Slowly we rot #4

Issue 4 / 2013

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

CANCER LIFELESS BIRTH AD REPULSION ANGERSEED BETHLEHEM CARNAL GHOUL ULTRA VIOLENCE MORTUORIAL ECLIPSE ROMANIAN THRASH METAL CLUB + Merchants of Death, Rising Demons, more than 150 reviews! + Free Compilation CD!

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

I've recently read in an editorial (unfortunately I don't remember which zine was featured in), the editor said the hardest part when writing a new issue is exactly the editorial, and I can only agree with that, you always have the feeling you'll leave something out, you'll forget writing about something, or you simply don't know what to write about. And that's my case now, too.

Slowly We Rot is again written by multiple people, this way I try keeping its content fresh and interesting. I will also try having more and more writers involved in upcoming issues but for now I would like to sincerely thank Sonia Fonseca, Leslie David and Chris Forbes for their coninuous support and highly valuable contribution to Slowly We Rot, their interviews are all outstanding in their own way, and since I loved reading them I thought so would you. I hope you will, honestly. All interviews, as usual, are conducted with bands we like a lot, and Leslie's interviews (Repulsion and Cancer), although old, are being featured simply because they are awesome and they deserve to be read by as many people as possible.

The amount of promo material received for reviews was once again overwhelming, that's why I'd like to apologize to the bands/labels not finding all their material reviewed (there were no more than 20 promos that didn't make it this time), they will be featured in the next issue for sure, the deadline for receiving promo materials for this issue was the end of July. Thank you all for your interest and trust in Pest Webzine and Slowly We Rot, it means a lot!

Deadline for receiving promo material for issue 5 will be the end of this year as I plan on releasing it in February of next year.

As promised in issue 3, I will try to discover and expose more and more Romanian Extreme Metal. In this issue Slowly We Rot features, besides the already regular Romanian Metal Attack section, an interview with one of the founding members of Romanian Thrash Metal Club, an organization that brought back the joy of discovering the underground, the joy of wearing leather and denim jackets covered in as many patches as possible, in short the joy of listening to and supporting Metal like in the '80's-'90's. Our scene needs more and more clubs / organizations like that, or if not, at least the existence and activity of the RTMC, that's why I'm supporting their cause however I can, hope you will, too. Respect and best of luck for the future to RTMC! The cover this time is provided by Einsam Vuk Photography (www.facebook.com/einsamvukphotography) and beautiful model Darkyrie (www.facebook.com/darkyrie), I'd like to thank them here for their effort and support. Layout is done by me, but possibly starting from issue 5 Slowly We Rot will have a completely new layout, courtesy of a very talented German artist I won't name yet.

The compilation features again very interesting Underground names that deserve your attention and support, if you like them check out their websites and don’t hesitate in showing your feelings. The compilation artwork was provided again by the awesome Raynard Stevens, get in touch with him if you need something similar, you won’t be disapointed, he’s such a down to earth guy you won’t believe it.

A billion thanks to our distributors (check SWR's Facebook page for the list), they are making this dream last, they are the ones making this zine available in more than 30 countries from all over the World (even in China starting from issue 3!). And of course thanks to you for reading this!

Ok, that's it, hope you'll enjoy this new issue, too. A few copies of Slowly We Rot #3 are still available, if interested get in touch.

Adrian Front cover: Darkyrie (www.facebook.com/darkyrie)

Slowly We Rot Contact: www.facebook.com/swrzine swrzine@yahoo.com

Compilation cover artwork by Raynard Stevens (USA) www.facebook.com/raynard.stevens

Slowly We Rot Team: Adrian (Romania) – editor – layout/interviews/reviews Leslie David (Hungary) – interviews Sonia Fonseca (Portugal) – interviews Chris Forbes (USA) – interviews

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

All reviews, articles and unsigned interviews by Adrian

All reviews also published in Pest Webzine at www.pestwebzine.com

Slowly We Rot Compilation CD #4

Slowly We Rot #4 Contents: 3. Editorial / 4. Bethlehem / 8. Repulsion / 12.

Cancer / 14. Merchants of Death / 18. Birth A.D. / 20. Lifeless / 22. Angerseed / 24. Carnal Ghoul / 27. Zine reviews / 30. Ultra Violence / 32.

Romanian Thrash Metal Club / 35. Romanian Metal Attack / 37. Rising Demons / 42. Mortuorial Eclipse / 44. Reviews 3

01. Motor - Satanic Rock (www.facebook.com/satanicmotor) 02. Inverticrux - Virgin Ripper (www.facebook.com/letsgetinverted) 03. Bloodington - Sex in Hell (www.facebook.com/bloodington) 04. BloodOath - From Blackness to Blood (www.bloodoathband.com) 05. Blood Tribe - Reflections (www.reverbnation.com/bloodtribeofficial) 06. My Funeral - Into the Fire (www.myfuneral.fi) 07. Valinor - A Hand of a Dead (www.valinor.com.pl) 08. Wall Of The Eyeless - The Longest Winter (www.facebook.com/walloftheeyeless) 09. Walking Dead Suicide - Sea Of The Drowned (www.reverbnation.com/walkingdeadsuicide) 10. United By Hate - Witness At Golgotha (www.facebook.com/unitedbyhate666) 11. Fumigation - Rodenticide Torture (www.fumigationmetal.com) 12. Garden Of Grief - Initial Command (www.gardenofgrief.blogspot.com) 13. Frigoris - Frühlingsnacht (www.frigorisofficial.de) 14. I Am The Trireme - From Beyond the Waking World (www.facebook.com/iamthetrireme) 15. Sawhill Sacrifice - God in Man (www.sawhillsacrifice.com) 16. Path ov Amok - Newborn from a Nasal Trip (www.facebook.com/pathovamok) 17. Barzakh - Shadow In The Grief (www.reverbnation.com/barzakh)

circumstances, nor could one plan them. So one should foster this good opportunity; like your very own personal treasure.

Sonia managed to conduct an awesome interview with Bartsch, leader and founding member of one of the most influential Extreme Metal bands, believed to actually be the founders of the Dark Metal genre. Enjoy!

PS: According to Bartsch, the band decided to publish this interview in their upcoming box-set, one more reason not to skip it!

You have a tendency to shock with your lyrics and covers... is it all intentional? Why do you feel this need to shock? Don’t you think this might lead fans and some people to drift away from yourself and the band?

Not always; no. Nearly all of these themes are based on a controversy concerning the most possible personal universe which should be lightyears away from the usual odds. Interpretations are allowed if not welcome though some of 'em tend to lead more so into something really abstract and certainly unwanted trials and tribulations of thy very own being. And not always reflect the original cause. But as we all know it always is up to the people isn't it?

I bet you’ve been asked this question many times before but why did you choose the name of the city in which Jesus was born to be your monicker?

Well, Jesus wasn't born in Bethlehem but in Nazareth. This is what historians presume cos Nazareth was a small & unknown village at the time of his birth and the prediction said he would have been born in Bethlehem anyway. That's why Lucas has changed the facts a bit.

Making insignificant things a bit more “glamorous”; you know? It really seems those early Christians already had knowledge about the show-biz principles! Other than that we have chosen this name as a kinda persiflage as opposed to all these pro-Christian band names such as “Rotting Christ” or “Impaled Nazarene” which already sounded a bit odd to us back in the 90's. And we certainly did not follow any religious aspect with it as all these Blackmetal bands did; and still do.

The band has faced line-up changes throughout the two decades of existence. How do these changes affect the band and all the members?

If speaking about albums it's apparent what effect this caused.

Progression, that's how I myself would describe it. Unfortunately the interchange with too many different minds and thoughts no longer can be focused on one single person. Unless one could hire somebody completely schizophrenic who could easily switch between some of the most complicated characters on earth. We have made the pretty painful experience of trying to be just a copy-machine; which isn't a helpful goal and though blending people with maybe an expression of somebody else never would let you feel more relaxed with it. Bethlehem basically is standing still at the moment and in view of the fact that people don't care and moreover still worship things to death should be not even the first alert that things completely are getting out of control. Too bad that in this case the answer is not even the answer and more complicated than you might think it would be. Which brings me back to immortality and the inability to not let loose. In a more poetic sense one could speak of betrayal of Anarchy which is heavily working against the original created endurance. “Time to say good-bye, party people?”, I really don't know, although this would be a clean line against pure fucking boredom in general.

And though manners like that are definitely no surprise as they are based on principles, it's nothing but a shame just following these eternal habits specially based on the so-called civilized nations.

Spiritualism could be one answer but as we all know it would be easier to just stay strict. And resolute. It's a mess as far as weakness is concerned – once you

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

In 1994 you released your debut album called "Dark Metal”, which nowadays is a synonym for a whole new sub-genre. How important is it knowing you’ve already left a huge mark on metal’s history?!

I really can't say cos basically this wasn't done on purpose. But it always is feeling pretty good if one could create something which would be followed by so many people. Isn't this everyone's goal? Leaving a trace in a trivial world which defines itself through pure greed? All mortals wanna be immortal – you always wanna be the opposite of what you are.

It seems suicide and death have been a constant in your life.

How do you face them now?

By growing older and older death comes closer. In the usual sense cos basically one could die any second right? Therefore death now has a different quality to 20 years ago for example. Specially cos we still waste ourselves and already acknowledge the fact that we are not immortal. Suicide is always a theme for all generations cos one never knows about future life 4

“Shining” for example, though I must say that Wendy Carlos / Rachael Elkind & Krzystof Penderecki already created a masterpiece which certainly could not be topped by myself! I would always choose movies which would be based more on insanity than on fictional horror elements.

Cos without insanity movies like “Shining” would not transport the fiction of that ghost theme in combination with the evil so successfully I reckon.

have noshed on the forbidden fruit you can no longer stop doing this anymore.

In two of your latest releases “A sacrificial offering to the Kingdom of Heaven in a Cracked Dog’s Ear” and “Stonkfitzchen” you had the collaboration of Niklas Kvarforth of Shining. He’s a rather suicidal individual and recently released a book... have you read it? Do you think you and Niklas are misunderstood by our society?

Nope, I haven't read his book. Lately I haven't read books anyway.

Strange you ask this as some weeks ago another lady asked me whether I have read Nergal's book (who is obviously speaking about times we both spent together in the past). Probably Niklas might think he is misunderstood by whomsoever, but regarding myself, this never would be an option. I certainly do everything I can to please you and that's not a lie. But if I fail doing so I certainly would not expect your condolence. I am a weirdo, no doubt I am, but not weird enough to be just another pathetic asshole speaking about the tragedy of my life or any other useless crap. It's my own responsibility which can't be overtaken by others. Not to mention that this is wanted anyway. I am what I am.

Period.

"Schatten aus der Alexander Welt" originally was done for the "Filmstiftung NRW" and planned as some short movie for the "Das kleine Fernsehspiel" TV series. It seems you have a tendency to produce music for TV and cinema. Name one director you would really enjoy working with and explain the reason why.

Indeed. I really don't know where this is coming from but besides writing, arranging or producing music it is actually writing I am most talented with. It already is a done deal that after my career as a musician I will concentrate on writing novels again as I already did in my youth.

Based on fiction but also on drug experiences as in the vein of Herman Hesse “Der Steppenwolf” for example, though I am following different & more disturbing themes in general. If I could work with a director I would definitely choose Rainer Werner Fassbinder who already died in 1982 due to his extravagant lifestyle. Werner Herzog would be another one cos he worked with my fave actor, Klaus Kinski. Lars von Trier would also be awesome of course, but the very best would be Ingmar Bergman who is also already dead (2007). I love the dark & depressive moods this Swedish director has created in all of his movies and really must say that nearly all of 'em are coming pretty close to me.

All these dreams & visions have to wait a bit longer cos I am not yet finished with Bethlehem. And can't do both things to the same time cos I hate splitting up pretty intense subjects, so that I am no longer doing them 100%.

'Schuld uns'res knöch'rigen Faltpferd's' was used in the motion picture titled 'Gummo' and New Line Productions, Inc. also bought 'Verschleierte Irreligiosität' from "Dictius Te Necare". Both songs were used for the motion picture and were released on the soundtrack (CD/LP/MC) by London Records/Phonogram. This is probably any metal band’s epitome?

Did you ever imagine this would happen?

No way. Although we should have been warned by all these circumstances happening in the US around that period of time in particular.

Without America Bethlehem would have been just another irrelevant Heavy Metal band cos nearly no one was interested in us.

Germany itself was the enemy cos except maybe a handful of fans we were constantly slaughtered in the German metal press for example. On the other hand, when we first read about being “too extreme” we knew that the whole concept was based on the truth. Being the ultimate answer to all these Micky Mouse sensitivities, which were based on pure bollocks. Or worse. However, this great opportunity was given to us by “Spider” from Brooklyn/NYC who at that time worked at New Line Productions and was in closer contact with Harmony Korine, the film director. She then got in contact with our record company which started the whole thing. Myself, Matton & Landfermann created this special song for 'em based on the fact to give 'em all pure shock treatment. Strange enough that the real shock was their huge appreciation and the fact that they used that song for the closing credits. Landfermann screamed his head off when singing this song and could not speak for days afterwards. Which exactly was the thing which hit them like an H-Bomb. Whereas in comparison, people could not stand this over here. Therefore Bethlehem wasn't born in Israel but in America!

Not to mention that I based my lyrics on Jim Morrison poems as a kinda persiflage to their very own culture. Though I am very certain no one has translated them into English. Unfortunately “Schuld uns'res knöch'rigen Faltpferd's” was sold to the EMI and will likely rot in some rusty dungeon until the stars are falling from the sky.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Your albums sound different from each other depending on the band’s members at the time of recording. However Bethlehem has always been a band that doesn’t compromise. How important is it to work at your own pace and will?

Very important though I sometimes wish things could happen a little quicker. If running a band you always are doomed and dependent on other individuals, this already is a contradiction, but is unavoidable. The most important point is still that one does not compromise, which has become pretty important, specially these days where everyone has an “opinion” about what should be done or shouldn't. It is always a risk creating art which somehow hits the nerve of listeners as in the case of our first three albums for example. Although this all happened years after the release cos it was too early for most folks when it was originally done. From a capitalistic point of view it would be wise doing what the people want, from an artistic one this would be pure nonsense. And this is the dilemma though we still can't exist from what we're doing.

Bethlehem never was the band constructing songs as you would construct a building for example. This all happened automatically, coming out of the blue you know? A kinda personal Zeitgeist or attitude to life in general. That's why things can't be repeated anyway cos most attitudes have given way to something different. Being just another copy-machine would mean stagnation and this is more for boring old hippies or metalheads who wanna be buried together with their teenage-frock I bet.

Stagnation could never be an answer to your own personal insignificance followed by the same old rules always and ever again. Starting as a Zombie, ending as one? No thanks, this should not be a goal and surely isn't ours. I know, this is just another lame motto but we have already decided to stay true to ourselves a longer time ago.

If you could do the soundtrack to a movie… which kind of movie would you choose and why? Are you a fan of cinema?

I once was but no longer am cos the quality of movies leaves a lot to be desired these days. If I could choose a movie it definitely would be 5

soul. Not left, not right but straight forward.

You haven’t released any new material for more than two years now but last year you had a few tours. How big is Bethlehem in the underground scene?

I honestly don't know. Are we big in the underground scene? Sure, some shows on Tour – like in London which was sold out on a Monday – were over the top and caused goosebumps. Baltimore was the same cos people went completely nuts but what can I say? This is all feeling far away cos reality definitely is something different and most times feels completely shit and cold. All hope is gone with it.

Do you feel all the activities and actions the police did to control you and your band are against your freedom of speech and have affected your creativity?

This has tended to cause the opposite effect cos it happened in times of teenage rebellion where actions like a house search, charges and whatnot are the most possible jackpot. This also gives you an idea how great freedom of speech really is in this once totalitarian nation if so many “officials” want to dominate you when breaking all of their rules. Okay, this is easily said in the now. In the past this was everything but fun! And being banned from the pubs and clubs also wasn't too helpful. Self organized shows always were infiltrated by the criminal police appearing in everyday wear or masked as Heavy Metal fans, which always was way too obvious. But we survived this with the help of some judges who definitely understood the point instead of following the stupidity of several crown attorneys who wanted reduce us to a criminal association.

With lyrics about the inner self? How crazy is this? Of course this was also pretty helpful recognizing which buttons have to be pushed to cause the maximum credible accident in a hypocritical society which wants to be everyone’s darling. And in reality is the second biggest weapons dealer in the entire world. Still following the good ol' German traditions of being responsible for the death of millions.

It seems you are constantly relying on past masterpieces like “Dictius Te Necare” and are re-releasing it over and over again. Why is this happening? Are the fans who ask for this? Are you a vinyl fan?

What’s the most treasured one you own?

You are right and soon it will be released again in this vinyl box-set.

Which, by the way, will also contain this lovely interview here. I seriously have no answer to this except maybe that this is our share of hippie movement. And though it still feels alright playing the one or other song from this long-player I personally would not say they belong within my selection of fave songs in their totality. Anyhow, flogging dead horses isn't too bad at all since the Sex Pistols once created “The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle”.

You once said that “There are a lot more stories of ignorant and foolish bullshit” regarding the band. Has this helped spread/promote the name of the band somehow?

Hard to say cos I really am not a propaganda minister. And certainly no greenhorn, not knowing about the methods of show-biz, whether it's underground or mainstream. As we all know this is nothing other than an illusion which gives you a bit of entertainment in your daily routine. It’s managed by those few who are dominating or exploiting you, for the rest of all your life. Then along comes some god going on with this eternally.

So if it would be ourselves giving people some relief then we would be the last ones trying to avoid things like that. Specially cos we also are chained in the biggest global caste based on the idea of master and servant.

You write very deep and metaphorical lyrics. Do you put much thought into it or does all that poetry come naturally?

Yep, this tends to happen naturally and only a few times needed analysis with the inner self. I have no control over it and if it happens I have to be really quick writing it down. Some album lyrics were all done in an hour or two depending on how fast I can write 'em down and where. It's hard to describe and is more like a kinda inner movie which suddenly comes jumping out of the box, exactly giving me advice how to handle a theme or themes for a new album. Most times it's a pretty scary thing cos besides pictures I also hear voices in my head I must discuss the procedure with. As sudden as this comes it goes again and sometimes I have to wait years until the next kind of “attack”.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Have you always had this aptitude to write? Never thought of becoming a novelist or a journalist?

As I said in a question before, this is what was done before I became a musician which is based on the most bizarre circumstances anyway. I was never good at playing an instrument and my earlier efforts of learning to play the guitar completely failed. Whereby writing a novel for example worked automatically.

You have received many letters of people who somehow found a way back to life with your suicidal interpretation of music and art. Do these stories leave a mark on you? How do you feel when you know you have helped someone face life in a brighter way? Isn’t it a bit ironical that a band like yours with such dark lyrics help people face life instead of committing suicide?!

In my opinion this was always the mistake people made with our content.

As I many times said before, people always and exclusively can reflect on their very personal interpretation which admittedly accompanies our band the very most. And obviously with this is the danger of transporting a more personal statement to the world. Suicide can be an option but is certainly no order. There is also a way out and we always have to offer both options. Like good & evil, love & hate, matter & antimatter – the almighty principle of all our beings & the whole cosmos which surrounds us. The idea of just being one-sided is not new but still a lie, nothing but just another illusion. And whatever you wanna be, the biggest Anarchist or Antichrist, you can't change these laws not made by humans or gods. Whether you can accept it or not, it doesn't matter – but we can, and therefore are, feeling pure joy if somebody could leave his/her path of darkness with the help of our art. And certainly see no discrepancy in things like that.

Do you write many journals and diaries?! If so, is there a chance you might publish them someday? What kind of reader would appreciate that kind of literature?

I seriously write none of these, not journals or diaries. Certainly no diaries.

But I would say that my stupid brain is my organic diary in one way or another.

Writing this all down could take a long time I reckon. And time is passing by.

Damned. I don't know why but I would say that everyone could read my literature as it is already presented in the form of my lyrics/poems which will not exclusively be read by just metal freaks or suchlike. Journalists from The New York Times have already analyzed my poems in the past. I have also already discussed them with lawyers, doctors, teacher, professors for German language and many others. Furthermore I would say it goes through all social classes and isn't just limited to sub-societies. I think it would become the same as with Bethlehem, things wouldn't be done on purpose to reach special clients with this. And would be influenced more so from what's directly coming from my 6

You once said that the internet is a “control system for the dumb” but you also acknowledge that it is a way to promote and help many bands spread their name and message. Why do you look at it negatively?

Busted! We could resist it for a long time but thinking this would solve it all was nothing but a pious hope. Things completely got out of control and nearly daily new sites popped up like some strange kinda advertisement. Sure, who cares? This is what initially came to our minds.

On the other hand we no longer live in 1991 for example and avoiding the modern age would be like stepping back into times without a bathroom or electricity. The pure Viking or Pagan thing huh? Good for you guys but I personally could not live like that although every winter I freeze my ass off at home cos the heater does not work right. And I must have cold showers as well. Awesome. Seriously, I still would not say the internet is it all cos personally most things are still happening in the real world. Facebook could be an option but wasting my time telling people that I farted wrong in the morning's not worth the energy of sharing this.

Feeding all these networks with insignificant news takes some time, this is for sure. But it also allows us to be closer to those who listen to our music by directly giving them reports about live shows, sound examples and whatnot. It’s a pretty easy form of promotion which was way more complicated in the past when everything had to be done with a typewriter or the local copy-shop. Not speaking of album layouts and designs etc which can be easily communicated these days. But of course one has to be careful cos one can also easily get addicted with all the bollocks around.

Wasting your already slave life as a virtual slave as well. The double slave so to speak. Some of us already got lost in the web space but personally I still resist this and just use things for my daily work. Phew, at least something in this kinda multimedia circus ring.

intense bands at the same time and therefore gave it up when Bethlehem started playing Live again.

These days having a side project like that isn’t that strange but, a few years ago, it was considered an outrage if a metal musician would join a non-metal project. What kind of reactions did people have regarding that?

The “usual” ones concerning these lads who still don't know where they belong. Describing SM as a “techno” band without having just a millisecond of a clue, cos they're limited to just their small-minded Blackmetal horizon. More serious people were blown away, and also by the pretty powerful sound. Strange enough that most of these people were from Scandinavia.

In all these years, do you have any regrets?

I don't regret anything. This is not part of my life-philosophy cos all decisions whether they were right or wrong were made on purpose and were certainly part of my own responsibility. Other than that I can't take these decisions back, so blubbering about possible wrong ones would be nothing but a waste of time.

What can we expect from Bethlehem in the near future?

This is hard to say, it really is. Cos we still are fighting against these odd problems which are following us since the very beginning. Bethlehem vs.

Vocalists; the never ending story.

Lately we have signed a new record deal with Prophecy Productions from Germany and will start working on a new album again. It's the third time we do so but always found out that the actual singer could not manage to sing the stuff. In the meantime we have songs for at least four new albums but Eckhardt and myself will pre-produce the best ten or so songs in the next months. The studio date is scheduled for August the 26th in 2013 and will last until the end of September. We will join the “Klangschmiede Studio E” in Bavaria again where we have already produced albums such as “Schatten aus der Alexander Welt” and “Mein Weg”. It is always a pleasure working together with Markus Stock I have actually been in contact with him since the early 90's, and he is also running his own bands such as “The Vision Bleak” and “Empyrium”. To just say it right here: people who expect another “Dictius Te Necare” type album or similar would be better to swallow down their expectations cos 1) we still don't know which songs we will choose for it and 2) we definitely won't repeat ourselves with some retro stuff from the past. Each album is standing for itself and reflects the momentary mood or attitude to life in general. I know that some of you won't like that but in the Bethlehem universe there's no space for nostalgia.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

There was a time in which you created fetish dolls for dominatrix studios . Are you a fan of S&M and bondage?

Yes Ma'am . I am into BDSM, a socalled “switch” who likes dominating women but also likes being dominated by them. I am also following the still pretty radical idea of passive/passive kinda plays but it's more than hard finding the right partner for it. That's why I practice self-bondage from time to time though this is a pretty boring thing. Electrosex is the answer sometimes cos compared with a vibrator for example your lust nerves will be all stimulated simultaneously which results in the heaviest orgasms that you never could reach if fucking with somebody.

Though the risk of over-stimulation always is given.

Stahlmantel is an electro project which basically is a “dark, disturbing and cold mixture of industrial elements in combination with pure metal riffing”. Do you listen to a lot of electro stuff?

No I don't and never did. Except “Combichrist” & some industrial compilations I don't have electro CD's at home. As with everything; I don't wanna get influenced by other artists and therefore don't listen to music a lot these days. After “Satan Snuff Machine”, with Nihilist (USA) on the vocals, was released in China & Poland Stahlmantel changed more into something we called “dance-core” and could be best described as danceable harsh industrial noise. This was in combination with screechy vocals performed by Marco Kehren of Deinonychus and was also done for huge US-American dancefloor events in stadiums. I really must say this grew bigger and bigger but unfortunately I can't do two pretty

Please share a final message with our readers.

Mostly the final phrases destroy a proper interview by giving the usual & pathetic kinda statements stolen from artists such as Michael Jackson.

Instead I just wanna state a German expression here: “Hau ab !” www.facebook.com/bethlehemasylum Interview by Sonia Fonseca Answers by Jurgen Bartsch March 2013 7

status among tape traders almost equal to that of Hellhammer and Metallica in their heyday?

No, it was not as big as Hellhammer or Metallica. Not even close.

Part 2 of this awesome Repulsion interview (part 1 published in SWR#3) The fanciest thing coming out of Repulsion is the guitar solos that occasionally wail thrashy dissonance across Repulsion's sound spectrum, and the bass gives a really nice low-end rumble to the music, do you agree with it?

We always wanted the guitar solos to be short, violent stabs. Just like the songs themselves. If you have a 90 second song it's a bit difficult to throw in a 2 minute solo. Our songs are shorter than Metallica's guitar solos! The bass sound is simply inspired by Discharge, Venom and the first Voivod record.

Are the vocals, which are a distant shriek, much in the vein of all early death metal, the insanely fast guitar work and even more preposterous drumming, the violent tempo changes, the raw production, the fuzzy bass, the chaotic solos and the gore/horror themed lyrics, all lay down the groundwork for what makes Repulsion the band that it was?

Of course, the sounds you hear on the record are the very makeup of the Repulsion sound.

"Horrified" is somewhat primitive by modern death metal standards, but undeniably influential on a very young scene, sounding at times a bit like what Slaughter was doing, or perhaps Carcass, Brutal Truth or any other band early Death...

That's what was going on at the time. We touted by Earache's grind period?

Again, you're asking me to tell you things that definitely borrowed a couple things from are not for me to decide. What do you think? Slaughter.

Did Repulsion effectively set the ground for all death metal to follow?

By the way, "Horrified" was meant to be a next Repulsion demo or did you start it as Well, there are lots of bands out there that your first fell length record? have never heard of Repulsion. So, no, I don't It was always intended to be our debut full think Repulsion influenced every death metal length. Since no one wanted to sign us we band that followed. I'm sure there are bands, decided to go out and record an album and then especially the technically oriented ones that shop it to labels. We still got no offers. think we are shite.

Besides that 18 tracks, did you still have some What are your views on, that one need only songs, that you didn't put on the record? look at the song titles to understand just how No, that was our entire repertoire at the time. influential Repulsion were - "Splattered Cadaver", "Acid Bath", "Six Feet Under" - How do you view, that this was death metal all band monikers lifted from this one before death metal, because at the time, Repulsion album? death metal was nothing more than an I'm not sure all those bands lifted their names offshoot of thrash, still in an embryonic from 'Horrified' but if they did I'm flattered. state?

We were always listening to music that was on Is "Horrified" more than just influence, it is the cutting edge so it's no surprise that the music we made was the same. an all out awesome record, isn't it?

I think it's a very good record for what it is. It's certainly unique.

This period was the birth of extreme metal, with acts, such as Mantas/Death, Massacre, Drawing on a range of influences like Morbid Angel, Slaughter, Possessed, Death Hellhammer, Slaughter, and Discharge, Strike/Master etc., were you deeply in the Repulsion infused elements of all these acts, underground at this point? Were you threw in a lot of feedback and distortion and familiar with these acts (or with others)? a lyrical bloodbath to create a legendary wall Of course, we were familiar with all those bands of noise that is still relevant today, what do with the exception of Massacre and Morbid Angel who we did come to know about shortly you think about it?

I'm very happy that people still cite Repulsion after. as an influence and I'm proud of the impact it has had on the metal scene.

The LP was originally intended to be released on Earp's own label, Wyatt Earp Records, Is that correct, that "Horrified" earned a but this never occured and the album was nearly fated to never see a vynil release, what did happen exactly?

The band split up before we even finished mixing the record. There was no use releasing an album by a defunct band. At least, not at that point. The label never really existed at the time. It was something that Doug wanted to do but I think Repulsion was his main interest and when we split he put the label on hold. It didn't actually get started until after his death. His partner, Al Steele has finally made Doug's wish a reality and released a few records under the Wyatt Earp banner.

Do you agree with, that this is the original grindcore album, before Napalm Death, before

Weren't bigger labels interests in the band?

Not even one.

Is „Horrified� a landmark in extreme music and will forever be cited as a pioneering masterpiece that influenced countless bands?

I'm not the one to ask. Will it forever be cited as a pioneering masterpiece? I don't lnow. I can't see into the future. If I could we never would have made the record in the first place! (laughs) The album was recorded in 1986, when Slayer or Dark Angel were about the most extreme thing around then, thrash metal was on its peak, did you create such an aggressive, very brutal stuff, because you hadn't anything to do with thrash or was your goal simply to be the most brutal band on the planet?

We thought Slayer and Dark Angel sounded like wimps! I kid, I kid. Those bands were very inspiring from a speed perspective and Slayer are obviously metal gods. We just had a different approach and it happened that it was much faster, noisier and offensive than most things that were coming out at that time on this planet. Who knows what was coming out of Uranus in 1986. Could be the stinkiest, most brutal shit in the universe!

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Is "Horrified" darker, faster, heavier, more agressive, more chaotic and more lyrically extreme and even more brutally to-the-point, than "Reign in blood" or "Darkness descends"?

That's up to the listener to decide. I can't really answer that.

8

from the Genocide demo („Black Nightmare”) as a bonus track, can you tell us more about it?

Well, earache had allowed the record to go out of print and there was new demand for it. We decided to add an extra track and change the artwork just to differentiate from the Earache Some months later, Relapse Records released release. two of the demo tracks as a 7” entitled „Excruciation”, how did it happen exactly? The band continued to play occasional shows around the States and in that same year Matt Did you sign a deal with them or…?

No deal was signed. It was a gentleman's returned from the army and re-joined the agreement between the band and label. Matt band for a while, is that correct?

Jacobson called me up and asked if we were That is correct. We didn't do a lot of shows but Repulsion played their final show in January interested in releasing a single on his upstart we did a few here and there.

1988, what do you recall of that particular record label and we took him up on it.

In 1991 was released another demo called gig?

Not much! We were all completely wasted and „Excruciation” is the longest track Repulsion „Final” demo, which was recorded in Matt's just having a good time. It was a bedroom on a portable 4 track, hometown show in front of our wasn’t it?

That is correct. The tracks that close friends and we really didn't had vocals on them were released put much thought into it. on the Relapse deluxe edition of Horrified.

It didn't see a release of the record until it was picked up by What about these 3 demos as a the Necrosis label (run by whole? Did you remain a pure Carcass members Bill Steer grindcore band or did you and Jeff Walker) and released move to death metal direction as "Horrified" in 1989, by like Napalm Death or Carcass which time the band had did back then? actually broken up due to Matt I think that we were letting the Olivo joining the armed forces, current trends in death metal why was the title changed to influence us a bit too much. If I "Horrified"? had it to do over again I would I changed the title to 'Horrified' have written more songs like the because I was just sick of ones on „Horrified”.

'Slaughter Of The Innocent'. That title had been kicking around for three years and I just tired of it.

How would you describe the demos compared to „Horrified”?

Would you say, that the goal of In a nutshell, not as good. the Carcass guys was to give a chance for Repulsion, they In 1993 the band finally called didn't want to be the band it a day, what kind of reasons forgotten, they wanted to draw did lead to the band's break at more fans attention to the band the end? or did they simply worship the It was logistics and lack of real material? passion. I was living in Chicago I think they were just fans of the and commuting back to Michigan material. I doubt they expected to to work on the demos and I never get rich from it! really felt that they were as good as the older material. After awhile How much did the release of I just decided that I'd had enough the record help you? I mean, and it was time to move on. did more and more fans start to discover Repulsion?

Of course! If it were still just an What have you done after obscure cassette tape we wouldn't Repulsion disbanded? Did you be talking right now. Having your play in several projects, did you material available in stores worldwide definitely has recorded, and one of only five lasting form another bands or.? Can you tell us helps. Most people today discovered 'Horrified' more than 3 minutes, isn’t it? everything? either by the Necrosis or Relapse versions. We I'm surprised you were able to find five songs I've played with Cathedral and played in some are grateful that our hard work was recognized that are over three minutes! Obviously, they are local bands in Chicago and Los Angeles. I released a couple singles with a Chicago band with a proper release after the initial some of the later ones. called Hushdrops which was a pure pop band disappointment we felt when no one wanted to listen!

Did this well-received release of the band and I also did a single and a full length CD with a Los Angeles hard rock band called The lead to a renew in interest in Repulsion?

Repulsion finally reunited as a three-piece I don't think the single had a whole lot to do Superbees. band (Matt was still in the Army) and in with the renewed interest in the band. I think the January of 1991, recorded their demo intitled single was a result of that. The renewed interest Did you keep an eye on what's going on in the „Rebirth”, did the title refer to that you came was kindled by the release of Horrified which underground? I mean, did you follow with occurred near the beginning of the original attention the developing of the underground back in the business or…?

I don't recall us giving a name to the demo but grindcore explosion. scene?

Not too much. There were a few bands I liked the song title was partly inspired by the fact that we had reformed, I guess.

Relapse soon obtained the rights to license but I didn't get too involved in the scene. and re-issue „Horrified” in 1992, with a track The band continued to spread mayhem and extreme thrash on a small scale during 1987 until you joined the armed forces, what made you to join the army? Why did you stop playing fast, furious, extreme stuff at this point?

Matt joined the military because there are not a lot of options for young people in Flint, Michigan. We stopped playing death metal at this point because we were bored with it. We went all out on 'Horrified' and felt we had sort of exhausted the subject.

What was the line up of the band at this point? Why wasn’t Matt replaced by the way?

The lineup was Aaron, Dave and myself. Matt wasn't replaced because quite simply, he cannot be replaced in Repulsion.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

9

provide bass and vocals to their live shows. The live side of Death Breath is more band oriented rather than Robert and Nicke doing everything themselves. It's a lot of fun and hopefully it will continue.

Would you say, that the whole death/grindcore scene reached its peak around '89/90, but in two years it went out of fashion?

If it did it sure has made a comeback. It feels like death metal is bigger now than ever. It's influence can be seen and heard in lots of mainstream places.

Do you think, that as it is with band of such legendary statue, will Repulsion live forever as the true Godfathers of Grinding Death Thrash,with several imitators and no equal?

I can't answer that. We made one record and a few people seem to like it very much. I'm the offer and proceed from there. grateful for that.

Did you only play some live performances or In 2004 you released a DVD called do you plan to record a brandnew full length "Necrothology" and although this isn't record as well? distributed by any record label or anything, There are no plans to record anything. Too it is on the official Repulsion website and the much time has passed. We enjoy getting band are producing this DVD which together to play once in a while but that's it. showcases various live performances spanning the band's career, whose idea was The present line up consists of Scott this material? Would you give us details on Carlsson, Matt Olivio, Matt Harvey and Col this stuff?

Jones, how did they get in the pictureexactly?

The DVD has not come out yet but we still plan What about Dave, Fish and Aaron these on getting it together one of these days. It will days? span the entire existence of Repulsion. The Dave and Aaron are still living in Michigan.

That's the reason we had to bring Matt and Col details are still up in the air. into the band. It was not possible to prepare a At which point did Repulsion reform? Was quality live performance with the band divided the first step of the reformation the release of by thousands of miles. Matt and Col know Repulsion as well as we do and are the perfect the DVD or‌?

We were asked by Relapse if we would be fit for us. interested in doing Milwaukee Metal Fest to commemorate the re-release of Horrified and we What about Death Breath considering your said"yes". After that, people kept calling to appearance in that band? book the band and that's how it stands today. If Well, that's Nicke and Robert's band. I add someone wants to book Repulsion we will vocals to a few tracks on each release and weigh

As I as know, Dejecta reformed as well, does it mean, that you Matt, concentrates both on Repulsion and on Dejecta?

Dejecta has not reformed. They releasd a split single in Japan recently but the band does not exist anymore and I don't believe they ever reformed.

What about your future plans as a whole?

No plans for Repulsion. As I've said, we don't go out looking for gigs. If they come to us we are interested but we don't seek it out.

In your opinion did it succeed for Repulsion reaching a cult status in the underground? Is the band's name still big and it's in still people's minds?

We feel like Repulsion has been modestly successful. Our name is mentioned in metal history books and has been remembered while so many others have fallen through the cracks. It still seems to be in people's minds and we are very happy for that!

Scott, thanks a lot for the feature, anything to add what I forgot to mention?

I don't think you forgot to mention one thing!

Thanks for keeping the spirit of the underground alive!

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

10

Interview by Leslie David Answers by Scott Carlson December 2008

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Again, for me and Ian, the “No Fuckin’ Cover” demo was our first experience in a recording studio. As for Big Mick and Steve Young, I felt a kind of awe for them, the demo was basically recorded in a day.

Can you give us details regarding this demo?

All I can remember of the recording was we drank a lot of beer and arranged the songs a day before we recorded them.

On the peak of the death metal movement late '80s/early '90s- appeared a group from England called Cancer. Their first two records To The Gory End and Death Shall Rise belong to the classics of the genre, but with their third record Sins Of The Mankind they turned into a more complex, thrashier direction. Unfortunately they left the death metal behind them and the last record Black Faith became the swansong of the group. Guitarist/vocalist John Walker tells the story. – part 1 of the interview (part 2 to be featured in SWR#5) So John, do you still remember how did Cancer get together? Was the line up you on guitar/vocals, Ian Buchanan on bass and Carl Stokes on drums or did you go thru some line up changes?

Cancer started when me, Ian and Carl had a jam in Ironbridge roughly around 1988. We didn’t have a name as such but we all had the intention of making a big sound after we decided to form Cancer.

Who came up with the name of the band?

The name came from a friend known as “Decker”, on a drinking binge.

Was Cancer the very first band for all of you or did you already play in some outfits prior to Cancer?

Cancer was the first metal band which me and Ian played in. Carl on the other hand had already played in groups so he had experience in live situations and the rock&roll lifestyle.

Backing vocals were done by Frazier, who was he?

Frazier came into the studio after drinking in the pub all day, and did the backing vocals on “Burning Casket” for a laugh. Little did he know, it got signed.

How much promotion did you do for the demo? I mean, did you send it to fanzines, was it shopped around to attract label interests and stuff?

The demo had no promotion at all, it got sent to the record companies and it was distributed on the tape trading scene. I don’t remember it being sent to any fanzines. The idea with the demo was to try to get record company interest and to find our direction.

When we started recording our debut album, all the material was written. It had to be because it was recorded in four days.

How did the recording sessions go with the album?

The recoding sessions went OK considering! (4 days).

The weather was very cold during the recording and I felt sorry for Scott Burns who had flown over from Your very first show was in Birmingham opening sunny Florida to the UK. for Bomb Disneyland, what do you recall of this particular gig? Was it still before the release of the Would you say, that the songs are finished and demo or…? perfect the way they are? Sometimes catchy, By the time we did our first gig, opening for Bomb sometimes fast but mostly very brutal and all Disneyland, we were already in negotiations with memorable…

Vinyl Solution Records. All I can remember about I would say the songs are simple and a little naïve but that gig was that I felt extremely nervous. “to the point”. We were a trio during this time so we played with as much brutality as possible to fill the Is it true, that a second demo sessions in 1989 led in sound. turn to an unofficial live album titled “Bloodbath in the acid” featuring “Your fate”, “Into the acid”, In your opinion, is the album as a whole a nice trip “Die Die”, “Revenged”, “To the gory end” and and specific highlights would be the best two songs “C.F.C.” and recorded at Wrexham Memorial “Cancer Fucking Cancer” and “Into The Acid” Hall? with opener “Bloodbath”, “Die Die” and “To The The second demo was basically our ideas that would Gory End” following closely? progress into debut album “To the Gory End”. “Blood To be honest I haven’t heard the album for years. I Bath in the Acid” was just a live bootleg album lent the CD copy I had to someone and never had it recorded after the debut album had been released on back. But when Cancer toured the “Corporations” and the market.

“Spirit In Flames” cd’s, “CFC” and “Into The Acid” were on the set list and still sounded surprisingly How did you get in touch with Vinyl Solution good.

Records? Were there still other labels interests in the band besides them?

How did John Tardy end up performing backing Vinyl Solution Records called us after they got the vocals on “Die Die”? demo. We did have interest from other labels but When we finished our four days recording in South Vinyl Solutions gave us the most realistic deal, so to Wales, Scott Burns and Carl took the masters to be speak. mixed in Florida at Morrisound Studios, because Scott preferred to mix it in his studio. While he was mixing In winter 1989 you entered the LOCO Studios to it, John Tardy turned up and was probably persuaded cut your debut album “To the Gory End”, was all to do the backing vocals. of the material written when you started recording the album or did you still write some tunes in the How do you view, that Cancer's sound on the studio? debut is really crushing, and highly distinct?

I think the debut has a distinct sound and for the time it was released it was relevant and fashionable. In the spirit of low budget gore films “To the Gory End” is what it is, a cult nostalgia, one day may even comeback with a remastered packaging.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

How about the English scene at this point? Were you familiar with known acts such as Napalm Death, Carcass, Bolt Thrower, Onslaught, Sabbat etc.?

Back in this time we knew Napalm Death and Bolthrower because occasionally we’d seen them in the pub and have a drink. The scene had some incredibly interesting bands at this time with the likes of Carcass, Godflesh and Hellbastard, just to name three.

What do you recall of your rehearsals? Did you start writing originals right from the start or were you mostly jamming on covers?

We started rehearsing covers and originals at the same time, fuelled with alcohol and an appreciation for Death Metal and Grindcore.

We also liked the metal from Germany and Sweden.

Are Cancer a great example of what PURE 100% Death Metal is all about?

For me “To the Gory End” and Death Shall Rise” were both Death Metal. We had no religious message or political stand point.

The lyrics were gory and our musical ideas were strong. 100% Death Metal” I don’t know. 100% raw Death Metal perhaps.

Your first demo titled “No fuckin' cover” -produced by Big Mick Hughes (Metallica's live sound engineer) and Steve Young (cousin of AC/DC's Angus Young) recorded at the Pits, Birmingham- was released in 1988 and the tape consisted of “The growth has begun” and “Burning casket (My testimony)”, do you still remember how was it recorded?

Was it your first studio experience by the way?

Is this album up there with Entombed's “Left Hand Path”, Obituary's “Slowly we Rot”, and other early late '80s/early90's death metal debuts?

12

“To the Gory End” was a low budget album. I don’t know or care if it’s considered “up there” with Entombed or Obituary, but for Cancer it’s a small part of the journey compared to what the band achieved four or five years later.

A forgotten early death metal classic…

A forgotten early Death Metal Classic…? Perhaps!!

But it did a good job in gaining the band’s interest throughout the UK, some parts of Europe and little to the band’s knowledge, the USA . Personally for me it remains a lost Death Metal Classic.

The cover of the record was done by drummer Carl Stokes, but it was censored in some countries, with only the bands name and album title left on a black background, why?

Carl painted the sleeve, he used an image from George Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead”, machete and head.

Apparently it got censored in Germany, I think somebody liked the band and decided to censor the cover to raise the band’s profile. This was great for us, because during the late 80’s and early 90’s censorship was big news. Today this has changed.

The album was mixed at the Morrisound Studios, how long did it take? Does it mean, that you weren't satisfied with the first version or…?

I don’t know how long it took to mix. Scott decided he wanted to mix the album in his studio. There weren’t any previous mix’s.

What were the shows in support of the record? Did you start supporting heavily the record?

We played shows supporting our American friends Deicide and Obituary. We also played with fellow English bands like Napalm Death at festivals. All within the UK.

As I said, “Death Shall Rise” was a natural follow-up.

A good album for the time it was released. The band was still finding its feet in the music business, any comparisons between TTGE and DSR are purely down to Scott and James, but although the songs were arranged a little differently, the sentiment and subject Is this album particularly immense as it features matter remained the same.

James Murphy on lead guitars so it features a fair bit of “Spiritual Healing” styled melodic technical Did this second release from Cancer have an guitar solos which fits right in over the Bolt excellent sound and is it a very high production on Thrower-esque thrashy death riffage this album is the entire recording? Is the sound quality so ridden with? Did he (James Murphy) also have absolutely crystal clear and not the least bit a big hand into the songwriting or was the material muddled?

The sound quality and production was Scott’s decision completely written when he joined the band?

All the music was written by the time we had got into and he must take the credit for this. Working with the studio. James joined us after I had recorded all the Scott was such good fun and he worked well with the riffs so he played his leads last. We didn’t know he band because he had similar ideas to us. An original was going to be playing on the album when we wrote master of Death Metal productions. it.

How did Glen Benton end up performing backing Scott Burns obviously made this record what it is vocals on opener “Hang, drawn and quarter”? and successfully took Cancer from an unsigned- Glen of Deicide did the backing vocals on HDG sounding act to one of the most respected death because cancer had played some gigs with Deicide when they first appeared in the UK. He came over to metal bands of that year, right?

Scott Burns and James Murphy both were the studio one morning during the sessions, to hang instrumental in transforming Cancer’s sound from a out and smoke, again perhaps he was persuaded to do raw 3-piece to a more professional Death Metal band. it, but we had a laugh.

I guess it was the American influence. This helped the band a lot and credit where credits due we couldn’t Amusingly, the album caused a great deal of have done it without them. controversy upon release in Europe, when it was banned in Germany by the State body for Did Cancer as a band overall have a tremendous censorship of works dangerous to the youth, on amount of talent considering writing music and grounds that the album cover would incite tunes? youngsters to inflict violence upon each other, what do you think about it?

Controversy was Cancer’s constant companion during early 90’s. Like many other artists, we were the scapegoats in which government led groups saw reason to control what their societies were buying. Now the EXPLICIT LYRIC stamp is enough. It was never the band’s intention to stir up controversy but I’m not surprised it did.

The progression was highlighted by James Murphy who left Obituary one day and joined us the following. He came to the studio to play a couple of leads as a guest, and shortly after he was asked to play the rest of the leads as we liked what he was doing.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

In your opinion, did „To the gory end" satisfied all of the death metal fan's needs back in the day? Did it succeed in drawing a lot of fans attention to the band?

In my opinion, the needs of Death Metal fans were already satisfied with albums by Death, Autopsy and Obituary. What Cancer did was to shine our own different light from the UK. As for drawing fans this would be more prominent after the release of “Death Shall Rise”.

After the release of the record, UK gigs saw a headline run throughout in May supported by Unleashed and Desecrator, did the tour go well as a whole? Did you get on well with the other bands?

Cancer’s music after the release of “Death Shall We got on well with all the bands we played with Rise”, I think displayed more writing ability. We had during those years. As well as Unleashed and As for the recording sessions of the second album, become more experienced musicians and our lives had Desecrator, we played with Pestilence, Malevolent Creation and Scorn including many others. why did your choice fall on the Morrisound? What changed also. about the recording sessions as a whole?

When we started to write our follow up album “Death Do you feel, that you have written an outstanding, Then you had US dates, you performed at the Shall Rise”, we didn’t know we were going to record classic material?

Milwaukee Metal Fest 1991 and also supporting it in Morrisound, but I think it was Scott that swung it. “Death Shall Rise”, was received well by both our Deicide and Obituary, did the US death metal fans He wanted to record the album at the studio where he fans and press, I don’t feel that the material was really like/love Cancer? Did the shows help the works. We recorded the album sharing the studio with outstanding but many people did or do now. I suppose band getting new fans? the Death Metal fans were happy with it and we were Cancer were fortunate to play the Milwaukee Morbid Angel during the 1st Gulf War. fortunate to be a part of it.

Metalfest three times. Other acts on the bill were Deicide, Obituary and Sepultura.

Were you more prepared than for the previous Do you agree with, that “Death Shall Rise” was one?

I think Scott Burns was more prepared with the making Cancer exceedingly popular at the time of Did it succeed you in expanding your popularity in recording of the second album, he organized its release and James obviously added a touch of the US? class to the material? equipment, hotel, food, transport etc…

Playing this festival expanded Cancer’s popularity in I agree that Cancer’s popularity increased during this the US very quickly. A North American tour with Did you have a decent budget to record the album? time, this was because the press were friendly to us Deicide was also instrumental in reaching more The budget was two weeks studio time, three air and PR was being conducted by someone called Rob people. tickets to Florida, hotels and Scott’s fee. So yeah, Tennants; with James adding his leads to the material we had a good team and a good profile. decent.

As for your performance at the Milwaukee Metalfest, it was released later on in 1994 along Do you agree with, that “Death Shall Rise” was a Was this Death Metal the way it is meant to be? with Suffocation, Exhorder and Malevolent I don’t know if this was “the way Death Metal was Creation, what do you think about this record? great follow up to the debut?

“Death Shall Rise” was a natural follow up to the meant to be”. Perhaps. The Cancer fans could shed The “Live Death” live at the Milwaukee Metalfest was debut. From the release date of “To the Gory End” to more light on this question. It was a result of certain and still is the only official sample of the band playing the recording of “Death Shall Rise”, the band was situations leading to interesting consequences. live during the group’s busiest period. It captures the busy playing concerts and writing new tunes. band in its so called classic years, when our live sound Is it a fantastic Death Metal album that is really was a little more harsh.

How do you view, that the band continues on the solid from start to finish, without any low points? Interview from August 2009 by Leslie David same path that started with “To the Gory End” Did Cancer develop a lot compared to the first Answers by John Walker Part 2 to be featured in Slowly We Rot #5 and the addition of James Murphy on lead guitar album? is/was definitely a plus?

13

remember that I’m only interested in underground metal, if your band dreams of touring the world with more commercial acts, then I’ve no desire to assist you. Likewise, if you have 10+ projects which all sound the same, it’s fair to say I’m not going to be too interested either.

Please present your label, when and where was it started, who is involved in its activities and what genres are promoted by it: Glorious North Productions is solely operated by myself - Matt, based in Harrogate, England.

Intending to release material that is either black metal or ambient, on all physical formats as well as different types of merchandise.

Glorious North’s first release was in December 2010, though the actual planning processes began a few months previously.

What's the most important thing in the relationship between you and your bands?

What is your label offering to its bands?

Trust, honesty, commitment and communication. I’m extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside magnificent bands that’ve always shown support, understanding and cooperation.

Bands receive from me; full support and promotion with their releases, as well as various forms of merchandise to accompany their physical products.

All releases are professionally printed, thus maintaining a high level of quality, so bands (and listeners) know

Tell us a few words on each or the most important releases of your label, and which of them are still available for purchase.

I don’t think I could ever prioritise one release over another, as they all have their own specific qualities, plus some older and more limited releases are now sold out, so I’ll just mention what’s being selling well recently: Nordland – "Nordland”: Black metal that praises heathendom, rejecting the modern age.

Nordland is cold, old world hatred for modern humanity, and a love of silent, old forgotten places. With dynamics that are constantly in flux, wreaking grey emptiness and tyranny upon the sun. Nordland is an effective foray into atmospheric antiquity and human suffering.

Emit – "Spectre Music of an Antiquary”: A return of England's blackened monastery, Emit. Publishing under the title of Hammemit for a number of years, "Spectre Music of an Antiquary" is Emit’s first release since 2009. Not a complete return to Emit's black noise of yore, but a more eerily haunting passage of Druidical black ambient into the folklore of Southern England.

Arckanum – T-Shirts: Official Arckanum shirts, exclusively licensed to Glorious North Productions.

Pantheon of Blood – "Consociatio Solis et Lunae”: I may be bias, but this is quite a favourite of mine; delving deep into the bloodline of humanity, the mysterious beauty of the moon, the splendour of the sun. Manifesting The Absolute, The Almighty & The Divine.

exactly what they’re getting.

I’ve become quite close friends with most of the bands I’ve worked with, and they continue to put faith in me, so I’m clearly doing something right.

Is there anything you planned with your label and has not yet been completed?

There are a few things I feel I’m yet to achieve, whether it be working with certain bands, or releasing more material on vinyl. Though I’m always tempted to try more unconventional methods of releasing music, even a floppy disk, but nothing’s materialised in these forms... Yet. How does the future looks for your label? Any major projects you would like to share with us?

The outcome of the future looks as it always will, it’ll become what you make, though I’ll carry on releasing regardless.

A few current releases planned are: A 7” vinyl split between Pantheon of Blood & Creatura – "Lapis Philosophorum: The Eternal Stone within the Bosom of Silver Star" Nordland’s second full length album "The True Cult of the Earth” Written in Torment’s first full length "Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes”. Both due on CD

What are the most important features you look for in a band that is or has the chance to be signed on your label?

Bands that show dedication, creativity and their own identity to stand out from the faceless hordes. Bands that know what they want, and how they want to achieve their target. Bands that catch and hold my attention, as well as that of other listeners.

Sometimes it can even be dependent upon my tastes at the time, and ultimately I’d never release something I wouldn’t listen to myself.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

How can anyone get in touch with you? Please list your website, webstore and/or social media links.

Website, news and webstore can all be found here: www.gloriousnorth.co.uk Whereas news and smaller updates usually happen through the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glorious-North-Productions/109252132444177 Glorious North Productions appears on many other social sites, but I shan’t list them all.

Thanks for your time.

How can a band get in touch with you? What should bands know before submitting their promos for your consideration?

Bands are encouraged to contact me initially through the contact page of my website, and be prepared to send a promo Cdr / tape with a brief band bio.

Though bands should be aware that I receive large amounts of requests and potential demo submissions, and whilst I try to reply to all one way or another, it’s not always possible, and that I am only one man.

I also feel it’s right to mention that Glorious North Productions is not one of those labels that will release anything without question. I do listen to promos, and

April 2013

Moder, Agonized, Pentacrostic, Deformity, and many more, and Pedro Blaspher created Purodium Records in Portugal to release and support bands like: Infernus, Coldblooded, Warlust, Slain, Hellvete, Immanus, and many more, but we continue also with Lucidist Productions to continue making our releases and also to distribute and promote the releases from Murder Records and Purodium Records.

In 2003 we also start our official festival called Extrame Metal Attack where we have the pleasure to receive in our stage bands like: Chamber Of Shred, Infernus, Godus, Cryfemal, Alcoholocaust, Witchburner, Lord, Heretic, Desaster, Hellish Crossfire, Kill, Martelo Negro, Nefastu, Goatfukk, Inquisitor, Decayed, Setherial, Baphomet’s Blood and many more... in 2006 we start also our Blasphemic Assault and one year later in 2007 the Degredo Metal Fest to work and make warm ups for our festival and tours.

In 2010, we decided make a new reconfiguration on our labels to make all this projects in only one again, and in 2011 we start the Hellprod and in the same time we also open our online shop under the name Hellstore, where you can get more information and news about us.

Well this is a resume from this long fucking war to raising high the true flag from the True Extreme Underground!!!

Please present your label, when and where was it started, who is involved in its activities and what genres are promoted by it?

Hell-o Adrian & Slowly We Rot Fanzine / Pest Webzine and Infernal Hails to all the Headbangers what spend some time to read this interview, about our label everything begins in 1989, when we started supporting the Extreme Underground with our newsletter and tape trading list called Terrible Death Newsletter & Tape Trading and also with the fanzines Silent Death Fanzine, Demons of the Mind Fanzine and Hammerdeath Fanzine.

After some years with hard work and dedication we decided find the way to make our own label and get all our projects in only one and in 1993 we started Lucidist Productions, but we continue with promotion to support the Extreme Underground in our Newsletters and Fanzines, but we also start our course with distribution and with organization of gigs, festivals and tours to keep stronger our support to the true Extreme Underground bands.

In 1998 we begin making our own releases with bands like: Dark Agression, Deity Of Carnification, Decayed, Nethermancy, Sarcasmo, Grog, War Master, Expiration, Repugnance, Alcoholocausto, Revtend, and many more, but in 2000 we went living in different countries, we decided to create our own labels, Daniel Slaughter created Murder Records in Holland with bands like Disfigured Human Mind, Fungus, Grog, Deity Of Carnification, Sanguinary, Foretold, Proletar, 14

Tell us a few words on each or the most important releases of your label, and which of them are still available for purchase.

All our releases are important for us and are honored with all the releases or co-releases what we made until today, because when we do a release is because we like and we want support the band or the release where we invest money to do and promote each release. But in my point of view I have few releases what I’m proud not only about the release but also the pleasure in work with bands like Grog with the release "Scooping The Cranial Insides” CD limited to 1000 copies and later re-released on LP with a great support and co-operation of Wings Of Death from Holland. We are proud in work with all our official signed bands and in all the releases what we have done with them, just check our official bands Grog, Pentacrostic, Martelo Negro, Inquisitor, Alcoholocaust, Infernus, Revtend, Goatfuck, Womb, Nefastu, Fungus, Filii Nigrantium Infernalium, Decayed.

How does the future, looks for your label? Any major projects you would like to share with us?

Hellprod is honored to present the new Hellstore Customer Card, this card is not obligatory, but is available to all interested in getting our card and enjoy all its advantages and discounts. This Customer Card only can be purchased by customers from Hellprod, for those interested in getting our Client Card must be carried out or already have carried out an order in a minimum of € 30.

This Card allows our clients to get various discounts on their orders, as well as on tickets of the events organized by Hellprod.

New releases out now: Decayed / Irae / Inquisitor - From The Underworld With Hate Split CD, Limited: 500 copies Augrimmer [Ger] / Grave Desecrator [Bra] - Bloody Deathcross - Split 7'EP’2013 Limited: 300 copies Insolitum - Infestus Demo-Tape’2013 Limited: 300 copies Womb / Hellcharge - This Knot... Split Tape 2013 Limited: 100 copies Grave Desecrator [Bra] - Insult Cass. LP 2012 Limited: 300 copies Inquisitor [Pt] - Dark Ages Of Witchery 7’EP Vinyl 2012 Limited: 300 copies

What are the most important features you look for in a band that is or has the chance to be signed on your label?

For us the most important in the bands what we support are the music, filling and the perspectives what the bands have for the future, is also very important for us when our bands are also able to play live as much as possible, this are points very important for we can sign a band, the rest are in our taste because we only release or support what we real like.

Coming soon during 2013: Pentacrostic - Emanation From The Grave MCD Filii Nigrantium Infernalium [New full length] LP Rotten Liver [First Demo-Tape] Demo-Tape Fungus [New release first full length] CD Alcoholocaust [New release first full length] CD Martelo Negro [New Demo] Demo Tape

How can a band get in touch with you? What should bands know before submitting their promos for your consideration?

Well for the bands interested in contact us please send us the complete info about the band like biography updated with logo and photo, please add a release or a sample with the sound of the band for we can check. All the stuff received will be promoted in our newsletters.

How can anyone get in touch with you? Please list your website, webstore and/or social media links.

To close this interview I would like thank you Adrian, for all your killer support and opportunity to help us present our labels to all the maniacs, what reads your respected fanzine, for all of you our Infernal Hails with Blood.

All the interested in contact or check us: Info: info@helldprod.com or murder.records@yahoo.co.uk Sales and Wholesales: order@helldprod.com or slaughter@helldprod.com Trades and Promotion: murder.records@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.helldprod.com Hellstore: www.helldprod.com/hellstore Discogs Store: www.discogs.com/seller/HELLDPROD

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

What's the most important thing in the relationship between you and your bands? What is your label offering to its bands?

TRUTH, I thing is the best word to explain the relationship between label and bands, is on that point we can see if label and band share the same fillings and if we have conditions to work together.

Is there anything you planned with your label and has not yet been completed?

Yes we would change the Blasphemic Assault Festival for Holland, we hope we can do the first edition in Holland this year but is a project in mind and soon we will give more news about that.

May 2013

We are also handing distribution for certain releases: Carnal-"Morbid Desires" EP Corpseflesh-"Tattooed by a Blowtorch" CD Enthraller-"Devil King of the Sixth Heaven" CD Vahrzaw-"Defiant" CD Each release is strongly recommended and as a growing label we will continue to release killer metal. Our next release is "Human Factory" by Nakka. Nakka are a female-fronted Russian Death-grind band. The album is currently being pressed and should be available for purchase soon!

Please present your label, when and where was it started, who is involved in its activities and what genres are promoted by it.

Infinite Regress Records. Brisbane based, run

by Lindon Faynes and Steve Tasker Started back in November 2010, the label was run by myself(Lindon) and a good friend, Zeke Ferrington(Disciples of Torture). Signed a few Australian acts such as Iconic Vivisect(VIC) and Five Finger Disintegrator(SA), the latter released a free promo CD through us and the former released an MCD titled "Breeding Atrocity". Shortly after, Zeke decided to part ways with IRR. I continued to run IRR, releasing an EP for Habitual Defilement and the full length CD for Whoretopsy. Shortly after I ran into Steve Tasker at a local metal show and asked him if he would like to jump in and help out with the label. Steve has become a very essential part of IRR.

What are the most important features you look for in a band that is or has the chance to be signed on your label?

Our main rule with signing bands is that if it doesn't make the hairs on your neck stand up then it's not worth signing into. We never sign bands based on trends or gimmicks.

We look for hard working bands, bands that are willing to put in %100 effort to each release they do through us. We have turned down several bands due to what we felt was a lack of professionalism in their music and attitude. Above all if your music is killer and it stands out from the mediocre then we'll be more then happy to represent them.

Tell us a few words on each or the most important releases of your label, and which of them are still available for purchase.

We currently stock 5 releases.

Iconic Vivisect-"Breeding Atrocity' MCD Habitual Defilement-"The Abolished Arise" EP Whoretopsy-"They Did Unspeakable Things" CD Habitual Defilement-"The Redemption of Past Supremacy" CD Corpseflesh/Facegrinder-"Perth Split" CD All of these releases are available for purchase.

How can a band get in touch with you? What should bands know before submitting their promos for your consideration?

Our email for band submissions is infregrec@gmail.com 15

IRR is fairly rooted in Death Metal but we don't stick with the one genre. We'll gladly support any underground artist as long as the music is good.

If you wish to submit your band, here is the best way of attaining our interest.

Write a small but detailed Biography of the band you are submitting.

Attach your logo, artwork and songs in folder (If you have physical CD's we can provide you an address).

Have links to your facebook/myspace/reverbnation/bandcamp etc also links to any reviews you may have.

Is there anything you planned with your label and has not yet been completed?

We have a killer shirt design for the label and we would love to print and sell it.

How does the future looks for your label?

Any major projects you would like to share with us?

So far, we've had several signings. Each band just as awesome as the next, all I can say now is keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming releases!

How can anyone get in touch with you? Please list your website, webstore and/or social media links Band Submissions: infregrec@gmail.com Label trades/distro/sales: infiniteregressrecords@gmail.com infiniteregressrecords.com www.facebook.com/infiniteregressrecords www.reverbnation.com/infiniteregressrecords infiniteregressrecords.tumblr.com

What's the most important thing in the relationship between you and your bands? What is your label offering to its bands?

We make great bonds with our bands but keep a professional attitude with all label aspect. Regardless how well we get along personally with certain bands, we never treat any band better then the next. Each band on IRR is treated equally.

We cover printing costs for CD's. The band gets an amount of CD's sent to them, once we make back from printing costs the band will receive a cut. We trade with other underground record labels and this helps getting more people showing interest in the label and it's roster.

We also have contacts with distribution companies and this gets IRR products into stores.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com) May 2013

We actually don’t accept promos this time period. We have our schedule full with the upcoming releases and until further notice we will not be looking for other bands.

Please present your label, when and where was it started, who is involved in its activities and what genres are promoted by it.

Katoptron IX Recs is a Black Metal label formed by a group of friends and our activities began in 2011. Our only aim is to release the material we want in the appropriate format of each release.

What's the most important thing in the relationship between you and your bands? What is your label offering to its bands?

Some members of these bands are involved with Katoptron IX, so it is a friend circle.

Tell us a few words on each or the most important releases of your label, and which of them are still available for purchase.

We have 3 releases so far: The demo tape of Iasma "Le Messe Noir” lim. to 100 copies, the 7” split EP between Primeval Mass and Ezgaroth "Amongst the Ruins of Cosmos/Nightside” lim. to 300 copies and the new Primeval Mass album "Blood Breathing Idols”, on CD. The Iasma tape is sold out, the 7” (few copies left) and the CD are available. For orders/information our contact address is katoptron.ix@gmail.com and also, in association with Secret Doctrines and Serpent Race Propaganda, we have our distro list updated with additional interesting titles.

Is there anything you planned with your label and has not yet been completed?

We have a number of releases planned but they will soon be out.

How does the future looks for your label? Any major projects you would like to share with us?

As I said, we have some interesting releases on plans, for now I’d like to mention only the new album of Bethor (gre) and the split Primeval Mass/Iasma. Also, Acheron’s "Those who have risen” will be available in vinyl format very soon, through Secret Doctrines.

What are the most important features you look for in a band that is or has the chance to be signed on your label?

Typically, quality is enough but we are not looking for any specific feature now because we are not looking for any new band at the moment, unfortunately.

How can anyone get in touch with you? Please list your website, webstore and/or social media links.

Our website is under construction. In the meanwhile, those interested can find us on facebook, or they can directly contact us in the address: katoptron.ix@gmail.com

How can a band get in touch with you? What should bands know before submitting their promos for your consideration?

June 2013

16

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

have been phenomenal, really! The worst one we've gotten so far said, “I don't like this kind of sound, but the album itself is great”. I felt like we had something that people would enjoy, but the response has been better than I expected.

Now not many bands are playing "crossover music" these days. For those who don;t know, and I do know I am an old fart at 48 yrs old. what is "crossover music"?

Crossover thrash is basically where the speed and efficiency of punk and the heaviness and ferocity of metal overlap. It's basically like a stripped down version of the American thrash sound (Slayer, Exodus, etc), where the songs are shorter and often without solos or the like. “Speak English or Die” is a prime example of the style.

When I heard Birth A.D. for the 1st time I was completely blow away and I knew and interview was in order so here is my interview with singer/bass player Jeff.

Now let's fast forward to 2013 and your new release. "I Blame You. Why the 4 yr gap in between releases? What did you do differently this time in the studio as opposed to last time?

Ah, now we are caught up! It was 4 years mainly because Mark and I were still in Averse Sefira and didn't want to put all our strength behind Birth A.D. until we knew for certain that Averse was not going to continue. Once it became obvious that we were free to move forward, I put all my funding and energy into Birth. It also took extra time because Alex Perialas wasn't available to record us until January of 2012. The album was finished in the Spring, but then we lost several months shopping it to labels. The next album will not take so long!

Tell me a little about yourself and for those who don't know what band do you sing in?

I front the band Birth A.D. on vocals and bass, and I've been performing in metal bands since 1989. We are the antidote for the failed “retrothrash” movement.

Were you in any bands before Birth AD and if so what bands were they?

Yes, our previous band Averse Sefira was the best-known one. We did it for 15 years, and when it finally collapsed I knew I needed to do something different.

Has the band played many shows so far and do you think your a good live band?

We've played about 60 shows I think, which really isn't much at all, but I'm working on changing that. I actually think we're very good live. We don't compromise anything on stage, and I am always happy with our sound and energy when I look back at videos of our performances. I've never gotten any complaints.

The dumb typical question here. Tell me how the band formed and how did each band member find their way into a final line-up?

We've known each other a long time, since 1995. Mark and Brian had a death metal band called Death of Millions for years, and Mark started playing drums for my previous band in 2000, so we're all wellacquainted.

Is their a good metal scene in Austin, TX? It's not bad. Touring acts do great here, while local stuff is at the mercy of timing and luck. I'm from San Antonio, which has a good metal community, and I have a lot of metal friends in Houston, so I think the strength of our scene is shared between the cites.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Jeff at what point did you start to figure out that you wanted to sing and what are some other singers that you like?

It started with this band. I'd never done lead vocals for any other project, but the lyrics were all mine and from my point of view, so it was only right that I take on the job myself. I like all the usual suspects- Tom Araya, Billy Milano, and Kurt Brecht are among my biggest influences.

Do you plan to do any type of touring at all?

Yes, as I mentioned we are working on it. At this point I don't think we'll do full-scale tours unless we end up on a bigger label, which is fine with me. I want to do a series of mini-tours, like the one we recently did on the East Coast.

How did the band come up with the name and were any other names considered and have you gotten any shit over it yet?

I'm the kind of person who comes up with a name on the first try and sticks with it. Birth A.D. was chosen since my first-ever band was a crossover thrash band called Afterbirth, and I wanted something to point back to my origins. It was a multi-layered reference to the band's rebirth and a homage to the Misfits' “Earth A.D.” album, which was also an inspiration. We haven't gotten any shit over it. Why would we?

I read that you played with DRI. What was that like and what did they think of you guys?

It was great! It was a real honor to play with them, and at a sold-out show in Austin, no less. They are cool guys. Spike and Harald came out and watched us, which was really flattering. I talk to Spike and Kurt here and there, and we also opened for Kurt's side project, Pasadena Napalm Division, which was great fun as well.

What were some of the 1st practices like and how long had the band been together before you started to writer songs and how does a song come together?

They were surprisingly easy and fun.

We'd all played together in one fashion or another over the years, so it didn't take much to get started. More significant was the actual sound of the material and the point where we realized we were onto something.

Do you feel like me that there is too many bands and that makes it harder for bands like you to get noticed?

By the way I think your one of the best bands I have heard in a long time.

Thanks for saying so. And yes I think it is harder to get noticed now, due to sheer volume. I get annoyed sometimes because I'll discover a band I like after they've already been out for a while and wonder how I missed them before. Whenever I do find a new worthwhile band, I make a point of telling everyone I know about it.

Tell me all about your EP "Stillbirth Of A Nation".

How long did it take you to record and how have the reviews been to it so far?

I'd rather tell you about our new full-length, “I Blame You”, since the EP was released in 2009. It took two and a half weeks to record, and we did the whole thing at Pyramid Sound with Alex Perialas producing. The reviews

Why didn't your release end up on Dark Descent 18

Records and on a sub label of sorts?

I was originally partnering with Dark Descent with a sub-label of my own creation for the release, partly since his roster was already crowded and he also wanted to avoid confusion with a somewhat non-standard release like ours. By the time I was ready to go, Eric and Unspeakable Axe had sprung up, so it was really a perfect arrangement in the end.

Will the songs always be short and to the point so to speak?

Yes, absolutely. My ambition is to be a crossover thrash band that stays that way! Crossover bands tend to start making their songs longer and more involved over time, and at that point, a key element of the sound is lost.

We will never change in that regard.

Three and a half minutes is about as long as we'll ever go.

Name me some of your favorite metal bands and hardcore bands.

That's a huge list, as you probably know! I like death, black, and thrash metal, along with some classic hardcore. Favorites include, DRI, SOD, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Immolation, Incantation, early Morbid Angel and Deicide, Misfits (Danzig era, of course), Cro-Mags, early Sodom, Demigod, Demilich, early Immortal, early Emperor, classic-era Bathory... pretty much all the good stuff you can think of from the '80s and early '90s.

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

We already took care of that in the form of “Blow Up the Embassy”, which was originally by the San Antonio band Fearless Iranians From Hell. I think we did it justice, and I'm glad to spread the word about them because they were a cool band from my hometown.

Please plug any websites you have as well as any merchandise you have. Thanks for the interview and any last words your band is like a breath of fresh air.

Thanks for the support and the kind words! I'll say what I always say, which is kill hipsters and cause problems! www.birthad.com

How does the writing of a song come together and what the easiest song you wrote and the hardest?

Generally I'll get a melody in my head or lyric passages that form a melody, then I record it at home and sit on it for a while. I stockpile lyrics, riffs, and titles, and wait for them to come together. Sometimes I'll think of something a year before and then have it reappear when I'm trying to write. I like that workflow. Easiest song ever was “No Jobs”, which was unofficially the first-ever Birth A.D. song. Mark and I put it together in ten minutes. It's a simple little number, but that's the point.

Hardest so far was maybe “Wrong Again”, because I couldn't decide on how long I wanted certain parts and I had to be mindful about it to get the phone skit in there the way I wanted it.

Interview by Chris Forbes Answers by Jeff Tandy

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com) June 2013

19

still happy with it?

Well, this time we had support from our producer Martin who is currently building up his own studio (www.anubisklangwerkstatt.com). He did a great job. It is better to work with a person who knows what he´s doing instead of finding out for yourself while trying. The songwriting for the debut took about one year I guess. We are still happy with the songs but we would change a lot production-wise nowadays. We think about re-recording a few songs of it as kind of bonus for the third album.

I recently got a Lifeless promo for the bands 2nd release called “Godconstruct” and it easily won me over with its speed, power, and overall brutality.

Here is an interview with Marc who is the singer/guitar player in the band.

Give me a little band history and who is in the band now and how long has the band been around?

The band was officially founded in early 2006 although the idea arose yet in late 2004. Our former guitarist Andy and I came together again after being off the music business for some years and we were driven by the old desire to rock again. I had the idea to found a band in the vein of the early Entombed and Dismember etc. So, we started writing songs and looking for some additional members.

In 2007 we recorded our debut "Beyond the threshold of death" all by ourselves. It was officially re-released in 2010 by Ibex Moon records. In 2011 we signed with FDA Rekotz for our second album which will be released in March 2013.

Are lyrics important to the band and how do lyrics come about?

Yes, the lyrics are important to me personally. But if someone is not interested in reading the lyrics it´s fine for me too. The voice is a fifth instrument in first case. I start writing lyrics when the first riffs come together. I have ideas of melody-lines on my mind as well as first words and sentences. Then the lyrics form around these first ideas. But it can take a while until the lyrics are really done. The last two lyrics I wrote for the new album were finished just two days before recording the vocals.

Now as far as the music goes, how does a song come about and what was the hardest and easiest song you have wrote so far?

Quite often I write whole songs at home. Then the band puts its ideas into it and we arrange it together in our rehearsal room. Sometimes someone comes up with a few riffs that could match together somehow and we work something out. I can´t really name a song that was very hard to write although some songs take more time than other ones but the easiest song was “Sworn to death” which was written during two rehearsals. It´s quite unique for us to write a whole song just in the rehearsal room.

I see the band is from Germany home to many great bands over the years. How is the metal scene there nowadays and is there many places for bands to play?

Well, we have a great and healthy scene with a lot of fans and bands.

Even too much sometimes I think... You can play a lot but people seem to be bored sometimes because of too much shows and bands around.

What were some of the early bands that you guys got into and when did you finally think you came to the Lifeless sound so to speak?

We started - like every Metalhead at that time I guess - with bands like Maiden, Metallica, Slayer etc. Then in 1990 Entombed released "Left hand path" and I was into Death Metal right from the spot. This album never released me from its iron grip until today... unbelievable!

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Now when you hear a band, what do you look for in the music, the riff or the singing or both?

The whole picture. Everything is important. If a band writes great songs and the singer is shit everything´s destroyed. All parts have to fit together. Songwriting, skills, sound, vocals… It´s an overall construct finally.

I see this is your 2nd release. Tell me about your 1st release and is it still available and what label did that come out on?

As mentioned before it was done and released all by ourselves and then re-released by Ibex Moon Records - the label of Incantations John McEntee - in 2010. We had the option to release two more CDs on this label, but we wanted to get more reputation on the European market as well.

I was totally blown away by the speed and intensity of the band. The singer also has a great death metal voice to boot. The production is amazing to boot. Where did you end up recording it at?

Thanks for the kind words. We recorded it with our friend Martin Bondzio at Anubis-Klangwerkstatt (www.anubis-klangwerkstatt.com)his own studio.

What was it like going into the studio for the 1st time? Did you record any sort of demo before you release your debut?

No, we did everything ourselves and it was a kind of learning by doing process. But the result was not that bad for some first steps.

If you had to record 3 cover tunes, what songs would they be and why?

Oh, that´s a hard question, because it is quite dangerous to cover great songs. You can easily end up destroying some cult stuff, ha, ha.

What did you do in the studio this time around as opposed to the 1st time? How fast did the songs come together for the debut? Are you

20

Well, for the official rerelease of our debut we recorded “Casket garden” from Dismember as a bonus track. That was quite cool, ´cause our version was a bit faster and more aggressive then the original recording. I think covering a song that is not Death Metal makes more sense at least. Changing a song into a Death Metal song rather then covering a song from the same genre. But live it is quite cool to cover some stuff from the old heroes…

everything going the way of the internet?

I guess the Death Metal scene will shrink within the next five years. Good bands will survive, others may die. Time shall tell if Lifeless is among the survivors. But I think Metal fans will always buy records, despite the internet.

Plug any merchandise you have any websites you may have.

Our websites are: www.lifelessdeathmetal.de www.facebook.com/lifeles sofficial www.youtube.com/lifeless

How did you come up with the name and were any other names considered?

No, there were no other names considered. As I came up with the idea founding this band I thought about a name that fits the whole thing. It had to be short and related to death like in the early 1990´s when bands were named Entombed, Dismember, Grave etc.

official www.fda-rekotz.com New merch will be available very soon.

Now you being the singer, when it comes to you singing, do you have to be in some sort of mood, or do you get up there and do it?

The best mood for singing is after having three to four beers, ha, ha…

How did you end up on the label you are on and have they done a good job for you up to this point?

Well, after re-releasing our debut via Ibex Moon we decided to look for another label that could get us more reputation on the European market even though we had the option for two additional albums on Ibex Moon.

I contacted Rico from FDA Rekotz and asked him if he could be interested. And he was as you see, ha, ha…

Working with Rico and FDA is quite perfect for us. Rico is a real fan of this music and he is totally ambitioned and fair.

What do your parents think of the band or they don't give a shit?

They are kind of proud of course but to be honest, I don´t think that they understand it musically, ha, ha…

Do you feel that there are too many bands out there nowadays that sound like bands of the past too much?

Yes. When I had the idea to found this band back in late 2004 I would never ever have thought that the scene would move in this direction.

Now it is almost a kind of trend again.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Do you hope to do any type of touring for this and would you ever want to get to the US to play a couple shows?

We recently did a short three days tour with our label mates Deserted fear and Chapel of disease. Of course a longer tour would be appreciated.

Yes, we would love to tour in the US too. Hope that day may come…

How does the band come up with that amazing guitar sound?

That´s simple: BOSS HM-2, ha, ha…

Has the band played live much and are there any live tunes floating around on You Tube at all?

Statisticaly we are doing about one show in a month. You can watch some live clips on our YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/lifelessofficial

What are some of the best shows that you have seen and I imagine you have been to fests like Wacken and the like, how amazing is it to go to a show like that?

Wacken is just too big. Too much people. I prefer smaller fests with about 8 to 10.000 visitors. That´s enough. The “Up from the ground festival” was great, but it is dead and buried unfortunately.

Do you think you’re a good live band and what were some of the early shows like?

Well, there are always a lot things to improve but we try to be not a boring live band at all. We rather bang our heads and move on stage then to play everything perfect. In any case it is always a lot of fun playing live.

How have been the reviews for the release been and imagine the label was big time happy when they heard the release?

The reviews are quite amazing so far. Just great responses and high scores. Fucking great! We are very happy and I guess the label is too…

Are there any leftover tracks that might see the light of day so to speak one day?

No. All the tracks we recorded are on the album.

But we already started songwriting for the next one…

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

Dismember meets Desultory meets Obituary ha, ha…

What is some of the most overrated music in your ears and eyes?

The whole mainstream Pop music business. There is nothing in there but profit and superficiality. Quite bad…

Any last words, congrads on a great release.

Thanx for this interview and your support. Folks out there, please check us out. Hope to see you on stage soon…

Interview by Chris Forbes Answers by Marc Niederhagemann

Where do you see the band and the underground in say 5 years? Do you see

April 2013 21

New Kingdom” and we’ve been amazed by reading the positive critics since then. The recordings took place in Kmoarr Studio mentioned above with Cserős Attila and we’re completely satisfied with the sound. It’s not overpolished, yet it’s clear and brutal sounding, which are the only real aspects when it comes to death metal. We love 5-song releases and that’s enough of music this dense, as the playing time is approximately 25 minutes.

Furthermore, the EP contains the promo CD from 2010, which will be talked about later.

You were a part of Neochrome, why did you decide to leave the band? Was it then when you decided to form Angerseed?

Neochrome is a sad story... I was the creator and the founder of the band, I formed it in 1998. When the others joined to the band in 2001 (after two other line-ups), I was the only ultimate member and after the second fulllength, it the end of 2007 I said, I'd need a little break. I didn't like the new Neochrome sound and I had many personal problems with the members too. So I wanted to take the band to the ice for a little time, and there was an agreement between us, that nobody uses the name and the logo (both were created by me...) without the permission of the other members. After this I started Angerseed, but they didn't abide to this... They weren't brave enough to start something new with a new name, but I was! I said them, it's a bad idea, 'cause the band became famous in Hungary with/by me and the people liked it with me on the front. They didn't care of this fact and shortly after this they erased my voice off the full-lengths without my permission too... I was very angry because their human disrespect! That's the real story of it.

Meanwhile they changed a letter in the name and changed the logo too, but this whole story is really sad to me.

I’ve seen Angerseed during their tour with Christ Agony, and their energetic yet technical performance made me want to find out more about them, so here’s a chat with a veteran of Hungarian Death Metal scene, Peter D. Maniak, who’s the leader and handles vocals for Angerseed now.

Greetings Peter, welcome to Slowly We Rot! How are you after the tour with Christ Agony? How did you get in touch with this legend of Polish Underground Metal scene and who came up with the idea of touring together? How was the tour?

Hi to everybody who read this 'zine which has a really perfect name:), Slowly We Rot is one of my Top-Favorite Death Metal albums, one of the best full length of all time!! A big hello to Obituary, who I played in 2005 in Hungary on the Sziget Festival with!

First I have to apologize as I am a bit of late of answering, therefore some topics are out of date, but I try to sum up everything important. In the Spring of 2012 we played two shows with Christ Agony, the band including some famous musicians, played in Vader and Behemoth before. We had to cancel the 3rd show unfortunately, because the first gig took place in our hometown, Debrecen, and due to the fact of the working day after (though it was weekend), we had lost money. So the 3rd show didn’t come into being, we were late on the second one, but we enjoyed it. I got in touch with the band through their organizer, CORO, who is a well-known organizer in the European underground scene. The guys in Christ Agony were friendly, the gigs were amazing; Pawel has been playing drums in Decapitated since then, but I hope CA has found a new drummer.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

How would you describe your style to someone who never heard your music?

If you watch our biography, you can read this sentence: ”The band set itself the aim of Death Metal which is straightforward but at the same time allows complex devices as well.„ And this is the essence! We love Death Metal but we are opened to all of the good styles and influences, we use other important influences to our music too if we feel them right, but our music will stay real Death Metal 'till the end of time!

You have just released the "Dawn of a New Kingdom" EP, could you please present the tracks on it to our readers? Is there any concept behind its lyrics?

There is no conscious pre-planned conception behind the songs and the lyrics, but since the lyrics are centered around the same topics, they are all connected together by a loose concept. As for the lyrics, I usually say that they reflect the feelings, thoughts of a man, who lives in this world with open eyes, and all of them come in a kind of a „poetic” way. It’s hard to decide which the right worldview is, bit I guess everyone can agree that the world goes in a very wrong direction in every aspect.

These things reflect in the lyrics from the view of the self. The task of metal has always been to shout out the naked truth, and the rebellion against everything, that shouldn’t be allowed to stay the same. For those, who write fantasy lyrics, it may not hold too much of importance, but for me it’s important to tell something with my lyrics. It’s not so easy due to the death-grunts and the use of the English language, especially in Hungary, but I hope that many listeners dive into the lyrics too.

Although you're not a well-known band abroad (yet), I won't ask you for Angerseed's bio, interested people can find it online I guess, but I would like to ask you why haven't you released a full-length album although you're around since 2007?

I understand the question, but it has been for a reason of course. Actually we formed in November of 2007, but the real start of the band is from the first show, and it was in December of 2008. Everything had been unstable until then, but it has taken even more time to build up a steady line-up. There were many changes in our line-up, especially on the post of the drummer. We had hard times and still have many problems regarding the post in question, yet we managed to put out two releases. In 2009 we were about to change our guitarist, and I found out to record one of our shows with a mobile studio. For luck the show was great and so was the overall playing of the band; it was the tightest of all the shows. It turned out to be a good idea, as many line-up changes were to come and we weren’t able to come up with a proper recording afterwards. So I took this live recording to Kmoarr Studio, where it was fixed a little bit, but carefully in order to keep the real live feeling. This is a real live recording without any afterplay, and I like it very much as it’s dirty and brutal. It was released in 2010, titled „The First Seeds (Before The Reign Of Anger)” but I”ll talk about it later. The recording of the EP was a plan thought about long before, but we could start the recordings just in October of 2011. It was released in the April of 201, titled „Dawn of a

Why did you choose to add the demo tracks on this EP, too? From this I gather you're still proud of what you recorded on that demo, am I right?

It’s just a small bonus. Of the 2010 promo just a few copies were made and despite its success we didn’t put much effort in promoting and distributing it, neither we sent it to the media as we didn’t want to be labeled by this material. Mostly due to the fact, that it was recorded by a totally different line-up. In spite of that a good amount of copies have been ordered. It was a live material, not perfect, but I’m proud of it as it’s an in your face old-school stuff, and I thought if it’s had been released already, let it be known by a lot of people. And on the top of that the 22

listeners get two materials for the price of one EP, so it’s a fan-friendly release. Nowadays almost no CD to be released without bonus tracks.

above, and some of those bands have already opened for abroad with success achieved. So there are new bands showing up every time. I hope that their enthusiasm will last for long! But it’s sad what I see when it comes to the audience at live gigs. The number of people visiting concerts decrease constantly, due to laziness, and it’s more and more hard to book shows, if you see the situation compared to as it was 10-15 years ago.

How are the reactions to your EP so far and what are your goals now, I mean what do you expect to achieve through this release?

Actually we didn’t expect anything, but we were curious to hear any feedback regarding the EP of course. We are glad that we’ve got positive critics in the media; the opinion of the people is important, as we played music in our rooms just for ourselves if we would only watch ourselves, and neglecting others views about our material. For us it’s important that the people like what we do and it goes for the media as well. Next time we try to make an even better material. This year we plan to release the EP in a more serious format and also sending it to thousands of places online; the result of this process will surely be exciting. If we don’t have a serious contract by the end of this year, that will not be a tragedy, as we will be continuing with the band full time!

Your country had many great bands in the past but most of them remained hidden from the "outside World", they were known only locally. Why do you think this happened?

I could talk about it very much. We may start this story in the ’70-s, ’80s, when Hungarian bands lived their glorious days and gained big success in Europe, and in some cases in the whole world, despite being behind the iron curtain in the depressing socialism. Hungarian rock music was totally unique and fertile back then. But later it started to decline, and this downward spiral hasn’t stopped until now. Translating it to the situation of the underground, it means that the bands here in Hungary playing harder music, followed their idols, became similar to them, so these bands had hard time to achieve anything. And even though there were some really good bands here in the scene mentioned above, who didn’t succeeded to break out, their influence remained powerful. Yet it’s more and more difficult to make anything significant here. Due to the decrease in selling CDs it’s very hard to achieve anything here. Needless to say that there is no any background for this kind of music in this world of shitty reality-shows and talentshows which don’t even worth mentioning. Yet I do think that with resolution and energy one can reach many things; Internet is both a curse and bless to music, because world has become open and many connections can be made. So with skill and will it’s not impossible to expand and go forward!

You seem to be the leader of the band, but you take it as a real band or as a personal project? Do the other members have their own word when it comes to internal affairs?

Actually I am the face of the band, I have been the only one here for the very first day, but the situation was the same with my previous band. But despite the fact that the most important decisions are made by me and so am I the leader of the band, everyone is equal in the band and has his say regarding everything. So it’s a work of a group here and the band atmosphere is great. I believe in democracy and team spirit, and even though sometimes I have to make hard decisions alone, we don’t do anything against any member’s will.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

I think most of the bands in Hungary have chosen to write their lyrics in Hungarian, why did you choose English?

I am quite sure that English language is the right channel to express in this kind of music, but int he past I sang in Hungarian for almost 10 years. Both ways have its positive and negative sides. Here in Hungary many people don’t understand the English lyrics, anyway, just a few of the listeners dig into the lyrics deeply. There are many good Hungarian bands with great lyrics, but here for some reason lyrics don’t get the attention as they do abroad, where fans are much more lyrics-orientated.

I have many favorite lyricists in metal, but many things will remain unexplored for those who never read the lyrics.

What's next for Angerseed? Can we expect a debut full-length anytime soon?

Apart from playing gigs as many as we can, we would like to do many things: finding a label, making a good video-clip, building a more spectacular stage-show, pressing much more copies of the EP, writing new songs. And finally, but maybe it’s too early: we want to record the first full-length album in this year; it depends on many different things, but we hope for the best to come, even if some things are not up to us.

How's the scene in Hungary? Any good upcoming bands you'd recommend?

I guess I don’t need to go into the details how hard the situation is everywhere, as the whole scene is overcrowded, yet disinterest is also a problem. But the difference between the situation here and abroad is the same. In the western metal scene everything is well organized (labels, management, promoters, festivals etc.), but here we hardly have anything like this. Not to say about the financial side. People expect to experience the western standard, but the financial resources are vary poor here, cannot be compared to that of the western ones. But we must do our best.. it’s not too easy, but the audience wants a good qauality and it has a right to have it! When it comes to the bands themselves, there is no problem, we have many bands here, despite the problems mentioned

Thanks for your answers, Peter, and best of luck with the band!

Thanks for the chance of the interview, the questions were awesome!

Good luck to the 'Zine and Best Wishes to all the readers of it! Keep the Flame, support the Underground!!! www.angerseed.hu www.facebook.com/angerseed

April 2013 23

it, lyrics are nice but not extremely important for music. But that’s a point of view…

How did the idea of forming Carnal Ghoul come up?

Hey Sonia, good to chat with you again ;)...

To create CG was an idea of Daniel and myself, some years ago. We met often on some festivals and we found out that we both like the old school (Sweden) death metal. Also the same bands... so after a few beers we decided to start a band together... and here we are...

Thilo Krieger helped you recording it.

Who is he? I read he’s mainly produced German bands such as Defloration, Fearer, Lay Down Rotten, Milking the Goatmachine, among others. As these acts are fairly unknown do you believe he was a good choice?

This guy is great! He did a really great job and made our sound 100% as we wanted it. It the “home”recording- studio of Daniel and his bands. I was there the first time and felt immediately at home. Good job,

Why have you chosen the name Carnal Ghoul?

Because it sounds old school, Death Metal-ish and fits perfect to our music. No real special meaning behind that. dude!

The music pays homage to the likes of Dismember, Grave Edge of Sanity and Entombed and contains a little influence from the old school from England, Benediction and Bolt Thrower. Why did you feel the need to create such a project? Do you think the essence of death metal is melting away or diluting with other styles?

To play this kind of Death Metal was always my wish and in Daniel I found the right person to create such a sound. We are very close to each other, even there are a couple of bands and other stuff I can not tolerate.

But I will bring him on the right way! Haha… No, It was only our inner wish to play that kind of music. No clinical sound, not polished, no synth-drums, JUST Metal ov Death in your face… I think that for 2 years and still now, many bands remember their roots and try to make everything more “original” instead of mixing genres etc. Let’s see what happens.

“The Grotesque Vault" was recorded, mixed and mastered in February 2013 at Desert Inn Studios in Sinn-Edingen (GER).

Since the project is quite new, you haven’t spent too much time thinking and preparing the songs and all, have you?

All went really fast… we wrote nearly 3 songs in one rehearsal. And the fourth one we created while we recorded the album. Of course both of us have much to do with our other bands, so rehearsals are rare… but it worked fine and I think you also hear this spontaneous feeling in a good way… fresh and rotten… I really like the sound of the album and hope we can create the same feeling and power on the next album…

Who’s the main lyricist? What lyrical themes are approached in your music?

Lyrics were written by Daniel and a good friend of him. But, as in all other bands I play with, I only hear the voice of the instrument. The way I see

Remission Records / High Roller Records (Vinyl) are the labels working with you. How difficult or easy was it finding a label interested in your project?

To find someone to release a MCD or 7” was not that hard. But we are still looking for a label to release the full-length, which will be recorded at the end of the year. Of course Daniel and myself are not really unknown in the national metalscene, so we have many contacts, which helped us a lot. By the way, the tape version will be released by Coffin Filth Rec.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

The first gigs are already booked, according to your facebook official page and they’ll all be in Germany. Is it being complicated promoting the band abroad?

Before we think about playing outside Germany, we must play some shows here to find the right feeling on stage for us all together. But yes, I am really happy that we already have 6 shows booked in 2013. And some really good ones…

You describe yourselves as Fleshripping Death Metal. It is to say we can expect death metal in the old school vein with no added gimmicks and effects, just pure and sheer brutality?

You are 100% correct. I really fed up with all those perfect produced, 100% perfect records. I really prefer stuff like Feral, Lifeless, Deserted Fear, Wound etc... A heavy production is more important than a “perfect” one... that’s my opinion... I have the same with Desaster and Decayed too!

Pure brutality and violence!

Arrghhh

Tormentor is a down-to-earth and friendly musician who happens to be involved in as many bands as the fingers one has in one hand, namely the mighty Desaster, Decayed, Carnal Ghoul, Metalucifer and Trinitas. Sonia thought it would be a great idea to chat with this German drummer so that he could share some information and updates with us. Read on!

24

You’re about to release “The Grotesque Vault" and the promotional flyer is really old fashioned.

Do you

believe this “back to death metal’s roots” approach will grant you more fans?

I really don’t care. We decided it that way, because that is the right way for the band. NO bullshit, just pure (Death) Metal.

When we started our first bands, there were no computers, etc… we only had an old typewriter and a copy- machine… and a lot of tippex, you know that? Haha…

other guys are not interested in playing more than one or two shows a month, so I still have enough time for my other bands. Desaster is writing new songs and preparing some new shows, etc. Also one show in January in Portugal is booked already! ;)

People these days are used to revolutionary technology and then getting something in the old fashion vein might not attract everyone.

Apart from personal pleasure, who is the audience you’re directing Carnal Ghoul to?

At the moment the Death Metal scene is really big again in Germany.

Many good bands, many good shows, some good mags, and many great guys… But we never thought, doing our music for some special kind of metal fan. I hope that everybody likes a bit from everything… in Metal.

But I think we’ll never play on Keep It True Festival with Carnal Ghoul!

Haha…

Last year witnessed the release of “The Arts Of Destruction”. How was it received by the fans?

I think that our last album was close to perfect (for Desaster) for me.

Sound, Artwork, Layout, songs… all was a very good compact thing.

And I think also the fans recognized that “Arts” is something special. We got very good responses from everywhere… So we are happy and proud. :)

The cover for “The grotesque vault” is nothing less than grotesque.

Who designed it and who has been the mastermind behind your logo?

The cover was done by the mighty Putrid Matt from the feckin USA… A great guy… met him 2 times last summer here in Germany. The original Logo (like that one on the shirt) is from a friend of Daniel. But Matt improved it a bit more. Now we are 100% satisfied with the logo! :)

How’s your collaboration with Decayed? On Metal Archives’ website you’re considered a past member of the band but you’re still doing live shows with them, aren’t you? How did the opportunity to join the Portuguese act come up?

I did my first live show with JA and the boys a few weeks ago! I never went on stage with them before! I only recorded this split with Urn and the new album “The Ancient Brethren”. I have been in touch with JA for many years and after he lost all the bandmembers I told him I would help so that he could keep Decayed “alive”… Time will tell if I stay as a drummer in the band or not. I am ready for everything… :)

Are Desaster currently preparing new material?

Yes, already 3 new songs written. More to come…

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Though you’re just beginning, you have already merchandise available. Do you think merchandise helps spreads the name of a band?

Yes, of course!

There’s nothing better, if a guy or a girl (is even better!) is wearing a band shirt!

Best promotion ever!

The idea was to sell some shirts and to give some to other bands etc… worked fine so far! :)

Decayed’s discography is extensive and you’re constantly releasing limited editions and collectors’ items. Are you trying to set some kind of world record?

Haha, I really have no idea what Jose is doing… But it’s his band and he can do what he wants! :) Maybe yes, I think DKD and Sabbat (Japan) have a kind of release- competition… haha!

Considering you’re also involved in other bands, namely Desaster, Decayed and Metalucifer, how do you find the time to dedicate yourself to all these projects? Do you get any sleep at all?

Haha, yes, sometimes it’s a bit too much and I honestly must say, that I am happy to have a girlfriend who accepts all that shit I am doing! But at the end I think Carnal Ghoul and Desaster is totally permanent with shows and rehearsals. Decayed a bit less... and I am also not really involved in the songwriting process. Metalucifer is only a project. But yes, sleep is rare due to that fact that I also have a “normal” job as well!

Haha!

Desaster

Why do Decayed feel this need to keep on releasing new items?

Jose and myself spoke a lot the last days, when I was in Portugal and, believe me, his hunger for writing new songs is still extreme and since we rehearsed, he also enjoys playing live again! :) Decayed are currently promoting “Unholy seed demon”. How’s it going so far?

At the end, we are still promoting “The Ancient Brethren”, because this is the last full length featuring new songs.

“Unholy Seed Demon” is more a compilation with one new song. “The Ancient Brethen” is still “hot” but sadly the label (Demon seed) never did any real promotion.

So right now we are trying to bring this, in my opinion,

You have been with Desaster for sixteen years now. For how long do you believe you can go on?

Fuck, yes… 16 years… we celebrate our 25th anniversary next year… unbelievable… But I really have no idea how long will go on. At the moment all is fine. The 25

Yes, Trinitas… is a new band with Marcus (BewichtedNaglfar) and Mathias (ex Dark Fortress)… I recorded 3 drum- tracks, so by now it’s in Swedish hands… :) I think the demo will be out soon.

great release forward. If there are some mag-guys reading this interview, please get in touch and we’ll see…

Metalucifer’s latest release was “Heavy Metal Bulldozer”. Have you called it quits?

Metalucifer is still going strong… But this band is more like a project than a real band. It is fun playing and meeting my Japanese friends.

But it’s not a real band.

“Heavy Metal Bulldozer” was a great release… the German and the Japanese version… soon is coming more I guess… ;)

Many thanks for your precious time! Share a final message with the readers please! Horns up! \m/ Hey Sonia, thanks a lot for this great interview. It’s always an honour to chat with you. Hail to all those who believe in metal and maybe also like one or more of my bands… Cheers…

If someone is interested, check out my bands…

I also have some stuff to sale from Desaster (CDs), Carnal Ghoul (CDs, Shirts, Tapes, 7”s), Decayed (CDs) and Metalucifer (DVD/CDs and CDs) Just write an email to tormentor@total-desaster.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tormentor666Desaster DESASTER www.facebook.com/desasterofficial www.totaldesaster.com CARNAL GHOUL facebook: www.facebook.com/CarnalGhoulOfficial METALUCIFER Heavy Metal facebook: www.facebook.com/metaluciferofficial DECAYED website: www.decayed.pt.vu www.facebook.com/DKD666 TRINITAS – more news soon -

How difficult is it being member of projects that aren’t based in Germany? Is the internet a valuable help?

Absolutely… without the mighty internet all would be more long running and stuff… But nothing is really different. For example I learned the DKD songs by going alone in the rehearsal room and playing the drums every day… in Portugal we had one rehearsal and 2 shows… so easy…

The same is with Metalucifer… but there I have at least a guitar player with me… :) Regarding all the projects you’re in, do you have anything further you’d like to add?

At the moment it’s like this: Main bands Desaster and Carnal Ghoul Close to be main band: Decayed (I think we’ll play a couple of shows a year, but songs and all stuff is done by Jose…)

Projects: Metalucifer and Trinitas…

May 2013

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

26

ZINE REVIEWS ANTICHRIST #13 / 2013 (Ukraine) English, 52 A4 pages Long running Ukraine based Antichrist magazine is back with a new discharge of Thrash, Black and Death Metal mainly for the old-school maniacs. Released by Aleksandr from Death Center Prod., Antichrist is made of 52 pages, professionaly printed on glossy b/w pages with color cover. The fonts are different from an interview to another so that they can fit on 1 or 2 pages, the interviews are straight to the point and bands featured are: Hirax, Blasphemy, Goatpenis, Necros Christos, Embrace of Thorns, Furze, Vomitor, Nuclear, Repuked and many others for a total of 24 interviews! The reviews section featured only audio material, no zines, but hopefully Aleksandr will also feature zines in the future, I know he supports them with Dead Center. The zine comes with a double CD compilation, professionally released, and it's very cheap to buy so act fast!

Contact: dcpacz@gmail.com BLEAK #11 / 2012 (Spain) Spanish, 116 A5 pages Bleak fanzine reached its 11th issue, as far as I know, all written in Spanish language, so it must have a dedicated Spanish speaking group of followers out there and that's awesome. Dave Bleak, its editor, is a serious, dedicated Black and Death Metal maniac, his interviews are long and in depth, he seems to know everything about the bands he talks with: Armoured Angel, Necrovore, Sadistic Intent, Agonized, Akerbeltz, Ataraxy, Strid, Amorphis / Abhorrence, and others, so if you know this language you will get plenty of information, no doubt. There's also a Thomas Skogsberg / Dan Swano interview where as usual Skogsberg gives boring, expeditive answers and Swano gives his best, I've read quite a few of these double interviews and it's always the same, Skogsbers always seems bored and unwilling to answer. Apart from that we get a long list of reviews, a nice lay-out with lots of hand-drawn characters, but unfortunately not the best photocopy quality around. Anyway, a very, very good written zine, recommended!

Contact: bleakzine@hotmail.com

and readable layout. By the way, this is how a cut & paste zine should look like: although chaotic you can easily read all interviews. I have discovered a lot of Italian bands and to me it seems they complain about the same issues we complain in my country: lack of gigs' audiences and lack of unity among bands, seens the general problem everywhere. I don't like the handwritten layout of the reviews though, but I admit it's a nice addition to the variety of this zine. Interviews with: Homicide Hagridden, Blasfemia, Nerocapra, Protector, Brain Dead, FOAD Records and many more.

Contact: durettomarco@gmail.com CLANDESTINE #2 / 2012 (Italy) Italian, 50 A4 pages More work from Marco this time with 20 extra pages, Clandestine continues its path of following the old-school photocopied cut & paste zines style. The interviews are a bit longer this time and some of them I found boring but not because of the questions if you get what I mean, but the majority are really entertaining and present us the deep Italian underground. Interviews with bands like Mindsnare (veterans!), Graveland (such an uninspired name for a new band, everyone will think they are the Polish Pagan Metallers), Horrid (one of my fave Italian bands), Zora (excellent, recommended Italian Brutal Death), Demonomancy, Interceptor, Sarcofuck, Collapse, Umbra Noctis, Black Tears Records, Terror From Hell Records, and many more. If you know Italian language don't miss this honest zine.

Contact: durettomarco@gmail.com

DIOVIM #4 / 2012 (Lithuania) Lithuanian, 24 A4 pages This new issue of Diovim is completely landscape written when it comes to layout which makes it a pretty difficult read, or at least I don't like it, I feel like I'm holding a calendar in my hands. But on the other hand I can't read it either (not knowing their language) so it wouldn't make much difference. Even though there are lots of pictures, its editors managed to feature lots and lots of information and BRIMSTONE #1 / 2013 (UK) articles, from the "nostalgic" pages with Metallica, Paradise Lost or Ramses to English, 48 A4 pages interviews with multiple bands (Frailty, Dissimulation, Yellowtooth, Screaming New Black Metal zine from UK presenting mostly (or exclusively) the local Black Savior, Thundertale and others), articles and reviews. metal scene. Good interviews (Desolate Winds, Caina, Ghast, Helen Jenner - Contact: diovim@mail.ru illustrator -, Legion Blotan / White Medal, Instinct, Myrrdin, Nhor, Vostok, Obscure Lupine Quietus, Virophage, Subvertio Deus, Acolyte, The Wolves of FORGOTTEN PATH #4 / 2012 (Lithuania) Avalon and Diversis), nice layout, good cardboard cover idea, excellent print English, 124 A4 pages quality although photocopied; a complex debut issue that promises a lot, an Odium is back with another awesome release, a fantastic new issue that makes it excellent source for discovering what the UK keep in their obscure underground. worth the 1 year waiting since the previous one. The print and pages quality once Unfortunately it is limited to 100 copies, hand-numbered, and my copy is already again is top-notch, glossy and eye catchy, but the content fits everyone's tastes, #74, but try your luck... from the underground fanatics to the ones in search for bigger names, mainly Contact: www.facebook.com/brimstonezine Black Metal, as Forgotten Path could be labelled as a Black Metal magazine without problems. Besides the well-written interviews (Balmog, Warthane, CALL TO THE INFERNAL HORDES #7 / 2011 (Costa Rica) Beastcraft, Lunar Aurora, Cult of Erinyes, Soleil Tryste zine, Skon, Dunkelheit English, 92 A4 pages Prod. just to name a few), we have the regular audio and printed releases reviews, I've heard a lot of good things about this Costa Rican zine so I had to have at least 2 fest reports and an excellent article about the New Wave of Polish Black Metal one issue in my collection, and I can tell you I was not disappointed at all, CTTIH scene. Clean layout, easy to read fonts, everything you need for considering is a behemoth of a zine packed with loads and loads of info, well written, old- Forgotten Path a gem in your collection. Brilliant! school oriented, and although photocopied I think it's way better than a lot of Contact: forgotten.path.mag@gmail.com professional magazines out there Today. It would be a shame not having this zine in your collection if you're a fanzine maniac, and I hope Gilbert will release a new HAUNTED GRAVE #1 / 2011 (Romania) issue soon. There are 25 interviews featured, in-depth documented, with, among English, 32 A5 pages others: Asphyx, Ram, Black Witchery, Profanator, Graveyard, Necros Christos, It was a great surprise finding this zine, I had no idea there were other Extreme Armour, Ravencult, Mummified, plus a lot of reviews and live reports. A true Metal underground zines in Romania, especially in my city, Cluj-Napoca, so I Underground Extreme Metal feast! imediately contacted the guys and bought a few copies for my distro. A Contact: calltotheinfernalhordes_magazine@hotmail.com photocopied zine focused on the underground, raw part of Extreme Metal, featuring only interviews this time: Darkthrone, Von, Furze, Tomhet, Morbosidad, CHAOS VAULT #1 / 2012? (Poland) Aosoth / Antaeus and Sarcophallus. Simple layout with one column contents and English, 72 A4 pages hand-drawn borders, small but readable fonts, clean but at the same time raw look, Jakub, editor of Chaos Vault Webzine, decided to print some of its best material to Haunted Grave is a good zine, I really hope the 2 guys involved won't stop date on paper, too, and that's something we have to praise. It's nice to read releasing it, and it should be about time to have a new issue out by now. something online but it's always awesome to take your time and enjoy a printed Contact: haunted666grave@hotmail.com material, and I guess Jakub meant to keep his best work alive more than through a futile website, similar with my situation (Pest Webzine / SWR zine). The printed HEADBANGERS #2 / 2012 (Holland) Chaos Vault is great, from the quality of interviews, gig reports and reviews to its English, 212 A5 pages old-school look (cut & paste layout, pale, antique-like print), everything is in tone Hell yeah! One of my all times fave zines is back with its second issue, Marco and with what an old-schooler would like to see in such a zine. Interviews with: Grave, his crew did a great job once again. Headbangers is a perfect choice for Asphyx (these guys are in all zines nowadays, a really hard-working band), Grave Underground Rock followers no matter their fave genres as it features from Glam Desecrator, Nominon, Drunken Bastards, Impaled Nazarene, Inferno, Empheris, Rock to Black and Death Metal, very well balanced and written in the most and many others. Recommended! personal and warm manner. Given the fact it's a 212 pages zine you have plenty of Contact: oracle@chaosvault.com material to read, from interviews (Deathfist, Bestial Death, Deicide, Helstar, Spina Bifida, Fatal Embrace, Nomad Son, Witchcurse, Onslaught, Morbid, Riotor, and a CLANDESTINE #1 / 2011 (Italy) lot of others), lots of reviews and lots of live reports. I totally agree with the Italian, 30 A4 pages sentence on the 4th page: "Enjoy this fanzine and protect it with your life: This is One of those situations I'm very glad I know Italian; it was a real pleasure reading something special!" Yes, it is! this old-school cut & paste fanzine, it reminded me of some '80's (mostly US) Contact: headbangerszinemarco@gmail.com underground zines with short but entertaining/informative interviews and reviews, 27

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

HEADBANGERS #3 / 2012 (Holland) English, 212 A5 pages It seems like the Headbangers team wants to shatter any records, they released the second incredible effort in a year. It's not easy to gather and write material for 212 pages and still keep it fresh and interesting but they did it and I have to take a bow in front of these maniacs, they promised they will release the zine twice a year.

Bring it on!!! Besides the usual reviews and live reports, this time Marco & co. talked with bands like: Anvil, Tormentor, Sarcofagus, Macbeth, Grog, Adramelch, Napalm Death, Asphyx, Cobra, Eliminator, Elvenstorm, Hell or Iron Courtain. Of course there are many more interviews than listed. I cannot stress enough how essential this zine is for the underground supporters!

Contact: headbangerszinemarco@gmail.com

Hungarian, 76 A4 pages Oh this would make such a great read for every extreme metal followers out there but unfortunately it's only for Hungarian speaking audiences. In my case I can only look at the pictures... Anyway, the layout is clean, the interviews seem very in depth and informative, there are lots and lots of reviews and basically this is a carefully built zine, I only hope these guys will manage to distribute at least 100 copies of it. Interviews with: Deathronation, Aetherius Obscuritas, Sodomizer, Nocturnal Depression, Moloch, Necrosodomy, Paganus Doctrina, Samhain, Verzivatar, Iron Goat Commando Records and many others.

Contact: feketeterrorzine@gmail.com TEMPLE OF ADORATION #8 / 2011 (Germany) English, 20 A4 pages This is not the latest issue from ToA, issue 9 is out this year but I don't have it (yet). Old-school, cut & paste zine featuring interviews with mostly underground acts (Nuit Noir, Desecration of God Productions, Warpath, Curriculum Mortis interview from 1989 -, Enslaver, Necrobutcher and Conrad, a one man band from Barbados) and lots of reviews, but honestly I find the layout a bit difficult to follow. Old school to the bone.

Contact: evisc666@hotmail.com

IUT DE ASKEN #6 / 2012 (Germany) German, 88 A4 pages Such a good looking magazine packed in an envelope-like cardboard, Iut de Asken impressed me with its professional approach. The magazine contains a free CD from Stunde des Ideals and a huge poster with Nargaroth. The interviews featured (Rotting Christ, Profane Prayer, Eminenz, Empty, Paria, Monstraat, Svarrogh and Thorybos) are very long and seemingly informative, the layout is classy, fonts are big and easy to read, what else to say about it, these guys did a great job and if you know German you shouldn't miss it for the World.

UNDERGROUND DEVOTION #2 / 2011 (Chile) Contact: heiko@iut-de-asken.de English, 109 A4 pages Now this is a real extreme metal "bible"! Underground Devotion seems to be a MORBID GHOUL #2 / 2013 (UK) perfect name for such a huge quantity of information, in more than 100 pages the English, 30 A4 pages zine features interviews with Master, Hooded Menace, Putrid, Detest Records, I haven't had the chance to read the first issue of this zine, but it seems Jarod is set Vasaeleth, Miasmal, Torturer, Denying Nazarene, Godless, Almighty Sathanas, to keep it really underground and as old-school as possible. This is a xeroxed zine Diocletian and many, many more, and a kick-ass South African scene report. All with very simple layout, limited to 50 hand-numbered copies, featuring interviews Death Metal followers will deeply enjoy this zine, its layout and its print quality, with very obscure bands (at least I've never heard of them): Gravecrusher, not to mention the detailed interviews and devoted attitude. If you're starting to Mystiabllus, Graveskull, Murustrictus, plus an interview with Hingary based Old miss the German Horrible Eyes, it seems we have a new zine to fill the empty Skull Productions and a chat with Infidel Amsterdam, well-known to YouTube space. Sick! browsers for his Vlog. Since it also features a few reviews I think Morbid Ghoul is Contact: cg.warmetal@gmail.com a good way to discover some unknown names, it reminds me of some zines from the '90's or beginning of the 2000's like Metal Noir or even Forgotten Chapel.

UNHOLY CHRONICLES #1 / 2013 (Germany) Contact: undeadrevenge97@gmail.com English, 44 A4 pages Unusual zine from Germany, usually editors from this country care much more OLD TEMPLE #1 / 2012 (Poland) about layout and look, they tend for professionalism from the starters, and I guess English, 80 A5 pages that's understandable for Germany, probably the biggest Metal market in the World This zine is released by the Polish label Old Temple, so far in Polish, but they nowadays. Unholy Chronicles is a photocopied zine with little or no care for decided to go for the English version and this is the first English written issue, layout, but with an impressive care for the interviewed bands; the interviews are so hope there will be more. Photocopied but good quality print, clean but still catchy nice flowing and so in depth documented that you can only praise its editor, layout, small fonts, lots interviews (Manzer, Resuscitation, Clandestine Blaze, Unholy, for being such a devoted writer. Interviews featured: Armageddon, Undecayed, Dark Fury, Insorcist and others), but no other features, no reviews, no Emanes Metal Records, Christicide, ZBT, Medico Peste, Black Wood, gig reports, only interviews. A good read nonetheless ad the interviews are long Christinvertion and Fueled By Fire, plus a live report and lots of zines and informative, but a bit more content wouldn't hurt either. presentations (including SWR thanks to Unholy).

Contact: old@oldtemple.com Contact: contact@unholywar.de

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

SOLEIL TRYSTE #3 / 2012 (Germany) English, 72 A5 pages Quite unusual format for this zine, it's A5, but landscape and looks good, original I must add. Professional print, b/w pages with colour cover, clean layout, small but readable fonts, balanced between black letters on white background and white on black, so you get an easy, relaxing read. The bands featured are not the relaxing though: Cruciamentvm, Vulturine, Anguish, Cevurah, The Nihilistic Front, and the label Ominous Silence Records, plus an excellent tour report written first hand by Phil of Ophis for their tour with Esoteric and Ahab, and a gig report from a Dead Congragation / Infinitum Obscure gig in Berlin, very nice stuff.

Contact: herr.f@soleiltryste.org

VAMPIR #17 / 2012 (Macedonia) English, 60 A5 pages Macedonian Extreme Metal scene should be proud of having such a devoted supporter, Darko, still releasing his underground zine and keeping his zine standards at the highest level all these years. Vampir is at its 17th issue, not many zines reach this number; I would support Darko even if I wouldn't know what his zine is about, he deserves all respect for his work. This new issue features interviews with Chronic Torment, Blasphererion, Graveyard, Orion, Unaussprechlichen Kulten, Balmog and Necrocultus, all long and informative, the usual Metal Diary section, plus more than half of the 60 pages filled with long, objective reviews on zines and audio material. Sick! Go buy it right away!

Contact: terror_b_d@yahoo.com

TALES OF THE MORBID BUTCHERS #1 / 2012 (Hungary)

28

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

I have a copy of your cd and I think it is great. Is this your debut release?

If it is not, what release did you have prior to the release I have?

No, it isn’t our debut, we debuted with "Wildcrash" in 2012. This is an EP with 5 tracks and despite the small period between this first ep and our first cd we

Ultra Violence is easily one of best thrash bands I have heard in the past years so of course I decided to send off an interview and here it is with Loris the singer of the band. think we improved the ability of composition.

Tell me a little bit about each band member and were any or all of you in any bands prior to being Ultra Violence?

Hi everybody! I’m Loris and I’m the singer and guitarist and the other members are: Andrea (guitar), "Robba" (bass) and Simone (drums). We are all 19 years old and we are all students and, since we are so young, Ultra-Violence is our first and only band.

How was it going into the studio and did the recording of the album go? Was it pretty much easy or were some songs that you had problems with?

We were very well prepared to enter the studio. After a full year of trials and compositions we were ready! So nothing has been difficult... We recorded the whole album in only 5 days!

So how did the forming of the band come together? Were all of you friends pretty much prior to the forming of the band?

We founded the band in 2009. I met Robba and Andrea at school and we decided to form a band, but we needed a drummer and we found Simone.

We were already friends before forming the band and we are now even more friends thanks to this project.

Who came up with the cover and is it just available on cd or is it in Lp form as well?

The cover comes from the fact that we are called Ultra-Violence! Our new album is available on CD (thanks to Punishment 18 Records) and LP version (thanks to Night Of The Vinyl Dead)!

Now when the band was starting out did you play any cover tunes and if you did which ones did you just mess around with?

At first we just performed covers, such as “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica, “Panic” and “Madhouse” by Anthrax, “Ace Of Spades” by Motorhead and many more!

Are you pretty much happy with the finished product or is there little things here and there you would like to differently?

100% satisfied! There is nothing to change... is perfect, Ed Repka is incredibly brilliant!

Have you had a chance to play many live shows and do you think you’re a good live band?

We had many chances to play many live shows during the past years... also in 2013 we are having a lot of shows! I think we are a good live band... the public seems very involved and excited when we play!

At what point did you start to write original songs and how does a song come together?

We decided to start writing our songs after a few months and concerts near Turin. Play the cover was boring and we decided to write something original. The first song we wrote was "Wildcrash." Songs usually start with a guitar riff... Afterwards we write respectively the drum parts, bass lines, guitar solos and vocals.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Where the band is based out of, is there many places to play or not?

There aren't many places to play metal music now... this is very sad! In Turin there are only 2 or 3 places... and this applies to every other major city in Italy.

Now at this time did you have a name for the band and were many names thrown around before you came up with the name Ultra Violence?

Before Ultra-Violence the name of our band was “Fallen Angels”, but we decided to change this name because we grew up and we didn’t feel represented any more by this name.

For those who have never heard the band’s music, what would you say the band sounds like?

Ultra-Violence sounds like a thrash metal bands of the new wave! But sometimes has some influence as death metal, black metal and crossover!

One thing is for sure: sounds like something really violent!

Did you know that the band Death Angel had their debut release call “The Ultra Violence”? Do you know of the guys in Death Angel know about the band?

Yes, actually our band is often related to Death Angel for their masterpiece, I don't know if the guys in the band are aware of our existence. But we decided our name as a tribute to the Stanley Kubrick movie, Clockwork Orange, which we love so much!

How did you end up the label you are currently on and how are things working out with them so far?

The Punishment 18 Records has put us under contract when he heard "Wildcrash", our debut EP. We are working very well with our label on the promotion and distribution of our material... soon there will be a reissue of "Privilege To Overcome" because the first 1000 copies have already finished!

30

We are always trying to attract attention by creating videos for our songs! Soon we'll make some videos where we'll show you how to play our songs!

Does the band have any goals for yourselves at all?

We want to promote our new album! We would like to firmly establish our name among the greatest thrash metal bands of the great recent revival!

Plug any websites you have and any merchandise you have.

Ok! Let's go!

Facebook (Official Page): https://www.facebook. com/ultraviolencemetal Bigcartel (Official Store): http://ultraviolencemet al.bigcartel.com/ Myspace: https://myspace.com/ul

What have the reviews been like for your release so far and has there been any that you read that you totally disagree with?

The reviews are all very good for now!

The criticisms are directed to the excessive length of the album, especially the song called "The Voodoo Cross"... I think the album is very long but it's also very varied, so not boring! And I think that "The Voodoo Cross" is one of the songs more difficult to assimilate, but it's very enthralling and full of melody and atmosphere ... I love the main riff of this track!

traviolencemetal Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ultraviolencemetal Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ultraviolencemetal Thank you all!

What are some of your influnces? Have you had a chance to see many of the bands that you like live at all? Where you are based out, do touring bands play there or do you have to go away to other countries to see shows?

Our main influences derived from classic thrash metal bands of the 80s!

With some influence of modern thrash metal. I got to see the Big 4 in Milan two years ago! Exodus, Suicidal Angels and Heathen, I saw them last year in Pavia! This year I could see Enforcer in my own city: Torino!

The tours usually cross the north of our country, but on summer there are many interesting festivals throughout the Italian peninsula!

Is there material you have lying around that you may release as an ep one day?

Yes, we have new material ready! But I think that this stuff will be in the next album. No EP in preparation!

In any given week how much time is doing band related stuff? Does the band practice much and what do the guys in the band do with their free time when not doing band related stuff and do you all work regular jobs?

Usually we play and write in our rehearsal room for 2 afternoons a week... During periods of writing each member also carries the individual work of writing at home. When we aren't busy with the band we do what all boys in our age do: we go to school, study, and we go out with friends!

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Do you guys as a band pretty much get along and hang out together even when your not doing band releated stuff?

Of course! In addition to being bandmates, we're mainly good friends!

Practically we are together at any time of the day! To play and have fun hahaha!

Do you guys plan doing any type of touring at all?

We're trying to take a tour, that would be great! But it’s complicated!

Anyway we are organizing something for the autumn.

I am out of questions. Thanks for doing this interview and any last words the floor is yours.

Thank you for this long interview! We want to thank all those who have bought or will buy our album and all those who support us every day!

Follow us on Facebook! New Tshirts will be available soon, with the print of "Privilege To Overcome" designed by the great Ed Repka!

Greetings to all readers!

Do you hope to make to the US to play a show or shows at all?

That would be great!

We really hope to play in the U.S. one day, hopefully very soon!

When can we expect some new music?

I don't know exactly!

It all depends on what happens to us! Surely now we must promote "Privilege To Overcome", I think that a new album could be released at the end of 2014! Some song is taking shape right now!

Interview by Forbes Answers by Castiglia

July 2013 How do you go about promoting yourselves with so many other bands out there?

31

Chris Loris

Here’s a chat with Traian, founding member of Romanian Thrash Metal Club, a gathering of devoted Thrash Metal maniacs that caused quite a stir in our Romanian scene lately by promoting everything related to the old-school way of Metal (from the simple Metal “look” completed by leather and/or denim, to trade fairs, gigs and festivals). I’m really honored to be able to support such a healthy initiative. Read on \m/ Hails Traian! Please open this interview by telling us a bit about yourself, how old are you, when did you get in touch with Metal and how much do you appreciate this music style shaped the course of your life so far. Where is your nickname Piele (Romanian for skin or leather) comes from?

Hey there! My name is Traian, 37 year old and I've spent most of my life ( since you're starting to be aware of things ) listening and observing everything that's related to metal. Hahaha yes it sounds like an AA meeting so far, but that's probably how things work. To be honest, being raised in Slatina, a small romanian city and on top of it all a comunist one ( maybe the most comunist of them all since it's located 20 km away from Scornicesti - the comunist Mecca ) my relationship with metal until '89 was pretty vague and inconsistent. Of course in childhood I've been in touch with a lot of progy stuff, rock, all due to the family, but not so much with metal. Later on I've found out there were a few metalheads out there in Slatina, but surely you can imagine they weren't out much to " play " with others. Only since 1990 I started observing this thing called Metal having the means and ways to do it ( written press, audio materials, friends and so on ). I believe the first metal cassette I've listened to was a home made mix of Megadeth, Judas Priest, Scorpions and Motorhead, followed by South of Heaven, Beneath the Remains, Extreme Aggresion and if my memory serves the first LP that was released at that time with me in the middle of that phenomenon was Persistence of Time. At that time I never really identified myself with a certain genre. Been listening to everything ... from heavy metal to grind-core with no problems, but in time I realised that what defines me musically and the thing I always get back to is thrash metal and Slayer in particular.

Long story short is that metal is my life and life

Romanian Thrash Metal Club was founded in 2011, who were the original members?

Do you remember who had this idea and what were the first steps to build such a project?

In your presentation the club is mentioned as the first one of its type in Romania.

This thing started in 2009, In Budapest – Hungary, at a Absu gig.

After the show I’ve been chatting with Proscriptor who was very pleased and stunned to hear that we’ve traveled about 1.000 km to see them. While talking to Proscriptor I’ve realised that what we’ve spent on this trip ( me and 5 other friends ) was more than if we would have decided to book the very same show in Bucharest ( Absu, Pantheon I, Razor of Occam and Zoroaster ).

This was the zero point: the epiphany was that a small number of people willing to spend a resonable amount of money could actually do what most promoters avoid to do, booking a band/more bands because they might not break even in the end. As Proscriptor and Ian Shrapnell ( Razor of Occam & Destroyer 666 ) went on chatting, I was paying much attention to what they were saying because I already started thinking about this thing … who to get in this thing with me. All of the people I thought about then are now members of RTMC or close contributors. The only reason some are not official members of RTMC is due to a conflict of interests, other than that we still work together great. The next period nothing really happened, besides chats with close friends until 2010 when I brought this to Coro of Axa Valaha. I might say that RTMC was founded on that trip back from OST – Busteni to Bucharest and that Coro and I were the first members. Being both involved in different projects we postponed the club idea until 2011 when it finally happened. Truth being told we both started in this thing for different reasons, but that’s a whole different topic. The most important thing was that wheels were set in motion and in a few months with the help of our Club Pres. Toma Seghedi the club became legit with 18 founding members. Won’t name them all now because it’s irelevant for the readers. They’re all fans of traditional and/or extreme metal and regardless of their day to day job, they’re all just fans as long as they’re in the club. To cut the story shorter, we’re an organisation that exists for the sole reason to support this genre of music, fans-for-fans style and as far as I know we’re the only legal organisation in Romania.

is metal. First t-shirt I ever had was Massacre From Beyond, well actually it was a long sleeve and then slowly turned into a t-shirt, no sleeves, no sleeves, back patch hehehe you get the picture. The jacket which had this back patch on it disappeared at some point. I had it custom made from a long leather jacket which my father stopped wearing. ( back then you didn't get to see many leather jackets ). What else is there ....

Never liked Guns 'n' Roses or Nirvana, and don't get me started on Pantera. By the time Unleashed's Victory was released I was pretty nervous when I listened to Victims of War, with that jerky, abrupt riffage ... I sold that tape without listening the rest of the tracks hahahaha.

A month later a friend taught me into it again by playing Legal Rapes. If you know the album, you know it grew on me and made me have a closer look and a more thoroughly listen. Well in time I came to realise that this thing made me distinguish what I like and what I don't and not just about what's right in your face, but also the more profound, stilish stuff, going all the way to knowing precisely why that riff is there, or that bridge over there and not there, what the band had in mind when they're using a clishee, why none of the imbecils around me understand that mixing metal with any other major genre doesn't mean you're making it reach ... on the contrary it looses its meaning, why the norwegian black metal is black metal and not grind-core like I thought when I first listened to A Blaze in The Northern Sky. I can go on about this you know?

To get to a conclusion ... thoroughly analysing metal became my goal in life. When I listen to something new, first I try to identify precisely its influences and the genre. At least that's what gets me off. If I don't reveal its darkest secrets ...

I'm not quite myself. There are a few bands who How many are you now in RTMC? Do you found out from me why kind of genre are they all have specific roles in RTMC? I saw you playing and who are their influences. hahahaha have an internal rules code for your

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

32

members. Is it important to have a sense of authority and order within the club?

Now a year and a half since we starded we have 36 members, double of what we were in the beginning. Since then 2 members have quit the club, due to lack of common interests. We do have a considerable number of fans and supporters, but many of them don’t like the idea of being part of a organized structure like our club. As for logistics, rules within the club … things aren’t that drastic as some might say.

Sure we have some rules and protocols we must follow because making a club decisions with more than 2 persons can be terribly tricky, trust me. Hahaha Before becoming a member one has to act as supporter or prospect. This lead my thoughts to the NYDM club, is RTMC based on a NYDM template? Why is the prospect period necessary?

It’s actually the first time I hear about NYDM club. I presume this means New York Death Metal Club, right? Well Coro was the one who introduced us to a similar club and that club is Skull Crusher Dresden. What we did in fact was borrowing rules and protocols from some MC clubs such as prospect and hang around dudes/dudettes, but without their typical stiffness. You’ll never hear that we’ve skinned a former club member or blackened the tattoo with the club logo, and if you do hear that … that person is dead! Hahaha. Why is it necessary to have a prospect trial period? Well it’s simple … we need to know who gets in the club. I know how difficult it is for me to explain the term traditional metal to someone else by just giving a few examples of band names. Imagine that a 25 year old dude comes up to you and tells you Pantera is old school simply because they were in this business for over a decade. Or why Lamb of God even they seem to be a thrash metal band, are in fact something else or that Sabbaton don’t actually have any riffs, but just some guitars in the background. What I’m trying to say is that we’re taking things to the next level discussing about structures, genres, which most people don’t want to talk about.

Most of them go by “ if it walks like a duck and quaks like a duck … then it must be a duck “.

For us that’s just wrong and again most people take it personally and like an insult only it isn’t.

The thing with us is that we’re supporting and promoting a few certain genres. We can’t fool around and promote something that interferes with our beliefs. That’s what the prospect period is all about – to make sure that both parties know what they’re getting themselves into. It usually doesn’t work the way we want it to work hahahaha

think about promoting any gigs, but just to help the local promoters and support their shows by attendance. The reason for not starting doing that was that none of us had any experience with that and that we didn’t want to step on any toes.

We took things slowly by getting the club involved in other projects such as metal merch fairs, road trips to other gigs in the country or outside the country, introducing young bands to local shows and stuff like that. But after a while we realized that this wasn’t enough for us or the local scene. Things didn’t change in the direction we hoped for and many just took us for granted selling us all sorts of bullshit. And that’s why our first gig was Grave Desecrator in association with Axa Valaha, beginning of 2012. A few months later we did Blasphemohagher on our own and in October we had the first edition of Romanian Thrash Metal Fest. Of course we’ve been assisted by Coro of Axa Valaha and Dan of Ribcage Booking with good and not so good advices.

one hand we have the internet and the download and on the other we have the hard copies. For example the CD has lost its relevance as a collectable even for the die hard fans/collectors.

As far as I can tell these days the CD sells still exists for 2 major reasons: the fan going out there and buying it acting on an impulse and the will of supporting the band by buying the original stuff. Rarely you’d still hear someone saying “ wow I’ve wanted to buy this CD for such a long time “. The metal merch fairs had an unexpected success. Although the concept for this fair was tape-trade kind of fair, it turned into just a fair. I’m still happy to see that people come to this fairs to buy stuff, to talk about music and so on. There are people interested in just certain materials, first prints, but also about bands and promoters and willing to help out and contribute with promo materials. Everyone is welcomed to our fair even if it’s just a handmade distro, a stand with with cds and t-shirts, or just simply to provide various infos. I think that the people need to get acquainted to everything that revolves around this movement and that we need to preserve this imagine and improve it constantly. This is an important factor to enhance the relevance, consistency and cohesion of this phenomenon.

Another project by RTMC is the Romanian Thrash Metal Festival. The second edition will be held this year, but please tell us about the first edition, what bands were involved, how were the shows and how were you satisfied about the end result.

Romanian Thrash Metal Fest – our main event!

Well what I can tell you is that last year it was anything but organized. To say the least it just ….happened! hahahaha It was a miracle we did manage to have it. As I said earlier it’s hard not to step on some toes especially when there are so few of us in this local scene so it was hard to keep it going without having to compromise to people, other promoters, bands, venue, buy-in and so on. We had a hard time with this fest and the funniest thing it wasn’t all about the benjamins. We had problems starting with how’s going to be the headliner, other people interfering with other bands constantly changing the line-up through e-mails and even compromising to having bands playing at our fest that had nothing to do with what we wanted in the first place. We dealt with them all. For instance we had to accept Euphobia because they were touring with Onslaught. Even though we made it clear that we don’t want them at all, because they just didn’t fit the bill, they had the nerve to ask for the slot right before the headliner, which of course didn’t happen. In the end we agreed they should get the first slot, but still they managed to delay everything by not showing up on time so we would have had to start without them. The guys from Onslaught realized that the delay was done on purpose so they’ve helped us out by rushing the Euphobia boys so we’d finally start the fest. Another

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Last year you started promoting gigs. Which was the first gig promoted by RTMC and how was it? Were any of you experienced in this?

Yes that is correct. In the beginning we didn’t

And of course we’ve had a huge help as usual from Hatework, we have it even in present day.

Hahaha You also managed to run a series of Metal fairs all over the country, please tell us more about them and how were they received by a public that's apparently not used to buying physical material anymore.

I for one don’t think that people gave up on hard copies of music in whatever form they come in.

But there are some things worth mentioning. On

33

similar problem was the band Sanctrum which was introduced to us by Coro as being an old school swedish death metal band and we included them in the line-up without checking them out. Of course by the time we found out they’re a metalcore band it was already too late.

Still have no idea how that happened … having to live with the disgrace of a metalcore band in our line-up was just awful. And this why earlier I was mentioning the need of having some sort of protocols and rules. Other than that the rest of the bands were simply great: Nadimac and Infest from Serbia, Violentor from Italy and Krow from Brazil. They all delivered! There was another slip-up unfortunately. Nadimac opened up the moshpit, but the next band couldn’t continue in the same manner. That band was Taine. Sure it was a special event, because their set list was an old one based on their Death worship period and because their show included all present and former members.

As special as it was it still broke the fest tempo by having the audience sat down as if they were all reviewing and taking notes for a webzine.

You know … I’m talking about the internet warriors, the ones who think it’s appropriate to talk about every band even though their knowledge are terribly limited. But then we had Infest, Krow and Onslaught who literally slayed and gave no breather to moshers for more than 2 hours and a half. No wonder the boys from Spinecrusher who closed the fest were so tired on the stage.

Now let's talk a bit about the second edition that's scheduled to take place this October, headlined by the veterans from Artillery.

Please tell us everything we need to know about it.

The most important thing about the fest is that we’re not endorsed by anyone so this time we’re not going to compromise anything when it comes to this year’s line-up. The bands were carefuly picked to be in perfect resonance with the club’s imagine and purposes. We made our decisions by taking into consideration a few things: we have the headliner which is an old school band with a legendary LP ( Artillery’s set list formed mainly with tracks from By Inheritance ), we have a cult band in this case Nocturnal and then the bands we feel they deserve exposure and our support like Sofisticator, Bio-Cancer, Terrorhammer. We still have a few names to announce, but so far I think you got it that we’re putting up shows to live up by the reputation of our own name.

Definitely this is a step up and you better believe it or even better just show up at the gigs.

not afraid to addmit it the download. Having so many materials I can’t listen to just what I’m buying. But I will buy what I downloaded if I feel it’s worthed.

Why do you think the new wave of metalheads is more interested in buying tshirts than the actual band's music?

The resonable explanation is that the t-shirt is an accessory, not necessary just a piece of clothing.

It’s a statement. It says more about you than the Any other upcoming projects you're working music you have on your hard disk drive or on for the near future? How would you like drawer. It can also say what you want people to think about you and not what you really are, but to see RTMC in let's say 5 years from now?

For now we’re taking a break until this year’s that’s another topic. fest. There would be a few projects we’re working on, but all in due time. Not all of the Romania has an underdeveloped scene, what upcoming projects are related to does it needs to become a healthy scene in the booking/promoting bands/shows, but they’re near future? somehow related. As I said … when the time is This question should be answered by someone right you’ll hear about it. It’s funny you ask me more advised than me, I’m just a fan. I wouldn’t how I WOULD like to see the club in 5 years go on much on this but I will say that we’re a instead of asking how I SEE it hahahaha. To be nation with rock knowledges of no more than 20 honest, I would like that in 5 years the club’s years. If you look back we’ve only had metal purpose to be achived and that the club will be bands after a trend became worldwide. And no longer necessary, that the thrash scene would that’s why all we have are: black metal for be so solid that it would need us to get people frustrated girls ( melodic shit, with keyboards or out to gigs and promote bands. Unfortunately other instruments that can’t produce riffs of I’m absolutely sure that this revival of blasts ), that idiotic doom-goth which is the traditional metal we’re witnesing lately is just a most despicable thing in music and some groove trend and that soon we’ll have to get back to oriented death metal. That’s all we have and all work to keep it alive. I’m not kidding. We’ve I have to say about the romanian bands! been through this before and it’s no fun. Let’s just remember the 90’s and that’s enough said. What do you find as being better in the oldEveryone knows what happened then and I’m school Metal than in the nowadays Metal? afraid it’ll happen again. When it’ll happen How would you advertise old-school Metal to we’ll talk again if you want. I’d have a few a youngster? things to say which you’ll find very interesting. First of all I wouldn’t advertise old school metal to a youngster. I tried, but this is something you Now some general questions. CD, tape or must feel and not teach or learn. What I can do instead is to play in the club the music I see fit, vinyl, what's your fave format and why?

Everyone seemed interested in vinyls and tapes, to wear proudly my long hair, my patched but that’s just another sign of the decline we’re jacket, my boots, my stretched jeans, to support facing. The reason I’m saying this is that the a band that I like and I find representative for its consumer is more interested in owning genre and to hope that I can set an example for something rather than what’s on that vinyl. all those confused people who are getting forced Remember that a vinyl is twice as expensive as fed with Black Dahlia Murder. a CD. So if one is interested in the music he’ll buy the most accesible format, rather than Thanks for this short chat Traian and thank placing an order for a vinyl and waiting for it to you for supporting Slowly We Rot and the get to him. I’m not pointing fingers, it’s just an organic, old-school Metal scene! opinion, but an opinion formed by what’s It’s been a pleasure and an honor to be happening in real world, not based on interviewed by the only important printed zine statements, facebook pictures or statuses. So me in Romania! personally … I’m faithful to the most accesible www.rtmc.ro way to get to the music. I was around when the vinyl was in trends, had lots of tapes when they were in trends, so now I’m using CDs and I’m July 2013

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

34

instruments, and also loosing pace a lot. Unfortunately not only the vocals loose pace, but also the guitars even though they use repetitive, simplistic structures. If you can pass over these inconveniences the album is quite enjoyable, and for the underground, given the fact kids are so impressionable, I guess if they will release a followup soon they have good chances to reach good levels of popularity. The cover artwork of this album is awesome, but the music is at least amateurish, sorry.

Contact: www.facebook.com/pages/Death-NĂśize/146023415552431 www.facebook.com/metalordierex

ARGUS MEGERE - A treia cale (full-length, Arcana Noctis, 2012) One of the oldest Black Metal bands from Romania (founded in 1996 as Argus), Argus Megere are back with their third studio album, "A treia cale" (The Third Path), 6 years away from their previous official material. As far as I know the band was put on ice for a couple of years because of some of its members being involved also in Negura Bunget but now they seem back for good, and I really hope they will manage to keep recording and releasing stuff. Actually it's already time for something newer than this as "A treia cale" was recorded during 2007-2008...

Musicwise the album could be labelled as Melodic Black Metal strongly influenced by the second wave of Norwegian Black Metal, but still keeping and displaying its own identity; crystal clear recordings with a raw edge, very easy to follow and digest. A mature album that should make this band's name a bit more known, they really deserve more attention.

Contact: www.facebook.com/argusmegere

DECEASE Exhort to Obliterate (full-length, ACM / Hatework, 2013) Young trio from Cluj-Napoca founded by Necrovile guitar player Radu, his brother Catalin and drummer George, Decease managed to close a deal with Hatework and here's the first result of their collaboration. Exhort to Obliterate, although bringing nothing new to the scene is probably one of the best (if not the best) Thrash Metal releases our scene produced lately following all traditional patterns like simple but effective drumming (double bass included), catchy guitar riffs and leads, short and fast guitar solos, pounding bass lines and comprehensive hoarse vocals. Ranging from mid-tempo to mostly fast paced rhythms, with the benefit of a good organic production, an awesome cover/booklet artwork, and being released on professional CD (a rare thing in Romania nowadays), this album will most probably please all old-school Thrash and Deathrash maniacs out there. Definitely recommended!

Contact: www.facebook.com/decease.band

CADAVRUL - Enter the Morgue (full-length, 2013) Finally Cadavrul managed to release their debut album after almost 10 years of existence and at least a couple of years of complete silence. In my opinion, lead by an excellent vocalist, Cadavrul at this moment are the ugliest Death Metal band from Romania, and here I'm talking about their music, of course. Traditional mid-tempo to fast paced Death Metal with plenty of headbanging friendly rhythms, memorable guitar riffs, good drums although programmed (I was not annoyed by their sound at all), this album won't be the next groundbreaking thing in the scene, but I warmly recommend it to all Death Metallers out there.

Contact: www.cadavrul.3x.ro

INTERITUS DEI - Occult (fulllength, High Top Records, 2012) I sill remember spinning their '95 debut demo like crazy in my teen years, I might even have that tape somewhere. Back then they were heavily influenced by the new wave of UK Doom Death Metal scene. Now, almost 20 years since then (holy crap how fast time flies), Interitus Dei are not far away genre-wise from that period, they are still Metal, they are still Melodic and their compositions are still straight to your face, but the style could now be labelled as Gothic Metal with multiple influences, from Symphonic Metal to Folk, from Power Metal to Hard Rock, a really complex and mature fifth album that you will either love or hate. Being such a long time fan I cannot but love this new release, and I guess a lot of old-schoolers will also feel like me, not sure about the new wave of metalheads. Glad they are still active as a band.

Contact: www.interitusdei.ro

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

DARK FUSION - InFusion (fulllength, 2012) Another debut album, this time from a band I'm not that familiar with, a 10 tracks effort selfreleased on pro CDR by what I guess is a young band with plenty of time to get better and find their own path.

InFusion is mainly a Thrash Metal release but Heavy Metal and Hardcore and also a heavy influence here. I love the guitarists' work, very technical and melodic at the same time, working well together, being the backbone of this band, but on the other hand I find the vocals really unprofessional, annoying from start to finish, and I wonder how come they don't see that. Sorry to say this but at least the lead guitarist would deserve a better band, I'll only play this album again when I'll feel like getting a good shot of professional guitar leads and solos again.

Contact: www.dark-fusion.net

LABURINTHOS - Augoeides (full-length, Avantgarde Music, 2012) This quintet appeared from nowhere on our scene, I guess they only had a couple of gigs before signing with Avantgarde, and they are still a quite obscure name.

Anyway, this debut album proves to be worthy of such a high-profile label as Avantgarde, and it fits perfectly with the previous works produced by the Italians. The music is hard to describe, but I'd say it's a combination of Gothic and Darkwave with multiple influences, from Jazz to Progressive, and from Psychedelic to Theatrical Rock, a melodic journey through shiny at times and horrifying at other soundscapes, an album that will please both Rock and Metal fans, especially the Gothic Rock/Metal followers. No shadow of doubt, one of the biggest surprises of our Romanian scene.

Contact: www.myspace.com/laburinthosband

DEATH NOIZE - Conquest War Famine Death (full-length, Metal Ă–r Die Records, 2013) Never heard of this band before, and even if they were founded last year and have a complete line-up (quartet), I don't think they ever played live so far. Anyway, Death Noize are right on the spot with their primitive Crusty Thrash Black Metal since there's this hype around these genres nowadays. I found this debut album quite enjoyable although I wasn't really fond of the vocals, left too in the back in regards to the other 35

N.E.G.A.T.I.V. - N.E.G.A.T.I.V. (full-length, 2012) Well, even if this is presented as a debut full-length I seriously doubt it can be considered as such. First it's a slim CDr with a simple cover (2 sided page) insert, no booklet, no nothing. Then the total playing length is less than 25 minutes, and no, they are not a Grindcore band, there are only 6 tracks featured. I would most probably label this as their second demo and that should be fair. I haven't heard of the band before buying this CD but it was nice to see their lyrics are all Romanian written, at least that's nice for us, Romanians. Music-wise the band plays some old-school US Thrash Metal with generic riffs, rhythms ranging from mid-tempo to fast, hoarse vocals and an overall slight groovy Hardcore influence surrounding this release. Not really at the level of what's happening nowadays on the Thrash Metal scene (even in the underground), but for me it was a nice audition, I hope they'll keep releasing stuff.

Contact: www.myspace.com/1negativ1 SPINECRUSHER - Hellthrash (Demo, 2013) Born from the ashes of a very promising band, Snapjaw, Spinecrusher managed to release this debut demo 5 years after their foundation, too bad. The music is kind of a primitive Thrash Metal with overused (so far) and quite dry guitar riffs, drum-machine, almost inexistent bass lines and poor production. Their highlight comes from the vocals, Bony has an awesome tone and if the other guys will manage to keep pace with him Spinecrusher will become an interesting band. I'm not very convinced by this debut demo, sorry.

The demo cover artwork on the other hand is awesome.

Contact: www.facebook.com/Spinecrusherband

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

WHISPERING WOODS - Fairy Woods (full-length, 2012) Except for Magica and Interitus Dei, Romania's Gothic Metal scene was always a poor exporter but it seems Whispering Woods is here to change that, or at least I've heard this album is selling like a motherfucker. Maybe because of its flute player, Catalina, who's also involved in Haggard, the band reached a good level of popularity within the scene although this is only their debut album. After the audition I can say I was impressed

by Catalina's flute parts, but mostly by Alexandra's vocals, this girl sounds absolutely awesome, her confidence in using and even pushing her skills is way more than what I've expected. As for the rest of the band, although not bad at all, they can hardly keep pace with the two divas, the compositions are a bit dry most of the time leaving space for the "I feel like something's missing here" thought but the production doesn't help them either, at least the drums sound awful at times. For a debut demo the band used a lot of traditional structures but nonetheless a wish for improvement is also obvious so to sum it up I'd get this album just for having the complete collection for when the band will mature and get to be well known, cause they will.

Contact: www.the-whispering-woods.com

This section is meant to promote the latest Romanian Metal releases I manage to get my hands on, and hopefully confince you to do the same (buy them). As you see, there aren’t many, but all these bands need and most of them deserve your attention. As undeveloped as it may be, the Romanian scene is full of talent but for some reason only a few bands manage to make it to your ears.

Starting with this issue (with the RTMC interview), this section will get more and more space in SWR, I really hope you enjoy it.

- Adrian 36

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Our band was founded in 1998, precisely at a campus in downtown Jakarta and of course has undergone many personnel changes ranging from a guitar player and drummer, we are very difficult to find a replacement for the personnel here because of lack of musicians who do not know and understand what black metal music, But we do not care about that we keep going with what we have so far and continue to work with while promoting our ideals in the music playing. The personnel details are as follows: * Personnel from the first album "From the Devil to Sin" was released in 2001: Yudi R.I.P (Vocals), Reno (Guitar), Yusuf (Guitar), Gatrik (Bass), Rony R.I.P (Drums). * Personnel from the second album "Heart Holy in Hypocrite" was released in 2004: Agni (Vocals), Reno (Guitar), Gatrik (Bass), Adev (Drums). The help by: Rizal (Guitar), Willy (Keyboard). * Personnel from the third album "In a Meaning the Note" was released in 2007: Agni (Vocals), Reno (Guitar/ Drum Programming), Gatrik (Bass). * Personnel at this time are: Agni (Guitar/Vocals), Gatrik (Bass), Arvin (Drum).

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

Maybe we just released an album and not just a lot of people who know our album release and just spread only to the underground music lovers only. But Indonesia has a lot of people know what the underground metal scene of the show that was held and television media who preach and the funny thing is there are some metal bands that intentionally want to expose his band like a boy band management system here.

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

So far our life is almost the same as the asia in general is working, I spent a lot of time with office work to support his wife and my kids and hanging out with friends in bands every weekend. Getz as the bass player must complete the course as well as a drummer with Arvin must also complete the courses at a university in Jakarta.

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

A band that is said to be running when the band gets along, adapt and communicate with friends labels / zines / promoters, Etc... And that's when the friend may be interested to know as well for what he has promoted of course, but in the time trend of the era of modernization today's technology, we can interact directly with the friends on social networking sites such as: facebook, myspace, website, email, Etc‌ As in the interview session.

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

We can not describe the specific style like what is in our band but we wanted to try to give something different a kind of black metal bands that exist in Indonesia or outside Indonesia at this time while learning to understand the quality of black metal music. The pioneer band as an influence in our music we made a lot of learning from the band: Mayhem, Dissection, The Abyss, C.O.F (Old)...

Barzakh

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

At this time the band's plans for the future we are currently focused on making a few extra songs and lyrics that may start in september - october will enter the recording studio to record a song and then we will make a new album next album 4th and hopefully live within the plan we did not encounter any difficulty and we certainly look forward to it!

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

For us maybe a true metalhead would always look for and purchase merchandise a metal band then wanted to know, listen, enjoy and support the course if an underground band that actually has released a new album, And so on until a metalhead could find a point of distinguishing between the quality of a great underground band or not. In essence, we just want to play music and make the music into an album then we market itself through the network we had and it turned out that many who buy, support and respond positively from the audience of black metal / underground when we put out an album and other merchandise.

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

For listen to our sample music and our stuff, merchandise, t-shirt, cd, Etc....

Please visit our official website : www.barzakh97.webs.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com) August 2013

We released "burning darkness" independently in 05.

Through Dark Harvest Records we've released "1369: The Death and Dying Chapters" in 07 and Repulse in 2011. Our next album is almost done. The public enjoyed BD, not so much D and D chapters, and Repulse reviews have been positive.

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

We originated from a band called 1369. After several line up changes Tom and Clay decided to disband and start fresh.

Ryan decided to join as well on vocals who was also a current 1369 member. They later found a bass player Tom Fox. After a few years Ryan's family life and debilitating health forced him and Blood Tribe to part ways. The band had a fill-in singer for a few months before John Drew joined. Tom Fox left the band due to creative differences about a year later. After around 9 months using numerous fill in bass players the band hired Matt Courtney. A few years later John took a job making it impossible to continue with music. Shortly after Gary Doolittle asked to fill in at a show Blood Tribe was going to do instrumental. Gary was asked to join shortly after, Blood Tribe is currently working on an ep in the studio.

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

The reason we play music is to play live, we've played half of the country now and would love to do more, and we will.

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

We do our own thing, we're hard working Midwesterners. We love to play and we love the road.

We don't fuck with hard drugs, and love a good movie, feel me?

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

BTs style is metal, we call it meth metal because we end up playing things twice as fast live than on the album. We have a ton of influences anywhere from Iron maiden to White Chapel, mastodon to origin, Metallica to Dying Fetus. We all just love metal in all of its various forms. Our main influences are probably Slayer, Machine Head, Sepultura, Cannibal Corpse, and Pantera as far as our sound goes.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

We don't sound like anyone, there is no singing, we've been around the block a few times. This isn't a fucking bullshit fly by night band of dude bros trying to get laid, we just go out and piss in people asses. That's fuckin metal.

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

Keep on destroying buttholes across the land. We hope to pick up heroine addictions and die soon so people will claim they liked us the whole time. Keep writing, playing, arguing, fighting, and maybe we'll name this new fuckin album, probably not though.

We're just happy to have outlived a bunch of dick holes to be honest.

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

The fuckin Internet. iTunes, darkharvestrecords.com, reverbnation, We're on all that shit. Dudes without jobs are stoked to torrent our shit I'm sure. Shit, motherfuckers with jobs are stoked about bit torrents.

Blood Tribe

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

August 2013 37

We are on a short break right now until winter 2013. Gearing up and filling slots of members who couldnt hang. We have toured from portland oregon all the way over to ohio and all over the west coast.

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Bloodoath is more than a band. We are something different, as far as individual members go, its not like that with us. We are a group, we grew up the same way and we act the same way.

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

Our music style is aggressive, but it has a groove and a beat.

We didnt necessarily try and shape our band around one style or certain band.

What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it? we didnt start this band to catch the intrests of mags or labels. We did it so people had a way to vent and get there aggression out and we were tired of shity ass cookie bands.

Nothing in bloodoath is off

BloodOath

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

Because our lyrics are about real life shit! Not about playing in guts and playing baseball with satin. We are a hardcore band that is just fucking pissed off and brutal.

limits.

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

We released Set In Blood a full lengty through DHR in April 2013 and it brought us from #54 on reverb charts to #1 in about 4 months.

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

You can find our stuff online everywhere. Rhapsody, spotify, itunes, amazone, our website www.bloodoathband.com also on our reverb page and google play app store, we also have an android app.

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

We are going to tour our asses off for the next 2 years and write another album

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

August 2013

our first experience in making music and so the reception was not so good. With Nach dem Krieg… we started finding our own style and tried to make more serious music and so we already got some very good reviews and public interest grew with our rising live activity. Wind, so far has been received extremely well. The reviews we got so far are awesome and we get a lot of positive feedback from our fans.

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Frigoris was founded in Essen, Germany, as a Pagan/Black Metal Band in 2007. After our first demo tape and a few gigs we developed further both musical as well as humanly and with growing demand of professionalism, interpersonal differences appeared. So three of the four founding members had to leave Frigoris in 2009. It was not till 2011 and one album later until a new stable line-up was found that was capable of realizing the new concept. Today we play Melodic Black Metal and have begun playing shows throughout Germany and the near foreign countries.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

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

We try to play as much as we can and when the opportunity arises to come around as far as possible. In the last two years we started to play throughout Germany, the nearby countries and at festivals. This year our live activity will rise to around 20 shows and we hope this will go on in the future. Although we already have had some chances to play small tours somehow we didn’t managed to realize this until now but this is definitely planned.

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

It is always difficult for us to describe our style. Especially on our new album Wind, many different influences converge. The atmosphere is inspired by Black Metal but on the musical level we use a lot of elements which are more likely for Doom Metal or Post Rock. We melt it all down in our description as Melodic Black Metal.

The influence of other bands in our music is more on an atmospheric level. They inspire and incite us to reach a greater and more intense sound than before. To name a few: Agalloch, Der Weg einer Freiheit, Nagelfar, This Will Destroy You.

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

We make music with all the passion that we have and try to make every album and every concert a unique experience for the listener as well as for ourselves. Due to that we make music abroad of all conventions and bring that also to the stage.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

You should buy our album because we expand the borders of Black Metal in a unique style towards a lot of other genres which gave us the possibility to create music that is melancholic and rousing at the same time. It is pure atmosphere.

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

I think the next bigger plan for our near future will be a small tour maybe in early 2014 if nothing else arises before. We are also working on our next album and the plan is to have a rough version at the end of the year.

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

We already released a demo tape "Morgenröte” and one full length album "Nach dem Krieg…” on our own and these days our second album "Wind”has just been released by Hypnotic Dirge Records and Misanthropic Art Productions.

Along with our growing wish to make sophisticated music, the public reception got better and better with every record we released. Morgenröte was more or less

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

You could visit our homepage.

There are links to every important site you would need to check out. www.frigorisofficial.de

Frigoris

June 2013

38

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

I Am The Trireme emerged through a collaboration between vocalist Jay Briscoe and guitarist (at that time, bassist) Alec Pezzano in May of 2008. Through the years there have been several lineup changes, though the core of IATT has consistently grown stronger and darker. Now, over five years later, I Am The Trireme has shaped itself from its modest beginning into a great leviathan rooted in the unyielding black abyss.

What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band?

Why should they be interested in it?

I Am The Trireme, from it's inception, has been a completely self reliant entity: everything that has been built has been done so by the devoted collective.

Professionalism is at the forefront of IATT's doctrine, and thus the group constantly pushes to be the best, most professional, top of the line act physically and sonically possible. Within IATT, its members have amassed the skills and talents it would take for a label to successfully fund a band on its own. Alec Pezzano (guitar / keys & orchestrals) is a professional graphic artist working full-time in the promotional marketing industry, whose skill set ensures that I Am The Trireme is never without promotional advertising, album artwork, merchandising designs and web ad media graphics. Alec has done album artwork, logo design, tour flyers, and even movie posters of the highest quality for several bands, labels, and entrainment companies.

Bassist Jim Jenca is currently enrolled as a student studying audio engineering, and he is on track to receive a degree in such within the next year. As an emerging professional, this skill set ensures that I Am The Trireme has the most professionally produced recordings available (as evidence with IATT's 2013 release UNHOLY - which was produced by Jim Jenca). Drummer Paul Cole has been drumming most of his life. Quarter Finals winner of the GuitarCenter DrumOff two years running, Paul gives private drum lessons to many drummers in the area, including some of IATT's brothers in the metal scene. Paul has competed in and won Sam Ash's regional DrumOff competition so many times, they've asked him not to compete anymore, and they gave him a lifetime discount. The musical writing and technical prowess of lead guitarist Joe Cantamessa (who has also professionally given lessons to other musicians) highlights the hauntingly poetic lyricism and passion of front man Jay Briscoe. As the conduit between the source and the listener, Briscoe is much like the stigmatic - through his sacrifice, the essence of darkness and disdain are amplified through his body to the audience.

I Am The Trireme is, as it's name suggests, a weapon; a well focused, synchronized war machine. All parts of the ship work in unison, slapping it's oars through the waters, aggressively propelling the phantom vessel through a sea of stagnant bands and mediocrity around them. I Am The Trireme have set a course true to their convictions, leading the way through a ghostly fog into the beyond.

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

Sonically - a deadly mixture of classical orchestrals, punishing melodeath, and poisonous blackened metal.

Visually - an electrifying stage performance wrapped in a black burial shroud spewing blasphemy and championing an anti-religious hope.

While IATT fuels itself on the collective's experiences and influences, sonically the group shares similarities with and have been compared to such acts as Watain, Emperor, Dissection, (early) Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Abigail Williams, Carach Angren, Septic Flesh, and several others.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

Fans of extreme music such as the aforementioned acts, as well as those who aspire to the ideals of freedom, religious opposition, revelry in darkness, and the beauty and romanticism of death will be captivated by I Am The Trireme. IATT takes pride in the art and message portrayed, and in doing so they take great pride in self-producing finely polished albums both in terms of overall quality of the highest caliber and compelling visual aesthetics.

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

Over the course of three years, I Am The Trireme have successfully released 3 EPs - all of which being praised for their "innovative" and appealing style. I Am The Trireme's releases have been constantly scoring high with critics and reviewers, and they have been in rotation on several web/podcast/radio playlists, receiving praise for their prowess. Aside from album releases, in June of 2013, I Am The Trireme released the first large budgeted professional music video for the single "Repulsed By The Sun" through DSC Productions, Richelow Films, and Reel Splatter Productions. Within the first few hours of its release, the video was making its rounds and gaining views by the hundreds. The video's production quality, storyline and visuals rival that of many large budgeted big label music videos.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

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

As for the near future, IATT is currently gearing up to record their 2014 full length release, whose title has been kept secret for the time being. I Am The Trireme are looking for bigger and better opportunities to showcase themselves, to start playing bigger extreme metal festivals and to expand their reach across the US and international waters. As always, I Am The Trireme is looking to partner up and work with innovative companies via sponsorships / endorsements / cross promotional partnering. IATT has worked with entities such as Blood Energy Drink (Harcos Labs), PickCaddy, InTune Guitar Picks, Audio Zombie effects, 6FU Clothing, and LowerLevel Clothing over the years, and is always looking to obtain new partnerships and connections. IATT is also looking forward to releasing a full new line of merch for 2014, including all new designs and some innovative merchandise.

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

Critics and fans agree that I Am The Trireme shine with the intensity of their live performance. In high aspirations to enthrall and captivate audiences, IATT's live shows have been called "electrifying", "intense", and "amazing" by hundreds of fans. I Am The Trireme consistently refer to themselves as performing artists, rather than a "band," which shows the level of intensity the group projects. Fans and audiences can attest to IATT's signature stage performance - spewing black sludge from the mouth of vocalist Jay Briscoe as he lunges into a prophetic performance, conducting the rest of the group with howls and wails. Briscoe has been known to call upon the audience to step forward as he anoints their foreheads with black sludge from his chalice; calling it an "un-baptising" or "cleansing". As the audience is led into a chant, Briscoe proceeds to rip, tear, and desecrate an actual bible sending its pages flying into the audience and scattering its remains around the stage. Some pages end up being consumed and swallowed by IATT members as they thrash their heads and sway to their rhythms; Some pages make it into the pit, where they are trampled into the floor by the mass of circling followers; Some pages are collected by patrons, who proceed to light the scattered pages on fire before stomping them out and hurling the charred remains into the air. The stage is lit with a flood of blood red (the only light permitted in the room), which serves as the atmosphere in which the gathering takes place.

Audiences emerge from the scene drenched in sweat and glory, their foreheads boasting the marks of an inverted cross in black sludge. This is but a taste of what is expected at an I Am The Trireme live performance.

I Am The Trireme

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

All of I Am The Trireme's releases can be found and purchased on iTunes, Amazon.com, and CDBaby online. Physical copies can be purchased from IATT directly or through Dark Harvest Records' distro. Merchandise (ie. tshirts, posters, Blood Energy) can be purchased through IATT. You can contact I Am The Trireme via email at: IATTManagement@gmail.com, or find IATT on Facebook, Reverbnation or through the guys at Dark Harvest Records: DarkHarvestRecords.com

August 2013

39

strings and we are all truly soul brothers of Metal now. zero drama, tons of camaraderie. so expect more wild live shows soon. some old shows can be found on youtube.

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members. we somehow went from a psycho-billy band, to a suicidal black metal group, then finally an inbred amalgamation of everything that is Metal. an umbrella band that draws from every Metal arena. that way we wont get bored and disband to form something else new and interesting. we can do it all under Inverticrux.

What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it? just look at us and your gonna wanna spin this shit to see what the fucks up with us. if you look at the promo art and photos and dont feel the need to look further, i don't know what else we can do to keep it interesting besides group suicide. we are fun, filthy fuckers with a penchant for calculated trouble. we insist on complete originality. we can borrow from this band or that, but at the end of the day, if you didn't re-invent all that and make it your own, the heads are gonna see right through you as a cookie cutter, rip off act and you wont last. we still have tons of maddening ideas coming to us all the time. just give us a reason to make them dangerously real.

Inverticrux

How would you describe your style?

Which bands influenced your music? if its Metal, we play it. we can find good in everything from the earliest recordings of music and even further back into the troubled classical composer times. all the way to the present. big band, classical, folk, all genre's have birthed dark disturbed artists. we are no different. we too are haunted souls with instruments, yet we find Metal to be the best way to get the darkness across.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums? they dont have to buy it. they can steal it for all we care. we want you to own it. if we have earned money through our art then we should be the first to gain from it. but we are not in it for the money in any sense. we all make good livings. it is far more important to us that we get our filthy, grimy music into your stereo's. we would rather be paid in sluts. one slut per c.d. please. no heffers. get our music. because it is genuinely drawn from our tormented hearts to yours. you can hear the despair and anger. it is real.

What plans do you have for the near future as a band? i dont really know. i am a naysayer. a debbie downer, a pessimist, a drag. i honestly feel more and more like my next artistic effort is going to be the last. i feel as though this world is rapping it up soon and so i cant think to far ahead. i honestly think we dont have much more time as a species on this planet. so the next Inverticrux could very easily be the last. danger death and doom is always nearer then you like to think. i am a realist. the real picture isn't very pretty. but as long as we can draw breath we will put it into more destructive, morbid, horror metal.

What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media? i personally have released 5 c.d.'s as a singer/drummer. one with john Hex's CreepShow, two w/ vintage Flesh, one with Mystic Forest (of France), and the debut of Inverticrux. now ready to release my sixth venture into horror with the second Inverticrux about to drop in the fall 2013. all this in only 6 years time. started late in life.

Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff? e-bay... lol! if you have a friend that has a copy of our work, you can kill him for it or maybe he will be willing to make you a copy. the second option is of course a lot less messy. we have been on Amazon and such sites in the past. so just do a search online. we are talking with labels now and trying to get such support just so we can reach a larger audience. if that happens you can expect many re-releases of the old material as well. so until then, beg , borrow, steal or kill for it. just get it. and thanks go's out to those like yourself who have supported our efforts so far.

Lets get Inverted!!!

Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far? maintaining a complete line-up has been very challenging. it has been the greatest challenge to us as a group thus far. the first year under the original line up found us getting swept up into a bunch of local band shows all around New England. great responce from fans and bands alike. i injected a bit of Alice Cooper style black humor with dribs and drabs of anything from King Diamond antics to Watain styled godlessness. the local scene warmed up to us immediately. we provided something fresh if somewhat bizarre and unruly. me and the drummer are the only original members. we have two new fantastic young bucks behind the

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

nobody wants me hangin' around unless it's from a tree in the middle of town...

August 2013

stuff we do, others hate it. We do not really care because we do this just for fun, beer and satan.

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Motor is a german heavy/thrash/metalpunk band founded in 2010. We released a demo called Turbopower in the same year and a selftitled fulllength in 2013 which was released by Dead Center Productions. All of the actual members are involved in other projects for example the german thrash bands Fatal Embrace and Pirates Of Acheron.

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

We played about 15 shows so far and they were all great. That means we were extremely drunk and behaved like an open pant..

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

Because we make music and this is normally the thing that labels, zines and promoters are interested in.

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

It is really hard to describe our style because our influences are really multilayered. Maybe this quotation from our song Heavy Metal makes it clearer: "Maiden, Priest and Manowar! This is what we need. Sabbath, Kiss and MotĂśrhead make our ears bleed."

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

We´re writing new stuff for a demo and see what the time will bring. So there will be no world tour with Sabaton or a contract with Nuclear Blast in the near future.

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

Another quotation at this point: "Loudest music, hardest battle, zombies, hell and finest Metal!"

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

In the german underground scene we are a little known for our releases. Some people really like the

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

You can order our album via e-mail or directly from our facebook site. (motor-metal@web.de, facebook.com/satanicmotor)

August 2013

Motor 40

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Nekrodeus was founded by six drunkheads who wanted to practise the unhallowed art of death metal, at the end of the arcane writing process a pact commanding the fellowship of shredding and gutturals was sealed with beer at the 1st of January 2013. we recorded a filthy sounding demo in our selfmade abysmal cellar studio, our latest release "putrid scent of grave perversion" was also recorded,mixed and mastered by ourselves, it had been released on the 1st of June 2013.

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

We have played one concert so far, which was insane: one of our favorite metal-clubs in graz/austria, a horde of headbangers and the best atmosphere ever. we are looking forward to some more live experiences like that.

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

We play death metal and we play it hard, no breakdowns, no pigsqueals just pure fucking death metal with a serious bass fetish.

Nekrodeus

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

Our style is just straight death metal, we are influenced by bands like bloodbath, cannibal corpse, nile, belphegor, pungent stench, slayer and many more.

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

Playing gigs, drinking beer, smoking stuff and having fun!

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

Because they fucking blast your guts with their guttural death metal madness

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

You can download our new ep for FREE on nekrodeus.bandcamp.com or visit one of these pages:

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

We have released a rough demo record, which was received very good. our latest release is an ep called "putrid scent of grave perversion", we're very excited where that one is going to take us!

facebook.com/nekrodeus youtube.com/nekrodeustv nekrodeus.blogspot.com June 2013

was it been proper after it to reach, because have one's original climate, which be compared to different accomplishments different performers obviously about which I remembered in earlier question, and such how: Therion, Arcturus, Iron Maiden, In Flames, Children Of Bodom... it but was can not avoid this unfortunately. Who does not believe in my words the same he should convince and I have hope, that it will not be disappointed, and I wait on every opinions and reviews.

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

The begining of its exsitance dates back to January 1993 when the group began its first rehersals on the innitiative of Slawomir Ciszek, Ernest Garstka and Andrzej Trzaskus. Misunderstandings and a big discrepancy in views of music were the cause of more serious conflicts which led to the departure of Slawomir Ciszek. The place of vocalist was replaced

by Slawomir Zabicki, the place of second guitarist was taken by Piotr Rucki and after all Rafal Rucki joined the group as a bass guitarist. From 1st to 8th July 1997 the group recorded its first material in the "Manek" studio in Sanok and it consisted of six numbers which are defined as Death-Black Metal with a big dose of melody. The record "Remembrance" was glowingly welcomed by fans and it was well appraised in musick magazines. In year 1998 team began recording new album in studio "Manek" with new vocalist in person of Jakub Glab. Arkadiusz "Malta" Malczewski and Mariusz Kurasz they watched over realization sound. In spite financial huge questions and personal plate about title, "It Is Night", on which it folds oneself she nine works about total time over 46 minutes saw daylight and was finished in the latter part 2001 year. Plate collected unexpectedly whole the mass of very flattering reviews, but they it were not unfortunately commensurate to situation in team, from which they went away Andrzej Trzaskus, Piotr Rucki as well as vocalist Jakub Glab. They occupied on drums their place Jaroslaw Gurga, bass guitar Robert Lipa and he on vocal appeared oneself Dariusz Urban. Unfortunately in this composition team played two concerts only just and hung activity. Signed on the turn year 2002 and 2003 became contract from Apocalypse Production, which she gave, "Remembrance" in figure split along with team Dira Mortis as well as plate "It is night". Drummer in this time returned to team also Andrzej Trzaskus. On new vocalist added beginning year 2005 to team Tomasz Domka which replaced Jakub Glab and Valinor after many summers of silence presented on quickly during performance on small scene of Metalmania 2005 and on many later concerts. It was the next aim of team recording of new album and aim this the Chinook Studio, manufacturer of plate was realized in studio he was Krzysztof Godycki. The record session of album "Hidden Beauty" durable with pauses from February till May 2006, the team registered 9 new works, lasting together 34 minute. In December 2012 year Canadian factory Atramentum Production gave album Valinor - "Hidden Beauty", this limited publishing house is in quantity 100 numbered copies on professional cassette by hand from 4 additional works registered during concert "Miasto Ma Glos" with 2006 year.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com) Valinor

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

Officially team Valinor gave three official publishing houses and namely: split Valinor - "Remembrance / Dira Mortis - "Murder Epidemic" with year 2002, plate Valinor - "It Is Night" with year 2003 which were let go through factories Apocalypse Productions as well as plate Valinor - "Hidden Beauty" as promo from 2006 given through canadian factory Atramentum Production under end 2012 year. Moreover the works of team the Valinor appeared on compilations in many countries. The reviews of exchanged plates the Valinor were very flattering and I have the hope, that it will become so.

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

Music is not my profitable occupation from which I would can exist calmly, every from member Valinor works professionally and we work in different economic fields, as however I am the worker of state administration and I am the worker of service of health exactly.

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

The team the Valinor be interested every the form of co-operation and first of all the part on different compilations, the medleys as well as the split. Every who will want to acquaint with our music material will receive to examination and to review. I have hope, that after appearance new number Slowly We Rot units interest music Valinor will be larger.

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

The closest and the recording of new material will be for Valinor the most also important task on plate as well as the stabilizing the personal situation of team.

Team Valinor is in track the creating of new works and we want it to register very, I have hope, that this plan be becomes realized and I will can boast the new publishing house under sign board of team the Valinor.

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

To qualify style musical mighty Valinor generally as "melodious death heavy metal", such teams our music be compared to accomplishments very often how: Therion, Arcturus, Iron Maiden, In Flames, Children Of Bodom. I am not able to qualify our music differently though critics of our art use deciding of different qualifications often and profile Valinor, I had opportunities to read about entirely different qualifications which I would not use surely. I judge that trump of our music is, because this about this testifies that the music of team the Valinor is varied and not monotonous. I will will hold on qualification personally "melodious death heavy metal".

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

We in the closest time do not plan concerts unfortunately, to listen but music mighty Valinor on example on official internet side of team Valinor (www.valinor.com.pl), the also accessible recordings of video except audio files are with concerts. To buy the plate of team mighty Valinor on auction services officially, internet shops as well as on side Atramentum Productions (http://atramentumboxset.bigcartel.com/product/valinor-hidden-beautyatramc026) and Atmospheric Magazine (www.atmospheric.pl). I invite the interested to question about accessibility of recordings Valinor directly at team also, I ask to write on address email: valinor1@poczta.onet.pl. I thank for devotion of time for Valinor very and I wish all fans Slowly We Rot units all good!!!

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

It obviously, it that was it been proper was and you should buy recording Valinor!!! You will permit, that I will motivate this affirming the reviews, which are very flattering and in them be underlined very often the originality of works the Valinor which are full original sounds and this is the very positive feature. It

August 2013 41

Please tell us about the history of your band and its members We started out 2011 from ruins of Fitcone and Diffuse Content Band. Our drummer Panu is, vocalist Mike and i'm Marko. I needed more space to write music without any strict rules. So no i don't need to worry about things like is this riff enough thrash or that kind of shit. We all have been in different bands from 90', that said things goes smoothly and without unneeded drama.

What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band?

Why should they be interested in it?

We are hungry for more music and our passion will never change.

We work hard and we want always please our fans by giving them good album and live shows. We haven't shown nothing yet. We will do more and more music and it's for sure that you will hear from us.

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

I would say that our style is closest to death metal with some twists here and there. My main influences are from 1980-1990, Slayer, Carcass, Morbid Angel and of course i listen all kinds of music from classic-jazz-blues-metal. That's where you get some seeds to plant for. What ever sounds good, we are interested to use it.

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

We are currently gathering new songs for our next album.

Rehearsing hard and trying to find the best of the best tunes to our next album. One thing that we are certainly hoping for is more shows all over the world!

Why should a metalhead buy your demos/albums?

Because our album is good as hell of course.. If your interested to hear good old guitar riffing, tight drums and brutal vocals then you should go find our album and buy it off!!

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

We have done one demo 2011 and after that we made album that came out summer 2012.

Media has mostly liked us and been interested to hear more from us.

Walking Dead Suicide

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

We play live as much as we can. Unfortunately we have done only few gigs after our album, but we are interested to do shows abroad too. So contact us if would like to see WDS live!

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

You can buy our albums from our web sites, Inverse, Levykauppax and good music shops all over the world. You can also buy our album from iTunes, Amazon etc.

You'll find us from https://www.facebook.com/pages/WalkingDead-Suicide/163433873722206, www.reverbnation.com/walkingdeadsuicide, www.myspace.com/walkingdeadsuicide and you can contact us from www.wdsofficial@gmail.com. Remember to support our beautiful art and buy our album and also other good artists albums.

August 2013

South America is known for some extreme metal bands and Mortuorial Eclipse from Argentina fit in that category. This amazing Blackened Death Metal band has just unleashed its debut album titled "The Aethyrs’ Call” and, believe me, it will knock you off your feet. Pest Webzine decided to get to know this band a bit better and had a nice came up. So, please enlighten us and tell us who is the Aethyr Mortuorial Eclipse refer to? conversation with NefaSs, vocalist and We find most of our inspiration in ancient wisdom and guitarist.

beginning we choose this language for our lyrics considering it is one of the most practical idioms and it´s spoken in every corner of the world. If we write lyrics in Spanish (our language, we are limiting it only for Spanish speaking people. It happens the same with German, Polish and so on...

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

The band was formed six years ago but only now have you released your debut album. Why the long wait? Lack of support from labels?!

First of all we would like to thank very much to all the staff of Pest Webzine / Slowly We Rot for their support!

The delay in release our first CD has many reasons: during the first period of the band, all the members were involved in others parallel projects so in the first years we only recorded a few demo songs but never released them.

When we decided to record an official album we were forced to make some changes in the line up and this stole us some time too. "The Aethyrs´ Call” is a self production and it means that each cent came from the band members.

It is very difficult for an extreme metal band in our country to get support from any of the local labels , that's why we decided to release it locally through our own label: ISHTAR GATE PROD. You are labeled as Symphonic Blackened Death… is this really the best definition for your sound?

It’s just an easy way to know what you shall find in our music… People and specially the press need this but we actually don’t care about how Mortuorial Eclipse is labeled.

lost cultures. As a result of this mixture, we came up with the concept of "The Aethyrs ´ Call” as a way of symbolizing this attraction and seduction from this immense and deep ocean of the forgotten knowledge’s and forbidden arts.

Who is he calling and why?

It’s not a Character but we decided to personify it in the cover art of the album.

The cover of the album seems to be quite complex in its meaning. Would you care to explain it?

Where is that place? Why is the man’s covered in a cloth? He is holding one of those incense spreaders priests use in churches?

The cover is mainly a Photo of the great Australian Photographer Peter Stanton. The first time I saw it I felt that it was exactly what we wanted to transmit with the concept of the music. The character is a lady showing the entrance door of a ritualistic construction in ruins but keeping it essence. The place is Baalbek in Libano, but some photo manipulation has been made.

Have you ever written or considered writing songs Mortuorial Eclipse are using several official in Spanish? channels in order to promote their name, namely All our songs are written in English. Since the Twitter, Facebook, iTunes, Myspace, Soundcloud and YouTube. How important are these channels in your promotion?

New channels and social networks allow us reach many people in different parts of the world. It gives us a firsthand feedback and helps us spreading the message of the band.

Nowadays we look at the web like a new dimension of the world, many people spend a lot of time there sharing their interests and points of view… they work, learn, create and coexist without the need of being in the same place.

In Europe, "The Aethyrs´Call" was firstly released by Art Gates Records but, at the end of July, Wretched Decay Records (Extreme Metal Label from the United Kingdom) will release it again. Why? How did this opportunity come up?

We know the guys from AGR for some years now and when we finished the album, we started

Lyrically you deal with Ancient Cultures, Heritage, Old Wisdom. I searched the internet to find out about Aethyr and several results 42

working together. They are from Spain and they are doing a great job!

Some time ago we got in touch with WDR and they offered us a good deal. We are open to new partners if it doesn’t affect our actual relations.

Ishtar Gate Productions is the label that deals with your releases in Argentina and North and South America.

Considering that you deal with different labels, how easy or difficult is it working with so many different contracts and all that?

Ishtar Gate Productions is our own label and it’s only for Argentina even though we work worldwide as all the labels do. Nowadays with the internet and the new ways and formats for music is it useful having some What are your expectations for Mortuorial geographic restrictions. People buy where they want. Eclipse?

We are focused on increasing the aggressiveness and Distribution and promotion make the difference. intensity of our music and we hope to take it Mortuorial Eclipse have reached the number 1 in everywhere we can! The wheel will not stop now!!!

ReverbNation’s Córdoba ranking and number 3 in Argentina’s ReverbNation chart. That’s quite an Recently Nefass was at Musikmess in Frankfurt, achievement! How did you feel when you found out Germany. Musikmesse is an International Fair for Musical Instruments, Sheet Music, Music about this?

Great! It shows that all this work is being recognized. Production & Music Business Connections. Were Extreme Metal is not very popular in our country and you there to promote the band and the debut to reach number 1 at the local chart is really exciting album?

Yes! I ‘ve got a job beside the band that allows me to for an underground metal band. travel a lot and it gives us a good chance to meet new Now you’ll be on the spotlight… how is the band’s people from the music industry and to get in touch reaction to this? Did you ever imagine your debut with other professional musicians and possible partners for the band. would achieve such a status?

When you give it all to get the best from you it will certainly bring good results. We have worked very Have got any gigs planned so far? hard and we do it every day. We have really good At the moment we are booked for an Extreme partners in this crusade, as ATR GATE RECORDS Festival: Guttural Forest Fest in Buenos Aires and we are, and this has a strong influence in the way things are planning a gig in Córdoba, our city, too. are going on. Working with people with experience How is it like being an extreme metal band in helps us learning more and more every day.

Argentina? Is the mentality of the argentinian The reviews "The Aethyr’s Call” has been society open minded towards extreme metal acts? receiving are quite awesome. Do you pay attention Not at all! The metal scene in our country is really to what’s written about it? How much importance retrograde and poor. The extreme Metal Scene is different, even though it’s a small crew, there is a do you attribute to those words?

It’s our first release. All reviews are very important to good relation between the bands and the metalheads. collect the opinion of the specialized press and to The mentality of the argentinian people is not ready obtain a fresh feedback from many parts of the world. for the IDEAS of Extreme music in general, that's The repercussion of "The Aethyrs` Call” exceeded the why the scene is growing so slowly here. expectations and it’s really great for a debut album.

European bands all appreciate playing in South America.

What’s so special about you then?

What’s your opinion on European metal?

There is a Huge thirst for Metal in South America. People here really admire European bands and are ready to show their support every time a band decides to come. The long distances make tours a bit expensive so it’s not as common as it is in Europe to see extreme metal gigs, it’s reserved to big cities like Buenos Aires, Santiago, etc.

As an extreme metal fan, is there a band you’d love touring with? Which one and why? Which bands inspire you?

Huff many! I think every band has a difference essence that you can learn and enjoy in different ways! We’ve made really good friends while touring and it’s great. This is something great about European Metal Festivals: such a big number of big bands at the same time! It’s an experience we yearn to have soon!

It’s a common fact that some of the best Blackened Death bands hail from Scandinavia. Do you agree?

Which are the ones you listen to and that marked you in some way or form?

Yes! That’s True! Among the bands that influence our music we can mention bands like Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Opeth, Septic Flesh and many more from Europe. Also American Death Metal Mosnters like Morbid Angel and Nile are musical references for us.

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

The edition of "The Aethyr’s Call” has just run out in Argentina. Are you preparing a new edition? Will there be any changes to it?

Yes, the first edition has run out really fast and it was a good surprise for us. We are planning a new national edition for the coming months and we are thinking on adding some bonus track on it and perhaps a new art format for the booklet.

Having your tracks from "The Aethyr’s Call” available online won’t put off some people from buying the album?

Most people who bought the CD (if not all) have listened to the band on the internet before buying. We think the Internet is a good tool to spread Mortuorial Eclipse’s overture. If we cannot fight piracy, we must deal with it and try to use it in our favour.

Which one would you say was the album (metal or not) that changed your mind, that made you realize metal was your thing?

Don’t need to think too much about it! For me it was " FAR BEYOND DRIVEN ” from Pantera and "CHAOS AD” from Sepultura!

What can we expect from Mortuorial Eclipse in the near future?

We are working on a video at the moment! Stay tuned! The composition progress of our next album has just started and you will find more extreme and aggressive music with a protagonist Orchestra leading the Armageddon!

Please share a final message with the readers! Thanks for your time and music!

Hail!

It’s a pleasure to write this lines for Pest Webzine / Slowly We Rot! We invite all the readers to visit our website at www.mortuorialeclipse.com.ar and also to drop

by ARG’s store where you can purchase "The Aethyrs` Call” and much more awesome material!

Check www.artgatesrecords.com/catalog Darkness is Spirit while Light is only matter!

Best Regards!

Questions by Sónia Fonseca Answers by Nefass (vocals and guitar)

May 2013

43

REVIEWS – reviews – reviews Hungarian sung lyrics are not going to help in this with lots of groove elements but don't think of the new aspect either. 7 wave of Groove bands, they are old-school oriented www.arkhorrl.hu 100%. The biggest fault of this album, and the www.paragonrecords.org elements that will bring it down, is the sound, too dry and unimpressive although crystal clear, it gives you the impression of a home made (good) recording, and leaves lots of empty spaces on this album, so that the music is not brutal enough, not technical enough, not expressive enough, so it can easily fall into the mediocre pit. The compositions are tight, the execution is good (I especially liked the bass lines), the vocals are not something to be amazed by, and the overall atmosphere is almost nonexistent because of ABYSMAL GRIEF (Italy) - Feretri that dry sound, so try it yourselves and come up with Terror from Hell - 2013 - Doom Metal your own conclusions. As for me, I don't think I'll give One of the best exports of the Italian Doom Metal it another try, sorry. 6 scene, Abysmal Grief, are back with their third fullwww.facebook.com/alterselfgr length album and luckily for us this may be easily www.noiseheadrecords.com considered their best effort to date. Cold, horror filled, morbid atmospheres built on this new release are ANGELLORE (France) - Errances ALGIDE (France) - Mortifere absolutely mesmerizing. Theatrical vocals, epic organ, WormHoleDeath / DreamCell 11 - 2012 Cvlminis - 2013 - Black Metal apocalyptic guitar tones and a lot of catchy rhythms, Young trio formed in 2011, Algide recently released Atmospheric Doom Metal that's what you'll get here; 6 tracks, 46 minutes, a step this debut EP on the Russian label Cvlminis, a sub- I find this band's name to be somehow very appealing back in time to the old-school black/white horror label of Rigorism Productions. We're treated with 4 to Doom Gothic audiences hence a very suitable name movies. I have particularly enjoyed the mid-tempo tracks of fast Black Metal defined by a good and quite for a band in these genres. Angellore come from the parts, very catchy and expressive, and also the organic complex guitar work (the leads are making this CD southern part of France and this is their first official sound of this recording. An excellent album that really worth your time), a drum machine that after a full-length album made of 7 long tracks totaling should be on every Traditional Doom Metal fan's must while becomes boring and even annoying, good and almost 50 minutes. their music is most of the time have list. 9.5 comprehensive bass lines, and vocals that bring slow paced melancholic and atmospheric Gothic www.abysmalgrief.com nothing new but are not bad either. If you're into semi- Doom Metal with occasional energetic, more www.horrorrecords.com technical Black Metal with a pinch of melody Algide's aggressive parts that fit perfectly with the overall debut EP might make a good audition, I'm curious concept enhancing the emotions spawned by this how the band will develop their sound in the future. 7 release. It's not a release that will shock you with its originality or boldness, but on the other hand it can www.facebook.com/AlgideBM keep you attention tight from start to finish, its www.facebook.com/CVLMINIS carefully structured, emotional, natural flowing and carries multiple hooklines along the way, passages that can easily stick to your memory for long time especially if you're into this genre. I find the "beauty and the beast" vocal mix (female/male) on "I am the Agony" to be very good for Angellore's type of music, AD PATRES (France) - Scorn Aesthetics they should think of using it more although Walran Kaotoxin - 2012 - Death Metal has a very versatile vocal timbre and does his job Here's the debut album from a band that impressed me successfully along the way, too. Promising debut. 8 a few years ago with their first demo. "Scorn www.facebook.com/AngelloreDoom Aestetics" is made of 10 tracks totaling a bit more www.wormholedeath.com/dreamcell11 than a half an hour of brutal, technical and intricate ALLEY (Russia) - Amphibious Death Metal. Deep, low-tuned vocals, fast double-bass BadMoodMan - 2013 - Progressive Death Metal drumming with lots of blastbeats all over, very good, It was a surprise to find such an aggressive and dark complex guitar riffs and overall a heavy atmosphere. band hidden behind such a common, even shiny There's a lot to chew inhere especially if you're into moniker, I wasn't certainly expecting Alley to play fast, brutal and tight Death Metal. I think "Scars of Progressive Death Metal. This one is their second fullCompromise" and the title track are the best on this length album and unfortunately I found myself loosing record and would like to see the band following the interest a few times during its audition. Yes, the band APNEA (New Zealand) - Silent Cities same path sprinkled with guitar hooks all over. The is very talented, the compositions are varied and you Immortal Frost - 2012 - Post Black Metal sound is great, nothing to complain about, and that never know what to expect next, but somehow they Debut EP from this young New Zealand band, makes it an enjoyable experience, and album you'll lost me along the way, maybe because of the vast "Apnea" is made of 5 tracks totaling almost 25 probably spin a lot. 9 majority of rhythms being slow and closer to minutes of Post Black Metal. Why "Post"? Because it www.adpatres.net Alternative music rather than Death Metal. On the only has traces of Black Metal in it, some fast paced, www.kaotoxin.com other hand I liked the fact the band is not trying to aggressive Black Metal parts with depressive kind of copy anything, they just go with the flow and don't screams/vocals, the rest being this new sort of AETHERIUS OBSCURITAS (Hungary) - Ventus care about labelling, that's the whole point of Shoegaze Black Metal genere so popular nowadays.

Paragon - 2012 - Black Metal Progressive music. Fans of Opeth might like this Besides the low volume on vocals this debut EP What? Vin Diesel started playing Black Metal? One better than I did though. 7 sounds quite interesting, it reminded me of what's look inside this CD's booklet and you'll get what I'm www.alley-band.ru Netra doing, the same type of "being depressed and saying. These 2 guys are looking more like wrestlers www.solitude-prod.com feeling solitary in a big city" type of atmosphere. than Black Metallers, and one of them is 100% Vin There are some parts that sound a bit forced and Diesel looking; well, nice for the ladies. Musicwise unnatural, but all in all this album has a nice flow and Aetherius Obscuritas is fast, uncompromising Black you won't feel bored while listening to it. Not a bad Metal with occasional acoustic parts and minimal use first effort. 7 of keyboards just to add depth to their atmosphere. www.apnea.weebly.com Not bad at all but not groundbreaking either and one www.immortalfrostproductions.com could expect more from a sixth album of a band.

Melodic, fast paced, well recorded, this album may ALTER SELF (Greece) - Seven Deadly Blessings APOSTATE (Ukraine) - Trapped in a Sleep appeal to fans of Norwegian Black Metal (not first Noisehead - 2013 - Thrash Death Metal Metallic Media - 2011 - Doom Death Metal wave though), but although it's obvious the two Founded in 2007, Alter Self released this debut album This is an excellent proof of the UK based mid '90's Hungarians gave their best, there's nothing out of the in 2013 after signing with Austria based Noisehead Doom Death Metal scene reminiscence and influence ordinary that would attract other fans, and their Records. 11 tracks, 45 minutes of Thrash Death Metal over the scene, Apostate's debut and so far only album

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

44

uses and displays the best elements bands like Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, and even Anathema used to enchants the teenages of the '90's (including myself). "Trapped in a Sleep" is the perfect album for nostalgics of that era, it's catchy, complex, interesting and involving. Even the sound is reminiscent of those times, crystal clear but still carrying that dusty atmosphere. At times it reminded me of the old Dutch band Threnody (especially the '97 self-titled album), too, although Apostate is not Progressive at all and has a much more melancholic atmosphere. Being a fan of the '90's Doom Death Metal scene it was impossible not to fully enjoy this album but I wouldn't recommend it to the fans of newer types of Metal. 8 www.apostate.com.ua www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

ARATRON (Holland) - The Recovery Selfreleased- 2013 - Death Metal 3 years after reviewing their debut demo I have the chance of reviewing yet another Aratron demo, still selfreleased as the first one, and still keeping that oldschool flame alive. Fast paced and energetic from the start, this demo lacks a bit of variation but presents a band that will probably hurt your neck on live shows; although there are only 2 members in Aratron it seems they are still playing live gigs and that's to be praised.

The riffs are somehow recycled but the combination with an excellent bass line and organic drums is quite successful, I only felt the need of a darker atmosphere during the audition but that shouldn't stop you from giving them a chance especially if you're into uncompromising fast old-school Death Metal. www.aratron.net

slow to mid-tempo rhythmed, mostly melancholic Ambient Black Metal with nothing to stand out except maybe for a few guitar leads. To me it seems like a demo meant to find a suitable vocal, nothing more, and absolutely not an album as I understand this term.

Sorry, no go. 4 www.facebook.com/astarotMEX www.metallic-media.blogspot.com ASTAROT / LUX FUNESTUS / DU TEMPS PERDU / NEFTARAKA (Mexico / Mexico / Mexico / Malaysia) - Humo, Cenizas y Muerte Metallic Media - 2011 - Black Metal / Depressive Black Metal / Ambient Black Metal / Black Metal A 4 way split CD offering us 3 Mexican bands and a Malaysian band, all of them playing variations of Black Metal.

Opening is Astarot, a one man band whose debut I have just reviewed last month and since I wasn't impressed one bit back then I'm not impressed now either. The mastering is awful, the drum machine gets on my nerves after a while and even though the keyboards would create a good atmosphere you can barely hear them, the same goes for the guitar leads.

The guy knows how to handle his guitar, he should work more on emphasizing this and building his music around those nice guitar leads.

Next is Lux Funestus opening up with a boring, repetitive and simple guitar intro then ventures in a minimalist type of Depressive (?) Black Metal with demo sounding recordings, same riffs repeating over and over again, easy to spot execution mistakes, happy drum rhythms (keep in mind they wanted to sound depressive...) and lucky for me a very good Black Metal vocalist that might save something in the end.

Du Temps Perdu changed name in the meantime now being known as Abysmal Depths. Their three tracks from this split could have some potential, the atmospheres are heavy and opressing, and I think I could really get into it after a few spins, but the sound is just awful, rehearsal type, you can barely hear the vocals, the guitars are almost nonexistent and what you can hear from their music is not sufficient to captivate your attention.

Neftaraka is the best band on this split, no doubts, their raw yet somehow melodic type of Black Metal is exactly what I would expect from such a band. Dark, menacing and sinister sounds that most probably will be on your liking. The problem here is again the sound, not as clear as it should have been, but in this case you can really get over it and concentrate on the horrific atmosphere.

As a conclusion the 3 Mexican bands are NOT showing the real potential of this country's Black Metal scene while Neftaraka is proving to be a solid name coming out of Malaysia. Too bad Metallic Media is investing in such poor quality bands... 5 3 5.5 / 7.5 www.facebook.com/astarotMEX www.myspace.com/luxfunestus www.dutempsperdu.bandcamp.com www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

Astral Winter started as a Black Death project but this new album, its second, is completely instrumental and has no traces of Metal on it, instead it offers almost 40 minutes of beautiful Ambient soundscapes built by excellent keyboards/synths and semi-acoustic guitars, no drums, no vocals. Quite a radical change from the debut album but I can't say I'm disapointed, not at all, this new genre suits Astral Winter much more and it's actually more interesting than most Ambient releases I've had the chance to listen to lately. Just imagine the atmosphere on "Perdition" are like dreaming of a flight among clouds, you'll reach states of melancholy, depression but also hope and serenity. Excellent turn for this band, recommended! 9 www.astralwinter.com www.immortalfrostproductions.com

ATRA VETOSUS (Australia) - Voices from the Eternal Night Immortal Frost - 2013 - Melodic Black Metal I've had my first encounter with Atra Vetosus last year when I reviewed their debut demo but in the meantime they have evolved from a 2 piece project to a full lineup band and that probably means they have started their live career, too. This album is made of 8 tracks totaling 50 minutes of Melodic Black Metal a la Catamenia/Graveworm very well structured, energetic but with a pinch of acoustic elements also, fast paced, atmospheric and catchy. With this debut album the band proves to be a mature and professional act that will start conquering fans of this genre at high pace.

The vocal part is awesome, good improvement from the demo days, the guitar leads are enchanting, the rhythm part is solid and heavy, and the keyboards are used mostly to build and maintain the dark atmospheres. Fans of Graveworm or Catamenia will have a good surprise with this band. 9 www.atravetosus.com www.immortalfrostproductions.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

ARKHTINN (?) - I Atavism - 2013 - Ambient Black Metal There are no info on this band, they or he (probably this is a one man band) prefer to keep the identity of Arkhtinn hidden for some reason no one cares nowadays, there are too many such bands around.

This debut demo is made of 2 long tracks, one into mid-tempo Black Metal with awful sound, almost impossible to follow each instrument, and one into Ambient Noise. The atmosphere is ok, quite horrifying, but the sound will keep many away from really tasting this demo. Except for the terrifying screams I see no value in this music, sorry. 5 www.atavism.records.free.fr

ASTAROT (Mexico) - Raw Sensation of Nostalgia and Nihilistic Metallic Media - 2012 - Ambient Black Metal This is the debut and so far the only album by this one man band from Mexico, a 12 tracks effort totaling almost 80 minutes. Unfortunately I found the music on it very boring although well executed; the drum machine really got on my nerves multiple times during the audition, plus the fact that it has no vocals whatsoever made it an incomplete work for my taste.

So Astarot is playing an instrumental only type of

ASTRAL WINTER (Australia) - Perdition Immortal Frost - 2013 - Ambient This is a solo project of Josh Young from Atra Vetosus and it was started before, in 2008, while Atra Vetosus was started only in 2011, so I guess it means a bit more to Josh. But the curious thing is Josh, although being a young guy, was actually the founder of Immortal Frost Productions, the label both his projects are still signed although being relocated to Belgium in the meantime.

45

ATRIUM NOCTIS (Germany) - Home Naturmacht - 2010 - Melodic Black Metal Although released 3 years ago, this is the debut and so far the only full-length album from Atrium Noctis and that's too bad since it is a fairly interesting release.

Melodic Black Metal with keyboard backgrounds and atmospheres in character with the lyrics which is not that easy (for example the "Night Before" track sounds a bit more medieval inspired and the lyrics are about sailing warriors preparing for the final battle, while the track "First Day in Hell" is much more aggressive, darker and cryptic sounding consistent with the pain submitted by the lyrics). The Beethoven interludes are simply delicious providing a few minutes of calm amongst all the Black Metal torments, the Power Metal-like guitar leads are also a very nice addition and the keyboard work, although at first sounding a bit too in front of the other instruments, plays a very important role in modelling what appears to be a concept album about the jurney of souls after death. I don't particularly like the

shrieking vocals, but they don't bother me either. I should also mention the excellent lyrical part of this album, Damian, the vocalist displays a strong imagination and thirst of writing long, insightful lyrics. Strong debut recommended to fans of '90's Melodic Black Metal. 9 www.atrium-noctis.com www.naturmacht.com

AXECUTER (Brazil) - Metal Is Invincible Inferno - 2013 - Heavy Metal Well prefaced by a demo in 2011 and an EP in 2012, this debut album from Axecuter should be a quite waited release for fans of the first period of the '80's Metal scene. 9 tracks, almost 50 minutes of Traditional Heavy Metal with no compromises, no trickes, no modern influences whatsoever, just pures Sodom/Venom influenced Metal with catchy choruses and mostly fast tempos. If so far Axecuter's best track was Bangers Prevail, now I'd give the crown to the excellent "No God, No Devil (Worship Metal!)" track featuring all elements this band is proud of: fast rhythms, catchy choruses, bold lyrics, epic guitar solos and excellent guitar riffs. Unfortunately when the rhythm changes to slow paces the listener's attention tends to vanish, so I'd suggest the band to keep it fast and loud, this is what suits them better.

Also the vocalist's raspy vocals are not suited for slow paced, melodic tracks, he needs to yell and shout his pride of being a metalhead. The drummed does a good job, especially on "Keep on Sinning". Recommended to old-school Heavy Metal followers only, the rest won't understand a thing. 8 www.facebook.com/axecuter www.inferno-records.net

with Jamie-Lee's is successful. The instrumental part is very metallic and powerful building up the tension and the support of keyboard backgrounds is also an important factor in creating this storytale, you can almost feel the schizophrenic thoughts of that little girl. To sum it up this is a very good debut album that will surely bring Azylya in the frontlines of European Gothic Metal. 9 www.azylya.com www.wormholedeath.com

What doe sit mean if a band releases a selftitled album, other than their debut as it usually happens? well, in Blood Red Throne's case I guess it means they realized they have reached a peak of maturity and probably this is the album they are most proud of, and after spinning the CD for a few times I can only agree with this presumptive thinking, their 7th full-length effort proved me there is still a lot to experiment in Death Metal and still keep the whole genre intact, uncompromised by weird outside elements. This album will certainly fit among my top 5 Death Metal albums of 2013, it has everything I need from this genre I'm following religiously since my teens: dark atmosphere, hoarse, comprehensive vocals, insame rhythm section, melodic, mysterious parts, and every track seems to have the right amount of hooks to keep my attention high for all the 35 minutes of playing time. The mix of traditional and more modern type of Death Metal flows seamlessly and feels so natural that in the end it's impossible not to take your hat off for these guys. A highly recommended album, try not to BANE (Serbia) - The Acausal Fire miss it! 10 Abyss - 2012 - Black Death Metal www.reverbnation.com/bloodredthrone Second and possibly last album from this very good www.sevared.com Serbian band, a revelation of the 2010's in European Black Death Metal; maybe last album because the leader, Branislav, relocated to Canada last year and the future of Bane is uncertain. "The Acausal Fire" confirms what their debut, "Chaos, Darkness & BLOODSHED WALHALLA (Italy) - The Battle Emptiness", promised: a very tight band made of Will Never End extremely talented musicians taking their time to Fog Foundation - 2012 - Viking Metal create memorable, full of melody and dark Second full-length album from this one man band atmospheres Black Death Metal. Except for the awful from Italy, "The Battle Will Never End" starts off with snare drums' sound everything is perfect on this new a 7 minutes intro and continues in the same manner, opus, and this may probably be one of the most with long, a bit too repetitive, tracks so that 7 tracks menacing, offensive and at the same time melodic are making this opus to last for almost an hour.

Extreme Metal album of 2012. As the tracks flow Drakhen, the man behind Bloodshed Walhalla is you're discovering more and more interesting and heavily influenced by Bathory (the Epic Metal years) mind-blowing elements that will keep your attention and that might make some listeners enjoy his efforts. tight till the end. the best thing about Bane is their Except the fact the riffs are too repetitive and the versatility and courage to add multiple melodic drums are programmed sounding a bit too synthetic, elements and at the same time their ability to keep I'd say this is an enjoyable, easy to digest work things energetic and aggressive. Thumbs up, excellent complete with clean vocals, choirs, acoustic guitars, album! 9 Heavy Metal guitar riffs and leads and a melodic, www.baneband.com majestic overall atmosphere. Too bad this guy doesn't have a real band (full line-up) to back up his ideas, I think he would do real miracles in this scene, or at least if he could record real drums next time. 7 BLACK AUTUMN (Germany) - The Advent www.facebook.com/pages/Bloodshedwalhalla/161453707234236 October Bylec Tum / Obscure Abhorrence - 2013 - Ambient www.fogfoundation.com Black Doom Metal With 4 full-length albums under its belt this one man project from Germany is back this year with a new release, a 4 tracks EP co-released by Bylec Tum and Obscure Abhorrence. By these labels' names you can guess this is a quality release and for my pleasure it really is, a slow paced melancholic combination of Ambient and Black Metal with good technical skills display, repetitive but not overused arrangements, atmospheric layer of keyboards on the background, well thought guitar leads, just the right amount of hoarse vocals. The only element I'm not particularly fond of is the drums sound, too synthetic and a bit annoying at times but the overall atmosphere CARDIAC NECROPSY (Singapore) - Shayateen Selfreleased - 2012 - Death Grind compensates for that. Not a ground-breaking album but definitely one that will calm you down and allow I'm glad to have the chance of listening/reviewing this you to explore the majestic misty forests the artist hard-working and very respected band from Singapore and now I can also see why they are so respected, this probably had in mind while writing this music. Nice. 8 new (second) album is selfreleased in a very www.facebook.com/blackautumn.band professional digipack format so that means they are www.bylec-tum.com really honest and they believe in what they do. 11 www.obscure-abhorrence.de tracks, 30 minutes of playing insanely fast and technical / complex Death Grind with literally every elements you'd expect from such a band and album: insane speed mixed with dark, heavy rhythms, blastbeats all over, overflowing technical skills, brutal but still comprehensive vocals, sick rhythm changes, memorable guitar solos, or to sum it up very intelligent brutality. Fantastic Death Grind album, make sure you don't miss it! 9.5 www.facebook.com/CardiacNecropsy

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

AZYLYA (Belgium) - Sweet Cerebral Destruction WormHoleDeath - 2013 - Gothic Metal Debut album from this Belgian Gothic Metal band, Sweet Cerebral Destruction is made of 10 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of Gothic Metal. This one seems to be a concept album based on the story of a little schizophrenic girl abused by his father, quite a shocking topic for such a melodic band... Music wise Azylya are great when switching from emotional and calm parts to some more energetic and heavy moments, the female vocalist, Jamie-Lee Smit, has an awesome, warm tone that contrasts with the raw, growling vocals of Yohann, a guest musician that's also taking care of some guitar parts on this album. BLOOD RED THRONE (Norway) - Blood Red CHAOS CREATION / WARNAMENT (Finland / unfortunately I find Yohann's vocals as a bit forced Throne Macedonia) - Arrows of Agony and unnatural even if they are growls, but the contrast Sevared - 2013 - Death Metal 46

Selfreleased - 2009 - Thrash Metal / Thrash Metal An old release again, so old that in fact I'm not sure if one of these bands is still active, the opening band, Chaos Creation. This is the latest release by Chaos Creation and since then only silence. The Finns are presenting here 3 tracks of pure and fast Thrash Metal, catchy and well structured, perfect for headbanging, with good recordings quality. Old-school but not rusty, not innovative but very energetinc and engaging, I have enjoyed their side of this CD very much. Warnament are an old acquaintance of ours featuring here 3 tracks that were later featured on their debut album too, one of them being live recorded during a gig. As mentioned in my review of their album, the tracks are a bit too generic and without an own path, and also the sound should have been a bit more powerful; I like their guitar leads and solos though. So this is a meeting between a traditional Thrash Metal band from Finland and an old school Thrash Metal band from Macedonia. 7.5 / 6 www.myspace.com/thrashcreation www.myspace.com/warnament

CHEMICAL DISASTER (Brazil) - Third Wound Violent / Murder / Hammer of Damnation - 2011 Thrash Death Metal Third Wound = third studio album from this veteran Brazilian band founded back in 1990. Unfortunately neither the sound or the compoaitions convinced me the band will hit it big on the scene with this album.

The sound is too muddy and causes the tracks to loose aggression, and the compositions, or better said the execution is too out of tune at times, you feel like the vocal is from a totally different movie although his timbre is perfect for this genre. Mostly fast paced, this album may attract some old-school Thrash Death Metal maniacs but in my opinion is not powerful enough to compete with what's on the scene nowadays. The guys are excellent musicians, I have especially enjoyed the bass lines and the guitar solos, but that won't be enough to make me spin this CD again, sorry, I've heard this too much in the '90's. 6.5 www.facebook.com/pages/ChemicalDisaster/252069238144196 www.violentrecs.yolasite.br www.hellprod.com www.hammerofdamnation.com.br

you never know what's next in regards to guitar or bass solos and guitar leads, the highlights of Craving For Chaos. At some points a supporting female vocalist makes her appearance but her parts sound really out of pace and I would suggest the band to keep the male growler as the only singer or find a different female vocalist. Good effort but they need more work to shine in this overcrowded scene. 7 www.cravingforchaos.de www.infernalhymns.com

CRUELTY DIVISION (Malaysia) - Cut of the Knife Selfreleased - 2012 - Death Metal Straight from Malaysia, Cruelty Division attacks the scene with a semi-technical fast paced Death Metal, but this debut EP didn't convince me at all they are a good band. The two guitarists are indeed, very talented and in my opinion they could fit any modern Black Death Metal band out there, they have both excellent technical skills and great ability to create catchy, intricate riffs, leads and solos, so chapeau for them, but on the other hand the vocal tone is simply laughable, the guy doen't let his vocals loose and what comes out of him are only half growls/shrieks like the ones every teenager does after listening to his first Extreme Metal band and sings along while trying not to be heard by his parents, we've all done that, isn't it?

The drums, although well played have an awful sound so that the result gives you the impression the drummer actually plays in the kitchen on every dishes and wooden tables he finds. My impression is that the other guys have a long, long way in trying to reach the guitarists' level. This EP is selfreleased as digipack format, so seeing their professionalism in this hopefully they'll get better as a band on the next release. 6 www.facebook.com/cruelty.division

this album as a good buy especially if you want to own a CD from a country that doesn't produce that much, of course. 7 www.dark-salvation.li

DARKENHOLD (France) - Echoes from the Stone Keeper Those Opposed - 2012 - Black Metal After a quite well received debut album out in 2010 on Ancestrale Prod., Darkenhold signed with Those Opposed Records for a followup. Made of 10 tracks, "Echoes from the Stone Keeper" manages to convince the listener of its potential and even though the general label one could cast on Darkenhold's music could be mid-paced Melodic Black Metal, these 3 guys have no restraints in diving into rawer and faster sides of this genre. It reminded me of the Finnish Black Metal although there are some Norwegian influences thrown in here and there and the epic atmospheres created by the keyboards reminded me of some other French and even Canadian (French part) bands from the beginnings of the 2000's. Well thought, varied, entertaining and easy to get into, that's how I'd define Darkenhold's music, and the organic, unpolished sound in this case is pure ace, both veteran and new Black Metal maniacs will find something to enjoy here. 9 www.facebook.com/Darkenhold www.thoseopposedrecords.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

CRAVING FOR CHAOS (Germany) - Arising Disorder Infernal Hymns - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal 2 girls, 3 guys, a young band and its debut EP; "Arising Disorder" is made of 7 tracks totaling around half an hour of Melodic Death Metal. The music is not something very original, but these youngsters definitely prove to have very good technical abilities and so potential to progress to the highest peaks of this genre. The tracks are good but not exceptionally catchy (you've heard these rhythms and riffs countless times before), but their outbursts of technical displays will make you follow the music till the end of the CD,

DARK SALVATION (Liechtenstein) - Der letzte Weg Selfreleased - 2013 - Melodic Death Metal This must be the first band from Liechtenstein I get to listen and review, for sure. For a country with less then 50.000 population having a couple of Metal bands is awesome, and it's nice to meet one of those bands and finding out they are actually very professional and dedicated. The band has been around since 2008 and in the meantime they have released a DVD and a full-length CD, "Der letzte Weg" being their second official full-length. The album is made of 11 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of Melodic Death Metal. Although the sound is not as think as it should have been, the music, especially the melodic guitar leads and solos, is quite entertaining and energetic to keep your attention alive. The drums are a bit too synthetic, the riffs are quite generic and the vocals are not the versatile but as said before the guitar leads and solos are making this band an interesting find. The cover artwork and format (nice digipack) recommend 47

DARKEST GROVE (USA) - Coming of 2012 Forever Plagued - 2012 - Black Metal I find this album title at least uninspired especially because I got in in 2013; I can compare this feeling with watching an old Sci-Fi movie where people are already travelling with flying cars let's say in the '90's.

Anyway, this is darkest Grove's second album after a 6 years period of silence since their debut. Totaling more than 1 hour of playing this album is made of 8 tracks + outro; fast, aggressive and quite entertaining piece of music with good guitar riffs, leads and even solos, desperate vocals, old-school Norwegian like rhythm section (well most of the riffs are like that also) and above all a dark, successfully crafted atmosphere. Surprisingly good release, recommended!

8 www.myspace.com/darkestgrove www.foreverplaguedrecords.com DARKMOON (Switzerland) - Wounds STF - 2011 - Death Metal It seems these guys started out as a Black Death Metal band but with this third full-length album they lost all Black Metal traces, Wounds being a full Death Metal release (well, except maybe the "Dead Cold World" fast guitar riffs). A melodic, semi-technical type of Death Metal that's easy to get and digest, nothing really fancy, nothing primitive, but actually a nice flowing "light" Death Metal that I'd describe as a combination of end '90's UK Doom Death bands with the second wave of Swedish Melodic Death Metal bands' sound complete with memorable choruses, excellent guitar leads and riffs, acoustic insertions and comprehensive hoarse vocals. Ranging from midtempo to fast rhythms, "Wounds" is quite a diverse and entertaining opus that won't probebly lead to any moments of boredom, and since its supported by a top-notch production I'd say Darkmoon have managed to release a successful new album that should establish the band's name. Go get it if you like your Metal aggressive and yet melodic. 9 www.darkmoon.ch

www.stf-records.de DARKTRANCE (Ukraine) - Pessimum BadMoodMan - 2013 - Dark Metal Ukraine dominates the one man bands scene nowadays, especially in Black Metal, and Darktrance is yet another proof of how prolific this country is in offering spectacular artists. Although Darktrance with its third full-length album left the Black Metal genre behind and started focusing more on avangarde, the atmosphere is there, the Black Metal patterns are still used and I'd say it would appeal to fans of this genre too. "Pessimum" is labelled as Dark Metal and that's probably the best description for it as one cannot fit it in a particular niche; it's melodic, atmospheric, depressive at times, involving, entertaining, catchy and it's one of those albums that won't go unnoticed for sure. Dmitry Gubsky, the guy behind this project is an awesome musician and composer, I still can't believe how far technology reached nowadays in order for a single man to come up with such a complete album. Recommended! 9 www.facebook.com/pages/Darktrance/356398691136 854 www.solitude-prod.com DEAD MOUNTAIN MOUTH (France) Crystalline Selfreleased - 2012 - Aventgarde Extreme Metal Shit, this is a one man band? I would have never guessed it... It sounds so complex and expansive and at the same time so tight and curdled that it's a real wonder this music is composed and sung by only one person. "Crystalline" is DMM's third opus, a 7 tracks effort that lasts for an hour of avantgarde, atmospheric, melodic but also brutal, dreamy and intense, combination of Extreme Metal with Psychedelic Sludge. After the first track I really thought this will bore me to death, but the album develops and grows into a superb piece of technical yet emotional music. I don't know what else to say other than deeply recommend you this fascinating album. 9.5 www.deadmountain.bandcamp.com

previously released EPs, "Pantokrator" from 2010 and "Tree of Woe" from 2012, plus a bonus track.

DRAH's music is a combination of old-school Heavy Metal with Doom Metal and some Stoner riffs thrown on top of this. Pretty exciting for an old-school follower, just think of the '70's and the '80's Metal combined with the nowadays power of Stoner Metal, all lead by a good female vocalist so that the end result is not too dusty but not too fresh either, it's just in the middle. The start is promising although there are some parts where the whole becomes a bit dry and seems to lack direction and in my opinion they should add more of those Heavy Metal riffs and solos like the ones from the first track, that would really spice things up more. 7 www.myspace.com/deathridesdk www.inferno-records.net

This is Deathmoor's debut album released in 2008 by Oskorei Music on CD format and re-released in 2011

by Wolfram Prod. as tape limited to 99 handnumbered copies. 5 long tracks totaling more than 40 minutes of raw and sinister Black Metal with atmosperic keyboard background portraying a dark, cold and desolate painting. The sound production is excellent for this type of Black Metal, not too raw but not polished either, the compositions are solid and easy flowing and the execution is faultless. I can't hear any major faults on this debut album, no wonder why this band is so respected nowadays in the underground. Wolfram Prod. managed to deliver a professional tape including lyrics (although in Russian) and a black/white layout blending perfectly with the music on it. Thumbs up. 8 www.deathmoor.bandcamp.com www.wolfram-prod.com

DEATH TYRANT (Sweden) - Opus De Tyranis Non Serviam - 2013 - Black Death Metal Swedish Extreme Metal scene lost a bit of pace lately leaving space for new thriving scenes like the Polish one, but that doesn't mean it's dead or even resting.

Death Tyrant is a good response and signal that the Swedish scene can and is still providing new sensations even though its members are old schoolers of this scene (it was founded by 2 Lord Belial exmembers). The band was formed back in 2010 and this is their debut album made of 9 tracks totaling 45 minutes. Exactly how expected, Death Tyrant walks on the same path as Lord Belial once did, a quite melodic Black Death Metal with excellent catchy arrangements, melodic guitar leads and solos, dark atmospheres and prefect production. If you're into oldschool Melodic Swedish Black Death Metal I'd suggest you don't miss this album because it's exactly what one would expect, a perfect combination of melody, aggressiveness, blasphemy and fine musicianship and I wouldn't be surprised if this album would reach cult status in this genre sometimes in the distant future. Lord Belial is dead, long live Death Tyrant! 9.5 www.death-tyrant.se www.non-serviam-records.com

DEATHSTORM (Austria) - As Death Awakes I Hate - 2013 - Thrash Metal Are you sure we're in the year 2013? Maybe we are but Deathstorm are certainly not aware of that. This debut album presents us a raging Thrash Metal sung in the purest '80's way. If you're not into the '80's Speed Metal infused Thrash Metal you better skip this band, but if you're a fan of those times Deathstorm might be the perfect discovery for your next violent, alcohoolic party. The riffs, although sounding recycled (early Metallica & Kreator), are very catchy, memorable and entertaining, the sound is raw, unpolished to perfectly fit this music like a glove, the rhythm section is fast and raging all the time leaving no moments for catching your breath, and the demented (almost) comprehensive vocals kick ass. This is such an awesome release for old-school fanatics out there that I can't recommending it enough, I loved it from start to finish, it brings nothing new or innovative to the scene, but hey, this is pure fucking metal and that works just enough for me. Sick, sick, sick! 10 www.myspace.com/damagewebsite www.ihate.se

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

DEATH AGONY (France) - Carcinogenic Memories Selfreleased - 2012 - Death Metal Pure and Traditional Death Metal is what Death Agony delivers on this debut album, nothing more, nothing less. 9 tracks of what would have been considered semi-technical Death Metal in the '90's, a combination of American and UK forms of this genre.

Good compositions, honest approach, clear sound that could have been a bit more prowerful though, plus a few catchy moments but unfortunately not enough to make it a memorable release. Anyway, this is one of the purest Death Metal bands I've heard in recent times so if you're into mid-paced to fast rhythmed oldschool Death Metal give it a chance. 7.5 www.myspace.com/deathagonynews

DECREPITAPH / HUMILIATION (USA / Malaysia) - The Carnal Slumber / Enemy's Perimeter Eldritch Lunar Miasma / Dybbuk - 2013 - Death Metal / Death Metal Eldritch Lunar Miasma is slowly building a name for itself in the underground, this being the second vinyl release after the Neftaraka EP. Now it's time for a corelease with Dybbuk Records, a split between Decrepitaph and Humiliation featuring a single track from each of them, so this is a collectors' item only.

Old-school Death Metal is the name of the game here with Decrepitaph blasting a fast paced with slow passages, low tuned Death Metal with obscure guttural vocals, and Humiliation, the Malaysia based Humiliation, with a mid-tempo, a bit lighter tuned but still heavy as fuck Death Metal with raspy vocals and catchy guitar riffs. I you're into collecting vinyl I'd say you should give a chance to this "7 Split limited to 500 copies (100 on gree and 400 on regular, black). 8 www.decrepitaph.com www.humiliation.my www.eldritchlunarmiasma.com www.dybbukrecordsofficial.blogspot.com

DEATHMOOR (Russia) - Salvo Honoris Morte Wolfram - 2009 - Black Metal I have just reviewed Deathmoor's split with Lash and was pretty impressed by the deep, dark atmospheres created by this Russian quartet. Now it's time to listen & review their second album, although an old release, as I have received its tape version from Wolfram, a tape limited to 99 hand-numbered copies. The music suffers again from a poor production, the keyboards and the drums are barely hearable (except for the snare) and the rest create a chaotic atmosphere hard to break into, but the compositions have a lot of value especially if you like your Black Metal mostly midtempo played, with cryptic atmospheres, vomiting vocals, repetitive guitar riffs, and occasional semiacoustic insertions. Not bad at all, but not better than DEATH RIDES A HORSE (Denmark) - Tree of the 2011 split either, so it seems the band keeps improving their sound. 7 Woe www.deathmoor.bandcamp.com Inferno - 2013 - Heavy Stoner Doom Metal Female fronted Danish band Death Rides A Horse www.wolfram-prod.com recently inked a deal with French Heavy Metal DELIRIUM X TREMENS (Italy) - Belo Dunum, defenders Inferno Records and their first offspring is DEATHMOOR (Russia) - Mors Ultima Ratio Echoes from the Past this debut album that is actually a collection of two Wolfram - 2011 - Black Metal Punishment 18 - 2013 - Death Metal 48

Straight from the beautiful Dolomiti Mountains (man, I really hope to see them one day) comes this highly active band, Delirium X Tremens, a band that although releasing only 2 albums so far, this being the second since their foundation in 1998, has a strong reputation in their native scene. Released as digipack with excellent artwork and higly professional quality, this album presents us a mature Death Metal band that's not afraid to experiment in order to create a complex atmosphere for their music. They can't be considered too technical, nor too brutal, but still their traditional Death Metal sounds fresh and engaging even without influences from other genres (oh, well, except some Folk influences both musicwise and lyricwise). I wouldn't be able to compare Delirium X Tremens' music to anything else I've heard before and that means originality, presonality and courage mixed with excellent technical abilities and wide imagination. "Belo Donum..." is a tight and powerful Death Metal album that shouldn't miss from your collection. 9.5 www.deliriumxtremens.com www.punishment18records.com

DELIRIO OCCULTO (Italy) - As I Die Selfreleased - 2011 - Black Metal For a debut album I think these Italians could have spent more effort on the CD artwork, this one looks like a hurried job, not better than a simple demo, and although selfreleased I think they should cherrish their work a bit more. Anyway, on the music part of things we're treated with a mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal with some Black'n'Roll and Thrash Black parts so that you cannot really label their work as a whole.

The drummer seems fond of experimenting a lot and his unusual groovy style of playing could become a highlight of this band, and observation that could apply easily to the bass player, too. The guitar riffs are quite generic but the guy keeps it interesting by continuously changing tempos. The vocals are all over the place ranging from vomiting shrieks to DSBM like vocals, to growls, so all in all a good job. The problem is with the sound of this album, quite raw and rehearsal-like although clear enough not to cause you any problems. as a conclusion I would label this as a new band's demo instead of their debut album, but it's not a boring material at all so you can give it a try. 7 www.myspace.com/spiritodegenerato

As a new band coming out of Sweden, Digression Assassins is definitely a huge hit on the scene. I would describe their music in short as Progressive Metal, an intricated, extremely complex and polyphonic mixture of basically everything you can imagine at the thin border between Rock and Metal, even Hardcore.

Mesmerizing most of the times, sometimes aggressive, even violent, technical and intriguing, the 4 tracks presented on "Heavy Waters" are as close to perfection as it gets, and if I mention the production of Tom van Heesch (Rammstein) you'll know we're talking about a band with high aims. Recommended to all of you open to innovation. 9.5 www.digressionassassins.bandcamp.com

DIMENTIANON (USA) - Live Promo Selfreleased - ? - Black Metal These 5 tracks were recorded live during one of Dimentianon's gigs from back in 2007, I'mm not sure if I got this for myself or for reviewing purpose, but the later wouldn't make much sense since we're almost in 2014 now. Anyway, I hope this is distributed for free since the tracks sound quality, although not totally uncomprehensive, is awful, nothing in common with the sound I'd envision for this band. Their music quality is great so they would need better sound and better recordings, they have to make their tracks available and entertaining to more and more people and not narrow down their niche. Sorry, not something I'll listen to again. 4 www.dimentianon.com

Skonu is a duo with one guy handling the drums and the other all other instruments and vocals. This is their first full-lenght but in the meantime they have released a second one and a new EP this year so I'm not sure what I've listened on Womb of Primeval Darkness still copes with the band's actual style. Their music is actually very good, a successful combination of Norwegian type of Black Metal (with clever guitar riffs) with a more bestial type of Black Metal revealed by the raw but still clear and comprehensive sound and by the fierceful, menacing vocals. There is nothing new inhere but the music is well crafted, catchy and creates a gloomy, foggy, threatening atmosphere perfect for all die-hard Black Metallers out there. Much, much better then I have expected, a new CD to add to my heavy rotation. 8.5 www.doskonu.bandcamp.com www.foreverplaguedrecords.com

DRACO HYPNALIS (Czech Republic) - Balance of Moments Zero Budget - 2012 - Progressive Death Metal I'm glad to see this band is still active, I still remember their debut split tape with Romantic Love from 2000 and how intrigued I was back then by their strange combination of melancholic, rennaissance influenced keyboards with Progressive Death Metal with futuristic, atmospheric synths, but I'm especially happy they kept their style intact. Balance of Moments is their third album, a deep incursion into a twisted, melancholic, insane atmosphere that's impossible to leave no scars on your mind after the audition. I love everything about this album, from the different expressions transmitted by the keyboards and synths, to the classy guitar riffs, leads and solos, to the intricate, powerful bass lines to the twisted vocal part (just check the "Perceive the Shadow Spears" track), to the melodic violins. If you're not into Progressive Metal you can skip this one, but otherwise I highly recommed this fantastic piece of Metal schizophrenia!

Fucking Ace, I'd be able to recognize this band's music from 1000 albums! \m/ 10 www.dracohypnalis.ic.cz www.easilythefinestinextrememetal.blogspot.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

DIABULA RASA (Italy) - Ars Medioheavy Moonlight - 2013 - Folk Metal My first encounter with this Italian band that was formed back in 1999 and released 3 full-length albums so far, including this one. This is a totally different kind of Folk Metal than what I was used to, and I still don't know how to describe it properly. It's an entertaining combination of medieval melodies with modern Metal and '70's (Doom) Rock and Hard'n'Heavy music with Latin (yes, very nice addition) lyrics, enchanting female vocals, supporting male vocals, simple but effective guitar riffs and catchy rhythm section, plus some epic atmospheres thrown in at the right time. This band would fit perfectly to any medieval festival and would make the delight to both traditional and more modern-minded participants. If you pass over the quite weak and uninspired beginning of this disc it will grow on you, and grow, and grow... 9 www.diabularasa.com www.moonlightstudios.it DIGRESSION ASSASSINS (Sweden) - Heavy Waters Selfreleased - 2013 - Progressive Metal

DIVERSIS (UK) - One : Unfurl Neftur - 2012 - Black Metal Possibly sold-out by now, this debut demo from Diversis was released in only 25 copies in handnumbered tape format by Neftur. 2 Black Metal tracks and an Ambient, instrumental track on a white tape with b/w photocopied cover, so for sure this one reached only maniacs of this band... and me. Midtempo to fast paced Black Metal with desolating, almost claustrophobic atmospheres, acceptable sound although without much mastering, and more screams than actual sung lyrics, but the overall result is good and quite catchy. This is part 1 of 6, so 5 more releases will follow soon. If you're into Ambient Black Metal you should check at least one track from Diversis. 7.5 ECLECTIKA (France) - Lure of Ephemeral Beauty www.myspace.com/diversis Asylum Ruins - 2012 - Post Black Metal www.thegloaming.bigcartel.com I've stumbled across some very bad reviews for this band before so I was curious to check if the writers had something personal against this band or the music is as awful as described. Unfortunately it's the later...

This is the band's third album but it feels like a debut of a new band made of only youngsters, and this because of the uninspired guitars, poor drum programming and catastrophic mix between a somehow good raw Black Metal male vocals part and the Gothic, operatic female vocals, even the sound of the two elements is far apart. The girl's vocals are ruining any attempts to create interesting atmospheres and this not because they are not good, but because DO SKONU (Ukraine) - Womb of Primeval they simply do not fit with this music. I'm really sorry Darkness to say this but Lure of Ephemeral Beauty was Forever Plagued - 2011 - Black Metal annoying and boring beyond belief, only the rare Black Metal from Ukraine... I've immediately thought guitar solos managed to save something, if anything... of a one man band and I wasn't wrong too much, Do 3 49

www.eclectika.fr www.asylumruins.fr

EDGE OF ATTACK (Canada) - Edge of Attack Spread the Metal - 2013 - Power Metal I gave this album a couple of spins and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I think this is the first time I listen to a band combining Power Metal, traditional and epic Power Metal, with Metalcore but then again I'm not a big Metalcore consumer either. Then I'm not sure if I like or dislike Roxanne's (yes, this is a female fronted band) vocals that at times are really fitting, at time are quite dull and uninspired sounding like she's bored of playing. What I'm sure about is that I have absolutely enjoyed the guitar work, spot on melodic Power Metal complete with excellent intricate and enchanting solos and World-class riffs that reminded me of the 2000's German scene. The backing female vocals are a good addition and even the Metalcore male vocals add their own share of originality to the whole, but it's quite clear the whole band orbits around the classy guitar effort. As a debut album "Edge of Attack" is perfect for getting the band's name out there, I'll certainly give this album a few more spins and maybe I'll be able to make up my mind about the main vocals, too. 8 www.edgeofattack.com www.spreadthemetal.com

Sad to say it, but this is probably the most boring release I've had the "luck" on listening to this year.

Except for the deep, cryptic vocals that could be better harnessed in different circumstances, and for some acoustic guitars that could have actually been a good addition to a good album, the rest is a mess, it almost feels like the whole instrumental part is just a jam session to bulid a background for the vocals: the riffs and keyboards are repetitive beyond boredom, the drums are almost non existent, and the bass... wait is there a bass? Once again I'm asking myself why is Metallic Media putting so much effort in releasing worthless materials like this one when they could spend their money on better, more promising bands...

Sorry to be so harsh, but this is the truth, avoid this album. 2 www.facebook.com/FecundBetrayalOfficial www.metallic-media.blogspot.com FINAL DAWN (Finland) - The Crown Of The Dead Eyes Selfreleased - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal Final Dawn appears to be a true Underground band, they are taking things slowly, carefully and most important they keep things fresh meaning they keep releasing demos and EPs once in a while and that keeps the band active in front of their fans. That's the way to go in case you cannot find a suitable label to release your efforts. Their music is a combination of Melodic Death Metal with Black Death Metal, mostly mid-paced and that could bore some listeners, but it's quite catchy nonetheless, with an Epic Metal flavour to it. The sound is clear enough to get no complaints from listeners, the bass lines are very upfront, the vocals are ok altough they could have been a bit more versatile, the guitar riffs and especially the leads are catchy and bring all that epic flavour I was talking about earlier, and regarding the drums I have nothing to complain about either. One thing I really hate about this EP, the pronounciation of "shadows" on the "House of Shadows", always with an "s" instead of an "sh", "sadows" instead of "shadows", and the vocalist says this word so much it becomes really annoying.

7.5 www.finaldawn.fi

let you fully enjoy every minute of it. The compositions are complex and quite catchy, so all in all I'd rate this as a successful debut demo, can't wait for more stuff from this band. 7.5 www.facebook.com/ForlornChambers

G.O.R.E. (Czech Rep.) - Stand up sexy ladies, the Boogie Band is here!

Khaaranus - 2013 - Grind'n'Roll After a 6 years wait G.O.R.E. are back with a new album, their third full-length to date, a 13 tracks effort totaling 27 minutes of funny Grind'n'Roll, or better said a combination of Death and Grindcore with strong groove all over the place. The production is excellent, the package as well (4 folders digipack) and the artwork mostly sexy, so from this point of view a perfect Grindcore release. Musicwise G.O.R.E. combines old-school Death Grind with a bit of nowadays Goregrind influences, the rhythms are mostly fast reaching nice mid-paced headbanging friendly tempos and also chaotic, ultra-fast rhythms.

This is not one of those new 2 riffs - 2 growls simple Grind releases, G.O.R.E. show they spent quite some time in the studio creating all this and as a result nothing here feels overused or recycled, each track differs from the others, and above all there's a nice flow. Recommended! 8 www.bandzone.cz/gore www.khaaranus.wz.cz GMORK / ASTARIUM / IN TENEBRIZ (Russia / Russia / Russia) - Misterious Winds from Ancient Past Hell Division - 2012 - Black Metal / Symphonic Black Metal / Ambient Doom Black Metal Very nice release from this new label (at least new to me) offering 3 Black Metal representatives of the Russian underground.

Gmork opens with 4 tracks of carefully orchestrated Ambient Black Metal with lots of Symphonic influences. A very interesting surprise for me, I have enjoyed every bit of their material, the majestic keyboards, the vocals' versatility, the melodic guitar leads, the spot on rhythm section, the excellent sound quality and the interesting blend between tracks.

Definitely a band to follow closely if you're into Melodic Black Metal.

Astarium, although a one-man-band is already a well known name in the obscure underground. A mostly slow paced Doomy Black Metal with weird sounding keyboards and awkward synthetic guitar and drums sound. Honestly I don't like it at all but I can admit it's quite original. Sine releasing this split Astarium had 2 more full-length albums out and I can say that Wyrm of Melancholy from 2012 is way better than anything SiN (the man behind this moniker) did before.

In Tenebriz is all new to me, another one-man-band with 8 (!!!) full-length albums released until now. Not sure where the Doom influences are in this music, I'd rather label it as Melodic, Majestic Black Metal. The guy knows how to handle his instruments but after the audition I'd say he's not yet convinced if to follow the Black Metal path or switch to something more Heavy Metal inclined. I liked the keyboards parts reminding me of Evol, but in the end I wasn't convinced to give it another spin, sorry, maybe because of the rough rehearsal-like recording sound and the synthetic drums. 8 / 6 / 6 www.facebook.com/pages/Gmork/167863733258529 www.astarium.ru www.intenebriz.bandcamp.com www.hell-division.ru

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

EXTERMINAS (Italy) - Seventh Demoniacal Hierarchy Metallic Media - 2012 - Black Metal What an excellent surprise from Metallic Media!

Although I've been quite harsh with some of their releases, about this one I can only have good words.

Exterminas are active since 2009 and this is their debut album, a 10 tracks effort totalling 45 minutes of raw but at the same time a bit melodic Black Metal with great, great production, I mean you can listen to any and all instruments without any problems. The guys have chosen a path already opened by the Norwegian bands in the '90's, but they managed to mix catchy Black Metal patterns with the final result being as lethal any Black Metal could desire. I'm sure both old-school Black Metallers and the new wave of fanatics will enjoy this album, it has that "je ne sais quoi" that makes you devour each track over and over again. Nothing fancy, nothing innovative, but impressively well layered and flawlesly executed, "Seventh Demoniacal Hierarchy" is one of those "must have" releases. My one and only complaint is with the debut track, a poor choice, it makes you wonder if you're going to listen to a childish band, and definitely that's not the case here. 9 www.facebook.com/Exterminas www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

FORETOLD (Holland) - In Rotting Memory Selfreleased - 2010 - Death Metal This is most probably the rawest and simplest Death Metal released I've listened to this year, it almost seems the 4 Dutch guys gathered in their garage and started recording. Yes, the recording clarity is excellent but it sounds so organic and close to you that it's almost unbelivable, it feels like they are right next to you. The first 2 tracks and the 4th are a bit sloppy, with lots of synchronization problems even though they are the slowest here, but when the bands speeds up its pace they become really interesting with the 3rd and 5th tracks being the highlights of this EP. Nothing to blow you away except for maybe the highly organic sound, so if you're into such a sound you should have this in your collection even only for the sake of feeling like the band is playing in your bedroom. 7 www.foretold.nl

FORLORN CHAMBERS (Finland) - Unborn and Hollow Selfreleased - 2013 - Death Metal Debut demo from a new (formed in 2012) Finnish band that prefers to keep its line-up hidden for some reason (probably it's a one-man-band). 3 tracks totaling 14 minutes of melodic yet heavy and brutal Death Metal with slight Doom and Black Metal touches. The guitar work is great and I'm sure it will be the band's highlight as time goes by. The vocals are somehow distorted to a point where they almost become boring, lacking of any organic feeling (close to Deathcore gurgling), but there are also some clean vocals here and there, an element that I think the band GRAVE DESECRATOR (Brazil) - Unblessed FECUND BETRAYAL (USA) - Depths That should exploit much more. The rhythm section is Bootleg Live in Bressuire - France made of a probably programmed drum machine that Buried the Sea Sun & Moon - 2012 - Black Death Metal sounds very good nonetheless, and an intense bass Metallic Media - 2012 - Funeral Doom Metal line, but unfortunately the sound quality is too raw to 50

I've started reviewing this CD 5 or 6 times so far and never reached the point where I would actually write something about it but I still can't figure out why it had such a hypnotic effect on me. This is an official live album recorded during one of Grave Desecrator's gigs from the Desecrating Europe Tour 2012. The sound is good enough to understand each instrument and at the same time to offer a safe audition (nothing that will hurt your ears), the music is raw, fast and brutal old-school Thrash Black Death Metal excellent for drinking and headbanging. I don't usually like live albums especially from underground bands but this one is killer, I have nothing to complaing regarding the sound and at the same time I can still feel the energy Grave Desecrator's music transmits live, and I think those are the goals of such a release. Thumbs up.

8.5 www.gravedesecrator.com www.sunandmoonrecords.com

Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore is exquisite, their third album is a brutal discharge of monstrosity, ugly and disgusting to the core and at the same time brilliantly concieved and executed. One of the best Death grind records I've heard lately, and the fact that it's on vinyl makes it even better for the ears, of course. Grotesque vocals supported by a ton of special guests that makes it all more versatile, energetic rhythm section, catchy guitar riffs and occasional solos, very good recording sound, and above all an excellent mix of old-school and modern sounds with just the right amount of irony and fun not to waive the overall minacing atmosphere. Get it! limited to only 350 copies, cumming in luxurious package containing all lyrics (sick lyrics) and band artwork. 9.5 www.facebook.com/grogpt www.helldprod.com

GROTESQUE COMMUNION (Brazil) - Spawn of the Undivine Goat Music - 2010 - Black Metal Although from 2010, this is the bands debut and only demo tape so far, and judging by the music on it, it's a real pity. Grotesque Communion is the band of the Revelacoes Abissais zine's editors, a zine I have recently discovered, too. It was clear after browsing the zine, that the band would play some sort of oldschool Metal, and so they do, traditional, extremely brutal and fast Black Metal dedicated to the forces of Darkness. definitely one of the most blasphemous and brutal Black Metal releases I've heard this year but apart from that it is also catchy as hell, well crafted and organic sounding, with Satanic lyrics and sick, sick vocals. Love it! If you think you can handle pure chaos and venom in your Black Metal hurry up, this is limited to 500 hand-numbered copies. I still hope the GRIEF OF EMERALD (Sweden) - It All Turns to band will release some new shit soon. 8.5 Ashes www.goatmusicrec.com.br Non Serviam - 2012 - Symphonic Black Death Metal Grief Of Emerald is a veteran of the Swedish Extreme Metal scene, but since they started releasing stuff only at the end of the '90's they are not considered among the influential ones. Still they made a solid name in the scene by keeping kind of a similar direction among the years, and this latest opus displays a solid and mature combo, one that knows how to create their own path. I've seen comparisons with Dimmu Borgir or Dark Funeral, but I really think Grief Of Emeral have their own style and attitude. Their combination HAIDUK (Canada) - Spellbook of extreme Black Death brutality and intensity with Selfreleased - 2012 - Black Death Metal atmospheric and melodic keyboards and guitar leads is Holy crap, already the 4th one man band release in a simply brilliant. You can feel their passion, and row I review Today; technology is really influencing devotion to this music, you can feel they are genuine the scene a lot these days. Haiduk was a nice but that's also due to their technical skills, there's no discovery for me, this debut album is a tornado of boring track on this album, there are no dead excellent guitar riffs and leads, one of the most moments, you'll find yourself intrigued more and energetic albums I've listened to lately. Genre wise I'd more as "It All Turns to Ashes" progresses and you'll say this is a combination of Black and Death Metal eagerly wait for a new track to begin while devouring with prominent technical and melodic edges and even the current one. A really great Extreme Metal release some Thrash Metal insertions here and there, based more on the instrumental execution than on from a band that deserves more attention! 10 atmosphere or vocals, and although it sounds synthetic www.griefofemerald.se to the bone I wasn't annoyed by it as I usually am in www.non-serviam-records.com such cases. The sound is crystal clear and you can easily follow the lines of each instrument, something you should really do while listening to this album, the compositions are so complex and at the same time catchy and compact that you're eagerly waiting for the next track to kick in. Haiduk is not the usual one man band but one that has all the premises to become an important name for the Canadian scene. Good work!

8.5 www.facebook.com/haidukmetal

this debut album should be worse, and unfortunately it is. Except for the somehow interesting piano parts and the '70's Horror movie atmosphere there's nothing inhere I could ever find appealing. The recording quality is at the same level as the Romanian Metal bands used to have in the beginnings of the '90's, so that's not very confortable, of course. This album is way to amateurish to have any chance in Today's demanding Metal scene, sorry but it's a total fail from my point of view. 3 www.facebook.com/HaloOfFlys www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

HALO OF FLYS (USA) - Bloodier Shade of Red Metallic Media - 2012 - Gothic Metal US based bands have the most recognizable cover artworks in the World: big ass fonts (the bigger the better) and the most non-metal looking pictures. By looking at this band's cover/booklet I would have never (never!) guessed they were a Gothic Metal band if I wouldn't have known the band before. This is Halo of Flys' second effort, a 9 tracks release clocking a bit more than 40 minutes of Gothic Metal heavily influenced by Gothic Rock and Horror Rock that may capture the attention of Grindhouse Horror movies fanatics but not more. The structures are to simple to present real value for the scene nowadays, the vocals are soundling like recorded from the kitchen and the drums are really monotonous. Except for the surreal kind of hopeless atmosphere it creates there's not much more to exult here or at least not for me. 5 www.facebook.com/HaloOfFlys www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

HATERIAL (Finland) - Twisted Verses WormHoleDeath - 2012 - Melodic Thrash Metal At first audition this debut album from Haterial hit me hard, I was impressed by their catchy combination of intensity and melody but after a couple of spins it became quite repetitive and dull, I found myself doing other things while the CD was playing, not giving attention to their music. These are the facts. Haterial are definitely gifted musicians and their compositions show a solid potential but somehow this debut album failed to keep my attention for more than 3-4 tracks.

That's maybe because of the addition of melodic Metalcore-inspired parts that I'm not very much fond of. Anyway, if you like your Thrash Metal modern sounding with lots of melodic guitar leads, energetic rhythms, old-school Hardcore like vocals you might give Haterial a try. 7 www.facebook.com/H8rial www.wormholedeath.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

GROG (Portugal) - Scooping the Cranial Insides Murder - 2011 - Death Grind By how it looks I'd say this 12"LP is well worth its money even if only for its cover and insert artowk.

But of course there's much more about it and first is the band, Grog, a real veteran on the Portuguese scene, founded in 1991, so we're dealing here with a mature, consolidated name, musicwise it should be impossible to suck. And I was right, Grog's mix of

HALO OF FLYS (USA) - Death, Pain & Minds Insane Metallic Media - 2011 - Gothic Metal Have a look at some of these guys' pics and then answer this question: What music genre do you think they are playing? Is the answer Gothic Metal? Of course not. They have nothing in common with a Gothic Metal band image, but if they think look is not important that's fine with me too, after all who cares?

They won't stand a chance in Europe. I have already reviewed Halo Of Flys' second and latest album a few months ago and I wan't impressed at all, so naturally 51

HULDRE (Denmark) - Intet Menneskebarn Selfreleased - 2012 - Folk Metal It's fun looking at the booklet pictures of these guys and girls in Huldre naked (no worries, they are blurred enough so we can't see any goodies) in the woods expressing such a close relation to the earth, a perfect look for a Folk Metal band, then thinking of the new pics of bands like Eluveitie, Korpiklaani, or Finntroll after they got Worldwide attention, with their rich suits having nothing in common with the Folk image.

Will this happen to Huldre? Because they will get big, no doubts about that... This debut album is very well structured, complex, organic sounding, catchy and interesting that it's impossible to think they won't get signed for a followup opus pretty soon. Nanna, the band's vocalist is absolutely mesmerizing, it feels like

she's playing in the woods while singing traditional songs with operatic influences, but this doesn't steal the other instrumentists' merits, they manage to perfectly blend traditional tunes with Metal sounding balanced, not too heavy but not too mellow, too. Of course there are many traditional instruments thrown in the pot, and except some guitar riffs I find to be too simplistic (maybe it was by choice), everyone does their job diligently. Here's a Folk Metal band we'll hear only good things about in the future so don't miss this debut selfreleased effort. 9 www.huldre.dk

IMMORTAL EMPIRE (UK) - Immortal Reign Selfreleased - 2013 - Black Metal The new EP from Immortal Empire reveals a more theatrical approach on Black Metal, the atmosphere is getting more horrifying mostly because of the keyboards lines, and also there's a bit more space for guitar leads and solos, but except that the band kept its style, too bad it also kept that unpolished sound as well. The vocal part is very good, the drums sound a bit more natural (although still insanely fast), and the overall impression is promising, this band can develop into an ugly behemoth, but they need better recordings, better mix and mastering to get in line with the big names of this genre; the talent is there.

7.5 www.reverbnation.com/immortalempire

lines are impressive, but that's about it. "Anguish" fails to display the aggression needed to such a band, the mistakes in execution give the impression of a rushed recording (although it took them 5 months), and the drums could have really needed a few more takes. I don't know, I have expected more from this release. 6 www.myspace.com/intotheinfector www.violentrecs.yolasite.com

INQUISITOR (Portugal) - Dark Ages of Witchery Helldprod - 2012 - Speed Thrash Metal Yes, I think it's time for Speed Thrash Metal bands to start climbing the Underground steps after the revival of Death Metal and Thrash Black Metal, it's only natural. Inquisitor are four guys combining '80's European (better said German) like Thrash Metal with North American Speed Metal with a twist of NWOBHM. The vocals are evil and hoarse, the riffs are very catchy, the guitar leads well thought, and the rhythm section is spot on energetic, so all in all this is an impressive band, too bad there are only 2 tracks on this release. The crystal clear but still organic and old fashioned is another plus, so don't miss this material, you'll discover a band with fantastic potential, the vinyl is limited to 300 copies including lyrics and band picture so act fast. 9 www.facebook.com/inquisitorspeed www.hellprod.com

school like type of drawings as borders fitting other drawings and pictures portraying exactly what the music tries to express, solitude, desolation and decadence. Yes, we're talking about a depressive type of Black Metal with rhythms ranging from slow to mid-paced, desperate vocals, repetitive structures and lots of Drone / Ambient passages to support the atmosphere. The guitar leads are really good (especially on the second track), the drums as well and they also seem to be recorded live, not computer generated, and the vocals are too in the back to be able to understand anything, so I guess they are more used as another instrument than real vocals. If you're into depressive, dark and desolate Ambient Black Metal you should try this album yourselves, the atmospheres are really deep and heavy. 7.5 www.myspace.com/instinctalbion www.facebook.com/AncientTrailRecordings

INTO DARKNESS (Italy) - Into Darkness Hellthrasher - 2012 - Doom Death Metal Suuuch a cool black / white cover artwork that if you're into old-school Death Metal you'll buy this demo only looking at it. Into Darkness if a female fronted Doomy Death Metal band from Italy that to me sounds like a successful combination of Asphyx with Master and old Paradise Lost ranging from slow, tormenting rhythms to fast, bestial attacks, and from simple, almost monotonous parts to some intricate but still old-school and primitive compositions. 4 tracks that will certainly bring this band's name up there in the nowadays revival of old-school sounding troops. I for one really love this demo, the spot on guitar leads, the puking like female vocals, the raw but comprehensive sound and the whole cryptic atmospheres they manage to create. Another hit by Hellthrasher. 9 www.intodarkness.bandcamp.com www.hellthrasher-distribution6.home.pl

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

IMMORTAL EMPIRE (UK) - Within the Sign of a Bestial Moon Selfreleased - 2012 - Black Metal I've heard this band before on a Black Metal compilation and at that time I was not impressed at all by their synthetic sound, but it seems on this new release the sound is a bit better even though the drums still sound unnatural. This is actually a compilation of 5 treacks previously released on other demos, now rerecorded. The sound is raw and unpolished and it makes it a bit hard to enjoy the music, but the compositions are good enough not to leave space for boring moments, and although they are long (4-6 minutes each), they are pretty entertaining and not monotonous. I liked the bass lines, the dark and melodic guitar leads and the vocals are good as well, so I'd recommend it if you're into raw melodic underground Black Metal. 7 www.reverbnation.com/immortalempire

INFECTOR (Brazil) - Anguish Violent - 2011 - Death Metal Second album from this Brazilian band founded in 2000, Anguish is made of 9 tracks of quite melodic Death Metal, don't let the rotten cover artwork fool you, you're not dealing with a raw, primitive band here. Released by no less than 5 labels (Violent, Tornhate, Underground Brasil and Exterminio) and officially distributed in Europe by Hellprod, this album give the impression of a highly anticipated release, but to tell you the truth I wasn't impressed too much by it. I mean it's well thought, there are some good guitar hooks thrown in here and there, the bass

INSOLITUM (Brazil) - Infestus Murder - 2013 - Death Metal Debut demo from this Brazilian trio founded in 2009, "Infestus" is made of 3 tracks + intro totaling 15 minutes of quite simplistic, raw, mid-tempo Death Metal. Quite a few years for coming up with only 3 tracks I'd say. Their music is so primitive that it reminded me of the mid '80's when Death Metal wasn't yet fully distanced from Thrash Metal, and in fact the riffs lack of brutality and are sounding quite vapid. The vocals are nothing I could ever enjoy, too unnatural, too forced and tasteless. Unfortunately I found this demo quite boring and I'm sure it will never visit my player again. Anyway, check it out online, maybe you'll like it more and you'll be convinced to buy one of the 300 tapes released by Murder Records.

5 www.helldprod.com

INTRACTABLE (Switzerland) - Inner Decay Selfreleased - 2012 - Groove Thrash Metal Wow, this is such a powerful album that I almost can't believe it's a debut one and that it is also a self released one, but I guess this comes as natural when you check the band's bio; they have been around since 2006 and there's where their maturity comes from, and on the other hand I guess they grew tired of waiting for a label deal that could surpass their posibilities so they decided to unleash this thing by their own.

Intractable is what I would call a pure Metal band, they take influences from both Thrash and Death Metal and mix them into a hard-hitting ball of ardent Metal, nothing more, nothing less. Excellent guitar riffs, with perfect pace, aggressive drumming, catchy and groovy rhythms, good and memorable choruses and above all an excellent, angry vocal tone that reached Doom-like (a la Nick Holmes in his best years) heights at times. The mix of fast rhythms and more epic parts is also well thought and executed in order to create a natural flow to the whole album. A kick ass album by a band with outstanding potential, I'd recommend this to every metal fan. 9.5 www.intractable.ch

INSTINCT (UK) - The Black Wound Ancient Trail - 2012 - Ambient Black Metal Only 3 tracks on this third Instinct album, but 3 long tracks totaling an hour of music. Instinct seems to be a one man band, but on this release Verst is joined by a bass player, Oristalla, I don't know if it's a permanent member or just a guest. The first thing that captured my sight was the inlay card sprinkled with (I suppose) real human blood; it's not the first time I get such a CD, but it's impressive nonetheless. Then the cover/booklet artwork is also very good b/w old- JIZZLOBBER (France) - Jizzlobber 52

Super Strong - 2012 - Sludge Metal Wow, this is much more brutal than I thought it would be, the debut EP from French Jizzlobber attacks the listener with its crushing, heavy as fuck, hammering Sludge Metal with a fair share of Stoner influences.

Although I'm not a fan of those high-pitched vocals used on the opening track, Pat (voc.) displays his versatile approach starting from the second track where oddly enough he reminds me of Mike Patton (Faith No More) maybe combined with a bit of Phil Anselmo's energy... The riffs are fat as an elephant, punishing to the bone, the leads are occasionally mesmerizing, the bass lines are fantastic, the drums are perfect, what else can I add? I was honestly not expecting this CD to have such a strong impression on me. They have all required elements to be the next big thing hailing out of France. 9.5 www.jizzlobberband.free.fr www.superstrong.fr

KALI YUGA (Germany) - Wrath of Durga G.U.C. - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal The second full-length by Kali Yuga offers us 10 tracks of Melodic Death Metal heavily influenced by the Scandinavian scene especially by Amon Amarth, In Flames and even At The Gates. Their instrumental skills are good enough to offer us some nice and catchy melodies (awesome guitar leads and solos) mixed with powerful and aggressive Metallic riffs.

The vocals are very good as well, comprehensive but at the same time heavy and forceful perfectly complementing a carefully structured instrumental part. The only thing I really hate is the drums sound, synthetic as hell (of course they must be programmed...) ruining it all for me, but if you think you can cope with drum-machine you should really give this band a chance, with the right push they can become the next big thing in Melodic Death Metal.

They came up with a complex yet curdled album completed with multiple memorable parts to sing in your mind hours after the audition, and that's not easy nowadays. As a conclusion I love their music, hate their drum-machine. 8 www.facebook.com/kaliyugametal www.guc-area.de

it's quite nice flowing, diverse and all in all entertaining although it uses no vocals. The lowtuned, doomy bass lines and groovy drumming are supporting the guitars very well. Regarding the sound, although organic and almost rehearsal-sounding (don't get me wrong, it's crystal clear produced) might be another feature to attract old-school Psychedelic Metal fans to it. 8 www.facebook.com/kingbongofficial

in a limited edition of 99 hand-numbered copies with b/w booklet including lyrics in Russian.

The first band is Lash who changed their name afterwards in Lashblood. They featured 3 long track totaling 20 minutes of mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal with repetitive but not boring guitar riffs, aggressive drumming with a weird cymbal sound, almost industial like vocals and an overall good sound. Still needs some more work to reach that Avantgarde Black Metal sound they long for, but the potential is there.

Deathmoor is a more well known name in the Russian scene being founded back in 1999 and having released 2 full-length albums before this split and 1 afterwards.

The sound on their side is worse than on Lash's side making it difficult to follow everything happening inhere, but the music is better, more complex in both rhythms and composition, and the musicians seem much more experienced, or at least the drummer is showing real talent. A dark, twisted, heavy Black Metal with excellent semi-acoustic parts, a music that would have deserved a much better sound than this rehearsal-like recording featured here. Deathmoor seems to be a band to search for, really. 6 / 8 www.facebook.com/pages/Lashblood/1242657842900 42 www.deathmoor.bandcamp.com KOZELJNIK (Serbia) - Null: The Acheron of www.wolfram-prod.com Multiform Negation Paragon - 2013 - Black Metal I've heard only good things about this proud follower of Serbian Black Metal tradition started way back by The Stone or May Result but this is my first meeting with their music. "Null" is a weird sounding EP, quite original and not easy to penetrate, needing a few spins even for getting rid of the sour taste left by the combination of mid-paced to fast rhythms, intricate flows and theatrical vocals, but once you get to understand it you'll get to love it, too. Although I can't LEVANIA (Italy) - Parasynthesis stand Niklas' (Shining) rockstar attitude I have to WormHoleDeath - 2012 - Gothic Metal admit having him as guest for vocals on a track gave If there's such a term as Old-School Gothic Metal than birth to a great sounding, ugly, desperate piece of mid- Levania is a part of this genre. This debut album paced theatrical Metal. If you like your Black Metal reminded me of the Gothic Metal used to be done at fast and furious you should avoid this album at all the end of the '90's and to be honest such keyboard costs, but if you're into discovering new thing I think tones could seem childish Today. When used as you should at least give "Null" a couple of spins, it background supports the keyboards are really good might become a fave, I'm still in doubts if I love or creating a melancholic atmosphere, but when they get hate the end result. The last two tracks have nothing in a bit in front and try to stand out with their own thing common with the rest, they are taken from the band's it becomes amateurish at least to me. The female debut EP, a much more aggressive and raw Black vocals are awesome and when they get backed up by Metal, don't know what was the point of adding male growls they remind me of the first Liv Kristine collaborations with Theatre of Tragedy; Raven, the them... Original, laudable effort. 8.5 guitarist, is mediocre on creating riffs, but he very www.kozeljnik.com good when it comes to leads and solos, and actually www.paragonrecords.org his work might be the backbone of this band. Ligeia's vocals, as previously said, are beautiful, but she has a LADY BEAST (USA) - Lady Beast few moments where she's simply boring by following Inferno - 2012 - Heavy Metal New Heavy Metal beast released by Inferno Records, the instrumental lines rather than adding her own a lady beast this time. Lady Beast, the band, was touch on music, luckily there are not many such formed back in 2009 and this is their debut EP, an 8 moments. There's also a slight touch of Medieval tracks effort totaling almost half an hour of traditional inspired rhythms that might give the band originality Heavy Metal strongly influenced by the NWOBHM in the future, but on this album they are not movement, especially by Iron Maiden. The convincing. 6 instrumental part is fucking catchy and faultless www.levaniabrotherhood.blogspot.com offering a great time for both headbanging and www.wormholedeath.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

KARONTE (Spain) - ParaĂ­so sin fe Selfreleased - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal Holy crap, this is an almost 20 years old band!

Karonte was founded in 1994 but unfortunately only managed to release 2 full-length albums so far, this one and their debut back in 2006, so we're dealing here with a not so productive outfit... Anyway, "Paraiso sin fe" is an 8 tracks effort lasting for almost 40 minutes of low-tuned traditional Death Metal with very food Melodic insertions in form of delicious guitar solos and leads, something we're not so used to anymore unfortunately. I'd say it's a combination of Swedish with Dutch Death Metal, mid-tempo, heavy as fuck, mostly simple structured but with some progressive oriented parts as well, perfect for the ones of you in search for traditional Death Metal lead by solidguitar riffs and Heavy Metal - like guitar solos. definitely not a pretentious release but one that might make it in your monthly best of tops. 8

listening at home; proud, organic, memorable rhythms highlighted by an impressive bass line and top-notch guitar riffs and solos. The band is lead by a lady, Deborah Levine, whos style I'm not too fond of either bacause of melodic, almost Alternative-type of vocal tone or because of the long choruses lacking any hooks. She has a tremendous potential, her vocals are stable and powerful, but somehow I feel she is yet to give her best on a following material. Anyway, this is KING BONG (Italy) - Space Shanties a breath of fresh air, a professional yet old-school Selfreleased - 2012 - Psychedelic Sludge Doom Metal Heavy Metal release that will make your day. 8.5 Such a perfect band name for this kind of music, King www.ladybeast.bandcamp.com Bong immediately makes you understand what and www.inferno-records.net how you're about to listen. The band has been around since 2008 and this is their third full-length album, a 6 LASH / DEATHMOOR (Russia / Russia) - Nausea tracks opus lasting for a bit more than an hour of of Inner City phychedelic, instrumental Sludge Doom Metal. Well, Wolfram - 2011 - Avantgarde Black Metal / Black I can't say it's 100% Metal, there are lots of '60's-'70's Metal Psychedelic Rock influences too and the very, very New tape from Wolfram Productions, a split between long guitar solos are certainly not something we're 2 Russian Black Metal bands professionally released used to nowadays, but all in all the album has depth, 53

LIBRIA (Italy) - Immortal Daughter of Aesthetics WormHoleDeath - 2013 - Aventgarde Extreme Metal Libria is an Italian super-group lead by a beautiful guitarist/vocalist named Marianna Alfieri and this is their debut album made of 9 tracks almost impossible to label into a single genre. Their music is definitely well performed but to me it seems they added a bit too many elements and influences from different genres for the final result to be as solid and tight as it should have been. The sound quality is great but the mixing makes the vocals at times too hard to distinguish behind the wall of guitar riffs, drums, violins and keyboards. It's an interesting album channelling elements from Power, Thrash, Heavy, Death and even Black Metal all sprayed with melodic violins and guitar leads and offered on an atmospheric layer of keyboards. A band made of capable musicians but an album that doesn't leave much traces on your memory after the audition. 7 www.libriaofficial.com

www.wormholedeath.com

LYCANTHIA (Australia) - Oligarchy Hypnotic Dirge - 2013 - Gothic Doom Death Metal We're already used with Hypnotic Dirge offering us quality stuff, isn't it? Well Lycanthia isn't any exception from the rule, but they are walking different paths than previously shown by HDR. Although still melancholic like the rest Lycanthia's music is a combination of Gothic, Doom and Death Metal with beauty and the best type of vocals, keyboards and violin all over the place. These guys are around since 1996 and it seems they are one of the oldest Doom Metal bands in Australia displaying a definite maturity on this second full-length album. The female vocals are awesome, there are two female vocalists (taking care of keyboards and violin too), I don't know who's the main one but she has such an enchanting voice I'd listen to this band's music only to let myself carried away by her trills. The arrangements are well thought and the violin as the main and upfront instrument plays a huge role in shaping the melancholic atmospheres that reminded me of Sins Of Thy Beloved and a bit of Theatre Of Tragedy. Of course this wouldn't have had that impact without the heavy, oppressive, doomy structures built by the rest of the instrumentists and the rough, desperate vocals of Lee Tassaker, the male vocalist of Lycanthia. The production is top notch, mastering being taken care of

by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork, Amon Amarth), so there's no reason why I wouldn't recommend this for fans of My Dying Bride, Sins Of thy Beloved, Theatre Of Tragedy, Draconian or Tristania. Very good record. 9 www.lycanthia.com www.hypnoticdirgerecords.com

say they are really mature and solid as a band. The 11 tracks included on this opus are very tight, curdled and at the same time complex and technical to a point where the guitar leads combined with the pounding drums are reaching insanity. Luciana, the female growler of MGC, does a very good job just being natural, I felt no trace of her trying more than she can, and she can really growl, her vocals are versatile and emanate emotions, nice job. Also the backing male growler does a good job by only interferring when needed. The guitars work is awesome and I can say it's the real highlight of this band although I like Luciana's vocals a lot, too. An album that deserves your attention if you're into technical yet melodic type of Death Metal. 8.5 www.mechanicalgodcreation.it www.wormholedeath.com

MEDEBOR (Poland) - A Taste of Insanity Selfreleased - 2012 - Gothic Doom Death Metal Holy shit, this band is so similar with my all times fave Romanian band, Grimegod, I can't even believe my ears. So cool! :) This is the band's second album released after a pause of 10 years since their debut full-length, so this mmeans either they have worked a hell lot of time, they had line-up problems or even put the band on ice for some time, or they were simply lazy. Anyway, the music is following UK '90's Gothic Doom masters as Anathema, Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride without much variations from that path but they are doing it well, without being just copycats (also a hint of Tiamat is in place here and there), so this album will be a delight for fanatics of that scene.

The Death Metal influences are scarce, the double bass drumming could be one of them, but generally speaking the album is quite soft and melancholic, not recommended for depressive moments. I think the band has real potential, some tracks like "A Kind of Chaos" or "Sorrow, My Infinity" could be considered and pushed as hits. I think the band got picked up by Legacy Records in the meantime but what I have here is a professionally produced CD released by the band.

8.5 www.facebook.com/pages/Medebor/14141931259481 7

Grindfather - 2012 - Grindcore / Punk Grind Opening this split are the highly active Grinders from Canada, Mesrine. Not that technical as one could expect from an Extreme Metal band from Quebec, Mesrine are not bad either, not that fast & brutal & nothing else band, we're treated with some catchy and quite varied guitar riffs, powerful bass lines and insane drumming, plus 2 grinding vocal tones. Very old-school but still fresh sounding, I like this band.

Next are Sposa In Alto Mare, a Punk & Grind band from Italy. Simple riffs (combination of Punk and Grind riffs), fast drumming to blastbeats, punkish attitude, almost comprehensive vocals, ironic, funny lyrics I suppose. Well, all SIAM side is just for fun I guess, not really serious music; it's good for a couple of spins but it gets boring fast. 7.5 / 6 www.mesrine.org www.sposainaltomare.com www.grindfatherprod.com MINUTIAN (Finland) - Repercussions Selfreleased - 2011 - Progressive Metal Debut album from this Finnish band, "Repercussions" is made of 7 tracks lasting for more than 45 minutes of Progressive Rock / Metal heavily influenced by Tool, but with elements leading your thoughts to other masters of the genre as Dream Theatre, King Crimson or Porcupine Tree. Soft, semi-acoustic parts are successfuly linked with heavier, more metallic soundscapes highlighted by an excellent bass line and catchy guitar leads. The vocalist has a catchy, professional timbre that could become the leading element in Minutian over time, but on this album every instrument does its job with style and although they couldn't be considered as the most original band out there the final result is refreshing, carefully structured and does its job in presenting us a band with great potential. If you like the lighter side of Progressive Metal you should chck this band out. 8 www.minutian.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

MASCOT PARADE (Sweden) - Cause & Effect Noisehead - 2013 - Metal Wow, what a hit, Mascot Parade took me by surprise with their second full-length album. It's the first time I'm meeting this band but Cause & Effect will make me go out and look for their debut, too. It's not the music I'm used to, it's a strange combination of Hard Rock, Alternative, Progressive Metal with tunnig as crisp and heavy as in Doom Metal, it sounds breathtaking. Although on the surface it may seem simplistic, their music is well thought, well aimed for your soul. Hypnotising, crushingly heavy although not brutal or aggressive at all, groovy, addictive, simple sounding but extremely effective, Cause & Effect is awesome. I don't know if I like it that much for the sake of diversity or if it's really that good, but you should give them (I suggest the :ost in Salvation track) a try yourselves. My only minus for this release would be that not all the tracks are at the same level of catchiness, even though not far apart. The vocalist is exceptional, I'd say he's the highlight of Mascot Parade, but the bass lines are so good as well... 9 www.mascotparade.com www.noiseheadrecords.com

MENTAL TORMENT (Ukraine) - On the Verge...

Solitude - 2013 - Funeral Doom Death Metal Debut album from these 7 (!) Ukrainian youngsters, "On the Verge..." frist striked me with its awesome collage of paintings and sketches that make up what seems to be a storyline cover/booklet artwork.

Reading the tracks titles I found out this is actually a conceptual album built on a diary of a salesman who eventually died in a shipwrek. Too bad the lyrics are not included in the booklet, they would have given the whole concept a much more powerful impact.

Anyway, the music is some sort of melodic, emotional Doom Death Metal without many effects or other fireworks, just simple solw to mid-tempo rhythmed Doom Death on a layer of thin keyboards, and lead by a low tuned, guttural vocal. There's not much variation and I guess that's not even needed here, but in the end I still feel like something's missing. Definitely not a bad album, actually an enjoyable one, and if we judge MECHANICAL GOD CREATION (Italy) - by the fact this is their debut I can only foresee a bright future for this band. 8 Artifact Of Annihilation www.mentaltorment.com WormHoleDeath - 2013 - Technical Death Metal Perfect name for a Technical Death Metal band with www.solitude-prod.com the mention that MGC are adding also a fair slice of melody to the pot as well. This is their second album MESRINE / SPOSA IN ALTO MARE (Canada / and although I haven't listened to the first one I can Italy) - Grinders 54

MISANTHROPIC ART (Russia) - Homicides Wolfram - 2010 - Black Metal Originally released by Nihil Rex in 2005 as tape in limited edition of 148 copies, then by Oskorei Music as CD limited to 1000 copies in 2006, this fourth Misanthropic Art album was re-released by Wolfram Prod. in tape format limited to 333 hand-numbered copies in 2010. Fast and sharp Black Metal with sinister vocals and raw recording quality that I'm not too fond about, it sounds too chaotic and you can barely follow the drums behind the guitars. The compositions are generous of complex rhythms and guitar leads/riffs so you won't be bored but this only in case you'll be able to get over the weak drums sound and the somehow synthetic bass tone. Recommended only to fans of raw, underground, fast and dark sounding Black Metal. 7 www.misanthropicart.bandcamp.com www.wolfram-prod.com MOLOCH (Ukraine) - Stiller Schrei des Winters (2002-2012) Metallic Media - 2012 - Depressive Ambient Black Metal I'm simply fascinated by this one man band from Ukraine. Wherever I look I come across its name and that's no wonder since this guy releases at least 2-3 new materials a month, and I'm not talking cheap material here, I'm talking picture discs, luxurious box sets, professional CDs, countless merch, so he has built himself a real industry, a small underground

Black Metal industry that keeps him constantly busy.

This right here is a compilation of rare, unreleased or highlighted tracks from his career starting 2004, a combination of Ambient and Depressive Black Metal, a deeply hope shattering experience which I have to admit seems to be well crafted and well thought, all tracks following successful patterns from this genre (repetitive, hypnotizing guitar riffs, desperate screams, organic, sharp sound quality) and even though there are countless execution mistakes and loose rhythms it will give the impression of a bohemian masterpiece to many of it listeners. What can I say, the Sergiy Fjordsson knows what he's doing and there's not much more time until he will be a legend just like Rob Darken or Varg Vikernes, maybe not at the sam elevel but close. 8 www.moloch.com.ua www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

MYSTICAL (Portugal) - Demo I Hellprod. - 2012 - Black Metal Mystical is a Portuguese trio formed in 2003 (!) but who managed to release only this demo so far, I don't even know if the band is still active or not. This demo is dated 2007, but was recently re-released by Hellprod in tape format limited to only 50 copies. The band also features one ex. In Tha Umbra member, a much more known band hailing from Portugal, so to some extent that should be a quality asurance, and in fact the music on this demo is not bad at all: fast Black Metal with hysterical screams, repetitive but interesting guitar riffs, a bass line that I think has pretty interesting structures but unfortunately I can barely hear it. On teh other hand the drum-machine is awful like 90% of all drum-machines, the rare keyboard passages are really amateurish, and the mixing and mastering could have been much better, I hate the fact I cannot hear what seems to be either an exquisite bass line or a second layer of guitars pushed too much in the back. Too bad, the guys seem to have the necessary talent to create interesting music, but on this demo they failed... If you like raw, primitive Black Metal with occasional keyboard passages maybe you'll like this demo better than I did. 6 www.myspace.com/mysticalofficial www.helldprod.com

NEFASTU (Portugal) - VersĂ­culo II - As Profecias do Caos Purodium - 2012 - Black Metal The second demo from this Portuguese quartet was released last year by Purodium Rekords in tape format limited to 100 copies. It's a pure Black Metal release based on rhythms ranging from mid-tempo to fast and displaying a cold, quite terrifying atmosphere. The sound quality is not that good and at times I'm really pissed on it, the guitars seem to be doing a very good job on melting riffs into a final fine flowing discharge of anger. The vocal, although not versatine enough does a good job, and the drums, although not complex at all are fitting prefectly with this music, especially on the fast parts. Fanatics of raw Black Metal will appreciate this band. 7 www.helldprod.com NEMESIS IRAE (Belgium) - Eradicate Campaign Mortis Humanae - 2013 - Black Metal Nemesis Irae are around since 1996 but this is the first time I get to review one of their works. I'm not sure if this is their third album or a new demo and that's because the sound on it is very raw, rehearsal-like but weird as it may sound I like this approach much better than if they would have recorded these tracks in a proper studio; it's organic, feels honest, you have no problem following any instrument you'd like, and above all there's nothing laughable here. The music is fast paced, semi-technical Black Metal with good riffs, a few Thrash Black influences, good vocals but not versatile at all, powerful bass lines, tight drumming. Well this release shows a well curdled band with professional attitude delivering well crafted compositions that you'll most probably enjoy. I like it a lot and I'm sure I'll like it more after a while so of course I'd strongly recommend this material to all of you in search of organic sounding "true" Black Metal.

Thumbs up. 9 www.mortishumanae.com

minutes of old-school, simplistic, mid-tempo to fast Death Metal. The good, old-school Hard Rock-like guitar solos are a good touch of originality although I'm notr sure they intended the solos to have such a "light" influence. Unfortunately the recordings are raw, demo-like, and give the impression of unfinished material, a more powerful drums tone and a more professional mastering would have given this album a more darker atmosphere. The music is ok but I like the old-school hoarse vocals more than anything on the album. Don't think Nerocapra will break any charts with "Vox Inferi" but old-school maniacs will most probably enjoy the raw sound and primitive structures (still complex rhythm changes are involved a lot). 7 www.facebook.com/nero.capra www.foadrecords.it

NIGHTBRINGER (USA) - Death and the Black Work Forever Plagued - 2012 - Black Metal Released in 2008 by Full Moon Productions, Nightbringer's debut album was recently re-released in Double CD format by Forever Plagued Records, and I guess it was a big step forward for the label since the band is now signed with Season of Mist so naturally its popularity among Black Metal fans is/will make it an easy to sell material. Nightbringer's type of Black Metal could be described as dark, occult, fast, heavy and even brutal at times, a very combination that guarantees the respect of Black Metal fanatics looking for the most aggressive and terrifying bands in this genre. Even though the keybaords are omnipresent, they are used to intensify the foggy atmosphere; the vocals are most of the times screams, but also supported by growls here and there, the guitar leads are memorable even though not particularly complex, and the riffs are good reminders of the Norwegian type of Black Metal; the only unsatisfying part would be the drums sound, a bit too muddy. This is one of those albums you'll either love or hate but it won't leave you passive, that's for sure. 8.5 www.nightbringer.bandcamp.com www.foreverplaguedrecords.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

NAILGUN (Germany) - New World Chaos Selfreleased - 2012 - Heavy Thrash Metal I was honestly expecting a new Metalcore/Deathcore album from a band with such a name, but I''m glad I was wrong, German based Nailgun are a kick-ass combination of Heavy and Thrash Metal meaning the combination considered as the perfect balance between soft and extreme Metal. Nailgun actually combine more genres than that, they also add some Power Metal influences and a Progressive Metal direction to the whole, all these enveloped in a Dark Metal atmosphere and a Traditional Doom feeling at times, to name a few bands this album might lead your thoughts to would be too little, this is an explosion of influences and expressions and it's nice they managed to capture them all into a compact, solid release that will captivate your interest. This is Nailgun's second album and it shows the band's maturity, but it also lacks a bit of catchy moments, after a couple of spins you'll only remember the composition's complexity and maybe the sombre tone of the vocals and it's a pity since these guys are really good musicians.

Recommended! 8.5 www.nail-gun.de

NEPTRECUS (France) - L'Aube Du DĂŠclin Mortis Humanae - 2013 - Black Metal An impressive debut album by these young French guys, a strong declaration and demonstration of their abilities. Although the band was formed in 2011 the maturity and cohesion of their compositions is undisputed. Their '90's Norwegian scene inspired Black Metal sounds well thought, honest and above all it sounds tight; a mide-tempo to fast paced Black Metal with melodic guitar leads, devastating drums, perfect shrieks, and a dark atmosphere that reminded me of both Marduk and the French Hirilorn. It was a real pleasure listening to these 9 tracks and I'd like to recommend this album to you too. Neptrecus is a band that may have some nice surprises for us in the future, keep an eye on them. 9 www.myspace.com/neptrecus www.mortishumanae.com

NEROCAPRA (Italy) - Vox Inferi F.O.A.D. - 2011 - Death Metal Nerocapra means "black goat" but I still remember my first meeting with this band's music when I always used to call them Necrocapra, somehow this name seemed more natural for me. The band's debut album is made of 13 tracks totaling a bit more than 40 55

NIGROMANTIA (Hungary) - Inherited Burden Noisehead - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal Although the band's name might remind you of the Greek Necromantia, these Hungarians have nothing to do with Black Metal but instead they play a modern and quite melodic type of Death Metal with very good sound although I'm not completely fond on the snare drum's sound and on the fact the atmosphere gets to be a bit dry at times. The compositions are very good, well-worked, semi-technical and diverse so I guess the band put a lot of effort in them. Chris' vocals are very versatile ranging from deep growls to rapacious screams complementing well the almost progressive types of instrumental structures where I can feel a heavy Gothemburg type of Death Metal influences.

Not a groundbreaking album, but definitely one that will put this band's name on the Metal map, and they really deserve some attention. 8.5 www.myspace.com/nigromantiaband www.noiseheadrecords.com

NOT LAST RISE (Russia) - Sfumato Eerie Torture - 2013 - Black Metal Debut album from this Russian trio, "Sfumato" is made of only 4 tracks but their total playing time exceeds 50 minutes. The album starts off with a pretty chaotic and weird Black Metal track where every member seems to play its own, differnt track, nothing seems to curdle and it becomes annoying after a short while. The next two tracks are a bit better structured combining fast paced Black Metal with slow, tormenting Funeral Doom like passages. The last track is the best one on this release, with better guitar leads, audible bass lines this time (until here you can barely distinguish this instrument) and also the chaotic structures seems to link better one to another. The vocals are high pitched shrieks without much variation, so a bit boring. The final conclusion is of a band that has good technical skills but tried a bit more than they can handle on this debut album. 7 www.notlastrise.bandcamp.com www.eerietorture.weebly.com OATH OF SIN (USA) - Demo Selfreleased - 2013 - Black Death Metal Although they label themselves as Black Metal, on this debut demo I can hear more Progressive Death Metal influences than Black Metal, the bass lines are quite complex and very prominent being also the highlights of this band, the riffs are a combination of mid-tempo Black Metal and old-school Thrash Death Metal, the guitar leads are clearly Progressive Death Metal inspired, the only elements linking them to the real Black Metal could be the vocals (although Chuck Schuldiner would think differently) and the occasional keyboard backgrounds enhancing the Satanic atmospheres. I have to admit I like this demo a lot, I like its organic sound that to most listeners could seem too weak, I like Oath Of Sin's courage to experiment and not stick to certain patterns... I find it quite original and would love to listen to a full-length album asap. 8.5 www.facebook.com/pages/Oath-ofsin/511616485541714

Tradegy (isn't that weird for a Thrash Metal band?).

Yes, you guessed it right, this band doesn't stick to certain boundaries, they try to experiment a lot; you'll either love this album for its boldness, or hate it because of the rough vocals. At least it's not something you hear that often, but try to listen to the whole material before making your mind. 7 www.odium-metal.de www.noiseheadrecords.com

OKULAR (Norway) - Sexforce Regenerative - 2013 - Progressive Death Metal A couple of year ago I was very impressed by this band's debut album "Probiotic", so now it was time to give some spins to their new full-length effort made of 13 tracks totaling a bit more than an hour and packed in a professional package with luxurious 24 pages booklet including all lyrics. Okular continues with their melodic yet brutal, chaotic yet easily flowing form of Death Metal perfectly combining old-school feelings with modern, highly intricate orchestrations.

Groovy at times, highly technical on other parts, lead by a versatile vocalist, Okular's new album is something you should try when in search for music to actually listen and discover, you'll be able to find new things in it every time you spin it again. This is how Pyogenesis would have sounded like nowadays if they had discovered US old-school Technical Death Metal and US modern Brutal Death Metal, plus a hint of Sweden's Cemetary (their late '90's). Weird, isn't it?

Yes, that's the perfect word to describe it, but again, this is a nice flowing material that will make your day.

I would have like a more bombastic sound to it even though this is crystal-clear sounding, that's my only complaint, but besides that I salute once again a great job from Okular. 9 www.facebook.com/okularmetal www.regenerativeproductions.no

music. Vaerohn pretty much left the Depressive side of Black Metal and adventured into a theatrical, desolate and schyzophrenic circus world, road opened 2 years ago by "Ceci est de la Musique". Cabaret music combined with opera elements, French cafe music, a few drops of Metal... portrait of the most macabre circus you can imagine. This guy is slowly becoming a complete artist but unfortunately he's distancing more and more from Extreme Metal. 9 www.pnrecords-music.com www.lesacteursdelombre.net

PHOTOPHOBIA (Finland / Italy) - The Seven States of Mourning Immortal Frost - 2012 - Depressive Black Metal After reviewing their debut album a year ago I remember how much I hated that cover artwork but this time I have changed my opinion completely, their second album has a totally different cover artwork type and I really feel it's close related to the music and lyrics. Good job. Regarding the music we're dealing again with repetitive rhythms and guitar riffs, but I have to admit they are better crafted, and adding the deep, dark atmospheres brought by the keyboard backgrounds plus the very good, desperate shrieks, we get an intense atmosphere expressing different states of mind. Some of the tracks featured here are really beautiful, one can really feel the emotional charge surrounding them. These 2 guys still have to work more on complexity, but this already is a big step up from their debut and the future seems promising. 8 www.facebook.com/Photophobiaofficial www.immortalfrostproductions.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

PENANCE (UK) - Dawn of a New (sav)Age Selfreleased - 2013 - Groove Death Metal By listening to the intro I though I was about to go into a Doom Metal journey with this Penance second full-length album, but soon enough I realized I was wrong. Basically Penance is a combination of Death Metal with the groove of Hardcore, the low tuned guitars give the impression of Doom Metal, but that's about it. May be a matter of personal taste but the final result didn't convince me, I was especially bored by the forced vocals and the unnecessary rhythm breaks although I have enjoyed the low tuned vocals, the clean vocals (on "These Memories") and the organic sound. There are also some hints of nowadays Metalcore sprinkled here and there so I guess this will have a better appeal to younger fans. Even if selfreleased this CD comes professionally packed with a 12 pages booklet including all lyrics so from this ODIUM (Germany) - Beautiful Violence point of view it makes your money well spent. 6.5 Noisehead - 2012 - Thrash Metal With no less than 5 self-released albums underbelt I'd www.penance-band.com say it was about time for Odium to be picked up by a label and that happened with this 6th full-length. I'm sure it's not easy to do it all by yourself for 20 years (the band was formed in 1993) and still keep the Metal flame burning, chapeau. There are 8 tracks on this disc totaling almost 40 minutes of traditional Thrash Metal with quite catchy choruses, powerful rhythm section, organic sounding vocals, headbanging riffs and above all some pretty rad guitar leads and PENSEES NOCTURNES (France) - Nom d'une solos, a real treat for any Traditional Metal fan out Pipe! there. I only think that they could have used a second Les Acteurs de l'Ombre - 2013 - Avantgarde Metal vocal, a more melodic sounding one for the choruses, I'm following this one man band since its debut album Ralf is doing his best but he's more fit for the rough, (oh, and it's been already 4 years?), and I can clearly aggressive parts than for melodies. Maybe they could say with every new album I'm always surprised by experiment more with the female vocals appearing on Vaerohn's insanity and availability to compose such "A Better Part of Me", I think the combination is weird material. This fourth album is most definitely awesome reminding me of the '90's Doom Death his weirdest opus so far, but slowly he's drifting away scene, especially My Dying Bride and Theatre of from Extreme Metal and falls into an Avantgarde, polyphonic and sometimes atonal type of Metal 56

PREHISTORIC PIGS (Italy) - Wormhole Generator Moonlight - 2012 - Stoner Metal Good name for a Stoner Rock/Metal band. Prehistoric Pigs are yet another new band (founded last year) releasing their debut album through Moonlight Records so it seems this label is into discovering and promoting new talent only. Based in Northern Italy (Udine) Prehistoric Pigs offer us 7 long tracks (long ones, 55 minutes of playing time) of instrumental Stoner Metal with low tuned guitar riffs, repetitive but structured on gradually ascending and descending rhythms, catchy and quite memorable, heavy as hell bass lines and good drumming. It actually sounds like a successful jam session performed by skilled musicians and is quite mesmerizing to be honest, although it has no innovative or original elements I found it hard to stop listening to it and that's what matters after all, the listener's pleasure and entertainment. 8.5 www.facebook.com/PrehistoricPigs www.moonlightstudios.it PRIMEVAL MASS (Greece) - Blood Breathing Idols Katoptron - 2012 - Black Metal Second album from this Greek band that will soon celebrate 15 years of activity. "Blood Breathing Idols" is made of 8 tracks totaling almost 45 minutes of Black Metal with good technical displays especially on guitars, the Heavy / Thrash leads and solos are not something we're very used to in this genre nowadays.

Unfortunately the raw sound isn't exactly what these tracks would have needed, sometimes the atmosphere becomes really chaotic and annoying, the mastering

being a total mess, but at least from the compositions point of view you'll have plenty of moments to chew and enjoy. The vocals are all over the place, supported by long lyrics, not bad at all but again a bit annoying because of their raw sound. The compositions are complex enough to avoid any moments of lull, ranging from nice semi-acoustic parts to insane, fast, aggressive slabs of Black Metal. Not the next big thing but very enjoyable nonetheless (if it wasn't for that poor sound). 7.5 www.facebook.com/primevalmassofficial www.myspace.com/katoptron.records

PULVIS ET UMBRA (Italy) - Reaching the End Rising - 2012 - Thrash Death Metal Released more than a decade after the band foundation, this debut album unfortunately failed big time to impress me. The sound and mastering of these 8 tracks are so awful that it was a pain listening to the whole material. The guys are not bad instrumentists at all but the sound is so unprofessional and gives you the impression they recorded each instrument and vocals in totally different places, with totally different conditions and at the end they never bothered to master them or to even equalize the volumes one bit.

It's a shame, a total mockery of their hard work in composing these tunes that seem to have the potential of sounding much better if produced correctly.

Anyway, the music is a combination of Thrash and Death Metal elements with occasional melodic insertions, groovy parts and several semi-technical parts that show potential, but that's about it. My suggestion for the band would be to re-record the whole thing in a professional studio and use a professional producer, it's a pity not to care about your debut album... 3 www.facebook.com/pulvisetumbraofficial www.risingrecords.org

Metallic Media - 2012 - Black Metal After a 3 and a half minutes (maybe too long though) dark, apocalyptic intro I was expecting the ugliest music I've ever heard. Well, it's not, but it's not bad music either so in the end I wasn't that disapointed.

This is a followup EP to their 2008 debut full-length album and it seems the band needs more work in order to come up with a second opus. Only 3 new tracks and a cover of Bathory's Equimanthorn in 18 minutes of playing. Rexor are playing fast and dark Black Metal, quite brutal and minacing although bringing nothing new to the scene. There are countless such bands around nowadays so it will be impossible for Rexor to reach higher levels if they won't throw in something new, but I can say on this EP they have done a good, honest job expressing their music is the most brutal way possible, the great quality sound also helped a lot, so if you're into fast, raw and well executed Black Metal you should give them a chance, you might be surprised. 7.5 www.facebook.com/rexorofficial www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

RISABOV (Greece) - Rise Selfreleased - 2013 - Thrash Death Metal Young band from Greece formed in 2008 but who managed to release their debut demo only this year even though the line-up had been stable so far. Maybe this one will unchain them and new releases will start flowing. Musicwise Risabov is a combination of odlschool Thrash and Death Metal with highlights on the good flow of Heavy Metal inspired guitar leads and leads, a dark vocal that sounds a bit unnatural and forced but fits in well with the rest of the instruments, and a good rhythm section that could have been more up front volume-wise. The compositions on the other hand are catchy, straight forward, diverse and portrait a band that works hard in the rehearsal room, a band REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER (France) - that eager to progress. An uncompromising, honest album that probably won't break any charts but will Regarde les hommes tomber Les Acteurs de l'Ombre - 2013 - Sludge Post Black give you almost 40 minutes of good Metal time. 7.5 www.reverbnation.com/risabov Metal They say they recorded drums in a warehouse and that might be credible, but recording guitars and bass in a cold hut is already a show off lie... Does that mean they are out of tune on the whole record? Doesn't seem so. Anyway, besides these marketing tricks RLHT managed to create an interesting, heavy, easily SCENT OF DEATH (Spain) - Of Martyrs's Agony flowing and entertaining debut album that will and Hate certainly make its mark on the scene and prove this Pathologically Explicit - 2012 - Technical Death band is a serious name to keep in mind. 7 tracks, Metal almost 40 minutes of playing, excellent production I know this band since the beginning of the 2000's and a convincing performance, RLHT is a Post Black when they released their debut EP. In the meantime Metal meets Sludge band that will appeal to fans of they managed to unleash 2 full-length albums, this both genres and more, so if you're into hopeless, being their second, a 9 tracks effort totaling almost 40 minutes. My expectations were high since I know apocalyptic atmospheres go grab this album. 8.5 what were they capable of, and that even though they www.lesacteursdelombre.net have recently parted ways with their drummer and vocalist. Scent Of Death is that kind of DeatH Metal band that blends in perfectly their technical skills and intricate song structures with melodic and catchy guitar solos and the end result is charming for any fans of fast, technical, brutal and still digestible Death Metal that on this album gives me the impression of a successful combination between Hate Eternal and Morbid Angel. Relentless, ruthless, oppressive, catchy, varied, well executed, that's how I can describe this bulldozer of an album. Scent Of Death reached an awesome level make sure you don't miss out on "Of Martyrs's Agony and Hate", I love it! 9.5 www.facebook.com/scentofdeathmetal www.pathologicallyexplicitrecordings.com

received it from the label and they only wanted to promote what they still have on stock, I don't remember. Anyway, the band's crispy but heavy enough guitar riffs reminded me of Bolt Thrower and I think that's their major influence. Than there's a sticky blend with the old-school US Death Metal especially on the guitar leads and solos part (think of Morbid Angel, Massacre and even Death - some vocal parts too), plus a groovy yet technical drumming part that feels well-thought and well fit in this context. The sound quality is not the best around but Traditional Death Metal fans will enjoy this unpolish atmosphere and after all you can easily follow any and all instruments without problems. Not a boring album, recommended for '90's Death Metal fanatics.

I have also received their 2007 Promo CD featuring 3 tracks from this album and an intro. The style is of course similar, the sound is a bit rawer (don't like the drums' sound), but this would have been a good choice if released on tape. Anyway, the band has improved from 2007 to 2010 so it should be the case for a new release soon... 8 www.facebook.com/pages/Sectioned/1376124362864 77 www.paragonrecords.org

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

REXOR (Italy) - Nox Obscura Sortis

SECTIONED (International) - Purulent Reality Paragon - 2010 - Death Metal Probably this band is still alive since I have received this 2010 album for a review, maybe they are preparing for some come-back soon, or maybe I have 57

SHROUD OF THE HERETIC (USA) - Boiled to Death Craneo Negro - 2012 - Death Metal Although I'm a fan of this genre, I think this revival of old-school, rough Death Metal is starting to get the scene a bit overcrowded by bands and I'm sure it will burst into mediocrity in short time. Fortunately Shroud Of The Heretic is one of those bands that will never get big audiences but I have to admit they sound exactly like this style should sound: raw, menacing, dark and organic, or to be more concise, the real deal.

The young Portland based trio has managed to capture a heavy as shit sound on this debut EP although keeping it clear and comprehensive. The vocals are pushed in the back and used only as an enhancement of atmosphere, an inhuman addition to a horrifying soundscape. The compositions are pretty primitive although not lacking of rhythm changes, good guitar leads, solid drumming, thick bass lines and not being boring at all. Fans of cryptic, heavy and blasphemous Death Metal will certainly find this band as one that might win the test of time, especially if their upcoming full-length album will top this promising EP. 8 www.facebook.com/shroudoftheheretic www.facebook.com/ixcraneonegroxi

SILENT PATH (Iran) - Mourner Portraits Hypnotic Dirge - 2012 - Depressive Black Metal Count de Efrit, the man behind this project, is also the mastermind behind Ekove Efrits, maybe a more known name to the public after having released 3 full-

length albums so far. This new project is more on the depressive side of Black Metal, this nowadays so popular and almost anoying new sub-genre of Black Metal (anoying because there are way too many such one man bands popping out every day, and most of them with not much to prove). Anyway, this is its debut album, a 9 tracks effort totaling a bit more than 50 minutes of quite chaotic and mostly slow tempoed Depressive Black Metal with excellent potential, but an unreached potential because of the chaotic, too noisy recordings sound. You can almost feel the pain and melancholy the artist tried to express through this album, but honestly I cannot stand the noisy sound, it's too disturbing for me to get more into the atmospheres. Too bad... There are also some reviews printed in the booklet of this CD, reviews that have other thoughts than me describing this as a major hit, so it's up to you if you want to give Silent Path a chance. 6 www.facebook.com/SilentPath www.hypnoticdirgerecords.com

SIROCCO (Ireland) - Lambay Selfreleased - 2012 - Folk Heavy Metal Third album coming from this Irish band, "Lambay" is made of 8 tracks totaling almost 40 minutes of playing. Sirocco describe their style as Celtic Heavy Metal and that's almost accurate as their music is based on Heavy Metal structures with a few Celticsounding guitar riffs here and there and that specific Celtic sound and timbre on vocals, but it also has Power Metal influences sprinkled all over. I would have liked the vocals to have a higher volume as they can barely cope with the instrumental part and that can become annoying for some. I also liked the addition of a short piano passage in the middle of this album, it supplements the overall atmosphere of this album, but on the other hand I found the Heavy Metal guitar riffs a bit too clichee and uninspired although well executed; the guitar leads compensate for that, though). I also felt like the band would have liked to add male choirs but they weren't able to for some reasons. Anyway, a solid release that won't bore you but it's definitely not the next big thing either. 7 www.siroccoband.com

of '90's type of melancholic and quite depressive Doom Death Metal. Unfortunately the production is amateurish at a demo level, the vocal and guitar volume covering almost completely the rhythm section to a point where this becomes really annoying.

After listening to this release a couple of times I can only say that the guy has pretty rad guitar skills and good vocal tone, but the sound doesn't do any justice here, mastering being almost non-existent. Ah, and another thing, while listening to the second track I thought the first one was repeating that's how similar they sound... Sorry to say but he needs more work before competing in the nowadays Doom Death scene.

6 www.bandzone.cz/skon www.hexencave.wz.cz SMOHALLA / OMEGA CENTAURI (France / International) - Tellur / Epitome Duplicate - 2013 - Avantgarde Black Metal / Atmospheric Black Metal Split CD between two avantgarde oriented Black Metal bands, featuring 4 tracks from Smohalla and 3 from Omega Centauri, and totaling almost an hour of playing.

After a well acclaimed debut album Smohalla are back with this split offering 4 tracks of Avantgarde Black Metal, chaotic but at the same time captivating, very technical and original although the mastering in my opinion could have been better, the sound is too damn chaotic and at times it becomes annoying to try following a certain instrument or just to enjoy the whole damn thing. If you listen carefully you'll find lots and lots of fantastic passages on each and every instrument, and especially on keyboards, you'll get to a point where you'll be mesmerized by their creative potential, but at least for me the chaotic sound made it hard to penetrate.

Omega Centauri are bit more traditional when it comes to Black Metal, their tracks are rawer, much more aggressive, but that apparent chaos in guitar leads in the end leads to a claustrophobic atmosphere and supported by well thought keyboard layers on the background results in a successful combination of oldschool brutality and modern post Black Metal elements. The sound is better, one can easily follow all instruments.

Overall Omega Centauri's side is better, but judging by their potential Smohalla is really the band you must keep an eye on. 7 / 7.5 www.smohalla.free.fr www.myspace.com/omegacentauriofficial www.duplicate-records.com

lovely globalization times. Unfortunately this trio brings nothing new or exceptionally attractive to the scene, the sound on this second sull-length album is too raw for allowing the music to actually create a powerful atmosphere, but their efforts are notable, especially on the drumming and vocal part. the compositions are ok but you've hear this countless times before on similar bands, same slow to midpaced rhythms and simple riffs. The vocals actually reminded me of Negura Bunget's first demo from back when they were called Wiccan Rede and the sound is similar too so I'd label this album as Wiccan Rede gobe depressive so you can get an approximate idea, but it might appeal to old-school Norwegian Black Metal fans. 7 www.sterbenzeit.com www.immortalfrostproductions.com

STRYNN (France) - Decadence Mortis Humanae - 2013 - Black Metal Young French trio founded in 2011, Strynn chose to use no bass in their music so we're dealing here with 2 guitarists and at the same time singers, and a drummer. Since it's a joint release between Le Crepuscule Du Soir and Mortis Humanae of course it's also a Black Metal release. Unfortunately the riffs are a bit dull sometimes and I know that's normal nowadays for a Black Metal band, but in this case I really think they can do better as they prove to have the ability to create some pretty catchy tunes. Now the alternation between male and female vocals is not that distinguishable like let's say in a Gothic Death Metal band, both of them have hoarse, raw shrieking vocals and while playing I really don't care who's who, they are both good. The atmospheres they manage to create without using any keyboards or bass lines is really impressive, cold, dark, haunting and almost terrifying, so I guess all in all we have a winner in Strynn, check them out! 8 www.strynn.eu www.mortishumanae.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

SKINLEPSY (Brazil) - Condemning the Empty Souls Shinigami - 2013 - Thrash Death Metal Made of veteran instrumentists of the Brazilian Extreme Metal scene (ex Nervochaos, Pentacrostic, Siegrid Ingrid, a.o. members), Skinlepsy present on their debut album what they call a "Brutal Thrash Metal", a mixture of Thrash and Death Metal, dirty and heavy as hell, that somehow made me nostalgic of old Sepultura albums. In their case Skinlepsy are successfully blending Thrash Metal kind of comprehensive powerful screams, Sepultura like groovy yet extremely metallic sounding and catchy guitar riffs, double-bass lead drumming, awesome chaotic guitar solos and the end result is a complex, entertaining form of old-school Thrash Death prefect for both fanatics of speed and followers of more headbanging-friendly type of rhythms. Great production to top all of this, so definitely a recommended album for fans of balanced mixtured of Thrash and Death Metal. 9 www.facebook.com/Skinlepsy www.shinigamirecords.com.br

SS-18 (Russia) - Voices of Funeral Wolfram - 2011 - Black Metal SS-18 is part of the same circle with Deathmoor and Lashblood sharing members between them, so of course this is another Black Metal act. Unfortunately this EP didn't impress me much, it's only super-fast played Black Metal with same type of drums on all tracks, repetitive as hell guitar riffs, desperate screams with no versatility whatsoever, and raw, almost awful sound, so not much to enjoy, but if you like your Black Metal played as fast as possible you might try this band. The tape is limited to 99 hand-numbered SYMPTOM (USA) - Beneath the Ossuary copies as usual from Wolfram. 6 Craneo Negro - 2012 - Doom Death Metal www.ss-18.bandcamp.com This is not the band's debut album but a compilation www.wolfram-prod.com of their first 2 EPs, Symptom and Descensus Morte, SKON (Slovakia) - At the End of a Journey both released in 2011, totaling 10 tracks and a bit Hexencave Prod. - 2010 - Doom Death Metal STERBENZEIT (Italy) - L'Oltrenotte more than 50 minutes of playing, so you can also Debut EP and so far the only release by this one man Immortal Frost - 2013 - Black Metal band from Slovakia, "At the End of a Journey" is Italian band, German name, Italian lyrics, doesn't consider it as an album especially because for their made of 4 long tracks lasting for almost half an hour make much sense but who cares nowadays in our cryptic, low tuned type of Doom Death Metal there 58

not much more room for "improvement" when it comes to sound. Symptom's music reminds me of the '90's Doom Death Metal scene from Finland, extremely heavy, obscure, and versatile easily switching from crushing Crowbar-like doomy rhythms to fast and very fast pure Death Metal hysteria, from monotonous, thick sounding riffs to a sonic cage of hard hitting brutal ones supported by Swedish-like old-school guitar leads here and there. An interesting debut album from this US based project, I'm curious what the future holds for them. 8.5 www.facebook.com/churchofdaggers www.facebook.com/ixcraneonegroxi

SYNKLETOS (Russia) - Spiritual Alchemy Selfreleased - 2011 - Melodic Doom Death Metal Don't judge a book (or a CD in this case) by its cover; right, but I never learn... I thought Synkletos would be some sort of electro, ambient, shiny music that would bore me to death, but I was wrong. This is some sort of Melodic Doom Death Metal influenced by Heavy Power Metal and I've been listening to this album all day Today, for me it's a freakin'instant classic, one of the best releases I'had the chance to listen to this year!

Spiritual Alchemy is emotional, involving, catchy, brilliantly composed, and in my books this is the perfect blend of aggressive, Doom Death Metal (with a depressive hint sometimes) with exceptional hopeful, calm and ethereal Heavy Power Metal structures. The guitars are amazing and never cease to astonish you with their technical and melodic solos and leads, the vocals appear rarely but enough to intensify the atmosphere and the same goes for the keyboards backgrounds, there only when you think the interesting parts are all done. I'm blown away by this duo and could not recommend it more to you too.

Really guys, don't miss this album! 10 www.myspace.com/synkletos

parts where I've lost interest because of the monotonous guitar riffs and sometimes even atonal song structures, but there are also some pretty good ones where the guitar riffs become more inspired and the keyboards make their way in. Except for the aggressive approach this album was not a blast for me but it was a demostration that this duo has potential.

Too bad they have not released any new CD since 2009 to confirm my impression. 6 www.lordsoftheblackstone.com

acclaimed debut album. 10 tracks in less then 40 minutes, a new effort that's even better that the first one, more melodic, more aggressive, and at the same time more balanced, the band reached their maturity with this "Equate": Death Metal guitar riffs, melodic guitar leads mixed with progressive leads, desperate, assaulting vocals supported by beautiful, warm female vocals, Swiss-clock rhythm section, heavy atmospheres and lots of Metal and not only sub-genres blended in a single unit. "Equate" is a very good release but after a couple of spins you find yourself wondering where you've listened to these riffs before.

The progressive part of it makes it hard to digest, but I think the overall result is entertaining and interesting.

8.5 www.thewayofpurity.com www.wormholedeath.com

THE GARDNERZ (Sweden) - It All Fades Abyss - 2012 - Doom Death Metal After a successful (in my opinion) debut album The Gardnerz are back this time with an EP that actually features 5 new tracks and a cover of Darkthrone's Transylvanian Hunger (weird choice for a Doom Death band) totaling a bit more than 35 minutes. their music could be described as a combination of mid to late '90's Anathema and Paradise Lost plus some influences from the mid '90's European Death Metal scene on slow or mid-tempo rhythms with loads of melody thrown inthere all the time. I like this band very much and I believe their potential is huge, they only need to find and add more hooks in their tracks for the next Doom Death masterpiece to be unleashed.

The Darkthrone cover is also awesome played on acoustic guitars only supported by calm, jazzy, enchanting female vocals, nothing you'd expect.

Thumbs up, can't wait for their next release! 8.5 www.thegardnerz.com www.officialabyssrecords.com

THRONE (Italy) - Avoid the Light Moonlight - 2012 - Stoner Sludge Metal This band was formed in August 2012 (at least from what I can find on the net) and in November they have already signed with a label, Moonlight Records, and released their 10 tracks debut album, so they must be either extremely good or have pretty good connections in the scene. Well, this is not an exceptional album so the second presumption might be true, but I cannot say I was disapointed by their music. These 10 tracks, although based on simple structures prove that there's potential, the sound is crystal clear, their dedication to Sludge and Stoner is obvious and they have managed to come up with some interesting passages that capture your attention. I can't see why a fan of this genre wouldn't give this release a try, it's groovy, metallic, and quite traditional, could be a good surprise. And Moonlight's package (digipack) is THE GATES OF SLUMBER (USA) - ‌The exquisite as well. 7 Awakening www.facebook.com/thronetheband Abyss - 2012 - Doom Metal www.moonlightstudios.it This is a re-release the band's debut album previously released by an obscure label, Final Chapter Records, back in 2004. Doom Metal is the name of the game here and more precisely traditional Doom Metal a la Black Sabbath. What I like about it is the fact that they keep the rhythms quite diversified (well, as much as this genre allows) so this is definitely not a monotonous release, but I would recommend it to diehard Doomsters only, I don't think it has the force/ability to attrack other listeners. The sound is pretty good and rough also, the compositions are ok (Germany) Vom but without any spectacular elements, the vocals are TOTENGEFLUSTER Ozzy-like but less catchy and versatile, in the end only Seelensterben the guitar solos stand out from the rest, I would have Selfreleased - 2013 - Symphonic Black Metal loved them to be everywhere on this album, from start It's almost unbelievable what can an unsigned band do production-wise nowadays if they really believe in to finish. 7 their work and are devoted in making things happen www.slumberingsouls.com for themselves. This debut album by Totengefluster www.officialabyssrecords.com comes with an impressive 20 pages booklet complete with exceptional artworks to better express their atmospheres, and if you know German language I'm sure these 10 tracks will be even more impressive and effective. Although being a trio the band managed to create some pretty deep and complex atmospheres on this album, each instrument bringing its own contribution to the final product: the vocals and keyboard work reminded me of Cradle Of Filth's versatility and expressiveness, the guitars are ranging from fast, traditional riffs to some more melodic leads, and the bass lines are very important for the whole, THE WAY OF PURITY (International) - Equate too. Honestly I think this album would have been WormHoleDeath - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal brilliant at the end of the '90's but now I have no idea One of the most controversial new names in the scene how many fans for this particular style of Black Metal released their second opus 2 years after a well are still out there after their fave bands betrayed them

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

TALISMAN STONE (Italy) - Lovecraftopolis Moonlight - 2012 - Psychedelic Doom Rock I've checked some info about the band before listening to this full-length and I was quite amazed to see them mentioned is some pretty important best of 2012 tops so of course my interest grew. Now, after giving it a couple of spins I definitely have to agree with these tops, Talisman Stone is an innovative Doom band although keeping it all as organic as possible. A combination of drums, bass, vocals (male and female), flute, tabla (wtf?) and sitar (!!!) is what makes from this album a deeply mesmerizing, out of this world experience for the listener. Wait, there's no guitar? No, there isn't although you can hardly notice that, the bass player does an impressive work in supplying for this "loss", and although this might seem incomplete, I actually feel this is the almost perfect combination of instruments for this band's music, I would only add some organ or piano parts to make it sensational.

Recommended for all fans of Doom (not necessarily Metal) music. 9.5 www.talismanstone.it www.moonlightstudios.it

TENEBROUS (USA) - Opus Magnum Forever Plagued - 2009 - Black Metal Quite an old release since it was out in 2009, but it seems to be still actual for this duo as they haven't released anything else since then. This debut album is composed of 10 track totaling almost 45 minutes of fast and raw Black Metal with a pinch of melody coming from the guitar leads. There are some boring

59

and went for more commercial goals. Anyway, I have enjoyed it and I would, of course, recommend this album if you're into Symphonic Black Metal with rich orchestrations. 8.5 www.totengefluester.de TOXOVIBORA (Spain) - Primer Ataque Art Gates - 2012 - Crossover Thrash Metal A nice surprise from Spain, Toxovibora was founded back in 2009 and this is their debut album, an 8 tracks release with Spanish written lyrics that I guess is a delight for Spanish natives. The compositions are energetic and complex, full of adrenaline but at the same time leaving space to some more technical, midpaced elements as well. Their combination of oldschool oriented guitar riffs with more modern, groovy aspects is well thought and well crafted, the sound is crystal clear, the structures are catchy and headbanging friendly, their technical skills allow them to play within the boundaries of this genre and still sound tight and melodic at the same time. Good release from a band worth keeping an eye on. 8.5 www.facebook.com/pages/TOXOVIBORA/19848337 3521626 www.artgatesrecords.com TYRANT'S KALL (Belgium) - Dagon Selfreleased - 2012 - Heavy Doom Death Metal I'm getting more and more Belgian material for reviews lately, maybe that means the scene over there is starting to thrive and that can only be good. Tyrant's Kall is an awesome representative of this scene, a band that has been around since 2008 but only released a demo prior to this debut album, and in fact 2 of the 3 tracks from that demo are now re-recorded and listed among the 7 existent here. Basically the band plays a Traditional Doom Metal but the influences from Death Metal, Heavy Metal and even Thrash Black Metal are abvious, the atmosphere created is both groovy and dirty, and since the band is female fronted and the girl does a wonderful job on both growls (comprehensive) and clean (she has a nice melodic yet angry tone) vocals, you will be easily drown into their Lovecraftian soundscapes. The guitar riffs are not boring or over-repetitive at all, the compositions are well crafted with good taste so all in all I have deeply enjoyed this debut album and would recommend it to both Traditional Doom Metallers and followers of dirty Thrash Black Death Metal. Listen loud and drunk! 8.5 www.facebook.com/pages/TyrantsKall/139610432722053

combination of Doom and Black Metal with horrific attitude, a bit more simple compositions than I was used to, a rawer recording sound, but with the same trademark vocals of Raypissed, vocals that deserve all your attention. If you'd like to hear a more extreme version of King Diamond then Vintage Flesh (and now Inverticrux, of course) is the right choice! 7.5 UNDERSAVE (Portugal) - Now...Submit Your www.myspace.com/vintageflesh Flesh to the Master's Imagination War - 2012 - Death Metal Even though only a duo by the time they released this debut album, Undersave started to make a name for themselves in the underground, I've read quite a few interviews with them so far and it seems they are starting to take the top of Portuguese Death Metal by VOLTUMNA (Italy) - Damnatio Sacrorum storm. This album is made of 7 tracks totaling 42 Selfreleased - 2013 - Black Death Metal minutes of traditional, US inspired Death Metal, Debut album from this Lazio based quartet, I have to nothing more, nothing less. They don't even try to admit "Damnatio Sacrorum" made an instant impact change or innovate anything in this genre but instead on me with its display of Black Death Metal less they are using established patterns from the '90's and technical or fast as let's say Behemoth but much more just play what they like. With the nowadays revival of organic and honest sounding. A huge role on this retro Death Metal I'm not surprised to see this band's release is played by the vocalist who although having name everywhere, this debut album is a solid not much versatility has an interesting, catchy timbre statement of their potential. Growling vocals (not that sticks to your mind even after playing the album. versatile at all but top notch for this genre), intricate The rhythm section is aggressive at times and groovy, but catchy guitar riffs, powerful bass lines, excellent nice flowing at other, the guitars keep it simple but not drumming and a crystal clear, organic production, the to a point where they can fall in the "lack of inspiration" chasm, riffs are not overused and perfect choice for 90's Death Metal nostalgics. 9 occasional solos are long and melodic creating just the www.facebook.com/Undersave right amount of spice needed. The band image www.war-productions.org reminds me of Noctem's although it's not a complete VENEROR (Italy) - Percussimus Foedus cum copycat. I have nothing to object on this release maybe just the fact that the fast parts could have had a Morte more aggressive sound, but as a debut album this one Hexencave / New Era - 2013 - Black Metal Now this is something new, an Italian band heavily is top-notch, I can see a bright future for Voltumna. 9 influenced by the Finnish Black Metal scene, it's such www.voltumnametal.com a similar style that it feels like they are a new Finnish band. This is Veneror's debut album, an 8 tracks effort VRAG (Hungary) - Avarkoporsó totaling almost 40 minutes of fast Black Metal with Selfreleased - 2011 - Black Metal excellent production, a razor sharp vocalist, repetitive This is Vrag's second demo, released in 2011, but I and entertaining guitar leads, quite melodic I'd say, have to admit I'm reviewing it after I have just wrote and a fast and heavy rhythm section. Although it about the third demo from 2012. Basically the music brings nothing new under the sun/moon, I love it is similar, maybe with less nature effects and with a mostly because they sound pretty genuine and honest rougher recording quality, but it's the same slow to in what they do. If you're into Horna, Azaghal and the mid-tempo Black Metal sung in Hungarian. Somehow likes you'll certainly dig this album, I can't believe it's this one sounds heavier even though othe vocals made by three guys only, it sounds like nothing is recording quality is getting on my nerves at times, and the 3 tracks are more memorable, the repetitive choirs missing. I love the cover artwork, too. 9 being the main reason for that. From the compositions www.hexencave.wz.cz point of view this one is better than Öröktéli Éjszakák, www.new-era-productions.nl but the sound throws it back a mile. Released in both CDR and tape format, I guess it's still available. 6.5 www.vrag.fw.hu

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

UHRIRISTI (Finland) - Maailma Palaa Mortis Humanae - 2013 - Black Metal Uhriristi's debut EP really caught me by surprise and I was completely hooked by it at that time so I had big expectations from this full-length album and except for the quite weak and unpolished sound, I wasn't disapointed. Uhriristi ads to its mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal some nice melodic touches like keyboard backgrounds and catchy guitar leads, but their highlight remains Rutto's desperate vocals, his vocals will differentiate this band from the rest in the future. The sound, as I said is unpolished, but the worst part is the snare drums sound, really annoying after a while. Anyway, if you're into Finnish Black Metal you'll certainly like this album although it has no stand out tracks like the previous EP had "Ikiuni".

8.5 www.facebook.com/pages/Uhriristi/24262567911495 8 www.mortishumanae.com

VERBAL RAZORS (France) - Settling of Scores Selfreleased - 2009 - Thrash Metal Old demo but unfortunately this is the only release from Verbal Razors so far. 4 tracks, less than 10 minutes of old-school fast Thrash Metal completed with Punk/Hardcore vocals and dirty Rock'n'Roll attitude. The tracks are short but entertaining and although the compositions are pretty simple oldschool metal fans will appreciate these guys' organic sound and attitude. Everything is simple and effective here, Verbal Razors managed to deliver a headbanging demo and hopefully they are preparing for a new release at the moment, at least that should be the case after 4 years. 7 www.facebook.com/VerbalRazors VINTAGE FLESH (USA) - The Eyes That Glared at My Agonies Selfreleased - 2011 - Doom Black Metal This is the debut album from Vintage Flesh (now known as Inverticrux) released in 2009 by the band. I have already reviewed their more recent works so I kind of knew what to expect. My extectations were confirmed, Vintage Flesh displays the same 60

VRAG (Hungary) - Öröktéli Éjszakák Selfreleased - 2012 - Black Metal Releasing as many possible materials could be the only way an underground one-man-band could get its name out there nowadays and Roland from Vrag seems to follow this direction. This is his second demo, a 3 tracks effort lasting for 35 minutes. Slow paced to mid-tempo Black Metal guitar riffs supported by double-bass drums (pretty good sounding even though programmed and not complex at all) and ghoulish vocals somehow tied in the back of the instrumental part. Roland also adds lots of nature effects like winds, rain, crows, well, the usual stuff, but it sounds good, it's a good mixture with these repetitive, almost melancholic rhythms. All in all nothing to praise here but nothing to mock either, a demo that will make a good audition but won't be on your fave list. I think if Roland will manage to capture the essence of his work in shorter tracks Vrag's music will become more memorable. This was released in CD and tape format, what I have here is a hand-

numbered selfreleased copy, Depressive Illusions music and lyrics for this second album. Vaerohn from released the tape format. 7 Pensees Nocturnes is also among the band members www.vrag.fw.hu so I think he's only in to help a friend out as I cannot imagine him not being a part of the composition process knowing his talent and potential. "Various Shades of Black" constitutes a weird material, an avantgarde form of Depressive Black Metal based on sensational guitar structures and performance, stretched to progressive heights, a myriad of vocal layouts and tonalities, intricate drums, and above all a haunting, impressive atmosphere created in an (odd) organic environment. 50 minutes of very intriguing, well performed Avantgarde Metal that shouldn't miss your collection. 9.5 www.facebook.com/waytoend WITH BURNING CONTEMPT (USA) - Red www.lesacteursdelombre.net/productions Visions Selfreleased - 2013 - Thrash Death Black Metal With Burning Contempt is a new project based in WALK THROUGH FIRE (Sweden) - Furthest Virginia, USA, founded last year by two guys who are from Heaven still the whole line-up. This is their debut EP, one that Aesthetic Death - 2011 - Sludge Metal you'll have trouble dating it 2013 and that's because of By their satanic image I seriously thought I was going its direction: 100% old-school combination of Black, to deal with a Black Metal band, or at least a very Thrash and even Death Metal, the primitive, '80's type, angry, old-school Death Metal, but Walk Through combined with a Rock'n'Roll attitude and a few such Fire actually play a slow paced, tormenting riffs as well. Red Visions is made of only 4 tracks and combination of Sludge and Post Metal with screamed lasts for a bit more than 15 minutes, but that's quite vocals and a harsh abuse of the same guitar riffs over WHO DIES IN SIBERIAN SLUSH (Russia) - We enough to understand what they want and can express and over again resembling more with the nowadays through their music: a rough, thrashy, aggressive, and Have Been Dead Since Long Ago...

DSBM or Funeral Doom atmospheres. Unfortunately Solitude - 2012 - Funeral Doom Death Metal cocky attitude. I would have liked it better with a bit this second album from Walk Through Fire had no After a successful debut album WDISS are back with more catchy and diverse riffs, but this is ok effect over me, I was constantly waiting for something another discharge of Funeral Doom Death Metal, this nonetheless, pluss I like the vocals a lot, the guy more to happen and it never did. On the other hand I second full-length album although being made of only sounds like he can spit venom anytime while playing. have enjoyed the crystal clear production and the bass 6 tracks is totaling almost 45 minutes. Multiple old- If you're into the grandfathers of this genre (Celtic lines, but that won't be enough for me to play it again, school Death Metal guitar riffs and leads are blending Frost, Venom, Hellhammer), check out this band. 7.5 sorry. 6 in with a depressive, slow paced and oppressive www.facebook.com/WithBurningContempt www.walkthroughfire.se rhythm section topped up by deep growls. At times I www.aestheticdeath.com felt like the guitar leads are a bit too shiny for the overall atmosphere and the drums are too rough, but in the end I liked this new album quite a lot. I don't know how the Funeral Doom community will receive these heavy Death Metal influences but I'm sure fans of old English and Finnish Doom Death Metal will enjoy it. 8 www.whodiesinsiberianslush.com WARTIME (Bulgaria) - Solar Messiah www.solitude-prod.com Selfreleased - 2012 - Progressive Thrash Metal WITHIN DESTRUCTION (Slovenia) - From the Second studio album from this long lasting Bulgarian Depths WITCHER / VELM (Hungary / Hungary) band. They were formed back in 1997 so they must be Noisehead - 2012 - Melodic Death Metal KeresztĂşton / FĂśldek a well-known name in their country and after spinning After reviewing the latest Nigromantia album and this CD for a few times I can only subscribe to the Rotten Crows - 2012 - Pagan Black Metal / Ambient being struck by the very good production of the Black Metal respect due to them. 11 tracks, 50 minutes of complex, Noisehead Studio I was curious if this new Noisehead melodic, technical and progressive Thrash Metal with Hungary is starting to spawn a lot of underground Records release was recorded in the same studio as it Black Metal lately and that can only be praised, there a good pinch of Power Metal, that's what Wartime sounds tight as fuck, but it wasn't. This one is offers us here, a release that's hard to believe it's are some underground maniacs out there that will recorded in Austia, too, but in Massacre Studio. definitely manage to keep this scene alive, I wish it coming from the dusty, rotten Eastern Europe and not Anyway, great job! This yound Slovenian quintet from Germany or even Italy. The sound production is was the same situation in Romania, too... Anyway, released their debut album after a couple of years flawless, the execution follows that and the this split is made of only 1 track per band but the since their foundation it's nice to see how curdled and compositions are ranging from slow, melancholic tracks are long enough to clock more than half an hour mature their compositions are. Their mostly fast paced moments to mid-paced powerful discharges of Metal of total length.

Death Metal has some nice melodic leads all over the delivered with professional, serious attitude. Even Witcher is not a new name in our pages, a duo from place, the vocals are versatile enough not to bore you, Szombathely founded in 2010 presenting us here an more credit goes to the band for selfreleasing this the drumming is Swiss-clock precise and the bass work better than most labels out there would have mid-paced Ambient Black Metal with rich keyboard lines are very prominent, and if I add the fact that arrangements, repetitive guitar riffs, screaming vocals been able to, the only problem remains promoting it there are some tracks that have lots of memorable now and that's why I think a serious label with good in the backgrounds, and good drumming. What I like parts we get a kick-ass debut for a promising band. about their track is that if you listen to it a few times PR should really take this band into consideration. It's Sometimes the riffs are mediocre, a fact that can be so nice to get to listen to such a well written album you can really get into the atmosphere and loose improved in time, of course, but overall we're treated once in a while; I love the versatile vocals ranging youself. Good underground spirit. with very good quality Melodic Death Metal, go from clean vocals to Power Metal-like majestic choirs Next is Velm from the small city of Kazincbarcika. A ahead and give it a try. 8 duo as well Velm was founded in 2011 and already to hoarse but still comprehensive tones, I love the www.myspace.com/withindestructionmc melodic guitar solos on it, the acoustic add-ons, and managed to release an EP and this split last year.

Although they say this is Pagan Black Metal I wasn't above all I love the overall arrangements so no WOLVES' WINTER (Argentina) - Lycanthropus wonder I'm recommending it to you too for a good able to discern the Pagan influences instead the Legionis keybaords give their music a nice Atmospheric touch breath of fresh (but still somehow old-school) Power Infernal Hymns - 2011 - Black Metal Thrash Metal air. It's not a solid 10 only because so I'd label this as Atmospheric Black Metal better. This band comes from Argentina and was formed in The track starts out slow paced and gains in intensity sometime I felt the drums being brought a bit too in 2008. So far there's no full-length released, but they front of the other instruments although not bothering as it develops. Two vocals, sepulcral shrieks and are working as an underground band should do, with sombre clean vocals, the riffs are ok but nothing too to the ears. 9.5 original but supported by melodic guitar leads give a demos and splits. This release is made of their www.wartime.bg nice result, and the atmospheric keyboards are actually previous demo and some live tracks totaling almost an hour of raw Black Metal. The demo part is quite good WAY TO END (France) - Various Shades of Black the highlight of Velm's music. if you're into high-pitched guitar tones, Both bands have a similar level, a good one, so I'd Les Acteurs de l'Ombre - 2013 - Avantgarde Black uncomprehensive Black Metal screeches and recommend this Hungarian underground release Metal traditional structures ranging from mid-tempo to fast Way To End, although being a full line-up band seems limited to 100 hand-numbered copies. 7.5 / 7.5 rhythms. The bass lines are really good and the guitar to be more like the project of Hazard, the only original www.myspace.com/velmmusic riffs are not bad either; the sound is raw and www.witcherzenekar.fw.hu member still active, and that because he composed all unpolished but is good enough for what they are www.rottencrowz.blogspot.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

61

trying to accomplish with their music. For underground Black Metal fanatics this tape will be a good treat. Regarding the second part of "Lycanthropus Legionis" I've never been a fan of underground live recordings and honestly I don't like this one either, I hate not being able to understand the guitars and being attacked by the usually too high pitched vocal tones. 6.5 XENOSIS (USA) - Of Chaos & Turmoil www.wolveswinter.com.ar WormHoleDeath - 2012 - Progressive Death Metal www.infernalhymns.com Formed in late 2009, Xenosis signed a deal with WormHoleDeath 2 years later and this debut album is WORSTENEMY (Italy) - Revelation the first fruit of their collaboration. A very interesting WormHoleDeath - 2013 - Death Metal combination of Progressive Death Metal with multiple Worstenemy finally managed to release their debut elements even from Jazz music, this debut album album after more than 15 years of activity and I'm presents us a tight music full of imagination, with sure this was a quite awaited release since the band complete lack of any boundaries, the quartet enjoys to was pretty active in the underground so far. This experiment and create intricate arrangements that will album is made of 10 tracks totaling 37 minutes of keep you glued from start till the end of this release aggressive, semi-technical, mid-tempo to fast paced delivering a sick mix of old-school and modern Death Metal forged the old-school way and heavily elements. Although very complex and intricate the influenced by the '90's US scene from the guitar riffs tracks have their right amount of hooks and to the awesome chaotic solos. The vocalist reminds catchiness, the sound is perfect, the production as me of Chris Barnes in his best years although he's well, so all in all we're dealing with a very well made more brutal than groovy. The sound is crystal clear debut from a band with excellent potential. I've and suits the music perfectly, the compositions are enjoyed it a lot. 9 tight and varied so that the band leaves no space for www.facebook.com/xenosisuk boredom during these 37 minutes, and the overall www.wormholedeath.com atmosphere is exactly what in my opinion ever Death Metal fan should look for, dark, brutal, cryptic and energetic. So all in all we're dealing here with an excellent album that presents a mature band, don't miss it. 9 www.worstenemy.it www.wormholedeath.com ZEPHYRA (Sweden) - KämpaglÜd Selfreleased - 2013 - Heavy Metal This Swedish band chose a totally different path than we were used to by Swedish bands so far, Zephyra are combining Heavy Metal with Thrash Metal and multiple melodic and even Alternative elements to create a strange hybrid, more like what the Americans

(US) use to do. But although it sounds so strange it has a good flow, it's quite catchy and it might sparkle some interest. The female vocalist is their highlight displaying tonalities from raw, almost Black Metal sounding shrieks to enchanting, very feminine and melodic. The guitars are powerful and although bringing nothing new the collection of riffs and leads is successful, the rhythm section is nothing special either but right on the spot, nothing to object on execution, but unfortunately I really hate the male vocals, the pronounciation and even tonality are definitely not my cup of tea. Strange release, I would have liked it more if the sound would have beena bit more polished. 6.5 www.zephyra.net ZGARD (Ukraine) - Astral Glow BadMoodMan - 2013 - Pagan Black Metal Ukraine, probably the most important one-man-bands exporter in Europe nowadays, brings us Zgard, a project started in 2010 but with already 3 full-length albums underbelt. This new, third, album from Zgard is made of 8 tracks and lasts for more than 70 minutes.

Unfortunately there are so many things happening on this album and such a poor sound that after a while it becomes annoying. the baseline of this album is midtempo Black Metal but the keyboard backgrounds give it an Atmospheric touch, and the flute parts thrown in here and there come with that Pagan influence, so all in all this is a pretty complex release and even if the rhythms are repeting endlessly the guy behind Zgard managed to avoid the boredome element. Unfortunately it becomes chaotic too many times to keen an intact flow, but fans of this genre might find it a good release nonetheless. Honestly I won't play it anymore... 6.5 www.zgard.blogspot.com www.solitude-prod.com

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

62

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)

Slowly We Rot (swrzine@yahoo.com)