BODY POLITIC/QUARTERED/THIS DAY BURNS/SYNAPSE/VAULTRY LOGANS OCT 24TH
I showed up and the venue was already half full. pretty good being that the bands hadn't even started up yet. And much to my surprise the first band started right on time. First up was a local hardcore band doing their new school approach to the genre. They're really energetic and a little on the screamo side of things but they put a lot into their set. For a band that's been together less than a years they play a tight cohesive set. Couple more screams and a couple more breakdowns and the short set was over.
Synapse have been their particular brand of melodic hard rock for a lot of years now and the experience shows through. You might not be into it but these guys are all pretty good musicians, they have kind of an Against Me sound but I like them better. The set they played tonight was a lot more mellow than the last few times I saw them, I think they might have been holding back a bit because they were just in the second slot.
This Day Burns is kind of all over the place as to the style they feel like playing. It's mostly a hard rock kind of thing but then its female singer/sonwriter style quickly followed by a song of screaming and spastic time-changes. It totally works for them though and keeps you wondering what's up next. And then to top it off they brought up even organizer Clayton Rourke to share vocals on the last song. And with the show keeping on time the set was over pretty quick. The fact that they were all dressed as ninja turtles did make me like them a lot more.
Next up was Vancouver's Quartered and they started full on with intensity from the first note. They are that mix of rock and post hardcore that still can find a place on the radio. The crowd got right into it and a solid moshpit was going by the second or third song. Whoever wasn't moshing and jumping around seemed to be singing along to a lot of the words. I guess I've been missing what's been going on the last few times they've been in Victoria because they look like they have a good following here. And with this show I think it's been assured that they will be booked again here, probably going to get booked in a lot of other places too. I'm new to this band but I'm going to listen to them again and might check them out the next time they hit town.
The Body Politic is a Vancouver Island band that's been generating a lot of buzz over the last year or so. The six piece band took the stage with a tonne of confidence and a sea of cheers. You notice the proggyness right off the start and all the instruments are at the forefront with equal levels. There's a lot of crowd interaction and I can only assume it's because this band has a lot of fans that are regulars at their shows. They had a song "Wait for the sunrise" that involved every girl in the bar singing the chorus. They play a pretty radio friendly style, or maybe poppy is a better way to put it. They look like they're working really hard and putting the time in to be successful and I'm sure they will be. If you can get a bar full of girls to sing your chorus for you then you're probably going somewhere.
Most of the show wasn't really my style but it ran without a hitch which is a lot to say. The bands went all out and played their set-times and didn't fuck around getting on and off the stage wich is pretty nice to see. Justin and Clayton at Arbutus Promotions have their shit together and run a tight show.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.soundofsynapse.com/
http://www.thisdayburns.com/
http://www.quartered.ca/
http://www.thebodypolitic.ca/
Sunday 23 November 2014
ONSLAUGHT/ARTILLERY/VX36/TORREFY NOV 21 VICTORIA BC
THRASH INVASION TOUR NOV 21 V-LOUNGE VICTORIA
Early shows at the V-lounge are always fun because you can hit up the strippers first. Afterwards I got upstairs to hear some awesome metal. Torrefy was starting the night off with the release of their album "Thrash and Burn". From the first note it was the kind of energy you get from a young band fighting for attention. Hearing the bassist Simon start the vocals on a Game of Thrones inspired song was definitely unexpected but put a grin on my face. The duel vocal work got the attention of most of the bar. They thrashed it up for most of their set getting a mosh pit going. There was a lot of headbanging and drinking and I would bet that Torrefy got more than a few new fans tonight.
I'll have to be honest, I have never heard of VX36 before and based on their name I was expecting to hate them. For some reason I thought I was going to get some sort of shitty thrash-core band and I was totally wrong. What I got was three pieces of deafening thrash monstrosity. Vocalist Nate had a lot of stage banter but I couldn't really understand much of it so I just assumed he was saying "Here's another awesome fucking song" because that's what we got. Their set was fast, tight and short so I'm likely going to spend some time searching them on youtube.
Artillery is a band I know a few songs by and I like a lot of the 80's essence they have going on and they brought a lot of that to their show tonight. A lot of thrash bands you see now don't even look like they were born in that decade but this band had the vibe that goodtimes and parties just followed them everywhere. Being Europeans they usually make sure of their showmanship and Michael Dahl was all over it. He made sure to keep the crowd fist-pumping and hair-spinning right along with him. They had a bit of a mix in eras with the songs but seemed to play more of the newer catalog. Probably has a lot to do with the new members.
Onslaught started without a lot of introduction, they just started playing. They are of the harder side of old school thrash with gruff vocals and lots of attitude. These guys meant business and played the songs with the forcefulness that would win any argument. Vocalist Neil Turbin has the presence of that 80's tough guy that you didn't want to fuck with but you also totally wanted to be like. The rest of the band followed him in behind like a musical gang of badass through a set that didn't seem like it lasted long enough. They crushed every song they played with a confidence of a band that knows you're there to see them.
Heavy Metal UVIC put together a great show and Victoria should be thankful that we had this lineup here. I doubt that anyone in the bar had a bad tie except maybe the bartenders, but they're always a little grumpy. Hopefully the V-lounge keeps letting metal shows play there because I'll keep going to them. And to Heavy Metal UVIC, I hope they keep putting on good shows.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/onslaughtuk
http://www.artillery.dk/
http://www.vx36.com/
http://www.torrefy.bandcamp.com/
Early shows at the V-lounge are always fun because you can hit up the strippers first. Afterwards I got upstairs to hear some awesome metal. Torrefy was starting the night off with the release of their album "Thrash and Burn". From the first note it was the kind of energy you get from a young band fighting for attention. Hearing the bassist Simon start the vocals on a Game of Thrones inspired song was definitely unexpected but put a grin on my face. The duel vocal work got the attention of most of the bar. They thrashed it up for most of their set getting a mosh pit going. There was a lot of headbanging and drinking and I would bet that Torrefy got more than a few new fans tonight.
I'll have to be honest, I have never heard of VX36 before and based on their name I was expecting to hate them. For some reason I thought I was going to get some sort of shitty thrash-core band and I was totally wrong. What I got was three pieces of deafening thrash monstrosity. Vocalist Nate had a lot of stage banter but I couldn't really understand much of it so I just assumed he was saying "Here's another awesome fucking song" because that's what we got. Their set was fast, tight and short so I'm likely going to spend some time searching them on youtube.
Artillery is a band I know a few songs by and I like a lot of the 80's essence they have going on and they brought a lot of that to their show tonight. A lot of thrash bands you see now don't even look like they were born in that decade but this band had the vibe that goodtimes and parties just followed them everywhere. Being Europeans they usually make sure of their showmanship and Michael Dahl was all over it. He made sure to keep the crowd fist-pumping and hair-spinning right along with him. They had a bit of a mix in eras with the songs but seemed to play more of the newer catalog. Probably has a lot to do with the new members.
Onslaught started without a lot of introduction, they just started playing. They are of the harder side of old school thrash with gruff vocals and lots of attitude. These guys meant business and played the songs with the forcefulness that would win any argument. Vocalist Neil Turbin has the presence of that 80's tough guy that you didn't want to fuck with but you also totally wanted to be like. The rest of the band followed him in behind like a musical gang of badass through a set that didn't seem like it lasted long enough. They crushed every song they played with a confidence of a band that knows you're there to see them.
Heavy Metal UVIC put together a great show and Victoria should be thankful that we had this lineup here. I doubt that anyone in the bar had a bad tie except maybe the bartenders, but they're always a little grumpy. Hopefully the V-lounge keeps letting metal shows play there because I'll keep going to them. And to Heavy Metal UVIC, I hope they keep putting on good shows.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/onslaughtuk
http://www.artillery.dk/
http://www.vx36.com/
http://www.torrefy.bandcamp.com/
Sunday 19 October 2014
Anaal Nathrakh-Desideratum
ANAAL NATHRAKH is a British/American two-piece band that is pretty popular with the extreme metal crowd. They've been making music for about fifteen years now and are always testing boundaries pushing towards their goal of being the soundtrack to the apocalypse. They have already brought the sounds of evil, hate and violence to seven albums, more than a couple of festivals and the Peel sessions on BBC. Their next album is called "Desideratum" and will be released by MetalBlade this fall.
This album starts with everything you expect from someone whose goal is to induce horror, a layer of shreiks, growls and atmosphere. As you get into the second track "Unleash" there's the start of clean vocals but not the normal kind. It's the haunting kind that add to the layer of terror. Relentless drumming add into the slight synth/sampling effect to complete it. By track four "The one thing needful" they've mixed it all perfectly, clean/harsh vocals with synth/sampling and great guitars. It has an epic yet brutal feel, touching mountain tops while still dragging corpses through the valleys. It stays this way through several songs mixing exactly what I like from black metal and industrial with a little of the classic metal. #7"Idol" is one of those tracks that most would call brutal that I think is catchy and and radio-friendly, makes you want to sing a-long to it. And then next song is shreiking mixed with jackhammer drumming, also included is an wicked riff that comes in and out throughout. "Rage and Red" is comparatively slower than the rest with a little more industrial feel, a little more spoken lyrics and etheral flow. The last song ends it with fast, reckless anger and violent cacaphony, just the way I like my extreme metal.
This album gave me what I was looking for. It was as awesome as a night terror, perfectly layering soundscapes of industrial and black metal. Having it all lurking and readu to lash out with nightmare inducing noise. If you have heard this band before you know what you're getting into, they work really hard to create the sound of armegeddon. as they promise one day humanity will be destroyed and this is the music that will be there to chronicle and soundtrack its downfall.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.anaal-nathrakh.com
This album starts with everything you expect from someone whose goal is to induce horror, a layer of shreiks, growls and atmosphere. As you get into the second track "Unleash" there's the start of clean vocals but not the normal kind. It's the haunting kind that add to the layer of terror. Relentless drumming add into the slight synth/sampling effect to complete it. By track four "The one thing needful" they've mixed it all perfectly, clean/harsh vocals with synth/sampling and great guitars. It has an epic yet brutal feel, touching mountain tops while still dragging corpses through the valleys. It stays this way through several songs mixing exactly what I like from black metal and industrial with a little of the classic metal. #7"Idol" is one of those tracks that most would call brutal that I think is catchy and and radio-friendly, makes you want to sing a-long to it. And then next song is shreiking mixed with jackhammer drumming, also included is an wicked riff that comes in and out throughout. "Rage and Red" is comparatively slower than the rest with a little more industrial feel, a little more spoken lyrics and etheral flow. The last song ends it with fast, reckless anger and violent cacaphony, just the way I like my extreme metal.
This album gave me what I was looking for. It was as awesome as a night terror, perfectly layering soundscapes of industrial and black metal. Having it all lurking and readu to lash out with nightmare inducing noise. If you have heard this band before you know what you're getting into, they work really hard to create the sound of armegeddon. as they promise one day humanity will be destroyed and this is the music that will be there to chronicle and soundtrack its downfall.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.anaal-nathrakh.com
Saturday 18 October 2014
Fallujah/Archspire Oct 12 Victoria BC
I was really excited to get a ticket for this show after hearing the rumours of it selling out, but thanks to Cavity Curiosity Shop I got me and a friend in. But due to my own bad time management I showed up five minutes before the opening band finished. They were called Tenchu and all I got out of them was a few pig squeals, which I like so I'll have to catch them again.
Archspire then started a long soundcheck while I bought some wicked T-shirts. When they got started they hit the stage running, no warm-up at all just straight Tech and Death. A few songs in they started having a few sound issues which is weird because I think they brought their own guy with them. It seemed to be fixed by the end of "Seven crowns and the oblivion chain". The band pushed through and started killing it again. You can tell this band practices a lot, there's so much tech but also a little bit of groove. They were totally back in shape by the time they hit "Lucid collective somnambulation". Most of the crowd seemed to recognize this song and got really into it, it was nice to see a good crowd at Logans really reacting to a band. All their shirts say "stay tech" and that's just what they did.
Fallujah is from San Francisco and I'm pretty sure they have never been on the Island before. I'm glad I got the chance to see them again. They started their set much in the same way, diving right into the show fast and hard. "Cerebral hybridization" was a great example of them being on tour and just playing as a well rehearsed machine. Through progginess mixed with brutality they got the crowd into every one of their songs. I'm sure everybody who showed up unaware of who the band was left being a fan. By the time they hit "Dead sea" everyone was holding up lighters and horns up for the guitar solo, I don't blame them either because that solo really pushes a lot of the barriers of death metal.
It was a sunday night so the bar had to be done by midnight, this was partly the reason I think the show went by so fast. Probably had something to do with the killer bands as well. All had a good time turning their turkey comas into booze comas. For Logans it was good to see a decent crowd come out on a sunday night and I hope this helps more bands make the trip to the island. I want to finally catch Tenchu and the other two bands should know they did a wicked show.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.youtube.com/Archspiremetal
http://www.facebook.com/fallujahofficial
Archspire then started a long soundcheck while I bought some wicked T-shirts. When they got started they hit the stage running, no warm-up at all just straight Tech and Death. A few songs in they started having a few sound issues which is weird because I think they brought their own guy with them. It seemed to be fixed by the end of "Seven crowns and the oblivion chain". The band pushed through and started killing it again. You can tell this band practices a lot, there's so much tech but also a little bit of groove. They were totally back in shape by the time they hit "Lucid collective somnambulation". Most of the crowd seemed to recognize this song and got really into it, it was nice to see a good crowd at Logans really reacting to a band. All their shirts say "stay tech" and that's just what they did.
Fallujah is from San Francisco and I'm pretty sure they have never been on the Island before. I'm glad I got the chance to see them again. They started their set much in the same way, diving right into the show fast and hard. "Cerebral hybridization" was a great example of them being on tour and just playing as a well rehearsed machine. Through progginess mixed with brutality they got the crowd into every one of their songs. I'm sure everybody who showed up unaware of who the band was left being a fan. By the time they hit "Dead sea" everyone was holding up lighters and horns up for the guitar solo, I don't blame them either because that solo really pushes a lot of the barriers of death metal.
It was a sunday night so the bar had to be done by midnight, this was partly the reason I think the show went by so fast. Probably had something to do with the killer bands as well. All had a good time turning their turkey comas into booze comas. For Logans it was good to see a decent crowd come out on a sunday night and I hope this helps more bands make the trip to the island. I want to finally catch Tenchu and the other two bands should know they did a wicked show.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.youtube.com/Archspiremetal
http://www.facebook.com/fallujahofficial
Friday 3 October 2014
Interview with Marco Banco of Tyrant's Blood
Tyrants Blood has been destroying stages and speakers around the world since 2005, luckily for a lot of us they sometimes play in their hometown of Vancouver. With all the history in this band and it's members I had a lot of questions. I recently got a hold of guitarist Marco to get a few answers.
AU: You guys are really good at the business side of the band. Is that mostly a matter of past experience or is there some schooling there?
MB: We've been at this a long time, everybody has well over 15,20,30 years in the business,so we know where we need to be and what has to be done.
We have a massive black book of contacts,management, friends throughout the world, so that makes things run a lot smoother.
AU: You all have former bands. Did any of those bands ever influence Tyrant's Blood or was there an effort to make sure this was it's own project?
MB: Everything we've done influences us in some way, no doubt about that. Your always thinking "Have I done this before? Or "This seems to much like"....so you try to change it up. Got to keep on trying no things, and we've done a decent job up to this point of challenging ourselves and trying new things.
AU: From what I can tell the bands has made a few trips to Brazil. Is there a first thing you did when you got there? Is there something you made sure you did while you were there?
MB: We have a great family within Brazil that goes back to the late 1980's. You see Brazil's extreme metal scene influenced us so much back when Sarcofago,'I.N.R.I,or Sepulturas early demos hit us, so we were well versed in their style. When I performed with Blasphemy, our demo , "Blood upon the Altar" and then the album "Fallen Angel of Doom" had a massive impact on them in return, so groups like Mystifier and Blasphemy became great friends ,and since those early days, we have always kept in correspondence.
When we get there it is very comfortable and the people of Brazil are the best, you feel very welcomed by old friends and even the new always make you feel at home, truly you never want to leave.
AU: Did any of the other members feel intimidated by Brian or Marco and all their past experience and reputation?
MB: Reputation? Hmm, not sure what that means.
Brian performed with Infernal Majesty and we , meaning myself, Vinnie, Matt and Tom ,asked him to join ,and when he had some time, he did.
He didn't have a reputation as anything that we'd heard that would be negative,only that he is a good musician, easy to work with and a good friend to the people he knows.
I think maybe their may have been a little bit of trepidation at some of the rumours of my early days and all that violence and chaos, but really, those days are so far in the past, and the guys have seen it all, so Id have to say that we have never really talked about anything heavy when we started in 05, its always been cool with us all, we're old friends you know, even before the band started.
So definitely no.
AU: Is there a big name band you wouldn't play with no matter the situation?
MB: I don't think so. I suppose it would be odd to perform along side a massive major pop act or whatever, but within the metal style? No we're pretty open if its a good show thats for sure.
AU: And the other side of the question, is there a band you would do anyyhing to play with?
MB: Nope, we're not desperate at all.
AU: What are your feelings on new thrash and black metal bands that have bad recording/production on purpose/
MB: I haven't kept up with them really. Everything I hear is either good , and I get it,or, its just some retro, unoriginal boring try hard crap, SO, with that being written, it stems from listening to thousands and thousands and thousands of bands over the decades, the originals can't be topped, but good luck trying.
AU: If you could be the same band in the same city but in the 1980's, would you do it? why/why not?
MB: Of course, we would be the fastest band in the world if it was the 1980's. Bands weren't performing this style at this speed back then. Sarcofago, Sepultura, Samael,Napalm Death were all in the early blast beat style of metal, so for us to have come out say in 85, doing what we do now? Man, that would be insane,imagine where we'd be now, if this had already been around then.
AU: Yeah, you guys would be huge. Thank you all for your time
MB: Thanks for the questions and work.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/tyrantsblood
AU: You guys are really good at the business side of the band. Is that mostly a matter of past experience or is there some schooling there?
MB: We've been at this a long time, everybody has well over 15,20,30 years in the business,so we know where we need to be and what has to be done.
We have a massive black book of contacts,management, friends throughout the world, so that makes things run a lot smoother.
AU: You all have former bands. Did any of those bands ever influence Tyrant's Blood or was there an effort to make sure this was it's own project?
MB: Everything we've done influences us in some way, no doubt about that. Your always thinking "Have I done this before? Or "This seems to much like"....so you try to change it up. Got to keep on trying no things, and we've done a decent job up to this point of challenging ourselves and trying new things.
AU: From what I can tell the bands has made a few trips to Brazil. Is there a first thing you did when you got there? Is there something you made sure you did while you were there?
MB: We have a great family within Brazil that goes back to the late 1980's. You see Brazil's extreme metal scene influenced us so much back when Sarcofago,'I.N.R.I,or Sepulturas early demos hit us, so we were well versed in their style. When I performed with Blasphemy, our demo , "Blood upon the Altar" and then the album "Fallen Angel of Doom" had a massive impact on them in return, so groups like Mystifier and Blasphemy became great friends ,and since those early days, we have always kept in correspondence.
When we get there it is very comfortable and the people of Brazil are the best, you feel very welcomed by old friends and even the new always make you feel at home, truly you never want to leave.
AU: Did any of the other members feel intimidated by Brian or Marco and all their past experience and reputation?
MB: Reputation? Hmm, not sure what that means.
Brian performed with Infernal Majesty and we , meaning myself, Vinnie, Matt and Tom ,asked him to join ,and when he had some time, he did.
He didn't have a reputation as anything that we'd heard that would be negative,only that he is a good musician, easy to work with and a good friend to the people he knows.
I think maybe their may have been a little bit of trepidation at some of the rumours of my early days and all that violence and chaos, but really, those days are so far in the past, and the guys have seen it all, so Id have to say that we have never really talked about anything heavy when we started in 05, its always been cool with us all, we're old friends you know, even before the band started.
So definitely no.
AU: Is there a big name band you wouldn't play with no matter the situation?
MB: I don't think so. I suppose it would be odd to perform along side a massive major pop act or whatever, but within the metal style? No we're pretty open if its a good show thats for sure.
AU: And the other side of the question, is there a band you would do anyyhing to play with?
MB: Nope, we're not desperate at all.
AU: What are your feelings on new thrash and black metal bands that have bad recording/production on purpose/
MB: I haven't kept up with them really. Everything I hear is either good , and I get it,or, its just some retro, unoriginal boring try hard crap, SO, with that being written, it stems from listening to thousands and thousands and thousands of bands over the decades, the originals can't be topped, but good luck trying.
AU: If you could be the same band in the same city but in the 1980's, would you do it? why/why not?
MB: Of course, we would be the fastest band in the world if it was the 1980's. Bands weren't performing this style at this speed back then. Sarcofago, Sepultura, Samael,Napalm Death were all in the early blast beat style of metal, so for us to have come out say in 85, doing what we do now? Man, that would be insane,imagine where we'd be now, if this had already been around then.
AU: Yeah, you guys would be huge. Thank you all for your time
MB: Thanks for the questions and work.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/tyrantsblood
Interview with Martin Drozd of Protokult
To be totally honest I had not heard too much about Protokult before a month or two ago. They were a band from Toronto of some recent Canadians who did the folk thing. Then they started getting notice and making noise so I watched the video I got e-mailed. It was a pretty fun video and I had the chance to get an interview together and I jumped on it.Guitarist Martin Drozd answered my questions and I thank him for it.
AU: For the people who are not familiar with you, what makes you different?
MD: We all come from a wide-range of musical and cultural backgrounds. To add icing on the cake, we incorporate a rich variety of folk-world instruments and are guided by slavonic-folk female vocals. Just so there are no misconceptions (trust me, there have been), yes, we may have a folk-metal foundation but incorporate all the energetically enticing metal elements/genres: thrash, black and some progressive-psychedelic pints! To add insult to the injury, our live shows are unparalleled and best described as ritualistic-drunkenly engaging; with acts ranging from on-stage folk-dances, voluptuous beer maidens feeding the audience, crowd surfing and offerings unto Pagan Gods.
AU: What made Canada the final decision on where to move to make this band work?
MD: It happened by chance and not by choice! Some of us were born here and all lived within the same vicinity near a university campus, attended local shows. Some of us have known each other for nearly a decade, so it was just a matter of time before we all crossed paths and joined forces.
AU: What do you feel is that unseen thing that is making the band take music to a different level?
MD: It is imperative to keep making meaningful, sometimes yes, fun and dark music but also challenging ourselves and raising the bar. Musically and in terms of song writing, this album is the strongest and most developed release yet. I don't wish for it to become redundant or a gimmick; the way I look at it, the music has to speak to me as well as a wider audience to the point where a)I won't get tired of playing the same song every night 20+ nights in a row b) It will always move you and have the same energy as upon initial conception.
AU: You've just released a new album, If everything goes the way you want it to what would you like to see happen in the next year?
MD: We have already somewhat established ourselves within the North-East American scene so playing several shows/tours in these regions is a priority. Still, we need to penetrate the central, Western and South American sides, see the opportunity and potential for shows there. Most importantly, not to segregate the Canadian scene, but through various research and sales statistics it's been proven there is a massive interest and demand for us in the old continent, Europe. Doing business, networking and ideally playing a few festivals on that side of the pond would be an amazing opportunity of tremendous benefit.
AU: What band do you want to share the stage with more than anyone?
MD: We've already played with Turisas, Alestorm and Arkona once and this was fantastic. The energy of the fans was intense and welcoming so I'm always up for doing it again! But in terms of my own influence, honor blah blah blah, I would say either Helloween or Therion. Ekaterina would probably say Korpiiklaani or Leave's Eyes;)
AU: If there's one message you want people to get out of your music what is it?
MD: Drink now and enjoy life while you can! Furthermore, maintain your values,tradition and culture upon the winding, chaotic path that is life and don't be side-tracked by bullshit people, religious leeches or media-psycho-technological nonsense!
AU: Is there one type of tour food that all of you can agree on?
MD: In an ideal world, I would say pierogies, but that's not so common on the "road" now is it? I'm going to give you a totally Canadian answer right now, regardless of how hungover we may get, it always brightens my morning: Flapjacks..."sighs"
AU: Was the move to get folkier and folkier a decision or was it more of a progression?
MD: It was a natural progression that not everyone accepted at first. That first album (Ancestral Anthems), was more of a collection of songs we did in our teen years from 2005-2009. The group went through several reformations, stability and lineup issues. So at some point in 2009, when all the dust began settling we looked back at some of the material and figured, "Why not get this out there?" We narrowed it down to about 9 or 10 intense songs and decided that would be the first Protokult full-length. Additionally, at the time I wrote Awakening, Pagan War, Krak and the Dragon Of Wawel Hill, which clearly, were songs that were folk/pagan-based. The rest of the old material ranged from everything including black, thrash and death metal. With the 2011 Marzena release, Ekaterina and Vodnik joined our lineup so they added some fresh, creative elements into the group, the songs were newly written and that's how the current folk-prog sound took off. I believe Robert Plant said it; that every album is a snapshot/moment of where the group is in time. The folk-prog upbeat aspect is something that has become a staple in our sound and shall henceforth be the foundation of Protokult, regardless of how we experiment in the future.
AU: Time for shameless self promotion. Whats the things that most want everyone of your fans or soon to be fan to do or see?
MD: We hope to drink with you soon and pillage your city! Check out our video for Get Me A Beer (funny but true Spinal Tap-like events from the road) and stay informed of our shenanigans via facebook or www.protokult.com
Hail and cheers!
AU: Thanks again, see ya soon
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.protokult.com
AU: For the people who are not familiar with you, what makes you different?
MD: We all come from a wide-range of musical and cultural backgrounds. To add icing on the cake, we incorporate a rich variety of folk-world instruments and are guided by slavonic-folk female vocals. Just so there are no misconceptions (trust me, there have been), yes, we may have a folk-metal foundation but incorporate all the energetically enticing metal elements/genres: thrash, black and some progressive-psychedelic pints! To add insult to the injury, our live shows are unparalleled and best described as ritualistic-drunkenly engaging; with acts ranging from on-stage folk-dances, voluptuous beer maidens feeding the audience, crowd surfing and offerings unto Pagan Gods.
AU: What made Canada the final decision on where to move to make this band work?
MD: It happened by chance and not by choice! Some of us were born here and all lived within the same vicinity near a university campus, attended local shows. Some of us have known each other for nearly a decade, so it was just a matter of time before we all crossed paths and joined forces.
AU: What do you feel is that unseen thing that is making the band take music to a different level?
MD: It is imperative to keep making meaningful, sometimes yes, fun and dark music but also challenging ourselves and raising the bar. Musically and in terms of song writing, this album is the strongest and most developed release yet. I don't wish for it to become redundant or a gimmick; the way I look at it, the music has to speak to me as well as a wider audience to the point where a)I won't get tired of playing the same song every night 20+ nights in a row b) It will always move you and have the same energy as upon initial conception.
AU: You've just released a new album, If everything goes the way you want it to what would you like to see happen in the next year?
MD: We have already somewhat established ourselves within the North-East American scene so playing several shows/tours in these regions is a priority. Still, we need to penetrate the central, Western and South American sides, see the opportunity and potential for shows there. Most importantly, not to segregate the Canadian scene, but through various research and sales statistics it's been proven there is a massive interest and demand for us in the old continent, Europe. Doing business, networking and ideally playing a few festivals on that side of the pond would be an amazing opportunity of tremendous benefit.
AU: What band do you want to share the stage with more than anyone?
MD: We've already played with Turisas, Alestorm and Arkona once and this was fantastic. The energy of the fans was intense and welcoming so I'm always up for doing it again! But in terms of my own influence, honor blah blah blah, I would say either Helloween or Therion. Ekaterina would probably say Korpiiklaani or Leave's Eyes;)
AU: If there's one message you want people to get out of your music what is it?
MD: Drink now and enjoy life while you can! Furthermore, maintain your values,tradition and culture upon the winding, chaotic path that is life and don't be side-tracked by bullshit people, religious leeches or media-psycho-technological nonsense!
AU: Is there one type of tour food that all of you can agree on?
MD: In an ideal world, I would say pierogies, but that's not so common on the "road" now is it? I'm going to give you a totally Canadian answer right now, regardless of how hungover we may get, it always brightens my morning: Flapjacks..."sighs"
AU: Was the move to get folkier and folkier a decision or was it more of a progression?
MD: It was a natural progression that not everyone accepted at first. That first album (Ancestral Anthems), was more of a collection of songs we did in our teen years from 2005-2009. The group went through several reformations, stability and lineup issues. So at some point in 2009, when all the dust began settling we looked back at some of the material and figured, "Why not get this out there?" We narrowed it down to about 9 or 10 intense songs and decided that would be the first Protokult full-length. Additionally, at the time I wrote Awakening, Pagan War, Krak and the Dragon Of Wawel Hill, which clearly, were songs that were folk/pagan-based. The rest of the old material ranged from everything including black, thrash and death metal. With the 2011 Marzena release, Ekaterina and Vodnik joined our lineup so they added some fresh, creative elements into the group, the songs were newly written and that's how the current folk-prog sound took off. I believe Robert Plant said it; that every album is a snapshot/moment of where the group is in time. The folk-prog upbeat aspect is something that has become a staple in our sound and shall henceforth be the foundation of Protokult, regardless of how we experiment in the future.
AU: Time for shameless self promotion. Whats the things that most want everyone of your fans or soon to be fan to do or see?
MD: We hope to drink with you soon and pillage your city! Check out our video for Get Me A Beer (funny but true Spinal Tap-like events from the road) and stay informed of our shenanigans via facebook or www.protokult.com
Hail and cheers!
AU: Thanks again, see ya soon
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.protokult.com
Tuesday 30 September 2014
VOMITFIST - FORGIVE BUT AVENGE EP
So as far as I can tell VOMITFIST was a father/son project making some grindcore and then they got a vocalist. The father is a decent composer who teaches how to play Black Sabath on youtube as well as creating the Java music language. The son is in a band called space ass. The new vocalist is also in space ass. Either way I'm totally into grind so I'm excited for this. I hear they're pretty popular with kids in New York. They just released this EP in July and I'm sure you can get it from them on the internet or something.
In it's promo it's tagged as blackened gind but I'm not really getting the blackened part at all, I'll say it has more spazzy or thrashcore elements to it. The first five songs have the six minutes of dis-jointed chaos you would expect from a grind album. Fast time changes, jerking guitar riffs and quick song endings. Then starting with song#5 "Frogmen" this album really gets its groove, the songs are still a minute long but they start ripping. Track#8 "A public execution" is kind of thrashcore again, almost giving a Toxic Holocaust feel to it. Some of you might not like song names like "Ass Hammer" and "The Sacred Slut" but the songs are well crafted and in a way, catchy. "Broken" is a really great song, it has a good flow and dynamic to it that makes me want to put it on a playlist. The last song is called "Bloodfisher" and it's the only song I get any sort of black metal feel off of and it's only because of the guitar tone. And at three minutes long it's the epic of this album.
I like this album, it gives a lot of different things to the listener. There's the spazzy and the thrashy and as well some quick, catchy songs. I would even say there are songs with mainstream appeal but I am notoriously bad with knowing what mainstream appeal is. It's an easy listen for those with bad attention spans as most of the songs don't last two minutes but you get a lot in those two minutes. This band has only been doing things for less than two years I think, and they already have this put together. Makes me think there will be a lot more in the near future.
http://vomitfist.com
In it's promo it's tagged as blackened gind but I'm not really getting the blackened part at all, I'll say it has more spazzy or thrashcore elements to it. The first five songs have the six minutes of dis-jointed chaos you would expect from a grind album. Fast time changes, jerking guitar riffs and quick song endings. Then starting with song#5 "Frogmen" this album really gets its groove, the songs are still a minute long but they start ripping. Track#8 "A public execution" is kind of thrashcore again, almost giving a Toxic Holocaust feel to it. Some of you might not like song names like "Ass Hammer" and "The Sacred Slut" but the songs are well crafted and in a way, catchy. "Broken" is a really great song, it has a good flow and dynamic to it that makes me want to put it on a playlist. The last song is called "Bloodfisher" and it's the only song I get any sort of black metal feel off of and it's only because of the guitar tone. And at three minutes long it's the epic of this album.
I like this album, it gives a lot of different things to the listener. There's the spazzy and the thrashy and as well some quick, catchy songs. I would even say there are songs with mainstream appeal but I am notoriously bad with knowing what mainstream appeal is. It's an easy listen for those with bad attention spans as most of the songs don't last two minutes but you get a lot in those two minutes. This band has only been doing things for less than two years I think, and they already have this put together. Makes me think there will be a lot more in the near future.
http://vomitfist.com
Monday 29 September 2014
Kryosphere/Arrival of Autumn Victoria BC Sept 20th
September 20th The Cambie in Esquimalt
Showed up at The Cambie a little early and was one of the first people to get in there. Just in time for a cheap jug and some sound checks. Arrival of Autumn from Garnde Prarie was up first. None of them look like they can legally drink here. Despite how young I think they look they can put together a pretty decent song, in a catchy form of hard rock. Third song in and it's one off of their new album, it's not brutal or even that metal but it has a good riff. "Selfish Sanity" has that clean/harsh/clean vocal style that keeps getting more popular, does have some good soloing though. It was a Cancer Bats cover next and then their last song was their best. "There's no angels here" was what I think it was called and they put everything into it. All in all these kids seem to have their shit together.
Kryosphere upped the tempo a bit with their new school death metal sound. The turnout was unfortunetly small but the band still played a high energy show. Song after song they played hard for the small crowd. They went through the show with little banter but a lot of focus. Each song looked as if it was practiced well anf that the whole band was ready for the tour. After the show they even had a raffle where I won a giant fabric sticker I have no idea what I'm gonna do with.
I had a good time at the show and I think everyone else there did too. All 20 or so people there seemed to like both the bands and the sound came through well. It sucks that there wasn't more people there or maybe some local bands to help out.
http://www.arrivalofautumn.com
http://kryosphere.net
Showed up at The Cambie a little early and was one of the first people to get in there. Just in time for a cheap jug and some sound checks. Arrival of Autumn from Garnde Prarie was up first. None of them look like they can legally drink here. Despite how young I think they look they can put together a pretty decent song, in a catchy form of hard rock. Third song in and it's one off of their new album, it's not brutal or even that metal but it has a good riff. "Selfish Sanity" has that clean/harsh/clean vocal style that keeps getting more popular, does have some good soloing though. It was a Cancer Bats cover next and then their last song was their best. "There's no angels here" was what I think it was called and they put everything into it. All in all these kids seem to have their shit together.
Kryosphere upped the tempo a bit with their new school death metal sound. The turnout was unfortunetly small but the band still played a high energy show. Song after song they played hard for the small crowd. They went through the show with little banter but a lot of focus. Each song looked as if it was practiced well anf that the whole band was ready for the tour. After the show they even had a raffle where I won a giant fabric sticker I have no idea what I'm gonna do with.
I had a good time at the show and I think everyone else there did too. All 20 or so people there seemed to like both the bands and the sound came through well. It sucks that there wasn't more people there or maybe some local bands to help out.
http://www.arrivalofautumn.com
http://kryosphere.net
Sunday 7 September 2014
Display of Decay-Outbreak of Infection
DISPLAY OF DECAY is a four-piece metal band from Edmonton. They are mostly doing old school death metal but that comes with splashes of thrash and doom. They have been around for seven or eight years now and have come out with their third release which is "Outbreak of Infection". A tour is underway so they can build on their already great live reputation. In the past they have already shared the stage with Origin and The Faceless.
It all starts easily enough with "Born of Rot" and about 30 seconds in you'll notice the bass, it just kind of sticks out a bit. For a first track it kind of shows all the different aspects of the band, little bits here and there. They hit their stride with the third song "Praise the Gore". It has a good pace and riff and gutterals that totally fit the song and subject matter. This continues at a quicker pace for the next song. Quick drumming mixed with good guitar interplay all covered in gutteral grunts and growls. Some good soloing and a riff just tops it off. They end of this whole thing with a great chunk of death n roll aptly named "Black Diamond" It's just a really well written song that I can see getting some heavy play at parties.
For a small death metal band from Edmonton I think these guys have put together a pretty decent album. It's only five songs long but I think it's good that they're getting more music out there. There's some good guitar work and drumming on this album, and I really do like the solid gutterals. A lot of death metal these days doesn't really have vocals like this, kind of reminds me of Broken Hope or Gorgasm. The bass is also noticeable in the mix in more than a few points, like with say Beyond Creation. If I had to pick a favorite song on this one it has to be "Black Diamond". That's a song I'm already thinking about listening to again.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.displayofdecay.net/
It all starts easily enough with "Born of Rot" and about 30 seconds in you'll notice the bass, it just kind of sticks out a bit. For a first track it kind of shows all the different aspects of the band, little bits here and there. They hit their stride with the third song "Praise the Gore". It has a good pace and riff and gutterals that totally fit the song and subject matter. This continues at a quicker pace for the next song. Quick drumming mixed with good guitar interplay all covered in gutteral grunts and growls. Some good soloing and a riff just tops it off. They end of this whole thing with a great chunk of death n roll aptly named "Black Diamond" It's just a really well written song that I can see getting some heavy play at parties.
For a small death metal band from Edmonton I think these guys have put together a pretty decent album. It's only five songs long but I think it's good that they're getting more music out there. There's some good guitar work and drumming on this album, and I really do like the solid gutterals. A lot of death metal these days doesn't really have vocals like this, kind of reminds me of Broken Hope or Gorgasm. The bass is also noticeable in the mix in more than a few points, like with say Beyond Creation. If I had to pick a favorite song on this one it has to be "Black Diamond". That's a song I'm already thinking about listening to again.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.displayofdecay.net/
Justin Symbol-Control
JUSTIN SYMBOL is a industrial/EDM artist from NYC or more specifically, he's from Brooklyn. He's been getting a lot of attention in the New York alternative club scene as industrial music gets more popular again. I guess everyone is starting to find Skinny Puppy again. He has a three song single released now before a full length comes out a little later in the fall.
First thing I noticed was that this is not what I think of when I think of industrial, I guess I think that genre is a little harsher and louder. I guess we can just call this electronic. The first track is "Control" and it starts off all synthy. It's kind of catchy and I like it. The lyrics have an angsty feel of anti-authority. Next is "Killing an Arab". It's a short song with a harder sound and a more political theme going on it it, I had to repeat this one a few times. Lat up is "Shooting stars" and I think this is a great ending. It has a really good hook to it and flows from start to end with lyrics that most can agree with and sing along to.
All in all it's pretty good for a quick little single pack. I don't regret listening to this a few times over in a row. I'm no expert on electronic music but ten to fifteen years ago I was stealing drugs and sneaking into underground clubs and music like this could have been the soundtrack to that. And for that I like it
Michael F. Carnage
First thing I noticed was that this is not what I think of when I think of industrial, I guess I think that genre is a little harsher and louder. I guess we can just call this electronic. The first track is "Control" and it starts off all synthy. It's kind of catchy and I like it. The lyrics have an angsty feel of anti-authority. Next is "Killing an Arab". It's a short song with a harder sound and a more political theme going on it it, I had to repeat this one a few times. Lat up is "Shooting stars" and I think this is a great ending. It has a really good hook to it and flows from start to end with lyrics that most can agree with and sing along to.
All in all it's pretty good for a quick little single pack. I don't regret listening to this a few times over in a row. I'm no expert on electronic music but ten to fifteen years ago I was stealing drugs and sneaking into underground clubs and music like this could have been the soundtrack to that. And for that I like it
Michael F. Carnage
Sunday 17 August 2014
Total Isolation S/T
Published: Absolute Underground #59 August/September 2014
The members of Total Isolation have been in a lot of bands over the years, and you've heard of those bands, but that's not where they want the focus to be. This is a new project with all new tracks that speak for themselves, you don't need any background to know this shit fucking rips. Going as a three-piece with bassist and guitarist sharing vocals, there's not a lot of fluff or extras here. This is straight-forward music with pure intensity and anger. What I do like about the band in general is that although they are all drug-free and vegans they don't feel the need to make their band all about the ideals. The first thing you know about the band doesn't have to be that the members make certain choices in life.
There's a 6-song EP coming out soon with songs that focus on a variety of subjects that are usually touched by hardcore musicians. It's songs with personal meaning and well thought out lyrics about religion and drug abuse put over harsh songs. Track #3"negative prisoner" really puts good use to the two vocals and the fact that one is female to really round of the song. Another piece that sets this apart from a lot of hardcore bands for me is the solid riffing. All 6 songs are ones that I would totally listen to again. It's got what I want in a good hardcore album. "grace irony" and "mind eradication" have great riffs,"rosary chains" is a fast harsh start to this ride and then ending with "habitual tendencies" which just fucking rips. So it's got what it needs: riffs, breakdowns and on two songs there's a girl who can scream really well.
This album isn't out yet but when it is I'm sure people will hear about it. Then find your ass a way to listen to it. In the end I think the whole EP is about fifteen minutes long so just fucking do it.
Michael F Carnage
The members of Total Isolation have been in a lot of bands over the years, and you've heard of those bands, but that's not where they want the focus to be. This is a new project with all new tracks that speak for themselves, you don't need any background to know this shit fucking rips. Going as a three-piece with bassist and guitarist sharing vocals, there's not a lot of fluff or extras here. This is straight-forward music with pure intensity and anger. What I do like about the band in general is that although they are all drug-free and vegans they don't feel the need to make their band all about the ideals. The first thing you know about the band doesn't have to be that the members make certain choices in life.
There's a 6-song EP coming out soon with songs that focus on a variety of subjects that are usually touched by hardcore musicians. It's songs with personal meaning and well thought out lyrics about religion and drug abuse put over harsh songs. Track #3"negative prisoner" really puts good use to the two vocals and the fact that one is female to really round of the song. Another piece that sets this apart from a lot of hardcore bands for me is the solid riffing. All 6 songs are ones that I would totally listen to again. It's got what I want in a good hardcore album. "grace irony" and "mind eradication" have great riffs,"rosary chains" is a fast harsh start to this ride and then ending with "habitual tendencies" which just fucking rips. So it's got what it needs: riffs, breakdowns and on two songs there's a girl who can scream really well.
This album isn't out yet but when it is I'm sure people will hear about it. Then find your ass a way to listen to it. In the end I think the whole EP is about fifteen minutes long so just fucking do it.
Michael F Carnage
Interview with Kevin of Azodanum
Published: Absolute Underground #59 August/September 2014
2014 has already seen the birth of a loud, droning and wicked 4-piece of sludge called Azodanum. Their inescapable vibrations are sure to make waves here in Victoria as well as the rest of the westcoast. I've already seen them live three times and have the damaged eardrums to prove it. But instead of that being a deterrent it only made me want to know more. So I started hunting down the members only to find guys I've heard before in Mendozza and Northern. That made me a little excited when Kevin agreed to an interview. So he took a break from what I assume to be epic amounts of bonghits, delivering of hearing damage and all around awesomeness to help me out.
AU: Is there a story or a deep meaning behind the bands name?
KEVIN: It was the name of a new mineral that was found in the traces from that meteor that exploded over Russia that time.
AU: What were your expectations for releasing new music and are they being met?
KEVIN: Well, we haven't released anything yet. So, no. "Slowed down by excessive bonghits". We will be releasing the demo in some sort of tangible form eventually. We're currently writing for a full length that we should have recorded before the end of the summer. then however long it takes to mix and press etc. We do have shirts with our faces on them though, so fuckin buy those or whatever.
AU: It's summer festival season, are there any festivals you would do anything to be a part of?
KEVIN: Roadburn or hellfest would rule. Maryland Death Fest would ruin my life. We are however playing burgerfest in vancouver. Go to it. It's delicious.
AU: Are there larger tour plans for the future?
KEVIN: Yes.
AU: Do you have a favorite show that you've played so far?
KEVIN: We played at logans with ancients awhile back and blew the power a couple times. We all play with multiple amps because we're dumb.
AU: Is there a primary song writer or is it done collectively as a band?
KEVIN: Initially it was mostly norm and derek but now we're all pretty involved.
AU: Have you guys got any good stalkers yet?
KEVIN: Metal shows are kind of a sausage fest. I guess that doesn't really exclude any kind of stalking.
AU: What's a mandatory roadtrip food?
KEVIN: Bonghits.
AU: If all of you shaved your beards do you think you would lose your power?
KEVIN: Only Derek and I have beards. "No, but we'd lose about 15 pounds"
There's four songs up on bandcamp now and more shows coming up in the future. If you are even sort of into sludge or and sort of stoner metal do yourself a favour and check this band out. The live recording are almost as good as the live show but you need the speakers for it. Playing these guys at half volume just wouldn't do them any justice. There will be more music available in the future and lots more shows, go find them. And if you aren't aware of Burgerfest in Vancouver you need to find out about it.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/Azodanum
2014 has already seen the birth of a loud, droning and wicked 4-piece of sludge called Azodanum. Their inescapable vibrations are sure to make waves here in Victoria as well as the rest of the westcoast. I've already seen them live three times and have the damaged eardrums to prove it. But instead of that being a deterrent it only made me want to know more. So I started hunting down the members only to find guys I've heard before in Mendozza and Northern. That made me a little excited when Kevin agreed to an interview. So he took a break from what I assume to be epic amounts of bonghits, delivering of hearing damage and all around awesomeness to help me out.
AU: Is there a story or a deep meaning behind the bands name?
KEVIN: It was the name of a new mineral that was found in the traces from that meteor that exploded over Russia that time.
AU: What were your expectations for releasing new music and are they being met?
KEVIN: Well, we haven't released anything yet. So, no. "Slowed down by excessive bonghits". We will be releasing the demo in some sort of tangible form eventually. We're currently writing for a full length that we should have recorded before the end of the summer. then however long it takes to mix and press etc. We do have shirts with our faces on them though, so fuckin buy those or whatever.
AU: It's summer festival season, are there any festivals you would do anything to be a part of?
KEVIN: Roadburn or hellfest would rule. Maryland Death Fest would ruin my life. We are however playing burgerfest in vancouver. Go to it. It's delicious.
AU: Are there larger tour plans for the future?
KEVIN: Yes.
AU: Do you have a favorite show that you've played so far?
KEVIN: We played at logans with ancients awhile back and blew the power a couple times. We all play with multiple amps because we're dumb.
AU: Is there a primary song writer or is it done collectively as a band?
KEVIN: Initially it was mostly norm and derek but now we're all pretty involved.
AU: Have you guys got any good stalkers yet?
KEVIN: Metal shows are kind of a sausage fest. I guess that doesn't really exclude any kind of stalking.
AU: What's a mandatory roadtrip food?
KEVIN: Bonghits.
AU: If all of you shaved your beards do you think you would lose your power?
KEVIN: Only Derek and I have beards. "No, but we'd lose about 15 pounds"
There's four songs up on bandcamp now and more shows coming up in the future. If you are even sort of into sludge or and sort of stoner metal do yourself a favour and check this band out. The live recording are almost as good as the live show but you need the speakers for it. Playing these guys at half volume just wouldn't do them any justice. There will be more music available in the future and lots more shows, go find them. And if you aren't aware of Burgerfest in Vancouver you need to find out about it.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/Azodanum
King of Asgard-Karg
Published: Absolute Underground #59 August/September 2014
KING OF ASGARD is a viking metal band from Sweden. A four piece band of accomplished metal musicians. They have released a few album over the last ten years. Most of the songs getting inspiration from viking sagas and tales of battles, so typical for the genre but I think they do it better than most. As some of you may remember I became a bit of a fanboy when I reviewed their last album back in the old days of 2012. I'm sure nothing is going to change as the last two albums released by this group were pretty wicked.
Even in the first few songs I can tell this is the making of another great album, strong delivery and story-telling for starts. Good guitar tone flows through the tracks and makes you feel like the drums are hoofbeats. Karl Beckman's voice sounds like walking through crunchy snow under your feet while you trudge through a forrest. #3"Highland Rebellion" changes the pace a little bit with a little harmonics throughout but it's still picks up it's pace and gets pumping. There's not a lot of what I would call soloing in these songs but the twin guitar work is really solid. "Omma" has the epic feel with the piano intro that breaks up the middle of the album. Then it's back to the battle and the saga. The bonus track at the end is called "Total destruction" and kind of has a punk rock feel to it. It's not in the same vein as the rest of the album but I like it as a good finisher.
As expected I love this album and will continue to be a gushy little fanboy about it. It's hard not to like it for a lot of reasons. The album as a whole isn't too long and flows past in one enjoyable sitting. If you're a fan of just metal in general start by checking out past songs from these guys online, they're everywhere. This album follows up where the last one ended. Songs that will make you feel like you're running through the snow with a sword in your hand ready to battle and die like all of your heroes who did the same in past years.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.kingofasgard.com/
KING OF ASGARD is a viking metal band from Sweden. A four piece band of accomplished metal musicians. They have released a few album over the last ten years. Most of the songs getting inspiration from viking sagas and tales of battles, so typical for the genre but I think they do it better than most. As some of you may remember I became a bit of a fanboy when I reviewed their last album back in the old days of 2012. I'm sure nothing is going to change as the last two albums released by this group were pretty wicked.
Even in the first few songs I can tell this is the making of another great album, strong delivery and story-telling for starts. Good guitar tone flows through the tracks and makes you feel like the drums are hoofbeats. Karl Beckman's voice sounds like walking through crunchy snow under your feet while you trudge through a forrest. #3"Highland Rebellion" changes the pace a little bit with a little harmonics throughout but it's still picks up it's pace and gets pumping. There's not a lot of what I would call soloing in these songs but the twin guitar work is really solid. "Omma" has the epic feel with the piano intro that breaks up the middle of the album. Then it's back to the battle and the saga. The bonus track at the end is called "Total destruction" and kind of has a punk rock feel to it. It's not in the same vein as the rest of the album but I like it as a good finisher.
As expected I love this album and will continue to be a gushy little fanboy about it. It's hard not to like it for a lot of reasons. The album as a whole isn't too long and flows past in one enjoyable sitting. If you're a fan of just metal in general start by checking out past songs from these guys online, they're everywhere. This album follows up where the last one ended. Songs that will make you feel like you're running through the snow with a sword in your hand ready to battle and die like all of your heroes who did the same in past years.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.kingofasgard.com/
Channel Zero-Kill all Kings
Published: Absolute Underground #59 August/September 2014
CHANNEL ZERO is a metal/hard rock band from Belgium. They were huge in the 1990's and were apparently Belgium's answer to Metallica. They quit at the height of their career and didn't do much it seems until 2010 when they did a bunch of reunion shows and then their drummer died in the middle of the recording. So they got Ray Mayorga from Solufly and did that album and another one called "Kill all Kings" which is out now on Metal Blade.
It starts off well enough, a lot of "thrash" has an 80's thing going on but not here. It sounds totally 90's right off the start. The first couple of track are decent musically but it feels pretty dated in the less than entertaining way. I just feel like I'm listening to this in 1997, track #4 "Digital Warfare" is even about how dangerous the internet is...I think. It continues on like this, the music is alright but doesn't push any limits. The riffs on each song are good but mybe it's the lyics that are bugging me? The title track is #7 and it's all about how america is the illuminati and conduct terrorist acts around the world. Now that may be true but the arrangement in the song just makes me feel like they're going to reference netscape in the next verse. #11"Duisternis" is a pretty good song right in the end. It doesn't do anything special but it is a fast tempo full out song that sounds better than the rest of the album.
I don't like shitting on bands at all, especially since these guys can play better than me and have done more. The problem is that they don't sound like they did anything to change or improve since they disbanded in 1997. I'm not sure how many people can remember but I don't think that was a good year for music. I just think that they would have done something to freshen up the band so that they don't sound like a cover band at a bar that was cool 15 years ago. They can play well but I don't like how they play.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.channel-zero.be/
CHANNEL ZERO is a metal/hard rock band from Belgium. They were huge in the 1990's and were apparently Belgium's answer to Metallica. They quit at the height of their career and didn't do much it seems until 2010 when they did a bunch of reunion shows and then their drummer died in the middle of the recording. So they got Ray Mayorga from Solufly and did that album and another one called "Kill all Kings" which is out now on Metal Blade.
It starts off well enough, a lot of "thrash" has an 80's thing going on but not here. It sounds totally 90's right off the start. The first couple of track are decent musically but it feels pretty dated in the less than entertaining way. I just feel like I'm listening to this in 1997, track #4 "Digital Warfare" is even about how dangerous the internet is...I think. It continues on like this, the music is alright but doesn't push any limits. The riffs on each song are good but mybe it's the lyics that are bugging me? The title track is #7 and it's all about how america is the illuminati and conduct terrorist acts around the world. Now that may be true but the arrangement in the song just makes me feel like they're going to reference netscape in the next verse. #11"Duisternis" is a pretty good song right in the end. It doesn't do anything special but it is a fast tempo full out song that sounds better than the rest of the album.
I don't like shitting on bands at all, especially since these guys can play better than me and have done more. The problem is that they don't sound like they did anything to change or improve since they disbanded in 1997. I'm not sure how many people can remember but I don't think that was a good year for music. I just think that they would have done something to freshen up the band so that they don't sound like a cover band at a bar that was cool 15 years ago. They can play well but I don't like how they play.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.channel-zero.be/
Equilibrium-Erdentempel
Published: Absolute Underground #59 August/September 2014
EQUILIBRIUM is a german metal band that is called everything from folk to power to just plain epic. They're putting out their fourth and newest release this month. From listening to the back catalog I have begun to realize all their lyrics are in german. Nothing wrong with that but I can only speak in fake, angry german so I'll just have to guess what all the songs are about. I've also noticed that every album has had lineup changes in it and this one is no different having a new bassist and guitarist.
It all starts with an intro of under a minute but the one word you think of with this short start is epic. "Was Lange Wahrt" just jumps right into it with gallping folk rythyms and fast-paced drumming. The nest few songs don't hold back or slow down much. I can best describe them as folk metal anthems. The arrangements remind of classical with the influence of a fantasy movie's original score. #5 "Uns'rer Floten Klang" has almost an irish folk feel to it, almost the kind of party music you would find in an old pub. One that would fiti in with a night of happy drinking. The seventh track is "Heavy Chill" and it's a hard one to describe, it's got the folk but it's mixed with some 80's dancey sound from some one-hit wonder. It basically made me think what the fuck? And the next track I could best descibe as whimsical and a little circus-like, not words that usually get anywhere near metal. The last four songs go back to a more epic feel. The songs just have an epic and ranging feel like ancient battles. Of course they could be songs about ice cream because I don't know any german. The last song "The Unknown Episode" is in english though and feels a bit like a love song...but still pretty epic.
If you are a fan of folk metal that I would have to say this is an album you need. The first half of the album is an epic pile of folk metal anthems that are exactly what I think the genre needs to be. Good pace, chanting lyrics and a good mix of traditional instrumental sound mixed in with metal guitars and fast drumming. There are those two tracks in the middle(#7and#8) that I just find kind of odd, before it heads back into the epic realm. All in all though I find this to be a pretty good album, the first have puts you in a great mood with visions of your favorite fantasy movies dancing in your head. If you're already a fan of this band, then get at it.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.equilibrium-metal.net/
EQUILIBRIUM is a german metal band that is called everything from folk to power to just plain epic. They're putting out their fourth and newest release this month. From listening to the back catalog I have begun to realize all their lyrics are in german. Nothing wrong with that but I can only speak in fake, angry german so I'll just have to guess what all the songs are about. I've also noticed that every album has had lineup changes in it and this one is no different having a new bassist and guitarist.
It all starts with an intro of under a minute but the one word you think of with this short start is epic. "Was Lange Wahrt" just jumps right into it with gallping folk rythyms and fast-paced drumming. The nest few songs don't hold back or slow down much. I can best describe them as folk metal anthems. The arrangements remind of classical with the influence of a fantasy movie's original score. #5 "Uns'rer Floten Klang" has almost an irish folk feel to it, almost the kind of party music you would find in an old pub. One that would fiti in with a night of happy drinking. The seventh track is "Heavy Chill" and it's a hard one to describe, it's got the folk but it's mixed with some 80's dancey sound from some one-hit wonder. It basically made me think what the fuck? And the next track I could best descibe as whimsical and a little circus-like, not words that usually get anywhere near metal. The last four songs go back to a more epic feel. The songs just have an epic and ranging feel like ancient battles. Of course they could be songs about ice cream because I don't know any german. The last song "The Unknown Episode" is in english though and feels a bit like a love song...but still pretty epic.
If you are a fan of folk metal that I would have to say this is an album you need. The first half of the album is an epic pile of folk metal anthems that are exactly what I think the genre needs to be. Good pace, chanting lyrics and a good mix of traditional instrumental sound mixed in with metal guitars and fast drumming. There are those two tracks in the middle(#7and#8) that I just find kind of odd, before it heads back into the epic realm. All in all though I find this to be a pretty good album, the first have puts you in a great mood with visions of your favorite fantasy movies dancing in your head. If you're already a fan of this band, then get at it.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.equilibrium-metal.net/
Absu/Auroch live review
I'm never really into riding the ferry when I'm hung as fuck. But then I realize that I really like ferry rides besides the shitty breakfast. After that was over I was off to get a home-cooked meal before i started to pre-game and find friends. I was trying to meet up with the boys in XUL but their soundcheck kept getting moved back. I aliviated this problem by approaching strangers with tales of drinking contests to take the afternoon and early evening away. I showed up on time to get a beer and find a spot to watch the bands. XUL was up first with a lot of energy playing songs of their debut album "Malignance". They loudly proclaimed several times that they came from Vernon and looked like they were having a really good time, the crowd was too. Next up was a band I was totally unfamiliar with called TERRIFIER. It didn't even take two songs to make me like these guys. It felt like I was watching Slayer in 1985, there was a tonne of fast riffs, hair-tossing and screams. I was totally into it, then again it was about this time that I discovered the $4 shots of fireball. This of course meant that everyone had to have a shot with me. AUROCH was up after and I think this was their first show as a four-peice. To be honest I'm not sure I like them with four members but that's probably not fair to say until they've done more shows. To me the sound wasn't sounding quite right either. I moved around the venue and it was still the same thing. Sadly the sound issues were the same for ABSU as well. I was really excited to see them but had trouble hearing all the instruments at once. Because of this I had trouble recognizing the songs. I don't think I was the only one either because about half the crowd wasn't really paying attention at this point. Kind of sucks but at the least the turnout was decent. In the end there was good bands, a decent venue but kind of a mediocre show. I did end up having a good time though and hopefully will see all the bands again at some point in the future.
Michael F Carnage
Michael F Carnage
Bodyfarm-The coming scourge
Published: Absolute Underground Issue#57 April/May 2014
BODYFARM got together in the Netherlands about five years ago hoping to put together some old school death metal. They released a full length album in 2010 and then another one "The coming scourge" late last year. It just took me a while to get around to listening to it because there's a lot of death metal coming out these days. Not complaining about that but I have a lot of stuff to listen to. They actually call it Dutch style death metal but I don't really know what that means and I don't know any Dutch people so I guess I'llhave to figure it out.
Starts off with a regular sounding death metal song, no gutteral vocals or anything, kind of thrashy sound. The second track has basically the same thing going on with nothing jumping out at me. The title track has a pretty good hook to it, not sure how super original it is but it sounds good. Then the main riff starts to hit and your head starts to move. "Eden's destruction" is peaceful and harminic and a minute long. After that it gets back to basic and aggressive metal. "The siege of the mind" I liked. It's got a good pace and an infectious groove to it. It's a pretty easy song to listen to with a melodic break in the middle. The album ends really well with "Enter the eternal fire". Harmonic vocals and a solid chorus, good riffing throughout the almost seven minutes. It ends the album with an almost epic feeling where you want to start it over again.
This album ends a lot better than it begins. There's a few good songs and nothing on this really sucks. I don't think it's an album I would listen to through and through over and over again. There are a few songs I would put into a mix though. I have a lot of death metal and metal in general to listen to but I'm still going to put that last song onto my phone right away. "Enter the eternal fire" is the one song you got to check out off this.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.bodyfarmdeathmetal.com/
BODYFARM got together in the Netherlands about five years ago hoping to put together some old school death metal. They released a full length album in 2010 and then another one "The coming scourge" late last year. It just took me a while to get around to listening to it because there's a lot of death metal coming out these days. Not complaining about that but I have a lot of stuff to listen to. They actually call it Dutch style death metal but I don't really know what that means and I don't know any Dutch people so I guess I'llhave to figure it out.
Starts off with a regular sounding death metal song, no gutteral vocals or anything, kind of thrashy sound. The second track has basically the same thing going on with nothing jumping out at me. The title track has a pretty good hook to it, not sure how super original it is but it sounds good. Then the main riff starts to hit and your head starts to move. "Eden's destruction" is peaceful and harminic and a minute long. After that it gets back to basic and aggressive metal. "The siege of the mind" I liked. It's got a good pace and an infectious groove to it. It's a pretty easy song to listen to with a melodic break in the middle. The album ends really well with "Enter the eternal fire". Harmonic vocals and a solid chorus, good riffing throughout the almost seven minutes. It ends the album with an almost epic feeling where you want to start it over again.
This album ends a lot better than it begins. There's a few good songs and nothing on this really sucks. I don't think it's an album I would listen to through and through over and over again. There are a few songs I would put into a mix though. I have a lot of death metal and metal in general to listen to but I'm still going to put that last song onto my phone right away. "Enter the eternal fire" is the one song you got to check out off this.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.bodyfarmdeathmetal.com/
BornBroken-The healing powers of hate
BornBroken is a 5-piece band from Montreal. They were formed in 2008 and have been working on this, their first album as far as I can tell for two years. They're getting a lot of attention in eastern Canada through a lot of hard work and playing a tonne of shows. This album "The healing powers of hate" is meant to be a concept album about being left behind in society. About rising above and fighting for equality.
The first thing that jumps to my attention is the sound of Lamb of God about ten years ago with the vocals and tech-guitar. Also a bit of an early Hatebreed feel, maybe somewhere around the "perseverance" era. They play faster than that though. In the first two tracks you get the feel and direction they are going for, you see the concept. It's all pretty clear about the whole society pushing you down and you have to push back for the good of everyone. And this message is being pushed through with a pretty solid metal-core sound. By #4"I will rise" and #5"Control" you start to get a little more soloing and variation in the guitars. The vocals stay on the same dry metal course on most of the songs, there is nothing clean here. The title track is the last one here and I think it's the best work on the album. It has varying tempos and a lot of solos throughout the middle of the track.
The concept is strong with this one and they stick to it with every song. Each one of tem about struggles and fighting back. About pushing through and having perseverance to push and fight for the good. If you like metal-core you're probably going to like this. For their first release I think they're doing the genre proud and could do well if they keep it up.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.brokenmusic.ca/
The first thing that jumps to my attention is the sound of Lamb of God about ten years ago with the vocals and tech-guitar. Also a bit of an early Hatebreed feel, maybe somewhere around the "perseverance" era. They play faster than that though. In the first two tracks you get the feel and direction they are going for, you see the concept. It's all pretty clear about the whole society pushing you down and you have to push back for the good of everyone. And this message is being pushed through with a pretty solid metal-core sound. By #4"I will rise" and #5"Control" you start to get a little more soloing and variation in the guitars. The vocals stay on the same dry metal course on most of the songs, there is nothing clean here. The title track is the last one here and I think it's the best work on the album. It has varying tempos and a lot of solos throughout the middle of the track.
The concept is strong with this one and they stick to it with every song. Each one of tem about struggles and fighting back. About pushing through and having perseverance to push and fight for the good. If you like metal-core you're probably going to like this. For their first release I think they're doing the genre proud and could do well if they keep it up.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.brokenmusic.ca/
Broken Hope-Omen of Disease
Published: Absolute Underground #55 December/January 2014
Broken Hope is an American death/gore metal band that has been around forever as far as the genre goes. If you listened to mid-paced death with really low vocals in the 90's then you're probably familiar with this band. They'd been broken up for more than ten years before they went on tour last summer. With only one original member in guitarist Jeremy Wagner they've put together a new album. If you like Gorgasm that's a bonus because they share a vocalist now. I think this album is already out on Metal Blade so it should be easy to find.
After a slightly annoying intro they get into the music and it's a pure 1990's death metal flashback...well late 90's. And in all the best ways. Low gutteral vocals and snare-heavy fast drumming mixed with riff-solo-riff. By song #3 "Ghastly" I'm having memories of listening to death metal when I was a kid and remembering why I got into this genre in the first place. "Rendered into Lard" is everything old school death is all about with the bonus of cannibalism. The rest of the album is where I would start using words like "classic", "wicked" and "brutal" to describe how good I think the songs are. They're mostly mid-tempo three minutes blasts of brutality. It's exactly how I like my old school non-tech death and I know I'm starting to sound a little like a fanboy here. The last four songs all had me wanting to jump around with a smile like I was a kid again. And then they end it with a redux of "Incinerated".
As is pretty obvious I really liked this album and will continue listening to it. If you are into an older style of brutal death that has no core in it, or if you think a lot of death has gone way too tech lately this is something to check out. The last third of the album has some wicked riffing that anyone should love. Check it out and make up your own mind.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.brokenhope.com/
Broken Hope is an American death/gore metal band that has been around forever as far as the genre goes. If you listened to mid-paced death with really low vocals in the 90's then you're probably familiar with this band. They'd been broken up for more than ten years before they went on tour last summer. With only one original member in guitarist Jeremy Wagner they've put together a new album. If you like Gorgasm that's a bonus because they share a vocalist now. I think this album is already out on Metal Blade so it should be easy to find.
After a slightly annoying intro they get into the music and it's a pure 1990's death metal flashback...well late 90's. And in all the best ways. Low gutteral vocals and snare-heavy fast drumming mixed with riff-solo-riff. By song #3 "Ghastly" I'm having memories of listening to death metal when I was a kid and remembering why I got into this genre in the first place. "Rendered into Lard" is everything old school death is all about with the bonus of cannibalism. The rest of the album is where I would start using words like "classic", "wicked" and "brutal" to describe how good I think the songs are. They're mostly mid-tempo three minutes blasts of brutality. It's exactly how I like my old school non-tech death and I know I'm starting to sound a little like a fanboy here. The last four songs all had me wanting to jump around with a smile like I was a kid again. And then they end it with a redux of "Incinerated".
As is pretty obvious I really liked this album and will continue listening to it. If you are into an older style of brutal death that has no core in it, or if you think a lot of death has gone way too tech lately this is something to check out. The last third of the album has some wicked riffing that anyone should love. Check it out and make up your own mind.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.brokenhope.com/
Interview with Matt St. Amour of Chariots of the Gods
Interview with guitarist Mat St. Amour
AU So first off does you band name have anything to do with alien conspiracies?
MS: We'll the name is based on the late 60's book "Chariots of the Gods?", which talks about aliens visiting Earth in the past, helping man evolve and create civilization. It's a subject that I'm into and the other band members also like. It's makes for interesting lyrical topics sometimes but most of all we just thought it sounded epic and cool. Also, it wasn't taken by another band and people seem to dig it as well.
AU: Any cool alien abduction/sighting stories?
MS: Unfortunately, no. Personally, I haven't seen any UFOs or been abducted and to be honest, I wouldn't want to be abducted either! The way they depict it in the movies and from peoples account, it doesn't sound fun at all. Anal probing ain"t my thing!
AU: I notice a lot of influence from the whole new wave of american metal like Lamb of God. Is that a sub-genre you guys were into when starting the band?
MS: Not really, the sound we have evolves with us. It's a combination of all our influences put together. I now like those kind of bands but back when we started, I didn't. As my musical
tastes evolves so does the way I write songs. As a writer, I'm constantly absorbing music and various styles and that seeps into the songwriting process whether I like it or not. But from there once the song is written, when the whole band practices it, things change and move around and then the other guys influences arrive in the song. It's a big mash-up of all of us, and I think we've managed to make something that holds up pretty good.
AU: What other bands were you guys in before this project was started? Did any of them get a lot of attention in Ottawa or Ontario?
MS: For Richard and I, Chariots of the Gods is our real first band. Of course, we played with other people here and there when we started playing music back in the days, but for us two, Chariots is
the first band. Our singer Renaud was in a french folk-rock band with our former bassist Christian. They did a couple of shows and also recorded a nice demo, I think, but since it was a french singing band they didn't get that much attention in Ontario. Payam, our current bassist, played in a band called Hostility before joining us. They disbanded a couple of years ago due to an unfortunate and very personal event. They did do a couple of shows in Ottawa, where they were well received. As for Dimitri, he was in a prog-rock/metal band in his hometown back in the days. They did a couple of shows as well but they didn't tour or export themselves.
AU: Is there any sort of message you would like fans to get from this album?
MS: Well, the whole album has a theme, which all the songs are part of in some way, but its not a concept album. Each song can stand on it's own, but is part of the album as a whole. That common theme is the title, ''Tides of War'' ; the coming and going of war throughout time, the need for man to go to war. That's something to think about. That wherever we go, wherever we are or have been, we have killed and shed blood for the most noble or the stupidest reason. War is in our nature. We are the war machines.
AU: Some of you seem to have a love of history. Was one person responsible for all the lyrics or do you all like that subject?
MS: I'm a big history buff. I love old history and I'm responsible for some of that stuff on the album. It makes for great song topics, it's interesting and educational (kind of) at the same time. But seriously, history's got a lot subject matters that can still be relatable today and it gives us a chance to not just sing about death and destruction but other cool things too. On this album we talk about the Russian revolution and the overthrowing of the monarchy, about the ancient Meso-Americans and their beliefs, about the Greeks and their pantheon and also philosophical ideas.
AU: Do you all share song-writing or is it a one or two man job?
MS: I do all the song writing and then when we practice together things change; they add their personal touch. The core of the songs though, the initial arrangement, as of now, it's all me. I've got a new song written down already where Dimitri contributed a riff and Payam re-arranged it and that's something we'll try to do more on the next album. Also as a lyricist, on ''Tides of War'', Renaud and I split the job about half-half, but on the next records, he'll definitely be writing more lyrics.
AU: Any touring plans for the next year?
MS: We are currently touring in support of our new album. We've done great shows with great bands, and as of now everything is going fine. We've had some mechanical problems on the road
here and there but the show must go on! We still have a couple of dates on that tour, and we're currently working with a manager, trying to book shows and festivals for the summer.
We'll keep you guys posted on what's happening ; just go check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/chariotsofthegods or our official website at http://www.chariotsofthegods.net
AU: If you could fight a horse sized duck or Obama who would you and why?
MS: Wow…Hmm…I guess I'd go with the big duck, just to see what it would look like and maybe there's a chance its really dumb and I could subdue it and ride the fuck out of it (in a non-sexual kind of way, of course)
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chariotsofthegods.net/
AU So first off does you band name have anything to do with alien conspiracies?
MS: We'll the name is based on the late 60's book "Chariots of the Gods?", which talks about aliens visiting Earth in the past, helping man evolve and create civilization. It's a subject that I'm into and the other band members also like. It's makes for interesting lyrical topics sometimes but most of all we just thought it sounded epic and cool. Also, it wasn't taken by another band and people seem to dig it as well.
AU: Any cool alien abduction/sighting stories?
MS: Unfortunately, no. Personally, I haven't seen any UFOs or been abducted and to be honest, I wouldn't want to be abducted either! The way they depict it in the movies and from peoples account, it doesn't sound fun at all. Anal probing ain"t my thing!
AU: I notice a lot of influence from the whole new wave of american metal like Lamb of God. Is that a sub-genre you guys were into when starting the band?
MS: Not really, the sound we have evolves with us. It's a combination of all our influences put together. I now like those kind of bands but back when we started, I didn't. As my musical
tastes evolves so does the way I write songs. As a writer, I'm constantly absorbing music and various styles and that seeps into the songwriting process whether I like it or not. But from there once the song is written, when the whole band practices it, things change and move around and then the other guys influences arrive in the song. It's a big mash-up of all of us, and I think we've managed to make something that holds up pretty good.
AU: What other bands were you guys in before this project was started? Did any of them get a lot of attention in Ottawa or Ontario?
MS: For Richard and I, Chariots of the Gods is our real first band. Of course, we played with other people here and there when we started playing music back in the days, but for us two, Chariots is
the first band. Our singer Renaud was in a french folk-rock band with our former bassist Christian. They did a couple of shows and also recorded a nice demo, I think, but since it was a french singing band they didn't get that much attention in Ontario. Payam, our current bassist, played in a band called Hostility before joining us. They disbanded a couple of years ago due to an unfortunate and very personal event. They did do a couple of shows in Ottawa, where they were well received. As for Dimitri, he was in a prog-rock/metal band in his hometown back in the days. They did a couple of shows as well but they didn't tour or export themselves.
AU: Is there any sort of message you would like fans to get from this album?
MS: Well, the whole album has a theme, which all the songs are part of in some way, but its not a concept album. Each song can stand on it's own, but is part of the album as a whole. That common theme is the title, ''Tides of War'' ; the coming and going of war throughout time, the need for man to go to war. That's something to think about. That wherever we go, wherever we are or have been, we have killed and shed blood for the most noble or the stupidest reason. War is in our nature. We are the war machines.
AU: Some of you seem to have a love of history. Was one person responsible for all the lyrics or do you all like that subject?
MS: I'm a big history buff. I love old history and I'm responsible for some of that stuff on the album. It makes for great song topics, it's interesting and educational (kind of) at the same time. But seriously, history's got a lot subject matters that can still be relatable today and it gives us a chance to not just sing about death and destruction but other cool things too. On this album we talk about the Russian revolution and the overthrowing of the monarchy, about the ancient Meso-Americans and their beliefs, about the Greeks and their pantheon and also philosophical ideas.
AU: Do you all share song-writing or is it a one or two man job?
MS: I do all the song writing and then when we practice together things change; they add their personal touch. The core of the songs though, the initial arrangement, as of now, it's all me. I've got a new song written down already where Dimitri contributed a riff and Payam re-arranged it and that's something we'll try to do more on the next album. Also as a lyricist, on ''Tides of War'', Renaud and I split the job about half-half, but on the next records, he'll definitely be writing more lyrics.
AU: Any touring plans for the next year?
MS: We are currently touring in support of our new album. We've done great shows with great bands, and as of now everything is going fine. We've had some mechanical problems on the road
here and there but the show must go on! We still have a couple of dates on that tour, and we're currently working with a manager, trying to book shows and festivals for the summer.
We'll keep you guys posted on what's happening ; just go check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/chariotsofthegods or our official website at http://www.chariotsofthegods.net
AU: If you could fight a horse sized duck or Obama who would you and why?
MS: Wow…Hmm…I guess I'd go with the big duck, just to see what it would look like and maybe there's a chance its really dumb and I could subdue it and ride the fuck out of it (in a non-sexual kind of way, of course)
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chariotsofthegods.net/
Dark Century
Dark Century is a Montreal band that's been together playing shows for more than ten years now. They bring a mix of death metal, heavy beats, a little comedy and of course bacon. The bacon theme seems to run through a lot of their music and image. I'm not sure when all the bacon-tossing started but their fat crunchiness started getting noticed with the 2009 videoclip "Viande Froide". This video came out at the same time as their first album release "Days of the mosh". The title along with the aformentioned fat and crunchy style led to the term mosh metal being thrown around. For those of you unfamiliar with the term it usually means low tech metal that makes you want to jump around. And people wanted to jump around to pig squeals and meaty riffs so they got more shows.
More attention led to them playing the Heavy MTL festival in 2012. Judging by the crowd chanting for the tossing of pork products the people got what they wanted. Dark century then headed out on a cross Canada tour presumably throw bacon at westerners. The next video "Kill the crowd" was released showing the bands good sense of humour and the furthering of the fat crunch. A new album was then in the works with Christian Donaldson(Cryptopsy). Putting most of 2013 into making this a great release and burning off the results of a pork-centric diet should pay off. The new release is titled "Murder Motel" and is available as of April. ybe as they get older they will just start throwing turkey bacon at the crowd.
The band is promissing that there will be the continuation of humour but mixed with even more aggressive and even heavier music. They have a new line-up and more attitude which I hope will lead to even more bacon puns in their music. I've found the new album on their bandcamp as well as the merch store. This band might go places or they might die from the cholesterol. Or m
If there are any innaccuracies in this article it probably has something to do with me being semi retarded and I also barely ever eat bacon.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.darkcentury.ca/
More attention led to them playing the Heavy MTL festival in 2012. Judging by the crowd chanting for the tossing of pork products the people got what they wanted. Dark century then headed out on a cross Canada tour presumably throw bacon at westerners. The next video "Kill the crowd" was released showing the bands good sense of humour and the furthering of the fat crunch. A new album was then in the works with Christian Donaldson(Cryptopsy). Putting most of 2013 into making this a great release and burning off the results of a pork-centric diet should pay off. The new release is titled "Murder Motel" and is available as of April. ybe as they get older they will just start throwing turkey bacon at the crowd.
The band is promissing that there will be the continuation of humour but mixed with even more aggressive and even heavier music. They have a new line-up and more attitude which I hope will lead to even more bacon puns in their music. I've found the new album on their bandcamp as well as the merch store. This band might go places or they might die from the cholesterol. Or m
If there are any innaccuracies in this article it probably has something to do with me being semi retarded and I also barely ever eat bacon.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.darkcentury.ca/
Dark Century-Murder Motel
Published: Absolute Underground#58 June/July 2013
DARK CENTURY is a Montreal bands that has been around for the last ten or so years. Lots of contest and small festival appearances and sharing shows with some pretty solid bands. They just released their second album in April called MURDER MOTEL. They have fused a grind and hardcore thing in the past with a humour component about bacon and zombies, which I understand as most people like bacon and zombies. In the words of the band they are "mosh-metal" or "mosh-death metal".
It all starts of with death metal. Straight from the first song they got the growl and the howl from the first minute in. Track#2 gets the guitar chugging going with the fast tapping drums. The term mosh-metal is starting to make sense at this point. I'm not French but I'm pretty sure the song is about bacon. #5 "Ice Breaker" has a nice slow rinding feeling to it and a story about making people into a sausage lunch special I think? "Kill the Crowd" is a pretty catchy track that was released a year or more ago and has a mildly entertaining video on youtube. "Mosh test dummies" is the obvious beer-drinking party song that any bacon loving metal band needs to have. The title track has kind of a cheesy feel to it, and I mean that in the best way. Kind of like a campy horror film filled with gore and a good guitar riff.
Well this is likely the first death metal release I've listened to that had that many food and eating references. But it was mostly in a language I barely understand and about a kind of meat I don't eat so...Anyways it's a good example of low-tech deathy style metal. In a reference to bacon this music is fat and crunchy and if I could work a grease pun in here I would. It feels like the kind of music that would work really well in a sweaty basement party where you drink a lot of someone else's cheap beer.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.darkcentury.ca/
DARK CENTURY is a Montreal bands that has been around for the last ten or so years. Lots of contest and small festival appearances and sharing shows with some pretty solid bands. They just released their second album in April called MURDER MOTEL. They have fused a grind and hardcore thing in the past with a humour component about bacon and zombies, which I understand as most people like bacon and zombies. In the words of the band they are "mosh-metal" or "mosh-death metal".
It all starts of with death metal. Straight from the first song they got the growl and the howl from the first minute in. Track#2 gets the guitar chugging going with the fast tapping drums. The term mosh-metal is starting to make sense at this point. I'm not French but I'm pretty sure the song is about bacon. #5 "Ice Breaker" has a nice slow rinding feeling to it and a story about making people into a sausage lunch special I think? "Kill the Crowd" is a pretty catchy track that was released a year or more ago and has a mildly entertaining video on youtube. "Mosh test dummies" is the obvious beer-drinking party song that any bacon loving metal band needs to have. The title track has kind of a cheesy feel to it, and I mean that in the best way. Kind of like a campy horror film filled with gore and a good guitar riff.
Well this is likely the first death metal release I've listened to that had that many food and eating references. But it was mostly in a language I barely understand and about a kind of meat I don't eat so...Anyways it's a good example of low-tech deathy style metal. In a reference to bacon this music is fat and crunchy and if I could work a grease pun in here I would. It feels like the kind of music that would work really well in a sweaty basement party where you drink a lot of someone else's cheap beer.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.darkcentury.ca/
Down among the dead men
Published: Absolute Underground#56 February/March 2014
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN is a side project from Dave Ingram from Bolt Thrower and a couple of guys from Ribspreader and Paganizer. They just got together to make some death metal with a crusty edge. This is their one and only album and it's self-titled. Totally makes sense with the nihilist and DIY feel of the music.
There's no easing into this at all, no intros or nothing. The first song starts off quick and keeps a good riff going through both minutes. "Doomsday Manuscript" sounds death metal to me like the beginning track, but you start getting the crust feel on #3"As Leeches Gorge". "Adolescence of Time" is the longest song but I think it's one of the fastest. It has a simple but great riff straight through just slowing down for the last minute. "Deadman's Switch" is a good place to notice the dual guitar moving forward but in almost different directions at parts. On "Handful of Dust" they are definetily moving in the same direction, the song is seamless and probably top three on this album for me. "Venus Mantrap" has more of a rock n roll feel to it with a catchy riff and a story about troubles with women..at least that's what I think it's about. The album finishes off with two really good songs. They're fast, catchy and have some seriously relentless drumming.
This offering has thirteen songs but I'm pretty sure it comes in under forty minutes. All the songs get straight to the point with very little frills. It's not technical or overly complicated music by any stretch but it's not meant to be. I like it, it's easy to listen to and the really short songs work with a short attention span. It still has enough to make your head move and it has songs I'll listen to again, actually with it's length I'll listen to the whole thing again.
Michael F. Carnage
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN is a side project from Dave Ingram from Bolt Thrower and a couple of guys from Ribspreader and Paganizer. They just got together to make some death metal with a crusty edge. This is their one and only album and it's self-titled. Totally makes sense with the nihilist and DIY feel of the music.
There's no easing into this at all, no intros or nothing. The first song starts off quick and keeps a good riff going through both minutes. "Doomsday Manuscript" sounds death metal to me like the beginning track, but you start getting the crust feel on #3"As Leeches Gorge". "Adolescence of Time" is the longest song but I think it's one of the fastest. It has a simple but great riff straight through just slowing down for the last minute. "Deadman's Switch" is a good place to notice the dual guitar moving forward but in almost different directions at parts. On "Handful of Dust" they are definetily moving in the same direction, the song is seamless and probably top three on this album for me. "Venus Mantrap" has more of a rock n roll feel to it with a catchy riff and a story about troubles with women..at least that's what I think it's about. The album finishes off with two really good songs. They're fast, catchy and have some seriously relentless drumming.
This offering has thirteen songs but I'm pretty sure it comes in under forty minutes. All the songs get straight to the point with very little frills. It's not technical or overly complicated music by any stretch but it's not meant to be. I like it, it's easy to listen to and the really short songs work with a short attention span. It still has enough to make your head move and it has songs I'll listen to again, actually with it's length I'll listen to the whole thing again.
Michael F. Carnage
Gloria Morti-Lateral Constraint
So I'll totally admit it, I don't know a fucking thing about Gloria Morti. Okay that's not true, I know it's five guys from Finland that play death metal. Besides that I had never heard of them before I was sent this album and their facebook page doesn't say shit. So I started this stuff up after drinking and started to do some research. Turns out they've been around for almost 15 years and have decided in the last 8 or so to take things serious. Lateral Constraint is the third album since they say they've learned to play.
Well they start off with straight up death metal. It's a pretty new school version of death metal but good musically. It's got the constant hi-BPM drumming keeping the pace fast and trading guitars. Vocalist Psycho doesn't have the low gutteral vocals you find on the gore side of death metal, more of the deep, raspy shout. The speed of the songs keeps up until #4"Aesthetics of Self-Hyperbole" where the lead guitar starts to wander a little throughout the middle of the song on a slow solo. #6"Hallucinations" as you would guess is a mid-pace song with more of an aural feel to it with a bit of dreamy atmosphere and groover to it. #8"Non-believer" has a lot of the same aspects with a slower tempo and wandering solos that still make your head want to nod.
Chugging riffs are all through this album and I can see how it would bring out a lot of head-banging if played loud for a crowd. The drums are fast or technical or both in every song and the vocals are always brutal. What changes in the songs is the interplay of the guitars, they change the feel and atmosphere of the songs. It seems the guitars were the one left to do all the experimentation or change on these songs and the rest of the band stuck with a formula. I feel like I've heard this drum/vocal combo a lot before. I wouldn't complain if someone else put this on at a party or something but I don't think it would be a the top of my metal pile. But hey, that's just me, just another guy with an opinion.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.gloriamorti.com/
Well they start off with straight up death metal. It's a pretty new school version of death metal but good musically. It's got the constant hi-BPM drumming keeping the pace fast and trading guitars. Vocalist Psycho doesn't have the low gutteral vocals you find on the gore side of death metal, more of the deep, raspy shout. The speed of the songs keeps up until #4"Aesthetics of Self-Hyperbole" where the lead guitar starts to wander a little throughout the middle of the song on a slow solo. #6"Hallucinations" as you would guess is a mid-pace song with more of an aural feel to it with a bit of dreamy atmosphere and groover to it. #8"Non-believer" has a lot of the same aspects with a slower tempo and wandering solos that still make your head want to nod.
Chugging riffs are all through this album and I can see how it would bring out a lot of head-banging if played loud for a crowd. The drums are fast or technical or both in every song and the vocals are always brutal. What changes in the songs is the interplay of the guitars, they change the feel and atmosphere of the songs. It seems the guitars were the one left to do all the experimentation or change on these songs and the rest of the band stuck with a formula. I feel like I've heard this drum/vocal combo a lot before. I wouldn't complain if someone else put this on at a party or something but I don't think it would be a the top of my metal pile. But hey, that's just me, just another guy with an opinion.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.gloriamorti.com/
Entrails-Raging death
Published: Absolute Underground#55 December/January 2014
Entrails is a Swedish band that started in 1990 technically but broke up for years and didn't even release anything until 2010. Since then they've put out a bunch and now have new releases on Metal Blade. Seriously these guys have put outsix albums in four years. I think they're happy to be recording again. I think it's two old guys and a bunch of new members but they're sticking to it like it's still 1990.
The first track is pretty solid and sounds like early Cemetary or maybe something that would be on the first two albums by Dismember. After that it switches up a bit and starts to get a real death'n'roll sound to it. I kind of like this but a lot of people won't. "Carved to the bone" and "Bloodhammer" could be straight up rock songs with a different vocal style and maybe a little tweak to the drums. It's really easy to listen to and it has a nice groove to it. By the time you get to track #6 "Descend to the Beyond" you're back into thrashy old death again. Great riff throughout the song and a catchy chorus even if that's weird to say about death metal. And the next two tracks keep to that, having solid riffs and really short solos and keeping a good pace. #9 "Defleshed" picks it up a bit and gives you a good two minute blast and then it ends with "The cemetary horrors". It's a pretty good way to end it. The first three-quarters of the song are loud and fast and then it devolves into horror movie sountrack with synth organ getting slower and slower until it fades out.
In the end I liked this album, it's solid in every way. It seems there's a lot of bands like this putting out new material but still making it sound like the old stuff. I personally am happy that is happening. Not all death metal needs to be super technical to be good. If you can agree with that then you should probably check out some of this album and make your own opinion. I am by no means any sort of music expert but I'll listen to this one again.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/entrailsreborn
Entrails is a Swedish band that started in 1990 technically but broke up for years and didn't even release anything until 2010. Since then they've put out a bunch and now have new releases on Metal Blade. Seriously these guys have put outsix albums in four years. I think they're happy to be recording again. I think it's two old guys and a bunch of new members but they're sticking to it like it's still 1990.
The first track is pretty solid and sounds like early Cemetary or maybe something that would be on the first two albums by Dismember. After that it switches up a bit and starts to get a real death'n'roll sound to it. I kind of like this but a lot of people won't. "Carved to the bone" and "Bloodhammer" could be straight up rock songs with a different vocal style and maybe a little tweak to the drums. It's really easy to listen to and it has a nice groove to it. By the time you get to track #6 "Descend to the Beyond" you're back into thrashy old death again. Great riff throughout the song and a catchy chorus even if that's weird to say about death metal. And the next two tracks keep to that, having solid riffs and really short solos and keeping a good pace. #9 "Defleshed" picks it up a bit and gives you a good two minute blast and then it ends with "The cemetary horrors". It's a pretty good way to end it. The first three-quarters of the song are loud and fast and then it devolves into horror movie sountrack with synth organ getting slower and slower until it fades out.
In the end I liked this album, it's solid in every way. It seems there's a lot of bands like this putting out new material but still making it sound like the old stuff. I personally am happy that is happening. Not all death metal needs to be super technical to be good. If you can agree with that then you should probably check out some of this album and make your own opinion. I am by no means any sort of music expert but I'll listen to this one again.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/entrailsreborn
Hail of Bullets-The Rommel chronicles
Published: Absolute Underground #55 December/January 2014
Hail of Bullets is a Dutch band that's only been around for a few years but has a few ex-members of Asphyx so that counts for something. They like to do the war theme with albums with the last one being about the rise and fall of world war two japan. Instead of picking a country this time they picked a person. They're putting out a new release about a german field marshall and tank commander named Erwin Rommel. If you know anything about war history it makes for a good story and it's done in the influence of old Obituary and a little Autopsy.
The first track made the logical start at Rommel's birth and early years included joining the military. "Pour le Merite" was the medal he was awarded during WW1 in France. #3 "DG-7" is a great song on a musical level slowing down for the second half and giving it an epic feeling that suits the subject matter well. The next two tracks are much faster paced to coincide with the frentic pace of Rommel's style of tank warfare in France. Relentless charging riffs making you think of Panzer divisions roaring across battlefields. "The desert fox" is about Rommel's transfer to lead the attack in North Africa where he recieved this nickname from the British press. I like the way the pace is the songs change to suit the subject matter in each song. It shows the pile of research the band must have put into writing this. This continues for the rest of the album through the move out of Africa in an attempt to hold the last fronts against the Allies. All Axis military pulling back into Germany as they were slowly defeated on each of their fronts. The last song "Death of a Field Marshall" is kind of a slow and somber song. It deals with Rommel's forced suicide after his plot to assassinate Hitler was uncovered. It was the end of the man and the end of this story and a perfect ending to this album.
I'm a little biased on this because I'm an avid reader of WWII history and this album told a great story. I usually listen to metal when I read history so this kind of fits. The changing pace and well written music pull you into the subject matter. I suggest playing the whole album while reading the wikipedia page on Erwin Rommel just to get the full effect of it. But then again if you don't like history and think everyone involved in the world wars was evil then you won't be into this one at all.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.hailofbullets.com/
Hail of Bullets is a Dutch band that's only been around for a few years but has a few ex-members of Asphyx so that counts for something. They like to do the war theme with albums with the last one being about the rise and fall of world war two japan. Instead of picking a country this time they picked a person. They're putting out a new release about a german field marshall and tank commander named Erwin Rommel. If you know anything about war history it makes for a good story and it's done in the influence of old Obituary and a little Autopsy.
The first track made the logical start at Rommel's birth and early years included joining the military. "Pour le Merite" was the medal he was awarded during WW1 in France. #3 "DG-7" is a great song on a musical level slowing down for the second half and giving it an epic feeling that suits the subject matter well. The next two tracks are much faster paced to coincide with the frentic pace of Rommel's style of tank warfare in France. Relentless charging riffs making you think of Panzer divisions roaring across battlefields. "The desert fox" is about Rommel's transfer to lead the attack in North Africa where he recieved this nickname from the British press. I like the way the pace is the songs change to suit the subject matter in each song. It shows the pile of research the band must have put into writing this. This continues for the rest of the album through the move out of Africa in an attempt to hold the last fronts against the Allies. All Axis military pulling back into Germany as they were slowly defeated on each of their fronts. The last song "Death of a Field Marshall" is kind of a slow and somber song. It deals with Rommel's forced suicide after his plot to assassinate Hitler was uncovered. It was the end of the man and the end of this story and a perfect ending to this album.
I'm a little biased on this because I'm an avid reader of WWII history and this album told a great story. I usually listen to metal when I read history so this kind of fits. The changing pace and well written music pull you into the subject matter. I suggest playing the whole album while reading the wikipedia page on Erwin Rommel just to get the full effect of it. But then again if you don't like history and think everyone involved in the world wars was evil then you won't be into this one at all.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.hailofbullets.com/
Hollow-Mordrake
Published: Absolute Underground #58 June/July 2014
HOLLOW is a symphonic black metal or melodic death metal band(depends who you ask) hailing from Montreal. They've been around since 2009 and been through the dissappearance and death of a founding member. Music kept them together and they soildered on through shows and the making of an EP. They are ready to release a full length album now. This whole album has been recorded straight off the floor with no triggers or digital tricks in hopes of it having a more early nineties feel and sound.
As soon as the first song starts you get the cradle of filth vibe off of it. keyboard and vocal wise the influence is pretty easy to hear in the first two songs. By the third song "a new life" the melodic death elements start to show with the vocals getting more growly. After that the songs start to progress into a mix of the two styles. a keyboard intro playing into melodic deathy guitar riffing and growls. "Sunriser" has a good aggressive feel to it with gutteral vocals and a fast but heavy pace straiht through. As this album goes on it leans more towards the death and melody with symphonics being used a little less. But this ties in with the more clean vocal and choir interludes. And as much as there's less keyboard you get little bits of piano here and there.
If I had just heard the first song of this release I would have thought it was just another cradle of filth song. Throughout the album the band did progress though and diversify so every song didn't end up sounding the same. Adding more layers and elements to the latter songs with shared vocal duties and solo and piano work. If you like your black metal raw and your death brutal this might not be your thing. On the other end if you like keyboards mixed in with a little choir and COF or Dimmu brogir from the 1997-2004 era check this out for sure.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.hollowofficial.com/
HOLLOW is a symphonic black metal or melodic death metal band(depends who you ask) hailing from Montreal. They've been around since 2009 and been through the dissappearance and death of a founding member. Music kept them together and they soildered on through shows and the making of an EP. They are ready to release a full length album now. This whole album has been recorded straight off the floor with no triggers or digital tricks in hopes of it having a more early nineties feel and sound.
As soon as the first song starts you get the cradle of filth vibe off of it. keyboard and vocal wise the influence is pretty easy to hear in the first two songs. By the third song "a new life" the melodic death elements start to show with the vocals getting more growly. After that the songs start to progress into a mix of the two styles. a keyboard intro playing into melodic deathy guitar riffing and growls. "Sunriser" has a good aggressive feel to it with gutteral vocals and a fast but heavy pace straiht through. As this album goes on it leans more towards the death and melody with symphonics being used a little less. But this ties in with the more clean vocal and choir interludes. And as much as there's less keyboard you get little bits of piano here and there.
If I had just heard the first song of this release I would have thought it was just another cradle of filth song. Throughout the album the band did progress though and diversify so every song didn't end up sounding the same. Adding more layers and elements to the latter songs with shared vocal duties and solo and piano work. If you like your black metal raw and your death brutal this might not be your thing. On the other end if you like keyboards mixed in with a little choir and COF or Dimmu brogir from the 1997-2004 era check this out for sure.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.hollowofficial.com/
Interview with Plegathon of Holocaust Lord
Published: Absolute Underground #58 June/July 2014
HOLOCAUST LORD is a new black n roll band from Victoria.The four piece band consists of former/current members of Galdra, Horde of Anachron, Burialkult. The past experience seems to have helped come together quick and they have just released a four song demo full of hell, satan, sleave and attitude. I'm pretty impressed with the raw sound so far and I can't wait for some shows. I got some questions answered by vocalist Phlegathon to get all the nasty details.
AU: What are some of the other bands that you guys are/have been in?
P: We’re all in another bands, some of us more than a few. We’ve all been playing music for a long time and like to have fingers in more than one pie. I’d prefer not mentioning every single project we’ve done though. Buzzard, Burialkult and Galdra are bands that are host to some members of Holocaust Lord. I think the appeal to having other projects is diversity and challenge, not to mention the simple fact that the musician gene pool in Victoria is quite shallow especially when it comes to extreme and subversive music.
AU: How long have you been wanting to put together a more rock n roll type project?
P: Actually I never really considered performing music of this genre. I’ve always had an extreme appreciation for rock’n roll and the inflammatory nature and danger behind the spirit of “true” rock’n roll. I've always been drawn to aggressive and raw music so I guess being in a band like Holocaust Lord is a natural reaction to that. Me and KK Destructor (Guitar) basically just met and talked about how much we like Motörhead and Venom, soon after that I asked Lord Koronzon if he’d be interested in playing bass. After a few try outs on drums we landed Olaaf on drums. To that add extreme aggression and alcohol and you have the nucleus and heart of what HL is!
AU: If this demo gets lots of buzz and attention do you have lots of plans for this band?
P: We released the Go to hell (demo) only about a month ago and it has received much positive attention so far. It can be found on Iron Bonehead records (Ger). Of course there are other things in the works that I can’t mention at this moment but HL for a band that has only been around for not even a year is rolling full steam ahead and has no plans at stopping.
AU: Is there a band you would really want holocaust lord to share a bill with?
P: Shitfucker.
AU: Are you guys already putting together songs for another release?
P: Yes. We are currently writing a full length release for an undisclosed record label from France. I can’t say too much on that topic for obvious reasons but you can be rest assured that the full length will be filthy, sleazy and as raw as the demo.
AU: Are there any interesting stories involved with forming the band or coming up with the name?
P: I guess it depends on ones definition of interesting. We faced a bit of flack for our choice of name. Victoria has always been a very political town leaning a little to the left. That being said; us being the people we are, we simply choose to not give a fuck. Like I had mentioned earlier in this interview rock’n roll is supposed to be about the middle finger, about pissing people off and not giving a fuck about trend and social sensitivity. Holocaust Lord is about destruction, death, sleaze, filth and satan. If you don’t like these things HL is not the band for you.
AU: Are there any particular bands that have influenced this project?
P: Venom, Motörhead, Bathory.
AU: Do you ever have to try to work on your image or do you just do whatever you want?
P: Image comes naturally to us and the band. First and formost we aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel or be something we’re not. Leather, metal and hell is who we are and what we represent so in that way we do what we want. For anything successful there must be a formula, you can’t be a bunch of guys without thought and direction or nothing happens.
AU: What's the best way for people to get your music?
P: You can now officially buy our music directly form Iron Bonehead records http://ironbonehead.de or you can buy our music by attending a Holocaust Lord show.
AU: Is there a band out there you think people really need to hear?(one you're not in)
P: Probably lots haha but I’ll stick to the genre in which we are talking about. Shitfucker, Raw Poison, Whip Striker, Bulldozzing Bastard…
AU: Anything you have to say that you think people need to hear?
P: We have a local show coming up with Blackrat and Fornication at Logans pub. Thorsday Aug 7th.
www.ironbonehead.de
I've already listened to the demo repeatedly and would recomend it to anyone who likes Motorhead or Midnight. It's sleazy and good musically, good for people who are into metal, rock n roll or punk.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/THEDEVILSROCKNROLL?ref=br_tf
HOLOCAUST LORD is a new black n roll band from Victoria.The four piece band consists of former/current members of Galdra, Horde of Anachron, Burialkult. The past experience seems to have helped come together quick and they have just released a four song demo full of hell, satan, sleave and attitude. I'm pretty impressed with the raw sound so far and I can't wait for some shows. I got some questions answered by vocalist Phlegathon to get all the nasty details.
AU: What are some of the other bands that you guys are/have been in?
P: We’re all in another bands, some of us more than a few. We’ve all been playing music for a long time and like to have fingers in more than one pie. I’d prefer not mentioning every single project we’ve done though. Buzzard, Burialkult and Galdra are bands that are host to some members of Holocaust Lord. I think the appeal to having other projects is diversity and challenge, not to mention the simple fact that the musician gene pool in Victoria is quite shallow especially when it comes to extreme and subversive music.
AU: How long have you been wanting to put together a more rock n roll type project?
P: Actually I never really considered performing music of this genre. I’ve always had an extreme appreciation for rock’n roll and the inflammatory nature and danger behind the spirit of “true” rock’n roll. I've always been drawn to aggressive and raw music so I guess being in a band like Holocaust Lord is a natural reaction to that. Me and KK Destructor (Guitar) basically just met and talked about how much we like Motörhead and Venom, soon after that I asked Lord Koronzon if he’d be interested in playing bass. After a few try outs on drums we landed Olaaf on drums. To that add extreme aggression and alcohol and you have the nucleus and heart of what HL is!
AU: If this demo gets lots of buzz and attention do you have lots of plans for this band?
P: We released the Go to hell (demo) only about a month ago and it has received much positive attention so far. It can be found on Iron Bonehead records (Ger). Of course there are other things in the works that I can’t mention at this moment but HL for a band that has only been around for not even a year is rolling full steam ahead and has no plans at stopping.
AU: Is there a band you would really want holocaust lord to share a bill with?
P: Shitfucker.
AU: Are you guys already putting together songs for another release?
P: Yes. We are currently writing a full length release for an undisclosed record label from France. I can’t say too much on that topic for obvious reasons but you can be rest assured that the full length will be filthy, sleazy and as raw as the demo.
AU: Are there any interesting stories involved with forming the band or coming up with the name?
P: I guess it depends on ones definition of interesting. We faced a bit of flack for our choice of name. Victoria has always been a very political town leaning a little to the left. That being said; us being the people we are, we simply choose to not give a fuck. Like I had mentioned earlier in this interview rock’n roll is supposed to be about the middle finger, about pissing people off and not giving a fuck about trend and social sensitivity. Holocaust Lord is about destruction, death, sleaze, filth and satan. If you don’t like these things HL is not the band for you.
AU: Are there any particular bands that have influenced this project?
P: Venom, Motörhead, Bathory.
AU: Do you ever have to try to work on your image or do you just do whatever you want?
P: Image comes naturally to us and the band. First and formost we aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel or be something we’re not. Leather, metal and hell is who we are and what we represent so in that way we do what we want. For anything successful there must be a formula, you can’t be a bunch of guys without thought and direction or nothing happens.
AU: What's the best way for people to get your music?
P: You can now officially buy our music directly form Iron Bonehead records http://ironbonehead.de or you can buy our music by attending a Holocaust Lord show.
AU: Is there a band out there you think people really need to hear?(one you're not in)
P: Probably lots haha but I’ll stick to the genre in which we are talking about. Shitfucker, Raw Poison, Whip Striker, Bulldozzing Bastard…
AU: Anything you have to say that you think people need to hear?
P: We have a local show coming up with Blackrat and Fornication at Logans pub. Thorsday Aug 7th.
www.ironbonehead.de
I've already listened to the demo repeatedly and would recomend it to anyone who likes Motorhead or Midnight. It's sleazy and good musically, good for people who are into metal, rock n roll or punk.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/THEDEVILSROCKNROLL?ref=br_tf
Horisont-Time Warriors
HORISONT is a 5-piece hard rock band from Sweden that formed in 2006. As soon as the album starts you'll swear it's from 1976 though. At first I wasn't sure if that was a good things but these guys seem to know what they're doing. Their influences are painfully obvious but they seem to be trying to be a peer with 70's rock bands instead of a blatant copy.
It all starts of with "the writing on the wall" and instantly the album title starts to make sense, they know they sound like the 70's.By the time I get to the song "backstreet" I'm pretty sure I'm listening to the soundtrack of heavy metal. It's like a love child of Thin Lizzy and maybe Nazareth or maybe Foreigner. All the songs are good though, each one sounds like another classic rock band that you love. Each songs comes complete with a great bass-line and guitar solos. "Dodsdans" is the only song that has a more laid-back feel to it. It's totally relaxed and even though the lyrics are all in Swedish I would guess that they're about weed, it's that kind of song. "All must come to an end Pt. I & II" ends it out with some pretty sweet arena rock.
I liked this album, it was fun to listen to and totally rock n roll. It made me feel like I was watching Dazed and Confused again. If you ever listen to bands like Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Nazareth or Bon Scott era AC/DC you'll find songs on here that your totally into. Even if you dont usually listen to classic hard rock there's stuff here to like.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.horisontmusic.com/
It all starts of with "the writing on the wall" and instantly the album title starts to make sense, they know they sound like the 70's.By the time I get to the song "backstreet" I'm pretty sure I'm listening to the soundtrack of heavy metal. It's like a love child of Thin Lizzy and maybe Nazareth or maybe Foreigner. All the songs are good though, each one sounds like another classic rock band that you love. Each songs comes complete with a great bass-line and guitar solos. "Dodsdans" is the only song that has a more laid-back feel to it. It's totally relaxed and even though the lyrics are all in Swedish I would guess that they're about weed, it's that kind of song. "All must come to an end Pt. I & II" ends it out with some pretty sweet arena rock.
I liked this album, it was fun to listen to and totally rock n roll. It made me feel like I was watching Dazed and Confused again. If you ever listen to bands like Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Nazareth or Bon Scott era AC/DC you'll find songs on here that your totally into. Even if you dont usually listen to classic hard rock there's stuff here to like.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.horisontmusic.com/
Interview with Dusty Exner of Kill Matilda
Published: Absolute Underground#58 June/July 2014
Kill Matilda is a zombie rock n roll band currently from Vancouver. Over the last seven years they have been touring and recording relentlessly. Even after some nearly deadly health issues in the past year they're back on tour. Taking their live show and zombie killing skills to every city and toen they can find. I recently put together an interview with leader Dusty Exner to talk about zombies and the road.
AU: You've been through a lot lately, have you ever thought about giving up on the whole rock n roll roadshow?
DE: Yes and no. When things have been really slow during times where we weren't doing much, or when we've been through troubling health periods, we lose momentum and the importance of everything we are doing seems far away. It can be really aggravating to see shitty pop bands and lame rock bands that suck getting all the glory for rehashing the same old shit when bands like us and others that we play with are being innovating, exciting and working our asses off. Once we are actively playing shows and planning tours, etc, those feelings go away. Not even a severe health issue (Dusty lost a pregnancy in January and have to have emergency life-saving surgery because she was bleeding internally!) can really get in our way...the show must go on! For us life is meaningless if we aren't kicking ass and playing rock and roll music. We really don't have a choice.
AU: Is there someone out there who you hate being compared to?
DE: Bill Cosby. No, but seriously, Avril Lavigne. It doesn't happen as much anymore now that she's not really as active as a musician, but it's frusterating that women in rock are still so underrepresented that any imposter in black eyeliner can come along and be lumped in with us legit female rock musicians. I think I even once read a headline that called her "Queen of the Punk Chicks" or something really ludicrous like that. Imagine if Michael Buble just grew a beard and suddenly the media was identifying him as a metal musician! The musical divide between what a pop artist like Avril does and what we do is so wide, yet for a lot of mainstream listeners she's the closest thing to a "rock" or "punk" female artist that they've ever seen. So. Lame. It's wack.
AU: As much as I see myself as the fearless zombie killer when I watch zombie films I cheer for the zombies. Are you the same?
DE: Heeeeeell no! If you work in an office do you cheer for the paper jam in the printer? Those things are damn drudgery when you work in Zombie Management like we do. Although to be fair, there's always that one really annoying dude who eventually gets ripped to pieces by the zombies and you always have to feel a little satisfaction over that.
AU: Any cities you plan on living in in the near future? A dream city?
DE: There was this episode of Doctor Who where there was a city built on the back of a whale that swam through outer space. So, that one. I also think we'd make a lot of money if we lived in Gotham City. But until either of those places are taking applications for a rock band we've got our sights set on Toronto and New York.
AU: If a raccoon was hitch-hiking, would you pick it up?
DE: Only if it could roll really good joints or had a lot of money. Because ass, grass or cash, no one rides for free, but none of us are attracted to raccoons. Too many scratches.
AU: Which road-stop always has the creepiest experience?
DE: Small-town Saskatchewan; we once stopped at an old-timey general store in Borden, SK. We wanted to buy something but everything had such a thick layer of dust or was so far past it's expiry date that in the end we just booked it out of there. It was so lonesome and creepy it seemed like the kind of place they chopped up little kids in the basement. We were waiting for the duelling banjos to start playing in the background. Tacos (our drummer) asked if the town had any "sights" and the grocery store guy told us that they had a church and that they "still" had a school! That town was so deserted I think we saw the same little girl ride past us on her bike twice in the same direction.
AU: Pick a fight: five zombie children or Jared Leto with a switch-blade?
DE: The real question is who would win in a fight between five children with switchblades vs. zombie Jared Leto?
Kill Matilda is on tour right now making a tonne of stops across Canada. You can check out their websites for dates, stories and to stream some free music
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.killmatilda.com/
Kill Matilda is a zombie rock n roll band currently from Vancouver. Over the last seven years they have been touring and recording relentlessly. Even after some nearly deadly health issues in the past year they're back on tour. Taking their live show and zombie killing skills to every city and toen they can find. I recently put together an interview with leader Dusty Exner to talk about zombies and the road.
AU: You've been through a lot lately, have you ever thought about giving up on the whole rock n roll roadshow?
DE: Yes and no. When things have been really slow during times where we weren't doing much, or when we've been through troubling health periods, we lose momentum and the importance of everything we are doing seems far away. It can be really aggravating to see shitty pop bands and lame rock bands that suck getting all the glory for rehashing the same old shit when bands like us and others that we play with are being innovating, exciting and working our asses off. Once we are actively playing shows and planning tours, etc, those feelings go away. Not even a severe health issue (Dusty lost a pregnancy in January and have to have emergency life-saving surgery because she was bleeding internally!) can really get in our way...the show must go on! For us life is meaningless if we aren't kicking ass and playing rock and roll music. We really don't have a choice.
AU: Is there someone out there who you hate being compared to?
DE: Bill Cosby. No, but seriously, Avril Lavigne. It doesn't happen as much anymore now that she's not really as active as a musician, but it's frusterating that women in rock are still so underrepresented that any imposter in black eyeliner can come along and be lumped in with us legit female rock musicians. I think I even once read a headline that called her "Queen of the Punk Chicks" or something really ludicrous like that. Imagine if Michael Buble just grew a beard and suddenly the media was identifying him as a metal musician! The musical divide between what a pop artist like Avril does and what we do is so wide, yet for a lot of mainstream listeners she's the closest thing to a "rock" or "punk" female artist that they've ever seen. So. Lame. It's wack.
AU: As much as I see myself as the fearless zombie killer when I watch zombie films I cheer for the zombies. Are you the same?
DE: Heeeeeell no! If you work in an office do you cheer for the paper jam in the printer? Those things are damn drudgery when you work in Zombie Management like we do. Although to be fair, there's always that one really annoying dude who eventually gets ripped to pieces by the zombies and you always have to feel a little satisfaction over that.
AU: Any cities you plan on living in in the near future? A dream city?
DE: There was this episode of Doctor Who where there was a city built on the back of a whale that swam through outer space. So, that one. I also think we'd make a lot of money if we lived in Gotham City. But until either of those places are taking applications for a rock band we've got our sights set on Toronto and New York.
AU: If a raccoon was hitch-hiking, would you pick it up?
DE: Only if it could roll really good joints or had a lot of money. Because ass, grass or cash, no one rides for free, but none of us are attracted to raccoons. Too many scratches.
AU: Which road-stop always has the creepiest experience?
DE: Small-town Saskatchewan; we once stopped at an old-timey general store in Borden, SK. We wanted to buy something but everything had such a thick layer of dust or was so far past it's expiry date that in the end we just booked it out of there. It was so lonesome and creepy it seemed like the kind of place they chopped up little kids in the basement. We were waiting for the duelling banjos to start playing in the background. Tacos (our drummer) asked if the town had any "sights" and the grocery store guy told us that they had a church and that they "still" had a school! That town was so deserted I think we saw the same little girl ride past us on her bike twice in the same direction.
AU: Pick a fight: five zombie children or Jared Leto with a switch-blade?
DE: The real question is who would win in a fight between five children with switchblades vs. zombie Jared Leto?
Kill Matilda is on tour right now making a tonne of stops across Canada. You can check out their websites for dates, stories and to stream some free music
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.killmatilda.com/
Monte Pittman-The power of three
Published: Absolute Underground Issue#57 April/May 2014
MONTE PITTMAN is a guy that moved to hollywood to start a band and ended up being Madonna's guitar teacher. I guess she thought he was pretty good because he ended up touring with her a bunch of times. He released a few acoustic albums that a bunch of people liked and then he signed to Metal Blade so that he could make a more hard rock/metal oriented release. He got a band and recorded an album with Fleming Rassmussen, the guy that did the good Metallica albums from the 80's. I guess it's back closer to his roots because he used to play in Prong.
It starts as a rock album and sounds like rock songs you would hear on the radio. The guitar playing is the focal point, it seems like he wants people to really notice that he's a good guitarist. I mean he is a good player but they really seem to want to get that across in the first three songs. It gets better four tracks in where you get more of a fully developed song in "Blood hungry thirst". #6"Away from here" is catchy as fuck, it has nearly the same pace all the way through but chugs along with three minutes of great rock sound. It seems at this point they start taking the album a lot more serious. The songs start getting longer and the arrangement starts getting a lot more complicated. The last song "All is fair in love and war" is all over the place including what I guess is an attempt at gutteral vocals. Also echos, solos, some atmospherics and a little choir noise. The it all ends the way it began...with the crackle of static.
This album starts out like it's made with a formula to get radio play. It gets better as it goes though when they get their radio songs out of the way and start to free it up a bit. The first five are all catchy songs but it feels a little like they tried really hard to make sure they were that way. If you're into radio rock you'll like it a lot, I really preffered the last three songs over the rest of the album. And yeah I noticed how many times I've used the word "three" it's weird.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.montepittman.com/
MONTE PITTMAN is a guy that moved to hollywood to start a band and ended up being Madonna's guitar teacher. I guess she thought he was pretty good because he ended up touring with her a bunch of times. He released a few acoustic albums that a bunch of people liked and then he signed to Metal Blade so that he could make a more hard rock/metal oriented release. He got a band and recorded an album with Fleming Rassmussen, the guy that did the good Metallica albums from the 80's. I guess it's back closer to his roots because he used to play in Prong.
It starts as a rock album and sounds like rock songs you would hear on the radio. The guitar playing is the focal point, it seems like he wants people to really notice that he's a good guitarist. I mean he is a good player but they really seem to want to get that across in the first three songs. It gets better four tracks in where you get more of a fully developed song in "Blood hungry thirst". #6"Away from here" is catchy as fuck, it has nearly the same pace all the way through but chugs along with three minutes of great rock sound. It seems at this point they start taking the album a lot more serious. The songs start getting longer and the arrangement starts getting a lot more complicated. The last song "All is fair in love and war" is all over the place including what I guess is an attempt at gutteral vocals. Also echos, solos, some atmospherics and a little choir noise. The it all ends the way it began...with the crackle of static.
This album starts out like it's made with a formula to get radio play. It gets better as it goes though when they get their radio songs out of the way and start to free it up a bit. The first five are all catchy songs but it feels a little like they tried really hard to make sure they were that way. If you're into radio rock you'll like it a lot, I really preffered the last three songs over the rest of the album. And yeah I noticed how many times I've used the word "three" it's weird.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.montepittman.com/
Portrait-Crossroads
Published: Absolute Underground#58 June/July 2014
PORTRAIT is a classic metal band that formed in Sweden in 2006. They've had a good reception since they started, with a reputation for hard work and great live shows all over Europe. There's been a few line-up changes but they have managed two full length releases and three EPs. After a few more changes and a tonne of festival dates playing with hundreds of other bands for thousands of people the next album was ready to go. This one is titled "Crossroads" and the band says it's their most important work to date.
After two minutes of classical guitar intro the second song starts off galloping. Vocals have a great Diamond/Halford feel to them. Mix in some solid twin guitar and you got some wicked 1983 going on. #4"In Time" had a wicked lead harmonics over rythym riff that gives the song a kick. #5"Black Easter" has a kickin bass line that really makes you want to headbang. Good and high tempo with great guitar interplay. There is some pretty solid guitar play and song-writing on display in the next few songs. There's just enough mix of riffs and hooks to make these two songs catchy yet still interesting to listen too. They left the mellow song for the end in #9 "Lily". Well the whole song isn't mellow but it's nine minutes long so it has a lot of room to move between the ballady beginning and the epic charging middle and back to a mellow ending
If you're a fan of metal from the early to mid-eighties I think you'll be into this. It has a feel of whitewitch or maybe a little first wave dickinson. The song writing and structure feel like they were written and recorded in an old studio, there was a lot of thought put into making sure this wasn't just another throwback sounding album. I can't really reccomend just one song to show you what the album is all about. They all fit the mold but all in different ways. So get out your patched denim vest and bang your head.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.portraitmetal.com/
PORTRAIT is a classic metal band that formed in Sweden in 2006. They've had a good reception since they started, with a reputation for hard work and great live shows all over Europe. There's been a few line-up changes but they have managed two full length releases and three EPs. After a few more changes and a tonne of festival dates playing with hundreds of other bands for thousands of people the next album was ready to go. This one is titled "Crossroads" and the band says it's their most important work to date.
After two minutes of classical guitar intro the second song starts off galloping. Vocals have a great Diamond/Halford feel to them. Mix in some solid twin guitar and you got some wicked 1983 going on. #4"In Time" had a wicked lead harmonics over rythym riff that gives the song a kick. #5"Black Easter" has a kickin bass line that really makes you want to headbang. Good and high tempo with great guitar interplay. There is some pretty solid guitar play and song-writing on display in the next few songs. There's just enough mix of riffs and hooks to make these two songs catchy yet still interesting to listen too. They left the mellow song for the end in #9 "Lily". Well the whole song isn't mellow but it's nine minutes long so it has a lot of room to move between the ballady beginning and the epic charging middle and back to a mellow ending
If you're a fan of metal from the early to mid-eighties I think you'll be into this. It has a feel of whitewitch or maybe a little first wave dickinson. The song writing and structure feel like they were written and recorded in an old studio, there was a lot of thought put into making sure this wasn't just another throwback sounding album. I can't really reccomend just one song to show you what the album is all about. They all fit the mold but all in different ways. So get out your patched denim vest and bang your head.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.portraitmetal.com/
Sarke-Aruagint
Published: Absolute Underground #57 April/May 2014
So I guess for a few years the bass player from Old man's child wanted to start a solo project. He got the vocalist Noctourno from Darkthrone to help out. Then he filled out the band with other friends who have also been in Khold, Tulus and Dimmu Brogir. They have a new album coming out with a following tour and such. I have no idea if this is a full time band for any of these guys or just a side project.
The first two songs have the slow churning black metal feel you would likely expect from this group of musicians. It has the usual grinding with the harsh vocals. It's a good intro before they start to mix it up a little. Track #3"Ugly" has the black n roll to it that I like and it flows through the next track...blackish songs about whiskey. #6"Salvation" has a few slower parts but the main riff and structure pure rocks. Why is it so many times that the sixth song on a black metal album is killer? The next up "Icon Usurper" delivers as well with some sick guitar work. It's engaging and makes you want to listen within the first couple of seconds. Stays the same throughout with a great hook and lead. It all ends off with a song that mixes black with the black and roll. Back and forth in the same song.
This album brings a lot of the black n roll, with a few other elements as well. Most people who know anything of Noctourno know what to expect from his vocals. But in this album I think there's a little bit of different music behind him. Makes sense being that it isn't really his band, he's just doing vocals. There's a few songs on here that are pretty fucking good and you should check out. "Salvation" and "Icon Usurper" are my suggestions. If you like those, pick this shit up. If you don't well download it I guess.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/sarkeofficial
So I guess for a few years the bass player from Old man's child wanted to start a solo project. He got the vocalist Noctourno from Darkthrone to help out. Then he filled out the band with other friends who have also been in Khold, Tulus and Dimmu Brogir. They have a new album coming out with a following tour and such. I have no idea if this is a full time band for any of these guys or just a side project.
The first two songs have the slow churning black metal feel you would likely expect from this group of musicians. It has the usual grinding with the harsh vocals. It's a good intro before they start to mix it up a little. Track #3"Ugly" has the black n roll to it that I like and it flows through the next track...blackish songs about whiskey. #6"Salvation" has a few slower parts but the main riff and structure pure rocks. Why is it so many times that the sixth song on a black metal album is killer? The next up "Icon Usurper" delivers as well with some sick guitar work. It's engaging and makes you want to listen within the first couple of seconds. Stays the same throughout with a great hook and lead. It all ends off with a song that mixes black with the black and roll. Back and forth in the same song.
This album brings a lot of the black n roll, with a few other elements as well. Most people who know anything of Noctourno know what to expect from his vocals. But in this album I think there's a little bit of different music behind him. Makes sense being that it isn't really his band, he's just doing vocals. There's a few songs on here that are pretty fucking good and you should check out. "Salvation" and "Icon Usurper" are my suggestions. If you like those, pick this shit up. If you don't well download it I guess.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/sarkeofficial
Sister-Disguised Vultures
Published: Absolute Underground#56 February/March 2014
SISTER is a scandinavian sleaze rock band from Stockholm putting out their first real full-length album. They had an LP out in 2011 and have been doing nothing but touring the last two years. Rumour says they put on a sick live show. I heard this band compared to a few bands I love and a few I hate so I had mixed expectations going into it.
The first song an album is usually a pretty mediocre one. This one is decent but not too spectacular. I mean I didn't stop listening so there's that. The next track "Sick" I think is the one that getting pushed the most. I can see why, it's got a sing-a-long chorus and it's pretty catchy with good movement. The next three songs follow the same path to varying degrees. All have have solid music and a chorus that you find yourself singing along to under your breath after a few listens. #6"Slay Yourself" breaks that mold with a fast paced two minutes of punk influence...or as these guys see punk anyways. The next song "Naked" is obviously the ballad on this album, because every one of these albums need one. They go all out on this one, it's cheesy as fuck and wicked in every way. I can totally see the singer having a solitary tear in the video I just assume they'll make for this. After that it's straight back to rock. This album ends with the "live in the studio" track called "Please Kill Me" that has cheering in the background and a lot of acoustic parts. I wouldn't want it ended any other way.
This album totally grew on me. I wasn't sure what I was gonna get out of this but it ended up having a lot to like. It has all the things a sleaze rock/hair metal album needs. It has the chant along choruses, easy guitar licks, sex, drugs and sleeze...and it's got that ballad. They may be following a blueprint but they're doing it right. It's what could have happened if a young Guns N Roses had done crack and speed instead of so much heroin. But seriously check out the ballad, you'll get a smile out of it.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.sisterofficial.com/
SISTER is a scandinavian sleaze rock band from Stockholm putting out their first real full-length album. They had an LP out in 2011 and have been doing nothing but touring the last two years. Rumour says they put on a sick live show. I heard this band compared to a few bands I love and a few I hate so I had mixed expectations going into it.
The first song an album is usually a pretty mediocre one. This one is decent but not too spectacular. I mean I didn't stop listening so there's that. The next track "Sick" I think is the one that getting pushed the most. I can see why, it's got a sing-a-long chorus and it's pretty catchy with good movement. The next three songs follow the same path to varying degrees. All have have solid music and a chorus that you find yourself singing along to under your breath after a few listens. #6"Slay Yourself" breaks that mold with a fast paced two minutes of punk influence...or as these guys see punk anyways. The next song "Naked" is obviously the ballad on this album, because every one of these albums need one. They go all out on this one, it's cheesy as fuck and wicked in every way. I can totally see the singer having a solitary tear in the video I just assume they'll make for this. After that it's straight back to rock. This album ends with the "live in the studio" track called "Please Kill Me" that has cheering in the background and a lot of acoustic parts. I wouldn't want it ended any other way.
This album totally grew on me. I wasn't sure what I was gonna get out of this but it ended up having a lot to like. It has all the things a sleaze rock/hair metal album needs. It has the chant along choruses, easy guitar licks, sex, drugs and sleeze...and it's got that ballad. They may be following a blueprint but they're doing it right. It's what could have happened if a young Guns N Roses had done crack and speed instead of so much heroin. But seriously check out the ballad, you'll get a smile out of it.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.sisterofficial.com/
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