Putrefactive Effect Zine

EXECRATION A feast for the wretched Review

2010-08-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

EXECRATION (US) – A feast for the wretched
CD 2008 – Comatose Music
9 tracks - 30'35
Rated: 6/10
Colorado-based deathsters released their first record of brutal death metal following the typical rules of US brutal death metal, and I ain't surprised the band is now signed on Unique Leader Records. After a promising demo, repressed on CD on Comatose Music, EXECRATION twisted the knife almost one year after.
If you're into poets like GORGASM, LIVIDITY (more the recent records), LUST OF DECAY, INHERIT DISEASE, etc... you'll probably find a morbid excitement with "A feast...". EXECRATION is very brutal and can play really fast but they had the intelligence to vary their music a bit (listen to the excellent "penetration butchery"!) with slowdowns or unusual breaks, but don't worry, this is not progressive music!
The most significative thing for me is the guitar sound of EXECRATION which really helps the band to create a malignant vibe, especially during some riffs or harmonies. It reminds me the morbid sound of "Tomb of the mutilated". Unfortunately, the band didn't reach the same atmosphere on stage taking in account the videos I checked on You Tube: the band is as brutal as a common brutal death metal band is.
http://www.myspace.com/execrationbrutality

GRAVEYARD interview (July 29th 2010)

2010-07-29T02:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a small interview with Javi of GRAVEYARD, I love their first record "One with the dead", a blend of finnish and swedish old school death metal with a pretty good songwriting. I send him the questions yesterday and get them back this morning...

-Morbid greetings Javi & 666 thanks for answering this fucking interview. You know it's quite a pain in the ass to get my inties back sometimes!! I don't know whether my questions suck or the guys are too lazy, ahaha. So first, let me know what's in your player while answering these questions?

Hey Jim, what’s up? Right now I’m listening to one of my favorite bands of all times: CORONER, and their “RIP” album, one of the best Thrash albums ever made. Then I will go for something older maybe… As usual, I always start with Thrash and Death and then move to Rock’n Roll and Hard Rock… What about some good old WITCHFYNDE? Mmm, sounds good to me!. I know what you’re talking about, I run my own zine Hellspawn Mag and I agree with you, lazy musicians suck, especially when they show interest for the interview and then disappear…

-Then here's a non-musical question but I'd like to ask it, are you proud of your country winning the World Cup, I think Spain totally deserved it as it's the best team for some years now! But maybe you don't care about it, ahahah?

I fucking love soccer. The same with Sbe, GRAVEYARD’s other guitar player. The other 2 guys in the band hate it… We won the World Cup because we have the best team so justice was made this time, hehehe. Sorry for France, it was hilarious, I couldn’t believe what was happening with the once loyal and winner French team... You know what? 8 players out of the 11 main soccer players in Spain were from F.C. Barcelona and that fucking rules.

-So now let's come back to our main interest, which is your band GRAVEYARD. I discovered the band with the EP tape version of "Into the mausoleum" where you play some old skull raw death metal, a kind of mixture of influences like INCANTATION, AUTOPSY, ABHORRENCE, FUNEBRE, etc... I guess the response has been more than positive as it has been released several times in different formats. Do you still have good feedback about this material? What's your opinion about it almost three years after its recording/releasing?

Well, I prefer to refer to “Into the Mausoleum” as a demo released on several formats, more than EP or MCD or any other “professional” format, I mean, it was recorded as a demo and released originally as a demo. It has demo sound, demo ideas, demo approach… Its pretty weird because everybody saw a lot of finnish influences on that demo and the truth is that we’re not that much into Finnish death metal. Of course we know and love some of those bands you mention like ABHORRENCE or FUNEBRE, but I would never consider them as our main influence. “Into the Mausoleum” sounds similar to those bands not because of the music, but the sound itself which is pretty bad (in underground terms “bad” is referred as “dark”, “creepy” or “atmospheric”, you know!). I mean, people consider it Finnish because of the sound, not the songs. For me, those songs are a mix of Finnish, Swedish, American, British, Dutch, German… Death Metal!. By the way, I would never change anything on that demo, I like it the way it is, with the pros and cons. It was released in MCD, tape and vinyl 10” format.

-If I was asking about your EP in the previous questions, it's because your first album comes with the same morbid death metal, but with a more powerful sound, a better songwriting where the swedish & finnish influences are put forward. "One with the dead" combines the massive sound of swedish bands like DISMEMBER or ENTOMBED with the haunting cold melodies of FUNEBRE or DEMIGOD for example. What is a conscious change? I mean the American influence has disappeared according to me?

For me, “One with the Dead” has the same songs that made “Into the Mausoleum”. Actually, most of the riffs and ideas came from the same period of time. The only difference comes from the sound which is ten times bigger and better on “One with the Dead”, of course. I don’t think American influences have disappeared, I can see some MORBID ANGEL, OBITUARY or AUTOPSY influences here and there, but you know, when you use that fat guitar sound, it seems like only Sweden existed within the Death Metal map, haha!. As I told you, we don’t write “Finnish” or “Swedish” or “American” riffs, we write Death Metal riffs that sometimes sound similar to DEMIGOD, sometimes to MORBID ANGEL, sometimes to MORGOTH, sometimes to ENTOMBED or sometimes to BOLT THROWER, that’s how it goes, Death Fucking Metal!. That’s what is all about…

-In the instrumental track "Abandoned churches" we can hear typical heavy metal harmonies reminding IRON MAIDEN, but with the GRAVEYARD touch! Still a fan of the band and their actual music? Are you eagerly waiting their new record "the final frontier"?

We always state that; we’re a bunch of Metalheads raised on Heavy Metal music above everything. So Heavy Metal is the beginning and the end. In the middle you can find some Thrash, Death or whatever, but its always Heavy Metal, don’t forget that. We’re living a weird and crazy times where Heavy Metal isn’t getting the recognition it deserves so a song like “Abandoned Churches” is kind of a tribute to that particular music, style and way of living. We respect punk and hardcore, but we come from Heavy Metal and we needed to make it clear to our listeners. “Abandoned Churches” is a prove of that. IRON MAIDEN are the biggest band playing those twin guitar melodies, but they weren’t the first one, remember SCORPIONS, RAINBOW or THIN LIZZY!. So we can say that the song wasn’t inspired directly by IRON MAIDEN but the whole hard rock / heavy metal movement from the 70’s and 80’s. To be honest, I lost my interest in IRON MAIDEN back in the mid 90’s, actually, I haven’t heard any of their last 6 or 7 albums, only a few songs and for me it will never be the same. Of course it is Heavy Metal and it’s still well done, and that’s why I respect it, but the songs themselves lost the catchiness from the 80’s and that’s a fact.

-Your material has been released on different formats. The tape format is released by french label Ars Funebris Record. I guess you're satisfied by their job, but how comes the cooperation with them? It's quite surprising as they mostly release black metal. Which format do you praise the most?

We only wanted to release our material on CD and vinyl if possible, but the guy from Ars Funebris offered us to release it on tape so we accepted. For me, the main formats are CD and vinyl so I don’t care that much about the tape. Of course it’s cool to see your music on tape again! But it is a minor format compared to CD and vinyl. “Into the Mausoleum” could have been better, you know, it was released on a Maxell tape with printed booklet, but “One with the Dead” looks quite better and more professional. It won’t sound too “underground” to your ears, but 90% of records in my collection are CD’s. I have something like 3 or 4 hundred vinyls and some other hundred tapes, but thousands of CD’s. To be brutally honest, I think it’s quite snob and freaky to see all those 18 years old dudes worshipping tapes or vinyls and hating CD’s, that’s a stupid trend. I’m sure they ALL listen to CD’s or mp3 when they’re alone at home, let’s face it!. I listened to tapes and vinyls when I was a teenager in the early / mid 90’s because CD’s were pretty expensive and I didn’t have a CD player, that’s the truth…

-On a gig matter, do you manage to play with GRAVEYARD as much as you want to? Do you easily find places to hit the stage with GRAVEYARD? What are your conditions for doing a gig in and even outside Spain?

We have done something like 30 shows with GRAVEYARD since early 2008 which is quite good if you have in mind that our singer/bass player Julkarn lives 400 km far away from us. That distance is a handicap so we can not rehearse with him as much as we wanted. Besides, he’s unemployed so everything is more difficult now. Anyway, we have played a lot of shows here in Spain with bands like DEAD CONGREGATION, MACHETAZO, AVULSED, TORMENTED, PROCLAMATION, NOMINON, LIE IN RUINS, HAIL OF BULLETS, ASPHYX, ARTILLERY, NECRODEATH… And some other shows outside Spain in countries like France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Sweden… with bands like KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR, HORRID, NECROS CHRISTOS, KAAMOS, MORBOSIDAD, NIFELHEIM, NOMINON, TORMENTED… Conditions? We don’t usually ask for money, just 4 flight tickets, 4 beds (hotel, your home, a dirty garage… whatever!) and shitloads of cheap beer. Remember the last condition, that’s the most important one.

-Let's talk about the spanish scene, cause without being the most over-swarming metal scene, it owns maybe good bands in different styles: AVULSED, UNNATURAL, FERMENTO, CEREBRAL EFFUSION, GODÜS, SCENT OF DEATH, MACHETAZO, WORMED, and many others, but these bands have some years of existence. Which more recent bands (or maybe less known bands) would you suggest to someone interested by the Spanish scene?

LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER, DISHAMMER, BALMOG, WOLFHEAD, MOHO, BANISHED FROM INFERNO, FOSCOR, LUX DIVINA, KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR, ATARAXY, MORBID FLESH, LORDS OF BUKKAKE, DECAPITATED CHRIST, PROFUNDIS TENEBRARUM, REDIMONI, OBSCURE, ERED, INSULTERS, AKERBELTZ, ABORIORTH, XERION, DOMAINS, WARCHETYPE, SPELLCRAFT, PRIMIGENIUM… Those are all worth checking. Maybe I forgot someone, sorry.

-Again about your musical scene, do you consider Spain having a solid underground and supportive metalheads? Even if not the most known scene, you have dedicated bands and labels? What are the most awful trends happening actually? Do you have also to face these emo/deathcore bands or these bedroom black metal bands?

Well, its difficult to consider Spanish scene as a “scene”, you know, here 1 metalhead out of 500 does something, the rest are spending money on beers, cocaine or stupid Dani Filth homo clothes… We have some cool bands, labels, distros or promoters, of course, but remember that Spain is almost a 50 million people country, I mean, probably smaller countries like Portugal, Greece, Holland or Sweden have 10 times more people involved in the scene than here. Spain is the sun & party country, and it affects Metalheads that don’t want to pay for CD’s or shows because its better to “drink and sniff” that money. Fortunately, lately there’s more people involved in zines, labels, bands, distros… And that’s cool!. Trends here? Well, for me one of the most stupid trend here is “to be Underground”. Of course the emo/core trend is bigger, but I don’t care since I don’t see myself into the same “league” as those emo bands / assholes. That’s why the “Underground” trend worries me the most, you know, it’s happening in my “real metal” world!. I’m fucking sick and tired of some undergrounders, honestly, fucking fake, a fraud! You know, that stupid “competition” to make people realize who knows more obscure and Underground acts, even if those bands were FUCKING CRAP. I hate that kind of “if it’s from the 80’s and has raw sound, it’s cool” approach. Go and use your “demo from 1987 (downloaded on mp3 from the Internet, of course) from X megatruekvlt underground unknown act” as a dildo, jerks!. Honesty is really missed those days Jim, it seems it is all about forums, myspace and other platforms to show how “Underground” you are. And it sucks big time.
-We can clearly make a difference between some death metal "school". I mean it's easy to recognize the Swedish sound (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, UNLEASHED, etc...), a Dutch sound (PESTILENCE, ASPHYX, SINISTER, etc...) as well as the American sound (DEATH, MORBID ANGEL, OBITUARY, etc...). Would you say the Spanish sound does exist? For example AVULSED is quite a particular band with its own sound & vocals. Do you see any other bands with their own sound? On the other hand, some bands manage to mistake you like the German FLESHCRAWL who totally sound swedish-like...or the Swedish IMMERSED IN BLOOD who totally sounds American brutal death metal....after all it's just a matter of influences!

Unfortunately, in my opinion Spain never had a “Death Metal” trademark sound if you know what I mean. Spain was always the land of copycats, I mean, most of the Spanish Death Metal bands never tried to do something “different”. Besides, you have to know that none of the Spanish bands got a respectable success outside the country (Maybe AVULSED, HAEMORRHAGE and MACHETAZO but nobody else). If you check out Spanish Death Metal demos from 89 to 92 or so, you will always find copycats of CANNIBAL CORPSE, SUFFOCATION, CARCASS or UNLEASHED. I’m not complaining, I mean, GRAVEYARD isn’t an original band, but that’s the truth. Even in France you had some bands trying to do something original like AGRESSOR, LOUDBLAST, MISANTHROPE or SUPURATION. Nowadays, Spain is basically known for his Crust/Grind/Death bands like MACHETAZO, HAEMORRHAGE, NASHGUL or LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER which is pretty cool because finally we have something “typical Spanish”, hahaha! (In Spain, that “typical Spanish” sentence always makes reference to bad things…). I think AVULSED is OK and they have been playing for ages, so all my sincere respect for them, but I don’t see that band as an “original” band (Sorry Dave!), I mean, they play standard Death Metal with more brutal vocals, but nothing new on the Death Metal’s horizon!. ASPHYX created an style, BOLT THROWER created an style, DEATH created an style, SUFFOCATION created an style… That’s the difference. But you know, it is just my opinion, probably Mr. Dave Rotten won’t agree, I’m sure of that! J

-What comes to your mind when I mention my country France? Do you know any good bands/labels from there? Have you ever been to the Hellfest who happened every years in Clisson?

Good old bands like AGRESSOR, SHAKIN’ STREET, LOUDBLAST, TRUST, MASSACRA, ADX, MISANTHROPE… Good labels like Adipocere, Holy Records (Cult label for me), Osmose… I’m basically into the 90’s stuff made on your country, I don’t know what’s going on nowadays in terms of Underground bands or labels. I know BLOODY SIGN, Ars Funebris Records, ZOLDIER NOIZ, the guys from the Pyrenean Metal and my friend Morgan from Rock Hard France!!!. But that’s all… I never went to Hellfest, but I would love to!. Now, I’m addicted to Party San in Germany, best festival ever!.

-Javi, you and your mates play (or have played) in many bands like OF DARKNESS, THE BLEEDING SUN, LUX DIVINA, TERRORSPAWN, etc... It's really impressive how involved you are in metal music. What so many projects bring to you as a musician? What are your favourite musical styles and and your all-time favourite bands? I know that you're an ultimate MÖTÖRHEAD fan (or is it Julkarn?). Have you ever think of doing a cover band??

Over the years, we have played in several bands but most of them were just alcohol-related projects, not real bands. I’m also running my zine Hellspawn, I’m working now on issue #7. I run my own studio as well Moontower Studios which is my job actually, so I can say I live Metal 24 hours a day, haha. I consider my self pretty open minded, I mean, I enjoy music from Rock’n Roll and Hard Rock to the most extreme Black/Death stuff. I like a band as long as they are honest and deliver good music, I’m not that worried if they play the “right” kind of music for the Underground standards or not. My personal favorite style has always been Hard/Heavy Metal and Thrash music from the 80’s. But you can also find some crap on those genres, just look at the Under one Flag roster and you will find tons of third division thrash stuff there!. Both me and Julkarn worship MOTORHEAD all night and day long. But it isn’t a stupid blind following, I mean, I like THIN LIZZY, SODOM, SCORPIONS, UFO, early DEF LEPPARD, TANK, ANGEL WITCH, JAGUAR, VENOM a lot and also other bands related to MOTORHEAD’s style. Mmmm, it would be cool to do a cover band, but I’m sure we would be too drunk and wasted even before the show to play the right way, that’s what happens when you listen to MOTORHEAD before going on stage. For instance, we’re rehearsing “Deaf Forever” which should be featured on an upcoming 10”.

-What's your future plans with GRAVEYARD, you have a new track on myspace in the same vein as the album, maybe heavier, where did you record it? Are you still working on the next record? A split EP with WINTERWOLF is also planned? How did you get in touch with them?

There’s a lot of shit going on. Antichristian Front should have sent “One with the Dead” to the press plant so the vinyl edition will be available very soon. Psychedelic Lotus Order from China is working on an official GRAVEYARD Bootleg called “Death After Live”, scheduled for somewhere this 2010. We have some minor releases prepared like a 7” with Finnish masters WINTERWOLF (Julkarn contacted them or they contacted us, don’t remember!. They’re also in a Spanish label, Xtreem Music…). All the stuff is in the label’s hands (Doomentia Records) so expect it after summer. There’s also a 10” released by a new label managed by some legendary guys on the making, we will announce it very soon!. The new song “Deathcrowned” that you heard on our myspace belongs to that 10” and I think it is GRAVEYARD 100%, a little bit more “original” than our previous songs maybe. We record ALL our stuff (except “Into the Mausoleum”) on my studios Moontower Studios. I guess after summer we will start working on our new album which should be recorded around early 2011.

-The interview is over Javi, thank you for your time, keep on playing metal of death, you can end it with anything you want to add.
Keep it morbid, death metal eternal!

Hey Jim, thank you very much for the interview, hope to meet you someday with some beers and ugly, outdated and unfashioned Metal records around!, Cheers!

Javi

http://www.myspace.com/graveyardofdoom

DIKTAT demo 2008 review

2010-07-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

DIKTAT (France) – II
Demo 2008 – Self released
7 tracks - 31'08
Rated: 7/10
DIKTAT is a french undeground band created in 1997, that people may know without listening to their music in fact. They released a demo tape in 2000, some brutal death metal reminding a mix of old CANNIBAL CORPSE (Butchered at birth), early DISGORGE (demos era) & early DEEDS OF FLESH. The whole sounded quite brutal and technical, however sometimes quite a nonsense in terms of strucures and the sound wasn't very good. Some obvious potential but also some improvement was expected.
Eight years later, here is this 2nd demo, and as I almost expected, DIKTAT becomes more technical and brutal. The sound of this 2nd demo is also better and the tracks gain in coherence. DIKTAT remains in the brutal death metal creed, got higher in the technical level and mastery. They also took the opportunity to record again two tracks from the previous demo and the lifting is impressive.
The new musicians and the years of work set an obvious progression, now DIKTAT are more in the stream of bands like ORIGIN, SEVERED SAVIOR, DEEDS OF FLESH, maybe not as brutal but surely less linear and with a great malignant touch in some harmonies. Hope we won't wait for ages until their next assault...
http://www.myspace.com/diktatdeathmetal

Zinophrenia Zine #6 review

2010-07-15T01:33:00.000-07:00

ZINOPHRENIA Zine #6 (France)
November 2009
54 pages A4 – French written
Doing a zine, most people have influences and usually at the beginning you copy a bit what others do around. On the case of Zinophrenia, I must say that Yves the editor has a personal way of doing a zine. When you quickly look through the pages you feel like this has been done in a hurry without care. In fact Zinophrenia zine is made of a particular care: the set-up is ultra basic (done through Words software of something alike) with very few images. Then the lay-out, sine cover, logo and everything's is done handwritten. His draws are very amateurish plus he adds several sentences & jokes here and there. Firstly he can seems completely childish but then it gives a particular tone to the rag, something off style.
About the zine content, Yves deals with different musical styles and featured cool interviews with RESISTANCE or SOL (a doom/death metal band from Denmark, not the nazi crap from Australia) and inties with average (not to say mediocre) bands like EMBRYONIC CELLS, JEFF/EMMOS /etc... and SEARING SKULL. Yves asks interesting questions or at least tries to deepen them and usually the bands play the game...you just have to be into their music I guess!
There are also a good bunch of reviews with demos, CD, tapes, vynils and zines covering many styles as well from death to black metal, maybe too much black metal stuff whose best fate is ending in the trash, but then again it's a matter of taste. Yves reviews a lot of underground releases and describes them straight to the essential.
The zine got a personal artcle dealing with love! Yeah I guess it's a pretty unusual theme in our hateful and intolerant underground. Yves dare to ask about love to Lord Azmoth, Jeff (EMMOS...), Mrikk (from FAZ), Kurgan & Luna from DUKE records (those freaks are definitely crazy!), Carl Warslaughter from BESTIAL MOCKERY, etc... some answers are really surprising.
To sum up, Zinophrenia Zine is a rather cool bunch of paper, not the kind of zine for everyone, but a personal one without great ambition: a FANzine!
The zine available for 2 euros.
Contact: Yves BLOUMENTZWEIG – 37 rue des Vosges 67540 OSTWALD – FRANCE
raspoutitsatan@wanadoo.fr

BATTALION Welcome to the warzone Review

2010-07-15T01:31:00.000-07:00

BATTALION (Belgium) – Welcome to the warzone
CD 2008 – Shiver Records
10 tracks - 42'16
Rated: 4/10
Second album for these death metal soldiers I didn' t know before and whose musical battleground is war! The production is massive and clean, a bit like a brand new tank just getting out of the army plants. First it looks impressive and shiny but on a musical point of view that's not so lethal. The riffing is quite common even if held by the bonecrushing sound. They can remind a tasteless and basic version of MALEVOLENT CREATION mixed with some ABORTED in their deathcore period, so not the kind of stuff I'm fond of... BATTALION mixes deathcore with some thrash/death stuff, the whole produced with a clinical sound that doesn't prevent the record to be boring. I guess the band may be more entertaining in a live situation. BATTALION certainly got a killing capacity, but on the warfield, you're stained with blood, mud, shit and you're under a relentless fire... and I don't feel this fury while I'm listening to this record.
http://www.myspace.com/battalionsquadcamp

HERPES demo 2010 review

2010-07-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

HERPES (France) – Doomsday
Demo 2010 – Nihilistic Holocaust
5 tracks - 22'41
Rated: 6/10
A new act from North-West France into the arts of old skull deaf metal! Would I say that the stream is growing bigger (a bit like in Sweden), after AFFLICTION GATE, NECROS, NECROWRETCH, HERPES seems to be the latest graveyard spawn into old school death metal. The influences are obvious, nothing new from that side, but is that decently played and before, do they have the vibe that makes you shake the head, dig the grave and feast upon the corpse?
Well, for a first demo that's a satisfying start, the sound is crude (especially the drums) but good when it comes to other instruments. HERPES combines influences from the old releases of bands like DEATH, NIHILIST/ENTOMBED, AUTOPSY plus recent bands like DEATH BREATH (probably the most obvious approach) or even TRIBULATION (for the horrific side).
The tunes are good but hardly demarcate with the influences, HERPES shall found the personal touch to avoid being a vulgar tasteless clone. They have a cool rocking touch, and unleash great solos and other lead-guitars in the AUTOPSY (deep) vein, a good point though, dig it deeper in that ways you freaks!!
Tape version available through Carbonized Cells Recs.
http://www.myspace.com/cockmincer

PUTREVORE Morphed from deadbreath Review

2010-06-30T01:52:00.000-07:00

PUTREVORE (Spain/Sweden) – Morphed from deadbreath
CD 2008 – Xtreem Music
8 tracks - 32'29
Rated: 7,5/10
Dave Rotten and Rogga Johansson who teamed up into a death metal band, that sounds juicely putrid to my ears. The result is some pretty decent low-tuned death metal, closer to the US old school death metal scene (old MORTICIAN, old INCANTATION and ROTTREVORE), and with Finnish death metal remnants (ABHORRENCE, DEMIGOD, ...). The whole is damned heavy as fuck, and sometimes you even have some deadly groove like on "the skies vomit sulphur", a kind of march of the dead, PUTREVORE manages to create some catchy tunes. Some tracks get slower, reminding doom/death metal, and kept an horrific mood strenghtened by the ultra low guttural vocals of Dave Rotten, this guy's amazing and doesn't use any effect!
"Morphed..." is the perfect soundtrack for any zombie movies, one can't only reproach the absence of guitar solos, maybe some variation in vocals like screams, but that's a pretty decent death metal release. This projects differs from what Rogga usually creates, I mean different from stuff like PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER and their small swedish brothers.
If you're looking for horror-filled death metal to accompany your wandering nights in cemeteries, you have here the best tunes to rock your flesh eating comrades.
http://www.myspace.com/putrevore

AVICULARIA Born to be vile Review

2010-06-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

AVICULARIA (Croatia) – Born to be vile
CD 2009 – Self released
8 tracks - 41'31
Rated: 7/10
Not easy to dissect this first AVICULARIA's release, there is a huge amount of work behind this "Born to be vile" and listening to it is exactly like being entangled in a web. AVICULARIA's technical death metal needs several listening for sure so if you're not into elaborated music please don't read further.
The musicians are skilful and create a complex blend of extreme metal, but death metal it is mainly: hard to not think about NILE in the beginning with the Egyptian atmospheres, epic occult parts similar to MITHRAS or MORBID ANGEL for some leads. AVICULARIA uses technical parts, sometimes it's a bit hard to understand the rhythms changes or the crazy breaks in the songs, that's probably the main reproach towards their music. This confusing side of the band can recall a band like SHADOWS LAND. AVICULARIA doesn't stop here when it comes to influences as you can detect riffing close to IMMOLATION or even GORGUTS and hard to not think about ATHEIST when they go into free-jazz alike parts.
But these elements written above shall not prevent you to listen to it, cause AVICULARIA mixed all these elements with pure death metal moments like these pounding riffs with great soloing that give a melodic side and help to appreciate the whole release. "Born to be vile" need an effort of listening but there are really good parts that make you forget the too much technical aspect. If you're looking for some exotical death metal form the Eastern Europe and if you're not repulsed by technical stuff, check it out.
http://myspace.com/aviculariaband

NERLICH Innards EP Review

2010-06-13T02:10:00.000-07:00

NERLICH (Finland) – Innards
Tape 2009 – Nihilistic Holocaust
5 tracks – 17'58
Rated: 5,5/10
NERLICH after a bunch of cool demos and a quite brilliant album "Defabricated process", unleashed this EP in 2008 as an ultimate dirge before split up. A sad decision but why keeping up doing things if the guys aren't anymore into what they're doing. However, NERLICH got a good approach of death metal, rooted in the 90's era of the genre, with such influences as old SUFFOCATION, old GORGUTS, old MORBID ANGEL, etc... The tracks from "Innards" are in the continuation process of the album (especially the first two tracks), the musicianship is still good, the weak point being the drum sound (where's the kick-drum? Is it this awful click?) but you could find again these particular atmospheres from the album, you know these kinda occult ones reminding PESTILENCE on "Testimony...". The two following tracks are less captivating, more brutal they are just filling space in my opinion. There is a 5th track, and I don't know if that's a cover or a sick jam, a kinda punk/rock song, a MISFITS coversong? Anyway, this EP has a strange taste, a bit like an unfinished business, not bad but after a great album I probably expected more...
Contact: Gabriel S – 9 rue de la Scarpe – 59 552 LAMBRES LEZ DOUAI – FRANCE gabsk@wanadoo.fr http://site.voila.fr/NIHILISTIC
http://www.myspace.com/nerlichband

YOGTH SOTHOTH Abominations of the Nebulah Mortiis Review

2010-06-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

YOGTH SOTHOTH (Colombia) – Abominations of the Nebulah Mortiis
CD 2008 – Sevared Records
10 tracks - 36'43
Rated: 7/10
This incarnation of the great old one comes from the Colombian hell and was invoked in 2003 with ex-members of PLANTA CADAVER. The conglomeration of glowing spheres is no less than a fucking death metal cosmic entity paying tribute to the Lovecraftian myth. Usually you expect some kind of atmospheres when writing music about Cthulhu and his minions, and does YOGTH SOTHOTH manage to create some? Well, with an old school brutal death style performed by YOGTH SOTHOTH you could have doubts but the band is able to surprise by playing with slow and very heavy paces. The riffing without being absolutely genuine displays some really dark tracks. In a way they can remind the brutality of bands like KRISIUN or INTERNAL SUFFERING but with more variations and slowdowns.
The music itself is pretty efficient with no innovation in terms of technical aspect, but some tracks definitely stay stuck in your brain. Some instants of linearity can also be felt and the lack of guitar solos is a mistake according to me coz they could break the linear times mentioned before.
Contact: Sevared Records c/o Barrett Amiss II – 19 East Main St. - Leroy, NY 14482 – USA
http://sevared.com/
http://www.myspace.com/yogthsothoth

GRAVELESS demo 2007 review

2010-06-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

GRAVELESS (Brazil) – S/T
Demo CD 2007 – Self released
4 tracks - 17'49
Rated: 4/10
First demo for this brazilian outfit, and I'm surprised that they didn't sound like a KRISIUN clone. GRAVELESS is an old school death metal disciple into the late 80's/early 90's death metal. Almost no blast-beats here, just good old chuka-chuka drums mixed with thrash/death riffing. Think about stuff like POSSESSED, early MORBID ANGEL and UNLEASHED but less inspired.
This demo lacks of highlights, you listen to it but nothing really remains because it's mostly common death metal without stench of the deceased, it lacks of intensity because of tracks' linearity. I usually moans for the absence of guitar solos, there are some here, but they often sound wrong or don't fit the riff they're in. GRAVELESS has to work harder to propose something more gut wrenching coz I don't want to put this demo in my player again.
Contact: graveless_death@hotmail.com

NOMAD The independance of observation choice Review

2010-06-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

NOMAD (Poland) – The independence of observation choice
CD 2007 – Empire Records
12 tracks - 44'29
Rated: 6,5/10
NOMAD has been active in the UG since 1994 but their name rarely comes to our frontiers, probably due to the small label that released their records and it won't evolve with Empire whose distribution is pretty weak. Fortunately, fellow traders are here to progagate the plague of death metal.
NOMAD is a death metal band that is completely in the stream of bands like VADER, DIES IRAE, DEVILYN, not they just follow these bands but they belong to the same sphere with similar influences (MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, CARCASS...). NOMAD's style is rather powerful death metal with old school elements and don't denies melodies and injects guitar solos for my greatest pleasure (and the guys are fucking skilled!).
The album is pretty intense due to the fast drumming but lightened by MORBID ANGEL alike dark parts. In fact some tracks could have been shortened for a matter of efficiency I think. The band also puts small intrumental pieces between the tracks and that gaves a time of rest until the next assault. In fact, you have here a good death metal band that may remain in the shadow of his great brothers VADER, HATE or BEHEMOTH to name a few. Good stuff if you're usually into extreme metal from Poland, they close the album with a death metallic version of « IX » of Italian thrashers BULLDOZER a longer version, don't know how they arrange it), this band is absolutely worth the listening for some good moments.
Info: www.nomad-band.com

CONSPIRACY Concordat Review

2010-06-05T06:06:00.000-07:00

CONSPIRACY (Netherlands) – Concordat
CD 2009 – Pulverised Records
8 tracks – 43'04
Rated: 4,5/10
Not the most inspired moniker with the numerous CONSPIRACY existing, this one comes from Holland and is the beast of lonesome musician Al' Hazred (ex-MELECHESH) taking all instruments duty. So here is a large amount of work for a result which is a bit disappointing. Don't get me wrong, everything is well played, everything's tight, nope in fact what annoys me the most with this 2nd album of CONSPIRACY is its lack of personality. At first, you feel like listening to a bad copy of ABSU. This black/death/thrash metal reminds me a lot of ABSU with a less sharp sound and with similar vocals. CONSPIRACY is far more melodic and has the bad idea to add Swedish heavy/death alike harmonies. On the fifth track « faith » CONSPIRACY reminds a pagan metal band with choirs and keyboards, clean guitars..., a bit surprising it hardly fits the previous tracks' mood in my opinion but I guess the guy plays what he wants after all. Then on track 7 « Courage », you get a death/doom piece, quite melodic with guttural vocals, still different from previous stuff again, don't know where the mad arab wants to go...and that goes on with the last melodic instrumental closing the album. There are good moments but there are also many moments of boredom that prevent this album being just average.
http://www.myspace.com/metalconspiracy

CELESTE Nihiliste(s) Review

2010-06-05T04:59:00.000-07:00

CELESTE (France) – Nihiliste(s)
CD 2008 – Denovali Records
10 tracks - 44'56
Rated: 7,5/10
Some people would probably choke on their vomit if they saw CELESTE's name in these pages, sorry folks but the reason for this band being reviewed here is that I loved their fucking record!
I can hardly give you an exact style to describe CELESTE. I read many shits everywhere like postcore, blackcore, hardcore/black metal, sludge black metal, etc... Something sure about this album is that you feel uncomfortable and oppressed while listening to it. CELESTE creates a suffocating cocoon of dissonant tracks, very heavy and so yes similarities with black metal atmospheres are true. But mentioning black metal would probably gave our elitists a heart attack, but even if CELESTE doesn't belong to this stupid inner circle, they are able to create sticky and dark parts worthy of any actual black metal release, if not worthier. The vocals are medium screams and they can hardly be belonging to hardcore or black metal exclusively as they fit both style in my opinion. The French lyrics would also please any worshipper of Lautreamont by their sick and sadisitc side.
On a rhythm matter, CELESTE has more in common with the hardcore or sludge style, it's mostly mid tempo parts, sometimes double bass drums, slow parts and even if that fits to the whole mood of the album there is a certain violence, but a psychological one than a physical. And to avoid deception about it you can download this album on the label's webpage, so at least you can't be too much disappointed.
Contact: http://www.denovali.com/ order@denovali.com
http://www.myspace.com/unhiverdeplus

DISCOSHIT / DISLAYNÖM split 2009 review

2010-06-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

DISCOSHIT (Indonesia) / DISLAYNÖM (France) – Split
Split CDR 2009 – La Topographie des Erreurs
10 tracks - 18'43
Rated: 2/10 – 0,5/10
Here's is one of the first release by this young DIY label ready to offer you the most marginal stuff ever and let's star with Indonesian DISCOSHIT and their awful thrash/punk metal. If the music is tight rhythmically, one can't say the same thing about the instruments and especially the guitars (the bass probably was fucked up during the mix, or the guy was too drunk to record his basslines, who knows...) because they sound terribly wrong as if the guys didn't tuned them. What people know about melody and harmony is blasphemed here due to tuning problem. The solos, leads and harmonies would make a goat puke its guts through its ass, it's just unbearable. Imagine a wasted version of VENOM and you're probably far from the truth about this band's non-potential.
DISLAYNÖM shall be probably proud to give its contribution to the UG but UG isn't synonym of garbage. I got this impression with DISLAYNÖM and their noisy stuff with bass guitar, fake drums and above this, the shouted and horrible vocals. Luckily, their part of the split is short and my torture ends quickly. I can't give you any comparison coz DISLAYNÖM plays nonsense shit to me, probably it could please the most crack-addict punk out there but I don't think they read my rag which is the wrong publication for this kind of crap.
Contact anf hatemail: dislaynom@live.fr

EMBALMED SOULS Six rites of possession demo 2009 Review

2010-06-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

EMBALMED SOULS (Brazil) – Six rites of possession
Demo 2009 – Self released
11 tracks - 57'54
Rated: 7/10
EMBALMED SOULS the death metal band that plays with their souls without thinking about what others say. Created in 1990, the band slowly and quietly do what they will, defending a certain idea of what is their own death metal. Here you have 6 new tracks (+5 tracks from their good demo 2005 « The Temple of bizarre cult » that I can only but recommend) recorded in their rehearsal room. When talking about rehearsal recordings people usually have a forced smile thinking the sound may be crappy. Surely the sound on « Six rites... » isn't the most perfect but that is merely acceptable. It's a bit crude with some feedback here and there but that definitely gives an idea of what the band is able. If you already know the band before you'll be pleased to hear they still play their occult old school death metal with haunting and dark melodies. I always enjoy their slow parts not far from death/doom metal reminding stuff like early KATATONIA or GOREMENT. But they don't forget to play more extreme parts, always in the old school way, with an early GRAVE touch and the usual low guttural vocals. If you like their previous recordings, this one is for you.
Contact: Paulo – Caixa Postal 8062 – Sudoeste Brasilia – DF 70 673 970 – BRAZIL
souls666@terra.com.br embalmedsouls@gmail.com

KRUPSKAYA / BLACK SISTER split EP 2009 review

2010-06-05T04:52:00.000-07:00

KRUPSKAYA (UK) / BLACK SISTER (Scotland) – Thrash until you puke
Split EP 2009 – Ignore This / Problem? Records
3 tracks
Rated: 5/10 - 6/10
I'm not familiar with KRUPSKAYA (whose name comes from Lenin's wife Nadezhda Krupskaya) which usually performs a kind of psychotic grindcore, and who here pays tribute to KREATOR's « Flag of hate ». Musically that's a pretty good restitution of the original (where is the fucking solo?), except that the vocals are in the KRUPSKAYA style: screaming sick vocals, but that's ok if you can bear this kind of vocals. Nothing astonishing but it allows me to discover KRUPSKAYA's music, intriguing band, I shall check more about them.
BLACK SISTER is not unknow to you if you regularly the previous issue of PEZ. BLACK SISTER still got a thrash metal basis but always had a vile pleasure to mix it with punk, hardcore or whatever they feel the will to puzzle or piss you off! They offer a new thrash metal track with a cool lead (heavy metal is the law!) but it's damn short! They also pay tribute to a German legend but they chose SODOM and their « Ausgebombt », it's well played, close to the original (and they play the guitar solo here ;).
A cool split EP for vynil eaters but that's not mandatory and certainly not the best stuff to discover these two bands.
Contact:
http://www.myspace.com/problemrecordsuk
dirty_little_punk@hotmail.com

THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND Blood for the bloodking Review

2010-06-05T02:28:00.000-07:00

THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND (France) – Blood for the Bloodking
CD 2008 – Emanes Mëtal Records
7 tracks - 47'06
Rated: 7,5/10
The French doomsters return with their first album. The band despite its many line-up changes, keep on its slow ascension towards the throne of doom metal, heavier than ever with a massive sound (Echoes Studio). TBDLB reached another step and offers a more mature music where the bass guitar got an important place, when lead guitars appear here and there.
The first CATHEDRAL is still the milestone, as well as BLACK SABBATH and its bastard son PENTAGRAM. The music gets darker and even has a melancholic touch (not depressive shit) but something nice though. It immediately reminds me the approach of a band like RUNEMAGICK.
BottleBen vocals kept the way they were on the demo, but are more mastered (no more compliments coz' I know he doesn't give a shit about that!); still a mix between singing and declaiming (Father BottleBen, pray for us!). The vocals are here used parcimoniously, as there are instrumental tracks, here vocals are used as an instrument. It's why you get a track with vocals, then an instrumental, then another tracks with vocals, and so on... This build a kind of funeral in several parts, quite a good idea, even if at the end you only got 4 tracks with vocals, it makes « Blood for the Bloodking » an enjoyable album without being boring like a REVEREND BIZARRE release with more than hour of doom preaching.
A first convincing release showing TBDLB has at least something to say about doom metal with a band like RISING DUST. Better get the LP version for a different but darker artwork.
Contact: emanesmetalrecords@orange.fr
http://www.myspace.com/thebottledoomlazyband

GRAVES OF VALOR Salarian gate Review

2010-06-04T01:20:00.000-07:00

GRAVES OF VALOR (US) – Salarian gate
CD 2009 – Relapse Records
11 tracks - 35'33
Rated: 4/10
Never heard of this band before, the info behind the CD says these guys are ex-THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD, never heard of them either, but a wind of suspicion blows. The label put forward many shining statements (what won't they do to sell their bands?), for fans of C.CORPSE, BEHEMOTH, DYING FETUS, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ... is written, hu?
I put the CD in the player and woaw! I was really impressed! GRAVES OF VALOR are brutal, they can play fast, the sound is like a full-speed train smashing your body, they are competent with their instruments... You guess well, this is brutal deathcore the US way, and no, they have nothing in common with C.CORPSE or DEICIDE. They belong to this wave of deathcore I don't really know and I don't want to. The obvious influence is the AT THE GATES way of playing guitar harmonies for the melodic touch, apart from this, they can remind NEURAXIS or ABORTED (during their deathcore period). Not that it's badly played, I just don't feel anything while listening to GRAVES OF VALOR, I just don't feel concerned by this sterile music. There are no mood, dark vibe or anything malignant. Next please!
http://www.myspace.com/fromgravesofvalor

TRIMEGISTO Subterranean streams Review

2010-06-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

TRIMEGISTO (Chile) – Subterranean streams
CD 2008 – Obscure Domain
9 tracks - 39'23
Rated: 7,5/10
Another spawn from the Chilean death metal mafia with names like THORNAFIRE, SHEOLGENNA, DOMINUS XUL and MELEKTAUS, some members of TRIMEGISTO also play or have played in the bands previously mentioned. Something good with a band like TRIMEGISTO is that they know how to play death metal with a dark mood. Of course, there's nothing outstanding coz they didn't create something new neither reach inhuman speed nor reinvent guitar scales, or whatever...
TRIMEGISTO « simply » unleashes some occult death metal the old school and obscure way. Their roots surely came from the old masters like IMMOLATION, INCANTATION, INFAMY for the way they create evil riffs, but they also add guitar leads and harmonies typical from heavy metal and it helps to create dark and esoterical atmospheres, a bit like PESTILENCE did on « Testimony... » or ESQARIAL on their first album. They also have this occult vibe like the Ancient Ones worship reminding the brazialian band SANCTIFIER.
The album loses a bit of catchiness sometimes but that's a serious and solid death metal release for anyone into exotical or dark death metal with skillful musicians.
Contact: http://www.obscuredomain.com/
Hacker – Grosser Buechel 6 – 53619 RHEINBREITBACH – GERMANY
http://myspace.com/trimegisto

RITUALIZATION demo 2009 Review

2010-06-04T01:12:00.000-07:00

RITUALIZATION (France) – The abduction mass
Demo tape 2009 – Zombie Ritual Tapes
5 tracks
Rated: 6/10
This kind of stuff couldn't have been released by a French label except a very underground one like NH, but which label would release a demo tape inthere in our death metal supporting country? In a demo tape way, without the great sound from Denmark or Poland?
Blood Harvest did (in fact Zombie Ritual Tapes) and released this demo probably seduced by the evil death metal sound of RITUALIZATION. The death practiced here is in the fast and savage way, helped (or not) by the chaotic sound, reminding the most impious band, some specialists would even mention black/death metal, and they wouldn't be completely wrong. The early works of MORBID ANGEL , ANGEL CORPSE and KRISIUN can be a starting point but that's certainly more into the aussie burning ground that you can detect influences by ABOMINATOR or DESKRUTOR (especially for the drums style). The whole demo is a fire rain of murderous and fast riffs, drums machine gunning and bestial eructations against the way of christ. Some slowdowns appears here and there, and really create evil moods but they are too few according to me.
Contact: Zombie Ritual Tapes – BOX 7092 – 20042 MALMO – SWEDEN
info@bloodharvest.se http://www.bloodharvest.se/

TRIBULATION the horror Review

2010-06-01T01:13:00.000-07:00

TRIBULATION (Sweden) – The horror
CD 2008 – Pulverised Records
9 tracks - 32'47
Rated: 7/10
TRIBULATION has been spreading disease for some years now, and here is their first album. Another spawn of the Swedish death metal mafia. These last years many bands appear to keep the cult of death remaining. One must admit that most of these new bands know decently how to create unholy and graveyardssmelling atmospheres. TRIBULATION is among them with their « The horror » LP who definitely got the right name as the album bathes in sheer darkness and horror. If you would mention ENTOMBED or DISMEMBER as fuel of filth creation, you better think of DEATH BREATH and especially the incredible REPUGNANT as obvious lethal checkpoint. The way they used the reverberized vocals and thrashy riffing immediately reminds REPUGNANT. TRIBULATION didn't reach the same horrific atmosphere REPUGNANT created on their « Epitome of darkness », but if you dig that record, TRIBULATION is the right morgue to visit.
On the other hand, TRIBULATION uses parcimonious keyboards to create an horror-filled mood or some dissonant arpeggios (close to some black metal riffs sometimes). Some melodies are displayed but more in a gloomy lead guitars way, close to some heavy metal à la KING DIAMOND.
A good debut album, sometimes I feel the band is able to make something more personal to be something more than an additional new « old school » death metal band.
http://www.myspace.com/soultribulation

EMMOS Vol.1 & Vol.2 Reviews

2010-06-01T01:08:00.000-07:00

EMMOS (Fr) – Vol.1 Emmos Kratos & Vol.2 The meaning of death
Demo CD 2009 – Self released
12 tracks - 53'04/ 7 tracks - 39'09
Rated: 3/10 - 5/10
So much material to review at a time, Jeff wants me dead!! This one man project with two CD is a gathering of Jeff's multiple musical tastes. EMMOS is a crossover of thrash/black and various raw metallic remnants. This lack of unity is the main problem with so much stuff compiled. I don't know where Jeff wants to go, probably he needs to create all this music in a cathartic goal but I must say I hardly get into his stuff. Musically and rhythmically speaking that's ok eventhough when he plays some leads or solos I can't prevent to grimace as it doesn't sound good to my ears. Vocally he also used a wide panel between black metal screams, clear vocals, crossover singing, more guttural ones, and once again it's sometimes a matter of tastes to bear them all. Think about some old SLAYER mixed with DARKTHRONE, VENOM, THE EXPLOITED and many hangovers. The use of drum machine isn't scandalous as it's back mixed so you don't really care about it while listening.
Vol. 2 follows the same path of multiple influences with a try in heavy metal voice. The thrash influence is stronger here (SLAYER « South... » and « Season... ») and one riff on « Fighting each other » seemed to be taken from « Silent scream ». To end on a positive note, I particularily enjoyed the last track, a long doom/thrash instrumental with clear-sounding guitars, not bad at all except some lead guitars that suck but that's demo stuff after all. I think it would have been better to keep the best track to release a single demo instead of all this stuff for the sake of releasing 19 tracks. Half of them could have been sufficient.
Contact: jeffboss07@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/jeffboss

VASAELETH demo 2009 Review

2010-06-01T01:04:00.000-07:00

VASAELETH (US) – Demo MMIX
Promo 2009 – Self released
2 tracks – 7'22
Rated: 6/10
It's always good to discover a new band like VASAELETH who plays some traditional obscure death metal. Ultra low guttural vocals and low tuned hellsounding guitar, you can bet they abused of their INCANTATION and AUTOPSY records. The drums are buried under vocals and guitars but it enforces the chaotic and evil intents. They know how to create darkening moods by the use of simple riffs and heavy parts. These two tracks are repressed on an EP on Blood Harvest with an additional track, so you're advised to get it in you're into any kind of dark death metal. They can remind FATHER BEFOULED but without the artificial harmonic use. Promising stuff, an album shall be out while you're reading this.
Contact: vasaelethdeathkult@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/vasaeleth

DEATH HEAVEN Viral apocalypse Review

2010-06-01T00:55:00.000-07:00

DEATH HEAVEN (Italy) – Viral apocalypse
CD 2007 – Punishment 18 Records
11 tracks - 72'01
Rated: 8/10
I reviewed a three-promo-track on PEZ#4, and later BRN sent me a promo of the full album. I had a positive opinion back then and listening to the whole album I must say I'm still impressed by these guys' skills (and that's why you can read a cool intie elsewhere in these pages!).
But one must know about DEATH HEAVEN that this band plays modern, technical and brutal death metal and that they are not afraid to experiment and give diversity to their music.
The intro itself can give you a chill with the female vocals (reminding OBSCENITY on the « Third Chapter ») but as the following track can prove, this is really death metal inside, ahah!!
The album is more than one hour long, so you will need several listenings to absorb and get fully infected by this viral load of death metal. If you like complex death metal with brutal parts and some nice atmospheres, you will find some worthy substance in there. Hard to give you a perfect description but think about a meeting between DEATH (« the sound of perseverance » for the technical aspect), NEURAXIS and CRYPTOPSY (for the modern and brutal aspect), OPETH (for the use of acoustic parts), NILE (for creating similar atmospheres, especially on the track « Sacrificial ritual of the Ugarit dead ») and many more depending on your tastes...but really DEATH HEAVEN is worth to be check out. Surely sometimes you felt oppressed by so many things at a time and the tracks' length, but the slower and more atmospheric parts really create majestic and mind catching moments. DEATH HEAVEN shows that it's still possible to create interesting and solid death metal without bastardizing it with wimpy elements.
Info: http://www.punishment18records.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deathheavenofficial

SANGUINEOUS demo 2009 Review

2010-06-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

SANGUINEOUS (Australia) – Expurgating life from earth
Demo tape 2009 – Self released
4 tracks – 18'54
Rated: 6/10
Featured in my previous issue, SANGUINEOUS unleashed this second demo tape release. The band doesn't calm down and gets higher in intensity and extremism. SANGUINEOUS is not the typical death metal band, it's more a studio project or let's say an laboratory experiment, a sick creature that escaped its cage, a monstrous metallic representation. SANGUINEOUS plays ultrafast dark brutal death metal, a kind of MORTICIAN meets INCANTATION under crack. The high speed reminds me sick shit like MENTAL HORROR or the polish MASTABAH. The guitar sound is far better than on the previous MCD, and the drum machine still sounds as a drum machine. The almost incessant pounding may be the main reproach concerning this stuff, nevertheless SANGUINEOUS still kept their morbid and brutal mood, cool guitar solos and the low guttural vocals. I just miss some slow and heavier parts one could find on the EP that made good alternances between fast parts and slower ones like the last track « Pious souls captured by oblivion ».
Contact: Tony ABOU NADER – PO BOX 436 – Coburg – Victoria 3058 – AUSTRALIA
sanguineousdeath@yahoo.com
http://www.sanguineousdeath.com/

DISFORTERROR Impalement and holocaust stench Review

2010-06-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

DISFORTERROR (Brazil) - Impalement and holocaust stench
MCD 2008 – Nuclear War Now!
7 tracks - 21'59
Rated: 3/10
I may have a tape or two of DISFORTERROR, hidden somewhere beneath an amount of neverheard stuff, because I don't remember anything about them. So this MCD is a second chance to discover them again (luckily or not). DISFORTERROR isn't into the fast death metal stream one could expect from a Brazialian band. DISFORTERROR chose a more bestial and harsh death metal when tightness and high-defined sound is an utopy. Think about a sick mixture of BLASPHEMY and SADISTIK EXEKUTION. This vomit-filled maelstrom spares no one: if you like chaotic and hateful extreme metal, you'll probably find an interest in DISFORTERROR, on the contrary if you're looking for something with coherence and respectful from the musical theory you read the wrong review.
Beside this, even if the infernal rage and hatred if the main point here, the lack of catchy moments cannot prevent the boredom due to the abuse of too repetitive and common riffs. This could give excitement to some 20-year-old « 666 kult skullkrushing » wannabees, personally this release bores me. The guys play fast, they scream, shout at the devil, fuck Jesus in the ass, but nothing remains except the certitude the CD will remain in his case for a long time.
http://www.myspace.com/666dft

Les Hurlements de la meute Zine#1 REVIEW

2010-05-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

LES HURLEMENTS DE LA MEUTE Zine #1 (France)
2009
20 pages A4 – French written
The zine mania seems to still have its adepts, I regularly see new zines popping here and there from all around the world and France has its own paper addicts. This first issue headed by Gilles reminds me In Extremis Zine (what? It's not a zine?) for the lay-out look alike. It cames in a A4 format with cut and paste, the whole is clear and not overcharged with useless pictures or ads. I just don't like the vertical texts and beware some parts or words are missing, not comfortable to have to guess the answers...
In these pages are gathered 4 interviews of French UG soldiers: SUBCONSCIENCE (after such a reading I think I won't go into further investigation...), TUMOR NECROSIS, AFFLICTION GATE and Abel of Invasions Barbares Zine (probably an inspiration for Gilles). The editor tries to conduct his inties with a motivated state of mind and variated questions, a good point when you know how french bands are reluctant to talk about themselves.
A bunch of around 60 reviews are written about many stuff (demos, CD, zines...), with a lot of underground unknown bands from punk to black metal; the reviews are rather short and longer when the editor is really into the release, sometimes I think it lacks of a check point to really catch the band's style but as the raw black metal on tape got a laxative effect on me I guess I don't feel ashamed losing the point...
Not a bad start in the paper madness, things can be improved (a more critical approach, more content, less black metal crap, and maybe interviews of foreign bands?) but that's a cool beginning, good luck dude!
Contact: Gilles TORCOL – La Montain 58400 BULCY – FRANCE
gilles.torcol@yahoo.fr

INFERNAL DOMINION Salvation through infinite suffering Review

2010-05-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

INFERNAL DOMINION (US) – Salvation through infinite suffering
CD 2009 – Burning Dogma Records
14 tracks - 65'18
Rated: 7/10
Originally released by TXDM Underground, this new version comes with the tracks from the split with OPHIOLATRY and a track from demo 99 (don't get mistaken by the so called tracks from 2004, in fact they are from the split, a printing mistake I guess). Once again prepare to face more than one hour of infernal Texas death metal. INFERNAL DOMINION plays this particular evil abrasive brutal death metal with low guttural vocals. Think about INCANTATION being native from Texas. Nevertheless, both bands don't share the same sound and ID got those heavy slamming pounding parts. The tracks from the album are quite good if you're into obscure brutal blasphemous death metal, you definitely won't waste your money. The highlight for me are the tracks from the split with OPHIOLATRY. I don't know why, but the tracks are more insane maybe because they add screamed vocals. Everything sounds more brutal and malevolent. The band also increases the speed and the tracks look like a flood of brutality right on you. The slower parts are more judiciously displayed between the fast ones so those tracks really have a catchy impact and you really have here a soundtrack for burning in hell in the death metal way (the track « By darkness blessed » kills!)! The last demo track is anecdotic but it will please any collectors (the CD also comes in a red as blood jewel case).
Contact: Burning Dogma Records c/o Ricky Lockett – 635 Astoria – Azle TX 76020 – USA
dogmaburning@aol.com
http://www.myspace.com/infernaldominion

MALARIAH The cult of devastation Review

2010-05-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

MALARIAH (France) – The cult of devastation
MCD 2008 – Self released
5 tracks – 31'50
Rated: 2/10
Another young band from my homeland, created in 2007, MALARIAH released this MCD in 2008 though a demo would have been a better idea. So let's consider this MCD as a demo eventhough the production is quite powerful. I think MALARIAH has not a precise idea of their style yet, so these 5 tracks are lacking of coherence and craziness. The music here is of an absolute boredom, with predictable riffs and structures and no real atmospheres except while they used keyboards or clear guitars. The guys are competent, no doubt about that, but their music lacks of mindblowing moments. MALARIAH reminds me the Czech band KRABHATOR on « Orthodox » album (though I never really like this band very much) due to the pounding side of these awful triggered drums. The plastic drums take away the organic side of their death metal (yes, that seems contradictory, hu?). The lead guitar sound is also just horrible but not in the good way, they are just too common and doesn't make you feel anything coz they often don't fit the riff they're in. The heavy/death Gothenburp soundlike attemps on the last instrumental track are also clumsy and end the MCD in a strange if not saying in a bad manner for a death metal band!
MALARIAH should have taken their time to elaborate more efficient death metal. Let's consider this MCD as a try and let's wait for something better.
http://www.myspace.com/malariah

NECROS / ABNORM split Review

2010-05-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

NECROS / ABNORM (France/France) – S/T
Split Tape 2009 – Nihilistic Holocaust
8 tracks – 30'30
Rated: 6/10 - 6/10
You can count on Gab's deep interest on unknown bands to release some pestilential metal of death. This time, here are two french acts into old school death metal and death/black metal.
NECROS is the death metallic representative. They are into old school US inspired death metal, the early recordings of INCANTATION & IMMOLATION plus some pieces of AUTOPSY for the slower parts. NECROS add their personal touch through their death metal with more personal riff though.
The music isn't groundbreaking, but you can find enough satisfying catchiness and morbidity to quench your thirst of death metal from the 90's. Vocally, I can't help it, but it reminds me Hagend of BLOODY SIGN. Unconsciously they are probably influenced by their landmates, even if most people disagree with this, I guess it's due to common influences from both bands, ahah! They covered « Anoint the chosen » by the mighty INCANTATION, it differs a bit from the original, not an easy song to play, I know what I'm talking about.
ABNORM, the death/black challenger is also rooted in the 90's, with some fast and evil music. Fortunately, the death metallic side of ABNORM prevails in their music, and you can think about the Austrian BELPHEGOR in their mid-period (Necrodemon Terrorsatan) and their landmates of VORKREIST (first album). ABNORM mixes fast parts with slower, medium grunts with screamed ones, some SLAYER-esque guitar solos, black metal sounding riffs, etc... The last track « The dead end path passenger » is my favourite and where the bands is efficient when playing on slower pace with decadent and hauting riffs.
Two bands at the eve of their putrid and dark art, but it's some promising debut.
Contact: Nihilistic Holocaust c/o Gabriel S – 9 rue de la Scarpe – 59552 LAMBRES LEZ DOUAI – FRANCE
gabsk@wanadoo.fr
http://www.myspace.com/necrosband
http://www.myspace.com/thetrueabnormband

BLACK BLEEDING The great satan Review

2010-05-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

BLACK BLEEDING (Belgium) – The great Satan
MCD 2009 – Self Released
8 tracks – 26'37
Rated: 7/10
Great to hear new material by BLACK BLEEDING almost 4 years after « The awakening » demo. Probably not well known in the UG, BLACK BLEEDING is a blackened death metal band a bit apart from the usual black/death bands, mainly because of their freaky image, by this I mean they don't take them too seriously, not the basical spiked metal warriors if you see what I mean. But does this affect their music? Certainly not. BLACK BLEEDING's music has the impact and intensity of evil sounding bands. I found similarities with bands like old VITAL REMAINS, early DIABOLIC, even some black metal (some hints of MAYHEM) but here we have mostly death metal for my greatest pleasure. Here and there you can hear more heavy metal influences reminding old stuff by EDGE OF SANITY, it makes the whole listening quite pleasant and create some diversity.
I guess the band won't have much recognition and will remain underrated probably because of lack of curiosity or maybe the band's image, a real mistake as BLACK BLEEDING is worth your attention (as good as belgian beer!). You can get this MCD directly from the band or the most skeptical can download it from their website.
Contact: blackbleeding@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/beerbleeding

HYPOKRAS / BY THE SWORD split LP review

2010-05-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

HYPOKRAS (France) / BY THE SWORD (France) – Brutal, deadly, insane / Metal 'til death
Split LP 2008 – D.U.K.E
2 tracks / 3 tracks
Rated: 6/10 - 4/10
Great to hear new stuff by HYPOKRAS, coz' there was no news about them since their MCD « Dead & hungry » released on Warpath Records. If I remember well, this was some good death metal, quite brutal with a bunch a cool tracks, even if the band didn't get much attention. Two new tracks on black wax, with a rawer sound, probably a will to get back to the roots. The first track « Strategik grim murder » reminds me the same kind of old school atmosphere you can find on Blessed are the sick, this kind of old school death metal with evil vibe. On the second track « The death wish » HYPOKRAS goes a bit thrashier in the old SEPULTURA vein (Bestial devastation/morbid visions) and in the DESTRUCTION vein, with slower melodic parts and keeping the death metal vocals though. HYPOKRAS turns into some death/thrash, I miss the brutal side of the MCD, but the stuff here is quite decent for the old school freaks who loves their metal that stinks sweat, blood and beer.
The chainsaw on the first tracks of BY THE SWORD, reminds the butchering intents of BESTIAL MOCKERY, and musically speaking « Metal 'til death » contains all the thrash/black/death clichés of this kind of band. It' well done, nothing outstanding but just a good strike in the head.
The following track « Prat del cramats » came with a quite crappy and fuzzy sound. It's more a kind of epic or doomy track, in the BATHORY vein (Blood, fire, death) with choirs and dealing with Occitan land and its medieval religious conflicts (according to the info sheet). The last track « annihilation » is a instrumental track with a sound similar to the previous one, that is to say quite horrible. The BY THE SWORD side is really not my cup of beer, but here is a cool split LP of underground french hordes even if they remains studio projects.
Contact: DUKE Cidex 1010 – 39800 LE FIED – FRANCE
http://www.myspace.com/hypokras666

ROT demo 2008 review

2010-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

ROT (Poland) – Pedophile maniac + tracks from the split with MORTICUM
Demo tape 2008 – Demented Omen of masochism
13 tracks
Rated: 3/10
This release is the first production by Peter of DOOM Zine and with ROT you can expect something as dirty and ugly as Polish underground can spawn. The ROT entity is a primitive black/death fiend raping the actual crystal sounding productions coming from Poland. Here you a rehearsal-like sounding production, quite listenable though, even the drum programming sounds as ugly and basic drumming, in fact only the snare drum is perceived. Personally I didn't keep anything from this release, but probably spiked metal-headz could enjoy this gathering of VON, BEHERIT, BLASPHEMY, ARCHGOAT, DARKTHRONE influences with some thrashy parts à la 1st SLAYER album or even BATHORY. The bestial vocals used to get on my nerves as it lacks a bit of variation but this is how they wanted them to be I guess. The tracks from the split with MORTICUM are really weak and ridiculous, you can just hear the drums and the bass, the guitar is banished and the vocals sound more like an asthmatic dude than an evil fire-breathing demon Not the kind of stuff I enjoy, probably people into basic black/death may be interestedc by the « Pedophile maniac » tape, but forget the split part, it sucks!
http://www.myspace.com/rot666

YDIN Sastaa demo 2008 review

2010-05-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

YDIN (Finland) – Saasta
Demo CD 2008 – Self released
5 tracks - 18'20
Rated: 6,5/10
The cold and pestilent wind of Finland returns with their third demo. I enjoyed the previous works of YDIN and this third one kept the icy flame of their particular death metal. YDIN doesn't play it old school but is a rather brutal death metal act playing a very precise and murderous death metal with influences from the US and European scene (DIABOLIC, PESSIMIST, PANZERCHRIST, EXMORTEM...). This demo is probably less catchy than the previous one but it keeps a frozen atmosphere. The drumming is always as tight as a scalpel cut and sometimes it really plays fast (reminding KATAKLYSM in « Serenity in fire » with the ultrablast parts, eventhought I hate this album) but YDIN use these parts with parcimony, in fact there are very few.
Not their best stuff but it's above the average and certainly more valuable than all this bunch of technical deathcore bands. YDIN has established it's trademark and now I think a full album would be the following logical step.
Info: http://www.ydinband.com/

DR DOOM S/T MCD review

2010-05-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

DR DOOM (Netherlands) – S/T
MCD 2007 – Scrotum Jus Records / Crash Landing Records
8 tracks – 15'35
Rated: 7,5/10
Beware the name doesn't reflect the band's style! DR DOOM is a surprising grindcore explosion in the way that they don't stick to the basic grindcore brand. Hard to not think about the modern wave of grindcore while listening to DR DOOM, with of course the unavoidable NASUM or one of his numerous children like SPLITTER. DR DOOM is somekind of modern grindcore, even if BRUTAL TRUTH is certainly among their influences, but the doc in fact simply loves to experiment or let's say adding elements from death or black metal. Would I mention the word post-hardcore? Pfff fuck the brands! DR DOOM is grindcore but they display many dissonant parts or riffs close to some black metal (MAYHEM is a good example especially latest records). It results of many dark and oppressing atmospheres that really set DR DOOM apart the vulgar grindcore bands that seem to play the same track for half an hour.
Only the screaming vocals could be tiring on a longer basis, but they strengthened the madness and fits the whole mood of this MCD. I think it's an unusual grindcore release, not original, but a mind catching one at least.
Contact: Mart WIJNHOLDS – Veemarkt 34 A – 8011 AJ ZWOLLE – Netherlands
doctordoom@live.nl
http://www.myspace.com/drdoomgrind

DECEPTION Nails sticking offensive Review

2010-05-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

DECEPTION (Poland) - Nails sticking offensive
CD 2007 – Sevared Records
10 tracks - 28'23
Rated: 5,5/10
I didn't know DECEPTION before, probably heard about them but that's all. The only fact is that underground artist Deather plays bass and sings within. This is their third album and what is interesting or let's say different with DECEPTION is that they don't come with a clean and powerful production like most of their compatriots. DECEPTION is an antithesis of crystal sounding production, their album is so chaotic and disgusting it would make some fag-gothic metalheads run away. DECEPTION is blasphemous death metal without compromises, even in the songwriting. I mean there's no refinement, it's almost half an hour of sonic aggression. Their satanic death metal is an insane mixture of BEHEMOTH (« Satanica » for the brutal side), REVENGE (for the chaotic side but DECEPTION is a bit more captivating, which wasn't so hard!) and even some US black metal à la PROFANATICA (for the evil and messy side). This kind of apocalyptic death metal could even please war metal freaks into AXIS OF ADVANCE. But there's nothing more to seek into DECEPTION's blasphemies, just pure aggression, chaos and evil intents.
Contact: Sevared Records c/o Barrett Amiss II – 19 East Main St. - Leroy, NY 14482 – USA
http://sevared.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deception667

TERRORDROME Vehement convulsion Review

2010-05-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

TERRORDROME (Greece) – Vehement convulsion
CD 2008 – Grindethic Records
11 tracks – 29'14
Rated: 5/10
Alongside with INVERACITY and EXTREME VIOLENCE comes TERRORDROME who also want their piece of the death metal pie. They can even challenge the US bands as TERRORDROME is exactly playing in the US brutal death style, quite technical but not too much, very fast but not always, with some traditional mosh-parts but without falling in the basic slammming death metal. If you dig extreme shit like GORGASM or INHERIT DISEASE this stuff will fully satisfy you. Add some technical touches à la ORIGIN, gory/pigs vocals in the most common way (quite boring on a longer basis but the album is short so it's not that hard to bear it), and a drummer who sometimes can reach really fast blasting or fast parts close to VISCERAL BLEEDING, and I think you could get a cool brutal death album. On the side of originality, well, that's the utter desert.
Contact: Sakis CHATZITAKIS – G. Gennimata 13 – 57013 OREOKASTRO – THESSALONIKI – GREECE
info@terrordrome.net
http://www.myspace.com/terrordrome

PERVERTUM OBSCURUM demo 2007 review

2010-05-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

PERVERTUM OBSCURUM (Australia) – Mass murder mutilation
Demo tape 2007 – Evil Speaks Records
6 tracks
Rated: 6/10
Side project of Chris Newell from SANGUINEOUS (read back the intie in PEZ#4 for further infos) PERVERTUM OBSCURUM is a black/death metal manifestation (you can label it as war metal if you will) where Chris plays all the instruments. The music itself is quite basic, bestial and intense due to the almost incessant drums blasting in the first track for example which reminds me a mix between ABOMINATOR, old DEICIDE and old IMMOLATION. Fortunately the second track is a mid paced one with an interesting mood reminding old stuff like HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST with hints of AUTOPSY, a nice track with the famous « hu! », ahah great shit anyway! Third track is again a black/death metal one in the vein of the first one but shorter with an haunting lead at the end, not bad.
The other side (of blasphemy) starts with another black/death onslaught, pretty common, but there are some cool slowdowns and lead guitar again, coz this would be pretty boring without those elements. Fifth track is probably the fastest and the most primitive, a kind of early DEICIDE under crack with a nice solo. This demo ends with an old INCANTATION alike tune, with a doomy parts with evil leads, then you get attacked once again by the black/death basis of PERVERTUM OBSCURUM. Chris has a wide range of influences and he bathes his black/death metal into those and here is his first effort. This stuff has nice dark moments and that occurs an interesting full length for any black/death maniacs.
Contact: PERVERTUM OBSCURUM – PO BOX 442 – Brunswick – Victoria 3056 – AUSTRALIA
Evil Speaks Records – PO BOX 5093 – Moreland West – Victoria 3055 – AUSTRALIA
http://www.myspace.com/pervertumobscurum

THY FUNERAL demo 2008 review

2010-05-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

THY FUNERAL (Hungary) – Master of rebellion
Demo Tape 2008 – Karpatia Productions
3 tracks
Rated: 2/10
Second demo by this one-man-band into black metal highly inspired by the Norvegian scene. It's always a pleasure to review that kind of material as I'm almost half aware in advance of how it sounds like. Typical raw atmospheric black metal reminding the early works of EMPEROR for the atmospheric side and DARKTHRONE for the vocals and some riffs. This is just overheard stuff according to me but probably black metal freaks would disagree. They would have to bear those unbearable and terrible keyboards though (the third track with synths and gremlins screams is just ridiculous). Fortunately they are not omnipresent, the guy added some acoustic/clean sound parts to create cold and sad atmospheres from the forgotten kingdom of absolute freeze where demons lie within to possess your souls and set the world on fire so as Satan could make the biggest barbecue and the hottest party ever..... One track is okay but three? And they're fucking long (boring?)!! If you like that kind of mid paced frozen black metal, drop me a line and I would be more than happy to give you this tape.
Contact: thyfuneral666@gmail.com

KATALYSATOR demo 2007 review

2010-05-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

KATALYSATOR (Sweden) – Mass genocide ritual
Demo tape 2007 – Zombie Ritual
3 tracks – 15'00
Rated: 6/10
The swedish old school death metal mafia introduces us to one of their numerous filth spawn. Some people may be tired by all these bands popping from here, pillaging shamelessly the inheritance of VERMINOUS, REPUGNANT, KAAMOS, NECROVATION , but one must admit that KATALYSATOR (now named INVIDIOUS) learnt well from their masters who themselves learn from NIHILIST/ENTOMBED, GROTESQUE, CARNAGE, DISMEMBER...
You have here some typical swedish death metal embalmed with putrid remains, the evil mood (the guitar leads are ultra typical but create a great dark vibe!), the decadent rock n' roll touch and a bit or reverb on the necrotic vocals. The typical recipe, it's overheard these days (it was still the case almost 20 years ago), but the guys play it with the guts. A cool second demo but absolutely not essential.
Contact: INVIDIOUS – Pelle AHMAN – Rörbäcksvägen 27 – 75752 UPPSALA – SWEDEN
http://www.myspace.com/katalysator

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS Realm of the dead Review

2010-05-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS (Australia) – Realm of the dead
CD 2007 – Hell's Headbangers
10 tracks - 38'10
Rated: 6,5/10
This is probably the best effort of GOSPEL OF THE HORNS so far. After a really average « A call to arms » I wasn't expecting anything from our Australian black/thrashers. I was wrong as this « Realm of the dead » is following a path established by DESTROYER 666 (Phoenix rising), I mean some catchy tunes of black/thrash metal with many headbanging rhythms, warrior hymns and great solos. The inheritance is clearly the early stuff of CELTIC FROST, SLAYER, POSSESSED, and probably more bands whose names are unknown to the common mortals.
A good album for any thrash maniac looking for good songwriting. The only bad point according to me are the vocals which are just unbearable. Some scorched vocals that sound powerless and do not fit the music. A matter of taste though as the music compensates this detail.
A must have for our young patched-jackets warriors who eagerly wait for their heros to reform until they split up, then reform and split up again...
Contact: Hell's Headbangers – 3593 Medina Rd #109 – MEDINA, OH 44256 – USA
www.hellsheadbangers.com
http://www.myspace.com/gospelofthehorns

HOUWITSER promo 2009 review

2010-05-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

HOUWITSER (Nederland) – Sledgehammer redemption
Promo 2009 – Self released
2 tracks – 7'00
Rated: 6/10
Freshly reformed the brutal dutch warmachine doesn't lose their killing intents. This two-track promo release is a foretaste of a upcoming album. Old school brutal death they were before their split, they keep the same style today but with a skilfull drummer this time (as Mr Kloosterwaard is so busy in SINISTER, INFINITED HATE, SUPREME PAIN, … and so many interviews to answer!). The drum-work here the the most significant change in HOUWITSER, there's a bit more variety and more aggression, a good point when you play death metal. On the other hand if like me you like their previous works, this is a pleasant foretaste, but if you don't like their shit this new material won't change your mind. HOUWITSER plays basic brutal death metal in the CANNIBAL CORPSE vein, no more, no less.
http://www.myspace.com/houwitser

AVICULARIA interview 2009

2010-05-13T02:48:00.000-07:00

It's my first contact with a Croatian metal band, I must admit my incompetence about naming any bands from this country, and AVICULARIA is an amazing discovery believe me. AVICULARIA is a death metal band, with a high technical level and able to create great epic tunes. Fans of MORBID ANGEL, NILE, CRYPTOPSY and GORGUTS shall check it right now!

-Hi Domagoj, hope you're doing well. Let's talk about your band AVICULARIA where you handle the guitar. You created the band with the help of your friend Kreso (drums) in 2003 and then later you recruited the other musicians Igor (guitar) Sergej (bass) and so AVICULARIA could spread its web! What is your musical background? Did you play in other bands before? What led you to extreme music?
Kreso, my younger brother, and I wanted to play some brutal music...at that point we were listening bands like Immolation, Nile, Gorguts, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Kataklysm, Immortal, Cradle of filth etc., so we naturally started to play in death/black metal style. Of course, we never wanted to limit ourselves, musically speaking, we were always open minded and liked other kinds of music, but at that point death metal was our main focus. It took some time to find right bass player and guitarist, few people passed through band. In late 2007 lineup was stable, and we started to play live. It is interesting to mention that band named „Avicularia” already existed somewhere from 1999 till 2002. It was a high school Metallica/Slayer/Sepultura cover band where Kreso & Igor (guitar) played. After band broke up, Kreso played drums with Blackthorn (thrash metal) and Malformed – legendary death metal band from Zagreb. Myself played only in one band before Avicularia, that was Serpent Sun from Osijek, Croatia (melodic DM in style of At The Gates and early In Flames) and in 2003. I left the band to form „new“ Avicularia with my bro.
When talking about extreme music, Kreso and I discovered that passion together. I remember Carcass „Heartwork“, Deicide „Serpents of the light“ as our first discoveries and fascinations. I can't tell why, I think it was natural progression from Metallica/Sepultura/Slayer/Pantera/Machine Head stuff to something more extreme, more intense. I liked the speed and complexity in that music, it was interesting to me as musician. I would repeat songs over and over until I could remember every note.

-AVICULARIA plays some kind of technical death metal where I distinguish 2 prominent influences like NILE and GORGUTS. Of course, as mentioned in your biography one can also find some diverse touches of CRYPTOPSY, IMMOLATION or MORBID ANGEL. Your music is quite technical but it remains quite listenable and not boring (at least if you are into technical stuff). You kept a good balance between technical aspect and some more atmospheric parts. Was it a clear idea at the early beginnings of the band to play this complex music? The band started in 2003, but your first album is just released in 2009, why such a delay? Did you record any demos before?
No, we had no demos. Now, looking back I think that was mistake because in 2005. we already finished 4 songs. But somehow, brother and I were never quite satisfied how they sounded, so the songs and lyrics changed quite a bit until January 2008 when we entered the studio. You are right, the songs weren't so much complex in the beginning. Since I had no songwriting experienced before Avicularia so it was quite new territory to me. Also, during past 5 years we changed a lot as persons, so naturally the music changed.

-You chose a curious moniker AVICULARIA which is the name of a species of tarantula if i'm right. Why such an uncommon band name? What is the link with your music/lyrics? Never think of using a moniker like MORBID CORPSE or CANNIBAL ANGEL, ahaha!! Seriously, is it a way to take distance with the "common" death metal scene? Why such an obsession for this spider?
Yeah, we wanted to play uncommon music so we needed uncommon name to make the point. Kreso came with the name, as it perfectly describes music we wanted to create. Avicularia is Latin name for one exotic animal, that is often misunderstood by many people. It is actually very gentle creature and is not aggressive at all. It also has its unique beauty, looks strange, has impressive body structure and physical abilities, almost like an alien creature. Also, the word „Avicularia“sounded exotic, strong and intelligent at the same time. I still like saying that name up loud, it always gives me that feel.
When talking of obsession with an spiders, Kreso used to have one Brachypelma Albopilosum, and our bass player Sergej still keeps few of different species in his bedroom.

-Your musical approach is a bit similar to bands like YATTERING or SHADOWS LAND who combines technical and brutal music with some more avant-garde ones. Do you feel belonging to this today wave of technical death metal bands? The problem is that some bands like BRAINDRILL for example mistakes brutality, speediness and boredom. You listen to them but at the end you cannot remember anything. What's your point of view concerning extreme music and its technical aspect? Don't you think some bands forget to compose a track but they only gather riffs without real coherence?
I think it is hard to compare Avicularia to any of these bands. I never considered Avicularia as technical band; we really aren't that good technicians like guys from Brain Drill, Spawn of Possesion, Necrophagist or Origin. I can agree with you there are some bands that go to unlistenable extremes. By forcing speed and technicality music looses dynamics, there are no easy, moody or slower parts, so listener can rest a second or enjoy some catchy groove. At some point technique looses its meaning. In my opinion, point of music is to express emotions, about how you feel in your heart, not about how fast and insanely you can play. From my point of view that term „extreme metal“ is not only about extreme technique but rather extreme variations between fast, technical, brutal and slower, more mellow parts within a song. It is that we are trying to make interesting music that can challenge listener and ourselves as musicians.
-Who wrote AVICULARIA's lyrics? Are they linked together to form a kind of story or theme, if so, can you sum up it please, as I'm afraid I didn't fully understand it because some parts are quite obscure concerning interpretation?
No, this is not conceptual album. Every song has its own story. The lyrics were written by three of us and have different thematic. Just to make a few quick notes about the lyrics to get the point: Kreso wrote „Born to be vile“ that is a song about a way of life that is basically an ode to individuality. Igor wrote „Succubus“, a funny brutal song about evil succubus whatever that meant to him; basic and kick ass lyrics for a kick ass song! He also wrote „Spiraling Doom“ that is ecological song about world's insanity and men’s obsession with power and destruction. I wrote „Anthem to arms“ that is anti war song but also includes anti religion ideas, „Confrontation“ talks about a man confronting with himself, with his demons & final „Requiem for ego“ is a hymn about the evil side of human ego and what we truly are when our ego diminishes.

-AVICULARIA is a Croatian band. If I mention this, it's because your scene is almost unknown to me. Can you raise the veil on the Croatian metal scene and recommend us some good bands? Do you have some veteran bands into heavy, death or black metal? Is foreign metal music popular in Croatia? Do you also have to bear this terrible wave of deathcore/neodeath/emoshit bands?
Yeah, sure! When talking generally about history of Croatian metal bands, there were many of them but only few international successful like Anesthesia, Ashes You Leave, Forlorn Legacy, Father... I would recommend to listen to „Ultimate Croatian Metal“that is collection of 5 CD you can download for free here: http://rapidshare.com/users/GY8F1V . And yes we have lots of deathcore/emo crap as everywhere. In my opinion some of the finest underground metal acts that still exist are: USUD (www.myspace.com/kultkrvi), INSOLITVS (www.myspace.com/insolitvs) , TRUE (www.myspace.com/truezrud), DRAMA (www.myspace.com/dramadoom), CZAAR (www.myspace.com/bandczaar), EXCUSE FOR PAIN (www.myspace.com/excuseforpain), INFERNAL TENEBRA (www.myspace.com/infernaltenebra).

-Do you have good equipment and rehearsal places for music in Croatia? How is considered extreme music out there? Is this considered as something marginal or is it accepted as any kind of music?
Metal music is not well accepted in Croatia. We are still very traditional country, people mostly listen to national folk music and MTV crap, so you can imagine how people react on extreme metal music. In capital Zagreb situation is a bit better, just like in every big city there is decent number of rehearsal places and about 4-5 clubs and 2 big venues where you can hear metal music. In last 5 years we had acts like Nile, Suffocation, Necrophagist, Sepultura, Iron Maiden, Machine Head...etc. This year was extremely filled with metal concerts so I guess situation is getting better. I think metal will always stay marginal music in our society. You know it is not easy to be musician here, it is very expensive sport. I was saving money for years to get some decent amp and guitars; we are really on our own.

-Looking at some pictures on your MySpace page you guys seem really to have fun playing together. You play brutal and complex music but don't take yourself too seriously. You don't hesitate to distort or deformed your faces, taking funny pictures, etc...Why don't you play the tough guys with spikes and evil poses in the snow at night? Is it a way to piss the evil dudes off because they don't consider you as "true" if you see what I mean ahah!!
No, we don't really give a damn. We enjoy doing our music and don't care about how people will react. Like us, hate us – it is same to me. Avicularia is not the kind of band that is trying to look true on stage, although I think stage presence is very important. It is just, when playing live we are more concentrated on our musical performance than on stage acting. Talking about goofy faces, I'm usually the most serious guy in the band – blame it on other three hahaha!!!

-I would keep talking about the Eastern metal scene, which is more known for the grindcore stream (mostly from Czech Rep) with for example CARNAL DIAFRAGMA, MALIGNANT TUMOUR, MINCING FURY, PIGSTY and hundreds more. The death metal is less represented with bands like DESTROYING DIVINITY (Czech), ENTHRALLMENT (Bulgaria), ARHONT (Macedonia), DAGGERSPAWN (Serbia), etc... According to you why death metal is less represented in Eastern countries? Is this a less popular style beside grindcore? I think things are changing because bands find labels to release their music.
I really don't know why is grindcore more accepted in Eastern Europe than death metal. I guess people like to jump around and get wild on it. Maybe it is because grind is all about few guys jumping on the stage and making noise. Many of these countries still have bad post transition difficulties, especially when talking about economy. Socialist regime repressed people for so many years, and then brutal neo-capitalism came…I guess it is the way for people to say „fuck the system“! Since grind derivates from punk and punk by its nature is all about rebellion...I think this makes sense. I think death metal is more introverted music style, it is the music you want to listen alone in your bedroom, and grindcore is more social, more like drinking music when you hang out with your crew. Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it is just the way the people are.

-"Born to be vile" is released by Croatia Records. Who are the people involved in this label? How is the promotion working? How people can get your album and merchandising? Do you find any distributors worldwide? How is the feedback about "Born to be vile"?
Croatia Records is major label in Croatia that usually does not distribute metal music. We got studio to record this album and limited edition of CDs, but not promotion and distribution. We still do these things on our own and currently are looking for an international label that is willing to distribute merch and promote us. Right now you can buy album and t-shirts directly from us on our email: avicularia.band@gmail.com . We sent CDs to numerous webzines and magazines and so far reactions are very positive all-around. I think we shall have no problem finding the right label.

-Do you still believe in the physical musical format, that is to say vinyl, tape or CD? We can see today bands selling their music on mp3 platforms like I-tunes or things like that. Personally even if the mp3 quality increases quite well sound wise, I can't limit myself getting a virtual release. I like looking at the CD booklet or LP layout. What do you think about all of this?
MP3 format is extremely practical, you can carry great amount of music with you, access to huge amount of different music you otherwise would never hear and the most important - it is free. I know that most of them are not legal, I know all about the authors’ rights, hell I am one of them now! So, if you google phrase “Avicularia torrent” you’ll get at least 30 direct links to download our album. And you can’t stop it, and I don’t want to stop it because it is the way for people around the world to hear our music. And some people, who liked it, send us mail and order CDs and t-shirts. I personally like having CDs but don’t buy them much because of two practical reasons: First, I don’t have anymore free time to sit down in front of some nice Hi-Fi and enjoy the music, and second - it is expensive. Like it or not you can’t change this. And don’t get me wrong, I used to be that kid that spent his last money on brand new CD rather than going to pub with friends. But physical format will survive for sure, you have to have a CD, especially at live shows.
-How many shows did AVICULARIA play? Do you share the stages with foreign bands? Is it easy to organize concerts and festivals and how is usually the people affluence at gigs? Are the metalheads supportive?
As I said previously, Croatia has very small metal scene. Our state has only about 4,5 million inhabitants, so it is natural to go internationally it is the only way. So far we played only in Croatia, and this fall/winter some international gigs are coming. We shared stage with some names you might know like Quo Vadis(Can), Disinfect(DE), Distaste(A), and some local “bigger” names like Stonebride, The Rite of Retaliation, Usud, Inciter…There are bunch of people, I could say fans, that attend our show regularly and are very supportive – they make us feel worthy and proud of music we do. As Far as I know, Avicularia is the only band in Croatia doing this kind of extreme metal music.

-Please react or say something about the following records:
-ATHEIST "Elements": One awesome album! Man I should listen that old stuff more often, you just reminded me on time when I intensively enjoined bands like Cynic, Death, Pestilence and I always put Atheist there. Amazing concept in general, musicianship and AN IDEA, one of the most amazing jazz/death metal fusions. Album is very fluid and dynamic and this is the same thing I want to happen with our music in the future.
-DEATH "The sound of perseverance": It was always hard for me to pick the favorite Death album, but their last masterpiece is the real crown of Chuck’s work. Most technical album to me, also the first Death album I’ve ever hearted back in 1998, and album I’ve listened many, many times. It instantly reminds me on Chuck and his tragic fate and what kind of genious stuff would we listen from Death today if he was still around. These are the last words of the father of death metal – it is a Bible to me!
-AGHORA "Aghora": Awesome fusion of prog/thrash metal with oriental/ambient stuff. I always get the trills from guitar work of Santiago Dobles on that album. This guy is one of the most impressive players I’ve ever heard and other musicians follow him tightly. But I never liked the way the vocals were done. I would like to hear her screaming from her guts on heavier parts. To me her vocal lacks dynamics and it gets me bored when listening a while. But Santiago, he is the man!
-GORGUTS "Obscura": First when I heard this album it took me some time to digest it, to understand it. Very complex and original album, definitely on my top 10 list. It inspired me to take different approach to playing and was and still is great influence on Avicularia’s music. There is a song “Clouded” that lasts for almost 10 minutes and when I come to that song it feels like it lasts an hour! It is that sick and disturbing, like everlasting agony. It makes me nervous sometimes…hahahah
-CRYPTOPSY "the unspoken king": After that album people started to call them Craptopsy but it is not that bad. I’ve listened many times and liked it like every Cryptopsy album. New vocal style was quite the shock, but hey, Cryptopsy was always about innovations and this is the reason I’ve been following them for years. This band has no two same albums; every one has different vibe and is original. For a long time they were my favorite band and if I had to pick the worst album it would be “Once was not”. To me golden era ended with “...And than you’ll beg” when Jon left the band. That is the last masterpiece of Cryptopsy, and I hope they’ll get on that road again with next album.
-SUFFOCATION "Blood oath": The best production Suffocation ever had, but not my favorite album. It is funny that I can’t tell why, but album after 15-20 minutes of playing becomes boring. It lacks something but I can’t tell what, it sounds so perfect but does not give me that thrills like “Despise the sun” does.
-PORTAL "Outre": Man, I haven’t heard of this guys until now(God bless mp3). Interesting post/black metal stuff! On first listening it instantly reminded me on Mayhem “Ordo ab Chao” because its atmosphere and Lo-Fi production. Not bad indeed, but I’ll give them a few more listenings for better insight.

-Let us know about your recent musical purchases. What records would you recommend to our narrow-minded readers? On the contrary what's the most terrible stuff you have heard recently and we should avoid?
Recently I’m intensively listening to local demo bands and there are lots of great talents, so have a listen to some of than I recommended. Lately, beside metal, I’m listening lots of post rock and experimental stuff, instrumental stuff like Terry Bozzio, Frank Gambale. There are some impressive bands your readers might find interesting like King Crimson. They have been great inspiration to me. It is one of the most amazing bands in music generally and everyone should give them a chance. I suggest to start with albums “Red” and “Power to believe”. If you like instrumental acoustic guitar try to anything from “Miroslav Tadic & Vlatko Stefanovski”, there are virtuosos from Serbia and Macedonia that can easily be compared with guitar greats like Al DiMeola, Paco DeLucia, Joe Satriani…etc. Talking about new metal releases I hope everyone heard “Ulcerate – Everything is fire”. If not, this one is a must! I think they are Immolation of new era, the most intense and original death metal band I’ve heard in years. “Obscura – Cosmogenesics”is also awesome, “Augury - Fragmentary_Evidence”, “Gorod - Process of a new decline”, of course new Nile album…dude, there are too many of them. Stuff I don’t like I usually don’t remember, so – none!

-It's over now, thank you very much for your kind cooperation answering my questions. Let us know what we can expect from AVICULARIA in a near future. You also can end this chat the way you want. Keep on being vile!
It was my pleasure answering your questions that were precise and interesting. I am happy that you gave us a chance for promotion in France and I’m sure we’ll manage to make few live gigs around your country. It is very nice to see international interest for our music, thank you for your attention and best wishes to keep Putrefactive Effect active and strong! And to all you metalheads: metal up you ass and keep the metal faith alive! Haha…No, this is too much cliché…Listen to Avicularia at www.myspace.com/aviculariaband and if you dig us, ordering our album. Thank you all!

CEMETERY URN Urn of blood Review

2010-05-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

CEMETERY URN (Australia) – Urn of blood
CD 2007 – Modern Invasion Music
8 tracks - 31'29
Rated: 8/10
CEMETERY URN is the kind of band that makes my zine worth existing; the band features many great names of the Australian underground but that's not our main concern here, go on Metal Archives for that. We have pure death metal here, at least the way I consider it to be as intended: dirty, rotten, dark, brutal, heavy (this heaviness can remind early BOLT THROWER) and with low vocals, in the traditional 90's US death metal. I target here the early recordings of INCANTATION and IMMOLATION of course. CU assimilates the US style and turns it into some Australian death metal with the particular drum-style you can hear in bands like ABOMINATOR or DESTRUKTOR. CU adds some thrashy parts (à la POSSESSED) and manages to spawn a hellish death metal album. Nothing original though but you can't deny the soul catching effect.
The tracks are short, with many evil sounding guitar riffs and this is here the main force of CU: they are able to create this uncomfortable, dark and malevolent aura all along this half-an-hour of death metal. And all those fucking great lead guitars, how some bands can miss such important things in metal? Here these leads are developping the mood in such way it could make the Swedish death metal bands jealous.
You understand this release must be in any death metal collection.
Contact: Modern Invasion Music – PO BOX 777 Moorabbin – Melbourne AUSTRALIA 3189
http://www.myspace.com/cemeteryurn

HEAVING EARTH demo 2008 review

2010-05-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

HEAVING EARTH (Czech Republic) – Vision of the vultures
Demo CD 2008 – Nihilistic Holocaust Records
3 tracks - 12'49
Rated: 7/10
Czech Republic is more the land of numerous grindcore or goregrind acts with unreadable logos, and death metal is something rare out there so let's welcome this demo gladly especially if it contains many qualities. HEAVING EARTH is a cunning student of the US death metal scene, not modern death metal but not old school death metal either. Homing ex-members of INTERVALLE BIZARRE, you can expect good musicianship, and that's the case here with 3 tracks of dark brutal death metal, with many twisted and complex riffs reminding IMMOLATION (the last records) or even some GORGUTS (the two last records but not as crazy and technical). The band is also quite brutal and fast and seems influenced by a band like HATE ETERNAL. The speed isn't seeked for fastness sake or to impress like the actual contest it seems to be in the US (probably to get signed by Unique Leader) no, HEAVING EARTH is looking for good compositions and if this demo only owns 3 tracks, they all have indeniable qualities (killer fucking guitar solos!). They should take their distance with the HATE ETERNAL influence to avoid being considered as a clone or a follower, but that's a satisfying debut and a promising one.
Contact: Nihilistic Holocaust c/o Gabriel S – 9 rue de la Scarpe – 59552 LAMBRES LEZ DOUAI – FRANCE
gabsk@wanadoo.fr
http://www.myspace.com/heavingearthcz

KHÖLD VALLEY demo 2009 review

2010-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

KHÖLD VALLEY (France) – S/T
Demo Tape 2009 – Nuclear Thrash Prod
8 tracks - 23'05
Rated: 4/10
The hyperactive Jeff send me one of his numerous projects. This one is the second demo of his thrash metal oriented band KHÖLD VALLEY. Influenced by bands like SLAYER (whose « Agressive perfector » is the ending cover song), TESTAMENT, KREATOR and probably crossover bands like SUICIDAL TENDANCIES or SOD (whose "March of the SOD" is the opening covered track here). The result is some sonic ripping thrash metal with even some thrash/death touches sometimes, but that's just a cool demo. It's probably due to two things. First one is that KHÖLD VALLEY uses drum-programming, and even if it gives some tightness and coldness to the whole, I like my thrash metal with a human vibe, a sick motherfucker that beats the skin as if it was his last day on earth, sweating and bleeding!
Second point, the vocals are low mid-grunts that didn't fit the music according to me and they sound powerless, a bit like the guy got a cold and recorded his vocals ill with a scarf in a 10°C room. Beside this, it's ok musically, even if some silly half-drunk played solos would have been a nice option as well.
Contact: jeffboss07@hotmail.com

CRUCIFIX Threnody of the crucifix Review

2010-05-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

CRUCIFIX (Denmark) – Threnody of the crucifix
CD 2008 – Aural Offerings Records
12 tracks - 43'31
Rated: 6,5/10
Despite the fact that CRUCIFIX was born in 1993, this is just their first album after a handful of demos. Better late than never some may say, so what this record has to offer? I'm usually quite satisified with the death metal scene from Denmark with good bands like INIQUITY, CORPUS MORTALE, ECITON, DOWNLORD, EXMORTEM, PANZERCHRIST (although their use and abuse of keyboards are sometimes upsetting for my ears!), etc... CRUCIFIX could join the league easily with their interesting satanic and brutal death metal. They have the same intensity shared with EXMORTEM (the plastic drums as well) but CRUCIFIX thought it could be intelligent to add slower parts or breaks to prevent the listener from boredom. A major point with this instense release is the fury unleashed by CRUCIFIX than can remind the best days of DEICIDE or I would compare CRUCIFIX to the US band DISINTER. They have some good tracks like « Behind the veil of illusion » (ironically their slowest song) « The cleansing storm » (even if the opening riff reminds me a another's band's riff!) but not enough to achieve a killer release though. CRUCIFIX has still to improve the songwriting, the musical mastery and brutality are here but instead of killing the priest, put the crucifix straight in the nun's cunt.
Contact: AURAL OFFERINGS – BP 89 – 43003 LE PUY EN VELAY Cedex – FRANCE
auralofferings@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/crucifix666

RAPE, PILLAGE AND BURN Songs of death...songs of hell Review

2010-05-09T03:42:00.000-07:00

RAPE PILLAGE AND BURN (US) – Songs of death...songs of hell
MCD 2009 – Obliteration Records
5 tracks - 16'31
Rated: 6/10
This name probably isn't familiar to you even if the band exists since 1997 and features two members of DIVINE EVE. This EP is released 12 years after and smells the old school death metal as expected.
You have here 5 tracks that go right to the point, catchy but not enough to stick in your mind. The music itself is inherited from the glorious days of bands like early DEATH, AUTOPSY, DISMEMBER, UNLEASHED, ENTOMBED, ASPHYX...
The funniest thing is that RP&B sounds more European to me, you have fast parts of course mixed with heavy ones, but the band never tried to sound modern or to reach fast tempos (no blast-beats!). A band is attached to the 90's death metal and that's probably why this EP was initially released by Ibex Moon Records. It's a cool death metal MCD with war themes for fans of the bands mentioned above plus stuff like PENTACLE or BOLT THROWER. But I'm not sure I could endure a full release as it lacks a bit of something to be really groundbreaking.
Contact: OBLITERATION records – 3-32-1-3F Higashi Ueno, Taito-Ku – TOKYO 110 0015 JAPAN
http://www.obliteration.jp/
http://www.myspace.com/rapepillageandburn666

CYPHOSIS Gods torned Review

2010-05-09T03:40:00.000-07:00

CYPHOSIS (Finland) – Gods torned
CD 2008 – Self released
10 tracks - 41'04
Rated: 4,5/10
A finnish band playing some melodeath that's quite unusual for me as I usually expect death metal or even uncompromising black metal. These guys are into the Gothenburp style, the glorious days of IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILITY or SOILWORK. Not that it's completely bad, but nothing exciting really. They play a blend of heavy/death/thrash metal with nice melodies, cool solos, modern riffing somtimes to make you groove baby and even some brutality, but nothing to shock Grandma brutal death. CYPHOSIS isn't the worst melodic death metal band, it's just that I'm not too much into that style. They have cool moments but also some more lame ones. They have a balance between growls (really powerful) and clean vocals (these last ones remind me SENTENCED something between « Amok » and « Frozen » era). If you're into that kind of stuff it could be an interesting purchase, but CYPHOSIS is far from causing any metallic cirrhosis.....
http://www.myspace.com/cyphosis

KATHGOR demo 2009 Review

2010-05-09T03:34:00.000-07:00

KATHGOR (Malaysia) – Descendants from the depth
Demo tape 2009 – Self released
4 tracks
Rated: 8/10
Impressive demo tape; not that it crushes the established laws of death metal, but more in the way KATHGOR practices death metal. The chosen path is the 90's death metal, with a thrash metal edge, quite common stuff but at least they didn't chose the old school Swedish death metal ground as it's cool to do it today. After a clear sound introduction that set up a kind of haunting atmoshpere, you get engulfed in a death/thrash sphere reminding bands like INCUBUS, RESURRECTION or early MALEVOLENT CREATION. Many catchy heabanging parts appears as well as nice guitar solos (torture that whammy bar!!!), the band is conscious to incorporate memorable parts, a good point. The early works of MORBID ANGEL and SINISTER can help to situate the level of brutality KATHGOR can reach. The demo sound has a crude side I like, everything is audible maybe except the bass, drums are a bit too loud especially during the blasting parts, but still it's a detail.
Any voracious demo tape eater shall get this tape if they're into the brutal death/thrash metal with a die-hard spirit.

KATHGOR interview 2009

2010-05-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

It's a hard task to get aware of what happened in the most exotic parts of the planet when it comes to metal of death. If South American countries get more exposure these last years, the same cannot be said about the a country like Malaysia; it's partly due to the unsafe postal services and the customs. A young but determined band called KATHGOR contacted me some time ago, and I was glad to hear a band practicing such good old thrashy metal of death. Read those words by Ratna SD about her band, and her impressive knowledge of the Malaysian undergroundscene.

-My most putrid greetings to you Ratna! Welcome to the graveyard of Putrefactive Effect Zine! You're the vocalist of a young death metal band from Malaysia, so our readers need an introduction about KATHGOR. Tell us everything about the band's creation and the important dates. And what's the meaning behind your moniker?
Morbid greetings to you Jim! It is an honor for us to be interviewed by you in Putrefactive Effect Zine. Well, the idea of making KATHGOR existed quite sometime ago (1999-2000) actually, way before I helped and joined the other 2 bands. It was difficult back then to find suitable line ups with an underground spirits. While I was searching for band mates, I was being asked by a bassist from a death metal band in Singapore to join them. It wasn’t that long after I left them because I realized that they’re heading in the wrong path. At the same time I was busy completing my degree. Not later after that, a drummer from a grindcore band called me to join in with them. We managed to play gigs in Jakarta and several other places and recorded a split with a legendary grindcore band called AGATHOCLES. Nearing the end of 2008 (somewhere in July or August), I decided to quit and left the band immediately as I no longer have any interest to be involved with that band. The current bassist (Ayen) in KATHGOR (also in REAPER and VAULT) was also playing in that grindcore band and he was a new member at that time, also decided to call it a quit. The urge to form KATHGOR grew stronger and stronger each day and at last after few thoughts, I asked A’it, Ibi and Ayen to join me. They immediately agreed. The three of them are my friends and at the same have their own thrash metal band called REAPER. From that day onwards, we gather up at our usual place and practice new songs. Then in February 2009, “Descendants from The Depth” was born. The name KATHGOR was actually taken from an article of satan that I read quite sometime ago. KATHGOR is a Greek word which means “accuser”. Actually, the name itself has got nothing to do with our songs.

-Your first release is the demo tape « Descendants from the depth » limited to 200 copies. Why did you choose the tape format for your first demo? It would have been easier to spread it on CDR. Did you release this demo on your own or have you been helped by any label/distro/friends? Where did you press the tape?
I like the old underground way. TAPE IS KULT!!! (Even though nowadays most of them said that tape is not up to date and bla bla bla…fuck that crap!). During the good old underground days, most of the underground bands used and spread their demos in tape format and flyers while nowadays you can see new bands upload their songs for the whole world to listen without even releasing any official material at all. If financial is the matter, that’s bullshit! It is as if, what they have done all these while (making songs…setting up the band and so on and so forth) is worth to be uploaded only. I’m not against those who use myspace as a medium to be known or to spread their music for the whole world to listen, be it your way and it’s not going to be mine. To me, this spirit of the underground way should not be buried and should be preserved. I don’t have anything against bands who wants to spread their stuffs in cd-r, but personally I like the good old way of spreading demo in tape format (be it in pro-tape or dubbing in an empty tape…DIY RULES!). I sent this demo tape to several labels, distros and close comrades of mine. A local label “Basement Records” (Mal) did help me distribute the stuffs to other labels outside from Malaysia. I traded this tape with other labels like Deathrasharmageddon (Jpn), Nuclear Winter (Gr), Rockstakk Records (Jpn), Terror from Hell (Italy) and etc…Actually not many metalheads here knows the existence of KATHGOR, only to certain people…. some did asked me why did I want to press it in tape format instead because they thought it was expensive, but the truth is, it’s quite cheap here to press a tape. Don’t get me wrong, the reason I want to press this demo in a tape format is not because it is cheaper! To press a tape will cost you around RM 1.30 which in France Francs around 1.74 Francs. The tape was pressed at a local pressing store in Kuala Lumpur.

-KATHGOR is rooted in the 90's era of death metal, with some European but mostly American influences. Bands like MORBID ANGEL (old), POSSESSED, UNLEASHED, etc... come to mind as influences as well as thrash/death bands like INCUBUS, SOLSTICE or early MALEVOLENT CREATION. Actually, I find KATHGOR rather close to THRONEUM probably because of the the crude drums sound, fast parts, harsh screamed vocals... What are the major inspiration of the band members? Is KATHGOR your first band or did some of the band members play in other bands before?
Yes, it’s true when you said that our influences come from early death metal style. Close to Throneum? Well, if that’s what you think, then I respect your point of view. Every listener has different point of views. Our major inspirations comes from Death Metal Gods such as Obituary, Vomitory, Death, Mortem, Morbid, Benediction, Incubus, Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation..…etc. Kathgor is not our first band. In fact, before Kathgor was born, I was involved in a death metal band from Singapore and an old styled grindcore band. ..a’it, ayen and ibi have their own thrash metal band called REAPER which is still active until now and they are also playing in VAULT now.

-KATHGOR is an old school deathmetal band, but why have you chosen the path of metal of death? What is particular to this style according to you and what is your definition of death metal? Give me also your milestones albums of death metal.
Because “only DEATH is REAL!!!”…I chose this path because of my interest in death metal music. I do listen to other genre as well like heavy metal, thrash metal, black metal, speed metal, old style grindcore (no fucking porn gore grind shit), crust and punk. There’s no restriction in to what I listen to. Death metal is simply death metal. Heavy fucking distorted guitar riffs doom morbid sound, and pounding drums. The best death metal albums to me are Possessed “Seven Churches”, Death “Scream Bloody Gore”/”Leprosy”/”Spiritual Healing”, Morbid Angel “Altars of Madness”, Dark Throne “Soulside Journey”, Obituary “Slowly We Rot”, Sepultura “Beneath the Remains”, Entombed “Left Hand Path”/”Clandestine”, Cancer “Death Shall Rise”, Carnage “Dark Recollections”, Comecon “Megatrends in brutality”/“Converging Conspiracies”, Grave “Into the Grave”/”You’ll never see….”,Dismember “Like an ever flowing stream”, Merciless “The Awakening”/”Unbound”,Vomitory “Raped in their own blood”, Mortem “Demon Tales”/”The devil speaks in tongues”, Dismember “Indecent and obscene”, Unleashed “Where no life dwells”, Edge of Sanity “The Spectral Sorrows”, Benediction “Subconscious Terror”, Disharmonic Orchestra “Not to be undimensional Conscious”,Tiamat “Sumerian Cry”, Cemetary “An evil shade of grey”, Afflicted “Prodigal Sun”, Carbonized “For the security”,Centinex “Subconscious Lobotomy”, Desultory “Bitterness”, Epitaph “Seeming Salvation”,God Macabre “The Winterlong”,Gorement “the ending quest”, Hypocrisy “Obsculum Obscenum”, Megaslaughter “Calls from the beyond”, Morpheus “Son of Hypnos”, Séance “Fornever laid to rest”, Sorcery ”Bloodchilling Tales”, In Aeternum “Forever Blasphemy”,Traumatic “Spasmodic Climax”,Uncanny “Splenium for nyktophobia”,Vader “the ultimate incantation”,Malevolent Creation “the ten commandments”,Deicide “Deicide”/”Legion”/”Once upon the cross”, Silent Death “Before the sunrise”, Bolt Thrower “Realm of Chaos”…It’s not in proper order…maybe I left out a few… but those are the best death metal albums to me that I can list out.
-Another proof of your infatuation to the old school way is the lay-out of the tape. You did a xeroxed cut & paste artwork. Can we say artwork goes along with the music and is at least, as important as the music itself? Would you say it can give an idea of the band's state of mind?
I always like a xeroxed, cut and paste artwork. It reminds me of the old demo of an old school underground band during the era of 80’s and 90’s. Personally I think by doing everything by yourself (Xeroxed, cut and paste artwork) makes you appreciate more and you’ll feel more satisfied because you do everything by yourself. In a way, you will appreciate more on your own hard work in releasing your own demo. Yes, you can say that the artwork goes along with the music.

-A more general question about metal music, considering that it was a rejected style at the very beginning (from heavy metal to black metal), and today it becomes an almost accepted musical stream. How do you personally see the evolution of this impious music through the years and how do you foresee its future?
When bands such as Possessed and Onslaught came out at the same time in 1985 with “Seven Churches” and “Power from Hell”…they already started lyrically about death metal. Some said Possessed started Death Metal but some said it was Onslaught from their song “Death Metal”…it was a bit confusing…at that time, metalheads were banging their heads listening to it…why you said it was a rejected style when I never seen or known that it’s being rejected? But it is quite a norm when one genre evolves and some might not be ready to accept it at that time. Anyways, the evolution started from the early 80’s where death metal started to rise from bands such as Possessed, Onslaught, Death and etc until now where you can see death metal evolves to a more technical brutal death such as Nile. Some hate it and some like it. All I can say is if the spirits of death metal is there, then there will be no reason why there’s no future to it.

-KATHGOR has neither website nor Myspace page, so is it just a matter of time before you get one or will you remain at the email & snailmail stage?
I never like the idea of using myspace as a medium to introduce your band or songs to the metalheads all across the world. Yes, it is true if some may say that it is easier (only for those who want to be known as fast as possible…haha!) I have nothing against those who does that. I prefer the old underground way where those time people still appreciate things like flyers and demo tapes. I like to preserve that. Nowadays no doubt there are still metalheads that appreciate that kind of method… Now, I will remain at the e-mail and snail mail only….

-Until today, how many copies have you spread for promotion? H ow are the feedbacks about “Descendants...”? Are you into tape/CDR trading, sometimes it's better to spread music this way coz people are sometimes reluctant to send cash in a letter and prefer trading?
So far I’ve spread only around 50 copies of the demo. I received good feedbacks and I am very thankful for that. Some of them didn’t give me any feedbacks at all; most probably they don’t like our stuff? …I’ve never face any problem yet with those who are reluctant to send cash. I will always advice them to send the cash in a registered letter. But I’m much happier if they want to trade and I don’t accept tape trade with cd-r. It’s either way, trade or sending cash in a registered letter, is fine with me.

-What is you favorite format for the music; CD, tape, vinyl or MP3? Each one has good and bad sides, hasn't they? Vinyl is praised by die-hard metalheads but sometimes reaches absurd prices because of rare editions, whereas CD and mp3 are more convenient but “trendy” and “soulless” according to some people. What is your viewpoint?
Definitely tape and vinyl. I do have cds as well. I have some cd-r in which I got it from bands..haha! To me, the sound that you find on tapes and vinyl are totally different compared to the sound you listen on cds….don’t you agree? That’s because the sound on the tapes or vinyl’s are more analogue compared to cd which is more digital sound. MP3? I don’t support mp3 at all. I have nothing against those who support mp3, maybe it’s the easier way for them..i don’t know. Nowadays, you can see how easy it is for people to download songs on the internet. That’s because there are websites that provides downloading sections for songs to be downloaded. And metalkids nowadays are proud to say that they have listen to this and that and brag about it….but never own it. It is sick to watch all of these happens. To me, downloading is the poison that kills the underground scene!!!

-Now let's focus on your metal scene. Can you first give us a description of the maintream metal scene (what is the most popular & what is listened by the average metalkids) and then talk about the more underground side. I have not a big knowledge about metal music in Malaysia, I know very few bands like SILENT DEATH or NECROTIC CHAOS, as well as my main contact remains Wan Syamsul of Afterlife Prods / Deadhead Zine. What can you say about good actual bands, labels and zines? Please talk about it to give an overview to our curious readers!
I don’t really know what metalkids listen to nowadays. Most probably metal songs on myspace maybe. Haha! Some of the newcomer here in Malaysia spread their materials by uploading it on myspace. I think this happens in other countries as well, don’t you agree?... I have nothing against those who wants to do it that way, go ahead. But it’s a disappointment to know that people no longer appreciate flyers and demo tapes. Remember those days when you can see flyers here and there and bands came out with self-produced demo tape…why can’t it be like that now? We can’t blame the internet. It’s the mentality of some people that maybe do not know or appreciate the way that makes us appreciate more in what we do. Mainstream or underground is the matter of making own choices and knowing what you want. No one is blaming you if you belong in the mainstream or underground scene. To me, underground means community and unity in the scene and should be preserved and not to be destroyed!
In Malaysia, there are changes all throughout the years, from the early days of spreading flyers, tape trading, demos until the day where the metalkids only downloads or uploads their songs on the internet. Back then there were a lot of good bands during those days that I personally like here, besides the great SILENT DEATH and NECROTIC CHAOS are RATOR, NECROFIST (later changed their name to NEBIRAS), TORMENTOR, BRAINDEAD, NEMESIS, MUTILATION, MAZE OF TORMENT,LAMIA, SRI MANKAT (later changed their name to ARADIA), MISANTHROPE (later changed their name to RAVENLORD), ABSURD, BLASPHERIAN (later changed their name to NARSAMUM,) NUCLEAR DEATH (later changed their name to OPERATION CORPSE), ENDLESS, BLACK FIRE,KREMATION, SUFFERCATION, MANTRA, DIRTY COFFIN (later changed their name to IMMORTAL FLY), CREMATORY (Mal), BLACK JESUS, INFERNAL VOID, NAKARATUL KHAUM, KITANAICHI and also there are rare bands that released one or two demos in the early era of 1990’s such as IAK SAKKAH, MASCARA (black death), VULGA (black death…a demo was recently being re-released under Afterlife production in which their songs were taken from MASROHENDT/TEARS&PROMISE split), NOVATOR, WINNOWING WINDS, SAKARATUL, CARNEOUS, and INCREASES NOISE. As for zines, there are a lot of good zines existed around the year of 1987 until mid of 1990’s besides DEADHEAD ZINE that actually existed in the late 90’s early 2000.Good zines existed during the older days in Malaysia metal scene (around 1987 until mid of 90’s) are AEDES, THRASH ATTACK (later changed the zine’s name to VORTEX FROM THE EAST), HELL (the editor is one of the band member in a black death band called VULGA), EARSLAUGHTER,KRENMAUT, NOCTURNAL SLAVES, HORMALA, INFUSORIA (later changed it’s name to PUAKA ZINE), UNHOLY, THY UNHOLY ABYSS, ULTIMATE DARKNESS (the editor is no more in Malaysia, he migrated to UK), MINTAKULBURUJ, BRUTAL NOISE, MORTAL FLAMES, G.O.D (I forgot what it stands for), SWARM MAJESTY, GONDRONG, DEVOURMENT OF SOULS, FATAL LUCIFER, BLOKONG, ANGEL FROM HELL, PURI SILUMAN PEJAJARAN, CAPRICORN, RAHAB, NATHIAS, KROUT, UNHOLY PROPHECIES, KARAKATUAR, PUTREFYING REMAINS, SECTOR KROTONGKOL, ZULMAT, ABSURD EXISTENCE, DARK BOOK, and DARK WORDS. So far these are the good zines that I can still remember (layout and inlay are all cut and paste) and list it all out for you readers to know. There are a lot more good zines during that era that I may not even know because it’s too many. There are even zines that are actually in hand written! The birth of new zines nowadays is totally different than before. It seems like being an editor isn’t as easy as it looks…I didn’t say all, but some of the zines produced low quality reviews, information and even interview questions. I read a local zine which can be considered as a new zine from east Malaysia, made me want to throw it in a dust bin, the editor only talks about the layout and the artwork of the material without even giving any good details or any comparison on the bands songs. Well, I didn’t say that it is wrong to talk about layout and stuffs, but if all the reviews for every bands are the same (talking about layout, artwork and shit stuffs like that) what do you think? Is it worth to read such zines or is it worthless? This kind of zines bores me to death. I don’t even bother to read it again or to wait for the next issue…anyways, here’s the list of good labels that I know existed at that time: EVIL GRINDER (later changed their name to EAST GOTHIC PRODUCTION), SMALL BUDGET (later changed its name to MUZIKBOX PRODUCTION), NORTHPOEM RECORDS, PSYCHIC SCREAM and NEBIULA PRODUCTION. Those are the big labels in Malaysia. Beside big labels like that, there are also small distro labels such as KAPRIKORNUS and METALLATRIA RECORDS. I’m not really sure if these labels are still active or not. I don’t really keep much track on the latest Malaysian scene, but as far as I know, there are some good new bands,labels and small distros here.

-As far as I know, it is not an easy task being a metalhead, playing in a band or running a label in your country.20The government, religion and mainly the customs are among your worst enemies. What do you need to take care of to avoid being bothered? When sending or getting letters/packages, what people need to do to avoid disappearances or troubles? To which extent you could be punished by the law? Showing satanic symbols/beliefs can get you into troubles or mentalities have changed and today nobody cares?
As far as I know, there’s seems to be no problem at all now. Yes, it is true that some of the metalheads faced problems involving the customs and KDN…all the parcel must be as descent as possible or else it will be checked, confiscated and being charged of a penalty. Yes, it is a troublesome for us all. Some of them did order too many until the custom officer thought they’re escaping from tax charges! There’s risk, but so far, as long as the parcel looks decent enough, there won’t be any problem with it at all coz most of the parcels I received are all okay. There’s really nothing to be worried about…seriously. There’s nothing actually…Well, here u can walk along the streets with metal shirt and beer in your hands…nothing will happen to you as long as you didn’t make any chaotic scene on the streets. Nowadays, everything is quite okay because the mentalities of some narrow minded people have changed a bit.

-Concerning the gigs organization, is this something possible for small bands like KATHGOR or is it illegal and you have to arrange secret gigs? How many gigs did you perform? How is usually the people attendance at gigs? Do you have good beer in Kajang? What are the best alcohols out there?
As for gigs, the organizer must have a permit or license to organize a gig or else, there will be trouble before the gig ends. There are no secret gigs unless someone organize one...Haha! KATHGOR haven’t got the chance to perform any gig yet here because not many metalheads here in Malaysia knows the existence of KATHGOR. That’s because I only spread few copies of the demo to my close comrades in Malaysia. Some of them metalheads who got to know about us did ask about our demo, but when they got to know it’s in a tape format, they’re a bit reluctant and even asked us, why we didn’t release it on the cd instead. I totally fucking ignore them!
Anyways, the attendance of the metalheads here is considered okay. But if compared to the attendance of metalheads out there i.e. like in Europe countries for instance, we’re outnumbered and that’s because Malaysia is not a big country at all. If you happen to come to Malaysia someday, I will bring you to see one of the gigs here. Aha! The BEER!!! It’s good to drink beer while listening to TANKARD!!! Haha! the beers here are just the normal ones like Carlsberg, Guinness, Heineken and etc…some take an alcoholic drink called Taisong. The percentage of alcohol in Taisong is very high and you’ll get drunk by just drinking one bottle! It’s also the cheapest. It can be considered as rare to you. If you come here, I will definitely treat you to drink Taisong! Another rare one I can suggest is Montoku. This kind of drink you can find in the east part of Malaysia. Very rare and very strong. They said first timer will not stand Montoku….but who knows; maybe some of the first timer may survive.Haha!

-”Descendants from the depth” is your first demo tape, so what is the next step for KATHGOR? Will you release another demo or do you think about releasing a full album? Is KATHGOR the kind of band who want to spread its name as fast as possible or on the contrary spread it slowly as a corpse's putrefaction?
A full album will be later, now we are currently in the process of releasing our 2nd demo (still in a tape format) in which we have completely done one song and the other two songs are still halfway done. I will inform to you once this demo is out. Actually we are still looking for labels that are interested to release our materials in tape/vinyl format…..How fast or slow it all depends as I’m spreading our band’s materials through flyers that’ll be sent through snail mail or e-mail….it all depends…

-The putrefactive question now: what were you listening to while answering my fucking questions? What are you latest metallic purchases and things you could recommend to our readers?
I’m listening to “At War with Temujin” by IMPIETY in “DOMINATOR” album while answering this question…when I started to answer the first question of your interview I was halfway listening to Morbid “December Moon” demo... My latest purchases are Magnus Lp “Scarlet Slaughterer” , ANNIHILATED “Part of Destruction” Cd, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult “Evoking a Decade” Cd, The Accused Lp “The Return of Martha Splatterhead” (first press, luckily I managed to get it).Well, I’d highly recommend you to get VAULT materials which will be released somewhere around july under dying victim production (in tape format). Good speed thrashing riffs with awesome sound…..REAPER, a thrash metal band reigning from Kajang also in which most of the members are playing in VAULT and KATHGOR. They are in the process of releasing their first full length titled “ETERNAL DAMAGE” which will be released soon under a local label called Empayar Music Prod. (Mal) …the other one I can suggest is “IMPIETY “Terrorreign” album. Personally I think it’s the best album so far ever released from them. Hail the Mighty IMPIETY! ….D.N.S “Evoking a Decade”, awesome pure black metal reigning from German….
-We have now reach the end of this interview and I will quote the sentence on you flyer “in the end only death is real”. Thank you Ratna for your time and keep up the flame of Malaysian death metal burning. Add whatever you want to close this intie.
Thank you for this awesome interview Jim. We wish you and Putrefactive Effect Zine only the best!!! Keep the metal flames burning!!! Yearghhhhhhhh!!! For underground metal maniacs out there who wants to ask about our demo, merchandise, trade (most WELCOME!), lyrics or band infos please do write to us at this address:

Ratna S.D
P.O BOX NO.41,
POS 2020 KAJANG,
43007 SELANGOR,
MALAYSIA.

or email to: armyofhell666@hotmail.com (RATNA) . In the end only death is REAL!!!! And the underground RULES!!!HAILS!!!

STENCH OF DECAY Where death and decay reign Review

2010-04-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

STENCH OF DECAY (Finland) – Where death and decay reign
Demo Tape 2009 – Detest Records
4 tracks - 23'43
Rated: 7/10
The boys are back in town!!! 4 years after their first good demo, the young lads grew up and came with this second death metallic onslaught. They took their time but that was worthy to wait. We're actually talking a lot about the inheritors of swedish death metal but what about the dark order of Finnish death metal? So if the latest DEMIGOD stuff didn't turn you on, let me tell you that STENCH OF DECAY could be a more than decent candidate.
STENCH OF DECAY plays death metal in the finnish early 90's vein with a raspy and dark sound, but the atmosphere is here. The heaviness as well, the haunting melodies, solos, every traditional elements except originality of course but that's not our main concern, right? It's well played and shall please any grave desecrator. If you dig dead bodies like early DEMIGOD, FUNEBRE or ABHORRENCE (they covered Vulgar necrolatry on the 4th track!), this tape shall find room on your shelves. So what's the next step guys?
Contact: DETEST Records – C/O J. Marechal – Ch. Du Tilleul 126 – B 1300 WAVRE – BELGIUM
www.detestrecords.com

DENIAL Immense carnage vortex EP Review

2010-04-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

DENIAL (Mexico) – Immense carnage vortex
EP 2008 – Blood Harvest Records
3 tracks
Rated: 10/10
DENIAL is a recent death metal band from Mexico (2006) gathering some mercenaries from the Mexican underground mafia and especially Oscar Clorio some may know from his drumwork in CENOTAPH. Like me if you enjoy the early works of CENOTAPH, the death metal by DENIAL will even go out of your expectations. Two tracks and an intro are enough to get convinced by DENIAL's deadly potential. Paying tribute to the 90's era of death metal, DENIAL is the unavoidable dark death metal invocation, truly evil sounding like their landmates of NECROCCULTUS, they prove that it's still possible to impress with simple but good riffing. This EP offers a putrid mixture of INCANTATION, old IMMOLATION with the lethal groove by ENTOMBED and the coffin's stench of GRAVE, plus the South American trademark (like some spicy food that makes you breath some fire if you will).
All the elements I'm looking for in death metal are there: killer riffs, evil and dark intents, guttural vocals, hysterical guitar solos... The vinyl sound also strenghtens the obscure vibe, but that's firstly the songwriting which is almost perfect for me, a really impressive release. DENIAL has released a full lenght on Asphyxiate Recordings so let's see if they can remain interesting on a longer record. I'll check this soon, believe me.
Contact: DENIAL – PO BOX 217 – CP 06002 MEXICO – MEXICO
BLOOD HARVEST Records – PO BOX 7092 – 20042 MALMO – SWEDEN http://www.bloodharvest.se/

Larry "Torch" Lyannas Interview

2010-04-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Larry “Torch” Lyannas is an underground artist whose artworks may be familiar to US death metal freaks as Torch did artworks for INGURGITATE, SEVERANCE or BLOODSOAKED to name a few and he also uses to work with Burning Dogma Records when it comes to artworks. I got his contact through Ricky as Torch is actually in jail. Torch also did the front cover of the rag you're holding. Read on and let's discover his band DISCHARGE BY DEATH, the first death metal band born in prison state!

1-Hi Torch, almost a year ago I did an interview with your mate Ricky of Burning Dogma Records, and it appears that you did (and still do) artworks for some of his releases. So today, it's you're turn being questioned! How are you doing man? Could you tell our readers what led you to jail and when will you be released?
What's up Jim? Good to hear from you. Well to answer your first question, I'm doing a life sentence. Life carries 30 years flat before parole. I'm in for 1st degree murder for killing a guy that was trying to rape a 13 year-old-girl. He was beaten with a hammer and burned to death. The state tried to give me the death penalty, but wound up with life, “lucky me”.
When I got to prison people already had my nickname ready for me “Torch”. I tried to shake it for years but with no success. So now I go by Torch and I sign my artworks Torch too. I've done 19 years already, have 11 to go. Can't wait to get out of there.
2-How is life in New Mexico's jail? In my chat with Ricky when he was in Texas, he was quite limited, he couldn't listen to music and was just able to read books or magazines. Here, at least, you can listen some music on tapes and you even play in a band! Tell us more about your band. It's the first death metal band created in jail. What's your role in the band? You have just release a demo, right?
Doing time in New Mexico is allot better than where Ricky did time. In Texas, you can't have shit, no TV, no radios and they shave your dome. Not a cool place to do time. Here we can have TVs, cassette players, guitars and art supplies, and we have the sickest bandroom here. We take full advantage of too. My band has been jamming for about 7 years now. It started with me and my bro Jason Desnoyers. I play guitar and do vocals, he's on drums and vocals. When we met, I found out he could drum and play guitar and bass. On the streets he played with a number of hardcore-punk bands threw out the 90's in the San Diego scene. I never played in a band, so this was all new to me. So we started jamming together trying to get things going. It was frustrating like fuck at first, but we've written some kick ass shit. For a long time we didn't have the means to record. Now we do, and we're working on our first demo. It's a pain in the ass to. We just recruited another guitarist Rodney Sanchez and we have this dude playing bass for now, but he won't be on the demo, he's the red-headed step child. Can't really stand the dude. But he fills a void. Our band name is DISCHARGE BY DEATH, that's what your parole certificate reads if you die in prison, and we are all doing life, so it's a fitting name.

3-How do the rehearsals take place? Do you have a special room where prisoners can play instruments? How many times do you rehearse a week? How do other guys (other prisoners, guards...) react towards your uncommon music? I mean death metal is not like country music.
We have a good size bandroom, my band plays three times a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday), 3 hours a day. There are other bands here, but we're the only death metal band. People love our shit here, they freak out on how extreme it is. We were told we are the best band here. We all have our own guitars and effects so when we're not jamming at the bandroom, we're jamming back at the pod. Sucks for Jason because he doesn't have full access to the drumkit 24-7.

4-You will also take part to the BLOOD tribute to be released by Burning Dogma Records. Which track do you cover? What's your opinion about the band now? What is your favorite record of theirs?
Yes we're taking part in the BLOOD tribute release by Burning Dogma Rec. Ricky asked if we would be interested in doing a song. I told him fuck ya. We recorded the song “Poison for the soul” with an added twist, came out cool. To tell you the truth I had never heard of the band before, mainly because I have been living under a rock for the past 19 years. Ricky sent all their recordings on tape, and we all agreed that “Poison for the soul” was the one that we wanted to do. I believe it was from their 2002 release “Dysangelium”. I like the band, they have a cool old school sound. Definitely proud to be a part of the tribute.

5-Please, introduce us to your musical initiation, what were the first albums/bands you used to listen to? Are you a death metal maniac only?
I've always been into heavier music, growing up I started out listening to BLACK SABBATH, AD/DC... Then VENOM, SLAYER and METALLICA hit the scene, that led to TESTAMENT, EXODUS, DEATH, VIO-LENCE, DEICIDE, then onto HELLHAMMER, NAPALM DEATH, SORETHROAT, OBITUARY, D.B.C, M.O.D, S.O.D, CARNIVORE, the list goes on... When I got locked up CANNIBAL CORPSE and MORBID ANGEL started to get known. I do listen to other shit from time to time, just to take a break: DEFTONES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and a little TOOL. But for the most part death is it.
6-One of your main activity, at least the one focusing our attention is artworks drawing and painting. You did artworks for album covers (SEVERANCE, INGURGITATE, SUPREME PAIN, FERMENTO, ...), tattoos, bands logos, etc. How everything's started? When did you realize you had a talent for drawing? What are you graphical influences? Was it your job before getting imprisoned?
My job on the streets before coming to prison was to smoke as much bud as humanly possible and to drink until I shit my liver out of my ass, and I worked at a rental car company.
I always known how to draw since I was a kid. I was raised around art, most of my family are artists. But since my incarceration I've honed my skills in. I used to do a lot of wild life art and South Western art for a couple of galleries around New Mexico. I made good money doing it. But I really wanted to do obscure shit. When I've seen OBITUARY's “Cause of death” art when I was a teenager, that made me want my shit on album covers. My main influences are of courseWes Benscotter, H.R. Giger, tattoo artist Paul Booth, Dan Seagrave, wild life artist Carl Brenders, South Western artist Donald Crowley, and some of Zig's shit has caught my attention. I've only done 2 logos so far, one was for Dave Kibler's side-project EMBRACE DAMNATION and for Chris Hutto's side-project DEATH BLOW. As far as CD covers go I did INGURGITATE “Blackest origins”, SUPREME PAIN “Cadaver pleasures”, SEVERANCE “Suffering in humanity” and their upcoming release “Progression towards purgatory”, also the BLOOD tribute CD. I've done inlay stuff for LIVIDITY and some for FERMENTO. Steve Green used a piece of mine for BLOOSOAKED's upcoming release “Grotesque memories” and 2 CD covers for a trendy zine out of Canada BW&BK, inlay work for FUCK THE FACTS split with MINCING FURY, and I just got threw doing a piece for BASTARD SAINTS upcoming release which Ricky is going to release. Whenever I'm not painting or drawing, I tattoo in here, but tattooing in prison is illegal so we have to watch out for the guards.

7-How does it happen you work for a band? I mean, you have no website and you're not known as guys like Jon Zig or Chris Moyen, so how do you manage to get asked for making a CD cover?
I owe most of my gratitude to Ricky, he's been keeping me busy for the last three years now. When I first started my bro Worm wrote Dave Kibler and told him about my artwork. Dave wrote back and wanted to see some of my shit, so I sent him a little piece I was fucking around with. He wrote back, said he loved it and used it for a Milwaukee metal fest t-shirts, so I flooded him with artwork for a while. Then I got hooked up with Hound of Corpse Gristle Rec. (RIP) and he got me a CD cover for INGURGITATE; that led to Steve Green of Comatose Music, he's used 2 or 3 pieces of mine so far. Right now I'm devoting my time to Burning Dogma, Ricky does me good, keeps me busy, sends cash when he can. Dude has proven to be quite the friend, no bullshit in his game at all.
I don't really make much at it, just enough to keep my art supplies stocked. I'm not trying to get rich either, just trying to get my name out there. So when I finally do get the fuck out of here, I'll be able to use my art for a source of income. Plus I love death metal and this is the only way I can support it. The prison doesn't allow CD, so I have to have Ricky's record shit to tape for me. Anyone looking to get work from me get ahold of Ricky Lockett Burning Dogma Rec.

8-How do you proceed to create a new artwork? Do you listen to the band's music for inspiration (in case it's for a band), do you have recommendations or advices by the band members... Do you draw artworks for printed zines or T-shirts. Explain us your process of creation.
Most of the time Ricky let's me know what the band is looking for and I'll go from there. Usually when I paint or draw I'll thrown on some DISEMBOWELMENT, that's a good tape to paint to sets the mood. But if I have the band's music, I'll listen to that. The music and the lyric help paint the picture for me. I haven't did much zine work yet, only for Manos of Sewer Zine, your zine and BW&BK. I did a cover for a book called “The property”, it's about some crazy fuck that came back from Vietnam and found out his ol'lady was fuckin' someone else, so he bought this property in Arizona (USA) and made it look like Vietnam and turned her and her lover lose on the property and put them threw some horrid shit that he went threw, in the end they died a pretty gruesome death. Awesome book.

9-What are your conditions for creating a new artwork? Do you ask money in return or some CD or shirt of the band concerned? Did you ever get ripped-off by some bands or guys?
For a CD cover I usually charge anywhere from $50 to $100, it just depends on the piece and how long it takes to do it. I don't have the luxury of an airbrush so everything is done with a brush. So it take longer to do. As far as getting ripped off? I've never been ripped off yet, but there's always the first time.

10-What do you think of artworks done with computers? Some are not bad at all, but this way of creation doesn't always fit the music. It looks like “synthetic” and it loses the “organic” aspect of hand drawn or painted arts.
I do like some of the artwork done with computer. But a lot of it looks too video-gamish. I would rather have hand-drawn shit because there is more freedom in the creation process. But at the same time I've seen a lot of hand-drawn crap out there too. I guess it just depends on what you prefer.
11-You did the artwork for the upcoming “Progression towards purgatory” by SEVERANCE, which is a beautiful & dark work of art! You gathered different feelings with this one, darkness, coldness and even solemnity. It differs a bit from your previous works, because here you mostly used white, grey and black colors, and this is probably your most subtle artwork. Are you seeking constantly to do new things, do you need to experiment or do you want to remain in the gore/horror/demons category?
That piece I did for SEVERANCE “Progression towards purgatory” is my rendition of Caspar David Friedrich's “Monastery Graveyard in the snow”. It's one of my favorite pieces by him. Evidently that painting was destroyed in WWII. Originally I painted it for myself, as part of a learning process. But it came out pretty sick with the changes I added to it. So I sent it to Ricky and he used it for SEVERANCE's new release.
I do like to do other art, portraits, birds of prey and other preditoral animals, it's probably my best work, the come out photo realistic, I can paint or draw anything put in front of me. And I'm constantly looking to better my art by studying other artists and their approach.

12-Artworks are sometimes part of an album's atmosphere, in a sense they help to develop a mood in addition to the music itself, i.e MORBID ANGEL with the “Blessed are the sick” cover , INCANTATION “Mortal throne of nazarene” or IRON MAIDEN “Killers” to name a few. Do you see what I mean? What are the best albums covers according to you?
Man there are a lot of sick covers out there, but the ones that come to mind right now are: DECREPIT BIRTH “And time begins...”, CANNIBAL CORPSE “Butchered at birth” and “Tomb of the mutilated”, MORBID ANGEL “Blessed are the sick” and “Altars of madness”, EXULCERATE “Remnants of a cannibalistic debauchery”, DEEDS OF FLESH “Crown of souls”, FORCE OF EVIL “Black empire”, never heard the band before but they have a pretty cool piece of art on their CD. CATTLE DECAPITATION has a couple cool ones too.
Artwork does help set the mood and sell the CD. I'll be flipping threw a zine reading reviews and I will only read the ones that are artistically pleasing to the eye. Then when I read the zine again later, I'll read the ones I dismissed as crap because of their art, and find out they got a good review. Then when I hear them later on, I'm like “fuck these dudes are sick”. Pisses me off to see a sick band with 5th graders artwork on their CD cover.

13-The worldwide musical extreme metal stream has evolved a lot through the last decades. Death metal wasn't spared by this evolution, in good and bad ways of course. Death metal became more and more brutal, technical and even integrated new elements. Do you still behold this evolution or do you remain faithful to your old records? Do you try to stay informed about new releases of the oldest bands? Any good surprises or disappointments?
I evolve with the scene, some of the stuff coming out is sick! But at the same time there are some bands that are just too repetitive and have blast beats from beginning to end in their music, gets real boring, real fast. I'm always on the look out for real heavy and brutal music. I thought my search was over when I found DEVOURMENT “1.3.8”, I was stuck on that fucker for almost 4 years. Then I found other bands that replaced DEVOURMENT in my cassette deck: SKINLESS, REPUDILATION, MORTAL DECAY and so on. One of my biggest disappointment is MORBID ANGEL “Heretic”, the best track on there is “drum check”. The new MORTAL DECAY disappointed me too, “Cadaver art” should have let the name die. I think I probably would have liked the band if I didn't know it was MORTAL DECAY. The shit I'm listening to right now is DECREPIT BIRTH, HUMAN MINCER, NILE, INGURGITATE, DIGESTED FLESH, PSYCROPTIC, NECROPHAGIST, VITAL REMAINS, DYING FETUS, SEVERANCE, AEON, DEEP VEIN and DEEDS OF FLESH. The only way I can stay informed on new shit is threw Ricky Lockett, Dave Kibler and Steve Green from Comatose Music, other than that, there's no radio stations around here at all and short supply of metalheads.
14-Do you keep a correspondence with people from outside? You were probably in touch with many bands, labels and various people; the fact of being locked makes you aware of who were your real friends. Do you lose contact with some people after your incarceration?
The only people I stay in contact with is of course family, Ricky, Dave and sometimes Steve Green from Comatose. I used to write Ruben Rusa (Ruben Rosas – Jim) from DEVOURMENT when he was in the joint. We stayed writing for about 2 ½ years then he got out, wrote a couple of letters and that was it. Guess he had better thing to do, so yes I do lose contact with people, sucks but that's all part of doing time. I'll tell you what does bug the fuck out of me is there is all kinds of fine ass chicks that work here can't fuck with an of them. They're too scared and I hate fags so that's out of the question, I'd rather masterbate with a hand full of glass than do some creepy shit like that.

15-We'll stop there this interview Torch. Thanks for your time, I let you end this chat the way you want. Take care man and keep in touch.
Thanks a lot for the interview Jim, you rule! And thanks again for the zines and your demo. Anyone looking for artwork from me get ahold of Burning Dogma Rec, Ricky Lockett.

INFERNAL CONJURATION Tremendous plague Review

2010-04-24T03:05:00.000-07:00

INFERNAL CONJURATION (Mexico) – Tremendous plague
Demo Tape 2007 – Gruft Production
4 tracks
Rated: 5/10
INFERNAL CONJURATION brings the listener back in time where the line between thrash and death metal wasn't really clear. 4 tracks of hellish thrash/death metal in the vein of PESTILENCE (Malleus... & Consuming...), POSSESSED, SADUS, MORBID ANGEL (Abominations...), probably not the most original but not many bands plays that kind of music today. Soundwise, it's a crude production closer to the NIHILIST demos than a lame overproduced THE HAUNTED clone (actually THE HAUNTED being a lame band itself...). The tracks ripped your face with their furious vocals and and sadistic guitar solos just explode to your ears in a shrill way.
A real breath of pestilence for those looking for old school death metal, the guys of INFERNAL CONJURATION also have the good spirit, and offer a tribute to the bands of the past.
Contact: infernalconjuration@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/infernalconjuration

PYOPOESY Alea jacta est Review

2010-04-24T03:03:00.000-07:00

PYOPOESY (Slovakia) – Alea jacta est
CD 2009 – Self released
9 tracks - 37'34
Rated: 6/10
Certainly unknown from most of you, PYOPOESY is a melodic death metal band but not in the Gothenburp vein more in the PARADISE LOST « Gothic » vein. After 4 demos and a self released DVD, PYOPOESY comes with their first album, 15 years after the band's creation.
PYOPOESY plays some old school death metal a bit in the DEATH/ MASSACRE vein with some hard rock and heavy metal influences. Sometimes, even the smell of CARCASS « Heartwork » comes to mind due to a similar balance between aggression and melodic intents. PYOPOESY didn't reach the same level of excellence, the result is much more classical with good moments indeed, but despite the good sound production and an obvious musicianship, something more is needed to beat the shit out of the lazy average metalhead. A bit more speedy tracks like « I'm your god » or « IV Lateran council » would help to keep the attention. The semi-grunted vocals are not a good idea I think even if it gives a bit of variation with the guttural ones, it weakens the tracks, sounding closer to a bad thrash/death band. It reminds a bit the latest ESQARIAL releases which are simply awful with their heavy death metal with tasteless production.
Not a bad release for sure, the guys play with their guts no doubt about that, but when you play death metal, even if melody isn't completely banned, it shall not overtake the death metal agressive side.
http://www.myspace.com/pyopoesy

CARMINA S/T MCD 2008 review

2010-04-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

CARMINA (France) – S/T
MCD 2008 – Rewolucja Records
7 tracks - 24'04
Rated: 8/10
We have waited 4 years before getting new stuff by our french deathsters of CARMINA, the time for them to create and record these new tracks. There is a progression, so those enjoying the demo 2004 (later re-released as the Obscure Infinity split with ATROPHY, AMETHYSTE and DARKLORD) may be surprised as CARMINA is more intense and brutal, but luckily keeps their infernal and evil sound. The IMMOLATION touch is still there but the speed increased a bit like IMMOLATION invited the drummer of CRYPTOPSY with the similar fast blasting parts.
CARMINA isn't just a brutal death band even if sometimes they seemed to be influenced by bands like HATE ETERNAL, they avoid the all-time blasting release with some kind of slower dark parts like « Je suis déjà mort », these kind of melodic and blackening atmospheres really help to appreciate this release. There are probably just the back mixed vocals that ennoy me, as it decreases a bit the powerful impact, but musically it's almost the perfect crime (if only they could add solos!). One of the best death metal release from 2008 coming from France.
Contact: Rewolucja Records C/O Sebastien PITEK – 1 rue Guy Moquet – 78520 LIMAY – FRANCE
rewolucjarecords@gmail.com
http://rewolucjarecords.com/

HYBRID VISCERY The history of torture, execution and sickness Review

2010-04-24T02:54:00.000-07:00

HYBRID VISCERY (Belgium) – The history of torture, execution and sickness
CD 2006 – Burning Dogma Records
35 tracks – 48'14
Rated: 5/10
Another chapter of brutality in the catalog of Burning Dogma Records with this time a lethal dose of grindcore. On this release, you grind freaks can enjoy body bits of HYBRID VISCERY's first « Bloody Face »EP 2001 plus their first album « Army of Pussy Land », the tracks of the split with PSYCHOFAGIST and a bunch of unidentified tracks. No need to say that the grindcore-addict should be more than satisfied.
The stuff displayed here is a massive and furious grindcore assault in the early BRUTAL THRUTH vein musically, but HYBRID VISCERY is more into the porno, gory & splatter matters. The insane and relentless beating can remind the early days of SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION (they have the same talent for writing lyrics, ah!)
With so much material, it's hard to pinpoint what's good from what's not, sometimes the tracks have just an expeditive effect and you barely can't remind what you were listening to. A lack of catchiness? Probably, but the sound is also to blame. I mean in the grindcore style, you definitely need a big guitar sound acting like a chainsaw, to really chop the listener in pieces. Here some tracks are drowned in the blasting parts and in the incessant screamed and guttural vomits. They also cover VADER's « Carnal », mangled in the grindcore way but a decent cover though. The last tracks offers a better sound and the band introduced some slight brutal death touches more than welcome.
A pity because the guys seem skillful enough to offer more than a vulgar grindcore release.
Contact: Burning Dogma Records c/o Ricky Lockett – 635 Astoria – Azle TX 76020 – USA
dogmaburning@aol.com

SHRUNKEN & MUMMIFIED Zine interview 2009

2010-04-23T00:53:00.000-07:00

Erik editor of Shrunken & Mummified has reach the venerable amount of 10 issues with his zine, and that means 10 years of underground work and graves examination. I already thought of doing an intie with Erik because I like the way he conducts his zine and the band's diversity within it (his 9th issue is probably his best according to me). You can find grindcore, black metal, doom metal and quite a lot of not so known bands or labels. In his last issue, Erik did a kind of retrospective, and I use it a bit to send some questions to him to now more about his past work and he still has the flame for the next 10 years!

Hi Erik, how do you feel right now? Are you ready to suffer from an onslaught of questions and die of alive and slow putrefaction? Ahahah! For those who don't know anything about you,you're the editor of SHRUNKEN & MUMMIFIED Zine and at the end of 2008, you released your 10th issue, a quite honorable status to reach within the Underground isn't it? What are your feelings after 10 years of underground investigation?

Hello Jim, and greetings to all the readers of this excellent fanzine! Well, right now, I am OK, doing not too much, after a mediocre day at work. The weather turned to be rather gloomy and rainy today, so I stay here at home and start answering the torturous amount of your questions, hehe. Well, as you have introduced me, I’d better not say anything more about myself now, some more of my secrets will come to light after this long chat for sure, hehe. As for being in the scene with 10 issues of my ‘zine so far – it is nothing really special and I do not have particular feelings of looking back in time and it is mostly because the scene has changed a lot since my 1st issue and I also see things from a different perspective now than back then. But I think more details about all this shit you will get from my answers to your other questions…

Usually, how many copies are printed of each issue? How do you manage to spread them? Who are your usual distributors? Which issue sold the fastest? Did you get people asking for old issues and would you reprint them if so?

My newest issue was printed in 300+ copies, and it used to be the case with the last 3 or 4 issues as well. Older issues were printed/ Xeroxed in different amount ranging from 100 copies to 200+. I have regular distributors like Terror Blast (Macedonia), No Posers Please! (Norway), Nihilistic Holocaust (France), Terror From Hell (Italy), Neverheard distro (Hungary) and so on, but the biggest amount that I get rid of is thru my own single or bulk trades I guess. I have a good habit of trading with each single fanzine which I am interested in (and when it comes to ‘zines, in 99% I am!), which is a bad habit when we consider a lot of money and time wasting on post, but this I do not much care as of yet. Well, usually I have an issue in stock for about 10-12 months and we cannot really say that there was a ‘best-selling’ issue, but in certain time I always spread all the copies once printed, and sadly, never will be re-pressed or Xeroxed – not by me, at least. At times yes, there are people asking about older issues, but I am sorry to say I cannot bother with making some copies Xeroxed again and anyway, most of the stuff in them are rather out-dated by now…

S&M started in your homeland Hungary, but actually you're living in Czech Republic, it's a bit why there was some delay about your last issue. You moved there for a job matter, if I'm not wrong you're English teacher, right? On a language point of view, you also have to learn Czech, wasn't it a bit hard? On the other hand, musically speaking, it's more advantageous to find gigs and extreme bands out there where the scene is swarming for years? Don't you miss anything from Hungary sometimes though?

Yes, it is true, I have been living here in Czech for more than a year now. I partly moved for a job, but in fact it was just an opportunity that I took after having some personal shit in private life in Hungary. It was the right time I had left the country also when looking into things on a more global matter as the country is having some inner conflicts in the recent months/ years, which makes it not a pleasant place to live. I do still miss many things, from family and friends to my personal collection of releases (I just brought a part of it to over here, but including every single fanzine I have had!), and I feel Czech people a bit too cold and suspicious compared to the Hungarian character, which I still could not get used to. As for the language, it is a pretty hard one to learn and I am somewhere in the middle yet, not able to make more than some basic conversation about nothing. I used to be an English teacher in Hungary, but now my work is completely different, related to informational technology.

In our 10th issue you did a good retrospective about the beginnings of the zine with comments about each one. Sadly, I only know your zine since the 7th issue, but something that always amazed me was the great diversity of bands' nationalities and styles featured in S&M. What inspires you to reach such eclecticism? What were your influences at the very beginning? Which zines create in you the flame of fanzining?

Thanks for the compliments, Jim! I am into a lot of different scenes, liking more types of music, not sticking to one particular genre or ideology – actually, it was so diverse that I decided to form another publication for the core-related stuffs, not to bore the metalheads with my shit any more, hehe (about it we will be speaking later on). Actually, at the time of my first issues I listened to a shitload of doomy stuff and also far more technical music, which I still like of course, but in a smaller amount, and I prefer faster and more intensive and powerful bands these days. Just some fanzines that had a great impact on me: Master of Brutality, Lamentation, Metal Core, Stroke, Dark Flowers and so on. It was so long ago that I could not list many names now, even if they still have in my collection.

In this editorial you point out an interesting thing about how easy it was to get reply to interviews back then. Ironically, when communication became easier these days with Internet (and now with the Myspace trend), you have hard times getting some inties back. So my question is: what happen to the underground scene these last years according to you? Does Internet make people lazy and stupid? Is the Underground dead? (Oups that makes three questions! Don't take the last one too seriously!)

I do not think that underground is dead, otherwise we would not be having this chat now, right? Hehe. I think there still is a fair amount of people interested in paper ‘zines, tape-releases, writing hand-written letters, spreading flyers etc. OK, it was the only way of communication back then, and there were a lot more people in it, but I do not think all of them were necessarily ‘real’ fans. They just took it as a necessary way to get releases, they did not have any feeling about doing things this way, just get their daily metal this way as no Internet, downloading and myspace existed. Now these people can get everything easily – but the question is, do they really enjoy the big amount of shitty, low-quality stuffs they can get hold of this way? Speaking about bands, most of them do not see any potential any more in giving inties to paper ‘zines, they prefer webzines as allegedly this way they can reach more people than thru a printed ‘zine copied and spread in 200 or so pieces. But in my opinion it is rather stupid, as more probably their album will be bought and ordered by those supporting the old way rather than by those reading webzines and downloading stuffs (OK, that this way more people can be reached, but I question the quality of these ’fans’). Still, I could not dare now to summarize what happened in the underground in the last few years because I also changed as a person, there happened many things in my personal life that made an effect on me, so I cannot see things with the same eyes I did 5-10 years ago. Only thing I could add is that I am not against modern technology and Internet, I do use them regularly and find some services utterly useful, but old manners mean a lot more to me and I am still into things I listed somewhere in the beginning of this question.

In 10 years you gathered tons of contacts, trading lots of stuff, discussing with people from all over the world... It's the best side of these undergrounds activities in my opinion... How many people are you in touch with approximatively? Which zines are still active and among your contacts? Have you been disappointing by some people who turned their back to the UG? And what about the rip-offs? Those scumbags also evolves with Internet and steal people with Myspace now...

Jim, do not think that I have thousands of contacts from the old age by now. Actually there are people that are still active in the scene and we exchange some letters/ materials every now and then. I cannot do to write everyone a letter or email every week asking how he or she is, however much I would like to. It is great though that during the channels of underground, which we have been speaking about, we do get some info about each other’s activity. It is amazing if I find in a ‘zine from Thailand for example some info about an old German contact of mine whom I have not heard from years proving that he is still active. It is also nice to get in touch with someone again after some years of silence. Contacts come and go, and I cannot blame on anyone not wanting to be any more in the scene – people can lose interest, and for sure new ones will come instead of them. Older contacts of mine include Adam’s Necroscope fanzine or Vampir ‘zine from Macedonia, but quite an ancient ‘zine is Burning Abyss from Poland, with which I was not in touch back in the day, but now we started cooperating. Also, as I mentioned, I am glad when earlier contacts appear again, just like in the case of API ‘zine from Malaysia or when thru a trade I get hold of a long-existing publication like Orfismo (Spain) of which I have been curious for about 12-13 years, and never been in touch in fact. Sad to say, but my constant moving could also cause the end of my contact with some worthy people that might have written to my old addresses in vain (I am really sorry, but I cannot do anything against this shit). Rip-offs nowadays seem to avoid me, I can sort out the serious emails now, and it is certain that they rarely or never spend time and money on regular post, hehe.

Let's talk about the way you write reviews. How do you write a review? How many times do you listen to the CD/demo/EP before starting writing it? Did it happen you hardly wrote a review because you simply didn't find words or inspiration? Did you ever regret any review you wrote years ago and finally today you would write it differently (because after all tastes can change)?

I think it is nothing really particular to write about. Simply, sometimes I can write a review after listening to the given stuff only once or twice (the stuff must be rather convincing this time, because I always give some more chance to the ones I do not like at all for the first time), but at times it is really hard to write anything that could catch the readers’ attention. And after having written more than 1500 reviews in the 10 issues so far (no kidding, I have just counted them the other day), it is really difficult and challenging to avoid repeating myself (even if often the materials sound the same). Many times I think after a time I evaluate certain materials differently, but I try not to read my own reviews after having written them, hehe, just not to get very disappointed or be dead of laughing at how stupid and deaf I was.

You feature scene reports in almost each issue, written by someone from the concerned country and I totally enjoy the idea to feature extra articles by other people, however it's not that easy to find enthusiastic persons. Are there countries you haven't featured yet? Did you have good feedbacks about those scene reports?

Actually, these scene reports are rather personal. I mean they represent a given country’s scene from the writer’s perspective, and, by default, cannot be complete or utterly exhaustive. It is not my aim with those scene reports, and in fact most often it is the writers that offer me something like writing about their countries’ activities, which I found great and give them a free hand. Yours from France was one of the most detailed and info-filled one, but the one from Jordan was also interesting, though was more like an insight into the life of metalists down there, the approach I hinted at before. I would like to get some more exotic countries to be featured in this little ‘series’, and probably the next issue of mine will have something from Mexico, written by an old friend of mine, with again some personal aspect. The feedback are usually good – some people complained about the quality of the English language used at times, but I take it as the writers’ character as well and I do not feel rightful to alter any word of them.

The particularity of S&M Zine is the feature of the mummy on each issue, it became a kind of mascot a bit like Eddie with IRON MAIDEN. Where this passion for mummies come from? You were into Egyptian themes even before NILE! My favorite one is the one on issue #7, even if it's probably too funny for some people! The zines' name came from PUNGENT STENCH “Been caught buttering” album: Shrunken and mummified bitch. Who comes with this name? Was there any other option? Are you still into PUNGENT STENCH records?

Yes, I feel some inexplicable devotion to mummies, and you are sure my friend, it is not the influence of Nile, hehe. Anyway, I have some relatives living in Egypt and would be cool to get there some day, but actually I am at least as much fascinated by Inca mummies as the ones from the deep, dusty chambers of pyramids, hehe. Yes, the cover of my #7 was criticized by many, but I also think it is one of the best covers I have ever had (thanks to Utku for that superb drawing!). The name comes from that song, you are right again, and in fact this was the only option in my mind, having had it even years before the actual first issue hit the stands. As for the band itself: to be frank, I kind of lost the line where they are now, but for me that was the best album of theirs for sure. I saw them live some years ago at Obscene, but found them a bit weak among the many grinding and more energetic bands. Of course I still gladly listen to their early records and respect what they did.

Now that you reach the 10th issue of the zine, tell me honestly that you're gonna put another one next year? I ask this because I found an ounce of pessimism at the end of your editorial, hope I'm getting wrong.

Well, there was some pessimism in that editorial, you discovered it correctly. Actually there was a period after my moving when I though the fanzine would be no more because so many things changed around me and I did not feel the one I used to be. Furthermore, for months I could not even think about releasing a new issue as I did not have too much money even for foods and drinks. Well, my financial budget is not so rosy still, and releasing one issue per year might be an utopia from now on – and also that I work with computers and sitting at home writing articles is getting to be a pain in the ass. As long as I have a little spark of motivation (and there still is, I can assure you), there will be a continuation of my fanzine, but maybe even with a longer gap between two issues. I will not promise any concrete release date, I am doing my things in a way I feel comfortable, there is no rush and I do not want to meet any expectations as for deadline, because first of all, it is my fanzine which I am doing for enjoyment and don’t want it to become a kind of duty or job.

You also planned the release of a new zine supposedly called SPÁLENÁ RAMENA which is gonna focus on grind/hardcore/punk/crust stuff. Do you want to have a state of mind close to Roddy's PLOPPY PANTS Zine? Why do you want to focus on this scene in particular?

In fact the first issue of this new fanzine came out almost at the same time when S&M#10. It was born because I wanted to make some experiments as for format and mixing of genres apart from Metal and it would not have been possible without changing the overall concept of S&M if I had put all these stuffs into my first fanzine. It touches the styles mentioned, but I think it is a bit far from what Roddy is doing with his Ploppy Plants (which I find also a great publication), because Spálená Ramena is also about music, with no politics, no ideology, no personal stuff included (though I planned to put a bit in it of this latter one, but did not manage at last). For sure it is something on a smaller scale than S&M, with less pages and a smaller circulation (and it is just Xeroxed), but with more room for experimenting with cut and paste technique as well as some other things which would look odd in a metal fanzine like S&M.

During some investigations on Internet I read lately a comment stating something like: “I read a cool intie on a webzine that reminds me the printed zines era.” As if printed zines doesn't exist anymore! Erik, I must say that nowadays there are a lot of printed zines running. Well some of them only released a couple of issues before vanishing, but each month you can see a new zine popping up from elsewhere. What can we conclude about this? According to you, do printed zines have still a use? Which qualities make a zine worthy in your opinion?

I noticed the same as you did, there are many printed fanzines these days, I regularly meet their flyers coming with my post and naturally, mostly only with their debut issue, but luckily many of them continue and do really good jobs. I can mention many names with ease with whom I met in the last months as a proof, so here they are: Metalized Blood, Pure Fucking Underground, Posthuman, Escritas do Subsolo, Satanic Metal, Vaginalluftwaffe, Iron Hammer, Terror Cult and so on. What makes a fanzine good? It is a really hard question. For me it has to have some original face, with interesting questions and dealing with interesting acts, definitely not the ones you can meet in bigger magazines. I also like when there is some plus in its outlook, but of course the inner content is more important.

Does the idea of an internet version of S&M come to your mind? Do you check some webzines in moments of perdition?

No, never. I do not want a website for S&M, not even for promotional reasons. Simply, I do not feel the need of it, and I do not want to waste my time sitting in front of the PC more updating it etc. I check webzines only for some gig-dates, that’s all, I am unable to read the shortest review or interview on screen. If something interests me very very much, I prefer printing it and read then, but it is very rare, I am satisfied with all the info I find in printed fanzines.

I was surprised to discover you take part of a band called DAILY LIFE SUCKS, who released a first very short demo, where you played drums, right? Can you introduce the band to the readers? Did you play in other bands before or is that a first attempt? Now that you moved to Czech Republic, are you still involved in DLS?

Well, at the moment I cannot say any update as for the status of this band, which was a bunch of friends rehearsing once a week when I was still in Hungary. For sure we cannot rehearse any more, but there are about 10 more songs written by the guitarist that are waiting for me to put some drums on them. I am planning to do these soon, but there are certain difficulties recording them at the rehearsal place here in Brno where I practice drums, but sooner or later I will have them done for sure. Unfortunately this band will not work any more as a regular one due to the distance, but I still want to do some continuation even in this way with this guitarist friend of mine (and also the vocalist is into it). Actually we were playing together in other projects before, but I’d better not talk about them, hehe. And as for DLS, I think it is also a discussion of an uncertain future…

You also take (took?) part in Korpse Fire Distro, a small distro with a lot of underground stuff, but you also release some compilations (Have a brutal day/night) whose particularities is to show really underground stuff. These compilations are spread worldwide and I read a lot of reviews that proves you don't neglect promotion. Are there upcoming stuff to be released by Korpse Fire / Neverheard Distro? Do you think compilations have still a use today with the intense downloading madness?

I can say that KorpseFire does not function any more. I just do some trades and I cannot take too big quantity from now on as I am short of space here. And in fact not too many people are interested in buying musical materials, so I trade what I have and mostly for my personal collection or curiosity. Yes, we spread a lot of copies of both compilations. At the moment I cannot tell if there will be a third part, we haven’t talked about it with Balazs (Neverheard Distro) yet at all. Actually it is a compilation tape that I have wanted to put together for ages, but I do not think I will ever have the power to do it. I would like to accomplish it one day, even if I am aware that few people are into cassettes any more. I like compilations, I always liked them, and it will probably never change. A good way to get to know new bands, and also great that you do not have to listen to the shitty bands for more than one or a few songs, hehe.

Going back to your homeland, I must say I am quite curious about your scene, because you had (and still have) some interesting bands. Csaba (Hi man!) from Deadly Illness Zine dubbed me some killer death metal stuff from the 90's: ECZEMA, INTENSE AGONIZING, LAST PASSING, ATOMIC, etc... Your bands didn't have to feel ashame to what was more famous back then...it just lacked of exposure, sadly. What can you told us about this period? What were the active zines from this period? And today which bands and zines would you recommend to our voracious readers?

Frankly, I do not really follow the present Hungarian scene. At times I doubt it is still existing. There are no labels, almost no fanzines, no clubs for gigs and the bands that we have do not release demos, do not spread their name in the classic way via flyers and hand-written letters (let alone tape-trading), they trust only in Internet and myspace. As I just rarely follow these channels, I do not often meet Hungarian newcomers. I cannot even remember the day I got a demo from a Hungarian band! And if you just think it over how many flyers you got in the last years advertising something from Hungary, it will be clear what I am talking about. Yes, the early 90s were way different, with many bands, many fanzines and many fans, even though we did not have a serious label supporting underground bands over here. I am familiar with the bands you mentioned (except Last Passing), and I can add plenty of names more, which we can be proud of, and at the same time sad, that they could hardly reach fans outside our border. Here they come some: Undertaking, Subject, Extreme Deformity, Life Discussion, Parasite Crowd, Barbed Wire, Detonátor and really a lot more! I can mention some fanzine names as well which represented the golden era of Hungarian scene: Stroke, Underground, Death Trap, Feszültség, Lamentation or Stiff and Cold.

Tell me please about your recent discoveries (demos, albums, books or zines). What would you suggest our readers to listen to?

Again a hard question, as I consume a lot of music on a daily basis, I get, trade and buy lotsa stuffs, so I’d speak about what I was listening in the last few days, and it is up to the readers/ fans if they find the suitable for their taste. I bought pretty much Grindcore LPs lately, like the new Gride (Cz), Bloody Phoenix, Capitalist Casualties, or the Sheevayoga/ Disney split, traded some Black/ Thrash tapes, for example Necrosquatch, Nocturnal Hell (Spain), Sabbatical Rites, Barbatos rehearsal tape by Kárpátia Prods, or I got Bullet’s tape (good, old Heavy Metal from Sweden) out on Thai Slava Prods, the first MDC of Dög (Hungarian project of Marblebog mastermind and Blizzard of Vorkuta), Kathgor demotape from Malaysia and I could go on until the last page of your ‘zine, hehe. The fanzines I recently read: Chaos (from Germany, it is almost a magazine, I fucking like its lay-out though), the new Thrash Attack, Funeral Vomit #2, Flesh Salad #6, Not Very Nice #5, Ripping Thrash/ Hell and Damnation split issue or some local ones like Drunk Nach Osten #2, Cerelitida #3, Hluboka Orba #27, Rectum #1… Actually I do not read anything else just fanzines and language books, hehe. OK, I am not proud of it, but simply I do not have time for anything else beside these, and nowadays not too many things interest me in this rotten world, maybe I am getting old, hehe…

Erik, we reach the end of this interview. Hopefully we could make another intie to celebrate your 20th issue (and I promise to not bother you with another blindtest, héhé!). Please end this chat with your own words.

Hey, Jim, thanks a lot for this long and interesting chat! Would be cool to meet at my 20th as well, but before let’s celebrate your 10th anniversary, hehe! I promise I will get you for an intie even before that, as I know you have something to talk about, concerning your band, too! Blind test can come again as well, it was a nice experience, indeed! Thanks also for the readers for having read all this – I respect each of you still supporting paper fanzines, you are the ones that keep the scene alive, you rule!

IMPOSER interview 2009

2010-04-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

IMPOSER's statements can generate hatred or indifference as much as their music is dark, brutal and blasphemous. IMPOSER has a clear vision of death metal and in a way you can feel it through their devilish and bonecrushing tracks. Here's an interview with +A+ (guitar/vokills) that will make some angel's rectum bleeding!

Unholy greetings all in IMPOSER! Congratulations for the release of « Behold demons », this album offers some evil and impious metal of death. Can you briefly introduce the band to our readers and according to you who can be interested in your evil intents and satanic propaganda?
Thanx for your words about “Behold Demons”.
There’s nothing to introduce, personally I think to be fully immersed into the real death metal world, and it's reflected in Imposer with evil intent, no trends or need to experiment, no “core”, no melodic shit…I think to was clear about my musical point of view. If you want to know some things about IMPOSER I can say that I joined the band in 2004 and fired all the members who tried to stop my will of violence and I’m ready to do it again if someone try to repeat the mistakes of the old members.

The actual members of IMPOSER have still a musical background, they play (or have played) in CENOTAPH / NECROSPHERE, VOIDS OF VOMIT and DISMORF, all being death metal bands. It's quite surprising because Italy is more known through its black metal or thrash metal scene (let's forget all these faggotic heavy/power metal bands dealing with dragons and castles). According to you why death metal is less known or spread out there? What can you say about the state of the actual death metal scene, are there good bands? And what about older/pioneer bands?
Death metal, and when I say DEATH METAL I mean no trendy or melodic shit, it's an elitist kind of music…there’s only few people who really understand it and live it.
I don’t care about “faggotic” heavy-power metal bands, if you feel gay well, that’s your music…I’m happy if a guy listen power metal, I know his intention from the beginning and he stay out from Death Metal.
I don’t care a fuck about the Italian death metal scene, surely there’s good bands such the almighty NEFAS, they influenced me a lot, more than other biggest bands…pure chaos and extremism, this is for me the right way to play extreme music…I like also HEATHEN/LIFECODE, they are more black than death but it’s AMAZING STUFF.
The 90% of Italian “death metal” bands are pure shit for me, they speak as retarded and wear like niggers, it’s not for me and IMPOSER, it’s a trend to play brutal music here, everyone play brutal, everyone support the other bands ,everyone say “wow! it’s great!” when he listen new stuff from one of them... I catched a pathetic harmony into the homo-italian scene.
The real extreme scene it’s made by band such VOIDS OF VOMIT, BLASPHEMOPHAGER, NEFAS, HEATHNE/LIFECODE,HOUR OF PENANCE and few others…
What about older pioneer bands? Naturally MORBID ANGEL, ANGELCORPSE, REVENGE, HATE ETERNAL, DETHRONED(!!!), INCANTATION, IMMOLATION, REBAELLIUN, old KRISIUN, old DEICIDE, old SEPULTURA, SARCOFAGO, ORDER FROM CHAOS etc..…I think if a band got something of really extreme and evil surely I will like them.

Your death metal, without being completely original, has some obvious particularity: you use a low guitar tuning, lots of heavy and p ounding parts, simple but efficient riffs and you manage to display a dark and occult aura all along the tracks remaining quite brutal. Bands like MORTICIAN, IMMOLATION and INCANTATION come to mind but are there less obvious influences you would divulge? What is your interpretation of death metal, how it must sound and which feelings shall be unveiled by the listeners?
You catch the point “simple but efficient riffs and you manage to display a dark and occult aura all along the tracks remaining quite brutal”….
My interpretation about death metal? I love to play obscure, fast, evil music, but death metal got other dimensions, there’s a lot of right ways to play it…like the one created in Mindloss by GOREFEST,or like AUTOPSY,or like IMMOLATION…everything sounds different but everything sounds great.
How were created the ambient parts / sinister sounds displayed all along “Behold demons”? Another particularity is that the last track “Reaped Bernadette” has a louder sound compared to the other tracks. Was it done intentionally? With the end of “Blaspheme the Pentecost” followed by this track it create a terrific effect as if all hell breaks loose. Did you want to create a kind of apotheosis to close the album? Where do the religious chants ending the album come from?
We maked some mistakes on “Behold Demons”,we had 6 days to record it and the old drummer use 5 days to record his drums…and in one day I’d must to record everything, guitars, vocals, bass, solos….but its ok, it’s the first real product from IMPOSER, and from mistake I learned a lot.
I put that sounds into the songs to create something atmospheric and dark feeling, this is the reason.
The religion chants are a reversed mess recorded by Radio Vaticano station, and you can imagine why I reversed it.

Here's the useless question: if you wouldn't play death metal in IMPOSER, what would you do instead?
Play Death Metal in another band.

Internet allows the information to be widespread and makes promotion easier. However, I didn't read reviews about your album or even interviews. Why did you remain so confidential? Is it a lack of promotion or you wanted the music to be spread by itself? Did you reply to interviews for other webzines/magazines/fanzines?
Sure I did a lot of other interviews, but I don’t care about that side of music.
I hate reviews, cause in the most common of times the reviewers is a faggot cock lover, they write bullshits about bands but they never tried to pick up an instrument and learn to do something constructive. fuck off. I don’t care about their opinions.

I must say that Butchered Records has quite an identity, I mean, when you get their releases you're almost sure to get some satanic or dark death metal. I'm quite pleased listening stuff like DETHRONED, 9th PLAGUE, YOGTH SOTHOTH, IMPOSER, etc... Did you listen to all Butchered Records' releases? How did you get in touch with them? Are you satisfied by their job so far?
I don’t remember how we get in touch,maybe by myspace. Yeah I like their method to work:
few words only facts.
I fucking love the mood that Patrick (Pagan, the Butchered’s owner) decide to follow…only real, evil, fast death metal, I loved releases like DETHRONED (one of the best band I’d never listen to), 9TH PLAGUE, QUEIRON, INFIDEL, DECEPTION, ALTERCATED…great music, unfortunately 9TH PLAGUE split up and I hope the new Tony’s (9thP. Singer) band will got the same musical attitude..

A split CD is planned to be released by Butchered Records and shared with UNHOLY GHOST. Is this the American UNHOLY GHOST, the band founded by actual/ex-members of DIABOLIC. UNHOLY GHOST is supposed to be split up. Did the band have reformed? Or did their part of the split CD contains old or unreleased material?Can you give us more information about this release?
Sure man they are that UNHOLY GHOST…I don’t know if they’re splitted up or take only a break but for me it’s an honour to share it with them.
I think they will release their old unreleased stuff and maybe something from live sessions.
We will release 2 new songs, one cover from HEATHEN/LIFECODE and “Sacrificial Suicide” from DEICIDE, I’m totally satisfied by the final result cause I’ve worked alone all the time on it and try my capacity behind the mixer and, naturally, my patience ahahahah. It sounds very obscure and fast. (The split with UNHOLY GHOST has been cancelled, so the EP will be released as a MCD called “Divine Intolerance”- Jim)
You shared the stage with HATE ETERNAL, a band whose music is rather fast and complex and that has troubles to make it understandable and well sounding. Do you like HATE ETERNAL? Don't you think that sometimes musical extremities have obvious negative aspects? Are you interested by the seek of constant extreme (be it the speed or the technical aspect of the music)?
I like HATE ETERNAL but we never shared the stage with them,for me the only trouble they did it's to shared the stage with gay bands such CHIMAIRA, SHADOWS FALL and shits like them…they had lost the respect of the old school fans for me..but Erik Rutan remains the best artist I’d never see.
Sure I’m interested into the seek of constant extremity but I prefer the speed instead the technic.

You recently recorded a cover of Swedish WAR “I am elite”, pretty unusual kind of cover from a band highly inspired by old black metal stuff like BATHORY. What's your opinion regarding the actual black metal scene with its many categories and sub-genres (often denied by purists)? Did you cover other bands before? What are the best covers you ever heard?
I like so many black metal bands such the early BATHORY, BLACK WITCHERY, early MAYHEM, MARDUK, BLASPHEMY, BEHERIT, BESTIA ARCANA, WAR, ARCHGOAT…and more…I know there in French you got that shitty band called NARGAROTH, they are the kind of black metal band I hate, posers! (Well we have indeed shitty black metal posers in France but NARGAROTH are from Germany - Jim)
I’m not fully involved into black metal but I love the 99% of “War Metal” scene such REVENGE, CONQUEROR, DIOCLETIAN, AXIS OF ADVANCE etc…
We never covered any band before “I Am Elite” and the best cover I never heard it's “Kill Again” (SLAYER) played by ANGELCORPSE, also “War” (BATHORY) played by REVENGE it's awesome.

IMPOSER released several demos before “Behold demons” album, a good thing if you ask me because one can see how the band evolved through the years and how they built their style. Do you think one you could gather all this old material on a CD? Do you think today, it's still possible to impress people with a demo (lately the HEAVING EARTH demo really impresses me)? I ask this because nowadays young bands release an album without going through the demo stage. What are your all-time favorite demos?
Surely “Abomination Of Desolation” by MORBID ANGEL and “Tangled In Gore” by GOREFEST are my favourites…in the most common of situations I prefer the demo versions instead the final product, cause you can listen the real nature of that band and feel the real power, without any trigger effect or false productions. I can only agree with you about HEAVING EARTH, they are one of the best new acts for me, I’m in contact with Tomas (the singer) and I can’t wait to receive his package.
Our demos are sold out now, maybe I will reprint somes but its not my priority now…I prefer to focalize my time on the new material.

Like any metalhead you probably still buy records and T-shirts about your favorite bands. What are your latest purchases? Have you ever done silly things due to your metal addiction (buy an ultra expensive HELLHAMMER vinyl bootleg or follow a band on a whole tour for example)?
The last things I’ve bought it’s an old DANZIG’s shirt if I remember right, now I’m preparing to order the last ARCHGOAT.
I’d drive for 8-9 hours to see IMMOLATION live in Germany 2 years ago, but it's not silly for me…it’s what a real death metal fan must to do to support a band such IMMOLATION.

My rag is coming from France (but most of my readers are probably from abroad...). What do you know from my country? Are there bands you listen to quite gladly? I heard that there's good wine in Italy, but don't you think that the best wine comes from France? Ahahah!
There in France you got a lot of homosexual people and a lot of Arabic insects ahahah, but now here in Italy we got the same problems, I know that French people like to do some sexual experiments with “baguette”, french girls got shaved vagina, French football team lost the last worldcup against Italy, your premier fuck an Italian bitch, etc..
About the French bands, I can say you BLOODY SIGN, they are very good and I love their style…hope to share the stage with them as soon as possible.
I don’t drink wine , so, your question got no answer ahahahah, I prefer to drink rhum and vodka, wine it's for females!!!!

We reached the end of the interview. Thanks for your time and your evil music. You can add whatever you want, something that could have been forgotten, someone to threaten, etc... Final sacraments are yours!
Death Metal it's not a trend, it’s a way of life, a method to create chaos and give forms to your blasphemies.
It’s the most physical music you can play, the most splendour sound of any time…there’s nothing in common with gay painted bands, you shouldn’t fear to show your face to the audience, you must to attack it with your music and play your music with violence.

Thanks Jim for your support and hails to the extermination.
+A+

www.myspace.com/imposer
inverted@hotmail.it

FORNACE The awakening Demo Review

2010-04-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

FORNACE (Italy) – The awakening
Demo Tape 2007 – Self released
4 tracks
Rated: 5/10
Third release by FORNACE which gathers two recording sessions (May 2005 & December 2007), the least we can say is that the guys take their time and seems so lazy that their stuff distribution is done by Terror From Hell Records.
FORNACE plays a blend of old school black and death metal with a thrash metal basis, and a melodic side inspired by old heavy metal especially the two first tracks. The label states they are inspired by old Hellenic bands which is maybe true but I wouldn't affirm it as my knowledge of old Greek bands is limited to VARATHRON and a bunch of others. But VARATHRON seems a decent comparison though.
The two last tracks are a bit more melodic black/thrash metal oriented with still the low grunts that make them different from the scandinavian acts. However they remind me some tunes of the demos era of DISSECTION; FORNACE uses some similar frozen melodies but in a more primitive approach.
Contact: Iviglia ROBERTO – Via Romita25 – 15033 CASALE MONFERRATO (AL) – ITALY
http://www.fornace.splinder.com/

SAIGNEUR demo 2008 Review

2010-04-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

SAIGNEUR (France) – S/T
Demo CD 2008 – Self released
5 tracks – 22'07
Rated: 4/10
This band has been macerating in its rehearsal room quite some years before vomiting this demo. I think some more putrid soaking could have been necessary as well as taking care of the sound.
SAIGNEUR plays some satanic brutal death metal in the direct vein of the two last VITAL REMAINS albums. That can sounds hellfuckingly tasty, therefore some elements prevent this demo to simply reach the averageness. Despite what's written on the back cover of this demo, you can clearly understand it's drum-programming and not a real drummer crushing the skulls. The lack of subtleties and the inhuman pace are more than obvious. There is also incoherence between the riffs without real breaks, so the tracks a sometimes chaotic.
The guitar sound is also cheap and lacks of density, especially during the guitar solos.
Despite these bad points there are a bunch of cool ideas and the vocals have a possessed and agressive side, but that's not enough to pretend sitting on the side of Satan on the throne of satanic death metal. Hardworking is the key. The evil intents are there, just lacks mastery.
http://www.myspace.com/saigneur666

SPLATTERED CADAVER Human stew Review

2010-04-20T06:12:00.001-07:00

SPLATTERED CADAVER – Human stew
CD 2006 – Burning Dogma Records
10 tracks - 36'50
Rated: 4/10
You can count on Ricky to gather old recordings of brutal death metal bands; here you have all the demos released by SPLATTERED CADAVER (demo 93, demo 94, demo 96, a track from 99 & a track from 2000). The sound is mostly good (but a good mastering would also have been cool), you just need to be a die-hard brutal death maniac. If you're looking for some heavy, brutal slamming death metal with low guttural vocals in the vein of early DYING FETUS (Infatuation with malevolence), you will be more than pleased with this compilation. However I would recommend the « Merciless butchery » album instead, and then if your like it, you could get this one for further necrophile intents. Also liner notes and a bunch of pictures could have been an informative idea instead of this one-page cover.
Contact: Burning Dogma Records c/o Ricky Lockett – 635 Astoria – Azle TX 76020 – USA
dogmaburning@aol.com
http://www.myspace.com/splatteredcadaver

CANNABIS CORPSE Tube of the resinated Review

2010-04-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

CANNABIS CORPSE (US) – Tube of the resinated
CD 2008 – Forcefield Records
9 tracks - 32'57
Rated: 8/10
Who said weed and death metal cannot be compatible? This CANNIBAL CORPSE worship band integrates the CANNIBAL CORPSE style and develop lyrics and imagery about smoking weed. It can sound cheesy and you can think the guys of CANNABIS CORPSE are just a bunch of hippies! You're damn wrong! These guys created the missing link between « The bleeding » and « Vile ». They took the CANNIBAL influence, mashed it, reduced it and smoke it with a bong to fully assimilate the music.
The guys are skilled to create ultra catchy tunes of old school brutal death metal with the CANNIBAL groove, the technical aspect but not too much and the voice gets the tone of Chris Barnes with the speach speed of Corpsegrinder.
Sometimes, CANNABIS CORPSE displays dark atmospheres reminding the « Gallery of suicide » album and some melodic parts and nice guitar solos make the whole record cool to listen to.
Where some people repproach CANNIBAL CORPSE to play some boring untasty death metal CANNABIS CORPSE seems to have find the inspiration to record good tracks.
The titles tracks are puns with existing CANNIBAL CORPSE tracks and the result is just hilarious. The gore/horror aspect isn't completely erased as if you read through the lyrics you can see that smoking cannot prevent some people to kill the others or to transform into a bloodthirsty mutant.
Recommended to CANNIBAL CORPSE fans and stoned death metal freaks.
http://www.myspace.com/CANNABISCORPSEVA

KRAPNEK demo 2008 review

2010-04-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

KRAPNEK (France) – S/T
Demo Tape 2008 – Self released
8 tracks
Rated: 6,5/10
Can you give me the name of of grindcore band coming from France where the singer is a girl? This said I must admit that KRAPNEK is a pretty good band and even if their screamo-grindcore isn't the most innovative, it's played with guts and intensity and I like the filthy mood splattered in their tracks.
Their 8 short tracks have a crude sound but enough fury to let you think this band may be killer on stage if you dig grindcore in the vein of BRUTAL TRUTH and NAPALM DEATH, they are also quite close to their landmates of INFEST to give you an idea. Cécile's voice is mostly high screams (with sometimes some more guttural ones that are really amazing!) which reminds me Mel of FUCK THE FACTS, but Cécile's voice is even more higher, and KRAPNEK's music remains grindcore right to the point with no experiements and dissonances that can be heard on the Canadians' latest releases. Some slight touches of thrash and death are detected in some riffs but KRAPNEK stays faithful to the grindcore, so it's a really promising band. Let's wait their next release.
Contact: Johan Rageot – 27 rue de Lattre de Tassigny – 71100 CHALONS SUR SAÔNE – FRANCE
jojodumbass@yahoo.fr

NECROWRETCH demo 2008 review

2010-04-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

NECROWRETCH (France) – S/T
Demo CD 2008 – Self released
4 tracks – 9'27
Rated: 2,5/10
A young duo of necrophiles who started digging graves in early 2008. After a few rehearsals they record many demos and here is one of them, this four-track demo contains 4 raw songs in the old school death metal way, the very beginning of the style. Here, you can say these guys are influenced by the demos of bands like MANTAS/DEATH, NIHILIST, AUTOPSY, shits like that.
But this demo got an homemade production, and that's probably what annoys me with this demo: I mean it sounds as a forced raw sounding demo, the riffing is really basic and the guitar sound is unbearable, well I don't like it, I don't know what's the guy used but it's some crunchy and powerless sound. The mixing is also quite bad, some instruments crushed the others so the result is sometimes chaotic. However, this demo doesn't suck completely, sometimes NECROWRETCH uses some nice haunting melodies that can remind the work heard on DEATH BREATH. The vocals are also cool, very low and guttural, I suspect them being pitched with effect. It' a first try, so let the band work their tracks harder as well as their sound. I think they can but just improve.
http://www.myspace.com/vladrituals

UNBURIED interview 2009

2010-04-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

UNBURIED is among the most underground band from the US, the way they promote their band, still spreading a lot of flyers, writing letters, trading stuff,... Playing an old school oriented brutal death metal like FLESHGRIND, they keep their relentless march crushing everyone on their way since 1994. After their split CD with SEEKING OBSCURE, they came up with a full record entitled “Slut decapitator”. The band improves on many aspects, more brutal, with catchier tunes, a massive sound and a real drummer. I get in touch with Matt Pike to know what's the best way to behead a slut.

1-Hi Matt, what's up man? I won't ask you about the band's biography, curious people can look at your Myspace page or can directly write to you. Instead of this, could you introduce our readers to your metallic initiation? When did you get in touch with this putrid music? What were the first bands that infect your soul and led you to give birth later to the infamous UNBURIED?
Goreatings, Jim! I started listening to Death metal and Grind styles in 1992. I was playing Thrash metal for a few years. I was looking to explore sicker more brutal music. I was first familiar with Mark Riddick's old death metal acts from the early 90's. They where called Unearthed and later Excrescent. Early on, I was also listening to Obituary's "The End Complete." I am a big fan of Obituary still to this day. The first band I ever ordered a demo tape from was Dismembered Fetus! I love the music that they did. It was so raw bitch hating and brutal. That got me hooked on the underground. It was about that time I started writing the tracks for Unburied's demo #1. Unburied started writing music in 1994. The first demo was not released to the international underground till 1996.

2-UNBURIED's actuality is the release of « Slut decapitator » on Metalbolic Records which is Rob Luckie's (SEEKING OBSCURE) label. The previous split CD was also released by Metalbolic Records. I guess that working together goes beyond the simple band-label relation. What can you say about it?
Rob believes in the music that I write and he is an old undergrounder. He likes what we do and he signed us based on that fact. I respect his label. Metalbolic has published two of Unburied's releases. We have agreed to release the next cd under Metalbolic as well.

3-A major difference between the split CD and « Slut decapitator » is the appearance of Brian Forman on drums who really puts your music a step higher regarding the brutal side of the band. Where does he come from and what is his musical background?
He's from Va. I met him through guitarist Matt B, he played guitar for Unburied for a couple of shows with us. Brian is a great drummer. He puts 95% of all drummers in the grave.

4-The four tracks from the split CD with SEEKING OBSCURE have been re-recorded on “Slut decapitator” Brian on drums. The result is really awesome. I can't avoid to say that a real drummer is essential to a band. For example I enjoy VIRAL LOAD's stuff but on their last record with old tracks re-recorded with a human drummer, it brings a “live” vibe that drum-machine will never reproduce. I have the same feeling with UNBURIED. What's your viewpoint? Would you see UNBURIED going back using drum-programming today?
I like having a real drummer. I also like drum programming. It all depends on how it is recorded and who is playing the drums. I plan on sticking with Brian. We may record someday with the programmed drums. I cant Brian brings to the band and he doesn't plan on going anywhere. predict the future. I do enjoy what I prefer having him in Unburied for sure. As long as hes around we will stick with his drumming.

5-On some live-pictures, you did vocals and played guitar while on some others you just did vocals. What's the actual live line-up? How many gigs did UNBURIED perform? With which bands did you share the stages?
Yes, we had a guitarist Black metal maniac, named Matt Beahm. Beahm played with us for a while. I was singing live only at that point. I was still working on singing all vocals and playing the axe at the same time. I used to only do backing vocals and play the guitar at live shows. I had to step it up and I did just that a couple shows later. The pics you are refering to are from the Detroit Death Fest and the Crayola House basement gig. Those where some sick events!
6-Can you describe to us the UG scene in your area? Are there cool bands you would recommend us to check from Virginia? What is the Virginia Metal Alliance? The underground in Va is pretty good in the citys. There are some cool shows and many kick ass bands. Many bands are not playing death metal or gore grind in this area. Some Va underground bands I like are Lord By Fire, Sedamentrius, Sprawl, Gwar, Three Faces of Eve, Deceased, Hatred, Dying Fetus - but there in Md, "The Obsessed" and any band Wino plays in, Macerated, Fetid Zombie ect.... The VMA is a Virginia promotional thing. They organize shows and promote Virginia underground bands.

7-Going back to UNBURIED's style, the band plays some old school brutal death metal mixed with different elements of grindcore. Sometimes one can think about FLESHGRIND, DEADEN, DESECRATION (UK), LIVIDITY, etc... Even if your music is brutal you manage to make it quite diverse, fast parts, slower ones and some groove. Why don't you take part to the actual contest of « the fastest or the most technical, which is quite popular these days?
Hell yeah, Lividity and Deaden are cool bands. I remember them from the 1900's. I miss those days. The answer is simple, I am an old school guy. I like old school music. I play old school music. I don't give two shits about trends or being well known. I play what I like. I dress the way I like. I don't give a shit what anyone thinks. In the words of G.G. Allin fuck everyone else" I am only out to please myself." I hate trendy people!

8-UNBURIED also has a strong visual side (horror & gore) thanks to Mark Riddick's arts. People usually know what to expect. When did you meet him? How comes he joined you in UNBURIED? About the horror/gore theme, where do you take inspiration? Which kind of movies do you worship (Hammer movies, Italian horror movies, German gore movies...)?
I love some fucking Gore and Horror Films. I don't care where it is from and if its old or new. It has to kick ass. They have to be sick and demented. Theres alot of bad zombie movies out these days. I hate the corporate fags that put shit like best movie of the year on a movie and it blows cock. That is bull shit! Some of the movies I like are- I Spit On Your Grave, Zombie, Psycho, Demons, Henry Portrait Of A Serial Killer, The Blob, Wrong Turn, House by the Cemetery, Green River Killer, TBK, Saw, Carrie, Christine, Friday the 13th 1 , 2 and 3, Chainsaw Massacre 1, 2, and 3, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, " The Hitcher" the first one not the remake!

9-Where do the movie samples at the beginning of “Evil lurks within” and “Gore-soaked revenge” come from?
Evil Lurks within is about "House By the Cemetery" and we sampled the movie aswell! Gore Soaked uses a "Green River Killer" movie sample to express my rage and hatred toward woman! That clip is fucking prefect for UNBURIED's music!!!!

10-Talking about Mark's artworks and logo, do you know and like arts by people like Dan Seagrave, Jon Zig, Wes Benscotter, Vince Locke, Larry “Torch” Lyannas, Deather, Christophe Spazdjel, Chris Moyen, … Do you think artwork has an importance along with the music?
What are your favourite metal artworks?
I love Mark Riddick's artwork. Its really gore filled and sick! I also enjoy Putrid, Stephen Gammell he did the "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark". That started me out sick in the head at a young age! Gammell wrote about killing girls and zombie ect... It was a kids ahahha! I have been into this stuff a loooong time man, hahhaa! oh and Russell Evans art what happened to him? Does anyone know how to contact him? He did some great stuff for bands in the 90's while serving prison time for 2nd degree murder.

11-Mark is a very busy guy, beside drawing and UNBURIED, he also took part to many side projects like FOLKEARTH, THE SOILS BLEED BLACK, … and he aslo has band named FETID ZOMBIE. How does he ma nage to remain available for UNBURIED?
Underground music is not a full time 365 day a yr job for theses bands. I mean they don't tour, nor does Unburied. However, Mark's a busy guy for sure.

12-Looking at your info-sheet (done in the cut n' paste style) you send to me some time ago, I noticed that you have a traditional way of promoting the band. The band has a myspace page, but you also write letters and use flyers. In the CD thanks-list you quoted many printed zines. Why are you also so attached to this more traditional way promoting UNBURIED? What are your favourite magazines/fanzines?
I like your questions man. I like Impact Drill zine, Black Blood Zine, Shrunken and Mummified zine, Forgotten Chapel zine and i enjoyed reading the copy of your zine "Putrefactive Effect" as well! Please,send me a few copies of this issue!!!!! Fucking UNDERGROUND oldschool attitude is what I live for! Any one that does a paper zine write me! I will post my home address below! I also trade bands as well as zines. WRITE ME FIRST!
13-Tell us more about the upcoming events concerning UNBURIED? Are you working on new tracks? Do you have the next release in mind?
We have five new tracks. We will record more in the future for a Split 7inc with fetid Zombie. We also have a full length cd upcoming on METALBOLIC RECORDS due out in 2010. As well I have talked to King Fowley of Va death metal legends Deceased, and he has agreed to do a 7inc record with Unburied aswell. Also we have a split cd with 3 bands on Coyote records out now! If anyone wants Slut Decapitator cds and tshirts get in touch! I also have Unburied LOGO Stickers, and Buttons! Copies of the split cd with UNBURIED/Seeking Obscure ...the label has sold out of those cds so get them from me. I have some left!

14-Give me your top 10 albums of all time: the releases you will bring with you into the grave!
Decrepit-Creation of Sin, Obituary-Back from The dead, Dying Fetus- Putrefaction Through Violence, Immolation- Dawn Of Possession, Agnostic Front-One Voice, The Twats- Hell In My Paints, Unburied-Slut Decapitator, Horror Of Horrors-Sounds Of Eerie, GG Allin-Res-Erected, Dark Throne-The Cult is Alive!!!!!

15-The autopsy has finally ended. Let's bury the corpse once more. Thank you, Matt for taking some time for our putrefied readers. I'll let you close this chat as you wish.
Eat my cock you cunts! True Underground supports… Get in touch! Thanks for the Interview! don’t FORGET, send me a few copies of this issue!!!!!
Matt Pike/UNBURIED
849 SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN ROAD
NEW MARKET VA 22844
USA
http://www.myspace.com/unburieddeathmetal

CRIPPLE BASTARDS Variante alla morte Review

2010-04-18T05:17:00.000-07:00

CRIPPLE BASTARDS (Italy) – Variante alla morte
CD 2008 – FETO Records
24 tracks - 32'08
Rated: 7,5/10
I'm not too much familiar with the Italian veteran grinders (they started in 1988!). I only have their previous album « Desperately insensitive », which didn't attract my attention more than this, an ok release though. Their last effort is far more convincing for me with 24 explosive tracks with a grindcore basis where CRIPPLE BASTARDS adds crust/punk influences, death metal touches, thrashy parts, …
The essential influences remain NAPALM DEATH (old and late records), BRUTAL TRUTH (« Need to control », with a very similar approach in experimentation in creating suffocating slow parts), the first TERRORIZER, … Vocally as well, you can hear low guttural growls, hardcore/grindcore screams and sometimes shouted punkish voices.
Surely not the most outstanding grindcore release, but this one has enough fury, madness and energy to please all grindheads and is probably the best introduction to CRIPPLE BASTARDS' music. The hardcore/punk side of the band could repulse the most maniacal metalheads so you've been warned.
Contact: info@cripple-bastards.com http://www.cripple-bastards.com/

COFFINS / SKULLHOG split EP review

2010-04-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

COFFINS / SKULLHOG (Japan/Nederland) – S/T
Split EP 2008 – No Escape Records
3 tracks
Rated: 5/10 - 7/10
The doom/death veterans of COFFINS strikes first with another of their numerous split release. The band's trademark didn't change, ultra heavy death/doom metal where the Finnish school's stench of death can be smelt (FUNEBRE & ABHORRENCE mainly). A new track and a CARNAGE cover (tuned lower of corpse to be COFFINS-ized). Nothing astonishing.
SKULLHOG seems to be the continuation of BILE, but from what I heard of BILE it was more death/gore/grind oriented, and this track of SKULLHOG named « Tusks of gore » is somewhat different from BILE's usal regurgitations. Here the track starts with a slow rhythm led by drums before being rejoined by the other instruments. « Tusks of gore » is some old school doom/death metal with a voice reminding Martin Van Drunen. Even the track suppurates this old ASPHYX vibe, very filthy with a crude and rehearsal-like sound. Hard to really give an opinion, I need to listen more but putridely interesting though.
Contact: No Escape Records – PO BOX 2054 – Lygon St – BRUNSWICK EAST – VIC 3057 – AUSTRALIA
info@noescaperecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/intothecoffin
http://www.myspace.com/skullhog

ORATEGOD Fall slowly until the hell abyss Review

2010-04-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

ORATEGOD (Chile) – Fall slowly until the hell abyss
CD 2006 – Concreto Records
16 tracks - 49'42
Rated: 7/10
It's a re-release of the 2004 version originally released by unknown Torment records, a second chance to discover the chilean death horde (with their demo 2002 as bonus which lengthened the release uselessly because except one, the tracks are still on « Fall slowly... »).
Except their landmates of MELEKTAUS I haven't heard such an intense album from Chile for a while. ORATEGOD surprises me with a well done relase of dark and evil brutal death metal, nothing groundbreaking, but the fury displayed all along the tracks altered by slower means and radical guitars solos make you feel like you'd be living in hell, getting kicked in the ass constantly by the devil and his minions.
The vokills are amazingly guttural reminding those from YATTERING « Murder's concept ». Musically the almost incessant pounding can remind RAVAGER with a hellish catacombs alike mood quite close to the first NILE album.
The lack of breaks and slowdowns (except on the last track with its MORBID ANGEL influence) could be the main reproach.
Info: http://www.concretorecs.com/
http://www.myspace.com/officialorategod

OBLITERATION Perpetual decay Review

2010-04-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

OBLITERATION (Norway) – Perpetual decay
CD 2007 – Peaceville Records
10 tracks – 34'03
Rated: 8,5/10
I must apologize for not featuring this great death metal in my previous issue, however I manage to introduce a Norvegian death metal act in all my issue firstly with DISKORD, then ABOMINAT and today OBLITERATION.
This « Perpetual decay » is again a good surprise and actually a must-have for any death metal freak as it gathers all the glorious elements of the 90's death metal movement. OBLITERATION takes a vile pleasure to mix numerous influences to induce the poor reviewer I am into confusion. Many bands come to mind and it's quite hazardous to pick them all. Probably wr have here a blend of DARKTHRONE (1st album), AUTOPSY, old MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, early DEATH, and many more...
Being a mixture of those band isn't enough to reach the excellence, you also need to have good songs and it's the case here.
Despite the quite good production, the band keep up some morbidity with typical riffs à la early DEATH, cool guitar solos and even dark melody (5th track called « Instrumental » or the 10th track « Sinstorm » with its old ENTOMBED/DEATH BREATH morbid side). They also keep a brutal aspect all along the CD with short tracks, fast parts and the use of blast beats and punchy breaks in the old SUFFOCATION vein, so without being a lame brutal death band, OBLITERATION has a « in your face » impact. I stop here the appreciations, despite any originality this release is highly recommended.
http://www.myspace.com/obliterationnorway

ANNIHILATION 666 / BLISS OF FLESH Split EP review

2010-04-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

ANNIHILATION 666 / BLISS OF FLESH (Germany/France) – Worshippers of evil / Die
Split EP 2008 – W.T.C Records
3 tracks – 15'12
Rated: 3/10 – 6,5/10
I got this split EP thanks to the Spanish Dude, quite a surprise when you know he usually hates black metal and all the penguins related to, ahah! But that was the occasion for me to discover BLISS OF FLESH as their are from my country and I heard quite few things about their evil intents.
ANNIHILATION 666 (dude, what a cliché moniker! There weren't enough free demons names instead of that crap?) cut their veins through two tracks of rather common and cold black metal. DARKTHRONE is certainly among their idols and that's obvious musically, probably a bit more elaborated and close to the early black metal tunes of DARKTHRONE. Nothing astonishing though and that's not the bitch moaning on the second track that would prove the contrary.
BLISS OF FLESH simply crush their split mates with an interesting track « Die » lasting more than 8 minutes. I thought BLISS OF FLESH was a basic black metal act according to what I read here and there in various underground publications. Probably they started as a raw black metal band, but what I listen there is more of some black/death metal (the fact there are members of DEVIANT SURGEONS, brutal death metal from France, can also be an explanation). The track starts with a dark and cold introductive slow part (reminds me some early DEATHSPELL OMEGA) and then follows with a storm of furious black/death onslaught with guttural , screamed vocals (close to some ARKHON INFAUSTUS or the less known VORKREIST) and even shouted clear vocals. The death metal prevails here and I wonder if the band won't be labeled as satanic death metal. This track really satisfies me and surely I will get the full length being released lately « Emaciated deity ». They just have to practice what they preach for the sake of integrity.
Contact: No contact, only Satan knows...in fact there was no info sheet but try www.w-t-c.org

SECTIONED Elme Review

2010-04-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

SECTIONED (US) – Elme
Demo CD 2007 – Self released
3 tracks - 18'16
Rated: 6/10
SECTIONED is a new death metal band featuring Mike of DIMENTIANON / Paragon Records who takes here the vocals duty to help his friend Zoltan Valter who is the creator of SECTIONED. I won't sum you up the bio because the band's genitor has moved a lot these last years so let's go back to what's our main concern here, that is to say the music.
SECTIONED is an old school influenced death metal band who names DEATH, early PESTILENCE, early MORGOTH, OBITUARY as inspiration. I sometimes detect DEATH and early PESTILENCE, some MASSACRE « From beyond » especially, there are many similarities between both bands.
SECTIONED is somewhat different by the use of keyboards, fortunately they didn't drown the music with. The vocals of Mike are recognizable if you know his work in DIMENTIANON; he sings in a more guttural and lower tone than in DIMENTIANON but he also uses the same medium voice, so sometimes it reminds DIMENTIANON and makes SECTIONED sounding a bit black/death metal reminding the « Cult of the initiated » of PESSIMIST.
A good point for SECTIONED is that Zoltan put some nice guitar solos that really create majestic and dark atmospheres a bit like what you can feel listening to « Testimony of the ancients ».
Despite some too black metal alike parts and a whole sound lacking of intensity, there are valuable and promising things that let me think SECTIONED is able to create some good following.
Contact: SECTIONED – Cedar Ridge Drive – Ridge NY 11961 – USA
cultm@msn.com sectioned.metal@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/sectionedx

PATHOGEN Into the subconscious void Review

2010-04-18T04:56:00.000-07:00

PATHOGEN (Philippines) – Into the subconscious void
Demo CD 2007 – Skullfucking Metal Records
6 tracks - 46'58
Rated: 7/10
Wow, some death metal coming from the bad reputated land of Philippines due to a bunch of fucking rip-offs. Fortunately I have enough informations from various zines to know these guys (including two members of thrash metal band NEGATRON) are reliable and honest metal-heads.
So PATHOGEN is a death metal act influenced by the end 80's/early 90's death metal, and this demo (originally released in 2004 but re-released by Keegan Enterprise) has some good moments and promising potential.
The first track « Ritual sodomy » sounds like some early MORBID ANGEL (a mix of « Altars... » and « Covenant »), with evil riffing and great guitars solos (not as genius as Trey but good indeed), just the vocals are somewhat different, quite common guttural vokills, a bit in the SINISTER vein « Cross the Styx). Second assault « Necrovore » still in the MORBID ANGEL vein with a thrashy edge reminding the great POSSESSED. The end of the track surprinsingly had a kind of outro a like ENTOMBED's « Left hand path », the resemblance is confusing but it's awesome. Third track « Sacrilegious profanation » is the same blasting old school death metal à la MORBID ANGEL coupled with more DEATH like parts (tchuka tchuka drumming), some slowdowns and haunting lead guitars, giving a sinister mood. Fourth track « Descent into dementia » is more in the early DEATH vein, with simple and common riffs, probably the weakest track of the demo. There is an unidentified fifth track combining the different elements mentioned above....wait I wonder if that's not a cover? No, in fact it's a track named « Pestilent infestor » whose particularity is having a dark and cold melodic bridge that reminds me what can be heard in FUNEBRE or GOREMENT, it's why I was wondering that wasn't a cover from this kind of band. As bonus there is more 20 minutes of liveshit with average sound (and the unavoidable cover of « Countess Bathory »), it lenghtened the demo a bit but for those who can't get enough metal of death, I guess that will please them.
To conclude, PATHOGEN is an interesting and promising band that shall digest a bit more its influences (MORBID ANGEL and AUTOPSY) if they are able to propose more personal but deathly things. Worth the listening!
Contact: Willie DESAMERO - #4 Fule Sahagun St. - San Pablo City – Laguna – 4000 PHILIPPINES
xenon-codex@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/pathogenonline

THOSE WHO BRING THE TORTURE Tank gasmask amno Review

2010-04-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

THOSE WHO BRING THE TORTURE (Sweden) – Tank gasmask amno
CD 2008 – Pulverised Records
13 tracks – 39'30
Rated: 4/10
Another side-project of the hyperactive Rogga Johansson (PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER, DEMIURG, …) who got joined by various guys from PAGANIZER, GOD AMONGST INSECTS, etc... and this is their second record, but I didn't listen the previous, although I didn't think I miss something.
Sometimes close to RIBSPREADER concerning the style, THOSE WHO BRING THE TORTURE is having a far better production and follow the paths of what NAPALM DEATH plays these days: a powerful sounding grind/death. Only the vocals are a bit different, more guttural, in the way of what can be heard on any records where Rogga sung.
Some melody has been injected in « All hail the goat... » for example, this track is played in a groovy thrash way with death metal slowdowns, not bad, it prevents TWBTT to be something a bit different to NAPALM DEATH. However, the tracks go one after the others, it's well played, it's able to please any grind/death freaks but that's so impersonal. Don't you think there are enough bands flooding the underground?
http://www.myspace.com/twbtt

MESOCRANIO A saga pagã Review

2010-04-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

MESOCRANIO (Brazil) – A saga pagã
Demo CD 2008 – Self released
8 tracks – 29'16
Rated: 3/10
Third demo for this Brazil based trio practicing some death metal with black and heavy touches. Created in 1998, I expected a confirmed band but this demo owns so many mistakes, it's really hard to not bash it.
MESOCRANIO wants to instigate some occult mood in their, fist with an ok intro, then adding keyboards in some tracks, and honestly speaking, this is probably their worst idea. It diminushes the agressive side of the music which is not helped by the really too common riffs. They are not bad but they are so uncatchy and lame.
The second weak point, are all these awful solos ans guitar leads that sound wrong; hey guy, try to be in the right tone or check that your guitar is well tuned, because that sucks really!!!
Third negative aspect is the demo production that is not completely shitty but it uses to saturate on low frequences, a thing that can happen for a first demo, but this is the third one!!
The two last tracks came from their first demo tape « Holocausto » that sounded more basic and bestial death metal but definitively more convincing than « A saga pagã » demo. Reminds me some early MASACRE stuff.
Even if the blasphemous packaging is cool, the music itlself is too mediocre. MESOCRANIO tried to follow a more melodic path but finally killed its music.
Contact: mesocranio@bol.com.br
http://www.myspace.com/mesocranio

TORTURE DIVISION With endless wrath Review

2010-04-18T04:50:00.001-07:00

TORTURE DIVISION (Sweden) – With endless wrath
Demo 2008 – Self released
3 tracks – 10'09
Rated: 4/10
Here is one of the three demos released by TORTURE DIVISION in 2008, all downloadable on their website. TORTURE DIVISION is one of these useless side-projects/all-star bands that created good music, because the guys are usually skillful, but the result is so lame, you still wonder the use of it. Do the guys just get bored in their main band?
Gathering the drummer of VOMITORY, an ex-GRAVE axeman and a guy from GOD AMONGST INSECTS, what do you think they could offer except a brutal dose of death metal! So yes, here you get some death metal, but that's so close to what VOMITORY does, what's the use of a copycat? You can hear the same fast death metal VOMITORY can display, with some thrashy parts, there are the vocals that are quite different, less guttural, and even if the band injects some melodies, I find the whole too close to VOMITORY.
Except if you're a huge VOMITORY fan that can't wait their next assault, you will be certainly pleased with this ersatz. Ok, the music is free and is well done and produced, it's not bad so you know what to expect.
Info: www.torturedivision.net

NECROTIC FLESH Gore gourmet Review

2010-04-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

NECROTIC FLESH (Germany) – Gore gourmet
CD 2007 – MDD Records
10 tracks - 33'22
Rated: 5,5/10
A shame, I didn't hear about the release of this 2nd album by NECROTIC FLESH (interviewed in PEZ #2). I just exhumed it by digging the Sevared Records' store. I wonder why their shitty label didn't promote them much more instead of adding a censored cartridge to hide the gore artwork (welcome to Germany!). I immeddiately get it as their previous record was an nice Swedish influenced old school death metal. This « Gore gourmet » is maybe less marked by the Swedish touch, which is not a bad thing I think. NECROTIC FLESH is still rooted in the putrid death metal style with AUTOPSY and PUNGENT STENCH influences, with this dirty and crunchy guitar sound. The rasping vocals (reminding sometimes Ollie of DESECRATION) as well as the horror samples, strenghtened the gruesome vibe of the album. I also can compare some heavy parts to early SIX FEET UNDER releases.
Not a bad release but not a killer one either, some riffs can smell a bit outdated or are just lame to my ears. Those enjoying NECROTIC FLESH can get this new supper, they won't be disapointed too much, the ass kicking process won't hurt the others.
Info: www.necroticflesh.de

PSYCHOPATHIC TERROR 230204 review

2010-04-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

PSYCHOPATHIC TERROR (Finland) – 230204
CD 2008 – Temple of Darkness Records
8 tracks - 35'52
Rated: 7/10
Totally unknown band to me until I get this album from a friend who sometimes amazes me with his good musical tastes (and sometimes not!). And when you know this band contains two ex-DEPRAVITY you can suspect your ass is gonna suffer some serious kicks. This is their second record and the band started in 2002: surfing the old school death metal revival? Well I don't really give a fuck. PSYCHOPATHIC TERROR, even if from Finland, plays in the Swedish old school death metal with the typical massive sound. The first time I listen to « 230204 » I just thought it was another swedish act into retro death metal. Then listening to it more carefully I found a thrashy edge in their death metal with some cool riffs and nice arrangements. Heavily and putridely inspired by ENTOMBED's « Left hand path » the band doesn't reach the same graveyard atmosphere even if they are able to rock the local zombies. Surprisingly I didn't noticed any Finnish death influences, PT is totally in the swedish vein reminding me PAGANIZER with a similar guttural voice and the same chainsaw guitar riffs. PT is less primitive as PAGANIZER but nothing astonishing in terms of technicality though. Indeed a cool discovery.
Info: http://www.templeofdarknessrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/psychopathicterrorofficial

FATHER BEFOULED interview 2009

2010-04-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

The profanation began in 2007, and nothing seems able to stop its impious march! FATHER BEFOULED is the perfect incarnation of what death metal should be: dark, evil, disgusting and bonecrushing. If you dig the early blasphemies of INCANTION, ROTTREVORE, MORTICIAN, etc... you won't be disappointed by this band.

-Putrid greetings Ghoat! FATHER BEFOULED is probably the ugliest and most impious death metallic manifestation coming from the States actually. But why didn't you follow the actual brutal death metal stream and choose to play this kind of obscure and devilish death metal instead?

Whereas I like more brutal death metal, it is simply not what I set out to create. When I created Father Befouled, there was no outright effort to become anything recognized. It simply started as a project between friends and eventually gained way more recognition than we expected. Brutal death metal attacks and is violent. What we play is more reserved and menacing; there is the oppressive undercurrent that makes our music dreary.

-What is your personal definition of death metal, which are the boundaries that mustn't be crossed according to you? Like many metal styles (black, thrash, heavy, doom, grind) it evolves with the addition of external elements, with more or less success... Do you think evolution and experiment are necessary even though they are inevitable?

With so many different styles of death metal, there are many boundaries that can be defined and/or crossed. With brutal death/gore/grind type metal, there is obviously what can be determined legal. Are there bands glorifying pedophilia? To an extent, take a band like Purulent from Columbia; their album about a serial child murderer spurned the existence of merch with the slogan “100% Pedophilia” attached. That can be too far.

If we are talking of boundaries in terms of musical expression, then yes, there are many that need to be addressed. In FB there are certain types of riffs I will not play because they do not fit the style. They can be considered death metal riffs all day, but not in the scope of what I create. Evolution and progression can exist, but within one’s own style. John McEntee has been writing Incantation songs for 20 years and they still sound like Incantation songs. Is the new stuff as crushing as the old? No, but it is every bit as ominous and atmospheric. Take a band that I love; Mortician. Mortician has essentially written the same album 8 times over 20 years, but it always sounds fresh. There is no need for ‘experimentation’ with what I do. There are other outlets.

-FATHER BEFOULED plays blasphemous death metal in the vein of early INCANTATION which is the most prominent influence (especially their two first records), but one can mention as well bands like IMMOLATION, IMPRECATION, MORPHEUS DESCENDS, PROFANATICA and certainly more. Sometimes you displays dark and gruesome atmospheres a bit like NECROS CHRISTOS who mixes death and black metal in an occult and ritualistic way. What are the influences, musical or not, you would put forward as the evil seeds of FATHER BEFOULED? Who can be interested by your rituals, how would you describe FATHER BEFOULED to someone who doesn't know the band?

Every band you mention above is certainly a direct influence; Incantation obviously as well as Immolation. I saw both of these bands 10-12 years ago for the first time, and both I saw live before I ever listened to them on tape. Their performances struck me and stayed with me. Through the years I have been involved in many bands from hardcore/punk bands to black and death metal bands, but the atmosphere of those two bands and the sounds created by like death metal bands of that era was something I always wanted to do. Atmosphere and the oppressive, obscure tone is something that is mandatory for FB.

To the new listener, we are a dark and oppressive death metal band. If people are fans of the bands above, then they will like us. We are just trying to create something fresh, and while our influences are clear, we are certainly not jumping on any bandwagon or trend.

-FATHER BEFOULED is a quite recent band but you have still three releases and three forthcoming ones, so one must say you're quite productive. The tracks appearing on your first demo have been released on two separate records by two different labels. What are the differences between the tracks on the “Sacrificing oblivion” demo soundwise? Why haven't you gathered all the tracks on only one LP? And how did you get in touch with Gasmask Records and Enucleation Records?

Sacrificing Oblivion has tracks from both the Profano MCD and the Obscurus CD, as well as live rehearsals and one exclusive demo track. The sound difference between the songs on the demo and the CDs is basically mastering/volume. They are the same recordings, just lowered, unmastered versions.

We do stay productive, but as a young band I want to promote as much as I can now. With as long as it takes releases to come out sometimes, it is good to always have something to work on.

-As said above you have two split EP to be out soon, with DECREPITAPH and CEMETERY URN, as well as a split CD/LP with HELCARAXE. Man, you never stop composing or have you many unreleased tracks left? How much time do you need to vomit a new track? How much time is allowed in the songwriting process? Is this something very spontaneous?

There are no unreleased tracks as of writing. I either use what gets written or recorded, or if something is not good, it usually never even becomes a full song. The Split with Decrepitaph is now out; we waited over a year for that to happen. As for the split with Cemetery Urn, that is also a long work in progress. It will be part of a single 7” series on Relapse Records. We signed with them for the one 7” over a year ago, and we did not even know who the split would be with. It will come out eventually. It will be part of a series like their grind or thrash 7” series’.

Songwriting happens at weird times. If I know I have to write a song and sit down to do it, nothing will come of it. So, usually, yes, the songs are pretty spontaneous. But I usually only write when there is something to write for. I do not have random songs laying around that need recording.

-The split EP with DECREPITAPH will be released by Archasm Releasing, which is your own label, right? Why don't you release all FATHER BEFOULED stuff through it? What are the others label's releases past & present?

Archasm was created for the purpose of the split. For some reason, we had major label issues trying to get that out. Labels were just not interested, and the couple that were fell through. So I decided to pony up the money and just do it. From that I figured it would be more legit to actually create a label. I want to support bands as well and, being a creative person, I want to get other’ people’s music presented. If I had the resources, I would release FB stuff through Archasm, but I just do not have that kind of money. Hell, I don't have the money to even run it now, but I try. We have a very good deal with Enucleation and I plan on staying with them.

-You also plays in black/death metal act VOMIT CHAPEL and released a demo Tape “War Vomit Death Worship”. Don't you fear sometimes that heading so many projects at the same time could make your bands sounding closer? A bit like DRAWN & QUARTERED and their side-project PLAGUE BEARER. How do you decide which music fits to whether VC or FB?

I feel the exact opposite. More bands keeps FB from either A)not sounding like FB, and B) keeps me from just writing FB songs. Because they would either all run together and be the same or they would be bland and generic.

Vomitchapel specifically is an outlet for pure aggression. The songs are almost completely written on the spot and not rehearsed at all. I record the drums first and write the music to the beats. It exists to be completely bestial, chaotic and pummeling black/death noise. The riffs are just attacks of chaos and not remotely similar to FB.

-The lyrics and title-tracks are extremely iconoclast and blasphemous in the vein of those from INCANTATION. Are there a part of your personality and beliefs or do you write them only to fit the music and strengthen the evil vibe? Are there some metaphorical meanings behind your lyrics?

They are a part of my disbelief, actually. I am a pretty staunch atheist, and in my lyrics I am mostly using metaphor to discount the existence of eternity. A lot of it is a mockery to the bible and Christianity, something I feel strongly about. I am not glorifying Satan or evil, yet promoting blasphemy and chaos against all religion. The darkness and evil is just imagery and fantasy against something that does not exist. I am very particular with my words.

-INCANTATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, IMMOLATION, those bands keep playing a traditional form of death metal without really being out of their line and keeping a fanbase. Some other bands evolved with more or less success like HYPOCRISY, AMORPHIS or DEATH, and in some case some fans didn't follow the band during their whole career. Did you remain attached to the beginnings of your favorite bands or does it happen you got their entire discography?

Yes and no. I have everything Incantation did/does because they stay relevant. I am a pretty big fan of Cannibal Corpse too, but they have been useless on record for almost ten years. Their last 4 records have been identical. It all depends on the band, really. Take a band for Dissection, for instance; I have all their stuff and love it all equally. Reinkaos sounds like a completely different band, but something, to me, keeps it in the same league as their classic albums.
-Lately, I've been listening to the last PORTAL “Outre” which is one of the weirdest death metal release I got. I'm still wondering how to write a review about it! Do you like this band? What's the most unusual or strangest album/band you ever listened to, to the extent that you still don't know if you like it or not??

Haha, I am actually listening to Seepia (PicLP) right now! Portal is fucking intense for sure. Their atmosphere is unparalleled and chaotic, but they are still listenable.

Lots of noise/electronic music is hard to listen to, but I still enjoy it for the most part. One of the strangest of the last few years for me is a Swedish band called Niellerade Fallibilisthorstar. They create soundscapes and noise without instruments, but it is very engaging and not boring or stupid.

As for metal bands, I am not sure. The first time I heard Demilich 10-12 years ago, I was weirded out. That is still a band I have yet to wrap my head around.

-You did a gig with MANTICORE on April 25th. Who arrange that gig? Do you have to arrange most of your band's gigs or did you get asked by gig-organizers? How many people attend at your gigs? We may have a mistaken opinion out there in France thinking that there are plenty of crowded metal gigs in the US, what's the reality in fact?

Metal gigs in the US blow. No one shows up unless it is big, clean, slick bands. Let me rephrase; underground metal gigs blow. 15 people came and watched us with Manticore. We played to about 100 with Imprecation two weeks ago. The biggest shows we played were with Profanatica and at the most there were maybe 250 people at one of them, and they were both festivals. We played in Dallas, TX with our brothers Decrepitaph and only 5 people or so came. It all depends on the region, the club, the city, the fans, etc…

We do not use a promoter or booker, but possibly will in the future. All of the gigs we have played have been offered to us, and some have been very good and some not at all, as mentioned above. If gigs are properly promoted there is a better chance of people coming of course, but as a whole I think it could certainly be better for us. When we played in Dallas, Suffocation was playing the same night about 30 minutes away, so of course everyone was there. We also did shitty promotion for that show. It was part of a tour that never happened.

My understanding is that underground metal gigs in Europe are much better.

-As a metal fan, to which extent your infatuation can be measured? I mean do you still buy a lot of releases every months or do you stay faithful to the classics? Did you do good discoveries lately, do you have anything you would recommend?

A bunch of both really. I work as a graphic designer, and a good bit of my work is doing layouts for CD and Records, so I stay on top of a lot of new underground stuff. I am also a vinyl collector, so I am always looking for old gems.

Lately I am really digging the new Church of Misery LP. If you are unfamiliar, they are a groove/stoner metal band from Japan and all their songs are about serial killers. They are just a fucking riff factory. I have been into them for years.

I also like the new Tribulation record on Blood Harvest. Killer black/death thrash.

Both of the above mentioned records also have KILLER packaging/layouts and that is something I always look for in releases, given that that is what I do.

-Let me know what comes to your mind when I mention:
-NECRO (the rap “band” self proclaiming their music death rap):
Just dumb, I hate this shit. No use for it.
-NECROPHAGIA:
LOVE THIS BAND!!! Holocausto de la Morte is a personal favorite, always.
-NECRODEATH:
Not a fan, I need to check them out more.
-NECROPHOBIC:
Also another band I have not listened to much.
-NECROCCULTUS:
Very dirty black death. Sounds like crap, but good. I have the split LP with Shub Niggurath.
-NECROPHAGIST:
Not a fan of tech/death, but I can tolerate about two songs of this band. I would go see them live if it were cheap and close. I have two friends who LOVE them and I enjoy seeing bands with my friends if they like the band and I do not. I enjoy my friends enjoying things.

-While my insomniac nights web investigation I discovered a new phenomenon coming from South America. There are dozens of blogs where guys gathered hundreds links of downloadable releases, even some releases are available before the date-release. When it comes to some hard-to-find demo stuff or sold out releases, I think that's pretty cool, but full albums... What's your view on this?

Obscurus Nex Cultus was available on a BlogSpot before I even had copies of the CD and it got under my skin a little. Everyone can afford a fucking CD. If you can afford to get on the internet, you can afford to buy an album. It can be helpful in checking out a band, but so can MySpace. I think some of it is a tad ridiculous. I do enjoy looking up obscure shit on these sites though and then tracking down the real demos/LPs.

-Ghoat, let me thank you for your time answering those fucking questions. Just let me know what you were listening while answering them. Now you can conclude, putrid salutations...

Portal – Seepia PicLP
Von – Satanic Blood Angel DPicLP
Nominon – Terra Necrosis LP

Thanks, and sorry it took so long!
http://www.myspace.com/fatherbefouled
http://www.fatherbefouled.com/
http://archasmreleasing.com/

CARMINA interview 2009

2010-04-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Almost 4 years without any news about CARMINA, a band some of you may be familiar with if they have the Obscure Infinity split release. And last year the release of the self-titled EP announced their comeback with more crushing intents. Here's a putrid encounter to know more about this french death metallers who have a clear vision of metal of death! Read on!

Hi Michaël! It's been some time we haven't heard about CARMINA since 2004 and the releases of the split with AMETHYSTE, DARKLORD and ATROPHY, and the split EP with MORGUE. How has been the feedback concerning both releases? I guess the intense promotion by UnderGab helps you a lot to get some cool contacts. What happened during these 4 years of « silence »?
Michaël : Hi Jim! Reviews have been good in general. We have had a lot of feedback about the split tape Gab did (AMETHYSTE, DARKLORD and ATROPHY) because he used to send us every review. He did an amazing job and we still are grateful to him. Thanks Gab! The Split EP with MORGUE was a limited vinyl press and we didn’t have that much feedback. I have to say our demo was released at the same time. Same thing, we have had quite a good feedback. We did some shows and kept on writing new songs.

And today CARMINA comes back with a new release at the end of 2008, a self titled MCD. When did you start the songwriting about those tracks?
Michaël : We began to write new songs after the demo and splits… and started to record in August 2006. We had bought some machines at the time of the demo; we wanted to have it homemade. It took 2 years to record the 7 songs: as we had the equipment to record, we wanted to keep on this way. But as I was a novice, we lost a lot of time trying to record, arrange… I recorded the drums August 2006 and then the guitars first semester of 2007. Bass has been recorded summer 2007. Then I tried several mixes… lyrics has been completed at the beginning of 2008. And then the mix has been done in June/July 2008, thanks to Titi (DISASTER) and his wonderful equipment! The mastering has been done by Titaye at the Alien Studio in July/August 2008. It has been a real adventure but it has been released! We will go faster next time.

The result is some pretty intense brutal death metal with dark atmospheres, keeping the style of your demo 2004 but this time everything sounds more intense, the drumming is faster and there's a good balance between aggressiveness and obscure moods. Some names such as IMMOLATION, HATE ETERNAL, BRODEQUIN or MORBID ANGEL come to my mind. What do you think of my interpretation? Are there less easy recognizable influences you would point out?
Michaël : Yes, we listen a lot to IMMOLATION, HATE ETERNAL and MORBID ANGEL, these bands are a huge influence to us. But we don’t write songs thinking “I want to do a song like this band does”. Everything we listen to influence spontaneously the way we write or play songs. We like fast stuffs, brutal, obscure and tortured stuffs… our music is basically a projection of a part of our personality.
Drums wise, I worked a lot and hopefully I get results! The grind/death/blast beat (whatever you call it) is a particular technique that can be very exhausting if you don’t master it. And I still need to progress!

The self titled MCD is the second release of young label Rewolucja Records (who release the first album of DISASTER). What can you say about this label? How did it happen you work with them? It seems to be more of a friendship relation than some business matters. Were there any other labels interested by CARMINA?
Michaël : Rewolujca Records is Bif’s label; he’s the DISASTER guitar player and CARMINA bass player, which is more or less the reason! We changed our bass player in 2007. Our music is based on friendship. Bif became a friend, I can’t play music with people I don’t know or I’m not interested in. Or I would have become a professional. We didn’t “prospect” to release the MCD, Bif was really enthusiastic to do it. We only did 500 copies and then we’ll see if people are interested.
The promotion remains very confidential, is it a will to remain underground or in fact the promotion hasn't really start? Do you know what the label has planned (buying some adverts in magazine or privileging trades with other labels, by word of mouth, …)? Where people can get your MCD?
Michaël : Bif does all the work! It’s still underground; he does a lot of trades in order to develop his distro. We just begin to have some feedback. MCD is available here: http://www.rewolucjarecords.com and during the concerts.

Your lyrics are 100% written in french. Why do you use your native tongue? Do you think it gives a particular touch to CARMINA? Have you ever tried with english lyrics? To be honest it's not easy to understand whether you sing in french or english. What do you think of IMPUREZA who sings in Spanish?
Michaël : We’re French, so we speak French, it’s obviously more natural for us to sing in French. Why singing in English? I’ve heard so many French bands singing in English with such an awful translation!! (And I’m not good at speaking English) So what’s the point? I’d like to have a translation of the lyrics (English, Spanish, Japanese and Polish) in order to have most of people to understand. To me, the growling singing is an instrument in itself; it produces sounds that go with the music. IMPUREZA guy sings in Spanish, it brings another kind of sound to the lyrics.

CARMINA is based near Paris but we can't really say that you belong to the parisian metal scene. It is funny but some foreign people are convinced that french metal bands essentially come from Paris which is naturally wrong. What's your connection with the scene from Paris? I think CARMINA is closer to some hardcore bands than any black metal spiked bastards. With which bands did CARMINA share the stages with?
Michaël : We don’t have much connection with the Parisian Scene. Most of us come from the hardcore/punk scene, this is probably the reason why. I don’t really like the “fraternity” spirit like “you play metal, I’m a metal head so we’re brothers!” We do share musical preferences but that’s it. To put a label on our musical style would make us narrow-minded. We play CARMINA, it’s obviously metal but that’s just us… I don’t care about playing concerts with hardcore, punk or metal bands if it’s good and people are ok! Sure, we don’t want to play with fascist or racist bands or whatever in this idea.. I have to say that on this subject, things have evolved the good way.
Alexis: As you said, we are based “near Paris” and not in Paris. We are suburban rats living between 15 and 45 kilometers from Paris and somehow we have no real connection with a Parisian metal scene. We did play a couple shows at the Gambetta bar though, thanks to our friend Mamass from 13 Zealots and that girl I forgot the name (sorry!). We shared the stage with bands like FROM ASHES RISE, UNEARTHLY TRANCE, ENREGISTRÉ PAR STEVE ALBINI, REMORSE, SUPERSTATIC REVOLUTION, BURST... We didn’t play a lot of shows but so far I think we’ve been quite lucky with the experiences we got. About the connection with HC that you mentioned, may be it’s because we grew up with that scene around and we probably still reflect that in the way we are with CARMINA. For sure we play metal, call it death metal, death grind or whatever you want but CARMINA will also always be the product of four different sensibilities towards music in general. As a matter of fact, the four of us listen to both metal and HC (and of course other genres). And we all agree on one thing : we want to play intense and sincere music and that’s where our interests meet in CARMINA. It won’t be interesting for me if one day we try to be brutal for the sake of being brutal, same with being dark or technical... I have to be moved by what we play, lyrically and musically, the feeling and emotion of the music have to remain our focus. But to tell you more accurately how I see metal and CARMINA...I come from punk/HC and the bands that pushed me to join CARMINA and play metal were ASSÜCK and ENTOMBED, two bastard children of the punk and metal scenes.

I look at some pictures of your live gigs and we can't say that the dudes of CARMINA have the typical metalhead appearance (long hair, black clothes and shit like that). Did you ever have some complains or remarks about this fact? I can't understand that the imagery if often more important than the music; what do you think of that kind of attitude where bands only put forward their imagery and when you listen to their music it's often lame and hollow! So we must admit than metal today become an awful mainstream musical trend accepted by all (or almost all). Am I a pessimist motherfucker? (Ahah!)
Michaël : It’s always about the same thing: the label. You got this or that label, you have to dress like that, think like that and so on. It sucks. All you talk about happens in all the music, art or whatever tendencies… there are people that are honest (With the others and with themselves) and the others that are a kind of “marketing products”.
Alexis: Haha, you haven’t seen Stu lately then! OK, I really don’t care about how you are supposed to look to play metal. The music is a vehicle, it is the way to share our anger and passion and I’d rather play for the people who are willing to be moved by what we play than the ones who think we don’t fit in the “family” because we don’t look “bad” enough. I don’t go to church because I don’t like when people tell me what I’m supposed to do or not do... Otherwise I’m pretty sure this way to see music originally comes from our HC background, something we can’t leave behind just because we play metal these days. But no I’ve never got that kind of complains or remarks or may be I’ve just not heard them loud enough... It wouldn’t matter much if I did though. And I don’t think you’re being pessimistic about the mainstream, it does waters down or transforms everything coming its way to make it acceptable.

Going back to your split with AMETHYSTE and ATROPHY, those bands are still active and CARMINA as well. Are you surprised by this? Have you ever felt tired by the band with the will to stop it? How do you manage to keep such burning passion and will to kill?
Michaël : It’s obvious that at times, you get less energy and enthusiasm. But I realized something; technically, when you’re lazy and you force yourself to work on your instrument, the better results you get. Sometimes I don’t feel like rehearsing but in the end it makes me feel good and fill me with energy.
It’s really something inside of me, it makes me live and now I feel like I can’t live without it.
The will to kill, I try to have it every time I do something, this is the real thing!

CARMINA has release its music through different format: Tape, vinyl and CD. What is your favorite format? Do you think these formats still have a future or will be replaced by legal (and illegal) downloading on a long term?
Michaël : I like vinyl records but CD is more convenient. I have doubts about the commercial future of the CD but in the underground environment, there are still a lot of tapes so I don’t worry. The problem with numerical support is the music is kind of dematerialized, no more box or cover in your hands, you get less conscious of the work behind the music, and it’s really representative of the consumption society where we live. It is for sure really convenient but it is too virtual (like our world unfortunately). I noticed it with the kids I have in my class, only a few of them have CDs home.

You will say I am always complaining but I can't understand that in France we have good killer bands like GOROD, BLOODY SIGN, ASMODEE or CARMINA to name a few but no one cares and rather listen to shitty bands like DAGOBA or ONE WAY MIRROR. What's wrong with France according to you?
Michaël : What’s wrong with France? Music culture does not have an easy access. It’s getting better, we have new media-libraries… So little educational and musical awakening at school, it’s a shame… then some music have more or less easy access… and the power of marketing! Someone that does not look for something else will buy what is easy to reach and what sells the best. French people are good little sheeps… it’s all about education.
Let's go back to CARMINA, and I would talk about your artwork that I found very sober: a white artwork with blood stains. You're far from the usual clichés with zombies or dismembered people. The same can be said to your lyrics, mostly based on images and comparisons, they have nevertheless some connections with social issues, am I right? Would you find absurd if someone would tell you than you're close to IMMOLATION musically but close to BRUTAL TRUTH or NAPLAM DEATH lyrically?
Michaël : We don’t like clichés. For the cover, we just thought « let’s do something white, something not metal ! » It must be our old punk side! Then Stu did that thing and we liked it. We try to have lyrics that have meaning… they represent what we are, what we live, what we feel inside, our vision on things that happen all around us, our fears, our desires… it’s a part of our expression, completed by the music. I think it’s a shame that metal bands lost this disapproval side in their lyrics. I like NAPALM DEATH a lot, they never changed in their attitude and it’s the best example of a metal band that has something to say.

What's the next step for CARMINA now? Will the band release a full album? Or maybe you planned some upcoming gigs in France? What are usually your conditions for playing somewhere?
Michaël : Yes, we want to do concerts, we do love it! Our conditions are simple: money for gas and highway, something to eat and a place to sleep. We prefer to sleep at someone’s place, we play music to share things and it’s always better to discuss with people than sleep in a hotel. And then we’ll try to work on an album and record it faster than the last time… should be easy!

To know more about your musical tastes, give me the releases that really kick you ass lately, anything to recommend? What are your musical expectations for 2009?
Michaël : Here’s my little playlist, no particular order! Lastly, I discovered BLOODBATH and HOUR OF PENANCE, great! Then the last TESTAMENT, good thrash metal, VIEUX FARKA TOURE (traditional music from Mali), MOUSS et HAKIM (Origine controlée) for dancing, RADIOHEAD is always running through my head, as well as GORGUTS, NILE and HATE ETERNAL !
For 2009… plenty of good records, not on majors, that will make us chill!

Michaël, thanks to you and your mates, good luck with CARMINA, keep recording some killer metal of death!! End this interview with your own words.
Michaël : Thank you for this pleasant and smart interview, I hope to meet you in real life!
Don’t hesitate to contact us for concerts, interviews, questions or just to talk! We’re good boys!
Have fun and keep music evil!
http://www.myspace.com/carminagrind

DIE PIGEON DIE Ripped from V to A review

2010-04-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

DIE PIGEON DIE (Australia) – Ripped from V to A
MCD 2007 – No Escape Records
11 tracks – 17'35
Rated: 6/10
There is a small grindcore/grindgore scene in Australia but some of you probably know acts such as THE KILL, BLOOD DUSTER, THE DAY EVERYTHING BECAME NOTHING... So Dave Hill from THE DAY... who heads No Escape Records probably thinks he could promote this style and anything brutal out there and here we have this release by DIE PIGEON DIE.
The quartet chooses the goregrind as groundplay, brutal and primitive but he is not afraid to add unusual things like guitar solos (yes you read it well and the guy even drops some sweeping parts!). Musically, it's obvious that the guys don't want to change the established rules, it's basic and hundred times heard goregrind sometimes mixed with slower brutal death parts. You even can hear some horror movies samples just to set a upsetting mood between the tracks, and then they unleash the blasts attack with a pure Czech grind snare drum sound and distorted gore gurgling voice.
You can think about a mix of LAST DAYS OF HUMANITY, MORTICIAN, early CARCASS, shits like that and if you dig these bands (and you probably do) you could find some blasting interests in DIE PIGEON DIE.
Contact: No Escape Records – PO BOX 2054 – Lygon St – BRUNSWICK EAST – VIC 3057 – AUSTRALIA
info@noescaperecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/diepigeondie

BRUTAL REBIRTH Hate over all Review

2010-04-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

BRUTAL REBIRTH (France) – Hate over all
CD 2008 – Trendkill Recordings
10 tracks – 37'07
Rated: 5/10
A very young who released its first album one year only after its birth without any demo, the guys didn't want to waste time but they were probably a bit too much in a rush. Not that the guys are not skillfull but I feel listening to an album that has been recorded for the sake of recording one.
One thing that catches my attention is the fact that Charognard from CHARNIER plays drums in BRUTAL REBIRTH, so you can imagine that the drum job should be good, and it is.
BRUTAL REBIRTH instead of CHARNIER plays some really heavy death metal, in the old school vein, reminding warmasters of BOLTTHROWER and even sometimes old UNLEASHED. Very heavy and massive riffs, with lot of double kickdrums, guttural voice, blast beats in the old BOLTTHROWER way, the band would lie telling it's not an influence. Among this I also detected some slower parts in the OBITUARY or old SIX FEET UNDER vein, efficient but nothing deadly though.
And here you have a good record professionaly done but where the band didn't inject or establish its own personality or soul. You listen to it but nothing really remains except something like: « well er... it's cool. » I think the band didn't take the time to work their tracks and make them memorable.
The basis are there but that's not enough to impress, it just lacks of real bullets in the guns than blank cartridges.
Info: www.trendkill.fr
http://www.myspace.com/brutalrebirth

SOUL DEVOURER Worms of purity Review

2010-04-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

SOUL DEVOURER (Brazil) – Worms of purity
Demo CD 2006 – Self released
3 tracks – 15'03
Rated: 7/10
Actually this is the only release by SOUL DEVOURER and it seems the band isn't really active as even their Myspace isn't updated. A pity because their sole record is not bad at all, good sounding for a demo, SOUL DEVOURER plays some traditional brazilian death metal, you know with this infernal touch that KRISIUN once created. Except that SOUL DEVOURER isn't always blasting from beginning to end. They have these evil early DEICIDE influences inherited from the first album. The band plays on different musical ground, mid tempos old school death metal to old school blasting à la old MORBID ANGEL. Many tempo changes, classical death metal riffing (but where are the fucking guitar solos?) they remind me their landmates of FUNERATUS.
It's a good demo release, even sounding close to an honest death metal album, so what the fuck the band is doing? Let's harass them for some more stuff.
Contact: Soul Devourer – PO BOX 122327 – Sao Fidelis – Rio de Janeiro – 28400 000 BRAZIL
souldevourerhorde@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/souldevourerhorde

NECROPSY Bestial anatomy Review

2010-04-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

NECROPSY (France) – Bestial anatomy
CD 2008 – Self released
9 tracks – 25'54
Rated: 6,5/10
I reviewed their demo 2006 in my previous issue, nothing putridely astonishing though there was an embryo of brutal potential. The next step after two demo was the album and here it is. A short record for sure but I think it saves NECROPSY from boredom. Usually I am rarely into deathcore but when it's mixed with brutal death with slamming parts that's a pleasant listening for me (not this fake gay deathcore played by some emokids). So NECROPSY is some groovy brutal death core with sometimes grindcore touches or death metal touches but very few.
The tracks are very short, using basic riffs, some of them are pretty catchy, some others are too common. But I guess NECROPSY focuses more on efficiency, and their tracks go in this sense, like a punch in the teeth (the track « decalcification » is the best example). No overtechnicality, here just have a dose of brutality with fast parts and then you're hit by slamming part in the DEVOURMENT and FLESHGRIND vein. NECROPSY's guitar's tuning is although higher than the US brutal death school. The brutal side is more brought by the voice of Gilles with his piggy guttural vokills, he sometimes sung in a more hardcore way which is definitively not the best idea.
NECROPSY is a band able to set the pits on fire, their music is for deathcore freaks who love slamming and mosh-pits. But if you're looking for some graves emanations you're probably reading the wrong review.
Contact: NECROPSY – 36 rue de la gaiete – 37600 LOCHES – FRANCE
charal@necropsy.fr
http://www.myspace.com/necropsydeathmetal

DEAD CONGREGATION Graves of the archangels Review

2010-04-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

DEAD CONGREGATION (Greece) – Graves of the archangels
CD 2008 – Nuclear War Now! Productions
9 tracks – 43'41
Rated: 9/10
« Purifying consecrated ground » was the milestone of what DEAD CONGREGATION was going to be. This MCD/MLP got very good response in the underground as well as in mainstream magazines & webzines. The following and awaited album is here and DEAD CONGREGATION really records a very good album with « Graves of the archangels ». A continuation of the previous recording but everything here is soundind better, the tracks are more efficient and well structured and all this without being original.
The instrumental « Martyrdoom » starting the album is a killer piece of evil metal with human destruction intents. The first time I heard it I immediately think that Anastasis probably listen a lot to ARKHON INFAUSTUS « Perdition Insanabilis » because of many similarities sounding wise. But having influences is not a crime and Anastasis never hides he enjoys the French bastards' music.
If the names of INCANTATION and IMMOLATION are fucking obvious, don't limit DEAD CONGREGATION as a clone of those bands. DEAD CONGREGATION has a personal songwriting with haunting riffs and evil melodies, the band is also brutal but that's not their only aim to hide some musical poverty. Some twisted slower riffs can evoke some MORBID ANGEL « Gateways... » era or sometimes even « Covenant » on more fast and catchy tunes like the eponym track.
The main characterisitc of « Graves... » is the incredible atmosphere generated all along the album, this is probably more soulpossessing than any of the lastest orthodox black metal record that got out recently. If you're into obscure death metal you simply can't miss this release which has enough qualities to quench your thirst for evil metal.
Contact: NWN! Productions – Yosuke KONISHI – PO BOX 7055 – Redwood City – CA 94063 – USA
http://www.nwnprod.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deadcongregation

DEATH HEAVEN interview 2009

2010-04-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

I remember getting a 3-promo-track of DEATH HEAVEN some time ago, I also read about them but didn't feel much curious. Later on, BRN got in touch and ask if I would get a full promo copy of their “Viral Apocalypse”, I agreed coz after all that wasn't a bedroom black metal band, and when I received the full release, I was blown away by the whole musical work, technical level and the general vibe of their death metal. I could only recommend to listen to them if you're into technical or progressive extreme metal, these guys are really skillful and creative. So I sent them an interview and tried to ask them things different from the intie I read in Vampyr Zine (Hi Darko!) to avoid boredom and repetitive questions.

1- Hey BRN what's up man? Thanks to allow me some time to feature DEATH HEAVEN in those pages. I would like you to introduce DEATH HEAVEN to our readers, just give us the important points in the band's biography and then tell us more about your actuality, you're working on new tracks, right?
Hi Jim, it's pleasure for us to be carried on the pages of Putrefactive Effect! Here everything is fine, I'm on holidays right now, so I've got a lot of time to play and listen to music.
Well, DEATH HEAVEN moved its first steps during October of 2002, when me and Andrea (guitar) founded a speed/thrash band called KAOS, with another singer and drummer. Within a few months the line-up became the same of the actual one with the arrivals of Matteo (guitar) and Baital (drums), while Andrea took place behind the microphone too. Then our sound developed into something faster and more aggressive. Since many aspects were changed from the very beginning, we preferred to change the moniker too. It was in spring 2003 when DEATH HEAVEN was officially created.
After the recording of a couple of rehearsals never unleashed in the underground circuits, followed the first official demo titled “Techno Decomposition World” (recorded in 2004 and released in 2005 on CDr format), produced by the singer/guitarist Andrea. But the musical style of DEATH HEAVEN is always changing and developing. New songs more and more technical, complex and brutal were recorded during 2004-2006 and, one year later, it was time for the second strike, the debut album “Viral Apocalypse”.
It's correct, we're always working on new songs. 5-6 are already composed by now and a considerable bunch of riffs and ideas are waiting to be put togheter to create a new skeleton. Listening to them, you can hear influences from HATE ETERNAL, ORIGIN, DECAPITATED, GORGUTS, ULCERATE, INTERNECINE, IMMOLATION and others. This means they're faster, more complex and straightforward than the previous ones. There're slightly less solos and the melody is used in a different, more insane and gloomy way; also, you can find dissonances and syncopations, strange acoustic parts with a jazz aura and so on. We prefer this new way to write music, it's more personal.

2- DEATH HEAVEN is a death metal band, at least we can say so basicly because you're a bit apart from the old school stream and at the same time you're not a vulgar brutal death metal band. The diversity of your influences is so wide, it's hard to describe perfectly the band. But as the professional I am, I would say DEATH HEAVEN as a mix of MALEVOLENT CREATION (for the thrashy edge), DEATH (the latest albums), OPETH, NILE and NEURAXIS (for the modern approach) for example. I think it's a good description, isn't it? At least it can give some clues about what you're able musically speaking. How would you describe your band to someone who isn't familiar with it?
Wow, I like this definition by exclusion, hahaha. Well, maybe there's something old-school in our music, but surely we aren't swashing in that stream, thought I really like that kind of brutality. On the other hand, there are too many elements outside the classic brutal death trend, expecially acoustic parts and, as you said, the thrashy riffing.
Mmm, I respect OPETH very much and it's interesting you compared DEATH HEAVEN to them, but maybe we're not so close. But if you named them for the mixing of acoustic guitars and death metal, it could be ok. Influencies from Nile are detectable, nevertheless we haven't used 7 string guitars on this record (we'll do on some of the new tracks indeed).
Instead to involve NEURAXIS, that shows a modern approch but follows a different path, I prefer to describe our stile as (mainly US) death metal mixed with technical and brutal elements, then add the cerebral and modern approach of MESHUGGAH, some melodies and sometimes the progressive touch of VOIVOD.

3- I'm quite surprised by the lack of interest toward the band, coz' you recorded a good album "Viral Apocalypse" on Punishment 18 Records but I don't read that much about reviews on the net. Are you satisfied by the label promotional work? Do you have good feedback about the album? Where can people get "Viral apocalypse"?
In fact there aren't so much reviews on the net. There are many more reviews of our demo than the album, instead we spread the demo copies by ourselves. I don't know how many promos Punishment 18 did send for review, but they should be quite a lot. We knew they wouldn't send promos to little underground 'zines and so on, but honestly saying I would have expected more reviews on webzines. Anyway, Punishment 18 helped us scheduling some great live dates, trading our album with many many other labels and distros. One can buy our CD asking directly to us or to the label, but also from various mailorders: Filthy Records (www.filthy-records.com) and Club Inferno Music Store / My Kingdom Music (club-inferno@mykingdommusic.net) have the lower prices among others.
Also, a compilation CD with songs of the first albums released by Punishment 18 (included 3 tracks taken from "Viral Apocalypse") was pressed in 3000 copies (if I'm not wrong) and distributed for free, expecially at live shows.
We got pretty good reviews of "Viral Apocalypse", the album seems to be appreciated both by young brutal death fans and old-schoold ones.

4-You sent me a promo CDR of "Viral Apocalypse" months ago (and that didn't prevent me to buy it afterward), did you send a lot of promo stuff around you? Did it happen you get contacted by guys pretending running a zine or a distro, asking for promo, and then you didn't hear about them anymore?
Thanks for buying the CD!
Yeah, I know what you mean. I sent by myself some promos to some underground fanzines, because I trust in this way to support music. It was a sort of challenge for us, since those editors usually prefer traditional and orthodox death, black and thrash metal, nevertheless most of them liked our stuff indeed.
When we was promoting the demo, we were contacted by many persons from webzines and mysterious underground labels, asking for promo packages for review and trades. Also, some of them offered us to be part of a compilation, of course by paying lots of money. As far as I remember, 10-20 -maybe more- webzines never issued the review and a German distro owes us 10 CDrs or something. Well, do you want to hear the funniest story? I received a letter from a Polish guy who asked me a copy of our CD, but he couldn't pay because he was in jail for 9 years!!! Also, in his prison everyone was listening to hip-hop, techno dance and shit like that, so he was so fucking fed up, hahahahaha!

5-One of the major force of DEATH HEAVEN is the use of many acoustic/clean sound parts on both the demo and the album. It creates great atmospheres and gives the tracks a particular aura. Apart from DEATH or OPETH are there less obvious influences you would divulge? The fact you also have some long tracks with many riffs, structures, moods, etc... are you into any sort of progressive music?
I think those acoustic arpeggios help the album to be more various, without making the songs too soft and melodic. It's not a so strange element, anyway. Other bands use to compose in this way. There aren't any hidden source of inspiration, but maybe you won't expect we listen to EVOKEN, ULVER, early ...THIRD AND THE MORTAL too.
Concerning the prog, we aren't into that kind of music if you refer to DREAM THEATRE style. But someone of us likes VOIVOD, CYNIC and KING CRIMSON...

6-On the other hand, one of the main reproach I read about DEATH HEAVEN was about your album length which is more than one hour long (even the demo is almost one hour). Is that the fact you like long compositions or that is simply the fact it comes naturally this way? Don't you think you could simplify your music a bit to gain more audience maybe or after all that's the way you like your music, so fuck what people think?
It's our natural way to make music. Some old songs were maybe too long and the risk to be boring was considerable. Now they're a bit tighter, different influences are better amalgamated and we have been working to make each tempo change as nimble and natural as possible. Coming to the CD length, yes, it's long but there are different songs in it, so we think the listening should be flowing. There are so many albums that we could call EPs... and too much 3-tracks demos. We hope our CD's worthy the money spent, both in quality and length.
For sure we won't change our way to write music only to reach a bigger audience, it's out of question. Our music shall satisfy first of all ourselves.

7-Some people would be surprised but all the guys in DEATH HEAVEN are autodidacts, it's quite surprising when you realize the mastery needed while listening to "Viral Apocalypse". How many times do you rehearse a week? And how many hours do you practice your instruments individually? But musical mastery would be useless without a good sense of creation and inspiration. Have you ever been impressed by great musicians' skills but at the end you find their music so lame or empty?
This aspect seems to interest many people... It's partially true: our guitarist Andrea took some lessons when he was playing violin, so he already had a smattering of music theory when he passed to the guitar. Also, the drummer Baital is studying at the academy right now, but he wasn't when the album had been recorded.
We don't play together very often, only once a week, three hours circa. Difficult to say how much we play individually, it depends: it takes me one hour per day, sometimes more, but usually not seven days a week. The others should have more time to rehearse. As you can see, we there's nothing extraordinary.
To answer to the last question: it's full of skilled musicians, but the masterpieces albums are considerably rarer. The reason is mainly called inspiration. Children Of Bodom, Rage and many others are awesome musicians, but their compositions don't say anything to me.

8-If we look at the title-tracks as a whole, you don't feel confident in the future of the human race. Don't you think that as the technology grows to enable people to live better, it also enables people to die faster and in a large number? Do you think human will be victim of his evergrowing progress?
We all know that the progress is always in service to military purposes. Most of the efforts done by humanity aren't directed towards the improvement of our life conditions, but in the opposite direction. All this is well explained in the monologue at the end of the CD.

9-On the ghost-track what are the spoken words about? What is the effect you wanted to create?
Is the album built as a kind of story with the beginning of decay of humanity ("new virus baptism") to its complete eradication ("portrait of earth erasion")?
No, the album isn't a concept. Only a couple of tracks deal frankly with this theme. The monologue on the ghost track is an Italian translation of a Bernard Show work excerpt. It's a sort of epitaph, a different way to conclude the CD. It fits very well with the lyrics of the conclusive song, "Portrait Of Earth Erasion". I can find here a great vibes, so much sadness and abandonement.

10-Let's talk about the actual underground scene in Italy, which bands are worthy of being supported according to you? Death Metal has actually some brutal acts like NATRON, HOUR OF PENANCE, IMPOSER, MINDSNARE, etc... Are there more old school bands like ERODED or VOIDS OF VOMIT for example? Tell us more about your death metallic scene or other extreme bands we should check. Are there any good zines like Prayer Book Zine? Is the black metal scene important as it used to be?
Cool you mentioned IMPOSER, as they're close friends of ours. The bands you named are maybe the best ones Italy can boasts. Many others are worth listening: ASTIMI, ILLOGICIST, GORY BLISTER, UNDERTAKERS, HORRID, SUDDEN DEATH, HATRED, CRONIC HATE, TRANSIENCY, SADIST, NECROLUST, NEFAS, ONIRIK... The Italian death metal scene isn't so strong as in other countries, but it ranges over many styles, from techno-death to old-school to brutal death. There are good bands for all tastes.
As far as I know, only 3-4 paper fanzines still exist, but I'm not related to any of them. I've only sent a promo copy to Prayer Book.
Black metal scene isn't even so strong: we have a really large number of bands, but they have difficulty to be noticed abroad. The problem is always the same. Ther're some very well known bands, like ABORYM, ADVERSAM (their second album is great!), HANDFUL OF HATE, INCHIUVATU, and some young and promising ones. I can recommend you FUNERAL EDO, SETHLANS, HATE PROFILE (superb modern black metal), KROM / KAILASH (nice prog/black), NURNEN, DISASTERHATE (furious thrash metal female band), LAMENTU and probably many others. Also, check HELVETE and ETERNAL FROST, Baital's black metal bands.

11- I guess DEATH HEAVEN played some gigs, how many since the beginning of the band? Which bands did you share the stages with? Did you meet some real dickhead bands acting like rockstars or everythings always been right? Is the Italian crowd supportive with their bands?
Of course we do concerts, but the live activity isn't so substantial. We use to play 5-6 gigs per year on average. By now, the most important gig was last year with US prog/death metal legend CYNIC. Also, we shared the stage with MUMAKIL, CORAM LETHE, HORRID, CADAVERIC CREMATORIUM, IMPOSER and also a couple of Italian well known bands who played to do the fucking rockstars... Next November we'll be among the opening acts for Swedish NECROPHOBIC! Other underground acts we played with are LOVE FORSAKEN, PHOBIC PLEASURE, EGOISM (rip), SUICIDE NATION, KADAVAR, INSANE ASSHOLES...
The crowd doesn't use to be wild with underground bands, only with more famous ones, but sometimes it happens they mosh or headbang at our concerts too. On the contrary, when we played in Austria, the audience got crazy! Such a fucking infernal welcome!

12-What comes to your mind when I mention:
DEATH: The true originators of the death metal! Unfortunately, after Chuck's death their name went in the mouths of too many pseudo-metallers and posers. It's sad.

DEATH BREATH: Never listen to them, but I've red good reviews about.

DEATH DIES: I saw them live in 2006, they opened for Negură Bunget on a special occasion: the Italian release date of "Om" album. They strongly impressed me with an incendiary show. Hope to cross again their path, I'd really like to know them better.

DEATH ANGEL: Excellent band! "The Ultraviolence" is a masterpiece!

DEATH SS: In Italy some bands were true precursories of different musical genres, expecially related to metal. Just think to NECRODEATH, BULLDOZER, SCHIZO, SADIST. They got much more attention abroad than in their native country, so they had hard life in Italy. DEATH SS was one of the first example of horror and occult rock/metal band ever. Very original and distinctive. Our country wasn't ready for them. I love their production from 1977 to 1984. After the reunion, they're pure crap.

P.S.: Hey man, are you saying our moniker isn't original??? Hahahaha. If so, you've forgotten thousands of other bands, hahaha!!!

13-Did you listen to the latest albums of reformed bands like PESTILENCE, BRUTAL TRUTH, ASPHYX? Any good surprise or disappointment? According to you what can motivate those bands to reform (and then split up again in the case of GOREFEST!)?
I only listened to a couple of tracks by PESTILENCE and ASPHYX, good ones. Matteo and Andrea saw both PESTILENCE and BRUTAL TRUTH at Brutal Assault Festival 2009 and told me their shows were among the best ones, especially BRUTAL THRUTH killed the audience.
I don't follow so much these stories about reunions. I thinks they don't change the band's name mainly because of money and notoriety. Maybe for affection too? But not only big bands, also unknown ones are coming back after many years, for example EXANTHEMA. Maybe they could go forward with the original moniker to prove they were part of the scene back in the old days too...

14- Also what are your latest purchases? Did you listen the last SUFFOCATION "Blood oath"? What are the records you are eagerly waiting for? And the what's the worst shit you ever listen to?
I haven't listened to new SUFFOCATION's yet. Well, I placed an order from No Posers Please! Records, but due to this shitty and ridiculous postal service we have here in Italy, I haven't got the package yet. I ordered some 7 inches from this coolest label. Also, I'm waiting to many other stuff, but since anything new became to my hands from last 3-4 weeks, I'm forced to give you the same answer I gave to Instincto Basico 'zine, hehe. Sorry! So, I bought the demos of YDIN, an astonishing Finnish death metal band. Other titles I purchased recently are OATH TO VANQUISH - "Applied Schizophrenic Science", good brutal death from Lebanon; NAUSEANT - "Iln" 7'', strange DEMILICH-style death metal from Sweden; PERVERTED SON - "To The Abstract", technical thrash metal with personal and eclectic approch, from Chile; DISEMBOWELMENT - "Trascendence Into The Periphetal", doom/death album dated 1993. I'm always on the trail of many classic albums and new releases, too many to be mentioned. I'll fill entire pages with the list.
The worst thing I've listened to? Mainly so called pseudo-black bedroom one-man-bands. CHURCH OF TJOLGTJAR, DEATHKENOSDEAFS, TOTAL NEGATION, TRIUMPHUS MORTIS and, of course, emo bullshits are simply awful.

15-What were you listening while typing on your computer to answer? You can now close this interview the way you want. Best continuation with DEATH HEAVEN, thanks for your time BRN. Keep on rotting in the free world!!
Thank you, Jimmy, for your support! Really nice questions, I enjoyed very much answering! While doing this, I've listened to STENCH OF DECAY and LIE IN RUINS demos, HETSHEADS - "We Hail The Possessed" album, NUCLEAR DEATH's albums and DEAD CONGREGATION - "Purifying Consecrated Ground" tape. Long life to PUTREFACTIVE EFFECT 'ZINE!!!
http://www.myspace.com/deathheavenofficial

BEING KILLED Massacre of the living Review

2010-04-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

BEING KILLED (US) – Massacre of the living
CD 2008 – Sevared Records
20 tracks – 23'10
Rated: 5/10
Zombified in 2007 these two undead dudes from California have an obsession for the dead, especially those revived with an appetite for human flesh. BEING KILLED is a death/grind project, quite brutal, using and abusing the drum machine, probably the negative point of the this release as well as originality. But for those seeking some brainless brutality, they probably feel pleased with these 20 death/grind assaults. The whole production is rather powerful and each track hits you right in the face without mercy and this is also due to this incessant drum pounding close to a jackhammer and drilling your head until it explodes (or is it a headache?), arghh! You just have to endure the mechanical side of the drum machine. BEING KILLED can be seen as the meeting of VIRAL LOAD and ANTROPOFAGUS (probably the closest band to BEING KILLED). The vocals sometimes can remind LUST OF DECAY and are a bit monotonous; I think a more guttural one would be deadlier.
Coming with a killer artwork, it's a pity BEING KILLED doesn't dig a more putrid approach of death metal instead of this tasteless brutality. For brutal freaks only.
http://myspace.com/beingkilled

SWALLOWED Putrefaction Demo 2007 review

2010-04-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

SWALLOWED (Finland) – Putrefaction
Demo CD 2007 – Self released
3 tracks - 10'53
Rated: 5/10
According to their bio, SWALLOWED started by the end of summer 2007 as the reunion of two young finnish deathsters whose self proclaimed influences are NIHILIST, AUTOPSY and REPULSION. As the demo title lets occur « putrefaction » is three tracks of old school putrid death metal (two tracks and a NIHILIST cover « Carnal leftovers »).
With a rehearsal-like sound, SWALLOWED delivers some AUTOPSY alike death metal, quite convincing despite a muffled sound and back mixed guttural vocals.
The finnish obscure touch is definitely there, especially on the 2nd track « Wisdom of putrefying » with its sinister lead guitar.
Hard to really evaluate the band with only two personal compositions (the NIHILIST cover is just cool) so probably SWALLOWED should evolve sound wise. They have released a second demo but I didn't get hold of it yet, so watch out for a further review of their next stuff...
Contact: Samu SALOVAARA – Takalankuja 4 – 00730 HELSINKI – FINLAND
samuxul@yahoo.com
http://www.anepitaph.com/

NOLENTIA Sell your soul to grind n' roll Review

2010-04-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

NOLENTIA (France) – Sell your soul to grind n' roll
MCD 2008 – Self Released
6 tracks - 14'26
Rated: 6/10
Weird name chosen by these grinders from southern France, their MCD cover isn't appealing as well, so the first contact with this band starts quite badly. But what about the music then? NOLENTIA is a grindcore band and this first release is a pretty decent one: with a grindcore basis in the classic way reminding BRUTAL TRUTH (for the use of both screamed and guttural vocals) and NASUM for the most hysterical parts.
NOLENTIA adds different influences into their grindcore such as slow parts ( the first track is a good example where the slow part really catch the attention) that could remind some SOILENT GREEN, some pounding parts in the US brutal death way but too common to really blow your head, and some hardcore influences (the track « Goethe ») which are not really a highlight in my opinion, but hey, that's their own music after all.
The first half of this MCD is some good grindcore whereas the second half turned into some powerviolence I'm not very fond of.
Contact: nolentia@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/nolentia