ANAAL NATHRAKH is a British/American two-piece band that is pretty popular with the extreme metal crowd. They've been making music for about fifteen years now and are always testing boundaries pushing towards their goal of being the soundtrack to the apocalypse. They have already brought the sounds of evil, hate and violence to seven albums, more than a couple of festivals and the Peel sessions on BBC. Their next album is called "Desideratum" and will be released by MetalBlade this fall.
This album starts with everything you expect from someone whose goal is to induce horror, a layer of shreiks, growls and atmosphere. As you get into the second track "Unleash" there's the start of clean vocals but not the normal kind. It's the haunting kind that add to the layer of terror. Relentless drumming add into the slight synth/sampling effect to complete it. By track four "The one thing needful" they've mixed it all perfectly, clean/harsh vocals with synth/sampling and great guitars. It has an epic yet brutal feel, touching mountain tops while still dragging corpses through the valleys. It stays this way through several songs mixing exactly what I like from black metal and industrial with a little of the classic metal. #7"Idol" is one of those tracks that most would call brutal that I think is catchy and and radio-friendly, makes you want to sing a-long to it. And then next song is shreiking mixed with jackhammer drumming, also included is an wicked riff that comes in and out throughout. "Rage and Red" is comparatively slower than the rest with a little more industrial feel, a little more spoken lyrics and etheral flow. The last song ends it with fast, reckless anger and violent cacaphony, just the way I like my extreme metal.
This album gave me what I was looking for. It was as awesome as a night terror, perfectly layering soundscapes of industrial and black metal. Having it all lurking and readu to lash out with nightmare inducing noise. If you have heard this band before you know what you're getting into, they work really hard to create the sound of armegeddon. as they promise one day humanity will be destroyed and this is the music that will be there to chronicle and soundtrack its downfall.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.anaal-nathrakh.com
Sunday 19 October 2014
Saturday 18 October 2014
Fallujah/Archspire Oct 12 Victoria BC
I was really excited to get a ticket for this show after hearing the rumours of it selling out, but thanks to Cavity Curiosity Shop I got me and a friend in. But due to my own bad time management I showed up five minutes before the opening band finished. They were called Tenchu and all I got out of them was a few pig squeals, which I like so I'll have to catch them again.
Archspire then started a long soundcheck while I bought some wicked T-shirts. When they got started they hit the stage running, no warm-up at all just straight Tech and Death. A few songs in they started having a few sound issues which is weird because I think they brought their own guy with them. It seemed to be fixed by the end of "Seven crowns and the oblivion chain". The band pushed through and started killing it again. You can tell this band practices a lot, there's so much tech but also a little bit of groove. They were totally back in shape by the time they hit "Lucid collective somnambulation". Most of the crowd seemed to recognize this song and got really into it, it was nice to see a good crowd at Logans really reacting to a band. All their shirts say "stay tech" and that's just what they did.
Fallujah is from San Francisco and I'm pretty sure they have never been on the Island before. I'm glad I got the chance to see them again. They started their set much in the same way, diving right into the show fast and hard. "Cerebral hybridization" was a great example of them being on tour and just playing as a well rehearsed machine. Through progginess mixed with brutality they got the crowd into every one of their songs. I'm sure everybody who showed up unaware of who the band was left being a fan. By the time they hit "Dead sea" everyone was holding up lighters and horns up for the guitar solo, I don't blame them either because that solo really pushes a lot of the barriers of death metal.
It was a sunday night so the bar had to be done by midnight, this was partly the reason I think the show went by so fast. Probably had something to do with the killer bands as well. All had a good time turning their turkey comas into booze comas. For Logans it was good to see a decent crowd come out on a sunday night and I hope this helps more bands make the trip to the island. I want to finally catch Tenchu and the other two bands should know they did a wicked show.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.youtube.com/Archspiremetal
http://www.facebook.com/fallujahofficial
Archspire then started a long soundcheck while I bought some wicked T-shirts. When they got started they hit the stage running, no warm-up at all just straight Tech and Death. A few songs in they started having a few sound issues which is weird because I think they brought their own guy with them. It seemed to be fixed by the end of "Seven crowns and the oblivion chain". The band pushed through and started killing it again. You can tell this band practices a lot, there's so much tech but also a little bit of groove. They were totally back in shape by the time they hit "Lucid collective somnambulation". Most of the crowd seemed to recognize this song and got really into it, it was nice to see a good crowd at Logans really reacting to a band. All their shirts say "stay tech" and that's just what they did.
Fallujah is from San Francisco and I'm pretty sure they have never been on the Island before. I'm glad I got the chance to see them again. They started their set much in the same way, diving right into the show fast and hard. "Cerebral hybridization" was a great example of them being on tour and just playing as a well rehearsed machine. Through progginess mixed with brutality they got the crowd into every one of their songs. I'm sure everybody who showed up unaware of who the band was left being a fan. By the time they hit "Dead sea" everyone was holding up lighters and horns up for the guitar solo, I don't blame them either because that solo really pushes a lot of the barriers of death metal.
It was a sunday night so the bar had to be done by midnight, this was partly the reason I think the show went by so fast. Probably had something to do with the killer bands as well. All had a good time turning their turkey comas into booze comas. For Logans it was good to see a decent crowd come out on a sunday night and I hope this helps more bands make the trip to the island. I want to finally catch Tenchu and the other two bands should know they did a wicked show.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.youtube.com/Archspiremetal
http://www.facebook.com/fallujahofficial
Friday 3 October 2014
Interview with Marco Banco of Tyrant's Blood
Tyrants Blood has been destroying stages and speakers around the world since 2005, luckily for a lot of us they sometimes play in their hometown of Vancouver. With all the history in this band and it's members I had a lot of questions. I recently got a hold of guitarist Marco to get a few answers.
AU: You guys are really good at the business side of the band. Is that mostly a matter of past experience or is there some schooling there?
MB: We've been at this a long time, everybody has well over 15,20,30 years in the business,so we know where we need to be and what has to be done.
We have a massive black book of contacts,management, friends throughout the world, so that makes things run a lot smoother.
AU: You all have former bands. Did any of those bands ever influence Tyrant's Blood or was there an effort to make sure this was it's own project?
MB: Everything we've done influences us in some way, no doubt about that. Your always thinking "Have I done this before? Or "This seems to much like"....so you try to change it up. Got to keep on trying no things, and we've done a decent job up to this point of challenging ourselves and trying new things.
AU: From what I can tell the bands has made a few trips to Brazil. Is there a first thing you did when you got there? Is there something you made sure you did while you were there?
MB: We have a great family within Brazil that goes back to the late 1980's. You see Brazil's extreme metal scene influenced us so much back when Sarcofago,'I.N.R.I,or Sepulturas early demos hit us, so we were well versed in their style. When I performed with Blasphemy, our demo , "Blood upon the Altar" and then the album "Fallen Angel of Doom" had a massive impact on them in return, so groups like Mystifier and Blasphemy became great friends ,and since those early days, we have always kept in correspondence.
When we get there it is very comfortable and the people of Brazil are the best, you feel very welcomed by old friends and even the new always make you feel at home, truly you never want to leave.
AU: Did any of the other members feel intimidated by Brian or Marco and all their past experience and reputation?
MB: Reputation? Hmm, not sure what that means.
Brian performed with Infernal Majesty and we , meaning myself, Vinnie, Matt and Tom ,asked him to join ,and when he had some time, he did.
He didn't have a reputation as anything that we'd heard that would be negative,only that he is a good musician, easy to work with and a good friend to the people he knows.
I think maybe their may have been a little bit of trepidation at some of the rumours of my early days and all that violence and chaos, but really, those days are so far in the past, and the guys have seen it all, so Id have to say that we have never really talked about anything heavy when we started in 05, its always been cool with us all, we're old friends you know, even before the band started.
So definitely no.
AU: Is there a big name band you wouldn't play with no matter the situation?
MB: I don't think so. I suppose it would be odd to perform along side a massive major pop act or whatever, but within the metal style? No we're pretty open if its a good show thats for sure.
AU: And the other side of the question, is there a band you would do anyyhing to play with?
MB: Nope, we're not desperate at all.
AU: What are your feelings on new thrash and black metal bands that have bad recording/production on purpose/
MB: I haven't kept up with them really. Everything I hear is either good , and I get it,or, its just some retro, unoriginal boring try hard crap, SO, with that being written, it stems from listening to thousands and thousands and thousands of bands over the decades, the originals can't be topped, but good luck trying.
AU: If you could be the same band in the same city but in the 1980's, would you do it? why/why not?
MB: Of course, we would be the fastest band in the world if it was the 1980's. Bands weren't performing this style at this speed back then. Sarcofago, Sepultura, Samael,Napalm Death were all in the early blast beat style of metal, so for us to have come out say in 85, doing what we do now? Man, that would be insane,imagine where we'd be now, if this had already been around then.
AU: Yeah, you guys would be huge. Thank you all for your time
MB: Thanks for the questions and work.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/tyrantsblood
AU: You guys are really good at the business side of the band. Is that mostly a matter of past experience or is there some schooling there?
MB: We've been at this a long time, everybody has well over 15,20,30 years in the business,so we know where we need to be and what has to be done.
We have a massive black book of contacts,management, friends throughout the world, so that makes things run a lot smoother.
AU: You all have former bands. Did any of those bands ever influence Tyrant's Blood or was there an effort to make sure this was it's own project?
MB: Everything we've done influences us in some way, no doubt about that. Your always thinking "Have I done this before? Or "This seems to much like"....so you try to change it up. Got to keep on trying no things, and we've done a decent job up to this point of challenging ourselves and trying new things.
AU: From what I can tell the bands has made a few trips to Brazil. Is there a first thing you did when you got there? Is there something you made sure you did while you were there?
MB: We have a great family within Brazil that goes back to the late 1980's. You see Brazil's extreme metal scene influenced us so much back when Sarcofago,'I.N.R.I,or Sepulturas early demos hit us, so we were well versed in their style. When I performed with Blasphemy, our demo , "Blood upon the Altar" and then the album "Fallen Angel of Doom" had a massive impact on them in return, so groups like Mystifier and Blasphemy became great friends ,and since those early days, we have always kept in correspondence.
When we get there it is very comfortable and the people of Brazil are the best, you feel very welcomed by old friends and even the new always make you feel at home, truly you never want to leave.
AU: Did any of the other members feel intimidated by Brian or Marco and all their past experience and reputation?
MB: Reputation? Hmm, not sure what that means.
Brian performed with Infernal Majesty and we , meaning myself, Vinnie, Matt and Tom ,asked him to join ,and when he had some time, he did.
He didn't have a reputation as anything that we'd heard that would be negative,only that he is a good musician, easy to work with and a good friend to the people he knows.
I think maybe their may have been a little bit of trepidation at some of the rumours of my early days and all that violence and chaos, but really, those days are so far in the past, and the guys have seen it all, so Id have to say that we have never really talked about anything heavy when we started in 05, its always been cool with us all, we're old friends you know, even before the band started.
So definitely no.
AU: Is there a big name band you wouldn't play with no matter the situation?
MB: I don't think so. I suppose it would be odd to perform along side a massive major pop act or whatever, but within the metal style? No we're pretty open if its a good show thats for sure.
AU: And the other side of the question, is there a band you would do anyyhing to play with?
MB: Nope, we're not desperate at all.
AU: What are your feelings on new thrash and black metal bands that have bad recording/production on purpose/
MB: I haven't kept up with them really. Everything I hear is either good , and I get it,or, its just some retro, unoriginal boring try hard crap, SO, with that being written, it stems from listening to thousands and thousands and thousands of bands over the decades, the originals can't be topped, but good luck trying.
AU: If you could be the same band in the same city but in the 1980's, would you do it? why/why not?
MB: Of course, we would be the fastest band in the world if it was the 1980's. Bands weren't performing this style at this speed back then. Sarcofago, Sepultura, Samael,Napalm Death were all in the early blast beat style of metal, so for us to have come out say in 85, doing what we do now? Man, that would be insane,imagine where we'd be now, if this had already been around then.
AU: Yeah, you guys would be huge. Thank you all for your time
MB: Thanks for the questions and work.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.myspace.com/tyrantsblood
Interview with Martin Drozd of Protokult
To be totally honest I had not heard too much about Protokult before a month or two ago. They were a band from Toronto of some recent Canadians who did the folk thing. Then they started getting notice and making noise so I watched the video I got e-mailed. It was a pretty fun video and I had the chance to get an interview together and I jumped on it.Guitarist Martin Drozd answered my questions and I thank him for it.
AU: For the people who are not familiar with you, what makes you different?
MD: We all come from a wide-range of musical and cultural backgrounds. To add icing on the cake, we incorporate a rich variety of folk-world instruments and are guided by slavonic-folk female vocals. Just so there are no misconceptions (trust me, there have been), yes, we may have a folk-metal foundation but incorporate all the energetically enticing metal elements/genres: thrash, black and some progressive-psychedelic pints! To add insult to the injury, our live shows are unparalleled and best described as ritualistic-drunkenly engaging; with acts ranging from on-stage folk-dances, voluptuous beer maidens feeding the audience, crowd surfing and offerings unto Pagan Gods.
AU: What made Canada the final decision on where to move to make this band work?
MD: It happened by chance and not by choice! Some of us were born here and all lived within the same vicinity near a university campus, attended local shows. Some of us have known each other for nearly a decade, so it was just a matter of time before we all crossed paths and joined forces.
AU: What do you feel is that unseen thing that is making the band take music to a different level?
MD: It is imperative to keep making meaningful, sometimes yes, fun and dark music but also challenging ourselves and raising the bar. Musically and in terms of song writing, this album is the strongest and most developed release yet. I don't wish for it to become redundant or a gimmick; the way I look at it, the music has to speak to me as well as a wider audience to the point where a)I won't get tired of playing the same song every night 20+ nights in a row b) It will always move you and have the same energy as upon initial conception.
AU: You've just released a new album, If everything goes the way you want it to what would you like to see happen in the next year?
MD: We have already somewhat established ourselves within the North-East American scene so playing several shows/tours in these regions is a priority. Still, we need to penetrate the central, Western and South American sides, see the opportunity and potential for shows there. Most importantly, not to segregate the Canadian scene, but through various research and sales statistics it's been proven there is a massive interest and demand for us in the old continent, Europe. Doing business, networking and ideally playing a few festivals on that side of the pond would be an amazing opportunity of tremendous benefit.
AU: What band do you want to share the stage with more than anyone?
MD: We've already played with Turisas, Alestorm and Arkona once and this was fantastic. The energy of the fans was intense and welcoming so I'm always up for doing it again! But in terms of my own influence, honor blah blah blah, I would say either Helloween or Therion. Ekaterina would probably say Korpiiklaani or Leave's Eyes;)
AU: If there's one message you want people to get out of your music what is it?
MD: Drink now and enjoy life while you can! Furthermore, maintain your values,tradition and culture upon the winding, chaotic path that is life and don't be side-tracked by bullshit people, religious leeches or media-psycho-technological nonsense!
AU: Is there one type of tour food that all of you can agree on?
MD: In an ideal world, I would say pierogies, but that's not so common on the "road" now is it? I'm going to give you a totally Canadian answer right now, regardless of how hungover we may get, it always brightens my morning: Flapjacks..."sighs"
AU: Was the move to get folkier and folkier a decision or was it more of a progression?
MD: It was a natural progression that not everyone accepted at first. That first album (Ancestral Anthems), was more of a collection of songs we did in our teen years from 2005-2009. The group went through several reformations, stability and lineup issues. So at some point in 2009, when all the dust began settling we looked back at some of the material and figured, "Why not get this out there?" We narrowed it down to about 9 or 10 intense songs and decided that would be the first Protokult full-length. Additionally, at the time I wrote Awakening, Pagan War, Krak and the Dragon Of Wawel Hill, which clearly, were songs that were folk/pagan-based. The rest of the old material ranged from everything including black, thrash and death metal. With the 2011 Marzena release, Ekaterina and Vodnik joined our lineup so they added some fresh, creative elements into the group, the songs were newly written and that's how the current folk-prog sound took off. I believe Robert Plant said it; that every album is a snapshot/moment of where the group is in time. The folk-prog upbeat aspect is something that has become a staple in our sound and shall henceforth be the foundation of Protokult, regardless of how we experiment in the future.
AU: Time for shameless self promotion. Whats the things that most want everyone of your fans or soon to be fan to do or see?
MD: We hope to drink with you soon and pillage your city! Check out our video for Get Me A Beer (funny but true Spinal Tap-like events from the road) and stay informed of our shenanigans via facebook or www.protokult.com
Hail and cheers!
AU: Thanks again, see ya soon
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.protokult.com
AU: For the people who are not familiar with you, what makes you different?
MD: We all come from a wide-range of musical and cultural backgrounds. To add icing on the cake, we incorporate a rich variety of folk-world instruments and are guided by slavonic-folk female vocals. Just so there are no misconceptions (trust me, there have been), yes, we may have a folk-metal foundation but incorporate all the energetically enticing metal elements/genres: thrash, black and some progressive-psychedelic pints! To add insult to the injury, our live shows are unparalleled and best described as ritualistic-drunkenly engaging; with acts ranging from on-stage folk-dances, voluptuous beer maidens feeding the audience, crowd surfing and offerings unto Pagan Gods.
AU: What made Canada the final decision on where to move to make this band work?
MD: It happened by chance and not by choice! Some of us were born here and all lived within the same vicinity near a university campus, attended local shows. Some of us have known each other for nearly a decade, so it was just a matter of time before we all crossed paths and joined forces.
AU: What do you feel is that unseen thing that is making the band take music to a different level?
MD: It is imperative to keep making meaningful, sometimes yes, fun and dark music but also challenging ourselves and raising the bar. Musically and in terms of song writing, this album is the strongest and most developed release yet. I don't wish for it to become redundant or a gimmick; the way I look at it, the music has to speak to me as well as a wider audience to the point where a)I won't get tired of playing the same song every night 20+ nights in a row b) It will always move you and have the same energy as upon initial conception.
AU: You've just released a new album, If everything goes the way you want it to what would you like to see happen in the next year?
MD: We have already somewhat established ourselves within the North-East American scene so playing several shows/tours in these regions is a priority. Still, we need to penetrate the central, Western and South American sides, see the opportunity and potential for shows there. Most importantly, not to segregate the Canadian scene, but through various research and sales statistics it's been proven there is a massive interest and demand for us in the old continent, Europe. Doing business, networking and ideally playing a few festivals on that side of the pond would be an amazing opportunity of tremendous benefit.
AU: What band do you want to share the stage with more than anyone?
MD: We've already played with Turisas, Alestorm and Arkona once and this was fantastic. The energy of the fans was intense and welcoming so I'm always up for doing it again! But in terms of my own influence, honor blah blah blah, I would say either Helloween or Therion. Ekaterina would probably say Korpiiklaani or Leave's Eyes;)
AU: If there's one message you want people to get out of your music what is it?
MD: Drink now and enjoy life while you can! Furthermore, maintain your values,tradition and culture upon the winding, chaotic path that is life and don't be side-tracked by bullshit people, religious leeches or media-psycho-technological nonsense!
AU: Is there one type of tour food that all of you can agree on?
MD: In an ideal world, I would say pierogies, but that's not so common on the "road" now is it? I'm going to give you a totally Canadian answer right now, regardless of how hungover we may get, it always brightens my morning: Flapjacks..."sighs"
AU: Was the move to get folkier and folkier a decision or was it more of a progression?
MD: It was a natural progression that not everyone accepted at first. That first album (Ancestral Anthems), was more of a collection of songs we did in our teen years from 2005-2009. The group went through several reformations, stability and lineup issues. So at some point in 2009, when all the dust began settling we looked back at some of the material and figured, "Why not get this out there?" We narrowed it down to about 9 or 10 intense songs and decided that would be the first Protokult full-length. Additionally, at the time I wrote Awakening, Pagan War, Krak and the Dragon Of Wawel Hill, which clearly, were songs that were folk/pagan-based. The rest of the old material ranged from everything including black, thrash and death metal. With the 2011 Marzena release, Ekaterina and Vodnik joined our lineup so they added some fresh, creative elements into the group, the songs were newly written and that's how the current folk-prog sound took off. I believe Robert Plant said it; that every album is a snapshot/moment of where the group is in time. The folk-prog upbeat aspect is something that has become a staple in our sound and shall henceforth be the foundation of Protokult, regardless of how we experiment in the future.
AU: Time for shameless self promotion. Whats the things that most want everyone of your fans or soon to be fan to do or see?
MD: We hope to drink with you soon and pillage your city! Check out our video for Get Me A Beer (funny but true Spinal Tap-like events from the road) and stay informed of our shenanigans via facebook or www.protokult.com
Hail and cheers!
AU: Thanks again, see ya soon
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.protokult.com
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