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
Sunday 17 August 2014
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/
Throne of Vengeance-Live Evil
THRONE OF VENGEANCE is a hard rock band that's been playing out of Calgary since 2009. They had an EP and another full length out before they released LiveEvil. LiveEvil has been out for almost a year but it's starteing to get sme more attention recently so I thought I would give it another hit. Their independant DIY attitude and work ethic seems to be paying off with more shows and media coverage. They even have a video playing on the Decibel magazine website. Not a bad deal for an unsigned band.
I like it when bands start off with a good song instead of a really mellow intro or something. In the first few songs you notice that these guys are rock n roll and that's what they want to be. You also notice that everyone in the band is a vocalist. They have a straight forward hard rocking approach to their songs, not to say they're generic at all, it's got variety and originality but still rocks hard. "Impact(From the top of the world)" starts as a pretty decent song but the last two minutes really pull it together. You end it thinking "Fuck, that's a pretty good song. It all ends with the title track and one you can sing along to called "Terminal Velocity" that has a good political bend to it. Also has a good hook and chorus to it too.
For the conclusion I like this album. You can hear the heart and hardwork in this, it has good recording without being too polished. There's a lot of "rock" out there these days that's lost all the dirt and attitude that makes rock n roll great. This has some grit to it, I'm not saying it's the best rock album I've heard but I can think of a tonne of rock albums that it's a lot better than. So before you go to a big store looking for something give these guys a try...probably be a lot cheaper.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.throneofvengeance.com/
I like it when bands start off with a good song instead of a really mellow intro or something. In the first few songs you notice that these guys are rock n roll and that's what they want to be. You also notice that everyone in the band is a vocalist. They have a straight forward hard rocking approach to their songs, not to say they're generic at all, it's got variety and originality but still rocks hard. "Impact(From the top of the world)" starts as a pretty decent song but the last two minutes really pull it together. You end it thinking "Fuck, that's a pretty good song. It all ends with the title track and one you can sing along to called "Terminal Velocity" that has a good political bend to it. Also has a good hook and chorus to it too.
For the conclusion I like this album. You can hear the heart and hardwork in this, it has good recording without being too polished. There's a lot of "rock" out there these days that's lost all the dirt and attitude that makes rock n roll great. This has some grit to it, I'm not saying it's the best rock album I've heard but I can think of a tonne of rock albums that it's a lot better than. So before you go to a big store looking for something give these guys a try...probably be a lot cheaper.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.throneofvengeance.com/
Interview with Torrefy
Torrefy is a Victoria based thrash and party band that's been playing a tonne of shows since they started. They drink hard, play hard and always seem to be looking for more parties, shows and friends. They are currently finishing up a new album and contemplating space travel, here are some of their thoughts.
MC: When do you feel you turned into a band?
T: Our vocalist joined the band in 2011, and we played our first house party with the full line-up on New Years Eve. We've always had the same 5 members.
MC: How far would you be willing to travel to play a show?
T: Space
MC: Who would win in a fight, A drunk octopus or a raccoon with experience in Iraq?
T: 3 out of 5 members of Torrefy agree that 9 times out of 10 a raccoon will eviscerate a wasted invertebrate. 1 time out of 10 the fight is aquatic. 2 of 5 members are undecided.
MC: Would you take $100,000 if you had to be only in a Billy Talent cover band to get it?
T: We'd far rather be poor and in Torrefy…or fight a raccoon with experience in Iraq.
MC: Favorite story from a local show?
T: A couple years ago at a house show the cops arrived to break it up. They wound up --letting us finish our set because they were diggin' the tunes!
(*additional answers for a couple initial interview questions)
A few tracks have been released off our upcoming debut album Thrash and Burn, and are available on our Bandcamp page.
We just played our first show outside of Victoria at The Cambie in Nanaimo. It was fucking awesome to travel and recruit some new torrefans!
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.torrefy.bandcamp.com/
MC: When do you feel you turned into a band?
T: Our vocalist joined the band in 2011, and we played our first house party with the full line-up on New Years Eve. We've always had the same 5 members.
MC: How far would you be willing to travel to play a show?
T: Space
MC: Who would win in a fight, A drunk octopus or a raccoon with experience in Iraq?
T: 3 out of 5 members of Torrefy agree that 9 times out of 10 a raccoon will eviscerate a wasted invertebrate. 1 time out of 10 the fight is aquatic. 2 of 5 members are undecided.
MC: Would you take $100,000 if you had to be only in a Billy Talent cover band to get it?
T: We'd far rather be poor and in Torrefy…or fight a raccoon with experience in Iraq.
MC: Favorite story from a local show?
T: A couple years ago at a house show the cops arrived to break it up. They wound up --letting us finish our set because they were diggin' the tunes!
(*additional answers for a couple initial interview questions)
A few tracks have been released off our upcoming debut album Thrash and Burn, and are available on our Bandcamp page.
We just played our first show outside of Victoria at The Cambie in Nanaimo. It was fucking awesome to travel and recruit some new torrefans!
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.torrefy.bandcamp.com/
Interview with Mattowar of TraitorR
Traitorr(yes 2 r's) is a metal band from Victoria. I'm not sure what sub-genre they would fit into but they have a mix of black and thrash with a lot of experimentation and atmosphere. So they don't really fit anywhere or stay in one genre from song to song. The band is made up of members from Ironstrike, Lesbian Fist Magnet, Horde of Anacron, Archon Legion and Seasons of Sorrow. They've played a lot of live shows and have started working on a new album which should be out in the next few months. To help explain the band I got together with Founder Matt Barker.
MC: What's up with the two R's?
MB: Well first off thanks for not asking "whats with the name Traitorr?" I'm still figuring that one out. when Nick reece and I started thing's up shortly after my dismissal from Horde of Anachron It just seemed to feel right. Years later and the maturity of being in your 30's started to set in I mentioned changing the name but everybody else who had been established in the current roster loved it. So it is what it is and we stand by it.There is a deeper meaning behind it but the listener can decide for themself. As for the two r's at the end; well, when I was drawing up the logo I had an Idea of how I wanted it to look. Something between the logo's of Watain and Manowar logo haha. the extra 'r' seemed to balance the it out, that and I was a little worried some other underground band might already have the name Traitor (later on i found out this was true). plus it helps it to have a little extra Black metal embellishment on the pronunciation of the name. That may seem cheesy but whatever we're not from fucking Norway were just some dudes in Victoria BC that want to play some Black thrash!
MC: Do you ever find the influence of your former bands influencing your music?
MB: I can only speak for myself though I do believe when you chase the dragon of writing original tunes. everybody develops their own personal repertoire of little tricks discovered over time. These tricks of the trade along with the occasional and wonderful eureka moments of discovery all work together to help the artist perpetually evolve (as an artist not necessarily as a 'decent' Human being). For me without a doubt, Necro Daunus taught me almost every thing I know about bending the will of your left hand to suit the needs of the devil. As well Nick kadar from Ironstrike taught me alot about melodic chord progression and melody. Both these band's influences can be heard on our up coming record!
MC: Do you feel that being in Victoria influences your sound or style?
MB: Well Ya! Being from a place like Victoria a lot of people develop strong and unique beliefs and opinions from living somewhere so far from any real Geo political constriction. We get to have a birdseye view of the world and we like to have a good time while we do it! Even with a name like Traitorr we know were lucky we have the freedom to do what we love to do!
MC: Would your music work better as the soundtrack for a movie or a game?
MB: Good Question! Well i wouldn't say it would be better. Considering we took an old school approach to the recording process. By going into a decent studio with almost no money, and recording everything at once off the floor. So it depends on the movie I guess haha! However, Musically, I would say major movie anthem's have been a great influence on my writing. We all know of the classical influence on Metal. I Find though, that's Movie scored classical is a little more relevant. Due to the fact that it has to complement the scenery. It's main melodies and anthem's are usual right out front of the music I'm guessing so the feeling isn't lost in a melee of multiple instrument counter-pointal harmony like the great one's can pull off so well. Closely examining my favorite movie scores has helped on the song's where we take a break from being a Black/Thrash band and get into some of our more triumphantly tragic (dare I say) epic sounding soungs.
MC: What are your thoughts on corpsepaint and shirtless pics?
MB: Maybe on Halloween! Like I said we're not from fucking Norway haha! Though I do appreciate any band that can pull it off! We have some good ones right here in Victoria! But we're just not Black Metal enough to pull that that stuff off! There would be a lynch mob out for us if we called ourselves 'Black Metal' considering some of the different directions our song's take. And if people still want to get pissed off. (and this is were the name can come in handy cause this has happened) Well....whatever....FUCK YOU! we're TraitorR!
MB: Sorry if I rambled and got carried away and talked to much shit
MC: All good dude I'll edit it to make you look cool
Michael F. Carnage
http://traitorr.bandcamp.com/
MC: What's up with the two R's?
MB: Well first off thanks for not asking "whats with the name Traitorr?" I'm still figuring that one out. when Nick reece and I started thing's up shortly after my dismissal from Horde of Anachron It just seemed to feel right. Years later and the maturity of being in your 30's started to set in I mentioned changing the name but everybody else who had been established in the current roster loved it. So it is what it is and we stand by it.There is a deeper meaning behind it but the listener can decide for themself. As for the two r's at the end; well, when I was drawing up the logo I had an Idea of how I wanted it to look. Something between the logo's of Watain and Manowar logo haha. the extra 'r' seemed to balance the it out, that and I was a little worried some other underground band might already have the name Traitor (later on i found out this was true). plus it helps it to have a little extra Black metal embellishment on the pronunciation of the name. That may seem cheesy but whatever we're not from fucking Norway were just some dudes in Victoria BC that want to play some Black thrash!
MC: Do you ever find the influence of your former bands influencing your music?
MB: I can only speak for myself though I do believe when you chase the dragon of writing original tunes. everybody develops their own personal repertoire of little tricks discovered over time. These tricks of the trade along with the occasional and wonderful eureka moments of discovery all work together to help the artist perpetually evolve (as an artist not necessarily as a 'decent' Human being). For me without a doubt, Necro Daunus taught me almost every thing I know about bending the will of your left hand to suit the needs of the devil. As well Nick kadar from Ironstrike taught me alot about melodic chord progression and melody. Both these band's influences can be heard on our up coming record!
MC: Do you feel that being in Victoria influences your sound or style?
MB: Well Ya! Being from a place like Victoria a lot of people develop strong and unique beliefs and opinions from living somewhere so far from any real Geo political constriction. We get to have a birdseye view of the world and we like to have a good time while we do it! Even with a name like Traitorr we know were lucky we have the freedom to do what we love to do!
MC: Would your music work better as the soundtrack for a movie or a game?
MB: Good Question! Well i wouldn't say it would be better. Considering we took an old school approach to the recording process. By going into a decent studio with almost no money, and recording everything at once off the floor. So it depends on the movie I guess haha! However, Musically, I would say major movie anthem's have been a great influence on my writing. We all know of the classical influence on Metal. I Find though, that's Movie scored classical is a little more relevant. Due to the fact that it has to complement the scenery. It's main melodies and anthem's are usual right out front of the music I'm guessing so the feeling isn't lost in a melee of multiple instrument counter-pointal harmony like the great one's can pull off so well. Closely examining my favorite movie scores has helped on the song's where we take a break from being a Black/Thrash band and get into some of our more triumphantly tragic (dare I say) epic sounding soungs.
MC: What are your thoughts on corpsepaint and shirtless pics?
MB: Maybe on Halloween! Like I said we're not from fucking Norway haha! Though I do appreciate any band that can pull it off! We have some good ones right here in Victoria! But we're just not Black Metal enough to pull that that stuff off! There would be a lynch mob out for us if we called ourselves 'Black Metal' considering some of the different directions our song's take. And if people still want to get pissed off. (and this is were the name can come in handy cause this has happened) Well....whatever....FUCK YOU! we're TraitorR!
MB: Sorry if I rambled and got carried away and talked to much shit
MC: All good dude I'll edit it to make you look cool
Michael F. Carnage
http://traitorr.bandcamp.com/
TYR-Valkyrja Metal Blade Records
Published: Absolute Underground #54 October/November 2013
TYR is everyone's favorite faroese metal band. This is their 7th album of folkish, powerish, sort-of viking metal or whatever it is that they do. This one is a theme album of women and what all men are willing to do for them. It follows in the tradition of all their album being based on their local folklore. The first thing I noticed was the change in drumming from other TYR albums. George Kollias from Nile and Nightfall is the new drummer, explains all the difference.
"Blood of Heroes" gets it off to a perfect start with epic leads and a chant-along type of chorus that makes you want to pump your fist if you're drinking. It all starts the viking quest to battle. The battle to impress the gods...or women I guess. "They lay of our love" is a solid duet, I really don't say that very often. I don't generally like the whole guy/girl sing together thing but this one works. Afterwards it's battlesongs of a little awesomeness especially "Grindavisan" which is what all viking metal songs should be like. "Fanar Burtur Brandaljod" is back to the folkyness of a lot of the past albums. Afterwards its back to songs of metal and wickedness. "Lady of the slain" fucking slays if you can pardon the pun. Wait, is that a pun? I'm not that sure.
This is a great pile of metal and I was really into it. I mean I'm drinking but i don't see why I wont like it when I sober up. There is a great story of folklore throughout all the songs and the continuity is solid. I'm going to listen to this a bunch more times. And as an added surprise they have two covers at then end that are a little weird. I won't tell you what they are but I will say someone and Pantera.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.tyr.fo/
TYR is everyone's favorite faroese metal band. This is their 7th album of folkish, powerish, sort-of viking metal or whatever it is that they do. This one is a theme album of women and what all men are willing to do for them. It follows in the tradition of all their album being based on their local folklore. The first thing I noticed was the change in drumming from other TYR albums. George Kollias from Nile and Nightfall is the new drummer, explains all the difference.
"Blood of Heroes" gets it off to a perfect start with epic leads and a chant-along type of chorus that makes you want to pump your fist if you're drinking. It all starts the viking quest to battle. The battle to impress the gods...or women I guess. "They lay of our love" is a solid duet, I really don't say that very often. I don't generally like the whole guy/girl sing together thing but this one works. Afterwards it's battlesongs of a little awesomeness especially "Grindavisan" which is what all viking metal songs should be like. "Fanar Burtur Brandaljod" is back to the folkyness of a lot of the past albums. Afterwards its back to songs of metal and wickedness. "Lady of the slain" fucking slays if you can pardon the pun. Wait, is that a pun? I'm not that sure.
This is a great pile of metal and I was really into it. I mean I'm drinking but i don't see why I wont like it when I sober up. There is a great story of folklore throughout all the songs and the continuity is solid. I'm going to listen to this a bunch more times. And as an added surprise they have two covers at then end that are a little weird. I won't tell you what they are but I will say someone and Pantera.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.tyr.fo/
Ereb Altor-Fire meets Ice Cyclone Empire Records
Published: Absolute Underground #54 October/November 2013
Ereb Altor is a three-piece swedish band that used to be called Isole until about 2004 or so. They changed their name and started recording demos. Several small EP's have been made until we get to this one. If you've listened to any of them you'll notice this newest one has a heavier, blacker feel to it. They've decided to go full-on Bathory with it...not that that's a bad thing at all.
It starts of with an epic nine minute track called "Fire meets Ice". And it shows the influence and the feeling of the album right away. The feeling of Scandanavian folklore is everpresent In it from the beginning."Nifelheim" tells the tales of daunting sea voyages and the gods who helped them suceed. The pace of all these songs is a slower, story-telling manner until "My Ravens" with it's quicker riffing and rythym. After that it's back to the telling of tales and odes to lost viking warriors. The second last song is "Post Ragnarok" and it's fast pace pace is a quicl change. It's got the blackest feel of the whole album and a great pace and drumming. The album finishes well with "Our legacy", if you're going to listen to one song to get a feel for the album I would say this is it.
If you like metal in the folky or viking feel, you'll be into this one. It has a total Bathory feel to it if you encompass all of Bathory's music. It's worth checking out because all of the EPs from this band are hard to find and I don't think they'll be leaving Europe anytime soon. If they do I'll go see them.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.erebaltor.com/
Ereb Altor is a three-piece swedish band that used to be called Isole until about 2004 or so. They changed their name and started recording demos. Several small EP's have been made until we get to this one. If you've listened to any of them you'll notice this newest one has a heavier, blacker feel to it. They've decided to go full-on Bathory with it...not that that's a bad thing at all.
It starts of with an epic nine minute track called "Fire meets Ice". And it shows the influence and the feeling of the album right away. The feeling of Scandanavian folklore is everpresent In it from the beginning."Nifelheim" tells the tales of daunting sea voyages and the gods who helped them suceed. The pace of all these songs is a slower, story-telling manner until "My Ravens" with it's quicker riffing and rythym. After that it's back to the telling of tales and odes to lost viking warriors. The second last song is "Post Ragnarok" and it's fast pace pace is a quicl change. It's got the blackest feel of the whole album and a great pace and drumming. The album finishes well with "Our legacy", if you're going to listen to one song to get a feel for the album I would say this is it.
If you like metal in the folky or viking feel, you'll be into this one. It has a total Bathory feel to it if you encompass all of Bathory's music. It's worth checking out because all of the EPs from this band are hard to find and I don't think they'll be leaving Europe anytime soon. If they do I'll go see them.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.erebaltor.com/
Noctis666 Lucifer Rex review
Published: Absolute Underground #54 October/November 2013
This likely isn't going to be a very comprehensive review of the Noctis 666 festival as I missed parts of it but I'll try, I didn't get out for any of the Thursday night shows bcause of travelling from the coast. From what I heard though BOLZER and STRYKER were the standouts of that night.
I finally got my ass in gear on Friday afternoon and set out to find friends for a pre-game. Getting to the Ramada and seeing the whole lobby and sidewalk full of metalheads from pretty wicked and seemed to scare a few people. After shots were had and change was found it was off to the train. We all showed up in time to see PAGAN ALTAR who I am not really familiar with. The band played really tight through an instrumental song when I first got there. Unfortunetaly as soon as the vocals started in the next song I totally lost my taste for this band. Good music but I couldn't take the vocals. So it was off to the beer garden to wait for GORGUTS to start. For a busy place the beer lines moved pretty fast, everyone was happy and pounding tall cans of pilsner. I made sure I had a perfect view for GORGUTS because I've wanted to see them for years. I think their set was only slated for 40 minutes so they started fast and kept it up. I'm no expert at their songs but they played songs from Obscura up to Colored Sands. It was intense and Luc Lemay interacted with the crowd like the legend he is. REVENGE and their style of Canadian black metal was up next. The set was intense the band was really into it. This was the perfect set-up for BLASPHEMY. This is a band that has 30 years of urban legend behind it. We've all heard the rumours and stories about these guys. What was unfortunate was I couldn't hear the whole band. I tried a bunch of different places in the hall as did a lot of other people I saw. They looked really good and the vocals were good in the spot that I could hear them but then I was off to the afterparty. It was a blur.
Saturday started with stumbling out of bed to find a bunch of texts. Most of tthem centering around "how much can we eat and drink and not miss SACRIFICE?' We succeeded in just that, catching a shuttle and being there in time to have my balls fondled by security. SACRIFICE seemed really excited to play, I guess they hadn't played Calgary in 20 years. I've really only heard most of their early work so I was totally into this set. Next up was POSSESSED and lets just say Jeff Becerra slays harder in a wheelchair than a lot of vocalists do standing. Heads were banging across the hall as this band ripped through some classics. The only time I've really ever heard of GIRLSCHOOL is when Lemmy talks about them. I was pleasantly surprised by their brand of fun 80's guitar rock. Not one of them looks or sounds as old as they are. They were the one band that didn't fit in at a metal festival but that was a good thing. Thirty minutes of fun and not taking yourself too seriously.*SCENE MISSING* Through the sound of Jager shots and university girls I heard someone say that CARCASS was starting soon. I've never left a group of girls so fast. The current lineup is their best in a while. Jeff Walker works the crowd into a frenzy and then the rest of the band helps deliver crushing brutality. They went old, they went new and they even played songs off that album you say you don't like. We all wished for an encore but didn't get one. A large part of the crowd showed up at Vern's in time for the belligerance that is OH SHIT! It looks like their skill is starting to catch up to their egos. The bar was in fine form and a fitting end to the Noctis fest for another year. Everything wasn't perfect but I wouldn't trade it away. I had a wicked time with a lot of good people. Wristbands, cracked hands and bruises. Blood, sweat and beers. I only wish it wasn't the last year.
Michael F. Carnage
This likely isn't going to be a very comprehensive review of the Noctis 666 festival as I missed parts of it but I'll try, I didn't get out for any of the Thursday night shows bcause of travelling from the coast. From what I heard though BOLZER and STRYKER were the standouts of that night.
I finally got my ass in gear on Friday afternoon and set out to find friends for a pre-game. Getting to the Ramada and seeing the whole lobby and sidewalk full of metalheads from pretty wicked and seemed to scare a few people. After shots were had and change was found it was off to the train. We all showed up in time to see PAGAN ALTAR who I am not really familiar with. The band played really tight through an instrumental song when I first got there. Unfortunetaly as soon as the vocals started in the next song I totally lost my taste for this band. Good music but I couldn't take the vocals. So it was off to the beer garden to wait for GORGUTS to start. For a busy place the beer lines moved pretty fast, everyone was happy and pounding tall cans of pilsner. I made sure I had a perfect view for GORGUTS because I've wanted to see them for years. I think their set was only slated for 40 minutes so they started fast and kept it up. I'm no expert at their songs but they played songs from Obscura up to Colored Sands. It was intense and Luc Lemay interacted with the crowd like the legend he is. REVENGE and their style of Canadian black metal was up next. The set was intense the band was really into it. This was the perfect set-up for BLASPHEMY. This is a band that has 30 years of urban legend behind it. We've all heard the rumours and stories about these guys. What was unfortunate was I couldn't hear the whole band. I tried a bunch of different places in the hall as did a lot of other people I saw. They looked really good and the vocals were good in the spot that I could hear them but then I was off to the afterparty. It was a blur.
Saturday started with stumbling out of bed to find a bunch of texts. Most of tthem centering around "how much can we eat and drink and not miss SACRIFICE?' We succeeded in just that, catching a shuttle and being there in time to have my balls fondled by security. SACRIFICE seemed really excited to play, I guess they hadn't played Calgary in 20 years. I've really only heard most of their early work so I was totally into this set. Next up was POSSESSED and lets just say Jeff Becerra slays harder in a wheelchair than a lot of vocalists do standing. Heads were banging across the hall as this band ripped through some classics. The only time I've really ever heard of GIRLSCHOOL is when Lemmy talks about them. I was pleasantly surprised by their brand of fun 80's guitar rock. Not one of them looks or sounds as old as they are. They were the one band that didn't fit in at a metal festival but that was a good thing. Thirty minutes of fun and not taking yourself too seriously.*SCENE MISSING* Through the sound of Jager shots and university girls I heard someone say that CARCASS was starting soon. I've never left a group of girls so fast. The current lineup is their best in a while. Jeff Walker works the crowd into a frenzy and then the rest of the band helps deliver crushing brutality. They went old, they went new and they even played songs off that album you say you don't like. We all wished for an encore but didn't get one. A large part of the crowd showed up at Vern's in time for the belligerance that is OH SHIT! It looks like their skill is starting to catch up to their egos. The bar was in fine form and a fitting end to the Noctis fest for another year. Everything wasn't perfect but I wouldn't trade it away. I had a wicked time with a lot of good people. Wristbands, cracked hands and bruises. Blood, sweat and beers. I only wish it wasn't the last year.
Michael F. Carnage
Lightening Swords of Death-Baphometic Chaosium Metal Blade Records
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Lightning Swords of Death from L.A. has released their first new material in about 3 or 4 years. Some people thing they are too mainstream because they have toured with Danzig and are signed to MetalBlade but I disagree. I don't think you have to be on an obscure label that only releases 666 copies to be a good black metal band. It doesn't really seem like they do anything except what they do for themselves. Either way this is their second release on MetalBlade.
The title track starts it off with a good bit of atmosphere. Keeping it mid-tempo throughout the whole song. For "Acid Gate" and "Psychic Waters" they speed it up a bit and you can really hear the Marduk influence. Autarch's chanting on "Acid Gate" could give people chills, not me of course but some people. Then there's a breif instrumental that sound a lot like the background music in an old horror film. You know the part where the chick from the 70's is wandering through a basement about to find true evil? After this I think the album really comes together. The last 4 songs are the best 4 in my opinion. "Chained to Decay" has a good grinding quality throughout the whole song, not really ever speeding up but keeping you interested.I would have to say "Epicyclarium" would be my favorite songs on here. It's the longest one too at almost 8 minutes but it has some great tempo changes and I just like the feel of it.
Overall I think this is a pretty solid album. It starts well and ends well and there wasn't a song on there that I didn't like at all. Each song has great drumming and there is solid guitar work to be heard at several points. I'm a sucker for a good riff and was happy to hear quite a few. It all had a pretty evil feeling to it which I think is the point of the genre. Of course in the end I'm not one of those black-metal guys so I might not know what I'm talking about. They do have a video that's pretty easy to find so I'm sure anyone can locate their music on the internets. They look to have a pretty DIY attitude so they'd likely appreciate the $10 if you bought a CD. In my uneducated and nearly pointless rating system I guess I'd give this one 4 goats out of 5.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.facebook.com/lightningswordsofdeath
Lightning Swords of Death from L.A. has released their first new material in about 3 or 4 years. Some people thing they are too mainstream because they have toured with Danzig and are signed to MetalBlade but I disagree. I don't think you have to be on an obscure label that only releases 666 copies to be a good black metal band. It doesn't really seem like they do anything except what they do for themselves. Either way this is their second release on MetalBlade.
The title track starts it off with a good bit of atmosphere. Keeping it mid-tempo throughout the whole song. For "Acid Gate" and "Psychic Waters" they speed it up a bit and you can really hear the Marduk influence. Autarch's chanting on "Acid Gate" could give people chills, not me of course but some people. Then there's a breif instrumental that sound a lot like the background music in an old horror film. You know the part where the chick from the 70's is wandering through a basement about to find true evil? After this I think the album really comes together. The last 4 songs are the best 4 in my opinion. "Chained to Decay" has a good grinding quality throughout the whole song, not really ever speeding up but keeping you interested.I would have to say "Epicyclarium" would be my favorite songs on here. It's the longest one too at almost 8 minutes but it has some great tempo changes and I just like the feel of it.
Overall I think this is a pretty solid album. It starts well and ends well and there wasn't a song on there that I didn't like at all. Each song has great drumming and there is solid guitar work to be heard at several points. I'm a sucker for a good riff and was happy to hear quite a few. It all had a pretty evil feeling to it which I think is the point of the genre. Of course in the end I'm not one of those black-metal guys so I might not know what I'm talking about. They do have a video that's pretty easy to find so I'm sure anyone can locate their music on the internets. They look to have a pretty DIY attitude so they'd likely appreciate the $10 if you bought a CD. In my uneducated and nearly pointless rating system I guess I'd give this one 4 goats out of 5.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.facebook.com/lightningswordsofdeath
Bastard Sapling-Dragged from our restless trance Forcefield Records
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Bastard Sapling are black metal from Richmond, Virginia. Doesn't exactly seem like the place where frostbitten satan would find musicians. Makes me more think of colonial theme-parks or civil war re-enactments but hey, I don't judge. From what I can tell they have released two EPs and this is their first full length even though it only has four songs on it there's a little more than 40 minutes on here. There's also only 500 copies available so I'll only be working with a digital copy.
It all starts off with "Prophesy born from dismal terrain" it's a good start. Straight up black metal in my opinion. A pretty good first song with a solid tempo that gets your head moving. This is before the band starts to get really experimental. "Cold winds howled across the desolation" is a perfect name for how the next song sounds and how it feels. You definitely get the feeling of desolation. Lots of atmosphere and bleakness from start to end. Dare I say it's also got some tasty guitar riffing. This really has a mid-90's black metal feeling to it, kind of like early Ulver. Constant drumming keeps the pace while guitars meander in and out. The vocals are howled and growled over the soundscape. Right about the middle of "The apex of suffering" I started to get the Bathory tingles. That feeling where you think you're getting the exact ancient warrior feeling that the artist was trying to give you. Maybe that's just the brain damage talking, but that's the feeling I get with the last two songs. The album ends better than it starts. Slow, droning and atmospheric.
I've listened to this album dozens of times now and I really enjoy it. It's black metal in a way that hasn't been done a lot in the last 15 to 20 years. If you like the atmospheric sound layering of Ulver or maybe Hate Forest this is something you would be totally into. All the songs were full, and this might be a bad word for this genre of metal, and catchy. I'll continue listening to this, even if I just have it on in the background. I have no idea where to find and of their limited releases but the internet is wonderful that.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/bastardsapling/info
Bastard Sapling are black metal from Richmond, Virginia. Doesn't exactly seem like the place where frostbitten satan would find musicians. Makes me more think of colonial theme-parks or civil war re-enactments but hey, I don't judge. From what I can tell they have released two EPs and this is their first full length even though it only has four songs on it there's a little more than 40 minutes on here. There's also only 500 copies available so I'll only be working with a digital copy.
It all starts off with "Prophesy born from dismal terrain" it's a good start. Straight up black metal in my opinion. A pretty good first song with a solid tempo that gets your head moving. This is before the band starts to get really experimental. "Cold winds howled across the desolation" is a perfect name for how the next song sounds and how it feels. You definitely get the feeling of desolation. Lots of atmosphere and bleakness from start to end. Dare I say it's also got some tasty guitar riffing. This really has a mid-90's black metal feeling to it, kind of like early Ulver. Constant drumming keeps the pace while guitars meander in and out. The vocals are howled and growled over the soundscape. Right about the middle of "The apex of suffering" I started to get the Bathory tingles. That feeling where you think you're getting the exact ancient warrior feeling that the artist was trying to give you. Maybe that's just the brain damage talking, but that's the feeling I get with the last two songs. The album ends better than it starts. Slow, droning and atmospheric.
I've listened to this album dozens of times now and I really enjoy it. It's black metal in a way that hasn't been done a lot in the last 15 to 20 years. If you like the atmospheric sound layering of Ulver or maybe Hate Forest this is something you would be totally into. All the songs were full, and this might be a bad word for this genre of metal, and catchy. I'll continue listening to this, even if I just have it on in the background. I have no idea where to find and of their limited releases but the internet is wonderful that.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/bastardsapling/info
Interview with Paul Shields of Chosen
I want to start this interview by saying thank you. I haven't had the opportunity to interview a band from Ireland so I know next to nothing about the Irish metal scene.
If you’re interested in the Irish metal scene there are two great websites you can check out:
www.metalireland.com and http://irish-metal.blogspot.ie/
AU You moved to Vancouver for a year and then back to Ireland. Was that just to record this album or was there more to it?
DM: We came back to Ireland for two main reasons: to record our debut album but also because we knew our stay in Canada was limited to just 12 months based on the type of visas we had. So, from the outset we knew we had a year to make the most of our stay.
AU Have you ever thought about adding another member to the band or do you think it would take away from what you have built sound-wise?
PS: Given all the various line-up changes we experienced and the set-backs they sometimes cause, to take on another member yet again could see history repeating itself. Perhaps, this band was just meant for the two of us, as we work extremely well together and are on the same page, musically, as well as in personality, outlook and aspirations. So, yes, I think to take on any other members would invite potential problems down the line.
AU I noticed there were a lot of quiet intros to songs, what were some of the instruments used on this album that were out of the ordinary?
DM: We utilised a number of different instruments to try and enrich the overall soundscape. While they’re not too out of the ordinary, we recorded a fiddle, as well as some synths and other sound samples.
AU Would you ever move to Canada again or are you going to try your chances in Europe?
PS: We’re quite happy here in Ireland to be honest. While we thoroughly enjoyed our time living in Vancouver, there is no reason for us to move back there or to move to any other part of the world for that matter. One of the main reasons we relocated to Canada was because we couldn’t find a stable line-up in our own country. But now that we have that matter permanently taken care of, it makes little sense to uproot our lives once again just to live in another city, especially when you consider the fact that music can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world. With the internet being 24/7, the promotion of music is no longer subject to location like it once was.
AU What's something special you can tell us about your hometown?
DM: I come from a town called Drogheda (pronounced, draw-heada) which is over 800 years old and is situated in an area full of archaeological buildings. Quite a number of historic events have taken place here throughout the centuries. There is also the preserved severed head of Saint Oliver Plunkett which has been on public display in one of the town’s churches for almost 100 years. It’s creepy looking.
AU This is an album you're releasing yourself, is that something you want to continue even if it does really well?
PS: Self-releasing is something we have pretty much done since the outset and while lots of bands still aspire to sign to a record label, even in the age of the internet, it’s not something we are pursuing. The reasons are to do with wanting to have full control over our music, image, touring commitments, etc., but also because of 360 deals becoming the norm. It’s hard to see what a label could hope to offer a niche band such as ourselves in exchange for a massive chunk of the profits. I get why people equate success to being signed but all it really amounts to is a bank loan with lots of terms and conditions, all of which rests on the probability of becoming commercially successful.
AU What are your plans for the rest of your day?
DM: Right after this, I will be getting back to studying for my upcoming Irish Law exam, which is part of a Social Care course I’m currently doing.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chosen.ie/
Chosen-Resolution
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Chosen is a band from Ireland that has released a bunch of EPs over the last 8 years but now finally has a full-length out. They're only a two-piece but any metal fan knows that that sort of line-up can totally work out. The thing I usually like about a two-piece band is that it usually has a great groove to it. It forces the guitar and drums/percussion to work together in a way it doesn't usually in a full band.
The whole thing starts with a decent intro as usual, it lasts about a minute before the metal begins. The second song has a shorter intro followed by some clean vocals and then growling and solid riffing. The formula plays through the 3rd song with a first minure and a half of classical guitar. Maybe it's just me but I can see a lot of Meshuggah influence in this. They seem to be trying to pack as much as they can into every song here. There's a lot of the time changes in the songs. I'm not using this as a detriment at all. "Asch's Paradigm" is full of changes and harsh then clean vocals, fast then slow rythym. It's a pretty cool song actually.
Throughout the album they have a mix of clean vocals and growling and a mix of tempos. It seems most songs mix it up and will have a blend of styles. Instead of having a fast song with harsh vocals and other slower ones with cleaner vocals they seem to make sure every song does this. It's not like it's a bad thing as each song is pretty good and these two guys have a lot of talent. I could see how people would not like this approach too much, To some people these sogs might seem a little too busy but in the end it's an album I'll listen to again. I think my best advice with this one is that you'll have to listen to it more than a few times. I haven't decided yet whether or not it's a regular release or one of those hidden gems that will just grow on you over the first week you listen to it. I guess I'm going to have to figure that out.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chosen.ie/
Chosen is a band from Ireland that has released a bunch of EPs over the last 8 years but now finally has a full-length out. They're only a two-piece but any metal fan knows that that sort of line-up can totally work out. The thing I usually like about a two-piece band is that it usually has a great groove to it. It forces the guitar and drums/percussion to work together in a way it doesn't usually in a full band.
The whole thing starts with a decent intro as usual, it lasts about a minute before the metal begins. The second song has a shorter intro followed by some clean vocals and then growling and solid riffing. The formula plays through the 3rd song with a first minure and a half of classical guitar. Maybe it's just me but I can see a lot of Meshuggah influence in this. They seem to be trying to pack as much as they can into every song here. There's a lot of the time changes in the songs. I'm not using this as a detriment at all. "Asch's Paradigm" is full of changes and harsh then clean vocals, fast then slow rythym. It's a pretty cool song actually.
Throughout the album they have a mix of clean vocals and growling and a mix of tempos. It seems most songs mix it up and will have a blend of styles. Instead of having a fast song with harsh vocals and other slower ones with cleaner vocals they seem to make sure every song does this. It's not like it's a bad thing as each song is pretty good and these two guys have a lot of talent. I could see how people would not like this approach too much, To some people these sogs might seem a little too busy but in the end it's an album I'll listen to again. I think my best advice with this one is that you'll have to listen to it more than a few times. I haven't decided yet whether or not it's a regular release or one of those hidden gems that will just grow on you over the first week you listen to it. I guess I'm going to have to figure that out.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chosen.ie/
Xul Interview
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Interviewee: Levi Meyers (Vocals)
AU: As far as I can find XUL is the name of a programming language or maybe a mayan word, I'm clearly missing something. What's behind the name?
LM: Well to be honest, the first time we ever came across the name was in the Behemoth song “XUL”. We mulled around a couple other names, but after researching that XUL in Sumerian, meant “evil”, we thought it fit the type of music we were writing. We get the Ghostbusters thing: “There is no Dana, only Xul!” a lot. People used to chant it at our super early shows, but it kind of died out.
AU: How many years of jamming did it take before you started to record anything?
LM: We recorded an EP in 2010. We recorded it in Wallace's basement, so the quality wasn't great, but it got our music out there. It took us around a year to write some new songs and record Malignance. I'm not even sure where our EP went, it's probably out there somewhere.
AU: Have you guys ever felt the need to move to Vancouver or a larger city to get more notice or are you happy with what you are accomplishing in Vernon?
LM: We've been discussing a move to Vancouver next year, but a lot can change in a year. We'll have to see how things go. We are happy with what we have accomplished while living in Vernon, but I think a bigger city could help us play more shows to larger/ newer crowds. It is nice to be the out of town band in some situations, but it'll have to happen eventually. Regardless, our plan is to tour as much as possible.
AU: Your influences are clear, what have you guys done in order to stand alone apart from other bands that are already established?
LM: We're all pretty critical of each other. If something sounds blatantly similar to another band, we'll change it. There is a line between an influence, and a template, and I think we've done a good job of not falling into another band's template. Sometimes it can be frustrating when you write something you think is unique, but then when you present it to the group, someone says “ That's a -bandname- riff!” Then follows a moment of cussing said band because you've been listening to them for the past month and somehow it seeped into your subconscious!
AU: You haven't played too many shows yet, is there a show or a venue that has been a clear favorite so far?
LM: I really like the Pawnshop in Edmonton. It has a pretty awesome stage and a lot of crowd space. The sound was sick and there was a decent turn out. There was actually like an even ratio there. I should also mention Armstrong Metal Fest. We are playing there this year for the fifth time. July 19th and 20th. Two days of camping, beer and metal... is there anything better? If you haven't been there, it's something you have to experience for yourself.
AU: I'll assume that maybe opening up for Absu in April could takeover as your favorite show, how much excitement do you all have for that show?
LM: It's pretty fuckin' amazing. We can't believe we are actually going to be sharing the stage with a band as legendary as ABSU!! I'm gonna try not to make a fool of myself around them. It's hard to not fan boy it up around such wicked bands, but I find the ultimate advice is this: when they aren't Absu, they're just regular dudes...you know?
AU: What's your food and liquor of choice when you're on the road?
LM: Pilsner and Wendy's! Marlow makes some homemade apple juice and cranberry juice that we never hit the road without. One shot of that cranberry juice can cure a hangover. Oh, and beef jerky.
AU: Do you guys want to get some beers before the Absu show?
LM: Always. You buyin? (kidding)
AU: Wicked, titties and pilsner
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.xulmetal.bandcamp.com/
Interviewee: Levi Meyers (Vocals)
AU: As far as I can find XUL is the name of a programming language or maybe a mayan word, I'm clearly missing something. What's behind the name?
LM: Well to be honest, the first time we ever came across the name was in the Behemoth song “XUL”. We mulled around a couple other names, but after researching that XUL in Sumerian, meant “evil”, we thought it fit the type of music we were writing. We get the Ghostbusters thing: “There is no Dana, only Xul!” a lot. People used to chant it at our super early shows, but it kind of died out.
AU: How many years of jamming did it take before you started to record anything?
LM: We recorded an EP in 2010. We recorded it in Wallace's basement, so the quality wasn't great, but it got our music out there. It took us around a year to write some new songs and record Malignance. I'm not even sure where our EP went, it's probably out there somewhere.
AU: Have you guys ever felt the need to move to Vancouver or a larger city to get more notice or are you happy with what you are accomplishing in Vernon?
LM: We've been discussing a move to Vancouver next year, but a lot can change in a year. We'll have to see how things go. We are happy with what we have accomplished while living in Vernon, but I think a bigger city could help us play more shows to larger/ newer crowds. It is nice to be the out of town band in some situations, but it'll have to happen eventually. Regardless, our plan is to tour as much as possible.
AU: Your influences are clear, what have you guys done in order to stand alone apart from other bands that are already established?
LM: We're all pretty critical of each other. If something sounds blatantly similar to another band, we'll change it. There is a line between an influence, and a template, and I think we've done a good job of not falling into another band's template. Sometimes it can be frustrating when you write something you think is unique, but then when you present it to the group, someone says “ That's a -bandname- riff!” Then follows a moment of cussing said band because you've been listening to them for the past month and somehow it seeped into your subconscious!
AU: You haven't played too many shows yet, is there a show or a venue that has been a clear favorite so far?
LM: I really like the Pawnshop in Edmonton. It has a pretty awesome stage and a lot of crowd space. The sound was sick and there was a decent turn out. There was actually like an even ratio there. I should also mention Armstrong Metal Fest. We are playing there this year for the fifth time. July 19th and 20th. Two days of camping, beer and metal... is there anything better? If you haven't been there, it's something you have to experience for yourself.
AU: I'll assume that maybe opening up for Absu in April could takeover as your favorite show, how much excitement do you all have for that show?
LM: It's pretty fuckin' amazing. We can't believe we are actually going to be sharing the stage with a band as legendary as ABSU!! I'm gonna try not to make a fool of myself around them. It's hard to not fan boy it up around such wicked bands, but I find the ultimate advice is this: when they aren't Absu, they're just regular dudes...you know?
AU: What's your food and liquor of choice when you're on the road?
LM: Pilsner and Wendy's! Marlow makes some homemade apple juice and cranberry juice that we never hit the road without. One shot of that cranberry juice can cure a hangover. Oh, and beef jerky.
AU: Do you guys want to get some beers before the Absu show?
LM: Always. You buyin? (kidding)
AU: Wicked, titties and pilsner
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.xulmetal.bandcamp.com/
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