Daemon Foetal Harvest Interview!

Today it is time to crawl to the land down under and encounter some slaughtering death metal!
"Where women glow and men plunder?  Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?  You better run, you better take cover!"

1. Greetings! Welcome to Sweden's creepy soggy crypt!
How is your day in Wollongong? Sounds like you would live somewhere in Asia...

-Thanks!
It's a great day down under today. Wollongong is actually an Aboriginal name meaning "Five Islands"
which are located off the coast here about 100 kilometres south of Sydney. I went to one of them once,
it was completely covered in bird shit. Pretty sure I'm not going back out there ever again.
Who would have thought you could name a town after 5 piles of bird shit!?

2. Let us start with the formal stuff first, from what i understand the band started around 2006.
How did you guys found each others and what wear the initial goal with this project?
And from where is the band name from in X-Files? One of you has past experience being a
member in the great Pestilential Shadows i know but what other bands do you come from?

-Ten years ago the Death Metal scene was quite dead out here so a couple of us decided it was time to try
and change things. We got the name from an X-Files episode but to be honest with you I'm unsure if I've ever seen it. There is a sample from the episode at the start of our first album "Where it Dwells".
It took a while to get the full line up together but by the time we did we went straight into the studio and did the EP. At that time our drummer Daniel was also playing in Pestilential Shadows but he left both bands shortly after and relocated to the other side of Australia.
A couple of years later Chris joined the band after leaving Pestilential Shadows.
Chris had also previously been in a couple of other bands (Battalion, Secratain) with our vocalist Craig.


3. In 2007 the debut release the Ep "Abducted and Compacted" was released.
How was it to work on this? Judging from song titles and in that order they are in it seems like it set up like a neat little horror story. It starts off with the abduction then over to the actual nightmare experience of the victim then the body is dumped in the mangroves. And as it is quite usual for serial killer to come back to their dumpsites and have fun we have "Anniversary Rape"...then eats the last rotten flesh as a climax?

 
-I've never really looked at it like that but it is an interesting take on the EP.
Our vocalist Craig does the whole lyrical and theme side of everything but he always does each song as a individual story.

4. Then it took like 4 years for the first album "Where it Dwells", what made it take such a long time to create it? Did Life in general come in the way or just being very meticulous? The cover here was my introduction to you guys and it is smashing! Both quite original and stunning finish. Like a picture from a extra evil adult fairytale hehe. Who did the art and what can you say about the album as a whole?

 
-Life in general has always kept things rolling a bit slower than we would like but there's always a few other detours along the way. After the Abducted EP was recorded our drummer left and we spent about a year looking for a replacement. We got a drum machine and went on with it until we found another drummer. We spent a lot of time doing gigs after that, it seemed we were doing a few shows every month. Once we started the recording Where it Dwells it took us almost a year to complete because of busy schedules with work,family etc. and we also changed bass players during this time.

For the artwork we used Mike Hrubovcak (visualdarkness.com) and we were all very pleased with the outcome. We contacted a couple of other artists beforehand but they didn't want to get into the whole beast eating a woman's crotch thing so we then found Mike and he certainly captured the vibe of the album! Overall it did turn out well and we've had great feedback on it for what we put into it but there was only a small budget for that album but with the extra resources I think we could have brought the production up a notch.

5. Another 4 years for this new second album "Beasts of Tribulation" hehe.
How was the time leading up to this? You were out playing some gigs i understand.
Any special memories from your live slaughters? And as there was some time between the albums i guess you as a band have evolved, in what ways do you feel "Beasts of Tribulation" differs from the last one?

 
-Once again drummer problems.......... We actually changed drummers twice during this period, the first was right after the completion of the Where it Dwells recording so we did the tour for that album with a different drummer. We did a heap of shows and the two that have stood out was supporting Obituary and Aborted/Psycroptic.
It's always more rewarding when playing in bigger venues with larger crowds.
After that we slowed down from the live side of things to work on writing unfortunately things didn't work out as well as we would have liked so we found another drummer for the next album Beasts of Tribulation. We had a better budget for Beasts and I think it certainly shows when you listen to the album. I think we managed to step things up a notch on the brutality side also which was something I didn't find with Where it Dwells.

6. As your main focus in lyrics is "gore" i guess you have some favorite horror movies?
If you have not seen them i strongly recommend the two French modern classics Martyrs and Inside.

-To be honest I'm not much of a horror movie fan although my girlfriend of 20 years is so I've certainly seen quite a few in that time. I do prefer the classics though Exorcist, Omen etc. I'm a bit over this new way of CGI shit though, it leaves very little to the viewers imagination which is what I enjoy most.
I'll definitely pass on your recommendations!

7. Yeah i dont look fondly at CGI either! What is in store for the bands close future plans?

-We don't have much coming up so I think it is time to do some song writing.
Who knows we may get next album out sooner than the others took?

8. So the end is here. Thanks for the time answering this little interrogation.
Last word is yours!

-Thanks for the interview!

You can find more on Daemon Foetal Harvest at our Facebook page-
https://www.facebook.com/daemonfoetalharvestofficial

or our Bandcamp page where you can stream or buy our music
https://daemonfoetalharvest.bandcamp.com/

 -Cheers!
Daemon Foetal Harvest
Gore fuelled Death Metal from down under!

AntimateriA - Valo aikojen takaa

Some reviews are very easy to write. Either it is so far from your taste or just plain bad OR it is straight away great! And this is the former -straight away great!-

This is pure Finnish black metal and and to compare its sound then it is towards Goatmoons Varjot album, it mixes grim raspy vocals with mid-paced dark melancholic folkish black metal compositions, it leans quite heavy on the melodic side (every song is filled with vivid and solid guitar riffs though) and it sound traditional but they manage to feel very personal in the end anyway. Filled to the brim with soul and atmosphere!
You feel the cold snow and forests and it will also take you up in the sky and further out into the cosmos as this is cosmos glorifying black metal from Finland! And yes it feel more glorifying rather then focus on the terrible eternal black void as the musics atmosphere has a more embracing touch rather then a choking grip.

A surprisingly great debut album and it will be a delight to follow AntimateriAs future endeavors!
Just get it!

Also great photos and layout but that band logo is just superb!

All songs are great but i think  track 3,5,7 is my favorites.

Track list:

1.     Intro     00:57    
2.     Sieltä mistä valokaan ei milloinkaan karkaa     06:27
3.     Tieni kohti lopullista tuhoa     07:14      
4.     Roihuten läpi yötaivaan     05:43    
5.     Kun aukeaa mysteerit kuoleman     08:11      
6.     Kadoten merien hautaan     08:19      
7.     Valo aikojen takaa     07:19      
                              Total:44:10   

Released in A5 digipack and regular cd by the great label Purity Through Fire!
link:
http://www.purity-through-fire.com/

Bandlink:
https://www.facebook.com/cgbmff/?fref=ts

Occult Odyssey Interview!

Occult Odyssey is a Dark Ambient/Ritual project from Veracruz.

1.Hailz! First off i like to know something about how it all started this odyssey of yours? I understand that this formation started last year but what led you two into this abyss?

-Yeah, about a year ago I started the project along with Aacīvus Manifiesti around August of 2015, and we began to work on it, which gave as product our first release called “Apertoque Vortex Veneration”. Some pending works remained but I keep on the project while creating more music for Occult Odyssey.

2.As i had no idea whatsoever about what Propolos (Ἑκάτη) & Πάν meant or stand for i as a lazy citizen i googel it and only found a whole lot of Greece pages (cant read that) and some pharmacy pages with explanations like "The dietary supplement of Arkopharma contains propolis extract (maltodextrine), which helps to strengthen the body's defenses." ... So i guess you have to spell it out to me like it is or rather how this Propolos (Ἑκάτη) & Πάν comes into importance to this band & beyond?

-Ekáth (Ἑκάτη) means Hecate, according with the ideology of Aacīvus Manifiesti, and stands for the one who comulgates with this deity. 

3.Besides this how would you describe your own personal beliefs and paths? Is this bands occult digging & experiences one of many ways for you in this life?

-Occultism is a fundamental part of my life, it makes you see life in some other ways and make you more disciplined. You train very hard to handle certain energies that are handled from the ceremonial magic perspective or even to magical extensive readings to elaborate sigils, talismans, among others.

4.Beside gnosis how about your sophia in this specific field? Is the music you do a product from your rituals or is it as a transporter to be used to push forward into the trascendental vortex? I guess maybe both. 

-Occult Odyssey tries to create a lugubrious atmosphere, one of their ends is to try to put down the listener into a low gnosis so he can meditate and some magical aspects could take place, meanwhile people that are not into magic will listen to it, is going to suffer a transgression and will be taken to dark gloomy sides of their psyche.

5.Speaking purely about the technical aspects, what machinery do you use for this high sonic alchemy as you put it?

-We use some floor drums, synths and basic editing software as well as ambientations recorded within the nature, such as rain, thunders, and my own voice in a way to “mantralize” with chants some parts so it could have the desired effect overall the music. Nowadays we are working with other instruments like keyboard, guitars, Tibetan singing bowls, etc.

6.Is some label interested in releasing this demo, if so which one?

-Apertoque Vortex Veneration was released independently by ourselves. Nevertheless after that, Tanathology Productions, a Chinese seal contacted us for the re release of the album in a pro tape, which is soon to be released into the market this year. 

(this one)

 

7.What can you tell about the sigil/symbol that you use? I get a kind of qliphothic feeling from it.

-The sigil I occupy in the mask is part of the Pazuzu seal, a deity to which I communicate and feel identified with, this sigil can be found in some editions Weiser by Simon of the Nekronomicon, we are already working in new themes for Goetia, Qliphot and some Enochian.

8.How do you see the world if you gaze forward in time say 50 years?

A religious world governed by Islam in Europe and a religious pluralism in America from ancestral and the magical beliefs. Radicalism and sectarianism in some religions have grown in large scale, however the configuration of nowadays magic has risen, where orders are more flexible and take more adepts who work inside of them. 

In 50 years by now, we will be in a continuous fight for the secular power among historical religions and on the other side a growing mysticism.

9.Do you have some further news regarding future releases? 

-We have contact with some other record labels and some other projects to release at first glance, at least one split and later on a release by our own. We have been invited to local shows and have acquired new members a along as Aacīvus Manifiesti left the project and me, Der Cadáver still keep on making new music within Occult Odyssey and some other projects.

10.Thanks for your time! Best of luck with all!

-Thanks to you for the interview and for the time, your art is spectacular.

.Thanks! 

Band link:

https://www.facebook.com/TheOccultOdyssey/

Label link:

https://site.douban.com/Thanatology/

BLOODLUST Interview!

Today i interview a band from Australia the land of baby eating demon dingos namely Bloodlust!
The play in a melting hot Blackened Thrash Metal !

1.Hails & greetings to RAW WAR! How has you day been so far in Perth, Australia?

-Hails! Well, despite the usual assumptions of Australia being a hot, dry place, today in Perth
it is very wet and extremely cold so I’m attempting to stay inside and away from the elements.

2.First i got to give congrats to the new (2015) and first full album "Cultus Diaboli"!
How was the process creating this beast? Was there some problems to over come or
was it smooth sailing? And would you say your ways of doing it changed from the
first demo to now?

-Thank you.
I wouldn’t say there were any problems as such with completing the final product.
It is a bit of an unusual process I guess, in that we had never actually rehearsed or played
any of the songs as a band. They were all recorded by Disaster and myself separately with us
only getting together once or twice to work out the vocal parts. It was a slow process in
that Bloodlust has kind of been a very secondary project and therefore I didn’t push hard
to get it finished in any particular time frame. The album could have been released a year
earlier as the recording was completed and mixed but it was a mix I had done myself, which
whilst I was happy with it as I wanted a raw sound for the album,  I thought perhaps a more
professional touch was needed so the album was remixed. The new mix took a while to be
completed but the actual recording process was fairly easy.

3. As your music is labeled Blackened Thrash Metal i would say some heavy metal and speed
is also melted down within your ironclad music.
What would you say is the dominant musical inspiration for you to walk this road of metal madness?

-I always use the label Black Thrash to describe the style simply because it’s an easy
description to use. It is probably not a completely accurate label as there are a lot of
heavy and speed metal elements in the music and probably more so in new material that has
been written. I think the album that really inspires what Bloodlust is trying to do is
Slayer’s Show No Mercy. That album is a combination of Heavy Metal of bands like
Judas Priest and Iron Maiden with more aggressive elements and that’s really the style
Bloodlust is setting out to achieve.

4.Besides musical inspirations how was the environment growing up? Was there something in
life that kicked you this way and how has your surroundings handle your "metal way-of-life"?

-Growing up in Perth, where I still live was pretty easy.
I didn’t have a hard life or anything. I got into metal when I was in my last years of
high school after seeing some Iron Maiden videos on TV.
I basically got hooked on listening to metal after that and then when at university I
started playing bass and then moved to playing in bands.

5.I must say i really like your overall art/design on your releases!
Is someone responsible for that stuff in the band or?

-I have done all the artwork for Bloodlust’s releases so far myself, both demos and Cultus Diaboli.
I basically started this project because I wanted to have a fair bit of control in all aspects of
the creative process, from the music and lyrics to the visual aspects. However with the new album
that we are working on which is called “At the Devil’s Left Hand” and to be released by
Caverna Abismal Records from Portugal, we have an artist called César Valladares doing the cover.
He does great work and I think if I was to try and do the cover art myself it would slow the
process of getting the album out way too much.

6.What do you think now about your first release (not that it is that long ago though)
"Thrashing Black Devil Worship"? What is the highlight of that one and is there something
you would like to change?

-I’m still quite happy with the first demo.
When I first started writing material for Bloodlust I had a clear idea in mind for the
overall sound and aesthetic for the band. “Thrashing Black Devil Worship” was a fairly
accurate representation of what I was wanting to do at the time and I think the material was decent.
It was a very rough recording and the playing on it is quite sloppy, especially the guitar but the
demo had the “vibe” I was after.

7.And on your second demo "Death Magic Rites" what would you say is best there?
I think myself that Infernal Bloodlust kicks ass.

-Infernal Bloodlust appeared on the first demo and was re-recorded for Death Magic Rites and for
the album. On “Death Magic Rites” the playing is tighter and the production is clearer and and a
bit stronger. I think it is a strong song, thus it is on all three releases.
Personally I think the song Iron Tyrants is probably my favourite from that release.
It has some good parts but also a few bits which annoy me, as again, some of it isn’t played
too great but overall it has the energy I was after.

8.Regarding the songs that reappears on the full length what is different from
their first incantations?

-To be honest there is actually not too much difference apart from better sound sound and
playing for the guitar parts and better mixing of the vocal parts.

9.How does the gigging look like in the near future and is there some more music
coming out this year?

-Bloodlust now has a live line-up and has played one show so far but we have a few coming up
in the next few months including a support slot for Destroyer 666 which I am really looking
forward to as they are one of my favourite bands and it will be great to share the stage with them.
And as I mentioned before Bloodlust has a new album on the way which will be released by
Caverna Abismal Records. The recording for “At the Devil’s Left Hand” is well underway and
I think it is a step forward from the material on the last album.
Personally I enjoy the new material as it is quite varied but still quite raw and straightforward.
I feel each song has it’s own identity. I am also working a couple of songs for a live demo
recording which I want to do involving the guys we use for playing live shows.

10.Thanks for your time answering this investigation!

-Thanks for taking an interest in Bloodlust!

Latest news: T-shirts coming soon! Artwork by Jenglot Hitam Artwork.

band page:
https://www.facebook.com/bloodlust666/

2 X Narbentage Produktionen release review!

Let us start off with Unryhts debut demo release "Nīþ".

This two-man band comes from Germany/Bavaria and plays in a harsh but thoughtful and cautious style of black metal, it has mostly a gloomy and negative atmosphere but sometimes it feels more constructive rather then destructive...the songs is pretty long but their ways of doing things really fits the play length with many slow but powerful build ups and (if somewhat traditional) great guitar parts, drums is pretty aggressive in the mix but does not drown the other instruments. The production is raw and sometimes it feels broken and that sounds soo good and suits Unryhts audial creations so well! Many memorable parts to be found here!
Vocals is great and has a very meaty rasp to it, there are some clean spoken and sung parts and they sound great as well! And that means quite much coming from me saying that!

I was really positive surprised with this release and it really grows from each listen, splendid music and atmosphere from start to finish! Grand pain and triumph is floating in this release, get it if you can!
Cool cover art also and great band logo!

I look forward to future releases from this band! If they continue with this quality they will be a strong force in this field for many years to come!


Track list:
1.     Haegtesse     07:27    
2.     Draumas       09:03    
3.     Seoc             08:23    
4.     Waelmist      12:47    
                   Total:37:40    


Next up we have Ahnenkult with their third release "Götterkult"!
They play Pagan Black Metal with focus on Nature, Cosmos.

Let me first just say that i cant really listen through the whole songs on this Ep and the reason for that is
that some minutes into the songs a clean voice starts to sing (the raspy vocals is good) and it sounds too appalling in my ears i throw my head phones  away! It sounds silly but these clean vocals sounds like some old man trying to sing along to the radio or something...sorry but i cant come past it, it really turns me off to the rest of the music here.

But let me try to be a bit more objective here i can say that the actual music sounds solid and is professionally played, the melodies is ok but not so much more but maybe some better parts is hidden after the clean vocal segments?   ...i will never know.

Nice cover design though :)

Track list:
1.     Mars     03:56    
2.     Jupiter     04:08    
3.     Saturn     04:32    
4.     Untitled     05:04    
                   Total: 17:40    

This release was besides  Narbentage released by Lupus Tonkunst
Label links:
http://narbentage.de/

https://www.facebook.com/Lupus-Tonkunst-129863767188793/?fref=ts

From the Vastland - Chamrosh

Here we have the fourth full album from the Iranian artist Sina, i dont know anything abut this project besides that the man himself busted out of old Iran to spread his black wings and crossed the seas over to Norway! Good for him that he now can create black metal without his life hanging on a blood coagulated cotton string, can´t be easy to live over there that is for damn sure.

Anyways with that exotic background one should be entitled to anticipate something above the run-of-the-mill metal music...and that is also what we get!
It is a blistering album that thunders ahead over and away and eradicate all in its way!
It is a very ice cold guitar riffing and punishing blastbeat fest here (even some nice bass parts is present!) and no one is allowed to leave the table until they are bloated and dead!
It has many great riffs and melody structures through out but i think my favorites is in track 1,2 and 5, very head bang inducing music but banging in a more serious way...if that is possible hehe.

Sinas vocals is strong and is in that throaty and raspy style but he also do some nice variations here and there. His side kicks on this album is no new comers as they are Tjalve ( Den Saakaldte) and Spektre (Keep of Kalessin) and they help out with some bass and drums....and their own main bands is also an indication of From the Vastlands own soundscapes.

Besides from this tight and hard hitting black metal assault the lyrics has an extra allure to them as they dont just deals with the regular satanic stuff but instead focus on Zoroastrianism, Mythology of Persia & Mesopotamia...and i cant say know much about this topics so it even  feels educating to read along.

Impressive album! ...And from what i heard his previous albums is just as good.

Track list:

1.     Wizarsh     06:21    
2.     The Malkusan Witch     05:51    
3.     Kresaspa & Seven Daevas     05:20    
4.     Chamrosh     05:19    
5.     Saurva, Demon of Hunger     06:26    
6.     I & My Serpents     06:01    
7.     Mardazma     07:12    
                              Total:42:30   

Released by Immortal Frost Productions
link:
http://immortalfrostproductions.com/

2 X Necator Review

From Poland comes a cold nostalgic storm wind!

First review here is on the 2014 release "Polish Evil Black Metal Art" which is the bands second full album.

Necator plays a very traditional second wave black metal as base form but what what makes this notch above the other demons in the vast sea of BM is their somber incorporation of subtitle bitter folk/pagan melodies and personal touches... me personally has often a hard time enjoying folk and pagan content but here they are done just right i think. I just love some of guitar parts on track three but every song is well constructed. All is played in more or less mid pace and it is mixed in a solid standard production, not raw but not polished. Vocals is good and is from the raspy Burzum like school, all fits well together.

The songs themselves is pretty long (around 5-9 minutes is common) and the members take good care of what they include through out the play time, it has both some nice icy build ups and bleak interludes etc etc. Most if not all lyrics is in Polish (...i guess) so i cant comment about them but it is not soo hard to guess what the overall direction is heading here anyways. Dark warriors of Europe!

Good atmosphere and solid song writing through out this album so if you looking for some traditional black metal with some subtitle Polish folkish touches this is a easy pick. But for me it took some spins to really appreciate the music to the full extent as it is not really screaming for your attention...

...and that leads me into one thing that can be a negative point to this band and that is the very stripped visual design on their releases, like the logo is just a clean and common font and not a personal drawn logo and the cover designs etc is very low key and  for some this can come off as very uninspired and impersonal image.... but of course i can see the bands rightfully so unwillingness to be sucked into the "metal-metal world" or something and to point all arrows to the actual music and not to some artwork and that i can respect of course... but just bare that in mind that what you find inside of a Necator releases is in (even though traditional) a more rich quality content then what you first see!
 
Track list:
1.     Zmierzch     07:22    
2.     Wieczny chłód     07:36    
3.     07.10.07     05:02    
4.     Sacerdos Mori     09:50    
5.     Ślepy tor     05:49    
6.     Gorce     05:25    
7.     Morderca (Kat cover)     03:35    
                     Total: 44:39    

Released by Eastside
link:
http://www.eastside.peruner.com/indexen2.htm

Now over to the second review which is a 2 song Ep "Ciemności Gór Sokolich" that came out earlier this year.

Now 2 years has gone between the releases and like three other releases have come out that i have not heard until this Ep and something must have happened in the band! Anyway the music has now evolved towards a more progressive almost 70´s feel but containing the brash evil black metal aura...for some this can be a bad thing OR a good thing and i most cases i would think this was for the worst BUT these two songs is really great! It is very soaring and building madness and the vocals is now mixed more under the rest of the music and is more wailing around rather then following some lyrics. Production is also more alive here.

Great and surprising stuff here! Good clashes of the progressive structures and the negative mad screaming vocals plus some strong melodic (but not too much) guitar parts. if this is like a hint on what is coming for the next full length i think that album will be a modern classic! At least for people that can appreciate black metal that dare to go in some other directions besides straight into Satans anus hehe

Track list
1.     Ciemności Gór Sokolich        
2.     Aryan Beauty
Songs here is around 5-7 minutes

Released by  Nocturnal Silence but they seem to be closed now and the label Terror Propaganda has now released a tape collection the to Ciemność Gór Sokolich / Pożoga releases.