interview with Avenger (Czech Republic)

Avenger  (Czech Republic)

On one hand, Avenger’s sound brings together the intelligently-composed twisted heaviness, darkness and atmosphere that is encompassed in complete classics such as Celtic Frost’s “To Mega Therion” and Bathory’s “Under the Sign of the Black Mark” and “Blood Fire Death”; and Master’s Hammer’s “Ritual” and “The Jilemnice Occultist.” Those albums have an artistic intention to create atmosphere and imagery of the esoteric, dark and occult in the mind of the listener.

On the other hand, it is clear that Avenger channels that energy in their music. Avenger, I think, also seeks a particular audience. Perhaps they seek that listener is not pleased with most metal music even, people who will in Avenger find something that speaks to their search, indeed.

Honza (drums, guitars, vocals) answered some questions. www.deathgasm.com

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I think “Bohemian Dark Metal” is one of the best albums in 2012 and Avenger has done another album with that dark atmosphere, heaviness, aggression, but also memorable songs. What has happened since the release of the album?

Thanks for kind words! I’m glad you enjoy our work. Nothing breaking happened since the album release. We have read countless positive reviews for it, that’s right. I hope it helped Evan of Deathgasm records to get fine with sales (ignore MP3 and buy your own copy!). The band celebrated 20 years of existence a few months ago. We played a few festival shows this summer (Brutal Assault Fest was unforgettable!!). New T-shirts are out now. Otherwise, all is flowing as usually. We live our private lives and work on new material. Probably EP / mini CD next time.

What is necessary for Avenger to tour the U.S.? Your album was released on Deathgasm Records in the U.S.

There is only one way to gain good conditions for our US tour -  about 10 000 other bands stop touring, so that hunger for metal comes again. We, as a band, are very open for any offers and yes, some negotiations for US shows were started. Unfortunately, none of the involved parties was keen on bearing its financial risks (plane tickets etc.), so nothing’s gonna happen. We are too underground and we have no ambitions to change anything about it. Probably no satisfying number of audience would be expecting us in the states. Nothing but fact.

And what is the situation for Avenger in the Czech Republic in general?

Honestly, we were playing a lot more shows some 5 – 10 years ago, when we were younger and were fighting hard to get on any gig available. This year we have played I think 5 or 6 shows only, some festivals as well, one really big too. But there is no more taste at our side to fight for it. Who wants to see us perform, he can simply invite us. When there are no invitations, we have no problem to stay home and work on the material for our new records. 

According to Metal Archives, the members of Avenger are quite involved in other bands. I have 2 questions related to that. Number 1: between all these different bands, do you all make a living as professional musicians?

Actually I’m the only one living on music. Not in the sense of being professional musician, but rather as  a sound engineer. I have my own recording studio HELLSOUND which is my fulltime job. All other band members have their civil jobs totally unrelated to music.

And number 2: With members of Avenger involved in other bands, who is the creative driving force that writes the songs in Avenger? Do Honza and Petr (guitars) write the songs together?

Since the very beginning, Ramus (Petr) and me (Honza) have been the only creative force within the band. Other members have been our crew for live shows. They have their own bands where they can use their creative forces so they respect the way it works in Avenger. On the newer albums (Feast of Anger and Bohemian Dark Metal) Ramus is also not that active anymore. Its more my solo work, I was writing and recording BDM 95 % by myself. Feast is 100 % my music and lyrics too.

Let’s talk about a couple of songs? Tell us about “Vstříc Dálkám.” For those that do not speak Czech, what does the title mean? What is the story behind this song? Is it part of an overall concept? 

Yes, all the lyrics on this album have its connecting concept. It’s hard now. On one hand I would like to answer your question, on another hand, the things I sing about are in a way very personal so I don’t feel very comfortable to go too much in details in public. The topics are deeply connected to my own life story, it’s about relationships and about inner fights with my complicated and sick nature. The album has been created in quite hard period of my life, its quite depressed, tired-mooded and full of self-hatred, on the other hand also full of picking last forces and searching for dignity and sense of existence. Better if you check English translations in booklet (possibly another good reason to buy original digipack).

What about the track “Dark Metal”? How many guitars are used in this song? What feelings do you get from that particular song? I think a lot of your music sounds on the sinister side. This is the only song with an English-language title, too.

There are 2 basic guitar arrangements, both played 2 times (doubled) for more power and brutal colour. So there are two first guitars left, two second guitars right. Then we have basic bass lines there, one short bass solo in the second riff. There are some short acoustic guitar parts in the verse. And there are 2 lead guitar lines at the end of the song. That’s it. All other sounds came from other instruments or voices. The mood of the song.... well. Lets say its calm and powerful... reconciliation with bad state of things. Finding the divine powers in myself. Holding the evil, sick, dark pressures under control, as a source for life strength.

Here is a question you will hate! The guitar solo on Bathory’s “The Golden Walls of Heaven” and the guitar solo on Avenger’s “The Birth of Muse” (from your 2009 album "Feast of Anger/Joy of Despair") have some strong similarities? Avenger’s solo is longer, more extended, though. Did you do it on purpose?! I’m sure you are tired of people mentioning this issue.

Man, why should I hate this question !!??? In these fucked up times, you are one of few who ever recognizes such similarities! I had to laugh at many reviews for Bohemian Dark Metal. Most of so-called “journalists“ compare us to bands as Watain... or Taake... or Satyricon... or Immortal. There’s nothing else I can do about it, but just to laugh my lungs off. These idiots probably never heard about bands as Bathory, Master’s Hammer, Root, Buldozer... they probably don’t ever know the old albums by Dissection, Emperor, Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower, My Dying Bride.... etc. THESE old acts are the real jewels, where our roots actually started growing and where we continue taking inspiration. ALL that is good in metal has been told 20 – 30 years ago already. When writing new Avenger songs I’m 666 % convinced to find my personal path how to pay tribute to this ancient mastership. That’s all. It’s so funny to see some of the kids judging my new album. I had been doing metal probably before they were ever born. So I’m always happy when someone speaks about the real roots of metal. Thanks for this question! To answer it. Yes. Many my song arrangements are intentional tributes to the godly stuff we have grown on. Quorthon was a genius, too bad he passed so early.

What are a couple of Czech movies that you have seen recently that are good?

Man, I doubt you can reach any of the Czech movie productions in the states ? Generally Czechs are masters of comedies with very specific way of humour.... If you get a chance, check movies as Slavnosti snezenek, Dedictvi aneb Kurvahosigutntag, Na samote u lesa.... I have no idea how the title translations would sound like :-)) Better if you come to CZ and stay for a while. I assure alive its sometimes even more funny than movie :-).

What else do we need to know? Do you shirts or dvds?

We were recording both video and 16 track audio from our 20^th anniversary show. It’s I think 17 songs total.... when we find time to edit and finish it we would like to release it as our first official DVD. T-shirts are newly available via Deathgasm records as well.

I think you would like Seattle, it has rainy, cloudy weather and there is very little sun, except for some days in July and August. Doesn’t it sound like the perfect weather? Thanks for your time!

Generally, I couldn’t stay somewhere in big city, that’s sure. I live in a small village and my house is placed on a very distant place so I have peace for my life and work. That’s totally essential for me. Speaking for weather, we live in central Europe and all four seasons are beautiful here, I like to wander the country without any goal... just enjoying the beauty of nature. Speaking for rainy cloudy weather... I’m not a big fan of it. I’m very sensitive for it so I usually suffer a lot during autumn. On the other hand, it’s cool for writing music and lyrics :-).  THE END.

interview with Cultfinder (U.K.)

Cultfinder  (U.K.)

I was hoping that Cultfinder would be as good as the cover of their three-song recording “Black Thrashing Terror.”

Yup, that’s the artwork on this front page of this zine. A blasphemous, bulletbelt-clad horned skeleton that says this is a metal band that I will probably like a lot.  

Cultfinder really does have a sound for people that want metal that is ugly, un-studio, un-produced with inspiration from a particular tradition of nonmainstream metal. That is, there is a sound in black/death/thrash that goes for this energy. In the 80s, a demo sounded this way, often not on purpose, but due to lack of resources.

But the difference with Cultfinder is that this ugliness of raw, minimalistic metal is very much on purpose, and has a better sound (though still very raw). The listener can hear the instruments better and there is very little fill/fat on these songs. At about 4 minutes or less, each one gets to the headbanging, blasting frenzy quickly and then it’s time for the next one.

Some people like references. So, here is a basic genealogy. the first EPs/albums by Sodom, Destruction, Bathory, Sepultura, Sarcofago, Blasphemy, so on and so forth. That gives a pretty good idea of what to expect.

At the end of this interview is the information about the band. Guitarist and screamer Rob Belial answered the questions.

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How did you make it sound so perfect for black thrash?

The recording was ridiculously quick! We did the whole thing in a day or two, we don't muck about with guitar tones and boring technical stuff. The guitar was played through two tiny practice amps turned up to 11! I think we'd lose some of our energy and essence if we spent too long over things.

How did you arrive at this sound?

Originally I wanted to pay homage to the great Swedish metal overlords Nifelheim, but we've gradually taken on other influences like Blasphemy and Destroyer 666 and gone a bit more for a hellish wall of metal. We started in early 2011, but I had the idea for a year or so before.

You are based in Farnborough, in southern England. Is it a small town where you shock respectable members of society?

Farnborough is a dull concrete town famous for an airshow and not much more! I wouldn't have said we'd be shocking to anyone, but musically we're probably the most extreme local band. There is no metal scene, just a load of younger bands playing Pantera metal and Nirvana covers. The older bands have either given up or moved away!

How many guitar tracks do you need for Cultfinder? And do you have a position for or against guitar solos?

Yeh we just did two guitar tracks on the EP. I am fairly against solos as I am too shitty at guitar to manage even end-of-the-fretboard noise-widdling, so I don't bother.

The artwork, with the metalhead skeleton goat seems like it is from the 80s and 90s demos. Who made this drawing?

The cover drawing was done by the mighty Mark Riddick. All must cower before his pen!

You are obviously against Christianity. Will you at some point criticize Islam, too?

I am not in the business of anti-religious behaviour or commentary, I feel most things have been said before. Taking the piss out of Christianity in England is a pretty redundant activity these days. I would say that adopting Satanic imagery is something that takes a stance against all religions, without being overt about it.

Your 2011 "Demo," according to Metal Archives, has 4 songs. So, if you re-record those songs and record a few more songs you already have enough material for a full album?

Pretty much, although I want to ditch a couple of tracks before we do an album, I'd rather it was mostly new material, something I am working on today in fact!

Is the song "Black Thrashing Terror" your statement of intent. No one can say, "So what genre is this"!

All genres have been created. I very rarely hear anything genuinely new that's good.

Stick to what you know, if it ain't broke, etc.

OK, did you have to hospitalize Wilbeherit after the recording sessions? I mean, that is some fast, tight drumming?!!

No! Wilbeherit is the finest drummer in the land, hence his being in constant demand.

Cultfinder is like Sarcofago, but with better sound.

Thanks for the comparison! I don't think a band like Sarcofago could help their sound back then. I wanted to do the EP on four track tape originally, but it sounded fucking terrible, so we used some computers. All they did was record the sound of the band, with zero editing or manipulation apart from some reverb, delay and the intro track.

What should interested people do to get into the action?

We can be contacted through Facebook and the EP is available via our webstore at unholycultfinder.bigcartel.com or from eldritchlunarmiasma.com

Cheers! THE END.

Here is one way to get Dave Mustaine to shut up

Fuglymaniacs

at www.fuglymaniacs.com

has posted a satire piece on the death of Dave Mustaine.

Check it out!

melancholy, heaviness, quality: Eye of Solitude

Eye of Solitude  (U.K.): Sui Caedere (Kaotoxin Records)

The description of the music of Eye of Solitude might not sound that interesting and the label/category of the music might make some people stop reading as soon as they read the label.

                  A swift “No, thanks. I don’t like that genre,” might be the reaction.

It’s too bad, really, because Eye of Solitude, for one thing, pleasantly surprised me with how memorable and likeable their songs are. Secondly, their style makes them stand out in a genre that seems so “specialized.”

Eye of Solitude displays a melodic/melancholic sound that goes at a crawling speed, with a super duper heavy atmosphere. Of course, that means the drumming is definitely slow.

The vocals are a gentle super low growling. In other words, the growling sounds like a benevolent monster, but a monster nonetheless. I think, to most metalheads, the vocals will not be a problem because it is not an annoying style, with weird screams and things like that. Rather, it is another instrument for heaviness.

Eye of Solitudes strikes a balance, on one hand, between melody, melancholy and memorable songs, and, on the other, a heaviness reserved only for the heaviest of the heaviest, in the realm of funeral doom.

If you are very knowledgeable of doom death or funeral doom or gothic metal, you will probably identify the influences much more clearly than I can. The “funeral doom/doom death,” the really, really super heavy/slow stuff is not always the easiest music to get into.

But, the point is that Eye of Solitude is, in my view, different because I think that it certainly is easier to understand, to remember and to like.

I will give two examples. First up, “Performed in Graphic pain,” (6:40) has an instantly likeable melody, thanks to the atmosphere of the keyboards and the very nice melodic work on the guitars. The drumming is slow, with some midtempo moments. If you like slow guitar melodies and keyboards, in the context of a very heavy doom/gothic context, there is a lot to enjoy here. The guitar work in this song gives identity, and it’s all held together with a foundation of melancholic, monster-growl vocals and heavy guitars.

                  In short, an excellent song.

Example number 2: “A Note to Say Farewell” (7:20). This song really works out the slow, melancholic guitar notes, with serene, quiet moments. The guitar sounds like it is working on just a couple of different notes and turning those notes into a melody that will stick to your mind with just one listen. Once you grasp the melodies, you will not care that the song itself is actually quite slow.

                  That’s remarkable: that it does not matter if the song is slow or not. Yes, this is that good.

To sum up: don’t pass up the chance to hear a band play really heavy doom/death/gothic metal and do it very well.

www.reverbnation.com/eyeofsolitude                

www.myspace.com/532286172


www.myspace.com/532286172www.reverbnation.com/eyeofsolitude

a review of GOJIRA

Gojira : L’Enfant Sauvage

[by the “classic and original” line-up of Paula, Simon and Randy; with special guest David]

Paula: I just love your energy…it has a certain je ne sais quois…well done. Simple, not fast music, with groove. Good!

Randy: Hey, dog, I gotta tell ya man, this ain’t very good, man. It’s very repetitive. It sounds like dumbed-down music for fans of Pantera, Damage Plan, or hardcore or anything repetitive, oversimplified.

Simon: Oh, stop, Randy. You are too polite. Gojira, you are not brilliant, nor amazing…It’s just bollocks. You play one single note for 5 minutes and then you add these background/computer “atmospheric” sounds. Why? Because you know your “groove” rock by itself is too boring? Are you covering up the chugga-chugga groove?

Paula: Simon, you are so rude. They are doing the best they can!

David: Gojira, baby, you are semi good looking and you think you’re really cooking, but you ain’t the best that I’ve seen.

Randy: Seriously, dog, Gojira, why you only play the same couple of boring riffs over and over? “Explosia” is big chugga-chugga riff (a play-on riff) repeated a lot and it is the foundation for the song. To these ears, it sounds simple and has been pushed to the forefront of the song. On top of the chugga-chugga repetition there are little sounds (guitar? samples? computer noises?). What you doing, dog? Why the annoying noises? What you hiding, dude?

Paula: This album is a heavy, chugging, downtuned, heavy midpaced rock with screamed vocals. The drumming is totally groove-oriented and the vocals are not growling, not singing, but screamed out, like maybe you associate with Machine Head, Mastodon, and other bands. I’m not sure.

Randy: Exactly! I hate those bands! I hate all that “groove” stuff. Please, no Soulfly, no Machine Head, no Pantera, no Fear Factory, no knucklehead, no redneck riffs. Play the guitar, man! PLAY the guitar, not just chug on it. The song “L’Enfant Sauvage”: one big chugging riff with a groove. There is a little lick that is played over and over to spice up the chugging. But it’s not enough to keep me interested.

Simon: “The Axe” is midtempo chugging song with lots of gang-shouted chorus, and that constant chugga-chugga riff played until it cannot be played anymore. I don’t like this appeal-to-the-lowest-common-denominator chugging business, lads.

Paula: “Liquid Fire” keeps the speed at a midtempo range and the guitar squeezes dry a riff and rides until the wheels come off.

Randy: That’s the problem. That whole “groove” thing, man. Not my cup of tea. That’s four songs, out of nine. This band sticks to that style: A repetitive chugging riff, spiced up with some semi-strange sounds. Screamed out vocals.

Simon: This is not about speed, headbanging, melody or rocking out. It is heavy groovy, downtuned rock. If you like heavy stuff oriented around groove, then check them out.

If you want music that thrashes, rocks, headbangs, that is fast or energetic, then this may not be for you. This is for those that like bands with an “alternative” not-sure-what category it is.

David: Gojia, baby, you are not on fire, so I’m not going to show you love. I’m not going to jump, either, baby. Oh, man, I think your music is slow. I better make a note to myself about you, Gojira. Give me something to write on, man. I brought my pencil!

Randy: Dave, do you always talk in song lyrics?

David: It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll, Randy.

Randy: That’s not even your own song!

David: Randy, why you getting so hot about this. Baby, you need the ice cream man to keep you cool?

Paula: Guys, guys, we are here to judge Gojira!

Simon: Gojira, that’s enough. Four songs is enough. Good luck and good day to you, lads. You’re just not what we are looking for. We wanted headbanging, energetic metal. You are not it. You have dumbed down two-note guitar music to a simpler formula. But you are on Roadrunner Records and that should have told us this is trendy “groove” music.

Paula: Don’t listen to them, Gojira. Keep doing what you do and I’m sure your parents will always be proud of you because they love you. Remember that, your parents love you very much!! Suicide is not the answer!! Love is. Your moms love you for always. But please, leave now, there is another band that we want to hear next.

David:Stay frosty!! Get a tattoo!!

The End.

money, money, money: Fear Factory: The Industrialist

Fear Factory: The Industrialist

The Cockroach Capitalist and You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do to Avoid Working at a Day Job

[An exercise in speculative hypotheticals]

Dino: I’m running out of pizza, and my weight is going down, so that’s not good. I need to make some money, bud.

Burton: OK, I’ll come over and talk to you.

Dino: Yeah, but bring some pizza, please. I’m starving and the toilet is overflowing, so bring a plunger.

Burton: Alright.

(Later, at Dino’s house [of pizza and overflowing toilets]

Burton: I heard that some bands are firing everybody so they don’t have to share any of the money. I think if it’s you and me, we can share the money just between the two of us and maybe you can have more pizza.

Dino: Great idea! More pizza and hamburgers for me! Do you think I’m getting too fat?

Burton: No, people like you because you are fat, Dino. Here, eat some pizza.

Dino: Wait, but what about the drums and bass and stuff?

Burton: Drum machines and studio technology, my pizza-loving friend!! Let’s use a drum machine and have friends help us layer the living daylights out of the next album.

Dino: (stuffing his face) Cool. What do you think I should do with my guitar parts?

Burton: Forget it, play a chugga-chugga riff, like you do when you play with one hand and eat pizza with the other. Then, we will loop that riff and add some machine-robot sounds for “atmosphere”. People will say it’s “genius”!

Dino: Ha ha ha! You’re right! I like looping, drum machines, studio tricks and pizza, especially pizza.

Burton: Well, pizza lover, let’s just say that you are not known for being a gifted guitar player.

Dino: (putting french fries and cookies on his pizza) What about your vocals?

Burton: Ah, whatever. Auto tune everything. Just bark like a dog and then scream and let our friends edit this stuff with their computers and add layers to make it sound robotic and let’s leave it at that.

Dino: (licking some cheese that fell on the floor) Yup, anything that we can use as an excuse to tour! Who should we hire for drums and bass?

Burton: Don’t worry about it. Let’s find a couple of desperate suckers who will be fooled into thinking they will make good money as hired hands. Just don’t tell them anything. We’ll fire them at the end of the tour.

Dino: (putting some pasta and hot sauce on his pizza) OK, I like the plan. Let’s call the album “The Industrialist” and let’s use drum machines and let’s program the hell out it in the studio. I will chugga-chugga with my guitar and you scream and I think that will be enough.

Burton: Yup, yup. Nobody pays attention anyway. It’s all just drunk Pantera and Soulfly fans at the shows. I just need to remember to tell them that they are the best fans in the world, that they rule, tell them to move, to mosh and tell them to keep drinking and eating pizza and we’ll be alright.

Dino: (putting jalapeños, pickles, refried beans, rice, chicken wings, pineapple, bacon, some dog food and tuna on his pizza) Awesome plan! I like it! I like it more than this pizza!! No wait, that’s not true, man.

Burton: OK, Dino, you look tired. Go to sleep, have some pizza and we’ll go loop some guitar chugga-chugga tomorrow.

Dino: Ah, ok, I think that if we wor…(snoring. fell asleep with a pizza slice on his mouth).

The End.

garbage rock band Slipknot pays tribute

Big news today:

members of alternative junk rock group Slipknot pay tribute to their dead drug-addicted friend Paul: 

by buying some soda at a local corner shop

They are, reportedly, “pretty sure” that at some point during the time he was alive, that is, before he died from drugs, that their friend Paul might have bought some soda at that store. In addition, the store’s parking lot is known to be frequented by drug dealers, so the chances that Paul was there are, again, “pretty good,” they say.

“We came here today and we were thirsty and we thought, when we buy this soda, why don’t we declare that it is a tribute to our fallen drug-addicted friend Paul”.

Slipknot, who play alternative junk rock and wear idiotic masks, have also said:

“Our friend, when he was not shooting up drugs and making life miserable for everybody, was a musical genius of legendary proportions. Think, Mozart or Beethoven, and any other classical music name that people consider good…Hey, can you give me other names of classical musicians? Because I don’t know any other names, besides the ones that people namedrop in order to sound smart, ya know…Anyway, what was I saying?”

The reporter said, “You were saying that your drug-addicted friend Paul was, in addition to a drug addict, an intelligent person.”

“Ah, yeah, man, anyway, so Paul was a pretty smart guy. I mean, he got his G.E.D. and everything, ya know, so, anyway, he was like an artist of classical music…So, everything we do now, is in tribute to him. Kids should take inspiration from him…

The reporter asked, “Kids should use drugs and die?!”

“No, man! You are twisting my words! I’m talking about music, man! Damn. I’m saying everything we do now is in tribute to him. Like, right now, I need to sneeze and when I do it, it is in tribute to Paul, who was a drug addict.”

At any rate, this band Slipknot will consume that soft drink some time later this afternoon. And when they do, you can be damn sure it will be in tribute to their “classical-music-composer-like” friend, Paul, who was a drug addict.

Slipknot, who have made millions of dollars by impressing young kids who fall for cheap tricks like masks and jumpsuits, say that they will have a good dinner tonight. They believe that their drug-addicted friend Paul also liked to have dinner. That is, when he was not busy shooting up drugs, of course.

THE END.

review Testament: Dark Roots of Earth

Fuglymaniacs www.fuglymaniacs.com has reviewed the new album by Testament:

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Testament - Dark Roots of Earth

 Bay Area titans released their 10th Album. We were glad to see the guys back together again for another full fontal assault on your senses. After "The Formation of Damnation" we couldn't wait. So when we got our hands on this release we were excited. After a few spins, this album didn't blow us away as expected.

"Rise up", "True American Hate"- are vicious facemelting efforts and more in line with what we wanted and expected. But after "A Day in the Death" comes the unexpected: an eight-minute soft-rock ballad. It could be argued that "Cold Embrace"adds balance and variety to this album; But we think in this case variety is overrated. Thrash albums are meant to thrash & maybe even make you jump into the pit. ...MOSH!!

Ultimately, the band has not succeeded in creating an album on par with The Formation of Damnation; but that doesn’t meanDark Roots of Earth is a failure, not by a long shot. All the vital components that make Testament excellent are there: Chuck Billy’s roar, Alex & Eric virtuoso guitar licks, Gene "The Atomic Clock" on drums need i say more (just fillin' in thou). Greg on bass. They deliver some awesome thrash metal motifs. Just not in the same overwhelmingly good quantity as in the past.

Overall more of the same is all we wanted from them. Despite Testament’s commendable attempt to spice their sound with something a little different, We can’t help feeling that Dark Roots of Earth is one or two track short of achieving overall excellence!!8/10

Fuglymaniacs www.fuglymaniacs.com reviews Over Kill "The Electric Age"

This is not a review by Metal Bulletin zine.
Actually, is by Fuglymaniacs at www.fuglymaniacs.com
It's a different type of review!!
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Fuglymaniacs.com felt that Overkill didn't need a review which is why it's late. So, We will dedicate this to the haterz!!

The Electric Age is their 16th album. It is a pleasure to see the New Jersey guys back together for another release. D.D and "Blitz" & crew are at it again.

First let us adress this issue the Overkill haters have with a band Being Consistent!!

con·sist·ent./kən'sistənt/

Adjective (of a person, behavior, or process) Unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time.

OOOOH! be quiet nobody wants to see you pout or hear your whining about how this band doesn't evolve, show innovation, growth or progress.  Wrecking crew class: 101 is now in session.

No!! it not the same shit, different cd. Its Overkill you turd. First of all, you kow that coffee shop,bar,dive,burger joint you frequent? Do you go there because they have shitty service/food, beer is warm, coffee is lame, and you never know if they're gonna get your burger right?!! No, its because they do things just the way you like it ....

Don't bother coming here is you are looking for an Opus , Keyboards, III part- 38 min song, Jazz or Bluegrass feel. If you want music to take you on a journey, connect at a spritual level or do Yoga classes...FUCK YOU!!

This is angry music you bastard! In true Overkill fashion, early tracks like “Come and Get It,” “Electric Rattlesnake” and “Wish You Were Dead” aim to tear your face off with no trace of subtlety or grace. It’s all thick, thrashy riffing, thunderous bass and drums, and Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth’s one-of-a-kind raspy snarl. Things never really let up from there, as all ten tracks are nasty and furious speed anthems, “Black Daze” has a bit more mid-tempo swagger. “Drop the Hammer Down” is a winning scorcher, exuding a NY/NJ variety of pissed-off attitude that’s as authentic as it’s mean-spirited. The one-two punch of“Old Wounds, New Scars” with lyrics “you got a lotta mouth for a Jersey white boy.” ( whats not to like) and “All Over But the Shouting” will make even the most pacifistic among you feel like breaking a bottle over somebody’s fucking face!. All the songs work and all should pump you up and make you want to run over that fucker infront of you that's jaywalkin'.

This shit is not concern with making you feeling warm inside,intellecting stimulating your senses or puttin' you in path to being a better human being. NO!! Overkill doesn't care about your carbon footprint, if it's ain't organic, cage free, no msg, gluten free bullshit it's Overkill... you fucking idiot!

If you want variety go fuck yourself or better yet go get the new RUSH, Falconer last album was in Swedish (Nice, we couldn't get pass the language barrier but did enjoy the English versions thou...Black Widow rock!!) or our album of last year Powerwolf !!.At any rate you get the point. Class dismissed!! This shit is good 8.5/10

Dew-Scented (Germany): Icarus

Dew-Scented (Germany): Icarus  

In the case of Dew-Scented, there is a songwriting approach concerned with how to make thrash songs imaginative and distinct, while maintaining a high level of energy. In other words, there are lots of galloping riffs that are the bread and butter of thrash metal. These riffs are, of course, indicative of the mosh and headbang features of said genre. Essentially, the thrash fanatic will recognize the guitar sound and feel it as comforting and familiar, immediately.

However, Dew-Scented is not a thrash band like Overkill or Death Angel, in the sense of a 100% traditional thrash band. Actually, the sound of Dew-Scented incorporates two basic components found in death metal, namely, the growl-scream style of vocals; and the use of blasting speed. In particular, they use well-placed bursts of blasting speed in select parts of their songs. Thus, this is not a total blasting speed attack, but a precision method in songs. The vocals, by the way, are not gruff nor guttural nor anything low, but are rather of the “painful scream” style, and are aggressive.

As a result, they manage to bridge the gap between thrash and death in a relatively smooth way. It is fast, headbanging, no-nonsense guitar work, with growled vocals that feature the element of brutality.

Interestingly, thinking about it, Dew-Scented is something of a gem. With this sound, this band can appeal to thrash and death metal fans, in a serious way. In substantial forms, they take out the punk/hardcore/silly elements of thrash, and re-energize thrash by with the brutality of death metal. That means, in turn, that unlike some death metal, one can really hear the guitar work, the riffs are very upfront, and make things intelligible to both genres.

Dew-Scented zealots tend to consider their 2003 album “Impact” as their best. I wish not to argue nor to compare. I will say this, however, this is a very strong album, perfect for those into the harder forms of thrash.

Songs like “Sworn to Obey,” “Thrown to the Lions”                 and “The Fall of Man” have riffs that fly at your face. The energy, the feel of these songs is simply awesome. With the selective blasting in place and the bits of fast melody, and fast solos, it’s a band that is doing it up right.

Lest you think that they only have speed to offer, check out “Reawakening” for some of the heaviest, most brutal vocals and moments on the whole album. Here they explore a midpaced feel, with uptempo moments, giving the vocalist a chance to be more brutal, where things get a bit more death metal, shall we say.

To sum up: don’t dismiss this album as just “another thrash” album. It is not. It is substantially different from pure thrash, with more aggression, more heaviness and brutality. Clearly, the band has the objective of balancing the riff-o-rama and clarity of the thrash sound, but with a higher level of energy and aggression found in death metal. Combined with strong songs, the band has succeeded and created a quality album from start to finish.

www.dew-scented.de

www.reverbnation.com/dewscented

interview with Moonkult (Finland)

Moonkult  (Finland)

The history of the raw black metal entity Moonkult is already underway, as the demo “Tears of Seers” is out, and it is available for free at at www.moonkult.bandcamp.com.

The demo is available for anyone who likes to see where things start for Moonkult. It is a free demo, and it is raw black metal, like the early days of the genre.

This interview gives a better idea of Moonkult. Get in touch and let Moonkult know that you are out there.
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Is Moonkult a band or a one-man project? Is the objective to  play concerts in the future or never play live?

For the "Tears of Seers"-demo the lineup was just me (Moonlord Akhkharu). I recorded with drum machine. At this point there has only been conversations with v-KhaoZ (ex-Azaghal, ex-Hin onde, ex-Oath of Cirion, ex-Hellkult) of him recording drum parts for upcoming Moonkult debut album and some other persons have shown interest to play bass for that. Beyond this i have not yet any other plans.

No plans for playing live either, I am not for or not against it. We shall see how i and others have time for that kind of thing and how would this music work out in live concerts.

Moonkult is raw and ugly black metal. In 2012, in Finland, what is going in metal that you decided to avoid the trends and clichés of metal from Finland, like the folk style, symphonic/pop, goth or power metal?

Well, i don't listen to what is going on in metal nowadays too much. I only keep track on what is going on with some more underground Black Metal bands. Besides of what i have heard from other metal styles nowadays in Finland sounds just shit and gay to me. Moonkult's music i create from my "soul" and that is how i see it, it represents my feelings. But i try using dynamics in a sense that it creates complex feelings in the listener, so again i don't feel darkness inside myself all the time, so using several atmospheres and feelings has been my goal.

But nothing gay sounding like blind happiness or anything like that, just embracing a larger picture of this some kind of substance. From this idea i got the idea to make a Black Metal short story as stories have different parts with different moods, so the music could be arranged in the same way and the Moonkult debut album will be done in this way. Yet, i try to keep things unified so the variation between songs is not too strong.

Musically i wish try create immense darkness, something that you don't hear too often anymore in modern days black metal or in any metal. Also, Moonkult has a simplistic approach focusing more on emotions, dark fantasy and making good songs rather thank wanking with some technical gay lead stuff. I devised some formulas for making several riffs and i try using dissonance as a more powerful tool for creating darkness and hate.

Can you explain the feeling in the sound that you wanted in the song “The Great Purge”? Is there bass guitar on this song? Where did you record the song, at home?

That song is an introduction to the story and i wanted to create the feeling of enslavement in a big dark fortress or something like that. Yes, there is a bass guitar! It is just low in the mix and it's sound is very thin. On the CD version you can distinguish it, but maybe mp3 packing has lost it if you can't hear it.

Yes, I recorded it with my own equipment at one basement where we used to rehearse with one other guitarist, but we had already dropped that project we had, anyway i ended up doing recordings in nighttime only, maybe subconsciously trying to get the right feeling in darkness and silence.

What is your guitar tuned to? Is there only guitar on this song? By the way, what type of “purge” do you mean in this song?

Guitar is tuned to E. There are two guitars on every song with bass and drums. What this purge means you can pretty much cipher from the lyrics, like a purge of wisdom and knowledge

of those with gift of foresight and they also lose the ability to see beyond while being captive.

Personally, I hate drum machines. Has it been difficult to find drummers that want to play raw black metal?

It has been, yes. I know few drummers besides v-Khaoz and they are more focused to play punk music. Generally finding musicians with interest to this kind of Black Metal has been difficult, also in my hometown people listening to Black Metal of older days are very few.

When did you start playing music? Do you play bass guitar, too? What other instruments do you play? Do you write other type of music or only metal? Maybe you have recorded black metal versions of a bunch of Judas Priest songs?!

I started playing with synthetisator in 2004, I played mostly classical music and some rock tunes with that. Guitar i started learning in 2006-2007 time and started active playing in 2008 i think. At the same time i started playing bass also and i still play that too, but not so good and basslines for Moonkult just follow lowest notes of the two guitars. I wrote some years ago some classical style music and some punk songs, also i did few songs of thrash/death metal in 80's style, but nowadays i just focus on Moonkult.

Black metal versions of Judas Priest??! Haha, no i haven't done that, but that sounds like a cool idea to do.

Can you tell us the concept about “Behind “Vortex of Lightnings”? The demo has three songs: are there other songs that you have recorded, but not released yet?

“Behind Vortex of Lightnings” is the second last song on the upcoming Moonkult album and is a straight forward expression of that part of the story, which i don't wish to reveal before the album is done. That song was the last song composed for the demo and it was composed in december 2011, originally i wanted to have four songs on the demo. But i couldn't at that point play some 6 string minor chords in my opinion properly, so instead i made "Behind Vortex of Lightnings" to fill the place for those two others.

Four other songs i have composed and i have done just some test recordings for two of those, also an intro i made with synth and a guitar part top of synths is also there.

“Beyond to Infinity” shows a slightly different side of Moonkult, maybe a less chaotic, but a more nihilist approach, maybe? You probably do not agree!

Different it is, yes, and more sides of Moonkult will be shown in the upcoming album, one song in that is halfway more like a darker version of Mercyful Fate! Yet nothing completely different is coming, only in that extent to what  “Beyond to Infinity” shows to the other two songs on the "Tears of Seers" demo.

Nihilism? I don't know about that, maybe somewhat it shows nihilism. In the lyrics i represented something more philosophical, that song being an epilogue to the story.

What are your goals for the rest of 2012 and for 2013? How can people be in contact with you?

I plan on starting recordings for the album during this year, hopefully in summer/autumn time. After that we shall see, i already started planning the story for the second album so maybe in 2013 i make music for that. Thank you for the interview! People can contact Moonkult in myspace and there is also an official Moonkult site in facebook, but the best way is to send mail to moonkult666@gmail.com. Long live the Empire of Night!                                            THE END.