Monday, December 29, 2014

Deceive Interview


1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new ep?
1. Well people seem to be responding very well to the EP, which we're very happy about, and we appreciate all the kind words!

2.Recently you have released a new ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
2.the EP definitely falls under Black/Death metal, on the more technical side. Its definitely a product of all of our own individual styles coming together.

3.The band originally was more of a death/thrash band in the beginning but have evolved into more of black/death metal direction over the years, what was the decision behind going into a different musical style?
3. The change in musical style definitely was a necessary thing for us to do. The line up at the time was very split. One side wanting to play more traditional thrash, and the other side wanted to play Death metal, eventually we split with 2 of the members, relocated to Covina, and now we're doing better than ever musically, and internally as a cohesive unit.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
4. We have a loose storyline, involving all kinds of crazy shit. Think Conan the Barbarian, meets Army of Darkness, with the Labyrinth thrown in hahah.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Deceive'?
 5. When the original line up of the band came together,  we had 4 songs, and we played a show literally 2 days after forming, and we still had no idea what to name ourselves. I think I was watching a movie or something,  and they said "Deceive". It stuck out to me for some reason, and there were no other metal bands around with that name. I messed around with logo ideas, and eventually we all agreed on Deceive. .

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
6. Hard to say honestly! We've played alot of awesome shows, but definitely every time we play the bay area we end up having a great time. Alot of great friends and bands up there. So the bay area shows, and definitely the time we played with Gigan, Pyrrhon,  and Artificial Brain at the Complex in Glendale.  That shit was fun.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new ep?
7. Nothing as far as touring goes yet. However we will be playing with Incantation and Funerus at the Airliner in Los Angeles on January 17th. And we were lucky enough to get a slot on 2015's California deathfest,  from the guys who throw MDF. That line up is so ridiculously amazing. Alot of bands I've listened to and looked up to for years.

8.The band was signed to Infinite Regress Records for a while, what happened with that label and contract?
8. Lindon and Steve from Infinite Regress Records are awesome as fuck, and they really took good care of us. Unfortunately the label couldn't financially go on, so they had to close shop. I think you can still order their remaining back stock of IRR releases though. But yeah its a shame too, because there were some absolutely fantastic bands on that roster.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
9. So far people seem to really be be responding well to the new EP! Everyone that's given us feedback has told us positive things, so we're really thankful that everyone Is enjoying the music!

10.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
10. Hard to say when we'll be doing a full length. We'd definitely like to have a solid label backing us with distribution and such. And we're in the market,  so hit us up! Hahah. But musically, we'll definitely keep trying to push our brand of Blackened Death Metal, and progressing together as a band to really ensure that we're putting out the best music we possibly can!

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
11.we're all pretty open minded when it comes to what we listen to, but the bands that come to mind would be stuff like Suffocation,  Dissection, The Black Dahlia Murder,  Necrophobic, etc.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
12. Chicken Wings, THC, Being ridiculous,  beer, Vietnamese soup, etc.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13. Thanks for asking us to do this interview! And thanks to everyone who's reading this!
Keep supporting extreme metal!

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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Phantasmal/The Reaper's Forge/2014 EP Review


  Phantasmal  are  a  duo  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  self  released  2014  ep  "The  Reaper's  Forge".

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic old  school  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  before  adding  in  a  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  along  with  blast  beats  and  screaming  vocals  which  are  more  in  an  80's  direction  that  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  blackened  thrash  metal  direction and  the solos  and  leads  the  band  brings  into  the  songs  are  also  in  an  old  school  extreme  metal  direction.

  At  times  melodies  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  in  both  the  riffs  and  solos  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  while  all  3  of  the  tracks  have  a  very  old  school  feeling  to  them  the  production  give s the  bands  musical  style  more  of  a  modern  sound.

  Phantasmal  plays an  extreme  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash  and  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  metal  direction  while  the  black  metal  elements  also  bring  in  a  touch  of  the  90's  sound,  the  production  sound s very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover   dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Phantasmal  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  heavy,  thrash  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Eternal  Campaign".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: http://phantasmalmetal.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/phantasmalmetal
Promo Video (The Reaper's Forge): www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAeVk2ahEgg


Deceive/Arrival Of The Dark Masters/2014 EP Review


  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Deceive  which  also  shows  them  continuing  the  blackened  death  metal  sound  of  previous  recordings  and  the ep  was  self  released  in  2014  and  called  "Arrival  Of  the  Dark  Masters".

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sounds  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  the  guitars,  bass  and  drums  all  sounding  very  powerful  and  after  awhile  the  music  speeds  up  a  bit  along  with  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  a  heavy  thrash  influence  in  both  of  the  riffs  and  solos  and  at  time s the  songs  have  a  technical  feeling.\


  Throughout  the  recording  there  is  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  vocals  that  are  used  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  along  with  a  few  high  pitched  screams   and  the  music  has  a  very  90's  style  to  it  going  back  to  the  early  days  of  black  and  death  metal  and  the  high  pitched  screams  and  tremolo  riffing  when  they  are  utilized  add  in  more  elements  of  black  metal.

  Deceive  brings  in  a  very  old  school  blackened  death  metal  sound  on  this  recording  while  also  having  some  thrash  influences  at  times,  the  production  sounds  very  old  school  yet  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  horror  and  occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  ep  from  Deceive  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  both  old  school  death  metal  and  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Arrival  Of  the  Dark  Masters"  and  "Endless  Aeons  Of  Destruction".  8  out  of  10.

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Deceive/Buried Beneath/2012 Live EP Review


  Deceive  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  live  2012  ep  "Buried  Beneath".

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  live  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  growling  vocals  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  thrash,  death  and  black  metal  influences  in  the  bands  musical  style  along  with  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  used  they  are  very  chaotic  sounding  black/death  metal  solos  and  all  of  the  songs  sound  like  they  could  of  easily  been  recorded  and  released  in  the 90's  and  the  band  also  ignores  all  of  the  modern  trends  of  the  past  20  years  and  after  awhile  blat  beats  along  with  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Deceive  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  bring s in  a  very  old  school  90's  feeling  at  times  as  well  as  being  influenced  by  many  different  extreme  metal  genres,  the  production  sound s very  raw  with  all  of  the  songs  being  recorded  live  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Deceive  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  live  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Ritual  At  The  Witching Hour".  8  out  of  10.

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Monday, December 22, 2014

Nangilima/The Dark Matter/Xtreem Music/2014 CD Review


  Nangilima  are  a  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  members  from  both  Spain  and  Sweden  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  doom  metal  and  this is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "The  Dark  Matter"  which  was  released  by  Xtreem  Music.

  Dark  sounding  atmospheric synths  start  off  the  album  and after  the  intro  the  music  goes  for  more  of  a  heavy  and  slow  funeral  doom  metal  sound  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  and  also  keeping  the  atmosphere  that  was  introduced  on  the  intro  along  with  a  good  amount  of  melody  and  there  are  also  some  black  metal  screams  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  clean  playing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  that  add  more  of  a  dark  and  depressive  atmosphere  to  the  bands  musical  style  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  very  slow,  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  direction  with  no  fast  parts  or  blast  beats  to  be  heard  anywhere  on  this  recording  while  there  is  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  on  one  of  the  tracks.

  Nangilima  plays  a  very  slow,  dark,  heavy,  melodic  and  atmospheric  style  of  funeral  doom  on  this  album  as  well  as  keeping  around  some  of  the  black  metal  influences  of  their  early  material  to enhance  the  dark  atmosphere,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nangilima  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  funeral  doom  with  black  metal  elements,  you  should  check out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stain  Of  A  Broken  Life"  and  "The  Dark  Matter".  8  out  of  10.

https://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-matter

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Stheno/Grassroll/Everydayhate Records/2014 Split 7 Inch Review


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  7  inch  between  Greece's  Stheno  and  Grassroll  which  was  released  by  Everydayhate  Records  in  2014  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Stheno  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  crust  and  grindcore.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  melodic  female  vocals  an  chants  as  well  as  some  spoken  word samples  which  leads  up  to  a  more heavy  and  violent  sound  that  brings  in  death  metal  growls  and  high  pitched  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  blast  beats  are  added  in  along  with  a  good  amount  of  crust  and  grind  elements  as  well  as  a  blackened  death  metal  sound  that  utilizes  some  chaotic  guitar  leads  at  times  and  they  remain  in  this  direction  throughout  their  side  of  the  recording  along  with  a  powerful  sounding  production  and  lyrics  that  cover  dark  and  violent  themes.

  In  my  opinion Stenho  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackened  death  metal,  crust  and  grindcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Demons  Of  Dust  And  Smoke".

  Next  up  is  Grassroll  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  grindcore  and  sludge.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  off  with  a  very  raw,  fast  and  brutal  grindcore  sound  that  bring s in  aggressive  female  screams  and  blast  beats  along  with  a  heavy  crust  influence  and  on  the  alter  tracks  death  metal  growls  are  added  into  the  music  at  times  and  when t he  music  slows  down  you  can  hear  a  decent  amount  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  elements  along  with  a  very  dark,  heavy  and  raw  production  and  lyrics  that  cover  violent  and  hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Grassroll  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  grindcore  and  sludge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Carved  Morality".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  death,  black  metal,  grindcore  and  sludge.  8  out  of  10.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Stheno/3540380699
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Grassroll/3540364521      

Friday, December 12, 2014

Synergic Ire interview


.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

We are music obsessed people, from the mountains of Tennessee that compose music for pariahs, loners, and/or the socially awkward.

2.So far you have released 2 albums, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?

The first album was purely revenge driven and served as a platform for us to express our feelings regarding the fall of our previous band. We were oppressed under a very specific sound in that group, so Cody and
I (Derek) made a pact that we would never stick with one specific genre. We got together and wrote the album in almost one week, from scratch. It ended up being a weird mix of blackened death-metal and
experimental randomness. After it came out, we decided to calm down, try to improve our story telling skills, and continue to push our abilities to their limits. The second album ended up sounding like an atmospheric and romantic death metal opus that everyone labeled "deathcore". Haha. Oh well... you can't win them all.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

We rely heavily on the concepts of contrasting perspectives, social archetypes, and mental illnesses.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Synergic Ire'?

When we started the project we wanted a name that would apply on multiple levels. It can either be seen as synergy between the music and audience, who all express or feel ire...or synergy between band
members expressing or feeling ire...

5.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?

The thing about living in the middle of nowhere is that there are no people. Haha. At this point we are actively looking to find two more suitable members. Until then, we are making due as a two piece.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Our first show was my personal favorite, people responded really well. Energy and accuracy are all you have as a two man project live. We have major plans and are still working to improve our liveexperience... but we haven't had a complaint yet!

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

At the moment, we are open to playing a show if we are invited, but there are not a lot of venue options in our area. If we find more members, touring is the ultimate goal.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We are proudly independent. If a label comes along, they would have to let us continue to produce our own music in order to get a deal out of us. At the moment, no one has shown interest.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?

Most of our audience is over-seas, but the response is overwhelmingly positive. No one is harder on us than us. We do not like the "deathcore" label, but the response from that community has been very interesting.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that the band members are a part of?

We dip our toes into other projects from time to time, but we always come back to Synergic Ire. It's our love and addiction.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We have already written an hour long ballet of black metal, weird noises, and acoustic experimentation. We have never pushed ourselves this hard in songwriting, production, and playing ability. We are
going to hold off on releasing it for a while, to make sure it isperfect. Late 2015, maybe.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

We pride ourselves on not sounding like another band. If something sounds similar, it is by accident. We kill any riff or beat immediately if it sounds familiar. As far as listening... we both listen to different styles of music. Cody is always jamming 70s prog rock, guitar driven metal, and chill music... while I listen to obnoxiously toned metal, depressing bluegrass, and anything weird... but we both like technically driven bands, like: Immortal, Mastodon,Pink Floyd, etc.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Music really is mostly what we care about. I suppose Cody is into fitness and bettering himself, and i'm into eating and complaining. Haha.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks to all who care, and we appreciate anyone actively giving a fuck about us.

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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Gazers Interview


1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Well, the band has been formed about 2 years ago, in autumn 2012 and we evolve through several kind of music as sludge, blackened post-hardcore, screamo, violence, crust and many more



2.So far you have released an ep and half been a part of a split, how would you describe the musical sound that has been present on the recordings so far?

 As we said before, we've different influences in the hardcore scene and we try to mix them to create something fresh and new.You can notice easily some electronic noises parts, outros and breaks on the EP and we kept that idea in the split but in a inconspicuous way
We gave also a main place to our screamo influences with melodies and emotions

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

 Most of the lyrics talks about the pain and the hate lock up deep inside the mankind, the decadence of the world, the fall of the civilisations, the non-acceptance of oneself as a human being.
We've chosen "Gazers" because we talk about our vision of the world, the life, of what we see. We give our opinion about these things but we keep in mind that it's OUR opinion


4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Gazers'?



5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

I thought in Ostrava (Czech Republic) in a small stage with our friends from Nine Eleven and The Prestige. And in our hometown Paris with Code Orange Kids, Twitching Tongues, Loma Prieta, The Secret ...
In 3 words: Scenic Wild Show



6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

We'll play the 29 november, 12 and13th December for the release of the split. We took the decision to stop touring for the moment to focus on the composition and cloture our first full length album and others releases.



7.Recently you where a part of a split, what are your thoughts on the other bands that have participated on the album?

Inspired by our songs for this split and great  We have shared the scene in Krakow with Fleshworld and it was great.

8.So far you have worked for Unquiet Records and Sell Your Soul Records, do you feel these 2 labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?
We thought about getting our music on theses 2 labels and for the moments it was cool. We have some others propositions from others labels but for the moment we stays here. To be continued next year...

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your recordings by fans of underground music?

As we said, we have some songs to records for the futur LP ...
Some people are very impressed by our music mixing some style and now fans just waiting more to listen in material or digital, not just in live.

10.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

 We'll stay with of our different members influences, maybe more punk...

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

we come from some different scene and past bands but for all:
Orchid, Saetia, Ekkaia, Tragedy, His Hero is Gone, Daitro, YAGE, Raein, Fugazi, converge, anomie, black Flag, minor threat, rancid...


12.What are some of your non musical interests?


 We share all, art photographic, cinema, games, Fiesta

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Continue to support your scene, do not hesitate to look at new things ... Joy, Pain, violence and prosperity.

https://gazersparis.bandcamp.com/

Monday, December 8, 2014

Desolate Shrine/The Heart Of The Netherworld/Dark Descent Records/2015 CD Review


  Desolate  Shrine  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  occult  death/doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "The  Heart  Of  The  Netherworld"  which  will  be  released  in  2015  by  Dark  Descent  Records.

  A  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  ritualistic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  minute  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  dark  death  metal  direction  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  you  can  hear  some  blast  beats  and  black  metal  elements  being  added  onto  the  recording  and  a  good  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  can  be  heard  throughout  the  recording  and  the  band  also  brings  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies  and  as  the  album  progresses  clean  playing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  dark  atmosphere  to  the  bands  musical  sound  when  they  are  utilized.

  On  some  of  the  songs  the  band  adds  in  a  very  ritualistic  atmosphere  into  their  dark  style  of  death  metal  and  you  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  doom  metal  elements  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  tracks  and  on  one  of  the  later  songs  keyboards  are  added  into  the  music  and  the  album  starts  bringing  in  more  black  metal  influences  onto  the  last  couple  of  tracks.

  Desolate  Shrine  creates  another  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  blackened  death  metal  album  with  this  recording  and  they  expand  on  the  sound  that  was  heard  on  their  previous  releases  while  also  taking  their  music  into  the  darker  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misanthropy,  nihilism,  satanism  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Desolate  Shrine  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Fires  Of  God"  "We  Dawn  Anew"  and  "Heart  of  the  Netherworld".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/desolateshrine  

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Synergic Ire/The Dividing Line/2014 CD Review

 
  Synergic  Ire  are  a  duo  from  Tennessee  that  plays  a  very  experimental  form  of  atmospheric  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2014  album  "The  Dividing  Line".

  A  very  dark  and  distorted  drone  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  some  blackened  death  metal  style  growls  and  you  can  hear  a  lot  of  traditional  black  metal  and  progressive  influences  in  the  bands  musical  style  along  with  some  blast  beats and  the  music  getting  brutal  at  times.  

  Solos  and  leads  when  they  are  used  bring  in  a  melodic  side  of  the  bands  musical  style  which  is  also  a  good  part  of  the  riffs  at  times  and  you  can  hear  some  atmospheric  elements  in  the  background  in  certain  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  a  decent  amount  of  keyboards  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  screams  and  you  can  hear  clean  playing  being  utilized  briefly  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  the  album  progresses.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  on  a  great  amount  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  band  bringing  in  a  heavy  deathcore  influence  as  we  get  more  into  the  album  and  on  one  of  the  alter  tracks  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  the  music  also  brings  in  more  of  a  technical  side  of  the  leads  and  the  music  gets  more  diverse  with  each  track  along  with  a  few  songs  that  are  long  and  epic  in  length  and  towards  the  end  clean  singing  male  vocals  are  brought  onto  the  recording.

  Synergic  Ire  plays  a  very  original  style   that  is  mostly  in  a  blackened  death  metal  direction  but  also  brings  in  deathcore  style  breakdowns  and  the  more  experimental  and  progressive  side  of  black  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  how  mental illness  was  dealt  with  in  early  civilizations  and  the  adolescence  of  an  Empath.

  In  my  opinion  Synergic  Ire  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Psychogenic  Necromancy"  "Ever  Thus,  Xenoself"  and  "Post-Obitum  Delusions".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Synergicire
http://synergicire.bandcamp.com 
https://twitter.com/SynergicIre

    

        

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Winds Of Genocide/Usurping The Throne Of Disease/Pulverised Records/2015 CD Review


  Winds  Of  Genocide  are  a  band  from  England  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  crust,  d  beat  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Usurping  The  Throne  Of  Disease"  which  was  released  by  Pulverised  Records.

  A  very  dark,  raw  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  speeding  up  a  bit  and  adding  in  growling  vocals  and  more  of  a  crust  punk  influence  while  the  drums  bring  in  d-beats  and  at  times  black  metal  screams  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  There  is  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  present  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  brutal  blast  beats  and  when  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music t hey  bring  in  an  early  80's  metal  punk  feeling  to  the  bands  musical  style  and  at  times  the  music  also  brings  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  whole  album  remains  true  to  a  very  raw,  heavy  and  brutal  sound  from  beginning  to  end.

  Winds  Of  Genocide  takes  d  beat  and  crust  punk  and  mixes  it  in  with  the  heaviness  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  very  raw,  heavy  and  brutal  musical  style,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  violent,  hateful,  dark  and  war  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Winds  of  Genocide  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  mixture  of  death  metal,  crust  and  d  beat  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Howling  Wolves  of  Armageddon"  "Into  The  Darkness  Of  Eternal  Nuclear  Winter"  "Till  Graven"  and  "Swathed  by  The  Black  Wings  of  Death".  8  out  of  10.  

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Sunday, November 16, 2014

We Are Legion/Exit Humanity/ZeroBudget Records/2014 CD Review


  We  Are  Legion  are  a  band  from  Minnesota  that  plays  a brutal  mixture  of  blackened  death  metal,  deathcore  and  thrash and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Exit  Humanity"  which  was  released  by  ZeroBudget  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal  growls,  black  metal  screams  and  blast  beats  and  after  awhile  technical  guitar  solos  and  leads  become  a  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  some  deathcore  breakdowns  and  there  is  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  throughout  the recording.

  At  times  the  faster  sections  bring  in  a  very  heavy  black  metal  influence  and  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  amount  of  melody  coming  out  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  leads  and  the  band  manages  to  keep  mostly  everything  in  a  very  heavy  musical  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  band  starts  bringing  in  the  energy  of  thrash  metal  and  a  couple  of  the  later  tracks  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  along  with  an  instrumental  before  making  a  return  back  to  a  brutal  direction.

  We  Are  Legion  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  heavy  and  brutal  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  elements  of  deathcore  and  thrash  into  their  musical  sound  while  also  having  a  technical  style  of  guitar  leads  which  also  make  their  music  more  diverse,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  violent  and  hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  We  Are  Legion  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackened  death  metal,  deathcore  and  thrash  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Celestial  Awakening"  "Rejoice,  for  We  Are  The  Damned"  and  "The  Feast"  and  "Ecophagy".  8  out  of  10.




          

Friday, November 7, 2014

Pentacle Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We just returned from a long weekend sharing the stage with the mighty Funerus and Affliction Gate which was a very positive experience. Although I know John and Jill McEntee for quite a while now, we never performed together with Funerus live and it was a pleasure to see them destroy the stage! Affliction Gate was shredding as well. Great band! We did one gig in Belgium and two in France and the audience was very supportive towards all bands involved.
Right now, we are preparing ourselves for the next gig as support for Thanatos’ release party for their upcoming album. I’m looking forward to share the stage with them again and not to forget Eternal Solstice. We released a double split 7” EP last year with them on Dark Descent Records and I am very much looking forward to see them live again. We did many gigs with Eternal Solstice in the mid 90’s, so it should be great to witness their Death Metal Massacre again. Surely a gig to look forward to!

2. Recently you had released an EP, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Well, for me personally this DCD features way more than only “The Fifth Moon”. It’s a retrospective album featuring everything we released up to our first major release, being “The Fifth Moon” PD/MCD. The featured demos or EP are equally important to the history of the band and are in no way inferior to the later material. The intent of this release is a trip down Pentacle’s history lane and to give an oversight what kind of Metal we performed during those years. Both on a musical and visual level.
I think this release perfectly shows the progression we made from 1989 up to 1996. One has to remember Pentacle was our very first band, so we had no previous experience and we grew as musicians through the years. Live and learn, as they say. Just listen to the rehearsal version of “Belief from Below” and compare it to a song like “Black at Heart”. It still is the same band, but we matured big time during this period of time.  The biggest differences in my ears are the vocals and the drumming. I really had to find my own identity and learn how to handle vocals the right way and I think the session for “A Dance Beyond” was a step in the right direction as they offer more emotions and power than the ones I did for “Winds of the Fall” and “Caressed by both Sides”. It was a learning process. Our old drummer Marc had turned into a better drummer by the time we wrote the material for “The Fifth Moon” and it shows very much. Faster and more intricate. He added an extra dimension to the four songs. The early material features more slow and doomy parts. We were (and still are) very much into the slow Hellhammer and Celtic Frost songs/parts like “Procreation (of the Wicked)”, “Dawn of Megiddo” or “Buried and Forgotten”, so we incorporated many heavy parts into our material. Songs like “Denial of God” didn’t speed up very much at all and this part of our sound wasn’t featured on “The Fifth Moon” as there was little inspiration to doom around the world.
The production of “The Fifth Moon” is more professional. Tighter, yet I think the “Exalted Journey” EP is way more heavy. The bass was way too low in the mix for “The Fifth Moon” and that was a disappointment back in the days. From that point of view I definitely prefer “Exalted Journey”. Still, we kept the plain aggression, energy and heaviness alive through the years. Death Metal, the ancient way!

3. From 2005 to 2013 there was no new material released, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

After the release of “Under the Black Cross” we did many gigs to promote the album. It received an US release, plus an additional PD treatment as well (still the ultimate version of the album to me). It was a very heavy period for me as I handled almost everything and every version of this release by myself. “Archaic Undead Fury” was fast on the tracks of “Under...” as well. In retrospect, “Under the Black Cross” really pushed me towards the edge and I had a hard time dealing with it. I managed to make it work, but it fed on my energy big time. I think I was close to a burn out at that time as I had to keep it all going. I felt I had to keep the momentum going all by myself.
Around 2007 (or was it 2006?), I received the offer to join Asphyx again which I did and this went off like a rocket! We did many gigs all around Europe and the US and it consumed almost all of my spare time. We still rehearsed with Pentacle, played gigs and worked on new material, yet Asphyx was going fast and even faster and I think I was taken aback by the mere speed of the developments around this band way more than I expected it to be. It felt amazing to be a part of these happenings and the internal band dynamics because everything was moving forward. Everyone was pulling the bandwagon and that was a very big difference from Pentacle where I did the major work on my own. To a certain degree, it felt as some kind of relief to be part of such machinery. Maybe it was some kind of escapism, you know. Yet, my involvement in Pentacle was not enough to keep the band going on a regular base. Because I was very much involved in Asphyx, it took its toll on Pentacle which was never the intention. There was stagnation for sure.
After I parted from Asphyx in 2009, I had a hard time being a musician again. I was very much disappointment how matters had evolved and couldn’t find the energy to get going with Pentacle again on a bigger level. Surely, we still kept rehearsing and playing gigs, but matters were progressing very slowly.
The thing that triggered me mostly was the announcement on the radio from Rick Cortez (Sadistic Intent) concerning our split 12”. They were going to make it happen at last, so Pentacle had to get moving again. From that point, everything got back into place and the focus was on again. Except for the split with Sadistic Intent, we received offers to share other releases with Eternal Solstice and Mortem which we very eagerly accepted as they are both great Death Metal acts. So we had several projects to work on and this was a big motivation for me to move forward again. In the meanwhile we (re-)released these items:
- double split 7” EP with Eternal Solstice
- split 7” EP with Mortem
- “Into the Depths of Mill” live tape
- “Under the Black Cross” tape
- “Ancient Death” tape
- “Five Candles burning red” MCD
- “...Rides the Moonstorm” CD
- “The Fifth Moon...beyond and back” DCD
The actual release that triggered me to get back in business again (the split with Sadistic) is still not out. Kind of strange how matters develop when you think about it...

4. With the band name and a good portion of your lyrics you have covered some occult topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?

The lyrical content changed over the years. Up to “...Rides the Moonstorm” and parts of “Ancient Death” the concept was indeed about the occult in all its aspects, but mostly personal views and experiences. After these albums, I felt I was going in circles and started to rehash myself, so I needed a fresh approach which became WWII for “Under the Black Cross”. I still think occult topics fit perfectly to the Death Metal sound, but my inspiration had dried up and I didn’t wanted to recite some book or copy some Crowley, so I took another direction. I still have a big interest in the occult and it keeps me entangled in its web.

5. The band has been around since 1989, what is it that motivates you to keep going after 25 years?

Sheer determination, big-headed, the need to express yourself on a creative level, not willing to give up even when the road is very rocky and most important, a huge passion for extreme Metal! I am very much dedicated to Black/Death/Thrash etc. It’s in my blood!!!! After so many years, the band has become a big part of my identity. One of my qualities is to bite and not to let go again, so here you go...

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Recently, we did an US tour with great bands like Ares Kingdom, Unholy Lust and Morgengrau and it was awesome! Basically, we are a non-touring band, so this experience was amazing! We are more used to single or weekend gigs, so a US tour is quite exceptional to us. The crowds made us feel very welcome and I want to thank them very much! The promoters did a great job and treated us very well.
About the gigs in the past, a few stand out in my memory: the very first two gigs we ever did with Gorefest and Asphyx. Supporting bands like Samael, Emperor, Obituary etc. Gigs with our friends of Acrostichon, Mortem, Ancient Rites, Incantation, Sadistic Intent, Gospel of the Horns, Desaster, Eternal Solstice, DeadHead, Necros Christos, Sathanas, Excision, Morthra etc. All great memories as it’s very important to us to share the bill with kindred spirits. United we stand, right?
As far as stage performance, there’s nothing spectacular to mention. We are a hard working band with loads of sweet, tears and the occasional blood when something goes wrong! We still love to headbang and get the crowd going. We wear shirts of the bands we support and/or admire and that’s it.

7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Yes, we have single shows coming up, like the one with Thanatos and Eternal Solstice or Outrage, but nothing big. The usual stuff. We received some offers to play abroad again and we have to look into it what’s possible. The US trip was awesome, so it would be great to have another go as well.

8. Vic Records is going to re-issue your 1996 ep, but with remastered and bonus tracks, what are your thoughts on the final product?

I am very proud to say the end result is the way we envisioned it. It came out very well and offers money for value.
I am very satisfied with the layout. Together with our former drummer Marc I designed it and the cooperation was a most successful one! It was the first project both Marc and I worked on after he left the band in 2001 and it was great to catch up with him again. Back in the days, we often worked on the layout as well, so it was common interest to make this release as good as possible. Marc is still very proud of his Pentacle legacy, so he wants only the best! Granted, the pics are a bit small, but there was so much info we wanted to incorporate... I had to be very picky as we weren’t able to use all the material I had in my possession, so I had to shift through the pile and use the most important ones only. For a chapter like “Winds of the Fall” there was little visual material available, so we had to use whatever I had in my collection, but in the end it worked out well. I didn’t want to re-use material from the big “Ancient Death” MLP booklet nor “The Fifth Moon” PD collage, so it narrowed down to whatever was left. Still, except for the “Winds of the Fall” chapter, there was more than enough.
About the music, there’s not much to say. It was remastered, but we kept the sound as original as possible. We had to work hard on the “Caressed by both Sides” rehearsal demo as the original recordings are very low-ended so we couldn’t raise the overall volume of the rehearsal to the same level of the other recordings, so we had to alter the sound a bit. I think it worked out fine. For the rest there were no problems as I still owned all original DAT-tapes, so we used them to compile the material. Thanks to our sound engineer Robin!
It’s a pity we couldn’t include our version of Hellhammer’s “The Reaper” which we recorded back during the “Caressed...” sessions in 1992. The song was part of the rehearsal demo and we still perform it live, so I really wanted it to be featured on the second CD, but possible royalty payments withhold the use of the song and we had to let it go. It’s a pity, but I understand the reason.
I would have loved to include more exclusive material, but there was nothing left in our archives, so it’s pretty much basic our official releases plus two extra songs and that’s it. We already used our best live recording for the “Into the Depths of Mill” live tape and as I want to keep recordings exclusive as possible, I didn’t want to use any material from that live recording for the DCD again. It felt too cheap to me, so we kept the DCD as it has become now.
Roel (Vic Records) did a tremendous job and I thank him from my blackest heart for his hard work and dedication!!!!

9. Over the years how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?

I tend to think people do appreciate our concept. We were and never will be a popular band in the underground. There’s no fuzz concerning Pentacle. We are no groundbreaking act in whatever sense you come up with and it shows rather obvious. Pentacle is not an exciting band breaking boundaries. Our sound neither is very heavy, original nor sheds it light upon something fresh or amazingly intense. We’re no old school Death Metal like Sadistic Intent or Asphyx. We don’t perform Occult Death Metal like Grave Miasma or Necros Christos. We don’t play Black/Thrash as Desaster and Gospel of the Horns. We don’t play Black Metal as Blasphemy or Katharsis. There’s no particular audience for us and I feel we’re somewhere and nowhere at the same time. But, we are a very honest band, very much devoted to the art of extreme Metal. What you see is what you get. We kept the flag of Ancient Death Metal high since 1989 and never betrayed our roots or origins. We always walked our own path whatever trend was ruling the scene. Pentacle never gave in. Never! Though I think we are not an original band at all, we create material with a certain vibe. One is able to hear it is Pentacle and when I actually think about it, there’s no band around like us. We do wear our influences and inspiration on our sleeves and we’re damn proud bands like Possessed, Celtic Frost, Necrovore, old Death, Venom, Slaughter etc. have left their mark on Pentacle. They are the best!!! Yet there’s no other band around sounding like us, which makes it even more remarkable for me personally, as I am convinced Pentacle has little originality to offer. But that was never our intention either. When we started the band in 1989, it was all about the old bands and our dedication to keep their spirit alive through our music. We never aimed for an original approach nor had the urge to create something new, because we wanted to create Metal very much influenced by the classic Black/Death/Thrash Metal bands and nothing else. We didn’t want to sound like a new Morbid Angel, Entombed, Carcass, Paradise Lost, Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Deicide, Pestilence and others. All bands very popular when we started the band and we enjoyed as well. No, we took albums like “To Mega Therion”, “Seven Churches”, “Infernal Overkill”, “Apocalyptic Raids”, “Hymn to Abramelin”, “Strappado”, “At War with Satan”, “Scream Bloody Gore” and “Morbid Tales” and combined their sheer power with the rehearsals/demos/live tapes from Hellhammer, Mantas/Death, DeathStrike/Master, Pentagram (Chile), Necrovore and Messiah and off we went! We went for a different take on Death Metal than most bands of our generation did as they went for the “Earache/Roadrunner/Nuclear Blast- approach”, so to speak.
I hope people respect our concept. They know we don’t get influenced by any new developments and we stick to our guns. If they enjoy our music, I don’t know. You should ask them, not me. At least people know Pentacle is an honest band and that counts pretty much for me. I know there’s a fair share of Pentamaniacs out there and I want to thank them very much for all the support they gave us!!! They are the best!

10. When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

After so many years, it’s very hard to come up with fresh sounding material. Our musical concept is very tight, so we are prone to reach our self set boundaries fast. I’m very keen to progress within our concept, so every record has to “better” than its predecessor, yet we will stay true to the original concept at all costs! No compromise!
I want to see how far we can push the limits, so as long there’s room to progress, we’re on board! As soon as we reached the utter limits and start to rehash ourselves, it’s all over. I mean, many bands have a formula they repeat over and over again and in these cases it often works fine for them, but that is not what I have in mind for Pentacle. I was often disappointed when certain bands delivered kind of the same record again. It was a letdown for me as a fan, so when we started Pentacle I didn’t want to make the same “mistake” as these bands did. Only too often a band reaches a certain technical level and after that they change direction (like Metallica did after “And Justice for all”...) or start repeating themselves. For some it pays off, for some it doesn’t, but that’s all subjective, you know. There are few bands able to progress record after record, but that’s a totally different discussion. Progression for the sake of progression is not always good either, so it really depends on the band and what they are able to pull off. I mean, we don’t want Sabbat (JAP) to sound progressive, right? They did some tricks left and right, but they stay faithfully on course and damn right they do! Same with a band like Cianide. You don’t want them get weird all over, right? Album after album they know how to deliver the goods, so all power to them!
I have respect for songwriters like Chuck Schuldiner (R.I.P.) and Trey Azagthoth who were able to push the boundaries for many years. Granted, their first records are still my personal faves, but that doesn’t withhold me to acknowledge their will/drive/passion/creativity to improve as a musician and to come up with better (...) records. Again, the last point is all in eye of the beholder, yet it is obvious musicians as Trey and Chuck pushed the limits to the max. If you enjoy such developments, that’s another question...

11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Through the years there has been no shift in musical inspiration from my side. These are still the same: Venom (everything up to “Possessed”), Hellhammer/Celtic Frost (everything up to “Into the Pandemonium”), Possessed, Necrophagia (“Season of the Dead”), Bathory (first four records), Slaughter (CAN) (“Strappado”), Messiah (everything up to “Hymn to Abramelin”), Mantas/Death (everything up to “Leprosy”), Necrovore, DeathStrike/Master, Destruction (“Infernal Overkill”), Slayer (“Haunting the Chapel” and “Hell Awaits”), Treblinka, early Asphyx (everything up to “Embrace the Death”) and some more. Very classic stuff as you can see.
As far as new releases, I try to keep updated in this totally overcrowded scene. I’m still buying demo tapes, 7” EP’s, LP’s and CD’s, so I have some knowledge of what’s going on around me. Some current faves are Blood Storm, Oath of Cruelty, Necros Christos, Dead Congregation, Drowned, Venenum, Grave Miasma, Cianide, Outrage (GER), Hod, Impurity, Ares Kingdom, Mausoleum, Druid Lord, Anatomia, Headhunter D.C., Bölzer and some golden oldies like Autopsy, Poison/R.U. Dead?, Expulsion, Incubus (FL), Pentagram Chile, Bolt Thrower, Nausea and early Morbid Angel (“Abominations..” and “Altars...”).

12. What are some of your non musical interests?

WWII. That sums it up rather quickly. Both Metal and WWII are my passions. I’ve been into this global conflict since I was a verrrrry young boy and it stayed with me though all the years big time. I love to visit museums, former battlefields and other points of interest. I digest book after book and try to keep my library updated which is a feeble attempt with so many publications, young and old, around. My main interests are the British/Commonwealth and German armed forces and the North Africa/Mediterranean theatre of war, yet I read anything interesting I lay my hands on. Being of Italian, French, Greek, Hungarian, Japanese, Dutch, North American, Polish, Russian, Finnish, Maltese, Norwegian, Belgian, Chinese, Danish or Rumanian origin... Whenever the subject is interesting to me, I pick it up and dive into it. Human interest is my biggest love as I want to read the accounts of actual combat on all fronts and by all involved parties. Some current books I am reading or read recently are “Kameraden” by Felix Römer, “Stalingrad: Ereignis, Wirkung, Symbol” by Jürgen Förster, “Corregidor” by E.M. Flanagan JR., “Guns against the Reich” by Petr Mikhin, “Monty’s Iron Sides” by Patrick Delaforce and “Kampfpanzer Maus” by Michael Fröhlich. Quite diverse topics.

13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you very much for your time and support towards Pentacle. It is very much appreciated! Keep up the good work and thanks for your time!

Play list:
Venom – everything up to “The Waste Lands” and “MMV” box
Terrorizer – rehearsals 1987
Incubus (FL) – demo 12”
Bolt Thrower – “Realm of Chaos” and “The Fourth Crusade” LP’s
Necrodeath – “Into the Macabre” tape
Celtic Frost – “To Mega Therion” and “Tragic Serenades” tapes
Bölzer – “Soma” 12”
Bathory – “Under the Sign of the Black Mark” LP

www.pentacle.nl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pentacle/86420806112

DON’T FORGET THE ANCIENT FEELING...IT STILL RULES!!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

EvilSpell Interview


1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band these days?

Hi! Thanks for the interview. After the release of "Necrology", we worked on the promotion of the album playing a lot of gigs in Italy, and recorded a split album with Gemini from Turin. Also, we are composing some new songs in rehersal room.

2.In the last year you have been a part of a split and have also released a full length, how would you describe the musical sound of the newer material and also how does it differ from the stuff the band has released in the past?

The full and the split have opposite sounds. While one is well recorded and executed, taking care on details and repeating some recordings if needed, the other one was just a rehearsal recorded with one microfone in the middle of the room.
Of course, compared to the past, we sound more evil. This is because maybe we have grown as artists, making better riffs. Also, after "Antisocial Satan", we have spent hundreds of hours in rehearsal room and a lot of money in instrumentation, in fact "Necrology" and the split are recorded with Paul's Peavey 5150 120W and Filo's Engl Powerball 100W, both bought in the last years...

3.The band started out in more of a speed/thrash direction but have evolved into black/thrash over the years, what was the decision behind going into a heavier direction?

Any decision was taken. 90% are improvised riffs and only sometimes one of us bring a new song made at home. Evilspell started playing heavy/thrash but after the arrival of Paul, who at the time was the only one of the band listening black metal, begin to became more extreme - and this process is still continuing. Anyway, a lot of things are happened in the last years, and we are really pissed off. Canalising our hate and anger in the music is natural. The resulting is playing more fast and aggressive...

4.Your lyrics cover some satanic and occult topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Here in Italy there's the fucking vatican with his shitty morale. Be antichristians is a right thing.
About Satanism we can't say all...

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'EvilSpell'?

We were searching for a name, with not much ideas and the help of an english dictionary. One page said "evil spell" and it sounded good. Maybe if there were a different dictionary, now we were not Evilspell. Who knows...

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Our stage performance is pure violence, with blood, inverted cross everywhere, and face painting in the way of old Slayer and Hellhammer.
The best shows are the ones when the all the sounds are good and people kill each other. Last summer we organized the first "Evil Fest" with some of the best italian underground bands, and it was great! Another great concert was the one few days after the death of our bass player Fra. In his last phone message written to each of us before his death, he asked us to continue with the band, and we did. Without the support of our fans and friends, I don't think we can be here now.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

We are already touring, and in february we will play for the first time in Spain, but we can't announce details for now!

8.Recently you where a part of a split with Gemini, how would you compare this bands musical style yo your own?

Gemini is a band of friends of us, we have a different style both in the music and in the lyrics, we can't compare it.

9.The last full length was released on Black Slide Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Sorry, it's Black Side Records. Our manager Filippo was the one who recorded "First attack" and "Antisocial Satan". He already had a label, and he created that sub-label for more extreme acts, we were the first band signed, and I think at the time the only one. For "Necrology", he's also co-producer. The label should control the distribution of the cd and also the promotion. For the concerts, on the other way, we organized all in our own.

10.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and thrash metal?

We don't know, maybe you should ask to them...

11.What is going on with the other musical project that 2/3rds of the band members are a part of these days?

End is a solo project of Paul, since before him arrived in Evilspell. In End Paul compose all the instruments lines and other members are session. Of course, he chose his friends, and so Filo went to the bass. The project, after a long pause, reborned two years ago and three concerts were done - the last with mighty Inquisition from Colombia.

12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Who knows...

13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

There are a lot of different influences, the most of these european. We can just say some bands... Old Slayer, Destruction, Cranium, Slaughter, Sodom, Hellhammer, Bulldozer, Aura Noir, Beherit...

14.What are some of your non musical interests?

We like to drink with friends, go to the concerts supporting the underground and sometimes grill some meat in the woods... Personally Igor likes to travel around the world (money allowing...), Paul likes to study the nature and occultism, and Filo likes drugs and motorbikes.

15.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

We want to dedicate this first interview outside Italy to our brother Fra. Just few days ago four fucking years are gone, but you are always playing with us! May you kill jesus christ another time in the sky!
IN NOMINE SATAN, PLAY BLACK THRASH METAL!!!

(Paul - Evilspell)

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Friday, October 31, 2014

EvilSpell/Necrology/Black Side Records/2014 CD Review


  EvilSpell  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Necrology"  which  was  released  by  Black  Side  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  which  also  leads  up  to  more  of  an  old  school  thrash  metal  direction  and  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  amount  of  melody  in  the  bands  musical  sound  and  after  the  intro  the  band  starts  adding  in  elements of  first  wave  black  metal  into  their  musical  sound.

  Vocals  when  they  are  added  into  the  music  are  old  school  thrash  style  vocals  that  are  heavily  influenced  by  the  German  bands  of  the  80's  and  you  can  also  hear  a  touch  of  melody  in   the  aggressive  screams  and  after  awhile  blast  beats  can  be  hear d in  certain  sections  of  the recording  and  the band  also  brings  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  solos  and  leads  the  band  uses  are  in  a  pure  80's  metal  direction  and  you  can  also  hear  some  element s of  hardcore punk  being  mixed  in  with  their  old  school  black/thrash  sound  at  times  and  all  of  the  tracks  sound  like  they  could  of  easily  been  recorded and  released  in  the  early  to  mid  80's  and  there  no  more  modern  influences  present  anywhere  on  the  recording  and  on  the  last  track  acoustic  guitars  are  added  into  the  music  briefly  before  making  a  return  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  they  close  the  album  with  horror  movie  style  keyboards.

  EvilSpell  plays  an  80's  style  of  first  wave  black  and  thrash  metal  ignoring  all  modern  trends  and  creating  an  album  that  is  very  raw  and  heavy,  the  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Heavy  Metal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  EvilSpell  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Slut  Of  Satan"  "Necropunk"  "Speed  Metal  Evil"  and  "Necronomicon".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/EvilSpell/99794349979?sk=timeline