The Cloven Hoof #2 -Flyer 2-

Here is the newest CH#2 flyer/promo, two bands that will be added to the next one is the Swedish Neglektum & Netherlands Orodruin.

Shibalba - Memphitic Invocations

Here we have a nice re release (and re-mastered plus new artwork) of Shibalbas first release "Memphitic Invocations", this edition is put out by the new quality label Antiqua Tenebrae Records. (you can find the link at the end)

Just dont come looking for guitars here man!
hehe yeah this is a purely keyboard experience (maybe some other instruments also i guess if one analysis the live photos...), this is not really heading for some evil rough atmosphere of hell rather then a levitating surreal vibe and beautiful exotic forest like transcendence ( try sprinkling xanax on weed) so one can guess that the name Shibalba has something to do with "Xibalba" that is the name of the underworld in K'iche' Maya mythology, ruled by the Maya death gods and their helpers.... but then again it has very much Egyptian references on/in it so i must be in the wrong here.

So think of this as a nice lubricant for introverted  ritual journeys or just some great mystic music that gives you a big hug. :) Thick full filling ambiance from the first invocation to the last.

Members is Acherontas very own V.Priest Aldra-Al-Melekh & Karl NE/Nachzehrer. Session Live Member Nekelmu ILU... so if you have heards some of Acherontas great albums you will have heard some intros/outros that is a bit like this "Memphitic Invocations".

A plus for the great package (paper and print quality is top). I have know this Shibalba entity for awhile now and now finally have listen to it i feel hungry for more of this! They have released like 5 splits and now finally a full album so there should be no problem there.

Bands own statement-
"This Manifestation of Shadows was created as a dedication to the Lords of Eternity,Those who keep the keys of Immortality!
Embrace Us in your Holy Presence that we may behold the face of the Sun and that we may behold the Moon for Ever and Ever!
Hail to thee Ancient Ones!"

Photo by Elena Merkouri.

Track list:

1.Hemet Netjer (Invocation I) 05:34
2.Sekhem 05:34
3.Akhet 04:13
4.Udjat (Invocation II)

--Antiqua Tenebrae Records --
link:
https://www.facebook.com/AntiquaTenebraeRecords/?fref=ts
 

Mephorash - 1557 - Rites of Nullification

"The  Rites of Nullification are a theoretical construction of as well as hymns of a wedding ceremony of the Bride of chaos, which is symbolically enacted through a siege laid on all fronts against the four Kabbalistic worlds of creation."
                              - Gilles De Laval

Even if that explanation sounds like jibberish to you this album will fulfill your desires of epic black magic metal!

This is the third full album from these Swedish/Upsala warlocks and i promise that when reminiscing about this very album in the future people will tell you this is the bands first real milestone and it is a mandatory record for any serious black metal fan.

As their last album was the "real" start for Mephorash with the embarking on a clear path into qliphothic war this third opus is where they come in (the first) full circle and shed their skin and become something new and powerful, i guess experience sculpted this dagger even sharper from the split work they did with "Ashencult" between the latest full lengths also but either way 1557 - Rites of Nullification is a grand standing evidence of dark energy transformed into notes & sonic waves....and i wont blame you if you get some "The Ninth Gate" vibes here and there. hehe

If you dont know their sound it is quite Swedish (and also Greece) with powerful mid to fast shredding menacing guitars and varied blast beats intercepted with some epic melodies without ever becoming silly, keyboards is used with great effect also and guest vocals (From bands like Ofermod, Hetroertzen, Embrace of Thorns) kick the songs even higher into orbit! Production is solid and evenly mixed with both clean parts and rough ones.

These four long songs is something thats both easy to get into and also grows through repeated listening and if you did not know this band Mephorash before you will certainly do it after this beast!

...and yeah a Ep is on its way also early next year! So dont let your ears fall off just yet.



Track list:

1.     Riphyon - The Tree of Assiyah Putrescent     09:22    
2.     Phezur - Dissolving the Sea of Yetzirah     10:43    
3.     Cheidolun - Breaking the Blade of Beriah     10:41    
4.     Berberioth - Vandalising the Throne of Atziluth     11:45    
      42:31

Released by : Odium Records
info@odiumrex.com

New hot split with Azaghal / Oath!

Recommended split!

Words from the label:

"The split album of the Finnish bands Azaghal and Oath is now available.
Together with this split album, 2 logo patches are also available for sale."

And if you like Azaghal pick up this also, split with Ars Veneficium !

Label contact:
Immortalfrostproductions@hotmail.com
http://www.shop.immortalfrostproductions.com/product/azaghal-oath-azaghal-oath/

Gratzug - Offenbarung

From what i know this one man (Mephistopheles) band from Germany started in 2011 and since then released two demos, two Ep´s, one split and one compilation and 4 full albums and this very one is the third one....and also the first full release that i have listened to.

As the nice album design suggests the sound of Gratzug is a soaring & epic attack of atmospheric black metal, the sound has a good reverbance and production & mixes both cold parts with a bit warmer ones, melodic for sure and as often in this genre they are spread out under longer stretches and repeated and built on as the song progresses to get to mighty heights & intertwined with harsher elements through out, all is very professional done with a good taste of notes and strong feeling. Another good thing is that it really hold up well with repeated listening as it loses no power and reveals more details with time.

It takes you away to another time and place which is an unholy blessing in this time & age!

As the album is quite long (around one hour and five minutes) and the songs follow more or less the same (effective though) patterns it can get a bit samey...maybe could work best as two Eps? But that is a small niggle as the actual compositions are great!(besides two tracks towards the end that come close to pop compositions...quite hard to digest that but luckily its only in minor parts of them.)

If you have not listen to Gratzug this album is a good start i guess as it was for me and i got hungry for more.

Quality black metal music from Germany!

Best tracks is 2,3 (a must listen)

Track list:

1.     Vor         
2.     Offenbarung         
3.     Miasma         
4.     Die Nächtliche        
5.     Durch Scharfrichters Hand         
6.     Karner        
7.     Der Atmosphäre alte Geister        
8.     Strigoi         
9.     Ohne Zeit         
10.     Gottesacker         
11.     Nach

Released by Hammerbund!

Label link:
http://www.hammerbund.blogspot.se/

Averxu Atrium - Ω Qliphoth Sefirot Kéter Ω

From Costa Rica this trio opens up the night sky so we can witness the midnight sun!
The members is also active in &  past activities in bands like Morbid Funeral, Zwarte Vlam, ex-Amarok, ex-Vedar Gal, ex-Kaintormenthave so one is not surprised this Ep would sound professional.
That said this was better then what i imagined!

Their sound is a mix of early evil thrash and old school death metal (with some extra nice cuts & grooves) sprinkled with some straight face occult black metal mentality.
It all start off with a good eerie instrumental intro that flips your mind above the clouds and over to the mystic orient, the first real song shows the most inspiration from Thrash and also i hear some very Brittish guitar riffing that would fit right in in the 80´s Maiden era, the vocals through out it all has a good mid dark death growling (thats quite articulated) but also blackish raspy harpies fly around and and scream as backing vocals here & there. (also chants and shouts is to be found)
Third and fifth tracks are also instrumental intermissions that continue to keep the mood on this dark path and hold your hand into the next attack. The second and last songs have less Thrash/speed traces in them and goes more into the devastating demonic slaughter and if i would pick just one i say that the "Incantatem Grimorioum Lux" song is the best but all is great even if you have heard all the original bands the inspirations comes from.

All in all a tight recording with strong production and solid epic compositions,  both headbanging and evil but at the same time feels enough sincere and serious to buy the Qliphothic esoteric vibrations and lyrics.

This was first released last year on tape by  New Order Records (as seen above here) but this review is based on this new sweet re release from Antiqua Tenebrae Records, great packaging quality and art through and through. I feel we will see more from this band soon!

Get it!

Track list:

1.     Qliphoth Sefirot Kéter        
2.     Neter Khertet        
3.      Ad bis anu kyes set (extra track only on the cd release)
4.     Incantatem Grimorioum Lux        
5.     A.F.L.I.R.        
6.     Jentyamentiu Averni


Label link:

https://www.facebook.com/AntiquaTenebraeRecords/?fref=ts

Malepeste Interview!

1.Hailz! Welcome to the non-physical plane of RAW WAR! Malepeste started its course back in 2010 (if my source is correct) which means this year is the fifth active year of its existence,how is the band now compared to the start?

-Hails, and thanks for your support !
This is interesting to look in the past, to see the path we went through. When you listen our first demo “Malepeste” you can hear something more raw, more depressive in vocals. Our first full length is more close to our work now. Something with a lot of arpeggi, some groovy parts and dissonances. You can easily listen the difference between our sound too, we always recorded by ourself, and after years we get more experience and material.
And this is the same for ceremonies, we get more stuff, it’s getting more visual.
This is important to us to make a concert as a ceremony and not just a concert.

2.How was the time when you recorded the first demo and do you still like what you composed? 

- It depends, I still like some tracks of our first demo but I think they need to be revisited, maybe one day, why not. We did it quickly and we get good returns from people and webzine so finally it was good.
But now this is not what Malepeste is doing anymore, well or sort of, but better now.

3.The first full length "Dereliction" got out in 2013, as the title means something along the lines of "act of abandoning" one wonders if its life thats getting the ditch or how was the idea behind the title? And was it only a self release?

- First of all yes, it was completely self-released, from the recording to the pressing. And about the title “dereliction”: it's more about exploring this feeling of loneliness as a whole, and developing all what we can find throughout the album, than the “I want to die” sort of crap. Primarily theological, this word expresses the feeling of the Christ on his cross, we found within it an interesting reinterpretation in a darker way. It’s also a strong and unknown word that deserves to be brought out that’s why it’s a good title for this album

4.How would you describe your occult path and interest? I get a bit anti-cosmic vibe here and/or some necromancy luring in shadows.

- This is something personal for each band members. We don’t support any kind of institution or philosophy, each member find what he needs to find in occultism and ceremony. The interest of each one depends of a lot of things, but finally we all agreed on something: we are looking for a personal elevation and transcendental paths in ritual music.
We operate with pictures. Our lyrics and our music is made for images, full of metaphors etc… We want our followers to travel in their mind during and accompany us in an images world, without limits. Everything our music made them feels and see is interesting to know. Music is a question of feelings and pictures.

5.Then in last year you released the split "Mysterium Coniunctionis", How did you come in contact with Krowos (Italy) and what can you say about the content of your tracks? How is your general view on splits?

 
- At first I made a trade with Frozen, the Krowos drummer with the cd of his other band: Arcanum Inferi. And he proposed to do this split. I just said ok and there it is.
Each bands composed three tracks for this split, and we made a common intro with Frozen, this is stuff you can only found on this split.
Splits are a good way to discover bands, you buy it for a band, and by the way you listen another and it could be a good thing. Or not. But this an important thing in underground, and the kind of split I really like is when a special theme is studied by the two bands for a split.

6.And now this your sophomore album is at hand! Its title is "Deliquescent Exaltation"... as the cover art paints a picture of man rising/levitating towards or by the horned god (or is it the opposite?) it feels but at the same time when i checked the meaning of the word Deliquescent (Becoming liquid, or having a tendency to become liquid.) it got a bit blurry hehe.. please tell about the vision and thoughts behind the album title and art. Other then that this album (so far) feels like a big but natural step for the band.

 
- For this album we worked on a concept, the tracks and lyrics studied the concept of falls and elevations. This is just the natural path for spiritual elevation, you have to go through different step of falling, before recovered yourself and reach the spiritual exaltation.
The name of the album express perfectly this concept. Deliquescent Exaltation is a kind of oxymoron who express the lowest body state, but necessary to go reach the great elevation. That’s what the word Exaltation means, the perfect state of spiritual well being.

For example the track “Going Under” speaks about this necessary path. It speaks about the Sokushinbutsu monks, some Japanese Buddhists priests who tried to self-mummify themselves. Taking a very special diet during years to finaly buried themselves alive on a special cave in lotus position with just a little tube to breath and a bell to say if they are still alive or not.

When this ring shuts up, the cave is closed and after one year they opened again the cave and if the monk is mummified he becomes Bodhisattva, he gets the perfect illumination and is revered as Buddha himself. If he failed, he is just respected for his perseverance.
This example express very well the concept of the album.

7.Is there some other bands that you respect in Lyon? And how would you describe it as a city? Pretty large city i think.

- Lyon is a great city to live. Not as big and touristic as Paris, bug big enough to see some interesting bands and great places.
A lot of great bands are from Lyon, like Crystalium, Orthanc, Nehëmah, Ad Hominem etc…
And still today, we have bands like Dux, Udyr, Daughters of Sophia, Evil Eruption, Neige Morte, Celeste etc…
I respect all authentic bands, people who really are into the music they made, not just for their personal image. Music and especially black metal is a need, not a desire.

8.If one likes to gets some merch from the band what can one look out for?

- We have some shirts, patches and pins, but the principal is our albums, available from us and some labels.

9.After this album release what is in your plans? Some gigs? And talking about gigs if you would say one -Worst thing about live rituals and one Best thing about live rituals?

- After this album we are working on a very special ritual, only with friends under invitation. A way for us to express this darkest part of our art with great people who can understand and appreciate it. We wanted to do it long time ago but we missed time, know this is getting concrete.

We are working in a special split too with two other great bands from Lyon: Udyr and Daughters of Sophia.
Gigs are extremely important for us, these are our rituals and each one of us lives it in a personal way. This is the only way to feel the dark energies, and people help us to the stage exaltation by sharing with us this special moment. One of our best moments was during the last tour with Hetroertzen and Malhkebre, we performed in a very special place. This was a private ritual with something like 30 people only in an old troglodyte cave. It was extremely intense and strong!
The worst thing happened during a show in Grenoble, because of our candles and the fog machine, an alarm rang, the lights turned on and the sound stopped. It was a terrible experience, we were really in, starting to leave our conscious and this brutal return to reality was absolutely painful.

10.Thanks for your time answering this! Last word is yours!

-Thanks a lot to everybody for the support and go to see live rituals.
This the way bands really exist!

The Cloven Hoof #2 flyer 1,b

Ondfødt - Hexkonst

The great cover art (by Karmazid) describes what you get pretty much, in other words you will get some
 - Hellish turbulent Nordic witch crafting trolls dancing around the black boiling cauldron -

 As this is a mainly Finnish based horde the vocals though is in Norwegian and also the music sounds like it could come from the same country...not that it matter though because its a great slab of primitive occultism here to both entertain... and irritate its surrounding nature hehe.

To be more technical i would say you get a slower and more groovy Arckanum (not all to correct alternative but thats what echoed in my old cranium) but with added insanity like the ones that can be found on for example the Ancient Records (ex: Bekëth Nexëhmü, Grifteskymfning etc) but with more a rocking coherent structure, the vocals is the most fucked thing on this release as they differs from traditional good raspy vocals to some mocking mental gnome screams and shouts!

Best songs is by far  track 5 & 6, number five with its really speedy morbid devil attack vibe and the other with some really depressing tunes that goes pretty far down...ah and dont forget that cold but splendid piano outro! Top stuff!

haha surely it makes me laugh and i feel all in all that careless psycho dancing around the fire in the winter forest up north suits this album "Hexkonst" to 100%, an almost forgotten folklore where evil lurks behind every tree and the stones is really sleeping trolls.

 Production is spot on and let all parts meld together just right, semi raw and punchy!

I hope the band or what is left of them will struggle on and continue because it would be a shame if they just
vanished now...

Track list:

1.     Ur djävulens kittel        
2.     Bloodspill        
3.     Faensgyte         
4.     Kristi fanskap        
5.     Giganternes vraal         
6.     Hexkonst         
7.     Verlden er min slakteri         
8.     Midvintermarsch         
9.     Sorgens skyer   

Released by Immortal Frost
contact:
Immortalfrostproductions@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Immortalfrostproductions/?fref=nf

The Anal Blasphemy / Forbidden Eye - The Perverse Worship of Satanic Sins

First of we have Molestor Kadotus ( known from Black Priest of Satan, Itsemurha, Musta Kappeli ) with his subtle titled band Anal Blasphemy, not that i have heard all of AB music but i feel that these tracks are among the stronger ones they made along with the two full-length records, really dark and primitive but at the same time epic and strong material.
Nice raw guitars and vocals and the general mix but just about right balance. I get a feeling of and more barbaric version of Lord of Pagathorn to give some direction of this music.

Nothing original but if you look for that whatever that means your just dumb, here you have traditional but engaging compositions that honor Satan and all that jazz. Extra plus to the 9 minutes + song that really gives you extra of all plus slower and murkier and transcendent sides of the band. Solid!

And then we have Forbidden Eye! (members from bands like Antichristian Kommando,  Rituals of a Blasphemer, Unhuman Disease) Damn if someone would have said this was some unreleased tracks from Satanic Warmaster i would almost have bought it because damn this have so much of SW details in it (vocals,lyrics,guitar melodies etc)...and by saying that it is very far from a negative critique from me as these songs are totally great!

As i have huge soft spot for SW i engulfed these songs as they where cinnamon buns with glaze, sure after some spins its evident as Forbidden Eye has their own personality here besides the SW worshiping and i cant do anything else then recommend this split to all whom like their satanic tunes to be very Finnish...

All tracks from start to finish is great even if it is not pushing the genre forward in any way.
Just buy it!

Track list:

1.     Anal Blasphemy - Licking the Cunt of Chaos        
2.     Anal Blasphemy - Sperm of Satan, Antichrist Semen         
3.     Anal Blasphemy - Birth-Death-Rebirth     09:29    
4.     Forbidden Eye - Intro        
5.     Forbidden Eye - The Moon of the Blood Serpent        
6.     Forbidden Eye - Monastery of Satan        
7.     Forbidden Eye - Hour Glass of Black Tears

Released by: Night in Terrors
contact:
   info@nightinterrors.com

Entsetzlich / Vetëvrakh

From The Throat label comes as split tape of loneliness and anguish, the bands that invites you in to their own chambers of atrociousness are the Australian Entsetzlich run by they one and only madcap Azathoth & the other is Vetëvrakh from Bosnia and Herzegovina which includes members Ezotërokh, Vrasësinerëzve &  Vrasësimendur (thats known from countless other entities like Cave Ritual and Deathcircle)...

 
 Entsetzlich starts of this journey with 4 songs thats more of less improvised in his rotten cave, not much of a structure here but rather feeling of searching through the darkness is felt, the drums is a bit to loud but the guitar is struggling onward in the back and picking buzzez and beez as its tries to claw out from its own mudhole (in vain)... as the goal here is "atmosphere" it succedes well in creating a very isolated and downbeat mantra that is just sinking slowly, slowly into a void.

As the silence is evident (in other words the side of the tape ended) i flip it and let Vetëvrakh take its tone! As its the first time i hear "them" i cant compare to their other releases.

They serves up a more connected structure of compositions but the cold empty feeling from  Entsetzlich is here but only it takes more of a backseat as desperation and pain is licking the furnace here, yes more in your face and it works good. fuzzy and ugly as one can imagine but also a bit sombre and...spooky and doomish.

All in all the two bands makes an interesting split both with somewhat different musical goals but share the common aim to make your life miserable hehe. 

Title track:
Side A
1.     Entsetzlich - The Sum of Life & Death        
2.     Entsetzlich - Into the Hopeless Abyss        
3.     Entsetzlich - Sacred Rituals        
4.     Entsetzlich - Abandoned Shrine of Human Bones        
Side B
5.     Vetëvrakh - -        
6.     Vetëvrakh - - 

Label contact:
  TheThroat666@gmail.com 

Belchior Interview!

1.Hailz Belchior! 
Here in Sweden the cold & dark autumn is creeping upon us... but How are your day?

- I live in the Northern United States, in a region known as New England and we have the 4 defined seasons. The cold and dark autumn is also happening now and pretty soon (December 22nd) the winter will bring heavy snow followed by temperatures below freezing. This is the best season (winter) for me to create and record my music, as I'm very influenced by the solitude and beauty of it.

2.As Belchior is a fairly new project can you tell a bit on what drove you into this one man constellation? What type of desires and visions did you have when starting doing this music? My interpretation of you music is that it is quite personal but not in a introverted why though. what type of experiences did you have before this? And did that helped you to realize Belchior with more precision?

- BELCHIOR is a new project but has been an idea of mine since the beginning of the 90's. The entire project started to become a reality in 2006. I've played in a few bands before but always felt that something else was missing. I tried to put a band together to play this music for a long time but even then it felt like something was still missing. The fact that in a band you have to compromise on ideas and accept suggestions from others began to change the characteristics of the music. I then aspired to be a one man band. Back then I could only play the drums and didn't have the skills to execute my ideas to my satisfaction. 

As time went on I self-taught on guitar, bass and keyboards, allowing me to keep the project a one man band. Desires and visions... Well, I just wanted to be able to show the darkest side of my mind and try to convert this evil and eerie energy that I carry inside me into songs. Personal experience contributes a lot to BELCHIOR. I was born and raised in Brazil where Christianity has the power to keep my people blind and ignorant, including in my own household. This always fucked with my mind and was, for sure, the catalyst of the damned and unholy creature I am. This helped me to realize BELCHIOR with more precision.

3.I get i feeling you where pretty sure of what you searched for and how the end product should sound & look like but please tell me how the process looked like the days & nights from when the idea was born until the unholy birth of this full album ? What type of trials and tribulations artistically and technically did you endure under the 7 years between the demo "I Despise Jesus Christ" until now?

- The idea was born in the early 90s as I mentioned above but between then and the middle of 2000 I had many obligations that kept this project on the back burner. In 2001 I moved to the United States. Between getting settled, adapting to cultural changes and continuous work with other bands I didn't begin focusing on BELCHIOR full time until 2014. Even knowing that I recorded a demo in 2007 the project went back in my drawer right after the demo tape was finished, mostly because I needed help to record and had no experience with production. From 2007 until 2014 I dedicated my time to get the perfect sound and atmosphere that I would want to use on my first album. So, I filled the gap between the demo and the album learning to record myself at my own studio. All my music was written in the heart of the winter with hate and depression. 
I tried not to involve too much planning, rather just absorb the feelings surrounding me at the moment and translate that into songs.

4.Besides this i also get a feeling that you are a old school horror movie buff or at least to some degree movies is an inspiration for you... if thats the case which directors and movies is on your top "list"?

 - I have appreciation and interest in underground twisted horror films, they are a direct influence on my music in the sense that I can relate to the way the creators translate their sick and dark feelings into an art form. My top list: Subconcious Cruelty, Nekromantik, Eraserhead, Cannibal Holocaust, Begotten, The Evil Dead, The Exorcist, Cannibal Ferox, The Omen and Rosemary's Baby.

 5.Ah nice selection of cruel flicks there! 
The only one i dont know/seen is Subconcious Cruelty, whats that about? Many of these have also great soundtracks like Nekromantik & Cannibal Holocaust (i have since long planned to use music parts from Cannibal Holocaust to some project, there some some beautiful part that runs over think the scene where they start to burn up some hut where the inhabitants is...) And like in my review of you album i felt that your music have soundtrack vibe to it so i guess you would like to do a score to some devilish movie? 

-  Subconscious Cruelty is a bit hard to explain as it is four situations happening independently of each other in one film. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise but for anyone who's interested in this genre of film it's worth a watch. I don't have any intention to do any movie scores right now but could be an interesting project

 6.Have you seen some of the new wave French "torture-porn" cinema? If not i wholeheartedly recommended Martyrs & Inside.

- I've never heard about this new wave of French cinema and don't know much about it.


7. It feels that it could be a bit problem to take your music to play live, well some live members is needed but have you thought about this? Would be great if you succeeded doing so as it could be a pretty grand experience i think.  

- It would be a challenge to take my music live, as you said it would require more members. Also it would go against the main reason this is a one-man band, the fact that all energy, feelings, and moods are coming from my own experiences and I could not explain that to other musicians. 

8.In what filter do you look back on the 90´s regarding Black metal, rosy? Rusty? And which bands do you consider have pushed you into this path?

 - I look back at the 90s as a bridge between me as an underground metal fan in the mid 80s to an authentic musician now. In Brazil the 90s was a very intense time as I started to get more involved with death and black metal. It was then that I discovered bands like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Death, Mayhem, Darkthrone, and so on. However, the bands that have influenced me into this path are mostly Master's Hammer, Bathory, Venom and Hellhammer.

9.After this release what other release plans do you have?

 - The way I work is a bit odd. I don't plan to get anything done on a schedule. All the music comes naturally and I'll keep composing and recording until I'm satisfied. I believe that I will come up with a new album in 2016 as I can already feel the cold of the winter and the inspiration that always follows.

10. What does the name Belchior means to you? On a funny side note when i googled Belchior a famous Brazilian singer and composer named Belchior Fontenelle Fernandes... i guess you dont have close relationship with that dude? hehe

- Belchior is my middle name. It doesn't have any meaning in the way most people would expect like some kind of demon's name or entity, for example. I decided to put my own name because it would be strange to give 100% of myself and call it something else. For this music I am doing I don't hide behind anything, this is all me. The other Brazilian composer called Belchior also uses his middle name and it is a coincidence. Belchior is not our last name and we are not related in any way.

11.We have come to the inevitable end, last word is yours!

 - Destroy all that tries to control you. Decimate the smallest idea of God, his son, or any holy spirit. 
Trust yourself and only yourself and fight an everyday battle to free your body, mind and soul. 

This is the only way to find strength inside you    

Abyssgale - Hegemon

After a few years of wait after the debut Ep "The Coming Plague" (2006) this first full length album "Hegemon"(which means something like Commander or similar) was unleashed last year through Immortal Frost Productions. (Cool cover by the way!)

 This Greece horde presents here a plate filled with satanic blasts...or rather the blast beats (in a Polish/Swedish style) is intermingled with slower and somewhat playful drum parts which gives the album a nice ground to build on, if there is something extra to mention i would say that both Godium & Cordyceps does good job with their guitar compositions that both play in  semi-melodic gloom patters to then cut off/shoots off in some falling or crocked side peeks! Good stuff!
This really makes this album worthwhile for me as the guitars both soothes both high & low and entertains with their sharp quirks through out this record which takes it above the standard fair not to say any other in the band does a bad job but the rest of it lacks a little bit of personal fire & emotions.

The vocalists throaty rasps is good and melds with the rest and the satanic themed lyrics is worth reading, nice vocabulary. Solid.
The production is good but maybe a bit clean for me but it dont really hurts the music i guess.

An overall  professional work thats worth checking up for people thats into blasting satanic war hymns with a slight hint of avantgarde innuendos. Ah worth mention is that the member Neptunus  is also in Dodsferd etc.

I feel promise from this album even if i maybe sound negative...like something that will rise higher above the surface with further work/releases under their belts....and with that said  i know a new Ep was released this year called "Tenet Extorris" only 2 songs but i feel extra interested (in this horde) now seeing the band seems to push further into the realm & beyond!

Track list:
1.     Execution Litany         
2.     Hegemon         
3.     Anoint Wounds with Poison          
4.     Anileo          
5.     Altar Thane of Mental Alienation         
6.     Hunting Horn         
7.     Ancestral Cult          
8.     Flutter of Death 

Hegemon released by : Immortal Frost Productions

contact:  Immortalfrostproductions@hotmail.com 
Bandpage:
https://www.facebook.com/Abyssgale-official-431587126922333/?fref=ts
http://abyssgale-official.bandcamp.com/

This album was also out on tape (with alternative design as you see) through  Razorbleed Productions
Contact: razorbleedprod@gmail.com

 

 The Tenet Extorris Ep is released by III Damnation Productions
contact: http://iii-damnationproductions.blogspot.se/p/contact.html

Hotter then hell update!

*I am thinking of collecting the unprinted interviews from the digital RAW WAR domain into the next RAW WAR #4. Here is the first simple little promo for that.

*Besides this the next Cloven Hoof with exclusive material is planned for spring 2016.
First booked band interview for this is: Hellvetron

* Another thing that i am proud of is that i got to do a cover art for a soon to be released Drowning the Light 7" titled "Reaping the Night".

Out on Psychedelic Lotus Order/goatowarex 
Other releases from them is:
WAXGOAT029 Drowning The Light (Aus) "The war that never ends" LP
WAXGOAT034 Baal Gadrial (Aus) Decade of Intolerance LP

link:
https://www.facebook.com/PLOGTWRX/
 

Belchior - selftitled

After the demo "I Despise Jesus Christ" in 2007 now comes the full length album from this one man band thats located in the United States, i had not heard that 2-tracked debut demo but luckily for me its included at the end of this release.

So whats in store here? As you can judge (at least i did) by the cover its a pretty heavy atmospheric album but it is also pretty unique sounding in the sense that the songs avoid the traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus (nothing wrong with cut & paste compositions of course though) and goes for reasonable long compositions that evolve in their own fashion and pace, all very blackish doomish vibe that takes your thoughts to some...well just look at the cover. Dark emanations  is surrounding the chapel walls!

Besides from the regular instruments quite some keyboards/organs is used to good effect and the vocals structure is floating more or less over/under the actual music. Production is nice and solid...maybe could have integrated the vocals a bit but that is a minor nitpick.

...And speaking of the vocals they are pretty special... a bit like what you can find in the more mental drawer in DSBM shelf, sure some maniac witch screaming like Burzum can be traced but also disturbing howls like Silencer... quite obnoxious hehe.
Have a tendency to hit that aggro nerve.

So folk if you like to take a dive into a satanic asylum ritual with some great soundtrack like grand pieces please then go and dive here.

Track list:

1.     A Life with No Light: The Olden Days         
2.     Kingdom of the Midnight Arts         
3.     Beelzebuth (Mystifier Cover)         
4.     A Life with No Light: Unholy Ghost         
5.     Enthroned by Hell's Fire         
6.     ...Cold Winds Are Calling Me        
7.     Orgy in the House of Your God (Demo 2007)        
8.     I Despise Jesus Christ (Demo 2007) (i think this is my favorite track and the first one)


Released by :Ordo Draconian Black Label
mail:  ordodraconianblacklabel@gmail.com
Band FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/Belchior-Official-872527722786592/