Thursday, March 11, 2010

Speaker Ritual Interview


1. Can You tell us a little bit about your project for those that are not familiar with your music?
Speaker Ritual itself came to be by default. I am the soul creator for the Black Metal band Ssenkrad. During the summer of 2009, Ssenkrad was on a sort of hiatus. I had created many intros and outros for the past and present Ssenkrad albums. While reviewing said Intros/outros, I began to listen to them differently, and fortunately became a starting point to creating more of the like, hence Speaker Ritual was born.

2. Where did you come up with the band name?
I have always been a fan of Drone, Sunn))), Boris, Earth, just to name a few. There was a Boris record called Amplifier Worship, I thought that was a stellar name for a band. I was afraid that if I used that title people would think I was riding the coat tails of Boris. So basically I used the same meaning, just different words. But Speaker Ritual is just that really, using the speakers as a forum to produce music for a form of invocation/conjuration of the song titles. Feelings, and places, realms so to speak. Not words and music, like eddie and the cruisers movie stated.

3. What is it that you are trying to accomplish with this project that you cannot do with your other band?
Alot of it has to do with the fact that when I was young and my mother let me watch Suspiria(Dario Argento)The music to that film scared the shit out of me. Of course others came along, John Carpenters own produced audio for Halloween and Precinct 13, to name a few. Those audio soundscapes took me somewhere, not like regular music, it gave me feeling, not just happiness or anger, but like a story was written in music form, and I could take it or it could take me anywhere it wanted to. They had so much presence. So I look to do those same things as well. If you read every title of a Speaker Ritual song, they mean something. Google them in your spare time, and you will learn the meaning behind every song that has ever be created.

4. How have your live shows been so far?
My home town has no scene at all for this style of music. Fortunately I've been excepted at alot of the College towns, because of there favor of ambient and noise/drone. So far I've played alot in Athens Ohio(Ohio University) the people except me, the clubs and bars except me as well so its been righteously received Their is more of a draw because of the diversity.

5. What are some goals that you have set out for this project?
Personally, I've never enjoyed producing/creating music more then I do for Speaker Ritual. I think I would fit in quite nicely opening up for Sunno))). But in lower more realistic expectations, I would like to be comfortable creating music for a certain fanbase that I could continue and make my sole aspiration in life. It would be nice to have Speaker Ritual be a full time job, it's that fun....

6. o you have any touring plans?
Right now I dont promote, so I take what ever is offered. Basically I get emails, and I show up.

7. According to your Myspace page you direct some movies and have a company dedicated to movies, what are some films that you have directed and how would someone be able to get ahold of some of them?
Film was my original muse, during early 2000 I made a few movies. They were mainly made for the sole purpose of friends and people in my home town, I've never tried to market them. I've made in the past a cartoon, dark evil stick style to live audio entitled "Born into Submission", a black and white silent live action film entitled "EVOL" and a series of compilation films entitled "Snuff Fuck" I currently have two Vols. Unfortunately I cant really advertise those, they are very graphic in nature. The series really took off for a while. For example, I would talk to someone on the internet about it and send them a copy, and with in a few days I'd get 50 emails stating that so and so showed them this sick ass film with reality death and porn mixed together, and wanted to know how to buy a copy. What can I say, faces of death had a huge barring on me as a child. You can see the trailers for the first two on the 60060 sixscore myspace page, but the Snuff Fuck, would be by mail order only. I guess if anyone was interested they could just message me.

8. What are some of the influences for Speaker Ritual music wise or non music wise?
First and foremost Goblin, the main staple of all Dario Argento films. They are a great ambient band from Italy. Sunno))), alot of people seem to see a connection there, recently I was told it reminded them of Abruptum? Maybe Danzig's Black Aria, and Burzum's Daudi Balders and Hildga...what ever? Early Boris, and Earth to name a few. But the biggest influence is my home town and county I live in. It is so rich in history and infamous characters(Mansfield Ohio/RichLand County) every song written so far has been a concept of said people or places with a story inter twined.
9. How has the feedback been to your music so far from extreme music fans worldwide?

I get the most praise from the Black Metal community, but some are Drone fans as well. People into the same things as me mostly.

10. Out off all the releases that you have done so far which one are you the most satisfied with?
So far the only Speaker Ritual album available is "Misteri Di contea di Richland" it is a concept record regarding any and all famous and infamous histories surrounding Richland county. Like I said before, google the names from the titles, to get a better understanding of what it is to be invoked. I'm close to finishing part 2 of Misteri...it should be ready by April.

11. Have you received any backlash from fans of your other band that expect to hear the same thing over and over with?
Not at all, most of them send praise. There has not been any limitations or expectation set.

12. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
Hopefully a more international audience were I can concept worldly happenings instead of soley representing my home town.

13. Any final words or thoughts?
Speaker Ritual creates a feeling that represents reality, not fiction. There are no fairy tales, everything is 100% real. Search what is given, then feel what was written......

www.myspace.com/speakerritual

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Derelict Sermon Interview


1. Can you tell us a little bit about your project for those that have never heard you before

i started derelict sermon in early 2006.i was pissed off just being a drummer in bands for the last 20 years apart from my lone power electronics project survivalist,(the long deleted for the cold blooded cdr was released in a very limited pressing by sadisque records in 1999.the cdr was recorded in 1996/1997)and ethersuite(a downbeat project with leoncia flynn,2 archangels in the winds of nihilism cd was released in 2004)which both was pretty much me solo and wanted to have complete control over my music/art direction etc.at first it was a blend of doom and a bit of black metal and now has grown into a very different beast.



2. What is going on with the project these days?

derelict sermon has so far released 3 albums on my label bleakscape.selftitled debut album(2006)wardycurse(2008) and the murderous altitude(2010)im currently working on a 4th album.maybe released this year by more than likely in 2011.


3. What is the meaning behind the bands name?

the name derelict sermon was coined in 2004 by myself and a close friend.we was talking about an old derelict church around where we live.sermon just kind of fit.the name should not be taken out of context i.e.a crumbling church falling down around a sermon spoke out etc!the name has a secret deeper meaning than that. its has an invisible meaning to me when i choose for it to have.


4. Do you have any other projects or bands besides this one, if so who are they and what style of music do they play?

i have been in many bands over the past 20 years,longcoldstare/harmony as one/scalplock etc.at the moment im just doing derelict sermon.


5. Have you considered getting a full line up or is this going to remain a solo project?

i have never been into doing ds live.it would lose all of its magic for me i think.i have toyed with the idea but im so into it being just studio based.the new stuff im working on would be impossible to pull off live.im into recording a track then moving on never to go back.progression would be zero if i went back and played say the 1st 2 albums.it would be so fuckin dull.i love to listen to them but not repeat them.


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

my music as derelict sermon has no doubt progressed since the 1st album.form recording with my friend indian singer lopa kothari on the last 2 albums to the jagged time structures and general atmosphere on the new album.i think the 4th album will be the most out there and challenging i have ever done with derelict sermon.the music is much more orchestrated than ever,even improv and spectral musics seeping in. im working with lopa kothari again on this new one and another very talented lady and dear friend vera brozzoni.


7. Out of all the albums you have recorded so far which one are you the most satisfied with?

i love all 3!but would pick the murderous alttude as my current fav.its all the stuff i built up for it over the 2 years i took to record.its has an early mastodon/orthrealm influence in parts.the last track on the album leoncia is maybe a clue to were im heading next.maybe,but im thinking broader than that even.


8. How has the reception been so far to your music by extreme music fans worldwide?

so far its been really good.even getting a great review in kerrang!!!fuckin mad!even they seemed to like my sickminded music.nice!aot of people the world over have and continue to give me great fuckin reactions.im very grateful for that.its nice when people get into what your doing.


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

at the start of derelict sermon its was hellhammer/early celtic frost/trouble/black sabbath.those are still there for me as are ortrealm/the locust/mastdon/high on fire/mercyful fate/iron maiden etc.i listen to very little black metal the only stuff i would touch from black metal these days would be early venom/bathory/early burzum/mercyful fate/xasthur/leviathan/twilight and craft.at the moment in listening to scott walker-the drift/kate bush/oum kalthum/gnaw/sunn0)))/genesis/miles davis/yoko ono/whitehouse/comus etc.i love lots of music,hc punk/classical/folk/jazz/pop and of course metal! have always had avast taste in music.


10. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?

thats the hardest question.my lyrics have and will always be very private to me.all you need to know is they are very very extreme.whitehouse/sutcliffe jugend would be near places i would mine but i have a complete separate violence/sadism etc.alot of females in my titles/lyrics are ladies i have known or still know.they all have a history of being very dangerous people indeed.people you would not wanna fuck with.



11. What made you decide on the cover art that you used for the new album?

in one of my fav films called the baader meinhoff complex their is an assassination/kidnap scene and kind of very loosely based it on that.an american cartoonist called bodie chewning did it for me.i wanted to cover to be real but you know i dont want to go away for murder just for a fuckin cover!!!no i was gonna get models to do ot but thought it may be a too cheesy witchfinder general type of cover.i am really pleased the way it turned out.it looks fuckin great.


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

not really.not in my music anyway.i have been into austin osman spare for many years.in my life maybe there is some influence/inspiration form great people like him. anton la vey i used to really like.his take on things was very important to back in the mid to late 1990's.


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

i work,see close friends.got to a few gigs.draw when i get time.read as well.i love films as well.and doctor who has been a big mover with me for ages now.you cant beat it!!!some of my fav fims are the mackintosh man/blue rita/thunderball/who dares wins/the honeymoon killers/the elephant man/saturday night and sunday morning/carrie/halloween and the wicker man.




14. Any final words or thoughts?

just thanks for the support and look out for the new album and the 4th album.i hope this project goes on for a while.and thanks for the interview.its a scoop dude as its derelict sermons first interview!!!you heard it here first people!

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Derelict Sermon/The Murderous Altitude/Bleakscape/2010 CD REVIEW


 Derelict Sermon are a one man band from Great Britain that plays a style of extreme music that combines sludge, doom, black metal and noise and this is a review of the 2010 album "The Merderous Altide" which was released by Bleakscape.

Drums are mostly slow with some beats that get kind of fast at times with that that much when it comes to blasting, while the bass playing is very primal and sludgy with a dark distorted tone, and on the last song there were some strings being used to gave the music  a funeral doom/black metal feel mixed in with some ambient sounding noises that contained a lot of feedback.

Guitars are tuned down very low and have a dark and doomy sound with some occasional fast riffs that have a crust punk feel while the vocals seem to be a mixture of black metal screams mixed with Buzzoven, Grief and Eyehategod type of vocals and on one song there was some clean vocals that had a very sinister edge to them with the last song on the album having some female vocals that sounded New Age.

Production on this recording which was recorded at Bonafide during August of 2009 and Engineered as well as mixed by Brian Boganovic sounds really dark, raw and primal and all of the instruments and vocals sound very heavy, while the Front Cover Illustration which was dome by Bodie Chewing has a couple of women and an old man shooting guns through a car window and killing everybody in it, as for the song titles they cover murder topics and seem to have a good sense of humor.

In my opinion this is a good album and it brings back memories of a lot of the doom/sludge/grind/crust warehouse shows that I use to go to all the time in the mid 90's and early 2000's before everything got trendy. If you are a fan of sludgy doom metal with a black metal edge I would advise you to buy this album, you can contact the bandwww.myspace.com/derelictsermon ande www.derelictsermon777@gmail.com

Standout tracks include "Ambush Technigues" "Authoritarian Assassination" and "the Murderous Altitude". RECOMMENDED

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Dagor Dagorath Interview


1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band forthose that are not familiar with you?
Well we are Dagor Dagorath from Israel we formed in 2003,band founded by Vorog(guitar/vocals),Getman Azach(Keyboards/back vovals) and me Mizgir( Bass guitar) and started as a pagan black metal band .., in 2007 we released our demo Times of DIstress and after that we changed our musical style to Black /Death
and now we releasing first album Yetzer Hara

2. How would you describe your sound?
Our sound is rich and complex i think that to hear all the elements in the album you need to hear it couple of times...
alot of Keyboards parts and different musical styles

3. I know the band name comes from Tolkien, what is it about this author that you find interesting?
first when we choose the name of the band we all read lord of the rings and what we found interesting in Tolkien is the way that he created huge fantasy world and when you read his books you feel that this world that he created is real ...

4. The album title Yetzer Ha Ra has kind of a cabalistic kind of sound to it, is it influenced by this form of Hebrew Mysticum?
Not exactly the title refers to the concept of"An inclination towards evil"as detailed in jewish lore.
the concept is metaphoric-through descriptions of outward warriors battles you may feel the union of each personality's own inward contradiction natures suffocation and fight between each ones defined evil/goodness sources.

5. How would you describe the musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the band heading into on future releases?
Our musical progress was huge first we played pagan black metal and then we moved to play black /death
olso our musical skills are better we dont stand in one place we try to developed our band and try new things
about the direction that we heading on future releases it hard to tell something specific right now we in the middle of writing new material for second album but it will be definitely big step forward in every aspect...

6. What are some of the best shows that you have played so far and how would you describe your live performance?
the best show that we had was the release show of our debut album ,it was our show and people come to see us so it was definitely weary special event for us ....
olo our first show in haifa city was very good show the crowd was amazing and gave us good feedback...

7. Are there any plans for a U.S tour?
We thought about it but for now it uncertain and we didnt get any good proposals so maybe in the next year we could come ,we would love to play in the us...

8. How has the music been received so far from the extreme metal community so far?
actually the album released only in russia and a worldwide release is right now 22 january
so in russia album received pretty good a lot positive review and good words, in our country our album olso gained good press..
and about the rest of the world we will see time will tell..

9. What are some bands or music styles that have influenced the band's music?
in the beginning when we started the band most of the bands that we listened were black metal like cradle ,dimmu borgir,anorexia nervosa satyricon and pagan black metal bands but with the time we started to listen to all kinds of metal styles so now we are infuenced from alot of different bands and styles,


10. What are you listening to nowadays?
i dont really know about other band members but I listen to hate,behemoth,Devil Driver,lamb of god,evergrey,arch enemy,ensiferum,opeth,septic flesh there is alot of the bands that i like ....

11. What role does Paganism, Occultism or Satanism play in the music?
i dont think that any of this is related to us.., paganism played a big role in our music when we started but now we moved to different directions...

12. Outside of music what are your interests?
Outside music my main interest is graphic design i am at my 3 year of study visual media and graphic design,so beside's that i dont really have time for other interests because to be a student and play in the band it really hard thing and you dont have alot of free time

13. How would you describe the extreme metal scene in Isreal?
The metal scene here in israel is very small we dont have alot of opportunities to play live concerts here and also you cant tour,
and Black Metal in Israel is not so wide-spread
but people support us from concert to concert and we have a good feedback here...


14. Any final words or thoughts?
Thanxs alot for the Interview
also thanxs to all people that supported us and Continue to do this
Best
Mizgir

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Monday, January 4, 2010

KenoN/From the Viod Came Chaos/Qualm Records/2009


 KenoN are a 3 piece band from El Monte,California whose music I would describe as symphonic black metal and this is a review of their 2009 release From The Void Came...Chaos.

Drums are very fast and brutal with a lot of blast beats and the drums slow down at times when the keyboards come in which are in the vein of 90's symphonic black metal and if you were around in the 90's I don't have to tell you who they remind me but it is some band that was popular in the 90's that is still even more popular now but don't use that style of keyboard playing anymore.

Bass playing on this recording is kind of mixed down low in the mix but the parts I did hear where fast and melodic, while the Rhythm guitars cover a variety of different riffs with some fast black metal playing that have somewhat of a death metal influence and you can hear a lot of melody. Guitar leads sound very technical as well as professional with a lot of solos that contain a lot of power and melody.
There are also some occasional acoustic parts that have a really haunting sound with some melody.

Vocals are a mixture of high pitched black metal screams mixed in with a good measure of death metal growls that have a polish blackened death metal feel to them and there is some occasional clean melodic singing mixed in as well.

Production on this recording which was recorded in a bedroom in El Monte and mixed and mastered by Stygian sounds very professional for a bedroom quality and has a level of professionalism that you would hear on a Century Media or Nuclear Blast Recording.

I did not get a copy of the lyrics while I downloaded this but I can name of some of the songs so you can get the titles  "From The Void Came....Chaos" "Throne Of Thorns" and "Hordes OF Empire".

In my opinion this is a really good album from a band that shows a lot of potential and if they get signed to the right label or get on a decent tour, they get become a much bigger name.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Beltane Interview


1. Can you give us a brief history of the band?


Ok, Beltane began as a project that I decided to start in mid 1993, however I consider the official start in October ’94, when I recorded a song called ‘Into the Night’, playing all the instruments myself. From there, it developed into a three-piece band with Dyrkyn on drums and Thyiendalen on bass. Apart from a few glitches that lineup lasted from 1994 til 1999.
The next period from 2000-2003 was fairly dormant until I reactivated the project with Kvathairein on bass and using drumtracks instead of a drummer. On the (southern) Summer Solstice of 2004 we made a recording that became the first release of our Seasonal Release programme.
2006 saw Dyrkyn return to the band and also Noslohcin joined on guitar, so for that year we were a four-piece band. In late ’06 I met Baphgirl, and things started to change.
Early 2007 I left Nelson to relocate to the Manawatu area in the North Island, and Baphgirl, who had become my partner, took up the role of bassist and we returned to using drumtracks for live shows. Things have been much more successful since locating the band in the North Island – in ’07 and ’08 we played many more shows than Beltane has done in it’s entire history before then.
For the last half of ’08 until now, we have been pretty much focusing on the recording side of Beltane, and recently also on the online presence which has been paying good dividends. We have also started working extensively with contributing artists; one of these being Kvathairein, who has been making some great contributions.
For a more detailed history, have a look at the timeline on our Myspace page.

2. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?

The core ov our sound is Black Metal, and although we do venture into other styles the BM essence is usually preserved in the guitar sound and in many ov the vocals. However we are quite diverse and bring in elements ov Gothic music, Industrial/Electronica and aspects ov other metal genres from Hard Rock to Death Metal. We also experiment with including symphonic instruments and sculpted noise sources in our sound.

3. What releases have you put out so far?
Pre-Seasonal Releases:
Rehearsal April 5 1995 (Cassette, currently unavailable)
MCMXCIX (3 track CD, currently unavailable)
Rehearsal at Irongate 2004 (Bonus CD-ROM content on Cape D’Evil & CD from Lifespan Records)
Seasonal Releases:
Summer Solstice Live ’04 (Live Album)
Equinox Upon Fairfield AE05 (MCD)
WSOV (MCD)
The Brook Project VE05 (MCD)
Midnight on the Glen SS05 (MCD)
Autumn Craft 2006 (MCD)
Solstice’s Altar Returns – Winter6 (MCD)
Her Spring Eyes VI (MCD)
Jera (Album)
Jera 2 (Album)
Cape D’Evil (MCD)
…Through Darker Seasons (Album)
Shadowplay Desolate (MCD)
Summer ov Skoth (MCD)

4. What are some of the best shows that you have played and which crowds would you say are the craziest or best?
For the old lineup ov Beltane, opening for Impaled Nazarene was pretty cool. The Darkness Gathering ov 2003 was a great show, and about the best kind ov live comeback you’re likely to get. The 6/6/06 show was really cool because…well…it was the 6/6/06!! For the current lineup we played extensively in 2007 & ’08, and the shows at the venue ‘Valve’ in Wellington, New Zealand were consistently some ov the best as we had fun, had good audience response and made money, which always helps! ;)
Sadly, Valve is no more. Some new people have reopened it as ‘Hole in the Wall’, but they haven’t returned any ov our messages properly about booking a show.
The craziest show is easily when we played ‘Dannypalooza’ in Dunedin (New Zealand) in Feb 2008.

5. Are there any plans for a U.S tour?
Not really.. Unless someone with the wherewithal in the U.S took a severe liking to us and made it happen. We have been in contact with some people in Canada, so touring there is possibly more likely, but even then it’s a long way off.

6. How would you describe your musical progress over the years, I heard an old song on YouTube the other day and it sounded like a different band?
I would definitely say our songwriting is getting better, both in terms ov the quality we can achieve and the speed at which we can do it. Since we record on every Solstice & Equinox we make a lot ov CDs, therefore we need to write a lot ov songs. Practice makes perfect, as they say!
The song you saw on YouTube is called ‘Emily’, and probably sounds completely different to any other song on that CD (Jera), as all the songs do. We are a very diverse band and no two songs sound alike..! Someone recently described that song as sounding like "old Pentagram", which is kind ov funny as we have never heard them, hehe..
As for the productions, the quality ov these has improved over the years. I would describe our earlier Seasonal Releases as having a somewhat ‘underground’ sound, whereas the later ones have moved over into the professional sphere. I think the change here came really abruptly between the ‘Jera’ & ‘Jera 2’ albums, and probably has much to do with improvements in mastering techniques. In fact at some stage I’m planning on re-mastering the ‘Jera’ album, as I feel I could bring it up to nearly the standard ov ‘Jera 2’.

7. When can we expect new material?
If we’re working on a new EP, it’ll come out 3 months after the last release. If it’s an album, it’ll come out 6 months later. However, we update our Myspace tracks every 3 months regardless.
Our current project is a re-recording ov our ‘MCMXCIX’ (mini CD), since it’s the 10-year anniversary ov this release! We are very excited about this particular project, as the drumming is performed by Mark Dubanowski who lives, and recorded the parts, in Scotland. It also features our former bass player, Kvatharein on rhythm guitar, who recorded his parts in Wellington on the Equinox Eve – the same time we were recording our parts in the Manawatu Gorge Cemetery. It’ll be out in early June, we expect. Since it’s only 3 tracks, it will also feature extensive bonus material as CD-ROM content, probably Beltane’s 6606 performance.


8. What are you listening to nowadays and what are some good bands that you would recommend?
Well, as you could imagine working on Beltane how we do, means we spend an unholy amount ov time listening to Beltane tracks in various stages ov completion. We actually enjoy listening to our completed productions, and while this may sound narcissistic, if someone doesn’t like their own music, why should they expect anyone else to? (imagine a chef that didn’t eat his own food!!!) (
In the car, we constantly listen to Hades – Again Shall Rise & Bathory – Blood Fire Death, as the CD player is fucked and will only play those two CDs! Also as we are developing Satanica as a proper label now, we listen to a lot ov material that’s sent to us for release. We usually do this while we’re washing the dishes, and if we don’t get anything new the dishes mount up!
I’m a traditionalist, so I recommend the classics.. Bathory, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost, Venom, Mayhem, Burzum, Cradle of Filth (yes, CoF.. HA HA! Mainly their earlier stuff, but also their Sony album ironically), but I also like stuff which is not metal like Funker Vogt, Covenant (EBM), Beherit’s electronic stuff (I do like their metal stuff too ov course), Inkkubus Sukkubus, and The Mission, Fields of the Nephilim, etc. A fairly obscure metal/gothic crossover band, I think, who deserves more exposure is Willow Wisp. And while we’re on that, Fleurety, Summoning, Kreator and Coroner are great too.
Baphgirl’s tastes veer into the more industrial/electronica realm – Rammstein, Funker Vogt, Assemblage 23, Covenant, Blutengel, Front 242, Das Ich, Switchblade Symphony, Neuroticfish, And One, Cruxshadows, VNV Nation, Project Pitchfork, Astral Projection.. to name a few ov her favourites.

9. What are your main influences music wise or non music wise?
The aforementioned classic bands were certainly an influence in the fact that they made me want to play Black Metal. However I don’t think we’re actively influenced by anyone, musically, to a great degree. So in an ongoing way, other influences do indeed play a greater role in our music. The seasons are a very strong influence, which we have deliberately designed into Beltane to be this way. Life influences a great deal ov our lyrical output, and since we are Satanists, it’s essentially a life viewed from that perspective.

10. What role does Celtic Paganism play in the bands music or life?
I was born on Walpurgisnacht/Northern Hemisphere observed day ov Beltane. That’s basically how we come to have this name. I don’t consider it an accident that I was born on this day. Although we are Satanists, we are unlike many Satanists, Pagan as well in terms ov observing the Wheel ov the Year and using sympathetic magick. We are certainly interested in all things Celtic and Irish (especially the lighthouses), but we don’t restrict ourselves to worshipping Celtic deities, in fact as Satanists, we don’t worship ANY deities. We do use them in ritual magick, but are just as likely to use Norse/Greek/Egyptian & Sumerian ones in these workings as well. We do enjoy it when a riff comes out with a Celtic flavour, though!

11. What are some good books or films that you would recommend?
Books: The Satanic Bible. Everyone should read this book..! The Lord of the Rings (read the damn book!) Anything and everything on the Occult, The Lighthouse Stevensons by Bella Bathurst, Lords of Chaos, if you’re interested in the history ov Norwegian Black Metal.
Movies: Apocalypse Now. This should be watched often and in many different drugged states. Dr. Strangelove, the Omen series, Preaching to the Perverted, Secretary, Death Tunnel, The Lighthouse (by some Swedish dude.. look it up on YouTube), I strongly recommend you try to obtain a copy ov Mourning the Ancient’s video – HYPERLINK "http://www.mourningtheancient.com" www.mourningtheancient.com & all ov Paul Douglas Valentine’s stuff on YouTube (PDValentine).
Baphgirl recommends these books: Anything by Terry Goodkind, Sara Douglass, Tad Williams, Charlaine Harris, Raymond E. Feist & the late David Gemmell.
And these movies: Harry Potter series and porn.

12. How would you describe the metal scene in New Zealand and what are some good bands that you would recommend from your home country?
In the last 10 years, the scene has expanded massively. Alas, most ov that expansion has come in the form ov fuckwits. Most NZ bands are nothing but sycophantic fanboys, pallidly imitating their overseas heroes in the hope they’ll get laid. It’s a pity we cannot answer questions like these without taking interviews in a somewhat negative direction. We find the New Zealand scene nearly totally unsupportive ov Beltane and completely reluctant to give us the acknowledgement we obviously deserve. For all the bands that have played at the shows that WE organized in ’07 & ’08, not a single fucking one has returned the favour. This is why we have moved towards looking to the international market.
However, we do have some friends so I’ll recommend them. Sounds of Vengeance, Varraghor, Malevolence, Zspyne & Execrate/Pevertor.

13. Any final words?
Anyone who would like to hear more ov Beltane and purchase our CDs can do so at HYPERLINK "http://www.myspace.com/darkgodbeltane" http://www.myspace.com/darkgodbeltane . Also you can check out our website HYPERLINK "http://www.angelfire.com/band2/beltane" http://www.angelfire.com/band2/beltane . Remember that our CD prices are in NZ$, which are only worth just over half a US$, so they’re less expensive than they look! You can also obtain our releases as digital(MP3) releases mailed directly to your inbox. Contact us about this, for prices etc.

14.Thanks for the interview?
Yeah, cheers for the interview. It’s been an interesting afternoon filling out these questions, especially question 11 hehe.. ( We wish you the best for your zine, and keep in touch and we’ll keep you up to date with info and new releases to review...!

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Beltane/Shadowplay Desolate/2008 Review


 Beltane are a band from New Zealand that has a bunch of releases to their name and I would describe their music as Celtic Black Metal with a lot of diversity.

Drums are a mixture of slow and fast parts with some occasional blast beats, while the bass playing has a dark and heavy which goes over really good with the rhythm guitar and drums.

Rhythm guitars are very heavy with a lot of fast riffs that sound very dark mixed with some slow parts that sound very melodic. and there were not that many leads except for occasion and they reminded me of some of the 80's black/death/thrash metal bands and they utilized some slow melodic parts at times.

Vocals are high pitched black metal screams with the occasional clean pagan vocals mixed with some death metal growls and they use some female vocals on occasion that seemed to contain a lot of sorrow.

Keyboards when they are utilized sound very dark and have a feel of dark medieval times and at times they utilize an industrial beat, while the production on this recording sounds really good and since I got this album in MP3 format I did not receive the lyrics but judging from the song tiles they seem to be about Celtic Paganism.

In my opinion this is a really good ep and if this band got signed to a decent label they could be a really big name in the metal scene. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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