Thursday, December 31, 2009

Vardoger Derelict Interview


1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
Hideous: Caleb and I were approached by Henry about a year ago with the idea of starting a black metal project that would showcase his lyrics. Since I tend to not be a fan of writing lyrics and Henry is never at a loss for words, it works out very well for all involved. When we started writing, the songs relied heavily on noise and blastbeats. I think we initially just wanted to create something angry and fast, but I feel that our sound is progressing beyond that with every song we write.
Caleb: Yeah Henry got the idea when he was drunk and we ran with it for the hell of it.
Henry: The band was sort of a pet idea of mine recycled from a set of short stories I wrote involving a living omen of sorts embodied in the carcass of a man. In short, the short stories were filed away along with other stories i've written, but the name was something that I thought deserved to be saved from being filed away. There was some alcohol involved I must admit as Caleb pointed out when the idea was mentioned to them. We all have our perverted muses.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
Caleb: Harsh, noisy, heavy, fast, slow, and any combination of those depending on the song.
Hideous: I think harsh is a pretty accurate description, that's usually what I tell people.
Henry: The music itself has several skins it wears throughout song to song. To be honest, several "genres" are blended much in the same way a meat grinder processes the remains of several different animals into something unique, but not nessecarily digestible to any large group of individuals I would like to believe that the music does well to borrow from other genres and create something that is its own, but accessable only to a select few who are able to digest it and appreciate it.

3. What is the meaning behind the band name?
Caleb: The word vardoger is a Norwegian term defined as "a premonitory sound or sight of a person before he arrives" and a derelict is something that has been abandoned or deserted. A somewhat accurate way of portraying the concept is to say that a vardoger derelict is an abandoned omen of a future arrival. Personally, I always get an image of a spirit stranded at sea but thats just a feeling.
Henry: As Caleb mentioned, this is the basic idea behind the band name. An omen seeking someone new to see its message, before laying out the consequences of its' arrival. Its quite the powerful image to imagine a derelict omen becoming the harbinger of destruction to anyone that sees it for what it is.

4. I noticed that you still release stuff on cassete, is that something you are going to be doing with future releases as well? The cassete seems to be very underground.
Caleb: We like the way we sound on cassette. Its a completely different experience than on the CD or as MP3s. It brings out the low end and the grit in the songs and anyone who has listened to our material should see why we like that.
Hideous: As for future releases, we're certainly not opposed to the idea.
Henry: As the other two have mentioned, the use of older technology such as cassettes has advantages that newer formats such as CDs lack. Personally, I enjoy vinyl as opposed to CDs and cassettes, but expenses force us to use whats available to us. Overall though, a CD or mini CD release in the future may be in the works. Who knows.

5. Have you had any opportunity to do live shows yet?
Caleb: No. Most of our material is impossible to play live. Some of our songs have several guitar tracks in the mix and only one of us plays guitar. We also end up tuning the guitar a completely different way for each of our songs and we often use weird recording methods.
Hideous: Plus, the way that venues operate in this state, we're not concerned with jumping through the necessary hoops to get on a show that will draw the proper audience. As fun as it is to frighten the regular customers at a bar's open mic night, I feel that it would be a waste of time. However, we are entertaining the idea of performing at a local metal festival this summer. We'll see what happens.
Caleb: No one around here gives two shits about metal.
Henry: It would take quite a lot of preparation to be able to play a live show, but who's to say that it would prove to be impossible? It would definitely take a bit more time to do though.

6. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
Hideous: I can say with some certainty that the second full-length album will show more of a thrash influence. The songs are coming out with greater intensity and speed.

Caleb: I think a track or two might also have a twinge of death metal to it.
Henry: Personally in the future I would like to work on an EP or stand alone concept album using ambient, drone, doom, death, and black metal influences to tell a story. A darkened guide through a world of aberrations from my dreams. We'll see though whats to come.

7. What are some bands or music styles that have influenced your band?
Caleb: Black Metal and Doom Metal are what we listen to the most so I think it has an impact but we make an effort to limit how much influence we take from individual artists.
Hideous: I don't draw influence from any bands in particular, I just try to create something dynamic and intense with each song. Plenty of bands inspire me, but I try to keep their music seperate from ours.
Henry: I think there are enough cover bands in the various scenes nowadays. I would like to believe we create something entirely our own. Though, it all eventually lies in our own desires.
Caleb: We do whatever we feel like.

8. What are you listening to nowadays?
Caleb: Masters Hammer, Blasphemy, Bestial Warlust, Silencer, Darkthrone, Profanatica, Leviathan etc.
Hideous: A clusterfuck of different genres. As long as it isn't on the radio I might find it interesting.
Henry: Benighted in Sodom, Xasthur (pre- All reflections drained), Schel aus slein, Nachtmystium, and Caina mostly.

9. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
Henry: The lyrics, being primarily handled by myself are from a world of influences ranging from mostly delirious nights of dreams brought about by alcohol and mental instability. Some of the songs are completely about my detestment and quiet understanding of the human condition, some are of personal demons, and there even lurks one that could be considered a darkened love song for fellow masochists I suppose. To pin down any specific influence on the lyrics would require more time than I have available at the moment for this interview.

10. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in the music?
Caleb: Not really. None of us believe in any specific religion. We live in a fairly religious part of the US and its enough to drive any sane person away from organized faith.
Henry: As Caleb mentioned, the lack of religious beliefs amongst us despite living in a predominately religious area may go along with some of the songs being critical of such ideas. I would not go so far as to say that the lyrics themselves are anti-religious, but certainly some of the themes of the songs are not paving a road of gold for religious beliefs.

11. What are some interests that you have outside of music?
Caleb: I have an insatiable lust for old-school gore movies and cannibal flicks. Im currently working my way down the video nasties list.
Hideous: I co-host a podcast called "Cuntcast" where I get to rant about ridiculous, funny things and be incredibly offensive.
Henry: Writing mainly outside of the typical fiction genres that plague today's writers. I'm a critical fan of banned movies ranging from video nasties to films that deal with suggestive themes. At the time of this interview, I've just finished Salo: 120 days of Sodom. I spend the majority of my day traveling as well in the local area. There exist hidden points of interest in any place one lives.

12. Any final words or thoughts?
Hideous: Buy the fucking album!
Caleb: Its 6 goddamn dollars you cheap fucks and you get free fucking sticker with it! We need money so we can put out more music!
Henry: As the others have mentioned, definitely pick up a copy and listen to it. Its worth the minuscule expense, and overall you'll help to fund the next set of music we have in store.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Vardoger_Derelict/3540297033

Monday, December 28, 2009

Vardoger Derelict/Self Titled/Trench Guns Tapes/2009 Album Review



Vardoger Derelict are a band from South Carolina that plays a form of black metal that utilizes some of the fastest playing the music has and mixes it with some of the slowest doom as well as experimental/noise and this is a review of their self titled 2009 album.

Drums are very fast with a lot of brutal blast beats and they slow down a lot at times when the band plays their slower doomier stuff which has some noise effects as well, while the bass player is very chaotic and primal.

Rhythm guitars contain a lot of fast raw black metal riffs that sound very primal and then it slows down to a sludgy/doomy pace which is slower than a snail, guitar leads are rarely used except for some parts , but there are some acoustic parts that use open chords that give the music a very dark ambient feel.

Noise effects/samples sound very trippy on this album giving the music a very distorted and evil feel, while the vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some occasional sludge doom growls, as for the production it has a very raw feel but you can hear all of the instruments. Lyrics seem to be very diverse with some left hand path themes as well as other dark and depressing topics.

In my opinion this is a very original album and it should appeal to black metal fans that like there music being diverse without sounding commercial, this probably would not appeal to close minded metal heads, since the music is very dark and it has a sound of its own you cant compare to other bands.

Recommend tracks are "The Abhorent Amalgamation" and "The Withering Vesture Of Serenity". Recommended buy.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Vardoger_Derelict/3540297033

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Ophidian Forest/Redbad/2007 CD review


  Ophidian Forest are a band that consists of members from Croatia, Netherlands, and San Francisco that plays viking/pagan/black metal and this is a review of their 2007 album Redbad.

Drums are mostly slow parts that sound really good with the epic pagan metal this band plays and there is some blast beats that are really fast, while the bass playing has a really dark and mysterious tone and you can actually hear it.

Rhythm guitars on this recording are mostly slow to mid pace riffing that brings back memories of some of the more underground black/pagan metal bands of the 90's and there is also a lot of fast riffs that sound very crushing and there is not a lead or guitar solo anywhere on this album.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams that sound really evil with some occasional clean Viking vocals, while the production sounds very raw and primal, as far as the lyrics they cover Asataru Shamanism with a very well detailed and studied approach, and there are also a lot of anti-christian themes as well. Keyboards are very rarely used on this album but when they show up you can hear a lot of melodies that sound really dark.

In my opinion this is a really good album where all the songs sound different from each other which is usually a problem with some bands and I hear a lot of potential  in the music, and I would like to hear more music from this band. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Bandcamp
Facebook (new)
Facebook (old)
Myspace

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Gorthaur's Wrath/Ritual IV 2009 cd review


  Gorthaur's Wrath are a band from Croatia that started out as a pure raw black metal but has evolved more into a black/death metal band over the years and this is a review of their new ep Ritual IV.

Drums are really fast with a lot of blast beats and then they slow down at times to give the music an even balance, while the bass playing is tuned down low and is mostly fast playing.

Rhythm guitars use a lot of fast riffing that has a mixture of black,death and thrash influences with a touch of melody and some slow riffing, while the lead guitars are mostly a lot of fast guitar solo's that sound technical.

Vocals are a mixture of death metal growls and black metal screams,, while the lyrics seem to be on a left hand path approach, as for the production it sounds very professional and you can hear all of the instruments.

In my opinion this is a good band but if you are a fan of their first demo you might be disappointed but if you are a fan of blackened death metal, I would advise picking this up or order it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Facebook
Myspace

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

WOLOK Interview


1. Can you all our readers a little bit about the band for those that are not familiar with your music?
To sum it up, WOLOK consists of three sick and repugnant musicians with no particular goal and no particular ambitions, as we just play our grim tunes for our own pleasure. To get more into the story, the band was created in 2003 LUC from ZARICH BAAL THARAGH asked me if I would agree on playing music together so that's how we decided to give birth to WOLOK, We released a first demo, Universal Void, which was re-released as an official album a little bit later through Northern Sky Productions (CD), Then we got into that split with REVERENCE and SONS OF FENRIS. Our second album was entitled Servum Pecus (CD / LP) and it was released through Eerie Art Records. For this record, Cypher from LA DIVISION MENTALE came in our band to take care of all twisted rythyms and drums. He's also in charge of all our mixing and mastering shit. A few months ago we released or third album called Caput Mortuum (CD) through Those Opposed Records. You should grab that one if you pretend to enjoy sick music.

2. What is going on with Wolok these days?
Well there's nothing special actually. Caput Mortuum was released in March 2009 and we're just promoting it with answering to interviews and so on. I still couldn't start composing some new stuff as I'm implied in other bands and have a lot of things to work on. Currently I'm getting soaked with the brand new songs of LA DIVISION MENTALE and I'm just trying to think how I can puke some lyrics on the music. The task is not easy at all as Cypher wrote his best songs ever. I hope it can measure up.

3. Has Wolok played any live shows, and if so what are some of the best places you have played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
WOLOK is definitely not a live band. The music we play does not fit the fucking stage.

4. What is the meaning behind the band's name?
There is meaning at all. Let me explain. Back in 2003, when the decision was made to create the band, I took a pen and started to draw a logo. I don't know why, but these letters came naturally,Fucking don't know why it ended up to WOLOK. At the time I was interested (and still am) in black holes, anti matter and so on, So a parallel was made. See what I mean. Now a few months ago, I was contacted by a guy who's called Michael Wolok and I must confess I have learned a lot from him about this strange WOLOK thing & really disturbing.

5. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see Wolok heading into on future releases?
Our recent works may sound more complex than our early stuff, that is obvious. Whereas Universal Void was more of a basic record I think that Caput Mortuum is much more abstract and hard to get in at first listening. Some people told me they did not understand anything at all they could not get the essence,but that's just because they're lazy cunts and are use to hearing the mainstream sound, you know. But I don't have any problem with that. I don't plan any release, I don't say guys, let's sound more complex, or let's sound more old school, this is definitely my way of working. I don't know what direction WOLOK wil lhead into on our next record, it will all depend on my mood and inspiration. That's just a matter of mood and inspiration.

6. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
All of our lyrics are very abstract,so I think I better not unveil any detail. Each listener has to get his own interpretation of the subject as he was staring at a painting. Roughly speaking WOLOK deals with deviance, death, religion, molestation, disease, pain, maggots. obscenity and so on and so forth... But as I said there is not one and only meaning. You just have to dig it on your own.

7. I know that the band members have participated in many different bands around France, are there any current projects, if so who are they and what styles of music do they play?
Luc is still puking in ZARICH BAAL THARAGH as he regularly releases demos. I guess he's also working on ambient stuff, but I'm not sure about it. As for as Cypher is concerned, he's currently working hard on on the new LA DIVISION MENTALE album, as I told you before. He's in charge of all musical direction and I'm just the singer. This project is a mix between Black Metal and Industrial atmospheres. Our first album was released in 2007 and I think you should have a listen to it. You can expect the new album to be released somewhere in 2010 and it will just be a must.And then about me I have been performing in DEVILISH ERA since 1998, though I decided to give it up about a year ago. Now all my attention is focused on WOLOK as it deals with my top priority.

8. What are some bands or music styles that have influenced the music style of Wolok?
We'll. I'm into various genres: Black Metal, Death Metal ( be it old school or uber technical) Thrash Metal,Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Occult Rock... I can't say I am influenced by a band in particular as I do try to create my own music. And I think I succeeded. According to the reviews I have read here and there, WOLOK is often compared to bands such as Blut Aus Nord and Deathspell Omega,but I can tell you that there are absolutely my main source of inspiration though I am really respectful of their art.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that you listen to nowadays?
Right now I'm into THE DEVIL'S BLOOD. Here is a band I could speak of for hours and hours as there is so much to say about them. I discovered that band a while ago and it just changed my approach to extreme music. It doesn't need to be brutal or never-ending-blast-beat oriented or something to sound extreme. Actually I have not been impressed and possessed for aeons I can't tell you why. I can't tell you what is so bewitching in THE DEVIL'S BLOOD, you cannot depict with words, you just have to feel it and understand. I was attending the Eindhoven Metal Meeting a few days ago and I had the opportunity to the band on stage. And believe me, that was something unique.That was something unforgettable. Their live rituals can change your life and your vision of music, definitely Occult Rock at its very best. Unique band and unique sound. Just worship. Worship.

10. Does Satanism or Occultism play a big or small role in your music?
It all depends on what you mean for Satanism... What I can tell you is that my music is exclusively guided by my urges and impulses. Satan is more of a way of thinking; not another deity to venerate.

11. Besides music, what are some other interests that you have?
My non musical-interests are so various. As I've been working for a beer company for more than 3 years now, you can imagine how interested in am in the beer market. i'm a huge French wine connoisseur as well. But I doubt your readers give a fuck about it.

12. Any final words or thoughts?
Many thanks for your interest in WOLOK. May your readers get in touch with Those Oppossed Records to get our latest repugnant album. You can also visit our Myspace page as well. !! HYBERLINK "http://www.myspace.com/wolok " www.myspace.com/wolok !

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Morbid Undead Interview


1. For those that are not familiar with your project, can you gives us a brief history of the band?
It all started in 2009 after spending about a year in isolation just listening to various Black Metal bands and projects on a daily basis. I started to experiment with mixing programs on my Laptop and began recording some material. I started to experiment with different styles of Black Metal vocals and practiced until I got it right. I decided to utilize my newly learned skills and create a solo project similar to Xasthur of Alhambra. On Youtube, I discovered Nino of Black Plague whom I showed my As Black As the Void demo to. So we formed a partnership and ever since I got motivated to spread the word to various Black Metal people on the Internet about Morbid Undead.

2. Where did you come up with the name Morbid Undead?
I always admired Dead from Mayhem, and knew about his Blackened Death Metal / Thrash project before he joined Mayhem called Morbid. The original idea I had for Morbid Undead was to create a similar project to Dead's Morbid, but at the last minute decided to go for a more Depressive approach in the vein of Xasthur after discovering a natural talent I had for writing depressive music and performing depressive dissonant style vocals. The "Undead" part comes from the fact that I'm fascinated with zombies, corpses, and death. With these deep emotions, I actually feel like I'm Undead myself. So with the both of these notions I came up with Morbid Undead.

3. How would you describe your musical sound?
I would describe it as being a reflection of my own emotional thoughts and lifestyle. The music I create and the lyrics I write reflect my own mental suffering. I'm pretty much self isolated, lonely, and I suffer from depression and the feeling of despair almost on a daily basis. I had hoped to achieve a sound similar to what projects such as Xasthur and Nortt have done, and I can safely say I have done that quite well to say the least.

4. Do you have any other projects that you participate in?
Not at the moment, but I've had many different ideas for new side projects that I would like to create possibly in the near future. Though I have decided not to give out any more information regarding side projects until I've actually created some physical material first. Though I will be working and doing a split with other projects very soon, Black Plague from Torrance being one of them.

5. I noticed when I listen to your music I hear no electric guitars, are there any plans in the future to start utilizing this instrument on songs?
I originally wanted to add guitars to my project but decided not to as it was too complicated for me to add onto the mix along with the keyboards. I also felt like the "rough" guitar samples I recorded drowned out the synthesizer instruments so i decided to just keep it strictly keyboards and synthesizers. When I listened to my first synthesizer-only recording of As Black As the Void I felt it sounded better without guitars anyway so I decided to just stick with that approach. I of course added drums from a drum program to make it sound at least a bit more Metal. The Bass guitar weren't so much of a problem as the standard guitars since they're very minimal anyway. As for adding electric guitars in the near future, not unless I hire a session musician with more experience and better recording equipment.

6. How has your music been received so far by black metal and ambient fans?
It has been perceived very well so far, but occasionally I get someone who feels it is necessary to tell me something rude or to offer me bad advice, which is very few though. Other than that I can safely say that majority of the people who have heard of my music whether they prefer Black Metal or Dark Ambient more so over the other enjoy my music quite a lot. A close personal friend of mine even went as far as saying that I should consider recording music for horror movies, someone else even said that some of my songs are among the top 8 best Ambient Black Metal project songs around.

7. What are some bands or music styles that have influenced your music?
My primary influences are Xasthur, Nortt, Letum, Lustmord, Endless Dismal Moan, and Black Funeral. Though I credit anything that captivates the feeling of despair, isolation, nihilism, and depressive emotional thoughts as an influence to my music. I enjoy both Black Metal and Dark Ambient music, so anything that crosses those two realms are heavy influences.

8. What are you listening to nowadays?
Since my primary passion and influence is Black Metal, I mostly listen to bands like Gorgoroth, Emperor, Mayhem, Burzum, etc. But since most of my influences are Depressive Black Metal / Ambient, I listen to a lot of Xasthur, Nortt, Endless Dismal Moan, etc. I often occasionally listen to underground Death Metal and Speed/Thrash Metal as well, even sometimes classic rock/heavy metal like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Dio, AC/DC, and so on. I'm also open to a lot of Dark Ambient bands/projects too.

9. What role does Satanism or Occultism play in the music?
As much as I'm fascinated with the Occult and Satanism, none. My songs and the lyrics mainly focus on Nihilism, Misanthropic Projection, Suicide, Despair, Isolation, etc. Though I am strongly opposed to Christianity, and religion based on Christianity as a whole. I'm not sure if Morbid Undead will ever turn it's focus to a more Satanic theme in the near future or not, but as of right now it remains as it is until further notice. I know for sure if I decide to start another side project though, it will be focused entirely on the Occult, Satanism and Anti-Christian blasphemy.

10. What are some of your interests outside of music (i.e films, literature etc.)?
Before getting involved in music I was a hardcore video game player, I spent most of my days playing video games alone or over the Internet against other players when I had a Sony Playstation 3. I got bored of the same old mindless shooting games and generic gameplay/storylines so I turned my interests solely towards music instead. I still occasionally play video games, but not as often as my youth days. To put it quite simple, I got bored.

11. What direction do you see Morbid Undead going into on future releases?
My next so called release will be a split with Black Plague, after that I can't really say. I might create a compilation CD of As Black As the Void with Bells of Suicide and a few other newly recorded tracks but after that I can't really say. Perhaps by mid or late 2010-early 2011 I'll record and release a full length album, before hand maybe getting a record label if I desire to get signed onto one. Though I was planning to keep my music commercial-free, as I despise commercialism in Black Metal.

12. Any final words or thoughts?
The Morbid Undead / Black Plague split will be done sometime around 2010 according to Nino of Black Plague (hopefully) if all goes well. I'd like to thank you for giving me this wonderful interview, and look forward to speaking with you or doing another interview sometime again in the near future. Thanks.

https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/band/Morbid_Undead

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Drudkh-Microcosmos/Season Of Mist Unerground Activists/2009 CD Review


  Drudkh is a band from Ukraine and the mastermind behind this band is also the same guy who does Hate Forest and Blood Of Kingu as well, this is a review of their 2008 album Microcosmos which was recently made available in the United States from Season Of Mist and I would describe their music as epic folk/pagan/black metal.

Drums on this recording range from a lot of slow parts to some brutal blast beats, while the bass playing which you can actually hear on this recording seems to be slow and melodic with some folk and classical influences with a good amount of distortion.

Rhythm guitars cover a lot of different variety with some slow melodic riffs that seems to have a depressive,doomy,distorted edge that covers the feel of ancient tribes when paganism ruled the Earth and no one knew what Christianity was and the mixing of Ukraine traditional music with electric guitars sounds very original, while the leads are very melodic and have some classic metal influences, as for the acoustic guitar it sounds very epic with a lot of influences from classical and folk music that utilizes a lot of full chords.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams, while the keyboards have the feel of a movie soundtrack from a fantasy film, as for the lyrics they are written in a Slavic Language but from hearing the music they seem to be about Slavic Paganism and Mythology. The Pan flute at the end of this recording has a very mysterious tone.

Production on this recording which was recorded during the summer of 2007 at Viter Music in Kharkiv, Ukraine sounds very professional and you can hear all of the music instruments very well.

In my opinion this is a great album and I would recommend to all fans of pagan black metal, you can not do wrong picking up a copy of this cd if you are a fan of this style of black metal. However if your a fan of Hate Forest or Blood Of Kingu, don't expect this still sound like those other projects.. Drudkh is an entity of it's own.

Standout tracks on this recording are "Days That Passed"  and "Widow's Grief.".  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Bandcamp
Facebook
Google+
Myspace
ReverbNation
Spotify
Twitter