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More details about the new Cradle of Filth album

Posted in Misc., News, Studio Report with tags , , , on 11th August 2021 by izaforestspirit

British extreme Gothic metallers Cradle of Filth have recently announced that their latest album will be entitled ‘Existence is Futile’. This is the band’s thirteenth studio effort following ‘Cryptoriana – Seductiveness of Decay. This will be the first album to feature their new keyboard player Anabelle Iratni.

Here’s the cover art and track-listing:

  1. The Fate of the World on Our Shoulders
  2. Existential Terror
  3. Necromantic Fantasies
  4. Crawling King Chaos
  5. Here Comes a Candle… (Infernal Lullaby)
  6. Black Smoke Curling from the Lips of War
  7. Discourse Between a Man and His Soul
  8. The Dying of the Embers
  9. Ashen Mortality
  10. How Many Tears to Nurture a Rose?
  11. Suffer Our Dominion
  12. Us, Dark, Invincible

Cradle of Filth - Existence Is Futile

‘Existance Is Futile’ will be out worldwide in both physical and digital format on 22nd October 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. ‘

For more info go to:

https://www.cradleoffilth.com/

https://www.facebook.com/cradleoffilth
https://twitter.com/CradleofFilth

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Cradle of Filth live stream show coming late next month

Posted in Live, Misc., News with tags , , , on 1st September 2020 by izaforestspirit

British extreme Gothic metal outfit Cradle of Filth are the latest band to jump on the live stream bandwagon. They have recently announced that they will be doing a live stream show next month. The event will take place on the so called “Devil’s Night”, the day before Halloween a.k.a. 30th October 2020 at St. Mary’s Church, Colchester Art Centre, England.

The band have recently been working on their new album, the yet to be titled follow up to ‘Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay’. It remains to be seen whether the live stream show will feature any new songs, but the band have revealed that it will include the first appearance from their new keyboard player and backing vocalist.

The streaming times will be as follows:

22.00 (10.00 pm) GMT
23.00 (11.00pm) CEST
18.00 (6.00 pm) EST
15.00 (3.00 pm) PST

Image may contain: 1 person, text

Tickets are on sale now at: https://cradleoffilth.veeps.com/stream/schedule

For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/cradleoffilth/

https://www.cradleoffilth.com/

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Hanzel Und Gretyl – Hexennacht

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , on 29th December 2019 by izaforestspirit

Hanzel Und Gretyl
Hexennacht
Released 13th December 2019
Industrial Metal/Blackened Death Metal/Extreme Metal
Released via Metropolis Records

Hanzel und Gretyl - Hexennacht

The American industrial metal duo Hanzel Und Gretyl are back with a new album. It’s only been a year since their previous effort ‘Satanik Germanik’ came out and now ‘Hexennacht’ is here. Now perhaps it’s just me, but for a band to release an album this soon after the previous one seems a little bit rushed. I have had some bad experiences with bands that have done this in the past and not too many good ones. What often happens is that the new album is weaker than the previous one, resembling a collection of ideas, unfinished and unused from the recording sessions. Nonetheless I tried best to stay objective and to give ‘Hexennacht’ a go.

The good and (for fans of the older material) the bad news is that Hanzel Und Gretyl’s music is only getting heavier and metal-sounding. For better or worse, it is clear that with ‘Hexennacht’ they have essentially ditched most of the industrial / wacky space metal sound in favour of a more extreme, blackened death metal sound. The themes have not changed. The album is full of references to witches, monsters and all manner of things grim. Triple Hexx deserves a mention due to the additional chanting, the choir and the tribal style drum noises. Most of the other songs sound similar to each other. They have the same creepy tone as the ones on both the previous albums of the Grimm Shiza era – ‘Black Forest Metal’ and ‘Satanik Germanik’. Vas Kallas sounds as angry as ever and there is no shortage of angry blast beats. So why is it that even after several listens I still feel like I’m missing something…?

Well, the thing is that this is all getting a little too grim and serious for my liking. I got into Hanzel Und Gretyl via their ‘Über Alles’ album and that is still the one that I enjoy the most. The only song that has that kind of fun-sounding, wacky industrial feel to it is Der Kaiz3ern8tor. On here it is definitely an odd one out, a dancey, synth-infused industrial track among eleven songs of doom and gloom. It’s not exactly happy-sounding but it is strangely uplifting and easily one of the more memorable tracks on here.

Overall, ‘Hexennacht’ does not really offer anything dramatically new for Hanzel Und Gretyl. They are still continuing with same style that they began with ‘Black Forest Metal’. As far as the music goes, there is nothing really wrong with it. I just miss their wacky “German” space metal days. This grim stuff is nowhere near as much fun.

5/10
Iza Raittila

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Hanzel und Gretyl – Satanik Germanik

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , on 31st July 2018 by izaforestspirit

Hanzel Und Gretyl
Satanik Germanik
Released 6th July 2018
Industrial Metal / Groove Metal / Extreme Metal
Released via Metropolis Records

Hanzel und Gretyl - Satanik Germanik

The New York -based industrial metal duo Hanzel und Gretyl have been around since the mid-90s. They’re often hailed as the only non-German band in the Neue Deutsche Härte scene. Their music has evolved a great deal since the beginning, ranging from experimental-industrial to industrial metal, groove with even hints of black metal and melodic death metal. Their latest opus ‘Satanik Germanik’ promises to be their darkest and most metal-sounding album.

This is essentially picking up from where Hanzel und Gretyl left off with ‘Black Forest Metal’ – the first part of the so called ‘Grimm Shiza’ era. As the title suggests there are some satanic themes plus references to stories by the brothers Grimm. So if you enjoyed that album, there is a good likelihood that you will like this one too. However, if you were hoping for the more wacky German space metal from their ‘Fukken Über’ -era, then I would suggest you skip straight to the party track Trinken Mit Der Kaizer (Die Bierz From Hell). Good to see that these two haven’t lost their sense of humor.

As far as the style goes, most of the songs have a dark, gritty black metal tinge that is particularly audible in the guitars while the industrial elements are not as prominent as they were in their previous works. Singer Vas Kallas’s voice makes this eerie, croaking sound, like the old witch from the Grimm stories, which combined with the coarse guitar riffs gives the music a creepy feel. They also occasionally slow down the pace like on the groove metal styled track I Am Bad Luck, which puts the emphasis on the bass guitar. Speaking of the bass, it also comes into the fore on 13 Moons; a track that is probably the closest they have ever come to producing a black metal song.

In summary, ‘Satanik Germanik’ can easily be classed as Hanzel und Gretyl’s heaviest album to date. In many ways it sounds exactly like I expected it to. It is not another ‘Über Alles’, in fact it is very similar to ‘Black Forest Metal’. And yet it’s darker, haunting and more serious than the earlier works; even moreso than their previous album. Luckily there’s still the odd party track to please fans of their older material.

4/5
Iza Raittila

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Cradle Of Filth – Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on 15th September 2017 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Cradle of Filth
Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness Of Decay
Released 22nd September 2017
Extreme Gothic Metal
Released via Nuclear Blast

If you’ve never heard of Cradle of Filth, you’ve most likely been living under a rock for God knows how long. Once hailed as the “most successful British metal band since Iron Maiden“, Dani Filth and and the band have proved their worth, despite various line-up changes throughout the years. Now the band are set to release their twelfth studio album: Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay. A bit of a mouthful, isn’t it?

The atmospheric invoking Exquisite Torments Await opens up the album with its sinister beginning, followed closely by the demoncially possessed guitars and banshee-like wails and guttural growls of Filth himself. Heartbreak and Seance glides in with the graceful sound of tragedy before the remorseless storm of guitars and symphonic sections come raging in as though a hurricane. Achingly Beautiful is a grandiose display of Dani Filth‘s vocals, charging through the tempest of unforgiving musicianship, while Schoolcraft’s narrative vocals bring a whole new dynamic to the track. The choirs and orchestration, however, truly make the song what it is – a dismal, ominous anthem.

Wester Vespertine is a furious blitz upon the ears, weaving Filth‘s, and occasionally Schoolcraft’s, refined vocals with cimmerian melodies and stout riffs. The title track, The Seductiveness of Decay, is a gloomy composition, weaving slow and fast riffs with dispiriting keyboard melodies and Gothic lyricism. Vengeful Spirit creates more of an atmosphere in its beginning, as the prophetic sound of guitar notes ring out, accompanied by Filth‘s voice. When the song comes into its prime, it is essentially a standard day in the office for Cradle Of Filth – agile, cumbersome and melodic. The part of the song that really stands out however is the guest vocal appearance from Liv Kristine, as her vocals soar majestically through the track.

You Will Know The Lion By His Claw is a swift, threatening and unwieldy track, leaving little room for prisoners as it bludgeons its way through, like a hunter chasing his prey. If you had to sum up Cradle‘s current sound with just one song, this would be it. Cryptoriana comes to its closing with Death and The Maiden, a track that is as weighty as it is shadowy, really embodying the sense of dread and darkness that one would expect to find within Victorian Gothic horror.

Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay is at the same level that Cradle‘s classic albums, such as Midian and Dusk… And Her Embrace, stand. It is a demonstration of the band’s current sound and displays their potential to keep writing awe-inspiring music.

4.8/5

Nico Solheim-Davidson

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Akercocke set to no longer play Bloodstock

Posted in News with tags , , , , , on 25th May 2016 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

In a bizarre turn of events, Akercocke, who recently reformed, have announced on their Facebook page that they will no longer be playing at this year’s Bloodstock Festival. The announcement reads:

Dear friends and fiends,

Owing to politics we neither understand nor participate in, we have been pulled from the Bloodstock 2016 line up.

Akercocke

Understandably some Akercocke fans have voiced their displeasure at this news, with some of them referring to the festival as being petty and a joke. While the exact reason is unknown to Akercocke being pulled from the billing, it appears that it has something to do with the organisers of Bloodstock trying to keep an illusion of exclusivity as the band have been confirmed to play Damnation in November and will be touring the UK later this year.

At the moment, Bloodstock have not made a statement to as why Akercocke are no longer on the bill.

***UPDATE***

Adam Gregory, one of the organisers of Bloodstock left the following comment on the band’s post:

As much as we would like to answer your questions with our reasons for being forced to cancel the bands appearance, out of respect for the band, we wont air our laundry in public, but rest assured Bloodstock was left without any option on this occasion.

Akercocke online:

http://facebook.com/akercockeofficial

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Cradle of Filth live in Helsinki

Posted in Gig, Live, Uncategorized with tags , , on 22nd November 2015 by izaforestspirit

Frosttide, Ne Obliviscaris, Cradle of Filth
Nosturi, Helsinki, Finland
21st November 2015

Cradle of Filth are one of the bands that I grew up listening to. I’ve seen them live three times before, in three different countries (the U.K., France and Finland). The last time I saw them was in Tampere back in 2013. This time they announced that they will only be playing one show in Finland – Helsinki.

The venue was a club called Nosturi (“the crane”) located near the shipyard, just outside of the city centre. I haven’t been there in years… Yesterday was the first day of winter which meant that I stood in the snow and rain waiting to get in. The place was packed by the time I entered the building.

First up was a Finnish band called Frosttide who won the competition to open up for the main band on the Finnish leg of the tour. Their style is a essentially a mixture of melodic death metal and folk metal. I enjoyed the show but I couldn’t help thinking about just how much they reminded me of Ensiferum. 3.5/5

The next act was the Australian metal band Ne Obliviscaris. These guys have a really unique style which is difficult to classify. They have two singers, one doing clean vocals whilst the other does the harsh, melodeath-style growling. The music itself features elements of death metal, prog-metal and folk. Think Opeth with a violin player and you will have a pretty good idea of the kind of style I’m referring to. Whilst I liked some parts of their songs, the mish-mash of styles was a bit too confusing for my liking. 3/5

The good thing about seeing Cradle of Filth live more than once is that no two of set-lists are ever the same. So whilst it’s guaranteed that you will hear some stuff from their latest album, you never know what else they decide to play… The new tracks played included : ‘The Right Wing of The Garden Triptych’, ‘Blackest Magick in Practice’ and many more. In addition to this there were some classics such as ‘Her Ghost in the Fog’, ‘Lord Abortion’, ‘Malice Through the Looking Glass’, ‘Nymphetamine’ and ‘Thirteen Autumns and a Widow’. I was also really happy to hear some of the old songs from the band’s early days such as ‘Queen of Winter, Throned’ and ‘The Forest Whispers My Name’.  5/5

Overall it was a really good night. It was well worth the trip. Whilst  I still prefer to attend local gigs, I’m willing to travel further so for bands like this.

Iza Raittila

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De Profundis – Frequencies [EP]

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , on 4th June 2014 by Paul Macmillan

De Profundis
Frequencies
Released June/July 2014
Progressive death metal
Self released/Released via Terrorizer magazine

Frequencies De Profundis

As I sit down for a third listen to the second offering from De Profundis, their Frequencies EP, I’m acutely conscious that this is also the third time I’ve got too caught up in the song-writing to actually put finger to keyboard and construct a review. Some music just draws you in so you forget about everything else for a while, but I guess instead of getting so engrossed I should concentrate on tackling the task at hand.

From the offset, this stands out as something a bit different. It’s as if De Profundis have crafted a recipe for metal cake: 1 part ‘80s Maiden, 1 part Death circa Human, baste liberally with Vader (a nudge and a wink to those who find the band name familiar), and top with a generous helping of secret sauce, possibly handed down from an old Swedish relative.

Having leaked some of the tracks on-line, they have received a mainly positive reception, but a few seem to have found it complex and confusing. I may just be more acquainted with the technical side of metal, but I’m certainly not suffering from a similar affliction. Yes, the musical ability is of a high calibre, but the ebb and flow of each song is natural and there are hooks galore for the more experienced(?) listener. I would prefer to use the word ‘unpredictable’ rather than ‘confusing’ as a descriptor here: It is far more appropriate to suggest intelligence than self-indulgence in conjunction with this release. I say detractors be damned! Sometimes, this kind of epic is just what the doctor ordered.

I was really impressed with De profundis’ last full-length The Emptiness Within, more so than their early doomy back catalogue. However, this selection of new tracks – most of which will be featured on another upcoming album – reflects a rising maturity which could well see them take the step to the next level in the UK scene. I’d expect, or at least hope, to see festivals sniffing around their door in the next year or so, because this material would easily translate to that environment.

Initially, I wasn’t that enthused by the production. It wasn’t that I thought it was poor, it just seemed to be missing the biting point. Until I had to whack up the volume to drown out the crazy noise of my surroundings, and BOOM! Suddenly it all made sense! This just sounds better LOUD! The thrashing sounds thrashier, the growling sounds…growlier..? Quiet just doesn’t do it all justice, and there’s no way around that. It’s just one of those recordings.

It’s also the first to feature the talents of newest member Paul Nazarkardeh, and one has to wonder if this has had any influence on the increased speed and ferocity. If so, long he remain with them! Personally, I can’t wait to hear the full album if it hits the ears like this does, but in the meantime, impatient people can grab the digital copy of the four track Frequencies as of June 19th, but if you prefer something solid, then a physical release will be available to subscribers of Terrorizer magazine in July. I’ve got my promo copy and it is getting cranked up as far as my skull can handle!

4/5

Paul Macmillan

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Vader reveal artwork and tracklisting for Tibi Et Igni

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 19th March 2014 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Polish extreme metal legends Vader have revealed the tracklist and album artwork for their upcoming release Tibi Et igni, which is set for release in June via Nuclear Blast. The artwork was created by the legendary Joe Petagno (Motorhead, etc). Vader’s mastermind Piotr comments:

Joe is a Legend! Not just because he created Motorhead logo or breathtaking artworks for many outstanding albums. Joe is over all times and his imagination touches the Hell itself….And this is enough reason to ask him for painting ‘a Hellfire’  for Vader’s new music. He accepted it and… made me so proud!

The legendary artist also adds:

They have been on my “get in touch” list for years. Finally we managed it and for a killer album very appropriately titled: Tibi et Igni.

The tracklisting for Tibi Et Igni is as follows:

01. Go To Hell
02. Where Angels Weep
03. Armada On Fire
04. Triumph Of Death
05. Hexenkessel
06. Abandon All Hope
07. Worms Of Eden
08. The Eye Of The Abyss
09. Light Reaper
10. The End

Digipak Bonus:

11. Necropolis
12. Des Satans Neue Kleider

Bonus 7“ Vinyl Version:

Side A: 01. Necropolis
Side B: 01. Przeklęty Na Wieki (Cursed Eternally)

Vader online:

http://vader.pl
http://facebook.com/vader

 

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UKEM Records announce new signing

Posted in News with tags , , , on 10th February 2014 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

UK based extreme metal label UKEM Records have announced a new signing in the form of Days Of Perversion. The London-based progressive death metallers are season veterans on the UK’s underground metal scene, featuring members of Crepitation and Blasphtized. Slated for a late 2014/early 2015 release, the band’s debut EP will feature bonus demo material.

Days of Perversion online:

http://facebook.com/DaysOfPerversion

 

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Carcass guitarist Bill Steer wants to write another album

Posted in News with tags , , , , , on 16th December 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Bill Steer, guitarist for the legendary Carcass, recently stated in an interview that he’d like to write and release another studio album. Bill Steer said in the aforementioned interview with Metalshrine the following:

Yeah. There’s a mutual agreement between us that we’d like to do one. There’s an awareness that if we can get through the next seven months of touring and festivals and still like each other and feel good about this, we definitely want to do a record. There’s loads of lessons we learnt on this one and while I’ve still got it fresh in my head, I want to build on that. It’s fun, but it’s a really challenging thing to do because I haven’t done anything creatively in this genre of music for so long, but it suddenly felt very fresh. I had escaped it because it was too limited in my mind and after a few years of doing other styles of music, I found there were new limitations with that and I wanted to go back and do extreme music again. [laughs] You can never be 100% happy, but right now this is what I like doing. As I said, it’s a challenge and probably more so now than ever, because it’s hard to be innovative in this music. There’s a lot of incredible players out there. Especially the American guys, they’re treating it like a sport and the drummers especially and you have to admire the dedication and tenacity, but I also think this music has to have a little bit of soul and maybe some swing.

In the interview, he also stated that Andy Sneap would definitely be the producer for the next album. The full interview with Metalshrine can be read here.

Carcass online:

http://facebook.com/OfficialCarcass

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Carcass release lyric video for Captive Bolt Pistol

Posted in News, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , on 13th August 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

UK extreme metal legends Carcass recently released the lyric video for their new single Captive Bolt Pistol, which is taken from their upcoming album Surgical Steel. The album is set for release on 16th September in the UK, 13th September in the rest of Europe and 17th September in North America. The lyric video for Captive Bolt Pistol can be viewed below.

Surgical Steel track list:

01. 1985
02. Thrasher’s Abattoir
03. Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
04. A Congealed Clot Of Blood
05. The Master Butcher’s Apron
06. Noncompliance to ASTM F 899-12 Standard
07. The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
08. Unfit For Human Consumption
09. 316L Grade Surgical Steel
10. Captive Bolt Pistol
11. Mount Of Execution
12. Intensive Battery Brooding (BONUS TRACK – only available on the digipak version)

Carcass online:

http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCarcass

 

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Sweden’s Shining announce tracklisting and guests for new album 8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 8th August 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

After a lengthy wait, Sweden’s Shining have revealed details about the guest vocalists who will be appearing on 8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd. Annoucned earlier today, it’s not surprising that Niklas Kvarforth has chosen some of the most iconic frontmen to ever grace the extreme metal scene, as well as some other interesting choices. The tracklisting and guest vocalists are as follow:

1. Terres Des Anonymes featuring Famine of Peste Noire
2. Szabadulj Meg Önmagadtól featuring Attila Csihar of Mayhem and Tormentor
3. Ett Liv Utan Mening featuring Pehr Larsson of Alfahanne
4. Selvdestruktivitetens Emissarie featuring Gaahl of God Seed, Wardruna and formerly of Gorgoroth
5. Black Industrial Misery featuring  Maniac of Skitliv and formerly of Mayhem
6. Through Corridors Of Oppression featuring Niklas Kvarforth himself

The six tracks that appear on 8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd date back to the Livets Ändhållplats (2001) and Angst (2002) era of Shining’s career and will be in their original pre-production form but with the addition of newly recorded bass and guitars as well as Lars Fredrik Fröslie (Angst Skvadron, Wobbler, Asmegin) on keyboards which the band didn’t start using until their sixth studio album; VI – Klagopsalmer.

8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd is scheduled for release on 23rd September via Dark Essence Records and will be available in both CD and limited edition black or white 12” vinyl versions, with linear notes by Shining’s frontman Niklas Kvarforth. All three versions are available for pre-order from Dark Essence’s BigCartel store at this location.

Shining founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth has wanted to do this project for many years now, and he allowed all the vocalists free reign to interpret the songs as they wished and also to sing in their own native languages.  Something that Dark Essence’s Martin Kvam feels fits right in with the label’s ethos of mixing tradition with innovation:

With 28 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd, Shining  has really encapsulated what we enjoy doing most as a label, looking back as it does to an earlier period, but with a completely fresh approach and different interpretation of what have now become classics in the field of Extreme Metal. Shining fans are certainly not going to be disappointed when they hear what this album has to offer.

Shining online:

http://www.shiningasylum.com
http://www.kvarforth.com
http://www.facebook.com/shiningofficial
http://www.shininglegions.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/shining-official
http://www.youtube.com/OfficialShining

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TROLLFEST BEGIN RECORDING SIXTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , on 28th June 2013 by Contra Mundi

Trollfest, whose music sounds like a combination of folk, metal, madness and an 80’s game soundtrack (Editor: So, something absolutely kickass then?!) have begun recording their sixth studio album. So far, they have the drum tracks nailed and have something a little different to offer their fans this time around. Trollfest had this to say:

We will record eleven metal tracks and we also have a couple of acoustic songs up our sleeves, but at this stage obviously we are not sure which ones will make it onto the album.  We will, however, be taking a slightly different musical direction with this album.  The sound will undoubtedly beTrollfest, but it will vary from our last two releases.   We will also be using a different studio this time.  We have been more than happy with the Strand Studio who did an amazing job on En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral and Brumlebassen but we just wanted to get a different sound to match our new musical direction so we decided to use Endre Kirkesola’s Dub Studio in Oslo.

With their self-proclaimed musical brand of ‘True Norwegian Balkan Metal’ which sounds like a tongue in cheek acknowledgement of the ‘True Norwegian Black Metal’ slogan bands such as Gorgoroth and Carpathian Forest sport, Trollfest have a steadily increasing fan base and a proactive attitude to their music performance and production. Having seven members that have already made their name in prestigious Black and Extreme metal bands, their combined ability with a variety of instruments from all corners of the world is extremely impressive.

They have so far in 2013 played a number of festivals and enjoyed a tour of North America as part of legendary Paganfest America Tour. Expect to see them unfurl their joyful madness at the Masters of Rock and Wolfszeit Festivals and be sure to catch sight of their spectacle.

To celebrate Trollfest’s 10th anniversary, the band have released a limited edition 12” picture disc named A Decade of Drekkadence; which includes 16 tracks of new and previously unreleased material spanning the band’s career. There are also three covers, including songs from Tom Waits and Britney Spears which will undoubtedly be terrific. The artwork on the disc is a creation from collaborators Swedish Cartoonist Jonas Darnell and designer Terje Johnsen who have worked with Trollfest in the past and is quite something to behold in terms of uniqueness. The vinyl also includes an email address that purchasers can contact to receive an MP3 download.

The album will be released on NoiseArt Records. The album is available exclusively from this location. A video for the Spears track “Toxic” was recently released and can be seen below.

Trollfest online:

http://www.trollfest.com
http://www.facebook.com/trollfestofficial
http://trollfest.bigcartel.com/
http://soundcloud.com/trollfest
https://twitter.com/TrollfesT_Band
http://trollfest.blogg.no/
http://www.myspace.com/trollfest
http://www.reverbnation.com/trollfest

 

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Anaal Nathrakh release statement about apparent UK tour with Fleshgod Apocalypse

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , on 22nd June 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Following the recent announcement that Anaal Natkrakh are touring with Fleshgod Apocalypse later this year, the band have stated that they had not confirmed they could play the dates. The full statement was posted on their Facebook page and as is as follows:

For anyone hoping to see us in the UK in October: It appears we have been announced for a string of UK dates with Fleshgod Apocalypse in October. We did NOT agree to play these shows. Repeat: at no point have we ever said that we would play these dates, or that Mick would even be in Europe at the time. We are currently looking into whether we can do them for the sake of those who may have already bought tickets. But the dates have been announced without our participation or consent, and we cannot guarantee at this stage that we will be playing. We thought it best to let people know the situation as quickly as possible rather than waiting for a final confirmation. Further information will follow as soon as it is available.

Fans appear to be pointing the blame at The Nazgul Agency who are responsible for the booking of the tour while promoters are pointing the finger at Nuclear Blast for announcing the tour before everything was properly set in stone. Obviously there had been a mix up in communication down the line somewhere and both fans and promoters alike are advised to not jump to any conclusions until the situation has been solved.

Anaal Nathrakh online:

https://www.facebook.com/Anaalnathrakhofficial/

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Fortid begins work on fifth studio album

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on 5th May 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Extreme pagan metallers Fortid have begun work on what will be the band’s fifth full-length album.  Recording is set to take place in the early summer, and, whilst not wanting to give too much away, the band have revealed that all the lyrics for the album will be in Icelandic and that they already have a lot of material, more so than for previous albums.  The as yet untitled album will be the follow up to 2012’s much lauded Pagan Prophecies.

Formed in Iceland in 2002 by Einar Thorberg as a solo project, Fortid’s reputation was firmly established following the release of three full-length albums. Collectively known as the Völuspá Trilogy, the three albums, Thor’s Anger, The Arrival of Fenris and Fall of the Ages, were released between 2002 and 2010. Between the release of the second and third parts of the Trilogy, Thorberg moved to Norway where he recruited a permanent line up and Fortid became a fully functioning studio and live band.   Aside from Thorberg on guitars and vocals Fortid’s current lineup includes Øystein Hansen (ex-Thornbound) on guitars, Rikard Jonsson (Forsefed Horsehead, ex-Deject) on bass and Daniel Theobald (Curse, Den Saakaldte, Etherial Forest, Sarkom) on drums.

Fortid is set to play the remaining three dates of the Northern Darkness Tour in May along with Sweden’s Gra and Finland’s Antagonist Zero.  Dates as follows:

Thu 09 May, PRKL Club, Helsinki, Finland
FRI 10 May, Taidetehdas, Porvoo, Finland
Sat 11 May, Club Tapper, Tallinn, Estonia

Fortid online:

https://www.facebook.com/fortid
https://www.youtube.com/FortidNorway
https://soundcloud.com/fortid
http://fortid.bigcartel.com/
http://www.myspace.com/fortidofficial
http://www.reverbnation.com/fortid

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UKEM Records sign The Deathisodes

Posted in News with tags , , on 19th January 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

UKEM Records, the leading underground label for British extreme metal, have announced the recent signing of The Deathisodes.

Based around one man, Alex Loader, The Deathisodes is a studio project created to showcase what the UK Underground Metal Scene has to offer by inviting guest musicians to appear on the studio projects. UKEM Records are set to release the band’s second album, Inside The Universe of Horror which will feature 12 tracks of blistering melodic death metal. Guest musicians on this new album showcase the wealth of talent currently lurking in the UK underground. The anticipated release date is sometime in June.

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Experimental Black Metal: Svarga Music to release SVYATOGOR’s Doctor Veritas on May 7th

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , on 29th April 2012 by markssonofjorvik

On May 7th Svarga Music will release Doctor Veritas,  the third album from Ukraine’s SVYATOGOR, an Experimental Death/Black  Metal album, one quite unusual for this style. Along with melodic  fragments and penetrating vocals, the solos smack of classical Heavy  Metal and the saxophone gives the music Jazz and Art-rock tendencies,  all of which is rooted in Black Metal. Lyrics are written in Russian,  Ukrainian, English and French languages and devoted to the problems of  society, preparation of human emotions, reflection on the subject of  contemporary history, structure of the universe, and macrocosm.  SVYATOGOR features Amorth I.M. (ex-DRUDKH, ex-ASTROFAES, UNDERDARK) and  Master Alafern (QUINTESSENCE MYSTICA, TRIGLAV, THUNDERKRAFT). Doctor Veritas is officially distributed by Australis Records (Chile), Casus Belli  Musica (Russia), Dead Shop (Ukraine), Fono (C.I.S.), My Kingdom Music  (Italy), Rock Inc/Bertus (BeNeLux), The End Records (North America) and  Code7/PlasticHead (UK & Worldwide).

An album teaser for Doctor Veritas has been posted at this location 

1.    Памяти мёртвых Героев [In Memory Of Fallen Heroes]
2.    Word hard. Eat. Watch.
3.    Манифест [The Manifesto]
4.    Doctor Veritas
5.    Нi вогню, нi меча… [Nor Fire, Nor Sword…]
6.    AWOKE / INCOMING (Antarctic solitude)
7.    Плюнуть и забыть [Spit And Forget]
8.    Неизбежность [Inevitability]
9.    La concupiscence [Lust]
10.    Реинкарнация дум [Reincarnation Of Thoughts]
The band is currently streaming the track “Work hard. Eat. Watch.” on Svarga Music’s Soundcloud Page.

Praise for SVYATOGOR:

“Svyatogor is a newcomer for which we definitely see a bright future  ahead. Yes, these four thoroughly experienced guys know exactly how to  make an interesting album from start to finish, without a single moment  of monotony.” – Rock Tribune (Belgium) [85/100]
“The truth is that these guys do not have any limits, and they don’t  seem to want do it anytime soon either, which is something that makes  them outstand and also make about them a really unique band. A  surprising album, of a well performed surprise.” – Queens of Steel (Spain) [8.5/10]
“The most amazing track is “La concupiscence” which is performed in French!” – AtmosFear Magazine (Ukraine) [8.5/10]
“It’s  pleasantly surprising. SVYATOGOR have taken two styles which, on their  own, can be suffocating, i.e. boring, and blended them into a  stimulating album well worth the time to listen to.” – Voices from the Darkside (Germany)
“Enjoyable and crushing from start to finish, ‘Doctor Veritas’ is as close to aggressive perfection as you can be!” – Valkyrian Music (UK) [4.5/5]
“An album filled with original and a creative genius because SVYATOGOR  drifts away from all the clichés of the genre and it is difficult to  compare it to any other existing band. Recommend to all who are tired of  hearing the same music again and again, but still remaining in the  Extreme Metal range.” – Metalland (France)
“There is everything, there is harmony, there is fluidity of sound, there is epic magniloquence and evil Black Metal.”- MetalHead Webzine (Italy) [7.5/10]
“It twists and turns all over the place and the musicianship really does impress.” – Ave Noctum (UK) [7/10]
Biography
SVYATOGOR  was founded by Arius (guitar) and Konstantin (vocal) in the autumn of  1999. At the beginning of its existence the songs “Battle beyond the  forest” and”Immediate Vengeance” were created. They later became the  basis of the band`s debut album. In the years 2000-2001 the band was  completed by Odalv (drums), Master Alafern (guitar, THUNDERKRAFT,  TRIGLAV), Paulus (bass) and actively began rehearsal and concert  activities.
In the summer of 2002 the recording of the debut album …With Wolfish Stalk and by Wings of Black… was started in the band`s home studio. Due to force majeure connected  with some faulty equipment the album was lost. And only in the spring of  2004 the band tries again to record the lost album, but now in a well  known Kharkov studio (audioALchemia). The attempt was successful and in  the spring of 2005 the first full-length album …With Wolfish Stalk and by Wings of  Black… (6 tracks, 33 minutes) was finally recorded. The style of the album can be characterized as Pagan Black Metal.
Having  recorded the album Odalv, Paulus and Konstantin leave the band. Arius  takes up vocals, a session drummer Vsesvit joins the band which makes it  possible for the band to continue rehearsals and take part in concerts.  With this team in 2006 the band records its second album
Energy-Freedom: Force is Strong, Power is Imperious (7 tracks, 51 minutes) in audioALchemia and XC-Records studios. The style is Death-Black Metal.
In  the autumn of 2007 the permanent drummer Amorth I.M. (ex-DRUDKH,  ex-ASTROFAES, UNDERDARK) and bass guitarist Duk join the band. During  the years 2006-2011 the band has active concert activities and takes  part in such festivals as Svarogovo Kolo, Navja Noch, Metal Point,  Svarogov Den etc., also supports many different European Death/Black  Metal bands. SVYATOGOR has also been invited to many concerts as a  headliner.
In the summer of 2011 SVYATOGOR completes its studio work on the third album
Doctor Veritas (10 tracks, 52 minutes). This album will be released on 7th of May 2012  by Ukrainian underground label Svarga Music. Currently the band is  working on their 4th album. The recording sessions are planned for  summer 2012.
Band line-up:
Arius – vocal, guitar
Master Alafern – guitar, violin
Duk – bass
Amorth I.M. – drums
Contact:
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The Black Dahlia Murder w/Support @ Corporation, Sheffield

Posted in Gig, Live with tags , , , on 20th January 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Bands: The Black Dahlia Murder, Skeletonwitch, Fleshgod Apocalypse
Location: Corporation
Date: 19th January 2012


The Black Dahlia Murder/Skeletonwitch tour was one I’d been looking forward to since it was announced last year, though admittedly I’m only familiar with so much by both Black Dahlia and Skeletonwitch. After my interview with Ryan [which can be viewed here], I proceeded into the main area of the venue just as the masses began entering. The opening act were the Italian symphonic death metal quintet Fleshgod Apocalypse, who you’d think were more classical musicians as opposed to a metal band due to the way they dress on stage (providing you ignore the face paint). The crowd seemed mesmerised by the classical soundings of the keyboards and the ethereal lightshow that blended so mystically with the smoke. The use of strong vocals with vicious guitars were definitely impressive. the highlight of Fleshgod’s set was “The Hypocrisy”, which they’d opened their brutalising set with.

After 15 or so minutes, the American powerhouse of raw, unadulterated savagery Skeletonwitch. The band performed a truly barbaric set, utilising face-melting bass work mixed with roaring guitars and explosive drums. Chance proved he knows how to whip the crowd into a frenzy, especially with songs such as “Repulsive Salvation” – a song that he said is “about not going to church” – and “This Horrifying Form” – apparently about the desire to kill. The sound quality was superb through Skeletonwitch’s set as well. Once they had finished their set, they came down and had some beers with those of us in the crowd.

After a good 20 minutes, the main act of the night, none other than The Black Dahlia Murder, made their way to the stage to be greeted by a wild frenzy of cheers from those donning Black Dahlia shirts. The bassist, Bart, was absent as he’s currently back in the States doing studio stuff with other bands (Don’t worry, he’s still in the band) but the stand-in bassist played just as good as Bart. The frontman, Trevor, looked to be enjoying himself up on stage in between his fierce snarling, hate-fuelled vocal sections. The strong use of riffs from the guitarists was definitely as good as the studio stuff, especially for the performances of “Miasma” and “Necropolis”. The crowd certainly loved it all as they went crazy, even starting a moshpit that consumed the vast majority of the crowd. Black Dahlia, undeniably, have a great live sound and put on a great live show.

Nico Davidson

**Photography by David Ferret Taylor Photography.
Photos of the full show can be viewed here.**

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Avarice – No Mercy Will Be Shown

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , on 14th January 2012 by Demolithia

Band: Avarice
Album: No Mercy Will be Shown
Release year: 2011
Genre: Metal

Avarice is a recently formed band hailing in the wintercold metaltown Östersund, Sweden. The young terrorizers, which not yet seems to be quite housebroken are between 17 and 19 years of age.Despite the somehow lack of experience, the guys showing of a will of steel, delivering a massive explosion on the three track demo “No Mercy Will Be Shown”, which was recorded int Metalfabriken at Empire Studios, Frösön, Sweden.

Thus some strains of the band´s influences such as Pantera, Lamb of God, Machine Head, Slayer, etc shines through it is still their own merciless sound that dominates through it all.. The demo contains not quite pure fucking thrash or extreme hardcore/deathcore..It is more like psychometal or so to speak. Nevertheless it is extremely qualitive variety metalsamples that is to be heard on this hardknocking fierceful demo!

And as the bands name, Avarice indicates, the guys are hungry to deliver extreme metal, eventhough it somehow leaves something more to wish for, listening to the demo. And I bet that in a couple of years, when they got more experience, this promising band deliver more punch in the face metal to die for..

3.5/5

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