Impiety/Advent Of.../Pulverised Records/2011 CD Review

 Impiety are a band from Singapore with a couple of members from Italy that plays a style that mixes the most fast and brutal elements of war/black/death/thrash metal together and this is a review of their 2011 Ep "Advent Off..." which was released by Pulverised Records.

Drums are mid paced to fast drumming with a lot of brutal blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone which is mixed down low in the mix and seems to follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are a mixture of mid paced to fast riffs that combine war/black/death and thrash metal together, while the lead guitars are very chaotic sounding guitar solos that mix brutal black and death metal together.

Vocals are a mixture of deep death metal growls with a black metal edge and a brief spoken word part, while the lyrics cover Baphomet, Satanism and Black Magick Rituals, as for the production it has a very raw and heavy sound that is somewhat professional sounding.

In my opinion this is a great ep from Impiety, and if you where a fan of their previous releases, you will not be disappointed. RECOMMENDED TRACK "Ave Satanas". RECOMMENDED   BUY.

http://www.mightyimpiety.com http://www.facebook.com/impietyofficial

Dark Priest/Warlock Rituals/Black Magick Inc/2011 CD Review

 Dark Priest are a band from the darkest depths of the United States that plays a very original form of ritualistic black metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Warlock Rituals" which was released by Black Magick Inc.

Drum programming is mostly fast beats that sound almost as powerful as a real drum kit with an old school black metal feel, while he synths when they are utilized being a dark ambient ritualistic feel to the last song present on the recording and is used briefly on one of the faster songs to bring a very evil feel to the music, and there are no bass guitars present on the album.

Rhythn guitars are mostly fast raw black metal riffs that have a punk feel with some mid paced riffing being used at times mixed in with some weird sounding distorted tones and on one song they slow down to bring a doomy feel to the music, while the lead guitars are very distorted sounding black metal guitar solos that have a psychedelic feel at times.

Vocals cover a lot of ground with a lot of high pitched black metal screams that have a depressive feel at times, mixed in with some more grim sounding vocals, deep demonic death metal growls, spoken word parts and a small amount of clean signing and the beginning song is all vocalized calling up demonic names, while the lyrics cover Left Hand Path, Satanism, Luciferian, Black Witchcraft and Old Ancient Persian/Middle Eastern Demons, as for the production it has a very dark and raw sound to it.

In my opinion Dark Priest are a very good sounding ritualistic black metal band, and if you are looking for a black metal band that has an old school sound mixed in with a more ritualistic and occult sound, you should check out this group. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Witch-blood/Destructive Curse" and "Succubus...666. Evoking Eosphorus: Lilitu". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Varathron Interview

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

HAIL TO EVERY BLACK METAL SOUL BROTHER AROUND THE WORLD! WELL NOW WE’RE WORKING FOR THE NEWEST FULL ALBUM, CALLED “UNTRODDEN CORRIDORS OF HADES”. WE HAVE FIVE NEW TRACKS ALMOST READY, SOME TITLES LIKE “MERCILESS PAIN”, LEPROCIOUS LORD”, “ASTROPHOBOS” AND MORE. WE HAVE A PLAN TO START TO RECORD THIS ALBUM ON THE FIRST DAYS OF JUNE 2011!

ALSO, WE’LL RELEASE A 3-WAY SPLIT WITH TWO ETERNAL BOTHERS, A POLISH BLACK ALTAR AND TEXAN METALHEADS THORNSPAWN! ALSO, A SPLIT-7” WITH NECROMANTIA FOR THE 20 YEARS ANNIVERSARY FROM THE FIRST SPLIT!!!!



2. What is the meaning behind the band's name?

VARATHRON MEANS THE ABSOLUTE CHAOS, EREBUS, DEEPEST ABYSS AND TOTAL DARKNESS! SO, LIKE A SERVANTS OF THE UTTER DARK -STYGIAN FORCES WE MUST SPREADING THIS APOCRYPHAL LUST! WE SPREADING THROUGH OUR OBSCURE PSALMS! TOTAL EVIL PREVAILS!



3. How would you describe the musical style of your most recent music?

WE HAVE OUR OWN DIFFERENT STYLE THROUGH THE YEARS!!! WE PLAYING OCCULT BLACK METAL WITH OUR PERSONAL STYLE AND THAT ARE OUR STATUS AND REASON WHICH CALLED THIS BAND, A LEGENDARY CULT BAND FROM 1988 UNTIL NOW!!!!!



4. What style of lyrics are you using for the new material?

OUR LYRICS TALK FOR NAMELESS RITUALS, APOCRYPHAL BLACK GATHERINGS, ANCIENT RELIGIONS, BATTLES AND WARS, PAIN AND LAMENTS, OLD LEGENDS AND FORGOTTEN MYTHS, ESOTERIC PARANORMAL HUMAN SITUATIONS, ASTRAL TRIPS AND JOURNEYS BEYOND THE GRAVE!!!!



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

WELL IN OUR BAND HISTORY, WE PLAYED ONLY A FEW SHOWS. THE BASIC REASON FOR THAT WAS THE LINE-UP CHANGED AND THE OBLIGATORY ARMY-SERVICE. SO, I LIKE THE OLD SHOW IN 1991, WHEN WE WAITING THE MAYHEM WITH MY BROTHER DEAD ON VOCALS FOR TWO DAYS GIG HERE IN ATHENS. WE WERE TOTAL UNLUCKY, BECAUSE MAYHEM WILL NEVER COMES, BECAUSE FUCKING COPS STOPPED THEM IN YUGOSLAVIA FRONTIERS.( AFTER SOME MONTHS MY BROTHER DEAD DIED AND I NEVER SAW HIM!). OTHER GREAT SHOW WAS THE GIG WITH PRIMORDIAL AND MOURNING BELOVETH.

ABOUT OUR STAGE PERFORMANCE I THINK IS GOOD, BUT THE BEST HONEST OPINION BELONGS TO OUR FRIENDS-FANS WHO MAKE ALL OUR SHOWS SOLD-OUT!

6. You have a long history that goes back in the Greek black metal scene, what kind of influence do you feel you have on the younger black metal bands?

VARATHRON IS THE FIRST BAND WHO PLAYED BLACK METAL IN GREEK SCENE, IN 1988! SO, WE HAVE INSPIRED A LOT OF BANDS AROUND THE WORLD AND SOME IN GREECE. REALLY I FEEL GREAT; IT’S A BIG HONOUR FOR US TO HEAR A BAND TO TALK FOR VARATHRON LIKE A BIG INSPIRATION FOR THEIR MUSIC, TO PLAY OUR SONGS ON STAGE, TO WRITE OUR BAND NAME ON THEIR CD- BOOKLET.

IT’S A STRANGE FEELING, A MIX OF PROUD AND PLEASURE. ALSO, THAT GIVES US MORE STRONGLY TO CREATE NEW OCCULT PSALMS!!!



7. Do you have any plans to ever do a US tour?

MY FRIEND, IT’S A BIG DESIRE AND I HOPE TO MAKE IT TRUE ONE DAY! I LIKE TO PLAY THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS, FAITHFUL METAL BROTHERS!!! TOTAL RULES!!!!



8. Out off all the albums that the band has put out so far, which one are you the most satisfied with?

I FEEL THE SAME FOR ALL OUR ALBUMS, BECAUSE WE TRIED SO MUCH FOR EACH RELEASE. I LOVE ALL OUR ALBUMS AND EVERYONE HAVE IT’S OWN STORY. IF I RETURN MY MEMORY TO THE PAST, I LIKE THE FIRST CULT ALBUM “HIS MAJESTY AT THE SWAMP”, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST FULL ALBUM WHO MAKE US SO “FAMOUS” IN UNDERGROUND SCENE. BUT, WHEN I SEE THE PRESENT, I’M TOTAL HEADBANGER- MANIAC WITH OUR LAST OPUS “STYGIAN FORCES OF SCORN”. I CAN’T SEPARATE ANY OF OUR ALBUMS, EACH ONE HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHO MAKE IT A GREAT PART OF VARATHRON HISTORY!!!!



9. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

AS I TOLD YOU, WE PLAYING OUR OWN STYLE, AN OCCULT BLACK METAL MUSIC! TOTAL APOCRYPHAL, OBSCURE AND ABYSMAL SOUND AND WE’LL CONTINUE ON THE SAME STYLE AND BACK! BESIDES OUR NEW ALBUM AND THE UPCOMING ALBUM ARE BACK TO THE ROOTS. WE HAVE TWO GUITARS, BASS AND DRUMS WITHOUT SYNTHESIZER, MORE HEAVILY THAN EVER! TOTAL RULES!!!!!!



10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced the music and what are you listening to nowadays?

WELL, OUR INFLUENCES ARE BANDS LIKE HELLHAMMER, (early) SARCOFAGO, VENOM, BATHORY, BLACK SABBATH AND BLACK WIDOW! ALSO, THE MELODY, THE RHYTHM, THE IDEAS AND THE RIFFS OF OUR MUSIC, ALL INCLUDED ELEMENTS FROM THE SOUND OF THE BANDS OF 70’s. THE SOUND OF PROGRESSIVE ART HARD ROCK BANDS WHO INSPIRED THE MOST OF GREAT METAL BANDS AROUND THE WORLD. THAT IS THE UNIQUE ELEMENT WHO HAS THE MOST METAL GREEK BANDS –ESPECIALLY FROM THE FIRST METAL GENERATION OF THE END OF 80’s- AND THEY CREATED THE GREEK BLACK METAL SOUND! A MIX OF OLD –ANCIENT SOUND AND THE SOUND OF TODAY!

SO, NOW I CONTINUE TO LISTEN HEAVY, DEATH AND BLACK METAL BANDS-NEW AND OLD- AND THE NEW ALBUMS FROM THE GREAT BANDS OF 70’s WHO WILL “BORN AGAIN” AND THEY RELEASE PERFECT WORKS!!! I’M A MUSICAL PRODUCER OF A RADIO METAL SHOW, CALLED “TWILIGHT ZONE” 98.7FM ( WWW.DIMOTIKORADIOFONO.GR)

AND I LISTEN A LOT OF NEW BANDS, A NEW RELEASES BUT I STILL HAVE THE STRONG OPINION ABOUT THAT: THE OLD CLASSIC BANDS RELEASED GREAT ALBUMS MORE THAN THE NEW BANDS!!! YOU CAN CHECK THE RETURN OF TOM WARRIOR-TRYPTIKON KILLS, THE LAST ALBUM OF IMMOLATION, THE RETURN OF BURZUM , THE RETURN OF GODLY ARCHGOAT , MY BROTHERS BLASPHEMY AND MANY MANY RETURNS!!!!!!!!!! TOTAL RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



11. What role does Satanism, Occultism or Paganism play in the music?

WELL, THE MUSIC AND THE BELIEVES ARE DIFFERENT THINGS, IN THE FIRST VIEW! ALSO, IF YOU LISTEN DEEPLY IN THIS POINT, YOU CAN SEE THIS: THROUGH YOUR MUSIC, YOU CAN “PASS” YOU’RE BELIEVES, YOU’RE IDEAS, YOUR DREAMS. SO, ALL OF THAT HAVE SOME ROLE IN THE MUSIC, ESPECIALLY ON THE LYRICS! OF COURSE, SOMETIMES WE HAVE A “NEGATIVE” SITUATION. SOME BANDS USING THOSE DARK RELIGIONS ONLY FOR THE “IMAGE” AND THE RESULTS ARE SO FAKE AND STUPID. WELL, IN VARATHRON MUSIC THAT DARK PHILOSOPHIES

HAVE A “STATUS” ROLE IN OUR MUSIC AND ESPECIALLY ON OUR LYRICS!!!!!



12. What are some of your interests outside of music?

WELL, I HAVE A LOT OF HOBBIES, INTERESTS OUTSIDE THE MUSIC.

I LIKE TO READ BOOKS, TO SEE MOVIES, TO TRAINING ON KICK BOXING, TO TRAVEL IN GREECE AND OUTSIDE OF GREECE AND MORE OTHERS!



13. Any final words or thoughts?

METAL BROTHER, THANX FOR YOUR SUPPORT. EMBRACE OUR OCCULT PSALMS AND BEWARE FOR OUR NEWEST ABYSMAL INVASION!!!!!

“UNTRODDEN CORRIDORS OF HADES” IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Burzum/Fallen/Candlelight Records/2011 CD Review

  Burzum are a 1 man project from Norway that has been around since the early 90's and influenced plenty of black metal bands with his  atmospheric sound and this is a review of their 2011 album "Fallen" which will be released by Candlelight Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats but at most times the playing is very slow and on the last song there is a very pagan/shamanistic percussion being used, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful sound which is very easy to hear at times, as for the other instruments when they are used on the last track, they bring a very dark experimental avant garde feel to the music.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black metal riffs with the focus being on more of an ambient form of slow black metal with one song having a riff that has a thrash feel to it and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on the recording.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some clean singing which is the first time Varg has experimented with these kind of vocals and spoken word passages, while the lyrics are written in Norwegian and cover Norse paganism and Existential type of themes, as for the production it has a somewhat raw and primal feel with a good amount of a professional feel being added to it.

In my opinion this is another great album from Burzum, and if you are a fan of their previous works, you will not be disappointed with this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Jerg Faller" "Valen" and "Budstikken". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.burzum.org

De Magia Veterum/The Divine Antithesis/Transcendental Creations/2011 CD Review

 De Magia Veterum are a 1 man band from the Netherlands that plays a very avant garde form of raw and primitive black metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "The Divine Antithesis" which was released by Transcendental Creations.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some brutal blast beats that have an industrial feel, while the synths are very noisy and avant garde, sounding, as or the bass playing it has a very dark and heavy tone to it and at times it has a very powerful sound.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast raw black metal riffs that also mix in alot of avant garde, experimental and noise influences with a great amount of distorted riffing, and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on the recording.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with alot of distorted sounding vocals, while the lyrics cover Occultism, Biblical Issues, and Misanthropy, as for the production it has a very dark, heavy and raw feel to it.

In my opinion De Magia Veterum are a very good raw, occultic and avant garde black metal band, and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Stench Of Burning Wings" "The Heavens" and "Angelical Deformity". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.myspace.com/demagiaveterum

The Beast Of The Apocalypse/Henosis/Transcendental Creations/2011 CD Review

 The Beast Of The Apocalypse are a band from The Netherlands that plays a very primitive form of black metal with an ambient feel, and this is a review of their 2011 album "Henosis" which was released by Transcendental Creations.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a great amount of brutal blast beats, while the bass playing has a very strong, thick and heavy sound that is very distorted with a great amount of fast riffing, as for the synths they have a very atmospheric and dark ambient feel to them.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast raw black metal riffing that combines raw and ambient black metal together and gives the music an original sound, and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are a mixture of high pitched black metal screams with some deep growls which are kind of hard to hear at times, while the lyrics cover Revelation, Occultism, Apocrypha, and Gnosticism, as for the production i has a very heavy and raw feel to it which makes the music sound a lot more darker.

In my opinion The Beast Of The Apocalypse are a very good and original sounding band, and if you are looking for a black metal band that is very raw, heavy and primal with an experimental edge, you should check out this group. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Vision Of The 12P riests Before The Alter" "An Enlighted Acon" and "Yaldabaoth". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.myspace.com/tbota

DeArma Interview

Nordvis
www.nordvis.com
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info@nordvis.com
----

AVALIBLE 15th OF FEBRUARY
* NVP004 Fen (uk) / De Arma (swe) - Towards The Shores of The End. LTD. Digipack

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

G'day,

Of course. De Arma is a quite new two-piece constellation based in northern Sweden.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

Gloomy - melancholic - atmospheric - dreamy - timeless

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and concepts the music explores?

We focus on letting our tunes speak for themselves and do not put to much energy in present over-intelligent lyrics.
The listener shall build up his own concept upon the feelings he or she creates while experiencing our music. And in fact I did not write any lyrics for this EP. Two lyrics where written by Desolate of Austere and one by The Watcher of Fen.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band name?

De Arma translates to "The Poor; The Poor ones". Which is a kind of metaphor for the world WE live in, in contrast to the plastic material-possessed society the so called leaders of this world wants us to embrace.

5. I have never got any information on where you came from, do you prefer to keep it that way?

I would say there aren't that much information to reveal. De Arma is a relatively new project with no history.

6. Are there any side projects besides this band?

Yes, there has been some through the years. I'm the founder of the now defunct swedish Armagedda and it's followers should know what other musical adventures I've been and am involved with.

7. On a worldwide level, how has your music been received by black metal fans?

Hard to tell since there has been no time for feedback yet. We hope people will enjoy our music in their own certain way. And I don't consider my music to be labeled as Black Metal since it does not have a Satanic foundation.

8. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

It might go in multiple directions. Honestly I'm not quite sure yet. I guess time will tell. From past experiences I've realized that there is no point in saying what the future will bring, because you never know.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Oh, there is alot of great music out there. To name a few from different genres that has been played frequently here recently - First three albums of Fields of the Nephilim, new country album from Brett Detar, truck-rocker Scott H Biram, Australian Midnight Odyssey, the mesmerizing Agalloch, uk fellows Fen & Ukrainian comrade Romans Dark Ages.

10. Does Occultism r Paganism play any role in the music?

Occultism might have it's role in De Arma. However, not in an explainable way. What comes from our music is gloomy, eerie and touches unknown dimensions of this world. You for instance, do you feel the Occult in our tunes?
I reckon it depends on what you consider to go under the Occult label. There are no religious topics within De Arma, not so far anyways.

11. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?

During winter time I have to take care of a lot of snow, obviously. I guess this could be seen as a interest even though it might be harsh sometimes. Let's say outdoor and wildlife is one of my interest at least. Appreciate the simple things in life.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thank you for this interview and your interest in De Arma.

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