrofit of classic songs like ‘Freezing Moon’ , ‘Pagan Fears’ , or ‘Buried by Time and Dust’. That’s what the live album, »De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive« (2016), was for. »Daemon« is a chance for change, for new hells to be envisioned and offered. Lineup Necrobutcher - bass Hellhammer - drums Attila Csihar - vocals Teloch - guitars Ghul - guitars Will be released on October 25, 2019.

Norwegian black metal titans 1349 have returned with their long awaited seventh fulllength, ‘The Infernal Pathway’. The album promises a journey through chaos and madness, darkness and peril, terror and annihilation. The Infernal Pathway was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Wolvhammer guitarist Jarrett Pritchard and given artwork by Jordan Barlow (Goatwhore, High On Fire, Saint Vitus). After performing a fiery show at Norway’s Inferno festival this year, 1349 started recording in Amper Tone studios and Studio Nyhagen with engineer Jarrett Pritchard. Thus, ‘The Infernal Pathway’ was born, a sonic parallel to summoning and unleashing the beast of the abyss in all its fearsome, ferocious and powerful splendor. Lineup Ravn - Vocals Seidemann - Bass Archaon - Guitars Frost - Drums Will be released on October 18, 2019.


Insomnium have announced the release of their next melodeath work, Heart Like a Grave. The Finnish band’s eighth album will drop Oct. 4 via Century Media Records. “The concept of the album is to delve deep into the heart of the Finnish melancholy,” the band shares. “We’ve been inspired by some of the bleakest and saddest songs, poems and tales that truly capture the essence of northern gloom. Land where the frost ravages the harvest and creeps inside the souls, summer ends before it even starts, wife leaves, little brother dies in snow on a Christmas morning, and the golden days of youth are forever gone. So there are echoes of Harmaja, Rautavaara, Vainio, Peltoniemen Hintriikka and of course our own petty, miserable lives.” Lineup Niilo Sevänen - Bass, Vocals Markus Hirvonen - Drums Ville Friman - Guitars, Vocals (clean) Markus Vanhala - Guitars Jani Liimatainen - Guitars, Vocals (clean) Will be released on October 4, 2019.

With «Nephilim Grove,» Chicago’s Novembers Doom celebrate their 30th anniversary in style, building upon the grandiose vision founder Paul Kuhr has developed throughout the years. As an entity existing in his singular musical universe of doom, death and progressive metal, the band by now dodges all endeavors of categorization. Kuhr expands on 2017’s «Hamartia» in the most daring yet root-conscious way, offering «new colors, new sounds, the same bad-assery. We never set out with a vision other than to just write what makes sense and feels right. It always shows our mood at a given point in time while while I am striving for lyrical and emotional consistency.» From the rolling thunder that is ‘Petrichor’ across the goth-tinged title track and ‘Black Light,’ which marries thrashing outbursts with melodic finesse, to the dramatic finale ‘The Obelus,’ the record marks nothing less than a stately upgrade of genre. Crowned by empathic ruminations on the human condition’s underbelly, Novembers Doom’s eleventh studio album exudes timelessness right away. Lineup Paul Kuhr - Vocals Larry Roberts - Guitars, Vocals Vito Marchese - Guitars Mike Feldman - Bass Garry Naples - Drums “Nephilim Grove” will be released on November 1, 2019.

For over two decades RAGNAROK have been giving fans their uncompromising take on Norwegian Black Metal, both in the studio and on stage, and now, the seasoned veterans, along with their label Agonia Records, are ready to return with their ninth studio album «Non Debellicata». The band gives us an insight into what went into the making of «Non Debellicata»: «Our new album, Non Debellicata, is the result of an extensive process in which all the members of the band participated creatively, both musically and lyrically. We put a lot of work into this album to make it as extreme and violent as we possibly could, pushing the borders of our musicianship and song writing skills. Originally we started out with 20 songs, out of which we rehearsed 16 and whittled it down to 13 for recording. We eventually chose 10 for inclusion on the album, because we wanted to ensure highest possible quality of every song».Lineup Jontho - Vocals Bolverk - Guitars Malignant - Drums Rammr - Bass Non Debellicata will be released on November 15, 2019.

101 101


#6

https://destroyerr78.wixsite.com/insidethedarkness https://www.facebook.com/InsideTheDarknessWebzine https://vk.com/insidethedarknessmetalwebzine

102


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.