Friday, July 29, 2011

Falloch/Where Distant Spirits Remain/Candlelight Records/2011 CD Review


  Falloch are a band from Scotland that mixes post black metal with dark metal and shoegaze and this is a review of their 2011 album "Where Distant Spirits Remain" which was released by Candlelight Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some occasional blast beats, while the synths when they are utilized bring a very dark ambient/atmospheric and folk/new age music feel to the music, as for the bass playing it sounds very strong and powerful with riffs that combine black metal with shoegaze and indie rock.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine influences from indie rock, shoegaze, black and dark metal, while the lead guitars are very distorted and melodic black metal/shoegaze leads, as for the acoustic guitars they bring a very dark and progressive/folk music feel to the music with a lot of full chords and finger picking.

Vocals are mostly clean singing male vocals mixed in with some occasional female vocals and only a small amount of aggressive growls, while the lyrics touch on dark and depressive themes, as for the production it sounds very strong, powerful and professional with all of the musical instruments having a great sound and being very easy to hear.

In my opinion Falloch are a very good post black/dark metal band and while some black metal fans might not like this band since it is very progressive and lacks a lot of aggressive vocals, I still feel this is a good band and if you are looking for  something original, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Beyond Embers And The Earth" "We Are Gathering Dust" and "Where We Believe". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.myspace.com/falloch

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Prognan Interview


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



Kob: Well this band was created in 2008. and we are the first black metal band from Vukovar. We wanted to play simply black metal. Band was created by me and Vortran who later abandoned it. So now the line up consist from:



Kob – Vocals, Bass

Atheos – Guitar

Izrod – Guitar

Basher – Drums



The purpose of this band is to play black metal the way we like it, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but all in the matter of creating atmosphere that listener will be hooked up on. After a months of not so hard work, we have recorded demo „Follow the Blind“ in 9 hours, drums, guitars, bass, vocals, everything. So how much time is invested in it, the demo turned out quite okay. (laughs) Later on we sat down, talked and created more complex songs that you can hear on our new release „Vuk“ and on a new album that we are curently working on.



2. How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the new demo and how it differs from the previous recording.



Well, on a new EP called „Vuk“ (which means Wolf on English) we took different approach from our previous record. We took our time, created songs that we felt were good to represent us and changed studio. We were satisfied with the production on „Follow the Blind“, but we just wanted to check other studio's as well to see how the final result will be and to choose a best one for our album. So this time we recorded everything in Depth studio in Pozega, took our time, didn't hurry with anything and we are satisfied with the final result. The main difference that separates this release from previous one is...well, better and more complex songs. We've created one fast, typical black metal song „Zavijase Hromi Vuci“ and one that is quite dear to us „Desperate Cry“ that shows us in different light, more emotional, so to say, and more atmospheric.

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



On previous releases, we explored pagan culture. We are now trying to abandone that theme. I think that on a new album lyrical part will be strongly influenced by a man, and by that I mean how he sees and perceives everything, from religion to his roots, from his mental and emotional state to his view on society. We will try to cover as much as we can and we've decided on that theme because it is a wider field, you can let yourself write about everything you want. Of course, we will not write some stupid parts like politics and that others shit that consumes your mind.



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



If you translate Prognan to English, you will oughly get Exiled, Abandoned, Banished. So you can figure out on so many ways what it means. You can be abandoned from society, Banished from heaven, it represents your state of mind. Really, you can let your imagination go wild hahahha.

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



We played outside Croatia a couple of times and those were the best shows, particularly in Makedonia. There you have some crazy fuckers, from our first song till last, they were handbanging like maniacs.

Now we've included torch and blood spitting on our shows, we want to create a special atmosphere for a viewer. They paid to see us, it's the least what we can offer to them.



6. Do you have any future plans for any shows or gigs?



Well we are in talks with some people to do some shows around Croatia, but our main goal now is to finish songs for our new album and to find a trustworthy label for releasing it.



7. Currently you are unsigned are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for your music?



We did talked with some labels before, but they all fucked us over. So, any label out there that likes our music and doesn't intend to fuck us over, is welcome to contact us, it's simple as that. Of course, any band that creates their own music would like to be signed for a best record deal out there. We shoot high, but we are still firmly standing on the ground, this is something we like to do, we like to play and to play it loud.



8. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?



We have two new members in a band, one is Izrod and the second one is Atheos (known as Demoniac from band Bustum). I have a side project called Powerless (and the second album is being recorded as you read this interview). So, feel free to check out our other projects as well.



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



I have to say that with our first demo release we've sent a message that there is a band around and it was received quite well from domestic audience.

As fro the new release, we have received great reviews from around the globe, I read one from mexico and Spain yesterday and they gave us 8 and 9 from 10. So, that has to mean something. We are glad that people love our music and that is the best complementary we can get.



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



I can say that new songs are different from previous ones. We have a steady line-up now, good guitar players and we can create more complex and technically better music. Of course, we will not do any sweeping or i don't know what hust to show that we can play guitar. It will still be Prognan, but showning different side.



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



Everyone listen to different kind of music, besides black metal. So we try to mix everything up, add some rock influence, heavy metal, add some speed, mix that, leave this behind... You know, mix it all up in one tasty cup of drink (laughs).

12. What role does Paganism play in your music and how would you describe your vies on this topic?



As I said earlier, we did write some pagan music, and maybe there will be 2-3 songs on a new album that will be pagan. Everybody in the band has a great respect for pagan culture and this is something what we generally like to talk about. So maybe the future will bring a couple more pagan songs.



13. How would you describe the black metal scene in Croatia?



There is no black metal scene, there are just a few bands that play black metal. We have no market for metal in general here. We have people here that would better like to drink beer outside the club, then to support local band. But it is really nice to see those people that are inside supporting. Those are people worthy of respect. And, on the other side, it is really worthy of respect that despite that, we have bands playing, recording albums and continuing on.



14. Outside of music what are some of your interests?



I like to read, our drummer will have a second child in lees then a month, we are working... We are just like everyday normal guys with long hairs (laughs).



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



Thank you for this opportunity and for your support!



Stay Heavy!

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Sunday, July 24, 2011

Prognan/Vuk/2011 EP Review


Prognan are a band from Croatia that plays pagan black metal with a melodic edge and this is a review of their self released 2011 EP "Vuk".

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a great amount of blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black metal riffs that are also melodic at times, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding black metal guitar solos, as for the acoustic guitars when they are utilized they bring a very dark and tragic feel to the music.

Vocals are all high pitched black metal screams, while the lyrics cover war, paganism and death, as for the production it sounds very powerful for a demo.

In my opinion Prognan are a very good Pagan black metal band with a melodic edge and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACK "Desperate Cry". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://myspace.com/prognan

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Obsequiae/Suspended In The Brume Of Eos/Bindrune Recordings/2001 CD Review


 Obsequiae are a band from Minnesota that plays a a medieval form of dark/black metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Suspended In The Brume Of Eos" which was released by Bindrune Recordings.

Drums range from slow to mid  paced drumming with some fast playing and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful tone with some heavy riffing.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid  paced riffs that combine black metal with dark metal as well as adding a lot of melody and some doom metal influences that gives the music a dark and haunting medieval feel, while the lead guitars are very dark and melodic sounding guitar solos, as for the acoustic guitars they bring a classical music and pagan feel to the music.

Vocals are all high pitched black metal screams, while the lyrics cover Paganism and nature styled themes, as for the production it has a very powerful and heavy feel to it.

In my opinion Obsequiae are a very good melodic dark metal band, and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Altars Of Moss" "Suspended In The Brume Of Eos" "The Wounded Fox" and "Cabin Lights". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Obsequiae/3540290073

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Falls Of Rauros/The Light That Dwells In Rotten World/Bindrune Recordings/2011 CD Review


 Falls Of Rauros are a band from Maine that plays a mixture of black/folk and dark metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "The Light That Dwells In Rotten World" which was released by Bindrune Recordings.

Drums range from slow to midpaced with some ocassional fast drumming and blast beats being used at times, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, midpaced to fast riffs that are mostly rooted in black metal but have some doom and progressive metal influences with a great amount of melody being thrown in, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar leads, as for the accoustic guitars thay bring a progressive and folk music feel to the music with alot of full chords that also add an element of nature to the music.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some whispered vocals being used briefly on one song, while the lyrics cover nature, misanthrophy and anarchism, as for the production it has a very powerful and dark sound to it.

In my opinion Falls Of Rauros are a very good nature orientated progressive black/folk/dark metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Banished" and "Silence". RECOMMENDED BUY.

www.fallsofrauros.blogspot.com  

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Medo/Matéria Negra/War Productions/2011 CD Review


 Medo are a band from Portugal that plays a very dark experimental, occult and ritualistic form of black metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Materia Negra" which was released by War Productions.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being used at times, while the keyboards bring a very dark ritualistic avant garde feel to the music as for the bass guitar when when it is utilized briefly has a very dark and strong tone.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffing that combine raw black metal with dark experimental music while the lead guitars are very distorted and primal sounding black metal guitar leads.

Vocals range from high pitched black metal screams, demonic growls, spoken word ritualistic passages and the occasional clean singing which is very dark and evil sounding, while the lyrics which are written mostly in Portuguese with one song being written in English cover Fear, Death, Occultism, Rituals and Necro style themes, as for the production it has a very dark, primal and raw sound to it.

In my opinion Medo are a very good and original sounding dark experimental/black metal band and while this probably would not appeal to all black metal fans I can see the more occult people of this genre liking this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "You Will Never Burn All Witches' "Medium" "Licontropo A Maldicao' and "Rituale Romanum". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Monday, July 11, 2011

Vergos Di Noctis/Vosegus/War Productions/2011 CD Review


 Vergos Di Noctis are a band from France  that plays a very raw, atmospheric and melodic form of pagan/black metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Vosegus" which was released by War Productions.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a good amount of blast beats being thrown in, while the synths when they are used bring an atmospheric feel to the music without over powering it and there are a good amount of songs that do not even use the instrument, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast pagan/black metal riffs that are raw at times and melodic while the lead guitars are very dark and melodic sounding pagan/black metal guitar leads.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some viking/pagan metal chants being thrown in at times, while the lyrics are written in French and cover dark and pagan themes, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and heavy feel to it.

In my opinion Vergos Di Noctis are a very good pagan/black metal band that brings the classic 90's sound into the modern day, and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Senister" "Matirona' "Ame Celtique' and "Cantolan Druidos". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Vergos_d%C3%AE_Noctis/102866

Friday, July 8, 2011

Astral Rebirth/The Axis Of The Utter Black Ocean/2011 Demo Review


  Astral Rebirth are a band from Mexico that plays a very dark and raw form of atmospheric black metal and this is a review of their 2011 demo "The Axis Of The Utter Black Ocean".

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a good amount of blast beats being thrown in, while the synths when they are utilized they bring a primal dark ambient feel to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast raw atmospheric black metal riffs that are also very dark sounding and have a small amount of melodic parts and there are little to no guitar solos or leads presented on the recording.

Vocals which are mixed down low in the mix are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some deep growls but the main setback on this recording is that the guitars over power the vocals, while the lyrics cover dark, esoteric and depressive themes, as for the production it has a very dark and raw feel to it but it could of made the vocals sound more powerful unless that is what the band wanted.

In my opinion Astral Rebirth are a very good, dark and raw sounding atmospheric black metal band that shows a lot of potential on this demo, and if you are a fan of this sound you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Distortion Mental Process" and "Astral Rebirth". RECOMMENDED BUY

http://www.astralrebirth.com

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Mhinotahn Interview


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

Mhinotahn is based out of Houston , Texas . We are definitely a black metal band, but we also incorporate facets of old style death metal, doom, hardcore/punk, thrash and grindcore. Our members have been around the underground music scene for many years and to us everything always goes back to that late 80s/early 90s sound. That era I relate to because for me it was a time of going to underground shows every weekend and discovering new bands. Over time I have grown an intimate appreciation for. That time period mentality is used when writing our songs, but we definitely do not look to be anyone’s clones. I feel our music has an old style approach with our own signature sound. For example, Pungent Stench is one of my favorite bands and an influence but I surely would not want to sound identical to them. I know what we do is not totally original, but I want a sound that has our stamp on it.

My view on black metal is the same as the early punk mentality, go against status quo and do what your inner being desires. I do not feel that wearing corpse paint is a prerequisite to being in a black metal band. Don’t get me wrong, lots of bands pull it off rather well and I think it is really cool. I do think it brings some drama and mystique to a live setting. No matter how cheesy some people say Immortal looks in their videos, I will always like their image. For us however, we do not feel there is a need to wear it. I am not going to do something because “everyone else is doing it”. The same with the music, a million bands trying to sound like Burzum is not in the true essence of black metal. It should be about individuality and going against trend. That is my personal opinion and some may disagree, but I am ok with that.



2. How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the demos?

So far we have released two demos: “S/T” and “Lord of Swine”. The self titled demo has more of a straight forward black metal approach. The first song “Negativity brings forth Prosperity” is a 7 minute, raw atmospheric black blast. The other track, in my mind, has a blackened thrash feel.

It was released by The Dread Lair Coalition, which is a Texas based distro that specializes in underground metal. They play a big part in organizing a lot of the local shows and supporting the scene. Their website is definitely worth checking out http://thedreadlair.vstore.ca/. They have a huge selection of underground demos and releases available.

The second demo, “Lord of Swine”, is still black metal but has a definite hardcore and doom influence. Shorter song lengths and more aggression are what take center stage. These songs are more likely to conjure random violent urges.

Both demos have differing sounds but is still obvious it is the same band performing.



3. What are some of the lyrical topics the demos explores?

A variety of dark topics are covered. “Below the Ruins” discusses the inevitability of war no matter what setting civilized man is in. Self destruction is rooted in all man. “Unhinged” tells the story of an overwhelming presence of evil overtaking a normally innocent mindset. A mindset that has spent an entire lifetime following what is taught to be right. After years of self torment, a breakdown takes over and the restrained sickened urges are unleashed. “Swarm the Pessimist” is about isolation and antisocial behavior. “Lord of Swine” is about running in the maze of life and at every corner meeting a horrific disappointment. A blackened aura overshadows all decisions.

I will save the space and not give detailed breakdowns of every song. However, none of the songs are written in a straight forward manner but more metaphoric. One can read and analyze the lyrics to draw their own conclusion.



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

The band’s name, as well as everything else, has been thought out. Early on we wanted a unique name. Something simple, yet memorable like a title from an early 80’s horror movie. Also a name that when Googled, only our presence would appear.

The name was inspired by the Ray Harryhausen creature called Minaton. As a child I always liked that character, so the spelling was altered and a couple of h’s were thrown in. Some have asked if it was a name taken from some ancient writings, but no, just a word created in my mind. I prefer that every aspect of the band is something we created. I did not want to look in a book and pick some random evil word or demonic entity as our moniker.



5. Has the band had any opportunities to do any live shows and if so what are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Yes we have played live and are in process of setting up more outings. The live platform is a vital part of the band. We could sit around all day recording music but the live feeling is very important for both the inner person and also spreading our name. Being an exclusive studio band is not something we are interested in.

As for our stage performance, I would say aggressive, energetic and calculated. When preparing for a gig we take the approach of a professional sports team. Everything is thought out and rehearsed properly. Also all the members are extremely focused on performing. You will never come to one of our shows and see coked up or intoxicated members screwing up every song. We play shows to entertain people, and we do our best to do so.



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

None at that moment, but short mini tours are a possibility for the future.



7. I noticed with your promo pack you had a couple of paper zines, can you tell us a little bit more about them and who designed the pictures that where presented in those zines?

The zines are another form of promotion. They give the listener a visual. Plus I am still a fan of paper zines. They are great reading while sitting on the toilet. We designed everything in the zines. It took some time creating the art and text, but the final result to me is satisfactory.

That band zine includes a DVD and some illustrations/lyrics to go along with the music. The concept behind it was taken from the old children’s book and record sets. If you remember, in the 80s that was quite popular. You throw on the 45 and follow along in the comic type book. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. In the DIY scene I think it is unique. I could be wrong.

The other zine, Filth Covered Visions, is simply exploitation fiction. Each issue is a short story about some vile characters their tales of sick mutilation and filth. So far three issues have been produced and drawn the attention of a small readership. Below is the premise for issue #3:



“She grimaced in pain as her body was being mutilated by the sick man’s mouth.”



“Mr. Sholder is a man with problems. He has a damaged mind from twisted events past. Drinking away his failures is a hobby he is quite fond of. However this particular night out will take him on a sickened journey that will question both morality and sanity. A chance encounter with a couple of patrons will constrict his inner being and drag him through a fragile underpinning. His nondescript existence will soon come face to face with an obscene chain of events. Mutilation and violence take center stage in this fast-paced, filth covered vision.”



For interested parties, email me at mhinotahn@hotmail.com. For more details, check out our blogspot at mhinotahn.blogspot.com.



8. I have also noticed the pack also came with the dvd, what where some of the ideas that you had for the videos and how did you put them together?

As mentioned in an earlier question, everything we do is calculated. In promotion, I wanted to do something different than simply circulating a demo CD. The goal was to create a promo pack that will motivate a second look. The above question covers detail in regard to the zine. As for the DVD itself, the center point is the video for the song “Lord of Swine”. The slide show of still pictures type video is what I wanted to avoid. Those are a dime a dozen on youtube. Every so often I come across bands that make a DIY live action video and I commend them for taking the time to do so. When showcasing your work one should always try to present it in some sort of interesting display. Even on a minimal budget, great things can be accomplished with creativity. This is especially important in this age of a million bands all having a social networking site and shoving mp3’s down every label’s throat.

In making the “Lord of Swine” promo video, I combined footage of both the band and some underground French bunkers. I sat down and meticulously edited every frame. For a more detailed summary about the making of the video, go to our blogspot, again, at mhinotahn.blogspot.com. The article really does cover every aspect of the project. Also watch the video here:

http://youtu.be/zLj3R1_OmJI



9. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for the music?

At the moment we are working out the logistics with NY based label Cannibal Records. A split CD is planned with death sludge band Filtheater, whose sound I totally dig. Filtheater could perfectly fit in with the Wild Rags Records 1991 roster. Dirty, raw, sludge brutality is my opinion. Their music gives me the same feeling I get when listening to Nuclear Death. Go take a listen here http://www.myspace.com/filtheaterband. If everything works out, I foresee a great split release.

We are sending out promo items to many other labels as well. Honestly, we are just making contacts and trying to get our name in front of others. At this point we are looking to do small releases, 7” EPs or splits. Enough material for a full length has been written, but it would make no sense to record one before more of a national following is created. So we are taking everything slow and following the proper steps to getting some exposure.

We are also working on a sponsorship from Fuck Hard Dildos. Their motto is “Destruction of Pussy”.



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

So far, the response has been favorable. I was told by one listener that he raped an animal while listening to our music. Another guy said he ran into a bar and stabbed 27 people with a butter knife.



11. Are there any current side projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?

At the moment there are no side projects. This endeavor controls our full concentration. However, in the future a side project is not out of the question.



12. What direction do you see the music heading into during the future?

As with all our writing, we do not set out to sound a certain way. We throw riffs and ideas together and let everything fall in place. The writing process never begins with an idea of saying “hey lets write a song that sounds exactly like say Carpathian Forest ”. In the beginning, a song may sound one way but by completion is something totally different. For example our song “Unhinged” started off as basic black metal, but as we rehearsed it morphed into an almost speeding hardcore song. In a nutshell, we write black metal songs with a punk rock mentality and see where it takes us.

Speaking of an uncategorized writing approach, the band I think best exemplifies that is the old Las Vegas group Righteous Pigs. They were raw and heavy as hell but really could not be pigeonholed into a specific genre. The vocals were performed in a yelling manner but the riffing style was too heavy to be labeled hardcore. Overall the sound was brutal but they could not be considered death or grind either.



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

I touched upon this in the first question but will go into more detail. All the members have a varied taste in music but at the end of the day it is all about old style black/death metal. My definition of death is bands like Asphyx, Cianide, Incantation, Disastrous Murmur, Goreaphobia, Phlegm, Ripping Corpse and Dismember. Black metal bands such as Profanatica, Blasphemy, Beherit, Absu, Impaled Nazarene, Enslaved, Emperor, Mayhem and Immortal also play a vital part in our creativity. Other various influencing bands are 45 Grave, Discharge, Negative Approach, Fear of God, Blood, Cathedral, Broken Bones, Exhorder, SOB, Nasum, and a crap load of others. This is becoming redundant listing bands, but it gives you an idea of where we are coming from. One other thing, modern technical death metal does not influence us at all. I like listening to some of it, but there is no interest in playing that style.

What do I listen to nowadays? The answer is across the board. For about 6 months I played The Damned anthology collection in my car. Then threw in some old Saxon. The other day I was listening to Slayer’s recent “World Painted Blood”; for those who think Slayer has turned to shit, I completely disagree. Last night I went to sleep listening to my Incantation “Onward to Golgotha ” cassette.

One of the more recent bands I really like is Dishammer, which is a project of Spanish grind band Machetazo. That is some great dirty music! Of course I listen to many of the great Texas bands like Plutonian Shore, Spectral Manifest, Forest of Suicides, Bound in Flesh, Warmaster, Humut Tabal and many more…go check out that Dread Lair link I posted in an earlier question.



14. Does Occultism or Satanism play any role in your music?

I would say it does play a large role, but our music is not exclusively satanic. It is more a commentary on the subject. We are not practicing Satanists nor have any philosophic agenda to our songs. I perceive Satan as a metaphor for everyday life. Our music, however, all has a dark negative horror inspired tone. As mentioned in an earlier question, our lyrics are interpretive. It is up to the listener to generate their own conclusion.



15. I have noticed that on your blog page you write about other bands than your own, and seem to have a long history listening to underground music, how did you get into this style of music?

Yes the band blogspot is about more than just us. There you can find reviews and random passages about a variety of music related topics. I try to keep the blog interesting and not just posting the same boring things such as “we have a show coming up”, “we are working on new material”, “here’s a new song”, blah, blah, blah. Band information is imperative but I have a need to write about other topics in the extreme music scene. If a random thought or a certain band comes to mind, I write something about it to be posted. I have heard many positive comments about the blogspot, so apparently someone likes the page. Once again, go check it out at mhinotahn.blogspot.com.

My next goal is to expand into more coverage of bands in the Texas scene, which is completely saturated with many great groups. There is plenty to cover.

How I got into heavy music is a story many can relate to. As a child of the 70s I liked KISS and even had those infamous KISS dolls. Then in the early 80s, thanks to my Dad, I migrated to Motley Crue during their “Shout at the Devil” years. From there I discovered thrash metal and punk rock. Anthrax, Overkill, Slayer, Sacred Reich, Suicidal Tendencies, DRI, Black Flag, 7 Seconds, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front …you get the point. Next I discovered Sepultura’s “Beneath the Remains”, and a whole new underground world opened up to me. Many evenings of sitting in the garage with friends while listening to mutilated music.



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

Outside of music we are 4 very normal people. We like doing normal activities like rolling around in pig entrails, eating pussy at a whore house, chewing on infected pork and eating shit out of dumpsters.



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

Thanks for the platform. I hope you continue carrying on with your cool blogspot. To any readers who would like more info on the band, shoot an email to mhinotahn@hotmail.com or look us up on Facebook.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Mhinotahn/Lord Of Swine/Feral Noise/DVD Video Single Review


Mhinotahn are a band from Texas that has had their 2 previous demos reviewed in the zine and now it is time to review the DVD single  that came with the promo package.

Song one is a video of Lord Of Swine, and in the video you can see pictures of the woods which look very swampy, as well as the band practicing and they don't look like your average black metal band and at the end a guy in a cloak performing a satanic ritual.

Song Two contains a lot of pictures from the paper zine that came with the package as well as more photos of the band practicing and in addition a lot of pictures that show a humorous attempt at being satanic and evil.

Song Three is helped in black and white and shows a lot of black and white pictures of gothic looking castles, with some of the song lyrics being printed up in part of the video as well as all of the band information, as for the musical sound on these 3 songs you can read my demo reviews to get more of an idea on how the music sounds.

In my opinion this is a good DVD from Mhinotahn and it is helped with low budget production and you can tell by watching this that this band does not try to act like other black metal bands. RECOMMENDED.

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Mhinotahn/Calamudre/2011 Demo CD-R Review


Mhinotahn are a band from Texas that has had their previous demo reviewed in this zine and they go for a more raw black/death sound on this recording and this is a review of their 2011 CD-R "Calamudre".

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats, while the bass playing has a dark tone with primitive riffing that follows the riffs that are coming out of the guitars and on the last song they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black/death metal riffs that also have a doom and thrash metal feel at times, while the lead guitars are very primitive sounding guitar leads.

Vocals are a mixture of high pitched and mid range black/death metal screams with some crust sounding vocals being used on the last song, while the lyrics are very dark and negative, as for the production it has a very raw and primitive sound.

In my opinion this demo from Mhinotahn sounds a lot better than their previous one and if you like the first demo you will not be disappointed. RECOMMENDED TRACK "Unhinged". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Mhinotahn/2010 Demo CD-R Review


Mhinotahn are a band from Houston, Texas that plays a very raw form of black metal with some crust influences and this is a review of their 2010 Demo/CDR

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast with some blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars, as for the synths when they are utilized they bring a dark ambient/avant garde feel to the music..

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black metal riffs that have some influences from doom, death metal thrash, and crust and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are a mixture of grim and high pitched screams, while the lyrics cover dark and hateful themes, as for the production it is very dark, raw and primitive sounding.

In my opinion Mhinotahn are a very good raw and primitive sounding black metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMPENSED TRACK "Negativity Brings Prosperity". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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