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Metal Bulletin Zine #53 www.metalbulletin.blogspot.com

Skelator (Seattle) Biotoxic Warfare (Greece) Drawn and Quartered (Seattle)

Lady Beast (U.S.) Mystifier (Brazil) Derkéta (U.S.)

bands from Washington state, U.S.: Astraes Pestis, Eigenlicht, Isenordal, Eternal Sedation, Trepanation, A Flourishing Scourge, Black Tears album reviews, news, updates, snippets Keep of Kalessin, Battle Beast, NightMare World, Venom, Sarpanitum, Ancillotti, Dew-Scented, Gruesome, SoulHealer, Violent Hammer, Desolate Pathway, Carbonized, The Negation, Ion Vein, Black Trip, Entrails, Death Dealer, Zom, Kingcrow, Dire Omen, Kaledon, Undergang, Continuum, Bone Gnawer, Starbynary, Ad Hominem, Elvenstorm, Obtruncation, Officium Triste, Macabre Omen, Hollow Haze, Vulcano, Lady Beast, Johansson & Speckmann, Eschaton, Artizan, Wombbath, Kattah, Mystifier, Valdur, Sacral Rage, Demonic Slaughter, Derkéta, Blizzard Hunter, Enslaved, Majestic Downfall, Sempiternal Dusk, Hammer King, Adversarial, At the Dawn, Frosthelm, Wooden Stake, Iron Kingdom, Ctulu, Cradle of Filth, Poenari, In Defence free metal music Violblast, Warburst Command, Insomnio Mutante, Haunting, Razboinix

— -— Isenordal (Seattle) metal programs (these are Pacific Times) This is a free/name-your-price recording on Mosh Pit (Madison, WI): Monday night 9:30pm- Bandcamp. The band plays doom metal with 12am WORT 89.9 fm www.wortfm.org an injection of black metal. Melancholy is an important part of the sound, which is then Sweet Nightmares (Houston, TX): Thursday contrasted with speedy moments of black night 9pm-12am KPFT 90.1 fm www.kpft.org metal. The recording is called “Imbolc MMXIV” and it is three songs and almost 24 Excuse All the Blood (Olympia, WA): Friday minutes of music. night 11pm-1am www.kaosradio.org www.isenordal.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/isenordal.metal Metal Shop (Seattle, WA): Saturday 11pm- 3am KISW 99.9fm www.kisw.com Eternal Sedation (Yakima) — Metal Archives says the following about this bands from Washington state thrash band: “Eternal Sedation was founded in 2013 in Astraes Pestis (Seattle) Yakima, Washington following the breakup of Bestial, raw death metal that sounds like an their previous band Pleasantly Demented. all-out rejection of the currents of “computer After many line up changes, Eternal Sedation death metal” that is modern “death metal.” finally found the sound that they have been This band has a different take on all that, it’s looking for, Old school thrash mixed with the sound of when extreme metal as a progressive aspects of more modern metal. primitive force. Releasing their first EP in November of 2013; The name of the recording is “Flagellum Convulsions of the Mind; they quickly began Haereticorum,” and you can hear it on to play shows all around the Pacific North Bandcamp. It is four songs: West to gain a name for themselves. In April of 1.(Malum Reliquiae) Rotting Stave 2015, Eternal Sedation released the Atrocities 2.Pestilential Sorrow of Man EP, showcasing the growth in both 3.(Minister of Fire) Hammer of Witches music taste and ability. They are now in the 4.Whip of the Heretics (Flight from Hades) process of writing for their full length and www.astraespestisvcp.bandcamp.com preparing for tours during the summer.”

Eigenlicht (Olympia) “Atrocities of Man” is a free/name-your-price This is about 23 minutes along the lines of epic, recording that you can hear on Bandcamp. primitive, necro, depressive black metal. It is www.eternalsedation.bandcamp.com two songs and it is called “Sacral Regicide.” www.facebook.com/pages/Eternal-Sedation- 1.Province of Immolated Kings Band/172612636113362 2.Autor Ego Audendi On Bandcamp the band lineup is: Trepanation (Tacoma) Yianna Bekris (guitar) This is rough demo of brutal death metal Ray Hawes (guitar, vocals) called "Meticulous Evisceration," from 2013. Mara Winter (keyboards, vocals) The band calls its music “filthy old school Johnny Delacy (drums) death metal,” so they’re not trying to be You can listen to the recording here. fancy and modern, just sick and primitive. www.eigenlicht- www.trepanationusa.bandcamp.com metal.bandcamp.com/releases www.facebook.com/trepanationusa A Flourishing Scourge (Seattle) SKELATOR On its Facebook page the band describes its Skelator from Seattle is, more or less, what a music: person means when they say “heavy metal.” “A Flourishing Scourge is an all-original metal Traditional heavy metal by people who are band formed in Seattle, Washington, by long- the craziest metalheads that you will ever time friends Tye Jones (guitars/vox) and Josh meet because they are so obsessed with Keifer (drums). As of 2015, Kevin Carbrey metal they decided that listening to metal (bass) and Andrew Dennis (guitars) have every day was not enough, reading about it rounded out the line-up. was not enough, writing and talking about it

was not enough. They had to, they just had to Blending elements of traditional black, death, form their own fireblazing heavy metal band. and progressive metal, A Flourishing Scourge That’s Skelator. Man, is Skelator dedicated to represents a fresh approach to the metal or what! Well, let me you the story of incorporation of key elements of multiple sub- Skelator. In all began in year 3666 BC during genres. The band is currently playing gigs in the time of the ancients’ reign of gold and the Seattle area with a dynamic, multi-media mystique … No, wait, better yet, let the singer live show that has been hailed as “a hypnotic and swordmaster Jason Conde-Houston von journey into the mind and soul”. San Diego tell you the story of Skelator.

The band is currently in the studio recording Skelator is: their initial EP, with a projected release date in Jason Conde-Houston: air raid siren reification August 2015. For booking information, please Rob Steinway: power dive incursions contact [email protected].” Robbie Houston: unit distortion projections

Patrick Seick: metronomical calculations Listen to some of the music here. Rah Davis: thunder intonation commander www.reverbnation.com/aflourishingscourge www.facebook.com/aflourishingscourge Hello, Jason. Your new album “King of Fear” www.twitter.com/a_scourge sounds perfect for the diehards of traditional

heavy metal. Now that the album is Black Tears (Seattle) completed, what is ahead for the band in According to Metal Archives, Trevor Eulau is 2015 and 2016? the person behind this solo black metal project. “Forgotten” is the name of the four- In 2015 we are trying to take it easy in terms of song recording, which is about 23 minutes song writing. I think “King of Fear” is a very long. The music, when it is slow, is melancholic, strong album and should be enjoyed on stage depressive, and when it is going full blast until we get around to writing our new tremolo rules the moment. This is a free/name- material. I think we will aim to write an EP by your-price recording. the end of the year and maybe we can www.blacktearsofficial.bandcamp.com/relea record in 2016. ses www.facebook.com/pages/Black- As far as playing live goes, we just played to a Tears/1505906806348305 sold out show with Steel Panther and we are

about to embark on our quest to Chicago to

play at the Ragnarokkr Festival. Then we will

3 plan a West Coast Tour for late 2015. Let's see Is it correct that Skelator started in 1998 in San what 2016 has in store. Diego, in the ancient kingdom of Kalifornien? Jason, how did you discover that you could Can you tell us a bit about "King of Fear"? Do sing? Do you remember what albums you you, Jason, feel nervous or have butterflies in used to sing along to when you were a young your stomach when it is time to do your knight? vocals? How difficult is it to get those high scream right on the first take?! In 1998 me and my best friend Max wanted to start a metal band and we started writing Personally, I have mixed feelings about lyrics. Basically, we were just getting into recording myself. I'm not nervous exactly; I just Metallica and wanted to emulate them in can't stand to have my performance everyway. But it wasn't until 1999 that we got dissected. I kinda turn into a bitch sometimes. Patrick to play drums for us and really start the But luckily my cousin Robbie is at the helm writing process. I went to school with Patrick at every time and we have a long history of San Diego High School and I was always like recording together (since the year 2000). So “Oh man he's that “cool” guy who plays we understand each other’s boundaries not drums in a band.” Later we recruited my just performancewise but personality as well. cousin Robbie to play lead guitar. I left him a message on his answering machine “Robbie We always tackle one song at a time. We start you must SAVE SKELATOR!!!!” On May 19th 2000 with the verses in my head voice to get into we played our first show to a bunch of straight the spirit and flow of the song. After that, we edge hardcore punks. We sucked so much, move on to the choruses and try to get the but we were the only cats trying to play thrash perfect one that we can copy paste over the metal back then so they all loved it. song. Then, we do basic backups on the chorus to make it sound meaty. Then, we redo As for my singing, I started off blasting my the endings of each chorus so that they are in mom's Led Zeppelin LPs and jumping around fact different and they lead into the next part the living room screaming my balls off like I (solo, bridge, ending, etc.). When I needed was the next incarnation of Robert Plant. Later breaks we would have Patrick do harmony I head “Blackened” by Metallica and that backups on various songs until I was ready made me want to listen to metal all day every again. day. But when I heard “Aces High” by Iron Maiden my mind was fucking blown. From Usually we do all the falsettos in one session then on I wanted to sing like “that” and write when my voice is sharp and kicking into high songs like that painting picture in your mind gear. After that I'm basically done. Last but and tell a story at the same time. Then we all not least we have Grave Digger day when I got into Manowar and started covering “Hail do my gruff backups just to give the songs and Kill”. But Priest is was what taught me how more grit. The final thing we do is Battle Choir to use my diaphragm. I used to get high and which is our session of gang vocals like in the sing along to Priest 8 hours a day when I was song “Test the Metal”. Those are usually 20 working at a local head shop. recorded to give the audience a chance to join in when they hear their favorite songs live. My favorite singers: Dio, Halford, Eric Adams, Ian Gillan, Dickenson, Ralph Scheepers, Glenn Hughes, 4

Kai Hansen, Biff Byford, UDO, Morby, Fabio Some people might think that you are crazy Leone, James Rivera, Chris Boltendahl, Robert because you talk about posers in your songs. Plant, Peter Gabriel, Prince and the guys from Metal music is very trendy and there's a new Earth, Wind and Fire. bandwagon all the time and it is impossible to keep up. It's difficult to tell if a band is thrash How was the metal scene in the medieval one year, alternative the next year, and back feudal realm of San Diego in the mid and late to thrash the next one. 90s when you started out? Was it a swampland of rap rock, groove thug metal? Heh, a friend of mine was about to go out to a show and I asked her “Who are you gonna Yeah, that era sucked ass. I didn't really go see?” She responds, “I'm gonna see Red out to shows until I started Skelator and we Fang.” I go, “Who's that?” Then she gets a little mainly hung out with punks, so I didn't really bitchy, “Uhhh a heavy metal band....” I reply, have to deal with all that noise. Then we “Sorry, I've never heard of them.” started playing with actual metal bands and This is the kicker: she says, “They sound being part of the Sdmetal.org scene in like just like your band, you should know who they 2002/03. I mean there were death and black are.” So after she leaves I look them up and metal bands that were cool, but there were they are some fucking hipster band with really no heavy/power/thrash bands at all. loud fuzzy bass and really boring vocals that It's funny, I met the singer of Fueled by go nowhere. Next time I see her, I say, “How Fire a few years ago and he freaked out when was Red Fang?” and she replies, “Yeah, they I told him I was in Skelator. He told me that he don't sound anything like you guys.” got one of our demos at an Iron Maiden show in San Diego when he was a young cat and it Hahahaha.... story of my life. Just cause it's blew his mind. I'm not gonna say that we heavy does not mean it's metal. But when I inspired the thrash revival, but it was pretty talk about false metal I don't even care about cool to get those kids excited before they the heavy hipster stuff. What I care about is started writing their own heavy metal to the mall-core rockstar Energy Drink white trash come. bullshit that people think is metal. Thanks Ozzfest for ruining our fucking fun Then, because you were tired of the awesome and lumping us all up with a bunch of fake weather in San Diego, you decided to move asses. But, honestly, let them be. Let them to grey, cloudy, rainy and depressive Seattle enjoy their noise so that we, the few the proud because you are crazy or a masochist? Why?! and the faithful, can get together and truly Mainly professional reasons for us. Patrick enjoy the spirit of metal the way we see fit. needed to go to Evergreen State College to Sure, I'll write a song called “Death to the finish his degree. Robbie had a degree is False,” but I'm not gonna go to a Korn show audio engineering and he figured there and start decapitating people in the name of would be more musicians to record up here. I the metal gods. Let them drink their Faygo needed to get out of San Diego and become and smoke meth in peace. a man. But the scene here is just better all around for musicians and artists alike. We What is the worse thing ever in the history of ACTUALLY get paid at shows here. Not like LA the universe, in your opinion? Glam rock from where you have to play to play and all that the 80s, grunge, rap rock or hardcore? BS. 5

The worst thing in the universe is fucking No, ever since I put it on people ask me why I Metallica. Sure, it got me into metal and I'll have a Mexican flag on my vest. Well, it's always remember those first four albums for ‘cause I'm Mexican. Why do I have a Star Trek being my road map to real metal, but fuck, command emblem on my vest? Cause I'm a man. If I was stuck with all their other albums hardcore Trekkie and Kirk is my boy. playing on repeat I would go completely I'm actually going to record the new insane. As a cruel joke we listened to “Load” Split Heaven album in Mexico later this year. on the road on our last tour. It's absolutely This will help me become a better singer, disgusting and that's not even their worst practice my Spanish, get connections in album. It just get's worse and worse. When Mexico and spread the gospel of Skelator people try to justify “Death Magnetic” I just across the land. laugh. Just cause it's “BETTER” than “St. Anger” does not mean it's worth a damn. Fuck, at By the way, what can you tell us about your least “St. Anger” is funny as fuck. But “LuLu” is Hawkwind cover "Master of the Universe"? far worse, it's not even funny, it's just terrible in How did you get the saxophone in there?! You every way. I'm not a Lou Reed fan, but for threw me for a loop! that to be your final record.... rest his soul. I used to hate buttrock because of I've wanted to cover that song since the year Metallica, now I think it's fucking wicked. It's 2000 when I first heard that song. But it wasn't just fun and catchy with badass guitar solos. until this album when we were trying to find a perfect bonus track that Patrick brought it up Hey, if you had decided to spell the name of and everyone was down immediately. We the band as "Skeletor" would that have got our friend Nate to play sax on it and it brought you a lawsuit?! Which one is your came out really great. Nate plays in Patrick's favorite of these three shows: He-Man, other band Pratattack. But, yeah, Hawkwind is Transformers or Thundercats? Which is more one of my favorite bands of all time. I metal? especially love their late 70s and 80s periods the most. I know most people like their Lemmy Honestly, it was a mistake, but when I realized era, but I think it's dumb to forget that they what happened I figured it was a good thing. have like a million more albums worth listening There are a few bands called Skeletor out to. there, but they have all folded over the years. He-Man is not a good show at all, the It is very good that Skelator is alive and strong monster design is terrible. Transformers is the after all these years. most metal, for sure, and I still love the 80s animated movie. But if you asked me as a 6 Thank you, the road has not been easy, but it year-old I would say “Thundercats, has been filled lots of fun. Many beers have Thundercats, HOOOOOO!!!!” been slain, towns have been ravaged, speakers exploded, guitar strings shredded On Metal Archives the picture of Skelator has and bleeding ears all around. 15 years of you, Jason, wearing a jacket with a Mexican playing gigs has really paid off, let's hope for flag patch. OK, how many people have asked another 15. you about that piece of trivia? Is this the first time?! I just want you all to remember... Death to the Opposition 6

Death to False Metal though) something which is very effective for GIVE ME METAL OR GIVE ME DEATH! the band’s co-operation and communication. www.facebook.com/TrueSkelator However, despite the fact that the scene, www.trueskelator.bandcamp.com here, is not well-heard abroad, there are THE END several bands, such as Menace, ** Doomocracy, Imperium Infernalis, Chaos INTERVIEW with Eternal, etc. which are totally worth-to-listen.

Biotoxic Warfare (Greece) Is it a problem for Biotoxic Warfare to be located in Crete, in comparison to Athens?

The consensus about Biotoxic Warfare seems Yes, unfortunately, it is our main problem at to be that this thrash band, in addition to the moment. Living on an island is very difficult showing a promising future, has made an in terms of arranging concerts in other cities album with strong songs in the thrash style and overseas, due to the high priced the band brings a fresh energy, with a bit of transportation costs. However, it is vital from a death metal (like in the vocals) that listeners band to play gigs in Athens now and then, as are noticing, such as calling it an excellent it is the main center, and it gives you the album, an atypical album of thrash and a opportunity to get your music heard by larger dark thrash album. It seems that even jaded audiences, something that is impossible in our listeners have taken a liking to the album. local live shows. Although, this is something When a listener first hears the album, one that fills us with determination to make our notices the enthusiasm and the effort to make best in order to overcome such difficulties and solid songs. With that in mind, let’s find out fight it harder. The scenario, however, of more about Biotoxic Warfare from Greece. moving out in the main center in the nearby

future, is something that we take into serious Hello, Biotoxic Warfare! Your album consideration. "Lobotomized" is all about headbanging and thrashing! It's a fun and intelligent album! What is going on in Greece that made you

pick up an instrument and write fast metal Hey, guys! Thanks for the interview and all the music with political/anti-religious lyrics? kind words regarding our latest album.

Hahaha, through the last decade, Greek What can you tell us about life for metal bands thrash is like a tradition. Every day a new band in Heraklion and Crete in general? burst out ready to thrash the place down!

Regarding the lyrics, religion, here, has still The underground metal scene of Crete is not great impact in everyday life, and that is one of the strongest and most well-known in something that causes the youth to express Greece due to lack of bands and the their opposition through the lyrics. Also, disadvantage that we have as an island too political themes are a very popular far away from Athens, the capital. phenomenon, as things here are totally Nevertheless, we play several concerts here in fucked up. In our opinion, things for young Crete as it is our base, and our main fan base bands are difficult and rough, but there are is located there. Every one of us lives in the plenty of opportunities for those, willing to take island of Crete (some of us in different cities, advantage of them. 7

Touring is, surely, our next priority. The main What about politics and Biotoxic Warfare? In obstacle is our low budget, but we try to find the news we hear that the economy in a way to take care of that. We have some Greece is bad, and also that right-wing, fascist plans but we cannot announce them yet, as political parties are gaining more support. they are not 100% arranged. We are all studying in the university, but some of us are Nowadays, Greece suffers from a devastating about to complete their studies. not only economical but moral crisis too. People are fed up with false promises and lies What are your personal tastes in metal? I think given by politicians and political parties, who that people are noticing the good quality and led us in this situation and as a result, it caused your dedication to metal music! the thrive of racism and fascism which can be considered as a very significant threat Thanks for the rewarding words! Our main gaining more and more power by the influences are placed in the old school people’s arrogance and desperation. Biotoxic European thrash metal scene and also in the Warfare strictly oppose to any kind of fascistic American old school death metal movement. ideologies (both right-wing and left-wing) but However, every one of us brings their own we choose to keep our political beliefs for influences in the band and that is very ourselves and not trying to expose them effective for our musical variety. Some through our lyrics. representative bands are can be considered as the following: Kreator, Slayer, Dark Angel, Who in the band is answering this interview? Sodom, Sacred Reich, Obituary, Cancer, Bolt What can you tell us about your experience in Thrower, Cannibal Corpse and Legion of the the recording of "Lobotomized" in the studio? Damned. Guitar for me is a vital part of my life. So yes, I This is George (lead guitars) answering. dedicate plenty of hours on studying every Recording Lobotomized was definitely, one of day. the most memorable moments in our lives. We www.statictension.com spent many endless nights recording and www.biotoxicwarfare.bandcamp.com recording with few hours of proper sleep and www.facebook.com/pages/Biotoxic- liters of coffee. Also, it was a race against Warfare/427903787269059 time, as we had some deadlines to catch on, www.twitter.com/BiotoxicWarfare regarding mixing and mastering. However, except from all the unforgettable memories THE END that we had from this experience, it had huge ** impact on us as individuals. We became better and better as musicians, we’ve learnt INTERVIEW with to work as a team and the most important, to find ways to overcome any possible Drawn and Quartered (part 2) difficulties. It was sure a great experience. In the state of Washington, death metal band

Drawn and Quartered has been making Now that you have a debut album out, what music for a long time, going back to the early are your plans? 1990s. The band is an important piece of the

puzzle of underground metal in Washington.

8

This interview with the band has a tremendous was called 'Incinerated Faithful' and a version amount of history and information about the was recorded and included on our next band and metal in this region. record. I completed a 7-song demo called This is the concluding part of the interview. "Defiled by Sodomy" with PLAGUE BEARER. I The previous issue, number 52, has the first part did extensive mixes, came up art, had the of this interview. recording mastered, but never released it. But www.facebook.com/drawnandquartered all the work, rehearsals, recording etc., helped bring my writing to another level, and I got In 2003 there was "Extermination Revelry." some chances to rip out some solos and Right after that in 2004, you also had "Return of practice over and over, something I wasn't the Black Death." It seems like you entered a getting as much out of our DRAWN AND period of high productivity. Was the lineup QUARTERED rehearsals. stable around this time, did it have good We'd been doing a lot of really great chemistry? If asked to recall the early 2000s, shows around the region that was getting us what types of associations come to mind in more and more experience and local terms of the band during this time in the notoriety. We opened for MORBID ANGEL, Seattle area? Were you able to play shows in IMMOLATION, INCANTATION, EXHUMED, the Pacific Northwest outside of Seattle? What IMPALED, THY INFERNAL, MONSTROSITY, about the rest of the U.S. and internationally? DEICIDE and many more. Some of the local bands we were playing with were BLOOD The first record 'To Kill is Human’ was originally RITUAL (members of DISBELIEF), TASTY GORE, recorded in 1998 and we released tracks on IMMORAL INTENT, FORNICATOR, INQUISITION, cassettes. We pressed a few hundred copies, LORD GORE, ENGORGED, WRAITHEN, SOL two versions. No cover or title, just a promo NEGRO and many more. In the early months tape. We soon decided to release the record of 2002 DRAWN AND QUARTERED rehearsals on CD, and we pressed our own copies. In had been reduced 2 twice a week from 3-5 1999 we made a deal with MORIBUND to for many years. The writing was dragging on. distribute the record, and they pressed their We had two finished songs since the last own copies. The original version has color on record. I had plenty of new ideas, and we the image on the disc itself, the Moribund finally got serious about completing music for version doesn't. Also our version has a different a record. At the same time MATT and SERPENS process for recreating the cover art making it AEON were closing in on finishing the music for shinier, compared to the higher quality their debut. Things came to a head and MATT MORIBUND version. After that that tour from left the band. It was a tough time for me. I 1999-2001 I began writing and rehearsing was fearful, and it was hard to let go of being regularly some new PLAGUE BEARER material. a road-ready band ready to open for the best Matt was playing drums in SERPENS AEON, in the business to start over and the possibility Greg was doing a cover band, and also was of failure. Who knew if we'd ever perform as involved with PLAGUE BEARER. Herb and I DRAWN AND QUARTERED again? Once again worked on various things, and he did vocals Beau Galloway referred a drummer to us. on my PLAGUE BEARER demos. Writing with Dario Derna had returned to Seattle. I'd hear DRAWN AND QUARTERED was like pulling from Odin he was coming back, so that teeth, but we had put together some things, helped with allowing Matt to step away from and did start playing a new song on our last what he took seriously as a commitment to U.S. tour together with Matt in 2001. That song me and the band. I did contact Dario, who 9 really hadn't played drums much for years. So the tracks did appear on a cassette album in within a week or two of Matt’s departure we Germany, and as part of a bonus disc in 2007 began rehearsing and writing again. In less for the release of MERCILESS HAMMER OF than a month we had 5 brand new songs. We LUCIFER. I pushed for the recording of our next did a little rehearsal demo, to see how the record and in 2004 we were able to record new songs were sound. It was intended just as and release RETURN OF THE BLACK DEATH. a sound test for us, but we sent a copy to Much tighter, cleaner, with even better Odin at MORIBUND, and it was decided we performances, and some of our more would promote DRAWN AND QUARTERED Mk technical music in our catalog, this is one of 2 with our new 5-song rehearsal demo we the highlights of my career. I wrote many of called 'Crusaders of Blasphemy'. Hundreds of the songs, including the epic AS IDOLS FALL. It copies were created, and one version even received amazing reviews including a nice had a little atmospheric keyboard thing at the spread in METAL MANIACS. It was a end of 'Worshipers of Total Death' that we productive time. I had less of a commitment made Dario take out of future versions! A deal to a specific job for a few years, and it was was made with MORIBUND, in a matter of a often challenging personally. But I had more few months we began doing shows again, time to focus on music for a little while. and we completed 11 songs for a new There was a period of time when recording that began in the spring of 2003. DRAWN AND QUARTERED was in a holding pattern while our drummer was getting his DRAWN AND QUARTERED was reborn. It had personal life together. We didn't waste any taken from until about 1992 until 2002 for me time, though. Greg Reeves was our bass to really hit my stride as a writer, performer player. He had a lot of drive to various and player. All of the side bands, demos, projects, and had been working playing shows, tours were finally paying off and we drums for a while. We formed a band called were finally in a slightly more modern WINDS OF PESTILENCE. It featured Greg on recording environment. In 2003 we were show drums, Herb Burke played bass and vocals, I ready and could learn as many songs as I played guitar. And Greg's' friend John Fryer could bring in. The band all contributed riffs was the second guitar player. This was and ideas as well. We now had a label able another great opportunity to keep my chops to fund this operation and we had a 3-album up, and rehearse the lead parts I wrote for deal to fulfill. Our music and performances myself, work on some new ideas. The music were coming across great and people loved was thrashy, black and death metal our new songs. Things in my personal life were influenced I wrote much of the music and stable, so I was able to focus writing and lyrics, but Herb started contributing later as recording. I knew I was in a very good, and well. Unfortunately not all of the songs we had probably rare situation so I took full got recorded. From 2004-2008 we played advantage and brought a lot of ideas and some shows, did a small tour, and recorded a began writing and recording as much as demo that has been mastered, but not possible. In early 2004 we had an offer to do a officially released. John posted some rough split 7", so we recorded two songs on our own mixes and misspelled some of the titles, so recording equipment, it was fast and dirty and they are out there. Also in 2004 I pieced the songs came out great, I felt free to just together some song scraps that became the shred away. Unfortunately, the split didn't PLAGUE BEARER EP 'Rise of the Goat'. I had a happen (as often happens in these things) but friend who was playing drums for FUNERAL 10

AGE at the time. They rehearsed down the In 2006 and 2007, you had another two hall. He was eager to jam. So I threw together albums in rapid succession "Hail Infernal some songs and lyrics, we rehearsed for a Darkness" and "Merciless Hammer of Lucifer.” while, then went to the AUTOPSY ROOM that The lineup seems to be same, so the band DRAWN AND QUARTERED had been recording seems like it was stable at this time, you were at and did a very quick recording. It cost still on Moribund. You must have been coming about the same as the demo I did at up with songs day and night at this time. How LAUNDRY ROOM studio for the 'Bubonic would you describe the period of 2003-2007 Death' demo back 93! It took a while, but I for your band? Were those albums financed eventually got the recording released as a by Moribund Records; Did that help you guys vinyl EP on NUCLEAR WINTER RECORDS. Dario to concentrate on the music, with some was soon back and we did a lot of shows stability? Or, did you guys get into a lot of around the region, but DRAWN AND debt to Moribund Records during this time? QUARTERED has yet to conquer the international market as a touring act. In fact 'Hail Infernal Darkness' came out in 2005. Dario was never willing or able to do extensive [Metal Archives says it was released January touring. 3rd, 2006. –Ed.] This is one of our finest moments. I absolutely loved that record, and These two albums were on Moribund Records wanted to take a slightly different approach and the debut was independent. How was the with the next record. I was able to secure relation with Moribund at this point in time for budgets for our records, and we did some you? How did that come about? Moribund is a videos for 'Hail Infernal Darkness' and label from Washington, is that correct? In the ‘Merciless Hammer of Lucifer.' The whole band early 2000s the internet had not yet taken over was contributing ideas and sometimes even a as such in metal and people still bought cds, song for these records. It was a lot of work to right? do the records and videos. We couldn't have done it without the line-up staying intact. The Moribund started in the Seattle area, and is fact that we had these stabilizing factors based in Washington State. Odin and helped me push to make another record. I Moribund has been there since my first show have amazing rough mixes for 'Merciless in 1993 at the LAKE UNION PUB. The Hammer....", the final mix wasn't quite how we relationship for me has always been great. I intended. The record can be played very worked as a Moribund employee for a while loud, and with some EQ it sounds pretty good. and was involved with mail order and But by this time people are listening to music promoting, including my own records. Odin on computer speakers, not home or car audio was a Metal fanatic who worked in local as much. record stores, began his own distro, and We never went into debt. We just don't eventually label. Unfortunately due to other get any royalties until remunerable costs are distributing partners going bankrupt, he took a covered. That includes recording costs, part big hit and had to down size for a while. But of the advertising, video budgets and he also was the US distributing partner for merchandise and monies advanced for tour NAPALM RECORDS, and began Metal support. These years 2003-2007 were very Distribution Network. People were buying CDs. important for DRAWN AND QUARETERED. We I probably didn't even own a computer yet. put out 4 records in the space of 5 years, as well as the videos, bonus tracks, and 11 recording and shows for PLAGUE BEARER and recorded the WINDS OF PESTILENCE demo WINDS OF PESTILENCE. It took most of free time that never got a proper release. and energy to keep up with the projects and I would have to say that the activity did various shows, festivals and touring. At one NOT slow down after 2007! We took some time point we did a small tour as WINDS OF and did the tour in 2008. On the third show of PESTILENCE. Dario was not really willing or able the tour the drummer for SATANS HOST quit. to tour. This became an issue, as Greg Reeves, We were in Denver, and he just took his drums our bass player from 1997-2008 very much and went home after our set. The shows had wanted to tour. He was getting fed up with been sparsely attended so far, in Seattle and the lack of financial return, and was really Tacoma. The Denver show was kind of a hoping to be making part of our living with fiasco; being moved ultimately to a dumpy DRAWN AND QUARTERED. That just wasn't Mexican restaurant. I'm glad we did at least happening. We generated money, but not get to perform. I can't really blame people for the kind I'd want to try to live on. As far as being discouraged, but the tour got better. writing music for the records, that was the Our touring drummer Steve, ended up easy part. We all had plenty of ideas and riffs working with SATANS HOST to help them finish for the songs. We started writing a lot of things the tour. SATANS HOST had become a black in the rehearsal room, it was very organic at metal band at this time, as opposed to the times. power-metal-from-the-devil approach they originally had, and have returned to. Did things kind of slow down in terms of Ultimately, it was a fun but challenging activity for you after 2007? Your next tour; gas prices were 5-6$ a gallon. That cut recording came out in 2011 and it was the EP into potential profits. I also printed too many "Conquerors of Sodom" on Nuclear Winter shirts. I still have couple left from that 2008 Records. But then you followed that up with tour, to this day. On the last leg of the tour our "Feeding Hell's Furnace" in 2012, again on bass player had an issue and basically quit Nuclear Winter Records. For those that do not the band in New Mexico, and tried to live in this area and who associate you with sabotage what was left of the tour. He took Moribund Records, what have you guys been his gear and things, and I have never heard up in recent years, in terms of record labels? from him since; after 11 years! So we finally made it home, I took on some significant By 2008, with 'Merciless Hammer of Lucifer' out debt. I could have made a profit, except for a I had begun booking a U.S. tour I called the couple of missteps. It was a great learning 'Assault of Evil' tour with Moribund Records experience. label-mates SATANS HOST. Back then I booked quite a lot of the tour with the help of From mid/late 2008-2010 we re-booted MySpace! I was able to locate bands and DRAWN AND QUARTERED. Herb had been venues. Some people were able to offer some playing bass and doing vocals in our side guarantees, and I negotiated deals, rented a band WINDS OF PESTILENCE from 2004-2008. vehicle. We had to recruit Steve Fournier from When Greg quit, WINDS OF PESTILENCE was IN MEMORIUM as the drummer, as Dario was disbanded. Herb had to buy some bass gear. unable to tour. We practiced with both And we started from scratch, writing new drummers beforehand, and we were material and practicing and rehearsing to a rehearsing doing shows as DRAWN AND click track. There was a period of almost 2 QUARTERED and WINDS OF PESTILENCE, and years that we didn't perform live at all. In 12 some ways it was nice to have a break record. Soon after, Simon Dorfman (SHADED from all of the band activity. I was able to EMNITY, INQUINOK) joined as our drummer. pursue other hobbies a bit. Finally we decided We began performing in 2013 and recorded to self finance our next record. I'd had basic tracks for a record by 2014. There was connections with NUCLEAR WINTER RECORDS, no label we were officially signed to at that and Dario had developed a relationship with time. Due to personal and musical differences Anastasis regarding DRAWN AND QUARTERED that record did not get finished. releasing our record with NUCLEAR WINTER. We are working on a deal for our next The record was done in 2010, but required full-length now, we have about 13 songs as of mastering, and artwork to be completed. this writing. We have begun tracking some We began performing again in 2010 as songs for various releases we have coming. a three piece. The band decided to leave off And we continue writing and performing at a couple of the songs from the full-length. I shows and festivals. I have a track for a was very pleased that we were able compilation and a song for a split 7" we are to release the "Conquerors of Sodom" 7". We working on. Then I will be releasing a limited had an earlier recording of the title track that edition cassette album. I'm also planning on was slated for a split 7' and t-shirt deal with doing our own 7" record and ultimately a full- Relapse Records that ultimately fell through. length vinyl release. All of that on top of That version of 'Conquerors of Sodom' was recording our next full-length that would be a never released. The full-length record finally CD release with a label. We just got some came out in 2012. The band had been doing newt-shirts with the 'Feeding Hells' Furnace' some traveling to play shows and festivals. The artwork on them. move to Nuclear Winter, wasn't so much of my doing, but we decided as a group to try How has recording your music changed in the something different. We had a new logo, we case of Drawn and Quartered? It used to were a three piece. It was fun. We could bust be that young bands dreamed of going to a out 20+ songs at any time as a live band, and big studio and working with a more if we rehearsed a bit. It was a good famous producer, like Scott Burns. How do you place to be, as we'd been together with Dario go about recording your music nowadays? since 2002, ten years. It was easy, I had a lot What are your views about the recording of of free time. We didn't have to rehearse that drums nowadays? much. We had been writing some new stuff, and even demoed an unreleased, unfinished All of the actual CD releases have been in a song. We performed our last show with Dario studio, with people we paid to engineer, at the Black Circle Fest in Portland, Oregon. record and mix the music. We were always Dario had marital issues, then he got a there to help produce the records. divorce. Then met a new girl, then they There weren't any famous producers near started a family and got married. As this was enough for us to work with feasibly, without happening he got a great job offer and great expense. At one point there was talk of moved on with his life. That's what people do. us traveling or working with someone. We did It was the end of an era. But it is what it is. And have James Murphy master our 2nd record. I we weren't sure if we'd continue, do a long am doing some in-house production for some distance band, take a break or what. We did projects I mentioned previously, using much continue and with the help of Beau Galloway, less tracks and gear. That last 5 records have I started piecing together songs for another been recorded in the modern way with 13 tracking drums to a scratch guitar played at your metal as you get older? When bands are the same time, then going back and young they'll travel across the country in a recording guitars, bass and vocals. Different van and come back home with nothing, but if effects and gear have been used to record someone offers you a gig all the way across the drums to varying effect. There are many the country and you're going to sleep in factors and variables. someone's house on the sofa, how appealing I want a nice natural sounding drum kit, is that to Drawn and Quartered at this point in with punchy but not 'clicky' drums. Herb is time? definitely against the fake sounding, popcorn/typewriter drum sound. Usually the Honestly it was always difficult. Instead of drummer and engineer are trying things and relaxing with friends and family, doing regular engineering the drum sound. It all gets a bit activities, enjoying hobbies and down time, all convoluted, and it is time consuming and of your free time goes into writing, practicing, challenging to record and get a good rehearsing, recording and doing shows. And sounding drum performance. There are some making money to pay for gear, rehearsal many possibilities. It is hard to say much rooms, travel and whatever else you have to about, as I haven't heard every possible invest in. It takes a certain amount of drive, technique, piece of gear or engineering of dedication and discipline to consistently do drums being recorded. I know people try a lot even more work. And the work environment is of things, samplers, compressors and editing a challenge, I work really hard to make as to get drum tracks. It begins to some much money as I can sometimes multiple ambience with all this. jobs, side businesses and whatever you have Sometimes I wonder if just a to do to survive and thrive and finance your simpler approach might be best. I would dreams and goals. prefer a live sounding kit in a studio drum Having never stopped, and after doing room. But in the end, I trust the drummer and multiple bands and projects, at this point it engineer. I can't do everything, for better or isn't that hard at all. We currently rehearse in worse, I have to allow them to try what they my house. I've had to work very hard to think is best at the time. I really don't create a lifestyle for myself and create the know enough about it to comment. financial and personal situation for myself to Sometimes even after all the efforts to create be able to do this. You have to have your shit the drum track, the mix gets screwed up together, and that can be harder the doing anyway. Sometimes when dealing with the music for sure. Most people eventually budgets, deadlines and logistics and realities quit. They get sick of it all. You have to of life things get screwed up. Sometimes a absolutely love it. It can't be just for money, drummer changes their heads right before because you might not see much of a profit recording and they end up unhappy with the for a long, long time. sound of the heads for whatever reason. It doesn't make as much sense to just There might be a tone or ringing they can't drive around in a van playing shows and get rid of that you’re then kind of stuck with. sleeping on couches. I've done plenty of that. All I can say is find a really good drum It's about utilizing your time and resources to engineer. the maximum effect. I'd rather fly out and do some shows. Why do I need to cart guitar How difficult is it for you (financially, time-wise, cabinets around anymore, there are plenty to work/job, family, health...) to continue making use. It seems silly for 3-5+ bands to all bring 14 cabinets and each move them on and off the the scene, like the bands mentioned we stage for a show. I'm going to do shows and continue to create the darkest most make sacrifices when I get to play for new malevolent music we can come up with. The audiences, at promising shows and festivals. best is yet to come, as far as I'm concerned. And I expect some money to help defray The industry is evolving, and the fan base expenses. It's is not very wise as a business continues to expand worldwide. person to take a loss year after year. You're doing it wrong. Being metal doesn't mean you What metal bands in the local scene in the have to be broke and stupid. It means you're Seattle do you think are making metal that is a warrior and you'll do what it takes to make interesting to you? progress. I have to be more critical about what shows and projects I agree to. I am Off the top of my head I'll name some bands I getting older, and to me that means I don't can think of. FUNERAL AGE, TREPANANTION, have time to screw around. I expect a SLUT VOMIT/ WARP VOMIT, are a few. There guarantee usually, especially if I'm traveling. are quite a few people and bands excited I'm already going to take a loss from not about underground death metal right now. working. No amount of guarantee can make Our local scene is a strong as ever with good up for that. But I'm not going into debt as well, turnouts to local shows. so I can be more metal! Running around doing random shows is Can you tell us what your plans for 2015 are? a waste of time, if you could stay home make How was Famine Fest in Portland? My phone some records that are going to reach more says that you will play a show at Highline with people. Then maybe it would be worth Antaeus. Anything else you would like us to traveling and doing shows, you have to do know about Drawn and Quartered for 2015 both. You just have to be careful with what and 2016? you commit to. I have to turn down shows every week. We just can't do them all, some 2015 has been busy so far. I put together a just don't fit with other band and personal little recording studio at home where we plans we might have. I like to take some rehearse, and we have been writing and vacation time NOT doing shows or work. rehearsing as well as doing some shows. We've done a couple Seattle shows, the How do you see yourselves as a band in FAMINE FEST in Portland, Oregon was metal? Would you say that you feel a certain excellent. We have a show with UADA and connection to bands like Incantation and INFERNUS in Portland on April 18th, in May we Immolation, and Sadistic Intent, Blaspherian have a couple of slots at the MARYLAND and Funebrarum? DEATH FEST to play. In June we are headlining a festival in Bend, Oregon. We'll also start I think we have potential to take this band to tracking for our next full-length CD as soon as another level. It will take hard work, travel, we secure the deal/budget, and I stop making some more great records; improving booking shows for us for a bit so we can our performances and recordings. We will record. I hope to at least have completed the always be an underground band. We have a record this year; hopefully, it will also get a connection to those bands because we have release date. After all that I hope to focus on performed with, met and toured with these some high profile festivals, and there has been guys. We have finally carved our names into a mention of a world tour that may eventually 15 come to pass! I will be selling some new And then, more recently, there was the merchandise on our Facebook page for now intriguing competition that the band ran to until I can get some distribution again, or my design the artwork for this album. The result is own webstore, so stay in touch, everyone! beautiful, striking and markedly different from THANKS! HAIL INFERNAL DARKNESS!!!! what has gone before. As a complete sucker for a great album cover, I felt compelled to THE END explore the music contained within. ** The nice thing about my personal circumstances however, is that I am able to look upon ‘Epistemology’ with fresh eyes and REVIEWS not be swayed or influenced by what has gone before. To me, Keep Of Kalessin circa Keep of Kalessin (Norway): Epistemology 2015 is a brand new band and therefore a (Indie Records) brand new discovery about which I can be completely honest without being hindered by by Matt Spall, the Man of Much Metal the baggage that a back catalogue can www.manofmuchmetal.wordpress.com bring. It’s quite exciting actually. What surprised me initially is that such a I’m not afraid to admit when I am wrong. This, huge, epic sound can be created by a mere I believe, is one such occasion. I have had three people. Obsidian C handles the vocals, cursory listens in the past to previous releases guitars and the bulk of the writing it would by Keep Of Kalessin and not been overly appear. However, he is more than ably impressed. To this day, I can’t really put my assisted by drummer Vyl and bassist Wizziac, finger on why I wasn’t lured into the fold; for both of whom make an impact on this record. some reason, the black-tinged extreme metal In true extreme/black metal style, offerings didn’t really click with me and so ‘Epistemology’ opens up with a short, minute- with more music to listen to than I have spare long instrumental piece, ‘Cosmic Revelation’. time, I wasn’t in a position to give the It serves it’s purpose well as a tension-builder, Norwegians much of a second chance. Until because it’s a surprisingly suspense-filled now that is. And you cannot believe how cinematic sci-fi inspired piece, full of dark and pleased I am that the stars aligned and foreboding drama despite its diminutive somehow forced me to give album number length. six, entitled ‘Epistemology,’ a chance. This is What follows is, frankly brilliant. ‘The one hell of a record. It has well and truly Spiritual Relief’ is off-the-scale superb. It begins made its mark and left a previous sceptic with with a furious blastbeat and dominant riffing much to ponder. I will certainly go back and which together threaten to spiral out of re-explore the back catalogue, that’s for control at any moment such is their combined certain. frenetic vigour. Underpinned by swirling synths, I talk about stars aligning because it the track has a classic, grandiose symphonic sounds exotic, windswept and interesting. In black metal feel to it. But then something reality, my interest in Keep Of Kalessin was re- magical happens. At first, the guitar riff ignited a while back when I discovered that descends into semi-discordant proggy territory they had entered the race to represent their before the composition opens up into one of native Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest. the most epic and anthemic sections I’ve heard in extreme metal circles for some time. 16

The blast beats remain at breakneck speed track. Classic 90s-inspired symphonic black but the clean, soaring vocals and subtle metal is the bedrock, although the clean guitar melodies send goosebumps up and vocals are somewhat reminiscent of a toned- down my spine. Then, as if this wasn’t enough, down ICS Vortex or Vintersorg, thereby at about the halfway point, the track collides fleetingly calling to mind the likes of Borknagar headlong into power metal territory, or latter-day Arcturus. But then a beautifully complete with groovy riffing, lead guitar melodic lead guitar break or quiet synth breaks and catchy melodies before segment is never far away, thereby reverting experimenting with what I can only describe to their unique approach and blowing out of as heavy ambient stylings. The central melody the water any further easy reference points. becomes ever more glorious and joyous The track builds throughout and is led to it’s before eventually reverting to the more black conclusion for the final couple of epic minutes metal approach encountered at the via a recurring melody atop which sits some beginning. Ten minutes never passed so majestic choral vocals and a breezy upbeat quickly. guitar melody. ‘Dark Divinity’ follows and whilst the And with that, ‘Epistemology’ is done, unique clean vocals of Obsidian C are although the music stays with you long after present, he defers more readily to what I’d the final notes have faded away. For call a gruff black metal bark. The entire track someone who wasn’t expecting much, I must is more straightforward if that’s not too admit that Keep Of Kalessin have well and disingenuous but what’s most striking is the truly blown me away with this record. unique guitar playing. I’ve used the word ‘Epistemology’ contains just about all the ‘unique’ a lot within this review but I genuinely things I like from extreme metal these days; think it’s justified. The phrasing, the execution the combination of extremity, technicality and the entire sound of Obsidian C’s guitar and overblown grandiose melody and playing is unlike anything I’ve heard before. atmosphere is truly a thing of beauty and ‘Epistemology’ is comprised of only eight something special to behold. Magnificent. tracks but the album as a whole does not feel The Score Of Much Metal: 9 too short. Indeed with the vast majority of the www.facebook.com/keepofkalessin compositions weighing it at over seven www.indierecordings.no minutes in length and up to ten on occasions, Keep Of Kalessin impress me by the way in which nothing really feels too drawn out or Battle Beast (Finland): Unholy Savior (Nuclear bloated for the sake of it. ‘The Grand Design’ Blast Records) is another well-worked epic and memorable track that blends extremity with sumptuous by Jojo from www.fuglymaniacs.com melodies whilst ‘Necropolis’ has a great groove and some really powerful mid-paced 2015 started off with a new band to us: Battle drumming that forces the listener to Beast. These guys have been around since headbang whether or not they wanted to. 2008 and are a big deal in Finland, apparently ‘Introspection’ begins quietly with a theatrical with many accolades from winning battle of synth-led opening before hurtling towards a the bands contest to chart toppers. huge, anthemic power metal-esque chorus via more lightning-fast rhythms and riffs. They are capable musicians with two other The album then closes with the title albums under their belts. Unholy Savior is a 17 release that will confuse the listener. They are bassist David Moorcroft, keyboardist Nick all over the place with their Europower metal Clarke and drummer Billy Jeffs. Oh and on influence to club pop rock ballads. vocals, the band features Pete Morten, that chap who plays guitar in Threshold and who is They are trying to cover a lot of ground with the singer, guitarist and principal song writer one album. Funky keyboard driving pop songs with My Soliloquy. ‘In The Fullness Of Time’ is like "Touch me in the Night" and "Angels Cry" the debut album following a well-received EP are outright embarrassing. back in 2009 by the name of ‘No Regrets’. I reckon that, by now, I have the full attention We are jaded and ugly so we are probably of many, so let’s crack on. NOT the people to enjoy this, BUT if you like Wisconsin cheddar (we do in our food!) I don’t think that the members of NightMare cheese topping off that fried Twinkie with a World will take too much offense if I suggest touch of power sugar, you came to the right that the content of ‘In The Fullness Of Time’ place...enjoy! doesn’t set the world alight in terms of out- and-out originality. Theirs is an approach that 2015 is off to a weak start, but we got Napalm is relatively familiar in that it offers melodic Death, Hate, UDO, Venom to look forward power metal with lashings of synths and the too...YES!! odd foray into prog territory. However, www.facebook.com/battlebeastofficial crucially, where NightMare World really deliver and show their quality is in the song writing stakes. When it is well written and presented, NightMare World (U.K.): In The Fullness Of Time this kind of music can be the kind of tonic that (Pure Legend Records) is infectious, addictive and something that will plaster a big smile on the listener’s face. This is by Matt Spall, the Man of Much Metal exactly what NightMare World do and they www.manofmuchmetal.wordpress.com should get great credit for it.

Now this is exactly the kind of album that I Benefitting from a great production job want to feature on the Blog Of Much Metal; a courtesy of Karl Groom (Threshold) and the strong record that deserves attention but mastering of Peter Van’t Riet (Symphony X, which might not get the exposure it fully Transatlantic), there are many ingredients deserves. To be honest, had it not been for littered throughout ‘In The Fullness Of Time’ the inclusion of a certain musician that I follow that combine to great effect. First up, each via social media, it may never have even member of the band can really play their registered on my radar either. Thankfully it has instruments. Everything is executed well, with a because the music is too good to be clarity and sureness of purpose to ensure that overlooked and not brought to people’s the compositions hit the mark from the very attention. first note. The guitar tones are very nice; crunchy and crisp to accentuate the riffs and By way of a bit of background, NightMare to play a perfect counterpoint to the softer World are a British-based band, that came keyboards that dip in and out with subtlety together with one sole aim, to create but also come to the fore occasionally via a powerful, dynamic heavy metal. Comprised well-placed solo or grand atmospheric of guitarists Sam Shuttlewood and Joe Cleary, sweep. The rhythm section lays a solid 18 foundation with the drums in particular of the closer, the truly epic and grandiose packing a punch. The progressive elements ‘Euphoria’ which is a part cinematic and part are not overplayed, meaning that the songs metal anthem. are never compromised by an ill-judged foray into overindulgence. This latter point is In closing therefore, if you’re after a underlined by the fact that the album is a very professional, highly competent and fun dose succinct affair, with the nine tracks lasting for of melodic metal with prog touches, let a total of 38 minutes. It means that NightMare NightMare World into your life. World do not outstay their welcome; quite the The Score Of Much Metal: 8.0 opposite in fact. The band get in, do their www.facebook.com/nightmareworld thing and get out, meaning you’re left www.purelegend-records.com wanting more as the final notes fade. Venom (U.K.): From the Very Depths And then, inevitably, there are the vocals. (Spinefarm Records) Those familiar with My Soliloquy will already be conversant with Morten’s delivery. Once by Jojo from www.fuglymaniacs.com heard, never forgotten. His delivery may be in the higher-pitched ranges but they remain “From the Very Depths” is Venom's fourteenth powerful and never veer into screechy studio album. territory. Morten’s phrasings are always interesting and coupled together with his When we heard Venom had a new album it range, top the songs off in a very positive brightened our day with anticipation. manner and help provide that je ne sais quoi Needless to say we enjoy the hell out this that all bands need. With a vocalist like Pete release, it’s a good one. Morten, there’s always the danger that he could have stolen the show and plunged the First, a word from our "fugly guy" : If you’re still remainder of the band into the shade. The waiting for the old Venom sound & line-up great thing is this never happens, such is the move along. Those days are gone and if you all-round quality on display. can’t move pass that, then go fly a kite and quit your bitching! Yes, we know you are a In terms of my favourite moments on the true, elite metalhead. album, I have to point initially to ‘In Memoria Di Me’. After the cinematic instrumental We're back, as we were saying this album opener of ‘The Mara’, it wastes no time in delivers. The production is top notch, the delivering an up-tempo and groovy riff atop speed and heaviness is there. Cronos still some sumptuous keyboards that maintain the sounds good. Their sound is a bit more theatrical feel. It then opens up into one of progressive with blaring guitar solos coming in the best choruses on the album, a real and out like a drone dropping bombs on a earworm as I’ve discovered over the past few locked target. days. The slightly more melodic hard rock stylings of ‘Burden Of Proof’ are very welcome Some would dismiss this as not being a Venom as are the quieter, darker and more brooding trait. You would be right. If you play long tones of ‘The Ever Becoming’. ‘The New enough you will actually become pretty good Crusade’ is out-and-out power metal joy but at your craft. Yes, Rage (guitars) is showing off the best is arguably saved for last in the shape his skills and some will hate that. Cronos bass 19 sounds filthy and Dante’s thundering drums Yet, despite all these problems in metal music, sound great. We like this trait better than there are lesser-known bands that want to sounding old and lame. It's 2015, people, let’s create something exciting and a bit unique, move forward; the 80s are long gone and in like Sarpanitum, which appears to be the rear view mirror fading fast. musicians focused on quality, above all. You could describe Sarpanitum in a variety of Tracks that stand out: From the Very Depths, ways, yet none of those descriptions will work Smoke, Long Haired Punks, Evil Law, Grinding well: Sarpanitum plays a type of metal that Teeth, Wings of Valkyrie. immediately gives the sensation of painstakingly crafted songs, with a standard Truth be told we like it all. Support Venom. set straight on the high quality of Nile, www.venomslegions.com Immolation, Death, Morbid Angel: generally blasting speeds, Nile/Immolation-like heaviness topped with melody—but not All album reviews, news and updates below sugar/cheap melodies, more like a are by MMB, unless otherwise stated. melancholic/hypnosis melodies—that perhaps could come from Symbolic-era Death, all Sarpanitum (U.K.): Blessed Be My Brothers … done with a major symphonic tapestry, (Willowtip Records) perhaps coming from an Emperor/Dimmu When I first heard this album my interest was Borgir-style of foundations towards the peaked by the obvious high quality of the background of the songs. metal. It struck me as a bit special in metal, which made me take a more serious attitude You will notice that people writing or talking towards the album. Speaking truthfully, this is about Sarpanitum describe the band in terms the album that I have heard the most in 2015. of death metal, which is normal, but then that creates the impression that this music would In part, Sarpanitum, like most metal bands, appeal to death metal audiences, maybe faces a certain range of problems. One of the exclusively. However, Sarpanitum is not most difficult things to do in metal is to stand concerned with a single-genre sound, in a out because, on one hand, the genre is so old narrow sense, as we shall see. (with origins that reach back to the late 1960s), and on the other, the metal industry What is the difference, then? (e.g., listeners, musicians, press) are musically The difference is the idea that (1) it is not conservative: the biggest metal bands are enough to play fast (which Sarpanitum literally senior citizens who are not just very certainly does) and expect that that will be all wealthy but multimillionaires. This makes it that you need to make a lasting impression; more problematic for younger generations to (2) Sarpanitum is not satisfied with the low be seen and heard. If the grandpa bands standards in death metal; you just can’t chug refuse to leave the stage, and the press gives along and expect to call it a “song.”; (3) priority to the corporate-millionaire bands, the Sarpanitum has spent lots of time thinking younger bands have to wait around for a long about the guitar melodies, how to make a time, playing to an audience of seven drunk song memorable, but not make it some people at a bar on Monday nights. Thus, it is cliché, happy melody. difficult to find quality under circumstances that discourage quality. It is not easy doing these things, which is why 20

Sarpanitum sounds superior. More is more, Since 1982 Bud Ancillotti is the voice of Strana better is better, talent is better, skill is better, Officina. maturity is better. You will know it when you Now, Ancillotti is another band in which hear it. Bud sings, a band with his brother Bid (bass) and Bud’s son Brian (drums). The guitar is One issue that might discourage some taken care of by Luciano Toscani. possible listeners is the low-growling vocals. Therefore, when you consider the Sarpanitum faces a dilemma: all of the people that are involved in this music, you elements of the music are very developed, know that the music will be a monument to and only the vocals sound underdeveloped in heavy metal, and it sounds like it was crafted comparison to the instrumentation and by experts of heavy metal. What this means is songwriting. The problem for the band is to that the music aims to please. The uptempo find the corresponding style of vocals, and bangers and the midpace rockers, the sing- whichever style they do, they will not please along choruses, the air guitar moments, the everyone, of course. That being said, it should shred segments, it’s all here. be noted that a band like Nile has shown the Ancillotti, to me, will please people into possibilities for creating a variety of vocals, U.D.O./Accept because the singing style used within the framework of extreme vocals, as by Bud is a rough, tough rocking singing that you can find on “Black Seeds of Vengeance,” oozes rocking metal all the way. By the way, for instance. It is just a matter of putting ideas for those people that also like 70s and 80s to work towards finding other ways for AC/DC, maybe the album “Back in Black” extreme/heavy vocals to come to life. and that whole vibe in the guitars and the singing of that album, you will like the spirit of At any rate, like I mentioned earlier, this is the Ancillotti because this music a bit like a more album that I have heard the most during 2015. “metal version of AC/DC.” There is much, much for the discerning listener Bud is one of the most distinguishing to absorb here. Of course, this is highly marks about this traditional heavy metal. Mr. recommended to anyone that likes serious, Ancillotti has a voice that is rough around the mature, talented extreme metal. Even if you edges, he’s so good at what he does that he prefer traditional metal, I would say, give this twists and turns the vocal chords for a sound album a listen and see if your ears perhaps do all of his own. Mr. Ancillotti does this semi- hear the difference of Sarpanitum. The growl, but it’s not like death metal, it’s melodies should go a long way towards melodic, a gritty rock and roll growl. Then, he helping you understand the music. I believe also does melodic singing, and changes the that this is a special album. Will you agree? tone of his voice. It’s all very U.D.O.-Saxon- www.facebook.com/sarpanitum AC/DC in spirit, and it’s very appealing, and www.willowtip.com pleasing to the ear, if you like those singing styles. Ancillotti (Italy): The Chain Goes on (Pure Steel In addition, of course, the band knows Records) very well how to make an album that will be Ancillotti is a legendary name when we are fun and headbanging. Anyway, as you can talking about heavy metal in Italy. The singer, probably tell, Ancillotti is about heavy metal Daniele “Bud” Ancillotti is the vocalist for the songs for rocking out, the band seeks to write highly-regarded heavy metal band Strana metal songs that will hit the target and that Officina, whose origins date back to 1977. please the listener into this style of metal. I 21 can’t imagine that if you like Saxon, Many people already know that Matt Harvey U.D.O./Accept, AC/DC, that you would not from death metallers Exhumed loves Carcass, enjoy this music by this very recognizable and but now we are learning that he loves Death’s known name in the history of heavy metal in album “Leprosy” (1988) a lot, too. Matt and Italy. For those about to headbang, Ancillotti other old timers got together to pay tribute to salutes you with heavy metal. This band knows Death by making an album that is meant to how to rock. Come and get it. be a sibling album to “Leprosy.” In a parallel www.puresteel-records.com universe separated by decades apart, www.ancillottiband.com Gruesome beams up those unique vocals by www.facebook.com/AncillottiBand Chuck Schuldiner and those riffs into 2015. Of course, these senior citizens in 2015 know how Dew-Scented (Germany): Intermination to make the songs sound like 1988 Death. Do (Prosthetic Records) you, the listener, want late 80s Death-like Dew-Scented, like Overkill, Sodom and other metal or not? If you do, if you really do, then thrash bands, has developed a solid this is a very good clone transported from the reputation for reliability. Dew-Scented’s 80s to 2015. The old kids have gone back in extreme thrash (thrash with growled vocals time to the music that turned them on to and some blasting) is aimed at thrash loyalists death metal, and have shown that they have who want more, more, more moshing- learned well from the teachers. chugging grooves, more. There are 14 songs www.facebook.com/gruesomedeathmetal on this album. Here and there, the band www.relapse.com/gruesome shows a bit of melody and whatnot, but overall, this is all about “brutal thrash” and SoulHealer (Finland): Bear the Cross (Pure forming giant mosh pits. I have noticed that Legend Records) the reason why supporters of the band like the This album happens to be one that has been music is because of the thrash constant, the getting many repeated listens, for many good consistent songs, the “meat and potatoes” reasons. SoulHealer is a band that is very good style, the no-funny experimentation and stick- at melodic metal; they write songs that sound to-what-you-do-best approach. This is another like hits; they have a sound that will appeal to way of saying that Dew-Scented is for people into rocking music with memorable diehard, fanatic, thrash-is-my-favorite-genre chorus and catchy hooks. Plus, it just sounds listeners that love bands that keep the like the band has a lot of fun interpreting its moshers happy. If thrash is what you want, version of traditional rocking melodic metal and what you love, and you have not given music. To me, if you like Helloween, Gamma Dew-Scented a chance, right now would be Ray, Stratovarius, Edguy, Saxon, U.D.O., Doro, a good opportunity. Here’s the door, watch and you enjoy those bands that emphasize your elbows, and watch out for elbows big-time choruses that seek to get the coming at your face right about now. listener’s attention with one listen, SoulHealer is www.prostheticrecords.com made for you. www.dew-scented.de The first thing that I noticed about www.facebook.com/dewscented SoulHealer was the good singing. The singing is www.twitter.com/dewscented very, very appealing because it is that style that walks perfectly the line between natural Gruesome (U.S.): Savage Land (Relapse talent and acrobatics; the singing is melodic, Records) pleasing to the ear, and I find no possible 22 problems that could turn some people off, Is it possible that SoulHealer will be your like, with some bands, such as high screams, new favorite band? Can you imagine a band nasal singing, weird voice traits or unusual that writes hit and hit of melodic metal? Does quirks. In fact, if rock radio played SoulHealer, I the idea interest you? suspect that many non-metal listeners into I cannot recommend this album highly rock in general would absolutely love the enough. I can’t stop talking about it, but I music because even though SoulHealer is a have to. Ok, it’s your turn now. Let’s see what metal band, the music is also big rock, you think! anthem rock and sing-along hard rock, and www.soulhealermusic.com the Van Halen or Journey crowds would www.twitter.com/SoulHealerMusic understand the spirit of SoulHealer, which is www.facebook.com/soulhealermusic traditional to the bone. This is music played by www.purelegend-records.com adults, not insecure/unscrupulous people trying to get your attention with funny haircuts, Violent Hammer (Finland): More Victims demo masks or jumpsuits. These guys are probably (Shadow Kingdom Records) parents and could be teachers, social This demo is 17 minutes of barbaric extreme workers, mechanics, so on and so forth. This is metal that contradicts all the modern notions music for men and women, and of course, of “brutality.” Violent Hammer plays death young people, but it exudes confidence and metal like Venom, Hellhammer and Mantas the love of traditional metal and rock. It is sped up to more savage, faster forms. The “parent metal” or “middle-age metal.” Call it guitar tone is utterly foul, the vocals sound like whatever, it is just SoulHealer. a dinosaur or a bear in your living room … you The main concern for SoulHealer is the know, super ugly aural primitive barbarism. quality of the music, and the quality is very www.shadowkingdomrecords.com good, like I have been telling you. Things like, www.violenthammer.bandcamp.com “Is this fast enough? Is this heavy enough? Will www.facebook.com/violenthammer it sound like ‘modern metal’? Would be it ‘cool’?” and those silly questions are irrelevant Desolate Pathway (U.K.): The Valley of the here. Of course, I think it is very cool, but I King know that here in the U.S. the metal media Desolate Pathway is traditional Candlemass- doesn’t give this form of metal much attention style of doom, and is led by former Pagan because, well, it’s the U.S., and chug-rock is Altar guitarist Vince Hempstead. This is classic- considered “metal” and thug-core is minded doom with a metal guitar sound (not considered “metal.” stoner/sludge/postmetal) and a real singer, However, in the U.S. there are people one that will appeal to those into the soulful who appreciate this music. We just have to style of traditional doom in 2015, with great get it to them. If you find that you really enjoy songs, with a wonderful vibe; metal that has singing, and metal that melodic/melancholic, soulful doom metal the concentrates on writing songs that you can way that the master of doom Leif Edling remember for days and days, you cannot go himself likes it. Look, let’s do this, if you like wrong with SoulHealer. Give this band a listen. traditional doom like I have been describing, You will know immediately if this is for you give this band a try and see if you agree with because there is no mystery here: SoulHealer me. If you like Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, is melodic metal and the name of the game is (and newer bands like In Aevum Agere from quality and big-time songs. Italy), then I think that you are the audience 23 for this band. What do you say? Try it out? music, in the sense that it is meant to be www.desolatepathway.com alienating and unfriendly and machine-like in www.facebook.com/desolatepathway precision. The band surely wants to embody chaos in the sound and this they do very well. Carbonized (Sweden): For the Security (Vic I would be very interested to see how this Records) music sounds live. For now, speaking of this This is a reissue of the 1991 Sunlight album, this is the sounds of modern extreme in Studio/Tomas Skogsberg-produced album by 2015. Prepare yourself for a rather disturbing Carbonized, which involved Therion boss listen and just know that this album will never Christofer Johnsson and bassist Lars sound comfortable to the ear. There is a tiny Rosenberg, known for his time in Entombed. bit of melody in the black metal guitar work, Carbonized had a reputation for being rather but there is a whole lot of racket taking place, weird, wacky extreme metal, but that's later in too. You wanted chaos, and you got chaos, the 90s, this is 1991, so in grind and death now what are you going to do with it? metal the really jazzy/looney sounds have not www.facebook.com/the.negation.band happened yet in a big way. In 2015 this album www.facebook.com/kaotoxinrecords sounds rather normal as extreme metal, perhaps more direct and simpler than the Ion Vein (U.S.): Ion Vein (Mortal Music) dominant Entombed-like sound associated What a perfect balance of metal Ion Vein is. with growling metal from Sunlight Studio at the The discerning metal audience into traditional time. Christofer's vocals are deep/gruff forms of metal should notice many things growling (like early Therion, of course), while about this album that are excellent and the guitar is chugging/groove-ish, so that this is outstanding. One initial element to observe is not really death metal, but more punk-ish in how remarkably complete the album sounds: that sense. Check out Carbonized if you have the experience and the skills shine through an encyclopedic love of old Swedish bands or very well, and there is an overall vibe that the of Christofer Johnsson-related music. band has worked a lot on the album, showing www.vicrecords.com that this work is the result of years of thinking about how to construct their art. This aspect— The Negation (France): Memento Mori when an album sounds carefully crafted—is (Kaotoxin Records) something that should be commended The Negation is a major cacophonous car because it demonstrates respect for the pileup of clinical modern black metal. When music, respect for themselves as musicians this album is on, the aural chaos is in motion, and respect for the audience that will listen to moving from one dumpster dive of modernity this album. It is like the band knows that if the to another upheaval underbelly of the gutters targeted listener hears this album, that of grime of the cities. It sounds like cyborg- listener—if that listener pays attention—will robotic hybrid of hate and fury illustrated in a notice that this work is no hurry-up or minimal- musical form. The blasting is going on all the effort project. time and the screaming seems to stop for a The perfect balance of Ion Vein consists second only to start again. The bottom line: of bringing the best elements and putting you want to hear modern extreme metal in them to great use on this album: traditional 2015 and The Negation is glad to oblige. You heavy metal, prog metal, thrash, power might even say that The Negation metal, shred metal and classic rock. Listen, incorporates some elements of industrial however, don’t misunderstand: Ion Vein 24 sounds very smooth and not like some “Recreation Day”-era Evergrey working with annoying mixture of different styles. Ion Vein Symphony X. It is heavy and emotional, and does not sound like an irritating compilation sounds like a hit. It is a hit with me! So, let’s get album. Above all, Ion Vein sounds like this right, Ion Vein left this excellent song for experienced, intelligently crafted heavy number nine? I like the soloing and the overall metal. atmosphere, too. Perhaps the greatest difference with Ion Let’s go to number ten, then: “The Will Vein is the sound of experience. For instance, of One.” This is a thrashy, heavy-metal-thunder the prog metal is there, but Ion Vein does not headbanging song. What a nice contrast with sound too proggy, like music for musicians. Ion the previous song, too; this is Ion Vein letting Vein is heavy metal, but the musicians have their hair down and rocking out. The band been around the block and sound like it. It’s displays its heavy tone to the guitars, a bit not like some bands that are happy that they downtuned thrash/prog. Number 11 is called can make their songs sound like Angel Witch “In the End” and the music displays not speed or Blitzkrieg or whatnot. It’s not like, “Wow! but rather feel. The band lays down some Look, we can write songs that sound like heavy prog/thrash rhythms and lets the Judas Priest!” This band could do that in their singing take over the song with a catchy sleep. Seriously, this band could play those chorus. Number 12 is called “Twist of Fate” Priest-like riffs until the cows come home if and with it the band has decided to go out they wanted, but Ion Vein is beyond the with a bang, not a whimper. If you want to novelty aspect of heavy metal. Another hear a heavy thrash, and even a bit of example would be Ion Vein’s incorporation of extreme metal guitar feel done in the context thrash. In thrash metal, it is often the case that of Ion Vein, then check out this song. This is a the bands seem satisfied and content that headbanging song and how does it manage they have fast, galloping riffs, as if that is the to sound like prog metal, too? That’s Ion Vein. main thing that is necessary for a song. Awesome-sounding soloing, too. The song is a The greatness of this Ion Vein album is to nice little summary of the great consolidation be found on how smooth the band makes the of styles that is Ion Vein. It goes to show you songs. To illustrate the point, I will not talk that some heavy metal bands do pay about any of the first eight songs. Why? attention to the metal music around them. Because bands tend to frontload the albums Think about this: I did not even tell you with the good songs upfront and leave the about the first eight songs on this album. If I filler at the end, as if they figure that nobody were to tell you about them, this review would will notice. This album has 12 songs, so, be too long and it might as well be an essay. actually, I will not talk about the first eight The origins of this band reach back to songs at all, which all sound very good, by the the 1980s in Chicago and the musicians have way, excellent, actually, but let’s not talk been around the block more than a few about them now. Let’s go straight to the last times. As you can tell from this review, the four songs and let’s see if Ion Vein left the filler band can play. The final thing I would like to songs at the end of the album. mention is the singing. The vocals are both Let’s really put Ion Vein under the melodic and gritty, and sound strong and microscope and let’s see what we find! Is the upfront. There is a great quality to the singing, band hiding the mediocre songs? Song it’s one voice, and it is not number nine is called “Alone.” First of all, it weird/schizophrenic, just traditional metal sounds wonderful, perhaps a little bit like singing, but traditional in the sense that it 25 sounds like one voice that has shades and black thrash and now neo-70s heavy metal. nuances. The only question that remains is That pretty much completes the circle, then. whether this band can deliver live. Being the Are you ready to travel back in time? Black curious George that I am, I went to YouTube Trip has a good ticket for it. Of all of Peter’s and did not find a whole lot. However, I did bands, this could be the most surprising find one video of the band performing “Fools because it is so different from the extreme Parade” (song number 1 from this album) in metal for which he is known. As he gets older, 2013 in Chicago. Upon hearing and watching Peter can’t run away from the metal of his the video, which sounds very, very good and childhood. Peter is running free, not confused very impressive (it shows that this band can, in about the sweet danger brought about by fact, really bring home the bacon live), I the lightning to the nations and the devil eyes, wonder if this is the band’s live performance with their backs to the walls but still fit to or was it enhanced in the studio. Hey, I am a boogie, still fit to rock and roll and ready to skeptic! So, here’s the situation: to my ears, this make a jailbreak when the boys are back in live video sounds like great evidence that Ion town. www.blacktrip.se Vein is the real deal. It means that this band, www.facebook.com/pages/Black- and this album should not be ignored by any Trip/184303701663532 serious metalhead into looking for quality and www.threeman.net talent. It looks like Ion Vein can do it all, after all. I want to buy plane tickets to Chicago Entrails (Sweden): Obliteration (Metal Blade and witness this band live for myself because Records) this band sounds that good. Entrails transports old 1989-1991 Very, very highly recommended for Stockholm/Sunlight Studio/Tomas Skogsberg listeners into quality metal of traditional forms. death metal from the past to 2015 in a big www.facebook.com/MortalMusicInc way. The question: Do you want, do you really www.facebook.com/ionvein want to hear a band that takes the ball (of www.ionvein.com the early Entombed sound) and runs away www.twitter.com/IonVein with it for a touchdown? It all depends on you, if you cannot get enough of that sound, Black Trip (Sweden): Goin’ Under (Threeman then you should look into Entrails and either Recordings) reminisce or discover what people mean by Black Trip’s first demo is from 2012 and this is “Swedish death metal” because this is it, this is the 2013 album. Black Trip is late 70s-style exactly what the term means in 2015. Of metal, maybe similar to the more melodic course, if you have Entombed and bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Dismember and all those bands in your Metal. “No Tomorrow” may, in places, sound collection, and you want more of it in 2015, a bit similar to “Running Free” by Iron Maiden, this is your invitation. The past is alive. for instance; other songs will give a similar www.facebook.com/Entrails666 sensation. This band has former members of www.metalblade.com/us/ Nifelheim, Necrophobic, Dismember and a big whole bunch of bands. The band seems Death Dealer: War Master (Pure Steel Records) to be led by Peter Stjärnvind, who has been in This 2013 album from Death Dealer—which Entombed and is in Krux with Candlemass’ Leif involves Ross the Boss (Ross the Boss, ex- Edling, and who basically can play any form Manowar), Sean Peck (from Cage), and of metal music, black metal, doom, death, musicians from other bands—is hard-hitting 26 traditional banshee-screaming heavy metal, just my add my two cents here about why the modeled after the Judas Priest album band sounds so ear-friendly. It could be that "Painkiller" (1990), namely near-thrash/speed the singing is pleasant, melodic, tuneful and metal songs, tough-as-nails sound, pounding not too extreme, not too loud, not obnoxious, rhythms, and some midpaced moments here not weird. The music “sounds” proggy, but and there; it’s upfront traditional heavy metal, “simple,” if that makes sense; I connect with of the serious/no-happy type. It’s not a new the songs quickly. It could be that Kingcrow album, but maybe you missed this one when it values emotion in the music, in the way that a came out. By the way, Death Dealer will tour band like Evergrey does (Evergrey is heavier, Europe in July 2015. more soulful; Kingcrow writes bigger, more www.facebook.com/deathdealerband immediate hits that could be big with lots of www.deathdealer.co non-metal and non-prog people). I recommend Kingcrow to listeners who are ZOM (Ireland): Flesh Assimilation confident, those that don’t care about the If you like Revenge, Black Witchery, Autopsy genre and don’t get into big arguments with and primal, raw extreme metal in general, their friends about “true prog” and all those then ZOM is for you exclusively. It doesn’t things. If you are able to relax and just listen, matter that this is too extreme and too foul for then give Kingcrow a chance. This is their new 99.99% of the metal music audience, this album, their sixth one. band does not care one bit. This band is not www.facebook.com/Kingcrowband into having clean and perfect productions. It www.lasersedgegroup.com/labels/sensory- sounds primitive and fundamentalist, and it is. records This is definitely for the initiated and this band specifically wants the initiated crowd to listen. I would bet that this band is very hostile to Dire Omen (Canada): Wrestling the Revelation modern and mainstream metal. ZOM is the of Futility (Dark Descent Records) outsiders of the outsiders, too extreme for the Dire Omen looks to keep the metal filthy and extreme. Bang your head. chaotic in the most extreme way possible. www.zom666.bandcamp.com Dire Omen is keenly aware that they play www.facebook.com/pages/ZOM/1959712137 metal that most metalheads will never 90266 understand, as if Dire Omen is sick of seeing their favorite bands mellow out or become Kingcrow (Italy): Eidos (Sensory Records) the darlings of the metal media. That’s it, then, Melodic progsters Kingcrow began in 1996. Dire Omen’s goal is make the music so The band’s 2013 “In Crescendo” album was chaotic and anti-fashion that the music itself interesting because they sounded in tune with sounds exceedingly hostile to the rules of the idea that most listeners want songs. Most metal music itself. The low-growled of us are not musicians and we listen to music incomprehensible vocals and the sheer anti- to find something enjoyable. Kingcrow is everything of Dire Omen reeks of nihilistic rather radio- and ear-friendly; the music is not extremes taken to the max, a wasteland that “in-your-face” loud and I imagine that this no casual “fan” will dare approach because band does not care about genres. “Light prog this is unintelligible to the casuals. The old metal,” anyone? Anyway, lots of people like bands in the 80s used to talk about “no posers this new album and you will find no shortage allowed” and whatnot, but their music had of accolades for Kingcrow. If anything, I will melodic and catchy riffs, even if it was thrash 27 or death metal or grind. This is an altogether Undergang (Denmark): Døden læger alle sår different beast. This is bitterly, vehemently (Dark Descent Records) hostile to the normal ear and most people For those that want death metal of the lowest- won’t get it, they won’t wrap their heads growling-murmuring possible and the heaviest around it. Most metalheads will dismiss it as kind, played in a primal, cave and minimalist “garbage” and Dire Omen sincerely hopes way, then Undergang’s music will be perfect that that is exactly what happens, so that only for you. Undergang has such indecipherable those that can handle the filthiness and the growls that you would need special decoders grime can stick around until the album ends. to listen closely and attempt to know what The public into war metal, necro metal, words, if any, are being utilized. How rotten primitive death metal and barbaric/savage and putrid can Undergang make its death metal in general should look into Dire Omen. metal? Ha, ha, oh, you have no idea! In www.darkdescentrecords.com comparison to Undergang, a band like www.direomen.bandcamp.com Incantation or Suffocation sounds much www.facebook.com/direomen cleaner and musical. With Undergang we are in the world of Hellhammer 1983 aesthetics, in Kaledon (Italy): Antillius: The King of the Light the sense of extreme sounds and unpolished (Scarlet Records) style. Not that it sounds like Hellhammer per Kaledon formed in 1998 and this is the band’s se. If anything, if you have heard Krypts eighth album. Kaledon is power metal, and (Finland) in the recent period, you will have an like much power metal from Italy in the idea of these kinds of sounds. There was a current period, the band sounds in their prime, time when death metal bands wanted to it is a band ascending, searching to make make disgusting music and did not know how masterpiece albums that will capture the to play their instruments very well or were not hearts of the catchy metal world audience. interested in sounding very skilled. This is what Kaledon has plenty of sing-along power Undergang is all about. Just when you rockers, but they also do some midpaced thought that death metal could not possibly headbanging tunes and a few slower get uglier, then Undergang comes along and moments. It’s a good balance, but keep in flushes down the toilet everything that you mind that Kaledon on this album is about think you know about death metal. This is for rocking out to power metal, so that’s what the most dedicated to primitive, cave- they do. If you like “glorious” power metal, if dwelling death metal supporters. Is this band you love sing-along “uplifting” songs, Kaledon the work of genius?! will give it all to you. You want it, they have it, www.darkdescentrecords.com so go get it, this is the action that you want. If www.undergang.bandcamp.com you are interested in the traditional metal www.facebook.com/undergangktdm bands that are coming up from Italy in recent years and you have not heard Kaledon, they Continuum (U.S.): The Hypothesis (Unique are now on the eighth album and it is high Leader Records) time to investigate the sounds of Kaledon. If you want modern tech-metal, then let’s talk www.facebook.com/kaledonofficial about Continuum, a band with members from www.kaledon.com a bunch of other groups like Son of Aurelius, www.twitter.com/kaledon Decrepit Birth, Deeds of Flesh and others. www.scarletrecords.it Tech-metal and deathcore fanatics that want clinically perfect cyborg robotized jazz from 28 hell will find everything that they want in www.twitter.com/PulverisedRecs Continuum. There’s the low growling and the hardcore-style screaming, the drumming both Starbynary (Italy): Dark Passenger (Bakerteam goes inhumanly fast and seems to be played Records) by someone with three arms, while the guitars “Dark Passenger” is an album that will be are impossible to keep up with, and only with interesting to the public that is committed to repeated listens will your little human brain traditional prog metal. Overall, the music begin to notice a method to the dexterity. The combines power metal melodies with prog band call themselves “progressive death metal vibes: the keyboards are prominent and metal” and others call them “technical death the neoclassical elements are an important metal,” and you can call it “tendonitis rock” or part of the sound; expect the keyboard/guitar “mathjazz from Mars.” Holy cow, Continuum, shred moments. The vocals are on the this music is for the brains of computers and high/melodic end of the spectrum. Starbynary math wizards. When you listen to this band, is talent and intelligence, and it sounds like make sure you are sitting down because you music for musicians. The band doesn’t sound might faint. That, or start doing math like they are trying to compromise, which is a equations like a maniac, like a pencil- positive aspect for the dedicated prog breaking, eraser-eating maniac on the mosh listener. The album is over an hour long, which floor. www.uniqueleader.com is almost like a rule for prog bands: the albums www.facebook.com/continuumDM have to be long because they need that much time to get all the ideas out. This is the Bone Gnawer: Cannibal Crematorium band’s debut and the band was formed in (Pulverised Records) 2013, but this is an experienced band; it Bone Gnawer is old-school 80s-type horror- sounds very professional, skilled and the movie/sick-humor death metal that features production sounds as professional as can be. the growls of Kam Lee, known for his time in Starbynary might be a new name, but for Mantas/Death and Massacre. Bone Gnawer is those devoted listeners of prog, this band all about keeping the death metal simple: should be a good find. downtuned chugging/grooves, roaring www.starbynary.com growling, and rocking out. The music is meant www.facebook.com/Starbynary/info?tab=pa to be fun, perfect for summertime metal ge_info barbecue parties or just hanging out and www.twitter.com/starbynary chilling. Kam Lee and friends stick to what is www.bakerteamrecords.com true for them: straightforward, primitive death metal, the kind that the Pantera and Slayer Ad Hominem (France/Italy: Antitheist public might like if they gave it a chance (Osmose Productions) because it is direct, to-the-point metal music, The name of the album does not quite with a rock and roll mentality. Keep it heavy capture just how full of hate, negativity, and make it simple, and give the listener some anger, pessimism and nihilism this traditional grooves. It’s hot-dogs-and-beer summer black metal album’s lyrics are. Ad Hominem death metal. probably will not like anyone describing the www.pulverised.bandcamp.com/album/can music as fun, catchy and headbanging, but nibal-crematorium this is the fault of Ad Hominem and Ad www.facebook.com/BONEGNAWER Hominem alone: no one is forcing Ad www.facebook.com/pulverisedrecords 29

Hominem to write such good songs, so full of band writing songs with the mentality of great riffs, so filled with catchy tunes and so Motorhead, then give this album a listen. You easy to headbang. Ad Hominem sounds like might be surprised how much fun this album is. Kaiser—the band’s chief, big kahuna and It took me one listen; with one listen, I felt the jefe—has the mentality that Lemmy has about energy of the music and could tell the album making music: this is not rocket science, man; would rock. After listening a bit more to the it’s rock and roll; and black metal is rock and album, my opinion is the same: bang your roll; make the music so that people can head to Ad Hominem! By the way, if you like move. the black metal as interpreted by Impaled Ad Hominem, of course, does not sound Nazarene, then check out Ad Hominem, too! like Motorhead; this is tremolo-king black They are musical cousins and they both hate metal and blasting fury. So, yes, this is black the humans. metal; it is not “post-black metal” or anything www.osmoseproductions.com funky like that; straight up, upfront blasting, www.facebook.com/adhominemofficial furious black metal. Also, if you are easily offended by Elvenstorm (France): Soulreaper (Infernö politically incorrect lyrics, then don’t bother Records) with this album because this is all about Elvenstorm is one of the most exciting power hatred for humanity. One song title that gives metal bands right now, in my opinion. Their you an idea of the type of vibe going on here previous album, "Blood Leads to Glory," is “Go Ebola!” There are other titles that I received a very positive review from me could tell you about, but frankly some of these because I thought that the album has titles you are not supposed to say them in everything going for it. I also did an interview polite company. Everyone’s religious ideas will with Elvenstorm to find out more. Elvenstorm be offended by this band, which makes its has a great admiration for classic Running goal to attack, insult and ridicule the humans. Wild and early Helloween, and Elvenstorm Look into this band if you like latter-day proudly plays "Teutonic heavy metal," as they Darkthrone’s catchy music, except that Ad call it: fast, speed-metal heavy metal with Hominem sounds like metal, and not like hooks and melodies with traditional, melodic garage-punk rock. In addition, the production metal singing. It is fast, it is very memorable, is modern, and not garage-punk rock. What with a lot of talent, and tightly executed. Now, these two bands share in common is music the band has a new four-song EP (two new that makes people rock out. Ad Hominem is ones; two covers), which is a great way to not about complexity or intellectualism or remind us that they are working, and work this experimentation or weirdness; just black metal EP does. The band sounds as vibrant as ever, and headbanging. Remember that this album as exciting as always. The new songs keep the is not a cave recording; it is meant to sound "Teutonic metal" flag flying high, and it is such professional and clear. a wonderful thing to hear a young band Who is the audience for Ad Hominem? continue the mighty tradition of “Teutonic Well, first of all, if you are not offended by metal.” The two new songs rock big time! The anti-religious and anti-human ideas, then third song “Tyrants” is a cover from German people into black metal and thrash metal power/heavy deities Heavens Gate’s 1989 would be the obvious target audience (lots of album “In Control.” [Always remember “Livin’ thrashy riffs going on here). Or, perhaps if you in Hysteria” from 1991, too!]. The fourth song is are curious about the notion of a black metal “Black Magic” (with a bit of “Hell Awaits” at 30 the end) by Slayer. (Nice choice, too, the Officium Triste (Holland): Reason (Vic Records) heavy/speed/thrash/black/NWOBHM-style Officium Triste started in 1994 and the band is metal Slayer of 1983-1985, before the still active today, with a recent album in 2013. dumbing-down/narrowing/commercialism Vic Records is reissuing “Reason,” the band’s took place in 1986 and after). 2004 album, considered a classic of melancholic doom by some. Given that this is In short, get ready for more Elvenstorm not a new album, I want to get to the point because they are back! very quickly: l will say that this is “elegant www.inferno-records.net melancholic doom with growled vocals,” www.facebook.com/Elvenstorm which means that some things stand out. First, the growling is pleasant, and not Obtruncation (Holland): Abode of the annoying/irritating screaming/yelling/barking. Departed Souls (Vic Records) This growling manages to sound pleasing and The first demo from this brutal death metal I have no idea how they do it. It’s not group is from 1991. Their debut album is from aggressive/angry; it’s elegant. Second, the 1997 and apparently they disappeared, but songs have melody, but it’s melancholy and this is their 2014 album and they are back to that’s what this is all about. Third, the music is return to the action with a nine-song 33- quality, and it’s for those into Slumber, minute album. Upon their return, they have October Tide, Daylight Dies, early Katatonia, decided to continue their blasting, brutal 90s- early Paradise Lost and other such sounds. This style death metal, not too distant from old album has nothing to do with "Southern-fried" Cannibal Corpse or Suffocation or Sinister. The rock, sludge, stoner/garage rock, core, album is short, the solos are shredding and the ambient/post-rock, and those current “doom” songs get to the point right quick. One after trends. I cannot tell you anything else about another the tracks are exercises in death Officium Triste’s other albums because this metal frenzy, but Obtruncation is brutality of band is new to me (how ignorant!). This the old school, not the tech- album, however, I can easily tell you that it is metal/deathcore/slam type. This means that very good melancholic doom. the band makes sure that you can bang your www.facebook.com/officiumtriste head to these songs. The band is not trying to www.officiumtriste.bandcamp.com/album/re have a million riffs in the song, they are ason interested in heaviness, in having an www.vicrecords.com immediate impact and in not wasting your time. They came here to deliver the metal Macabre Omen (Greece/U.K.): Gods of War – action, and they do. Let’s hope that at War (Van Records) Obtruncation does not disappear again. We need for this type of death metal to continue “The best album of 2015!” alive and not be forgotten. Obtruncation will “Album of the year!” not do disappear one more time because too “A masterpiece” many old Dutch bands keep disappearing and nobody seems to know the why. These and other such accolades continue to Obtruncation stay. be showered upon Macabre Omen’s new www.facebook.com/Obtruncation 2015 album. www.vicrecords.com But why? 31

Does it have anything special going on? melody, but it’s melancholic-dark melody; it has room for slower moments, variety and Recently I told you about the band moods, it’s multidimensional; it shows that Sarpanitum and why its 2015 album, in my Alexandros has possibly spent a long time opinion, was so unique—as metal music, thinking about how to construct these songs, “unique” here doesn’t mean postrock or and how to make them sound right and big. weirdo/experimental/ambient rock; I mean In terms of sound, the album seems real metal music—that I have listened to it a great to my ears. I observe that the drums do lot this year because I liked it that much. not sound like that awful, lifeless plastic sound that dominates in metal. I don’t know how the Now, I would like to tell you about another drums were recorded and how computerized album that I have come across that is in that they are, but they don’t sound overly same category—that I listen to it many times processed. The guitar work gives the listener because it is very interesting to me as metal many things to absorb and to think about. The music. This is Macabre Omen. album sounds like it was a lot of work, not because it sounds super technical, but Macabre Omen started in Greece and the because it sounds like only the best ideas and band’s first demo is from 1994. Today only riffs were used, while lots of other lesser ideas Alexandros is left from those days, and have been rejected. The vocals, too, Alexandros has worked with various people to demonstrate a lot of work; there’s a variety of create this album. Apparently, Alexandros extreme metal vocals, but also some clean plays guitars, keyboards and does vocals, but voices, but it’s all done so well in the dark vibe the drums are by Tom Vallely, who has several that it makes me think about how much projects, too. The album has other instruments, Alexandros has thought about the different but it’s not clear who plays what on it. types of vocals needed in the various According to Metal Archives, the previous segments of each song. It sounds like album is from 2005, and there was a split Alexandros put on himself no limits on the release in 2006 and another one in 2007. imagination; and it all works, in my opinion. Basically, Alexandros works and records music at his own pace and he has other musical Finally, one last thing: I have to finish this projects that he has worked on, too. review and I remind you that I highly Let’s get the genre out of the way. recommend this album, but I am not done Macabre Omen is “epic black metal”; that’s listening to it. The review is finished because at what people seem to agree on, but let me tell some point it is time to get done with the you what this is not. This is not “epic” in the review, but this album has so much in it that I sense keyboard/ambient/symphonic sounds; will be coming to it to understand it more. it’s not a long-song album, either; it’s not folky Macabre Omen does not put out new music music; it is black metal proper, but it’s not often, and it seems that now we know why. demo-like sound quality, nor is it simple-song From the sounds of it, it takes a long time to black metal. I have noticed that for some implement the musical ideas and make them people, Macabre Omen seems to be the epic sound this way. metal of Bathory’s “Blood Fire Death” and the spirits of old Greek black metal’s dark www.macabreomen.bandcamp.com melancholy, like old Rotting Christ. It is fast, www.facebook.com/macabreomen.rhodes tight and grim; it sounds ambitious; it has www.van-gbr.de 32

Hollow Haze (Italy): Memories of an Ancient thrash, death and black metal all in one and Time (Scarlet Records) the songs have a great energy to them. Have you noticed the good metal albums Second, the viciousness of the album no coming out of Italy in recent years? Take a doubt has had a great, lasting effect on look at Hollow Haze! Hollow Haze formed in metalheads in South America and beyond. 2003 and this is the sixth album. From the Third, this album is part of the early period of beginning the album sounds like an “epic extreme metal in Brazil and has a charm that power metal” concept album; the vibe is very is undeniable. Fourth, the songs are actually good. I can tell you that if you like the feel of memorable; it is not just fast and loud, which it the Avantasia metal operas or the Rhapsody is, of course. Fifth, whether this album is a epic albums, you know, albums that sound masterpiece or not is for you to decide, but huge, that show that the band wants to there is no question that this is a very good create something truly great for power metal album, regardless. Sixth, this is a personal audiences to love forever, then please reason: I listen to this album regularly. It is the consider this latest Hollow Haze album. This type of album that I heard one time and I album features guest singers Mats Levén (from knew that I would be coming back for more. I Candlemass), Rick Altzi (from Masterplan) and could list more reasons, but just understand Amanda Somerville (AINA, Avantasia, that this is Vulcano in 1986 rocking out as hard Kiske/Somerville, and others) and it appears as they could and they succeeded big, big that Mats is the main singer on the album. time. This is a wonderful album any way you Anyway, I don’t know much about the album, look it. If you love extreme metal, and you but it looks and sounds like a concept work. have never given Vulcano a chance, I tell Whenever someone says “concept” or you, you should do it and see if you feel the “opera” album, I wonder whether it’s going to fire and brimstone raging in these songs. be a bunch of slow and boring songs. www.greyhazerecords.com Thankfully, this album is a good balance and www.facebook.com/VULCANOMETAL the overall mood is rocking. I still feel like I will find more aspects and components with more Lady Beast (U.S.): II (Infernö Records) listens, but the overall result is clear: the These wild acts of the heavy metal mania, albums sounds wonderful for those that enjoy such as Kaine, Night Demon, Osmium European epic power metal and metal Guillotine, Züül and other bands, are operas of big choruses and sing-along tunes crusaders on a march of the damned, of glory. Recommended big time for power bringing lightning to the nations with heavy metal loyalists! metal thunder; these filth hounds of Hades are www.facebook.com/hollowhaze.music running wild for the extermination day of false www.hollowhaze.com metal. Now, add LADY BEAST to the www.scarletrecords.it demolition boys and the iron maidens! Lady Beast wants you to rock until you drop; they Vulcano (Brazil): Bloody Vengeance don't do it for fortune because they don't (Greyhaze Records) need your money, honey, they do it because Greyhaze Records is reissuing a 1986 classic of it's electric! extreme metal from Brazil. If you do not have From the beginning, Lady Beast wastes this album, I will quickly tell you a few reasons no time in getting to the classic-style heavy why the album seems to be universally loved. metal glory of the New Wave of British Heavy First, the album sounds primal, like a mix of Metal sounds in 2015. The first Lady Beast EP is 33 from 2012, and now they have this album. consistency and stubbornness, in a good way. Lady Beast is 100% shameless, in-your-face Now that we know all that, let's get to the heavy metal from the time when metal was specifics. First of all, the album sounds great, young. You better submit to this classic-style the Johansson death metal praxis in full force; heavy metal, otherwise the band will chase heavy and memorable; Speckmann's bass is you down the street and you and your friends mean, nasty, loud and groovy; the drumming will be like, "Aw, snap, they're going to kill us!!" is handled by Brynjar Helgetun, a wilderbeast for not being metal. Lady Beast plays from the frozen forests of Norway, and has infectious songs and they let you hear all the collaborated with Rogga on several projects, instruments in the old school way because this and Mr. Helgetun does a great job of keeping is not robotic metal; it's human-made music. I the heartbeat, while cooking up his own have been listening to this album and flavors of grooves and blasting for a rather wondering how these boys and girl managed speedy, banging album; and the Speckmann to channel the spirit of classic metal. Listen to vocals sound as only Paul can: intense, full of Lady Beast! "Do you dream of playing guitar personality, and disgusted with society, or smashing up the drums? Maybe you can injustice and humanity's inhumanity. To learn to play the bass. You can always be a conclude, with such trustworthy names in singer like" Deborah Levine “and front the death metal, this album sounds very good, band! When on stage they wait at your and it is as exciting as I was hoping it would command.” High five! be, and even better. Living legend + metal www.inferno-records.net mastermind = this album! www.facebook.com/pages/Lady-Beast- www.facebook.com/pages/Johansson- Heavy-Metal/179141995430791 Speckmann/225899484206206 www.vicrecords.com Johansson & Speckmann: Mask of the Treacherous (Vic Records) Eschaton (U.S.): Sentinel Apocalypse (Unique As you can tell from the name, this is death Leader Records) metal living legend Paul Speckmann (Master) Eschaton is a tech-metal band, but I think and old school death metal songwriting they might be secret quantum mechanics mastermind Rogga Johansson, whose list of scientists, physicists and math wizards musical endeavors is beyond substantial (if because this music is like numbers crashing you are curious, look him up on Metal into other numbers, bouncing off the walls of Archives and get ready to be surprised). The other numbers. Call it “technical death metal” cool thing about this album is that it is solid, or “progressive deathcore” or whatever it is strong and upfront death metal by people that these whippersnappers call themselves, who are consistent, dedicated and reliable. but what is not in dispute is that there is no These two men are incapable of fooling way in the universe that anyone can really anyone because it is not part of who they are. understand this music with only one listen. You They play old death metal, something along have to put your thinking cap on, get your the lines of 80s/early 90s death metal for the calculator out and see if your human brain present time. Their objective is similar to what can figure out where these songs are going. I Motorhead or Slayer/Overkill or AC/DC have been listening to Eschaton and my brain represent for their respective genres, except hurts. Do I need a college degree to that these two men possibly have more understand Eschaton? Can Eschaton grant impeccable résumés in terms of style me a college degree if I listen to the album 20 34 times? Because that’s what I—with my mere When it comes to traditional heavy metal, human, mortal mind—need to understand the once I determine that there are no major billions of riffs that are flying about. How many problems (or things that irritate me about the people are doing vocals? Is it humans or is it recording/band), I am looking for some gremlins in the studio and why do they never specific things, such as level of stop? Eschaton is some crazy, crazy tech professionalism/skill, songwriting (Do the songs sounds, man. Is Eschaton the end of the line or connect with me?) and of course, the singing the end of music? (some vocalists annoy me; some sound www.uniqueleader.com mediocre; some just don't sound good to me, www.facebook.com/eschatonmetal even if they are famous metal millionaires). Artizan sounded incredibly good on a first Artizan (U.S.): The Furthest Reaches (Pure Steel listen, and soon with more listens I confirmed Records) that the band has a special combination at What do you think of melodic heavy metal, in work. As soon as the first song hits the ground the sense of new-era Queensryche, Serenity it all sounds clear, professional, you can hear or Kamelot? the instrumentation well, and everything Or, if you like melodic metal of an earlier time, sounds right. Song after song, the album's what do you think about “Transcendence”- quality cannot be denied. All the songs sound era Crimson Glory, “Time Will Tell”-era Fifth like hits, meaning that any of these songs Angel, “Perfect Symmetry”-era Fates Warning, shows the quality of the band. Pick any of and/or “Programmed”-era Lethal? these songs and you will hear the class and Do you by any chance happen to know elegance of Artizan. This album is produced about the Colorado, U.S. metal band named by Jim Morris, which definitely helps to explain Leviathan and its 1991 self-titled EP? the quality of the recording. Jim Morris and the Morrisound name means a lot to many Even though all these bands have their own metal listeners, due to the long history of personality, in my view, they have one thing in metal music associated with the name. By the common: they prioritize high-quality melodic way, there is also an edition of this album that metal songs above all. The school from which has the bonus track “Come Sail Away” by Styx these bands come has taught them that you covered faithfully by Artizan. write songs for yourself but you also write songs so that other people can hear them While I’m at it now, I want to tell you about and connect with them. the previous Artizan album from 2013 “Ancestral Energy.” That is another album that Artizan’s melodic heavy metal does not sound I have heard a lot. It is another excellent, like any of those bands. (Well, it does sound a excellent album by the band. Of course, I bit like the Leviathan 1991 EP, but there is a have heard “Ancestral Energy” more than very good explanation for that, as I will tell you “The Furthest Reaches” because I have had in a minute.) more time with it. Both albums are total awesomeness of melodic metal. This now Before going any further, let me just tell you leaves me with a task: to investigate 2011’s now: If melodic heavy metal is a genre that “Curse of the Artizan” and 2009’s “Artizan” EP, you follow, I recommend Artizan to you as which complete the Artizan discography. highly as possible because Artizan sounds “practically perfect in every way.” Finally, the following information will be 35 interesting to some people, perhaps to older give you a taste of death metal as they metalheads from Colorado. Artizan’s singer understand it, and has delivered a (Tom Braden) and drummer (Ty Tammeus) are representation that sets the foundation for the both former members of Leviathan from band to make a permanent return to the Colorado. The other members of Artizan are: metal world. Jon Jennings on bass, Bill Staley and Shamus McConney on guitars. Tom and Ty both Old Swedish death metal continues to played together on the Leviathan 1991 EP self- resurrect. Those that want to hear the genuine titled EP. Back in the day I read a positive article and are looking for the sounds of the review of that EP (probably in Metal Maniacs classics, then put this one on your list. This magazine) and I ordered the cd. Naturally, I album comes out in August 2015 and it is for still have the cd, which I received with a the total fanatics of the sounds of the golden handwritten note from the band, and still listen age done for the present. to it. www.facebook.com/Wombbath

Melodic metalheads, give Artizan a chance Kattah (Brazil): Lapis Lazuli (Bakerteam to charm you! Records) www.puresteel-records.com In terms of traditional, melodic, quality prog www.facebook.com/artizanmetal metal Kattah with this album is positioning www.twitter.com/artizanmetal themselves for a bright future in metal. The www.artizanmetal.com singing sounds great, in the tradition of Queensryche/Maiden; the songs show Wombbath (Sweden): Downfall Rising (Dark conciseness and a sense of focus, while Descent Records) maintaining a prog edge. The best element of According to Metal Archives, death metallers Kattah is the simple fact that the band is Wombbath formed in 1990 and did several aware that the target audience of this band recordings, eventually turning into death ‘n’ likes prog and intelligence, but that the roll in 1994 and calling it quits around this time. people also want songs that can rock. To tell Now, after a break of few years (some 20 the truth, I have never heard of this band years), the band’s only member Håkan before and I did not know what to expect. I Stuvemark from the old days, returns with a heard the first song and it sounded awesome, new cast to resurrect the "old Swedish death but I wondered whether they could maintain metal.” Skilled with a thick-as-a-brick the quality of the songwriting for the complete superheavy guitar tone and deep, gruff album. Naturally, the reason I was skeptical is vocals and a batch of old-style songs, because I wanted the album to be as good Wombbath strikes while the iron is hot. The as it sounded at first. At this point, I feel album, while heavy throughout, shows quite a confident in saying that Kattah is not few moods, blasting speeds, headbanging misleading the audience: this band really midtempos, slower moments and some dark does keep up the quality of its prog metal melodies. The band has positioned itself to throughout the album. Kattah has diverse take advantage of their return to action with songs, and the band likes for its songs to have a strong album in the style of old-sound death some variety, but these songs work. metal that brought so much attention to Fortunately, Kattah is a great balance of bands from Sweden in the early 90s. intelligence and rocking, prog and heavy Wombbath has done its best on this album to metal, musicianship and songwriting, 36 mellow/prog and rocking. If you have been www.facebook.com/mystifier666 reading this little humble review and you feel any sense of interest in Kattah, then please do Valdur (U.S.): Pathetic Scum (Bloody Mountain yourself a favor and give them a listen. For my Records) part, I believe that the band keeps its side of Now this is more like it; this is a Valdur that I the bargain: they are as good as advertised; can get on board with! Valdur has unleashed they have the songs to prove it. This must be a raw black metal beast of an album. The reason why the band gets such positive band's previous album "At War with" (2013) reviews, and now I have found out for myself was a competent death metal album, but this and I can say that I agree with the positive new album, "Pathetic Scum," I loved the vibe reviews, too. Kattah is a hit with me. and energy immediately and I felt it. Whereas www.bakerteamrecords.com the 2013 album sounds like a band doing solid www.twitter.com/officialkattah work, now Valdur is on fire! Whereas before www.facebook.com/KattahOfficial they sounded like a band doing a fine job, now they sound like they are playing out of Mystifier (Brazil): Göetia (Greyhaze Records) their minds! This is something I want. Mystifier (founded in 1989, and active today) is a cult legendary name in international The difference is that now they sound like they underground extreme metal and represents are not holding back, holding out on us, and the Brazilian tradition of bestial black metal of now are letting their animal instinct fury kick the obscurantist ritualistic forms. This album is into infernal high gear. This is how you do it; considered an excellent, classic work of black you have to put it all out there, play like your metal by many underground fanatics. life depends on it. There are several changes Greyhaze Records is reissuing this 1993 album, that have taken place that I like. First, the the band's second one, which followed the production: the drumming sounds like it 1992 album "Wicca," also reissued by cannot be contained, the cymbals are loud Greyhaze. Given that this is a cult classic, I will and obnoxious, and sound magnificent, and I get to the point right quick. Mystifier's sound is love it. I do not like plastic/clicky drumming, based on old, first-wave barbaric and evil and this is barbarous blasting, with less black metal. The band plays that black metal computer tinkering. Great change. The guitars that is all-encompassing: the music has an now rage and sound primal, not just tight and primitive, dark, horror atmosphere, and within professional; the riffs are more intense, that landscape the bands blasts brutally, does headbanging and easier to connect with, horror metal, invokes Lovecraftian vibes, because “I’m a metalhead, not a physicist, brings mid tempo rhythms and the slow dammit!” Less virtuosity, more headbanging. heaviness of doom, and it's all Mystifier occult Yet, Valdur will still have something more to black metal. This band is capable of anything give us in the future: the vocals are on this album; they do it all in their amalgam appropriately brutal, but for instance, on a of kingly majestic darkness. The atmosphere song like "Morbid Emanations," the last one on on this album is tremendous and the songs the album, the growling sounds ferocious, yes, show Mystifier as masters of the realm of the but could definitely be wilder and more original black metal. If you like underground savage, with more primitive screams, chaos extreme occult metal, this is a major gateway and insanity. Unleash the Kraken! to Mystifier. www.greyhazerecords.com The change in sound suggests that perhaps 37 there is a conflict in the band about the -scum direction of Valdur. I have not heard all the www.facebook.com/pages/valdur/54163 Valdur works, but I have read that the band 319709 has been ambivalent about its sound. This www.bloodymountainrecords.com means that the band is creating audiences www.bloodymountainrecords.bandcamp. that will prefer one direction over another, com death metal over black metal and vice versa. In some ways, this could be detrimental for Sacral Rage (Greece): Illusions in Infinite Void the band, to have divided audiences, (Cruz del Sur Music) perhaps, or maybe not, who's to say? Sacral Rage is a rare bird of traditional heavy

metal with high-scream singing of the I think that for Valdur one thing should not be technical-progressive type, the kind that in doubt, though: in the U.S., death metal is legendary names like Watchtower king in the extreme metal underground, and it exemplified in the 80s. These Greeks bring to is an overcrowded field, with lots of fast, loud, the table intelligence, highly skilled intense, slamming bands that, at the end of musicianship and an outstanding work ethic. the day, lack the quality in the songs, and for Sacral Rage swims against the stream and that reason do not stand out. (Every week their music speaks to their will to stand up for and weekend in the U.S. there are “brutal the metal that they defend in the face of low death metal” bands playing bars, chugging standards and low intelligence. Some people away about zombies and dismemberment, think that a band like Sacral Rage is elitist, but and it’s all very interesting if you are 14 years I think that if you ask this band if they are old, but not so much when you are older and elitists, they perhaps would reject that notion listen to metal obsessively every day.) because when you work this hard on making

an album, you want everyone to listen to it, Now, Valdur has made an album that truly but it is good to realize that Sacral Rage music sets them apart, especially given that there requires that the modern listener adjust her or are not that many bands today that play his expectations somewhat. The singer is not black metal this well and this primal. Plus, ashamed to do high screams that go as high there are many people in the U.S. trying to mix as possible, very much in the style of the “air black metal with hardcore (yuck!) or emo or raid siren.” The drummer puts on a veritable postrock or punk or ...or … excuse while I clinic on this album. As expected, even the vomit. bass is clear and you can hear it very well. The

guitars bring everything that this style needs: Ok, I feel better now. riffs, solos and shredding that impress. Are the Anyway, like I was saying, it's like nobody, or songs catchy?! Again, let's tell the truth: this is almost nobody, wants to play real black not something that you can understand fully metal. Valdur should not look back and with one listen. I did not. It takes time. They are should continue down this "Pathetic Scum" excellent musicians that have worked hard to road because this is what they do best. Do create something unique. If you would like to what you do best. This is it! hear heavy metal with high IQ and high

vocals, virtuoso playing in a somewhat thrashy I, for one, can’t enough of this new Valdur. context, then put Sacral Rage on your must-

hear list. Recommended for those that long www.valdur.bandcamp.com/album/pathetic 38 for the classic sounds of Realm, Helstar, Toxik, is just called death doom. If you can imagine and of course, Watchtower. Prepare your ears Incantation covering Candlemass "Epicus for high screams. Doomicus Metallicus" songs, then you will www.cruzdelsurmusic.com have an idea what Derkéta sounds like. www.facebook.com/SacralRage Sharon Bascovsky's vocals work primitive, low/gruff brutality all the way through. She Demonic Slaughter (Poland): Haunted (Pagan keeps it as heavy as humanly possible. The Records) drumming sounds raw and heavy. Demonic Slaughter embraces black metal Unfortunately, the drummer, Terri Heggen, left and its traditions: the necro sound, the the band after this album. The current kingdom of the tremolo riffing, and grim drummer is Mike Laughlin (ex-Cattle vocals. The information that I received says Decapitation). The current band is: Sharon on that the band detests those modern metal vocals/guitar; Robin Mazen on bass; Mary recordings, you know, the ones in which the Bielich on guitar; Mike on drums. It is my drums are not live and not real, and in which understanding that new music is planned, but computers have replaced, repaired, for now, you can finally get the Derkéta perfected and modified to such an extent album, if you haven't already. The cult legend that it is difficult to tell what the band played is alive. and what is a computer program. Demonic www.derketa.com Slaughter calls all of those things "digital lies." www.facebook.com/DerketaDoomDeathMet This recording is an exaltation of primal black al metal. The music is a lot more varied and www.ibexmoonrecords.com memorable than I was expecting, but then, if www.facebook.com/Ibex-Moon you take into account that Demonic Slaughter, which was founded in 2006, has a Blizzard Hunter (Peru): Heavy Metal to the Vein total of nine recordings (albums, EPs), then it (Pure Underground Records) makes sense that it is a such a strong work. I Modern mainstream metal music is so awful happen to like tremolo guitar work and grim for some metalheads that they have turned vocals, so this corresponds to what I want to away from the "computer metal" and are hear. This band from Poland is new to me and fighting back with traditional, screaming I do not have their previous works. For this heavy metal. Perhaps people who are tired of reason, I am not able to talk about their other the same old bands would like to try music. On the other hand, these songs, in my something different for a change? opinion, work very well and the vibe is great, "Heavy Metal to the Vein" is more than too. Don't let terms like "primitive" black metal the title of the album, it is everything that fool you: this is a veteran band and if this work expresses the sound of Blizzard Hunter, which is anything to go by, you can be sure that began in 2006, and whose 2014 EP is called they are professionals at their craft. Well done. "Conqueror of Destiny." Now the 2015 album I will listen more. comes out to celebrate their love of classic www.paganrecords.com.pl early 80s traditional heavy metal. Blizzard Hunter, like many Latin American bands, is Derkéta (U.S.): In Death We Meet (2012) extremely proud to be metal. It is not easy to (reissue/remix with bonus tracks) (Ibex Moon) be metal, to form a band and to keep that When I think Derkéta, I think slow, massive band playing traditional heavy metal death metal from back in the day, which now anywhere, and it probably is no picnic to 39 keep Blizzard Hunter together in Lima, Peru. parents in order to discover their limits and No matter, the band has persevered, and boundaries, so too do Enslaved with their here they are making the heavy metal for the compositional creations. Currently comprised headbangers of the world. of founding members Ivar Bjørnson (guitars) You could describe their sound as New and Grutle Kjellson (vocals, bass) alongside Wave of British Heavy Metal or traditional Cato Bekkevold (drums), Herbrand Larsen heavy metal like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. (keyboard, vocals) and Ice Dale (lead They don't like the computer metal music guitars), Enslaved are simply not content it sound of modern times and they seek a more seems with sticking to a formula or adhering human, honest vibe. This album will please the religiously to the status quo. It is for this reason metalheads who are into traditional/classic as much as the music itself why I belive that metal sounds that stand apart from the Enslaved are so highly revered. dominant trends. Give a chance to Blizzard Hunter and see if this is something for you. And yet, for all that, I remain one of the small You'll probably have to adjust your ears a bit minority that has never fully taken Enslaved to because it's the sound from a different era: my heart. However, in keeping with a screaming heavy metal, when heavy metal blossoming trend of late, I have finally and was young and wild, not old, fat and bald. fully fallen under the Enslaved spell with the www.facebook.com/BlizzardHunter help of the magnificent ‘In Times’. I always www.pureunderground-records.com enjoyed the quintet’s music but I always felt slightly detatched, admiring the output from BY MATT SPALL, Man of Much Metal afar rather than immersing myself in it. Call it Artist: Enslaved stupidity or the bittersweet curse of having too Album Title: In Times much music to listen to. Nevertheless, Label: Nuclear Blast whatever the reason, it ends here and now. Year of Release: 2015 In extreme metal circles, Norway’s Enslaved ‘In Times’ features just six tracks which, on the are held in very high regard, something face of it and if you’re bothered by numbers, approaching royalty some may say. For nearly appears a disappointingly small figure. a quarter of a century, the band have strived However, the six compositions are all huge, to release music of the very highest quality. sprawling affairs that push or exceed the eight But more than that, they have dared to be minute mark, thereby offering the better part different. A constant evolution over the years of an hour’s worth of music. But then again, still sees their extreme metal roots intact but as song lengths do not alone guarantee value the albums pass, the roots have become for money and a quality product. For that, ever-more intrinsically linked to, and entwined enter the music of Enslaved. with, other elements. Progressive rock and metal, ambient, post-rock, jazz and a whole I will admit that my first couple of spins through host of other ideas collide in what can only be left me dazed and confused with more described as some of the most fascinating questions remaining than answered. It and rewarding heavy metal currently being certainly wasn’t love at first listen, but stubborn created anywhere in the world. Album tenacity and patience have paid off in number thirteen, ‘In Times’ is no different. spades.

In the same way as a small child will push their The album is ushered in by ‘Thurisaz Dreaming’ 40 which begins innocuously enough with the Fascination Street Studios. Infectious and quiet soothing sound of a wave crashing majestic are just two adjectives that can gently on the shore. Within seconds though, rightly be thrown at this monster of a this gentle beginning is thoroughly expunged composition. by a full-on raw, spiky and venemous- sounding black metal riff. Angry riffs join forces A haunting melody welcomes ‘One Thousand with furious drumming and gutteral screams in Years of Rain’ before the song veers into a an effort to pummel and bewilder the listener. more chaotic construction. It also offers a From even this early stage, the increase in demonstrable folk metal feel that increases as those black metal influences from the bands the track ebbs and flows from one seemingly early days are striking. As is the Enslaved way, disparate idea to another and in so doing, it offers a slightly different path from their more tests the listener’s resolve throughout. recent output via ‘Riitiir’ and ‘Axioma Ethica Odini’ before that. This black metal ‘Nauthir Bleeding’ in contrast sees an increase reintroduction effectively forms much of the in the otherwise subtle keyboards and bedrock upon which ‘In Times’ handsomely symphonic embellishments, giving it genuinely sits. Enslaved then revert to type as it isn’t too epic feel. The melodies are again more long before the composition introduces other pronounced and at the midway point, the ambitious elements in order to create drama track erupts into an almost euphoric stomping and intrigue, cleverly juxtaposing the tumult riff that’s complimented by a stunning and that rages around it. Clean vocals flit in and wonderfully indulgent lead guitar solo, all of out of the track, as do moments of quiet which breaks up the more impenetrable reflection and snatches of near-discordances extreme excesses to great effect. flirt with the peripheries of the opener. The title track is the longest on the album and If anything, and in almost direct contrast,the it provides some of the harshest and heaviest follow-up,’Building With Fire’ is positively material on the record. The gutteral screams catchy. The opening riff gallops along with an make a forceful return but just as the track upbeat tempo and a lovely melodic, rocking threatens to become too overpowering, the groove. The soaring clean vocals are tempo is slowed. So pronounced is the mesmerizing too, adding an extra layer of change of pace, it is the musical equivalent immediacy to proceedings. The growls aren’t of being pushed over the precipice into the too far away and neither are the black metal abyss. The swirling and jagged hypnotic riffing references but they’re never as is replaced by sections that are almost confrontational as seen within the opener. A soothing ambient post rock in their lead guitar solo then joins forces with subtle construction. But, rather than sounding forced piano work to create a stunning moment or overly contrived, the apparently disparate before those beguiling clean vocals return elements are brought together seemlessly and atop the anthemic opening riff that re-enters rather beautifully. with joyous gusto. The pace drops away towards the end and the post-rock influenced ‘In Times’ then concludes with ‘Daylight’ guitar tone really helps to emphasise the another epic track that fuses many different gorgeously rich and organic production that styles into a homogenous and euphoric has been achieved by messers Grutle, Larsen triumph of a track. A mid tempo stomp and Bjørnson with the mastering assistance of dominates large sections of the track where 41 the drums really come to the fore. The monotonous funeral doom, which can test the relatively simplistic elegance of the percussion listener’s patience for its riff-less repetition; this is then wonderfully embellished by further album has various colors and moods, clever lead guitar work and understated including death/black metal fury; it's not all vocals that create an almost hypnotic slow 24/7. Overall, not just talking about a crescendo of sorts to the album. song in particular, I get the sensation that Mr. Jacko has worked at adding melody, Topped off by utterly gorgeous artwork melancholy and guitar spice to the songs, courtesy of long-term collaborator Truls and that's why I have kept listening to this Espedal, ‘In Times’ is an almost peerless album album. Being heavy is easy for Mr. Jacko; that manages to seemlessly blend extremity adding variety to the heaviness, that's not so with genuine compositional intelligence, in easy for anyone; that requires more effort. the process creating another unique body of Death doom supporters could find Majestic work that cannot be referred to as anything Downfall’s “… When Dead” a very interesting other than a majestic masterpiece. Or, to put album, the band's fourth. it more simply, if you want your mind blown, it www.facebook.com/majestic.downfall is absolutely imperative that you own ‘In www.pulverised.net Times’. The Score Of Much Metal: 9.25 Sempiternal Dusk (U.S.): Sempiternal Dusk www.manofmuchmetal.wordpress.com (Dark Descent Records) Sempiternal Dusk is exclusively for those into Majestic Downfall (Mexico): … When Dead lo-fi, necro and cave primitive atmospheric (Pulverised Records) death/black/doom. The music is protected Majestic Downfall is death doom led by old from casual listeners by an impenetrable wall school death metallers Zombiefication's Mr. of thick fog that requires from the listener a Jacko, who, according to Metal Archives, dedication to primal, obscurantist here does vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass underground metal. Sometimes these and drums (programming?). Mr. Jacko, as invocations are very slow, sometimes it is Zombiefication demonstrates, is a death bestially fast, it is all always heavy. Sempiternal metal warrior, but Majestic Downfall, you Dusk appears to be a Portland, Oregon-based could say, reveals a different side. The project, with Tim Call on vocals and drums. growled vocals, the downtuned guitars, some Tim seems to be involved with many projects, bursts of speed and the heaviness are present all of which seem to be underground metal, here, too, yet, the exploration of melancholy as far as I know, though I have not heard all of within the heaviness makes Majestic Downfall them, only several of them. The impression an experience of a much more melodic that Sempiternal Dusk gives changes range. I wouldn't have guessed that this according to the particular moment of each project is connected to Zombiefication just song: atmospheric; contemplative doom; and from listening to Majestic Downfall. For me, the primal, cavernous, low-growled death metal; great difference is that melody and or, a primitive, downtuned black metal feel, in atmosphere are given more room to breathe about 45 minutes of metal darkness. The and there is no hurry to speed up within a five- specific concoction of this album reaches minute limit, like the normal Zombiefication deep down and far back into the song. There are really just four songs, from underground that the big metal media about 11 to 15 minutes long, but it's not seldom cover in a serious or respectful way. 42

Despite that, no one can doubt or deny the Records) greatness and allegiance that this represents The infernal amalgamation of war metal, for enthusiasts of archaic metal of darkness. death, black metal seems as strong as ever in Can you get through fog?! the underground, and Adversarial is an www.facebook.com/SempiternalDusk excellent exponent of this extreme metal of www.darkdescentrecords.com nihilism that bands from Canada are taking to the end of the line. Hammer King (Germany): Kingdom of the Hammer King (Cruz del Sur Music) Bands from Canada are known for brain Patrick Fuchs, the singer, used to be in a band metal like Voivod and Rush, low IQ metal like called Men of War, a Manowar tribute band. Anvil, cult thrash like Razor, Sacrifice, Exciter, Patrick is also the singer in Ross the Boss, the Infernal Majesty, so on and so forth. Then, band led by former Manowar guitarist Ross there’s the most extreme sounds of the Boss. Now, this band is named Hammer Blasphemy, Conqueror, Revenge, Axis of King. You can't accuse this band of deceptive Advance, Dire Omen, Begrime Exemious … advertising. This is anthem metal all the way. They tell you right away what you are going to If it’s misanthropy and nihilism, don’t count out get, and they give it you, just like they said Adversarial because it is more than just song they would. So, let's get to it and let's do it titles like “Old Ruins Slumber in a Crushing right! Hammer King seeks to prove that they Hatred of Man” or “Cursed Blades Cast Upon are the kings of metal, and want to live on the the Slavescum of C…”; it is the construction of road and make speakers explode. They don't chaos of alienating and cold bestial metal attract wimps because they are too loud and made exclusively to express cacophony and the true metal people are Hammer King's sadism through guitars, bass, drums and crowd. vocals. This new album, which comes out Who are you? Do you think it is August 21, extends the abhorrent sounds that "ridiculous" to be metal like Hammer King? Do they began in 2008 with their demo and in you feel like you are above this style? Do you 2010 with the album “All Idols Fall Before the think that you are too smart and too superior Hammer,” and other splits and EPs since then. for this? Well, this band is not for you, then! Catchy heavy metal anthems, and song The album won’t be released for a little while, structures to bang your head, that's what but you don’t have to wait for a long time to Hammer King has waiting for you. Especially hear a bit of this album. Dark Descent Records now that the old kings sound tired and ready has a sample with a new Adversarial song to retire, it could be time for the new kings. Do called “Eonik Spiritual Warfare.” you want to join this ride into the future? Hammer King could go a long way, but they If you like what you hear, I can tell you now won't if nobody cares and listens. They have that this new song represents the album’s the songs and that's what the kingdom needs: horrid sounds accurately. metal anthems. Bring on the new kings. www.facebook.com/thehammerking www.darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/al www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/?s=Hammer+King bum/new-release-sampler-3 www.facebook.com/AdversarialOfficial Adversarial (Canada): Death, Endless Nothing www.adversarial.ca and the Black Knife of Nihilism (Dark Descent 43

At the Dawn (Italy): Land in Sight (Bakerteam play fast, but often lack distinctive riffing. On Records) the other hand, some black metal sounds like This band has arrived to do one thing and one it could be great, but the garage sound thing only, and they do it exceptionally, quality ruins the experience. undeniably well: high-quality, elegant melodic Consider the black thrash of Frosthelm: traditional, catchy metal with a bit of a prog professional, clear production, grim vocals, edge. The songwriting is paramount for At the huge thrashing riffs, black metal melodies and Dawn. The recording is professional and hooks, some blasting and tight execution. You modern. The singing is pleasant to the ear, can hear the music well; they are not hiding perfect for the band; it sounds like a full voice, behind bad sound quality; you can hear the not thin, not annoying, not weird. The singing is real melodies of black metal. This band is from very attractive trait for listeners that like this North Dakota, U.S. They have an EP from 2012 style. and this 2015 album. The EP was real good, in At the Dawn has another characteristic my opinion, and now we get the answer to that is very appealing. They seem aware that the question: Can this band keep up the some listeners will not give a band more than quality and the great vibe of the EP?! one chance; some listeners will listen to half a Absolutely! Don't ignore them just because song and decide right then and there if they they are from North Dakota, and not from like it or not. At the Dawn's songs require just some famous big city like Yakima, Washington one listen to make a decision. It doesn't mean or Ferndale, Washington. I don't know if they that there is not more aspects to discover with still live in North Dakota or not, but it does not more listens, but it does mean that one listen matter. They have a special quality in their works well for connecting with the public that "black thrash" and that's what's important. is interested. Let's hope that this is just the beginning. There I'll tell you something else that is true: I is metal in North Dakota, friend. have not heard this album many times yet! I www.facebook.com/frosthelm have decided that I did not need to wait more time to figure out my reaction. I know Wooden Stake (U.S.): A Feast of Virgin Souls that I will listen to this album more, but I know (Razorback Recordings) that I do not need more listens to know that it I like the various musical endeavors by is a strong album. At the Dawn does Vanessa Nocera. She's dedicated to metal everything right. I recommend it to listeners and is involved in several things all the time. into melodic metal, music that has a wide I'm always curious to hear what she's plotting appeal, for those looking for mature, song- next. I guess people associate her with brutal centered, non-extreme metal. death metal, but Wooden Stake is something www.facebook.com/atthedawn different: doom. The guitar sounds like classic www.atthedawn.it doom. I hear Candlemass, Sabbath and the guitarist William Wardlaw demonstrates his Frosthelm (U.S.): The Endless Winter doom allegiance everywhere he goes, Bands that play black thrash frequently show whether it’s the grocery store or the local certain sophistication in taste and experience. funeral house, where he hangs out every Thrash has a wonderful energy, speed and afternoon for fun. As the years go by, Vanessa tightness, but with some thrash you also get is getting more and more fearless: singing, unprofessional/amateur hardcore vocals, all black metal witch vocals, death metal anger, not so much talent or skill. Thrash bands barbaric grunts, it’s all in here. Wooden Stake 44 is a lot more traditional than the it’s heavy metal glory, then it’s mellow doom/sludge/stoner bands that in 2015 are melodies, before coming back to the thick of categorized as doom. First, this music is not all the song. slow; there are headbanging moments; there Despite all the references to the classics are slow, heavy moments, too, of course, but of heavy metal, to my ears Iron Kingdom this is not a monotonous album at all. The sounds like Iron Kingdom only. The band faster moments sound a lot like old school carries itself with a sense of purpose and heavy metal. This variety makes the album an seriousness about the tradition that they interesting listen, and leaves you thinking that uphold. You can hear the devotion in the you need to hear it again to figure it out songs, the effort to make a quality album, and better. The combination of traditional metal a certain amount of experience. and extreme metal in Wooden Stake is a nice Supporters of younger bands that have change of pace from the current doom picked up the flag of classic-style heavy metal trends. No “post-metal” here. should certainly seek this band. www.razorbackrecords.com www.iron-kingdom.com www.facebook.com/woodenstake www.facebook.com/ironkingdom?fref=ts

Iron Kingdom (Canada): Ride for Glory Ctulu (Germany): Sarkomand (Black Blood Iron Kingdom (from British Columbia) plays Records) traditional, screaming heavy metal, with a What would you say that is the biggest sound akin to perhaps late 70s Judas Priest problem with fast, extreme metal bands? Do and pre-1982 Maiden: an you think that many groups sound generic, all uptempo/midtempo guitar-centered sound in speed, but you can’t remember the songs which the drums and the bass are clearly after the album ends? Is it that many bands heard, and in which the whole band shines simply do not have good riffs, so they hide through in the songs. The singing is traditional, behind the speed? It all depends on how you high/melodic singing that goes for the high view it: how much blasting extreme metal do notes. you hear each day? What is important and what is not Fortunately, these problems do not important to Iron Kingdom? The things that apply to Ctulu because the band works on are not important are: playing fast for speed’s making each song memorable through guitar sake, having the most computer savvy sound. work that stands out. Considering that this is The issues that are important: play heavy blasting black metal, it impresses how much metal that underlines the song, and let the each song has extra hard work on the guitar riffs, the singing, the drumming, let it be in the hooks and melodies. Some people have service of the song. observed that there is a classic-Dissection Would it be correct to say that Iron quality to the music, although it is rather Kingdom has rebelled against robotized inaccurate to make it appear like Ctulu computer metal? It sure appears that way. sounds like Dissection per se. Speed is only Vocally, 70s Judas Priest/Rush are good one part of what the band does, not reference points, in that the band is not shy everything. Most of the material is fast, but about high screams in the songs. Sing-along there are other energies and vibes that make chorus lines are part and parcel of Iron this interesting album even more worthy. This Kingdom. The band also likes to contrast big album is from 2011, but it is being reissued on riffs with some quiet melodies, one moment vinyl. Given that the album has been around 45 for several years, it is generally agreed that initially, I would listen to the extreme sections this is fast, melodic black metal and this album just to get to the melodic breakdowns, those has received some very positive reviews in the segments that would stop me in my tracks past. Also, remember that Ctulu is still active and give me chills and goosebumps every today and that they have another album that time without fail. They still do, truth be told. But has come out after this one. little by little, I’d appreciate the faster, more www.ctulu.bandcamp.com extreme elements and come to love them www.facebook.com/ctulumetal equally as much as the more immediate www.ctulu.de moments. www.blackbloodrecords.de Secondly, the band hailed from Suffolk, my home county. In fact band leader, the larger- BY MATT SPALL, Man of Much Metal than-life Dani Filth lived in Ipswich, my home Artist: Cradle Of Filth town. He still lives there, about 500 yards from Album Title: Hammer Of The Witches my childhood home as it happens. The idea Label: Nuclear Blast that a world-renowned band could be based Year Of Release: 2015 so close to my home was intoxicating as a youngster. As I have aged, I realise that this Let’s get it out in the open immediately – isn’t all it’s cracked up to be but back then, Cradle Of Filth hold an important and when the Internet was just starting in earnest, it cherished place in my heart. They have had was a major factor towards their appeal. their share of both positive and negative press over the course of their twenty year career Having set the scene, I must now add further but in spite of being the darlings of metal one context and in so doing, admit to the minute and then seemingly the most hated inconceivable. I have not really band the next, my admiration has remained wholeheartedly enjoyed a Cradle of Filth steadfast. album since around 1998. The 1994 debut, ‘The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh’, 1996’s And why are Cradle of Filth so important to ‘Dusk…And Her Embrace’ and the 1998 me? There are two main reasons. release ‘Cruelty And The Beast’, not to mention the 1996 EP ‘Vempire/Dark Faerytales Firstly, they were the first properly extreme In Phallustein’ are all peerless in my eyes, just metal band that I got into. And when I say I about perfect. In fact, ‘Dusk…’ remains one of ‘got into’ them, I really mean it. I was in the my all-time favourite records. Since then, the fan club, I owned every album and I bought a quality has diminished in my opinion. There are vast proportion of their merchandise. songs here and there that appeal but no However, whilst the imagery and the notoriety album has reached the dizzy heights of the was appealing, it was the music that was most holy trinity of full length albums released at the important for me. Tracks like ‘Funeral In beginning of the band’s career. Until now, Carpathia’ and ‘A Gothic Romance (Red that is. Roses For The Devil’s Whore)’ were awe- inspiring to me as a teenager finding his feet in Beset by line-up changes that would rival the anything heavier than Iron Maiden and Def comings and goings of some of the worlds’ Leppard. It was those middle sections of the most famous soap operas, it would appear aforementioned songs that drew me in; that, based on this output, Cradle of Filth 46 version 2015 is the strongest in the last decade paced material that surrounds it. and a half. With ‘Hammer Of The Witches’, Messrs Dani Filth (vocals), Richard Shaw Next up is a personal favourite, ‘Deflowering (guitars), Ashok (guitars), Lindsay Schoolcraft the Maidenhead’. It spews forth with an (vocals/keyboards), Daniel Firth (bass) and absolute ton of lush orchestration, creating a Martin Skaroupka (drums) have finally savage and dynamic listening experience. rediscovered the magic and recorded an And then, in true Cradle Of Filth style, a album that returns Cradle Of Filth to the upper melody hits from almost nowhere that is echelons of heavy metal once more. stunning and beautiful. In a flash, it is gone to be replaced by frenetic guitar solos and ‘Hammer Of The Witches’ opens in classic relentless drumming. But then it returns, bigger, Cradle of Filth style, with an instrumental, better and more grandiose than before, ‘Walpurgis Eve’. It is dark and foreboding but opening the door to a galloping closing grandly cinematic, setting the tone nicely for sequence that calls to mind the best what is to follow. First track proper, ‘Yours moments of ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ thanks to Eternally’ wastes absolutely no time in the strong riffs, the groovy tempo and the grabbing my attention and within seconds subtle cheekiness that pervades. that trademark scream of Dani’s that reeks of barely controlled malevolence pierces And then, as if that wasn’t enough, it is through the full-on majestic tumult of double immediately backed up by ‘Blackest Magick pedal drumming, scything dual guitars as well In Practice’. At the centre of this composition as atmospheric keys and orchestration, which lies the most impossibly catchy guitar-led provides that recognisably rich Gothic sheen. melody. It reminds me a little of ‘The Bathory The ‘Dusk…’ overtones are there to be heard Aria’ in terms of its immediacy, hummability (if and enjoyed immediately and the track such a word exists) and its slower tempo. That emphasises, if emphasis was needed that said, the track soon reveals a grittier, more black metal remains at the heart of the extreme side that works nicely atop a Cradle Of Filth sound. It may have taken on backdrop of tinkling keys and dark new influences and directions over the years atmospherics before returning to that riff to but black metal is definitely at the dark core close out another cracking piece of music. of the band. There is simply no let-up in the quality either as ‘Enshrined In Crematoria’ follows and opens in the title track breaks open the harpsichord to a manner that immediately calls to mind the compliment more wonderfully wrought track ‘Nocturnal Supremacy’ before going in staccato riffing and a mass of symphonic and a direction that apparently borrows as much cinematic theatrics that underline the fact from the 1990’s Gothenburg school of that Cradle Of Filth are at their best when they melodic death metal as it does from classic are churning out pompous, grandiose and black metal. But the most compelling aspect downright over-the-top music that revels in its of the track is the simple but wonderfully own decadence and malevolent brutal and groovy riff that is injected at points extravagance. Elsewhere, the lead ‘single’ throughout its length; it is impossible not to ‘Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych’ offers nod your head and grin from ear to ear every bombast, plenty of melody and heaviness time it makes an appearance, brilliantly whilst also bringing the male/female vocal juxtaposing the more technical and fast- jousting to the fore. Lindsay Schoolcraft has a 47 great voice that’s the perfect fit for Cradle Of interviews on his blog. Filth thanks to a demonstrable flair for the www.manofmuchmetal.wordpress.com dramatic. Poenari (Poland): Wrath, War, Lucifer (EEE Importantly, ‘Hammer of the Witches’ is no Recordings) out-and-out homage to the band’s past. Poenari plays a form of brutal black metal Whilst fans of Cradle Of Filth’s early days may that is easy, fun to get into and headbang well rejoice, this record does not exclude or because of the relentless, blasting drumming ignore the grittier and more impenetrably that sounds good and the trance-style fast heavy output of more recent albums ‘The tremolo appears to go so fast that it sounds Manticore And Other Horrors’ (2012), ‘Darkly, like it is not moving. Some people say that this Darkly Venus Aversa’ (2010) and ‘Godspeed is death/black metal, maybe due to the On The Devil’s Thunder’ (2008). If anything, it is frenzied Hate Eternal/Krisiun-style blasting, but the mixture of all eras of the band that makes it all depends on what you hear/like. It is true this record the utter triumph that it is. that the blasting is by far the dominant form of drumming going on, but there’s something a The intensity and outright enjoyment is, after bit special that makes it sound good; maybe nearly an hour, finally brought to close by the the drum sound, maybe the personal traits of ‘Twisted Nails Of Faith’-esque mid-tempo the drumming. The vocals are mostly the harsh ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ which then segues black metal style, but not too screechy (which seamlessly into the closing instrumental piece is annoying), and with some substantial ‘Blooding The Hounds Of Hell’. And with that, segments of lower death metal growling, too, ‘Hammer Of The Witches’ is over. as if there is (or was) some ambivalence about the vocals’ direction. Personally, the The music itself is then strengthened by the black metal vocals are my preference, but poetic, sinister and occasionally darkly Poenari makes everything sound good. This humorous lyrical content that has become a album was originally released in 2013, but EEE staple of the Cradle Of Filth armoury as well as Recordings is doing the reissue. Listen for the first-rate production job. Praise must go to yourself here. the band and to Scott Atkins of Grindstone www.eeerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/ Studios, also based in darkest Suffolk, because wrath-war-lucifer the entire behemoth of an album has been www.facebook.com/POENARI.official afforded an impressive and powerful clarity that only enhances the enjoyment of it. Put all In Defence (U.S.): Don’t **** with the Dungeon this together and we’re inexorably heading Master towards an overall package that simply Oh, boy, here they go again! The Minnesotan cannot be ignored. As I said earlier, this is the thrashers In Defence don’t claim to be the most excited and enamoured I have been sharpest tool in the shed and they don’t even with Cradle Of Filth since the late nineties and spell “defense” correctly, just to frustrate the there’s a reason for that; ‘Hammer Of The school teachers in Minnesota! (The British Witches’ is an exceptional album, one of the teachers are not upset). In Defence writes band’s very best. songs about the meaning of life and the The Score Of Much Metal: 9.5 future of humankind. Their conclusion is: eat more tacos, as in “Tacos Til Death.” They have Matt, Man of Much Metal has reviews and songs about beer and grilling. They have so 48 many gang shouts in their songs that Gary Holt 6.Mundo desconocido calls them on the phone every night and begs 7.Moderadamente ido… them to dial down the gang shouts, but this 8… De miedos y angustias band is not able to understand West Coast www.insomniomutante.bandcamp.com/rele English, so they just say to Gary, “Yeah, sure, ases ya betcha, Gary.” This is crossover party beer www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000818 taco anti-pizza thrash for moshing and passing 0648777&ref=tn_tnmn out. www.indefence.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/InDefencepunx Haunting (U.S.): Sealed Shut This free EP showcases primitive, old school FREE METAL MUSIC death metal of the late 80s and early 90s. The band is from Atlanta and they call themselves

“Atlanta death metal” which means real Violblast (Spain): Permanent Hate death metal for Haunting. If you like old school pure thrash, like the Bay www.hauntingofficial.bandcamp.com/releas Area and the German bands, check out this es free/name-your-price EP. www.facebook.com/HauntingOfficial 1.Permanent Hate 2.Journey to Nowhere 3.Insane Razboinix (Russia): Razboinix 4.Wicked Beholder This free/name-your-price album is for 5.Denial Act crossover thrash enthusiasts. Not much www.violblast.bandcamp.com information to tell you, but the band says this www.facebook.com/Violblast about itself. The link below is for the album.

Warburst Command (Brazil): Barbarian, “Cold crossover punk impact from the bosom Conqueror of the world and centre of Siberia. 5 outcasts, They named themselves after an old Sodom 5 brigands and only 7 notes. Social lyrics with song, when Sodom was primitive and infernal, tart and sparkling drop of satire. The defiance and you know these Brazilians want to to luxary and meanness, arrogance and continue the tradition. This is a free EP. cowardness, boasting and spinelessness has www.warburstcommand.bandcamp.com been bidden. The modern sequel of cause of www.facebook.com/warburstcommand Robin Hood and all the outcasts with the heart. Guitar instead of knife, drums instead of Insomnio Mutante (Chile): Mundo knuckle-duster, bass instead of bow, desconocido microphone instead of garrote. Crushing blow This is a free album of fairly traditional thrash in the head, steel blade straght to the heart, (with a bit of melodic guitar solos) from Chile. music devastating the wallets. Leave your The band says that they formed in 1998 and words, kid, prepare your heart and cash!” this is their 2014 album. www.razboinix.bandcamp.com 1.Living 2.In the Purgatory July 22, 2015 3.Vida desperdiciada 4.Catalepsia 5.Obispo … 49