Helmsplitter/Enraptured By Suffering/Horror Gore Pain Productions/2014 CD Review

 

  Helmsplitter  are  a  band  from  Rock  island,  Illinois  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  sludge,  death,  crust,  doom  and  hateful  blues  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Enraptured  By  Suffering"  which  was  released  by  Horror  Pain  Gore  Death  productions  in  2014.

  The  album  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  heavy  sound  which  uses  black  metal  elements  and  blast  beats  before  adding  in  blackened  metal  screams  and  growls  before  slowing  down  and  adding  in  doom  metal  and  sludge  influences  and  they  also  bring  out  some  crust  and  thrash  metal  sounds  in  the  faster  material  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  album  goes into  other  songs  the  music  becomes  a  mixture  of   black  metal,  crust,  thrash,  doom  and  sludge  and  at  time s the  music  also  gets  more  brutal  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  vocals  add  more  crust  and  death  metal  in  the  growling  parts  and  when  we  get  more  into  the  album  traces  of  melody  and  blues  rock  are  brought  into  the  recording  along  with  a  small  amount  of  guitar  solos  and  leads  being  utilized  on  one  of  the  tracks.

  With  this  album  Helmsplitter  take  the  speed  of  black  metal,  death  and  crust  punk  and  mix  it  in  with  the  slower  elements of  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  bringing  in  the  melody  of  blues  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark,  occult  and  hateful  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Helmsplitter  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  death,  crust  punk,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  blues  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tyrants  For  Blood"  "Aura  of  Suicide"  "Dance  of  the  Heretics"  and  "Summoning  The  Leeches".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/Helmsplitter  

Serpent Eater Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
All of us did play or still play in other bands and projects which focused on extreme music. However, we all felt, that there is something, that wanted and needed to be released and urged all of us, to help. It is something dark, vile and savage. So, obviously, it was the Serpent Eater, who wanted us to come together in late 2011/early 2012 to be his messengers. Before the Serpent Eater approached us, we hardly knew each other.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is present on the album?
Well, the Serpent Eater commanded us, to create aggressive, gloomy and dark music, to support his messages. So, in order to fulfill his will, we mixed up everything that helped us, to do so. Regardless, what musical genre or type of this would be, as long as the sounds and riffs, pleased the Serpent Eater.

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about your song lyrics?
Here, the Serpent Eater is quite clear. Lyricwise, he wants us to let the people know, how he is influencing, pressuring and deforming the mental health and sanity of the souls of all of us, as he takes over our world and reality…

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Serpent Eater?
It was not our idea and it is not about us to question this…. The Serpent Eater is an entity of grant anger an little patience. But don’t you worry, you will learn more about him, soon.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
As all our shows are services to worship the Serpent Eater, it would not be wise, to name one of these rituals and masses as the most outstanding. He forces us to always give the best we can.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We’re about to slip onto some billings of festivals such as the Slow End Festival in Eindhoven, Alerta Deathfest in Hannover and the St. Helena Doom Fest in Munich in May 2014. The Serpent Eater wants us to reach as much people and future servants, as possible…so there will be more soon.

7.The new album came out on Alerta Antifacista Records, do you few this label has done a lot to get your name out there/
Alerta Antifascista  Records is the right platform to the Serpent Eater, as he wants  to recruit his first servants from a public and audience, who is more or less ready and willing  open themselves to him…


8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black, doom and sludge metal/
Well, although the first real Album “Hyena” will only be released on December 15, 2013, the feedback on ‘Hyena on worldwide level is surprisingly good. So far, all reviews we read,  are awesome. Well, actually, it is not that surprising, as we are supported by a supernatural  force….

9.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Wherever the Serpent Eater may lead us to, we will follow. At the moment, it is hard to foresee, in which musical direction we will be led… Anyway, we’re quite sure, that it will not be some happy stuff, as the Serpent Eater dislikes the sunnysides…

10.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
As mentioned above, we do listen to merely music to gather influences in order to fulfill the sinister will of the Serpent Eater. So the majority of stuff we listen to ranges from Death and black metal to (post) hardcore, crust, heavy and dark 70s rock

11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?
There is little room left to do something else, if you are subject to the Serpent Eater. Well, we do have several addictions, as we need to cope with this situation.

12.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
You better be scared, as the Serpent Eater is coming for you….

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Serpent Eater/Hyena/Alerta Antifacista Records/ CD Review

  Serpent  Eater  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  sludge,  crust  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their    album  "Hyena"  which  was  released  by  Alerta  Antifacista  Records.

  "Ebola"  which  is  also  the  first song  on  the  album  opens  up  with  heavy  and  melodic  guitar  and  bass  riffs along  with  drums  and  deep  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  screams  and  the  song  also  alternates  between  mid  paced  and  slow  parts.

  "Last  Cold  Word"  begins  with  black  metal  style  guitar  riffs  before  adding  in  drums,  bass  guitars  and  high  pitched  screams  and  after  awhile  the  music  goes  into  a  faster  direction  along  with  a  mixture  of  growls  and  screams  before  slowing  down  again  and  adding  some  melody  to t he  guitar  riffing  and  towards  the  end  there  is  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats.

  "In  The  Wall"  starts  up  with  melodic  guitar  riffs  before  adding  in  screams,  bass  guitars  heavier  guitar  riffs  and  drums  and a   minute  later growls  are  thrown  into  the  music  and  as  time  goes  on  by  the  music  gets  a  little  bit  faster  along  with  some  blast  beats  before  slowing  down  again.

  "Hyena"  opens  up with  blast  beats  from  the  drums,  black  metal  screams  and  fast  guitar  riffs  as  well  as  some  melody  and  then  it  slows  down  and  adds  in  death  metal  growls  which  also  leads  to  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  along  with  heavy  bass  guitars  before  returning  to  a  heavier  direction.

  "Lietmotif"  kicks  with  some  mid  paced  crust  crust  guitar  and  bass  riffs  along  with  drums  and  high  pitched  screams  before  adding  in  some  deep  growls  and  halfway  through  the  song  the  music  goes  into  a  faster direction  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  then  slowing  down  again.

  "Trepanation  Nation"  which  is  also  the  last  song  begins  with  heavy  black  metal  guitar  riffs  before  adding  in  bass,  blast  beats  and  high  pitched  screams  and  then  slowing  down  and  adding  in  melodic  crust  elements  as  well  as  alternating  between  fast,  mid  paced  and  slow  parts.  

  Song  lyrics  dark  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  professional  sound  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  along  with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Serpent  Eater  are  a  very  great sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  sludge,  crust and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Last  Cold  Word"  and  "Trepanation  Nation".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

https://alertaantifascistarecords.bandcamp.com/album/aa95-serpent-eater-hyena-lp

          

  

Satya Sena Interview

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

JASON: "We're a bass-guitar and drum metal duo that touches on thrash metal, grindcore, death metal, and doom/stoner metal. We share a passion for stamping out apathy, we share a sense of personal responsibility to speak truth to illegitimate authority, and we share a common faith in the positive power of nonviolence. People talk about changing the world, but changing yourself is the true seed of revolution. We support each other in those efforts, and work to spread the word of nonviolent revolution and personal refinement to others." 

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

JASON: "It's definitely metal, riff based, but our influences are diverse so even though the music is loud and fast and heavy, harmonically and rhythmically we're stretching out a bit. Since it's a duo we both have a lot of air we can occupy without the music getting muddy. Some of our stuff is groove based, pretty straight forward. Other stuff is very complex: changing meters, fugue-like rhythmic interplay, but always with an epic, large-as-life intention (I don't like the phrase larger-than-life, nothing's larger than life). From the bass position, being the only harmonic and melodic element I sometimes think about a part in 2 or 3 voices to give the music some harmonic fullness. But we always strive for unity and groove no matter what. Music is physical first."

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

JASON: "Topics start either pretty general or very specific but always in the theaters of revolution and principled self refinement. The topic often ends up being the song title itself. END THE FED and VIGILANCE are good examples of that. Lyrically, with something like END THE FED, I work away from being too literal; the verses paint a mythology, or spirit, of banking cartels as systems with a conscience. RAIN was the first song we ever started working on and the intention of it became that of a prayer for water. POWERLUST lyrics are very personal for me; relationships, love, and heartbreak are no joke. There are revolutionary themes in songs like MUTINY, CULTURE SHAPER, or again END THE FED. Some themes touch on personal life refinement like in the song ESCAPIST. FIGHT OR FLIGHT follows a consciousness through birth, life, and the re-birth we call death. It's hard to talk about subject matter without getting into process. Writing lyrics is a sacred thing to me. It's where I can go to be alone without anyone else's rules or judgements. Sometimes I want the meaning to be clear, other times abstraction communicates the feeling best. Peijman and I agree on topics or themes, then I just reflect and write, working to make it as personal as I can. If I have to sing it again and again it better be something that sits deep in me, and it should be a little unnerving to expose. Otherwise I'm preaching or accusing or aping but never sharing; I'm interested in sharing. But everyone is free to have their own experience with the words." 

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

PEIJMAN: "Satya is a term in sanskrit which in short means truth.  But really it is referring to that truth which is eternal, and so beyond space and time.  The philosophy is that truth refers to that which is, and everything that does not exist or is temporal is termed untruth or evil.  Untruth only exists to the extent that we support it, so once we stop propping it up it will cease to exist and only truth will remain.  Violence and fear are two prime example of untruth.  Truth can been seen or related to as God.  The most important aspect of Satya as far as my understanding is that we are all one.  Sena means army in Hindi and the use of the word is inspired by the Shanti Sena.  Shanti Sena were an army of peaceful soldiers dedicated to nonviolence."

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

JASON: "Some of my favorite shows were from our first tour this last July. Seattle at Highline where we played with Australian heavy masters Whitehorse, The Body, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, and Golgothan Sunrise. And Eugene, OR, on the same trip, where we played a house show for a birthday for our friend Robin from Rye Wolves. There was a colossal amount of energy in that room. Deadfest in Oakland this August was also great, saw a ton of bands in a very short amount of time. 

We always face each other on stage, and sometimes set up on the floor in front of the stage. It feels good to break that barrier between performer and audience. When we're on stage we set up sideways facing in. When we're on the floor I face out from the stage and Peijman faces the stage. We like it best when people are all around us, up close sweating and screaming in our faces. As far as our stage performance…from where I stand it's about as powerful an experience as I've ever had, totally cathartic and energizing." 

6. Can you tell us a little bit more about this brief tour that you have planned?

JASON: "We want to spread word as much as we can and build on what we accomplish, so this trip is a little longer than our first one, and covers a wider area. We're looking forward to seeing new faces and making new friends. We also use tour as a chance to engage people on social justice topics and to spread word of spiritual and social revolution. We conduct interviews, visit significant sites, and generally work to positively influence others toward taking deeper, healthier responsibility for their futures and lives. We also look forward to learning, always. This isn't about partying on the road. It's about laying ground work for the eventual and inevitable setting up of better systems of self governance. As I tell people: we don't need leaders, we need to be leaders.

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 the band?

JASON: "We are not looking for a label. We did do some initial shopping around of DIVERSITY OF TACTICS, VOL. I, INTROSPECTION and got some respectful and polite responses, and also no responses. Our friends at Vandals and Thieves Records are going to put out a cassette of DIVERSITY. Beyond that we'll self release digitally and on vinyl. But we are certainly open to consider any offers that present themselves." 

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of underground metal?

JASON: "Well, since we're a very new band, the worldwide response has been primarily from close friends or other bands we've communicated with concerning a possible European tour in 2013. Some folks in Australia via Whitehorse, people like ZenTwo who painted the image that's on our album cover. Those responses have been very enthusiastic and encouraging. We'll be bringing our message outside the US very soon."

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

JASON: "It's full time. But we make 2/3 of a trio called Electric Bardo with sarodist Ben Kunin. That group hasn't played in quite a while. We basically played North Indian classical music in an amplified rock context. There is a recording available online, engineered by our good friend The Norman Conquest. I'm a graduate of Mills College music department with an MA in composition and an MFA in performance and literature (which at Mills means free improvisation). And I'm a bassist…next to drummers probably the most in-demand musicians around. So I spent quite a few years saying yes to everything and playing in as many projects as I could manage. Now I focus primarily on Satya Sena, but I also play with Jack O' The Clock, which is a near 180 degrees away from Satya Sena, except for technical complexity and emphasis on songwriting. I also take improvisation gigs from time to time and I compose music for modern dance choreographers. I need diversity, but Satya Sena is definitely leading full time, no question. It has to in order to be what it is." 

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

JASON: "We have about 14 or so songs completed. The DIVERSITY OF TACTICS series material will come from this body of work so much is already decided, for a little while. As for future direction, who knows? I think as long as we continue to push ourselves personally we'll push ourselves musically, and it will always be heavy, it will always groove, it will always challenge. Music is a field. What ever is thought of is fair game, it just comes down to intention. It may be slower or faster or more dense or less, but it will always be Satya Sena. I look forward to discovering what the future sounds like as much as anyone."

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

JASON: "We're obviously influenced primarily by metal. In that sense, my musical foundations start with the thrash metal movement (Metallica, Slayer et al), death metal (Death, Obituary), but here's the can of worms! I have to cap it. So many bands. Stylistically, I'll listen to anything. I read through Bach cello suites to keep my chops up, or improvise along with whatever comes on my Ali Akbar Khan station on Pandora. But the primary influences on me are always the musicians I play with. Peijman, my bandmates in Jack O' The Clock, The Atomic Bomb Audition, powerdove, Ben Kunin, all these people have shaped my playing. Teachers like Fred Frith, Roscoe Mitchell, Joelle Léandre, a single meeting with Muhal Richard Abrams, these people broke me open. A dear friend of mine from Germany, pianist Johanna Borchert, had a huge impact on me. Bay Area bands Dimesland, Wild Hunt, Shock Diamond, The Girlfriend Experience, Minot, Crypt Keeper, Jackal Fleece, on and on it goes. Other Bay Area favorites of mine are Zeina Nasr and Stefan Smith in Fezant, Chuck Johnson, Omid Zoufonoun, Jordan Glenn's Wiener Kids, Ryan Tallman (Fights Monsters), Dominique Leone, Ava Mendoza, Karl Evangelista, Stratic, Ellen Fullman, Phillip Greenlief's PG13…influence is everywhere."

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

JASON: "Reading. Writing, poetry and otherwise. I like to paint, though I don't get to it very often. I love sitting quietly outdoors and just letting my mind daydream. I've always preferred that to almost any other activity. I like to hike into the wilderness and stay for days at a time. I like community and conversation, so when we can have friends over for dinner that's a real treat. I also have an obsession with stones, rocks. If I get the right feel from one, or if someone special to me gives me one, I have to bring it home with me, so there are rocks of various sizes laying around the apartment. 

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

JASON: "Thank you for giving us a chance to speak. There is a lot to discuss these days, and even more to do. Everyone should stop paying the federal income tax immediately and instead donate those funds to any number of social institutions that should be getting it to begin with; schools, libraries, health centers. The government gave away its power to coin money to a private bank and the citizenry gets stuck paying the interest. That's what federal income tax is, paying the interest on fiat money that's worthless. People continue to pay it because they don't want to suffer the consequences of the IRS. But what's a fine or even a jail sentence next to standing up for Truth and higher principles? Dust. Less than dust. Consequences are there no matter what. Obama talks about the audacity of hope? Forget hope. Have the audacity of action. Have the audacity to refuse participation in systems and practices that are intended to make very few wealthy and very many struggle. Take your life back. Who gave private bankers the right to control resources and the economy? No one. They took it. Take it back. Nonviolently. It's the easiest thing in the world to do to just stop. Turn your energies away from violence and force toward constructive, healthy institutions. They can't jail us all."

https://satyasena.bandcamp.com/

Satya Sena/Diversity Of Tactics Vol 1/2012 EP Review

  This  is  another  review  of  Satya  Sena  this  time  with  their  self  released  2012  ep  "Diversity  Of  Tactics  Vol  1"  which  continues  their  side  which  is  a  hybrid  of  black  metal,  sludge,  thrash,  crust  and  power  violence.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  no  blast  beats  being  present  on  this  recording,  while  the  bass  playing h as  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing t hat  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  black  metal  with  thrash,  sludge,  power  violence  and  crust  with  a  good  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being thrown  into  the  riffing  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals  range  from  thrash  vocals,  clean  singing,  deep  death  metal  growls,  high  pitched  black  metal  and  sludge  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  and  violent  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it  while  you  can s till  hear  all  of t he  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  recording  from  Satya  Sena  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black/thrash  mixed  with  sludge  and  power  violence,  you  should  check  this  ep  out.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Vigilance".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

https://satyasena.bandcamp.com/

Satya Sena/Self Titled/2012 Ep Review

  Satya  Sena  are  a  band  from  Oakland,  California  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  power  violence  and  sludge  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2012  EP.

  Drums range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,   while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  that  combines  black  metal  with  sludge,  hardcore,  thrash,  power  violence  and  crustcore  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  and  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals range  from  thrash  style  clean  singing  to  high  pitched  black  metal/sludge  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  violent  and  powerful  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it  while  you  can s till  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Satya  Sena  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  black  metal,  thrash,  grindcore,  sludge,  power  violence  and  crust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Powerlust".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

https://satyasena.bandcamp.com/

Planks/The Darkest Of Grays Solicit To Fail/Southern Lord Records/2011 CD Review

 Planks are a band from Germany that mixes crust/punk noise rock, black metal and black'n' roll together and this is a review of their 2011 album The Darkest Of Grays Solicit To Fail" which was released by Southern Lord Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a good amount of blast beats being thrown in, while the bass playing has a very heavy and strong tone with a lot of powerful sounding riffs that are very noisy and distorted, as for the synths which are only utilized briefly they bring a very dark avant garde edge to the music.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine influences from crust/punk, noise rock, black metal and black 'n' roll  to create a sound that is very original sounding and on the instrumental there is some soft and slow playing, while the lead guitars when they are utilized they are very dark, distorted and melodic sounding.

Vocals are a mixture of crust/hardcore style yells and screams that are also heavily influenced by black metal with some occasional spoken word passages and samples, while the lyrics cover everyday and hateful themes, as for the production it has a very heavy and raw sound to it while still being professional enough to the point where you can hear all of the musical instruments.

In my opinion Planks are a very good and original band that combines sludge with noise rock, crust/punk, black metal and black'n' roll together and if you are looking for a band that combines these styles together, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Sacred And Secret" "The Dead Return To War" "A Casket City" and "Into The Nothingness Within". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Interview with Robert of Third World Abortion, Amadeus St. Vitus, Wicked Stench and Exterminate The Brutes Records.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your projects and record label?

1. Hi this is Robert Johnson, founder of Exterminate the Brutes Records, singer/bassist in Third World Abortion, Octagon, and Amadeus st. Vitus. I began playing in punk bands when I was really young and eventually delved into heavier and more underground stuff after discovering Morbid Angel. Back when the record industry thought death metal was going to be the next big thing and you had major labels like Warner Bros. putting out satanic music. I started Amadeus st. Vitus back in 2003 and we have had several independent records that we have put out ourselves. Third World Abortion came along later when I wanted to go in a different direction and couldn't see dragging the other project across the coals. I needed someone to release my stuff so I started my own label, which has grown much and includes many more projects other than my own as many artists are sending in their demos for review and release. The name comes from the novella "Heart of Darkness." Get it and read it. Its worth it.

2. How would you describe the differences between the 3 bands you are in?
2. Really, its just a question chronology. I write based on my mood and the projects tend to reflect that. Amadeus st. Vitus was inspired by many different artists that are not immediately apparent in the music. They hide behind the lines. With Third World Abortion I have been in a black metal mood and also love the sound of tape. Wicked Stench is a project fronted by one of my old friends. It is very doomy death metal.

3. How have the live shows been for the bands so far?
3. Live shows fluctuate everywhere you go. You can pack one night then play to two people the next. Shows have gone well though.

4. What was it that inspired you to create your own record label?
4. There are not enough labels out there that truly cater to the underground. It is my goal to do just that.

5. How has the feedback been to your releases so far from extreme music fans worldwide?
5. Our responses have been excellent and encouraging. It's almost as if everyone was waiting for someone to step up to the plate. With the dying, corporate music world, music is being put back in the hands of the artists. It's a very exciting time.

6. Out off all the bands that you have which one would you consider your main project?
6. Third World Abortion is my main focus right now. The others are no less important to me however.

7. What is the inspiration between your lyrics?
7. My lyrics are inspired by everyday life. Whatever you put into your brain will grow and yield something else. That's something they don't teach you in school. If you learn something for a history test in third grade it sticks with you and you think about that and it can even come out later in the creative process. Look at Iron Maiden if you need an example. Not that they are underground but they are a prime example.

8. What are some bans or music styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
8. I grew up listening to classic rock with parents that had a bad prejudice to country music. I stole my first metallica tape, And Justice For All, when I was 9. I got into punk rock as young kid and started playing guitar in a band. I got into Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Exodus, Morbid Angel, etc. when I was 15 or 16. I discovered Black Metal shortly after that and have had a love for the underground for many years. I am currently spinning Burzum-"Belus" Darkthrone-"Under a Funeral Moon" Eyehategod-"Confederacy of Ruined Lives" and Gorgoroth-"Destroyer"

9. Out off all the releases that you have put out so far which one are you the most satisfied with?
9. I really love the Wicked Stench-"Spreading the Word. The riffs really get stuck in my head and I catch myself humming them all day. I think that makes it great. It sticks out in your mind.

10. What are some upcoming releases on your record label?
10. I have a split with Octagon and Fjelstad coming out on cassette next month. Great black metal. I have a split with Churner and Last Rape. The Vomit Arsonist is putting out a 20 minute cassette, really brutal stuff. Also, Morbid Anal Fog will be putting out their debut full-length, "Gartgoroth."

11. What are some goals that you have set out so far for your bands and record label?
11. We are going to push things as far as they can go. I tend to never give up. Watch it go!

12. How would you describe the underground scene in your home state of Mississippi?
12. It is actually more passionate than most of the scenes I have experienced. There are so many cover bands here covering "Brown Eyed Girl" that when a band plays originals, people tend to stick together. The metal scene is building at an unbelievable rate here.


13. What are some of your interests outside of metal?
13. I enjoy reading, cooking, and drinking beer. I also enjoy art, as long as it is strange. I'm a big fan of surrealism.

14. Any final words or thoughts?
14. Contact Exterminate the Brutes Records via email at ETBRecordings@Gmail.com
Stay on the lookout. This will not be the last time you hear this name. We are accepting demos at the time to boost our distribution and discography so if you have a project and need a label, we might be able to help you. This won't last so don't wait around. Join the Brute Squad today.
--Rob aka Brute A1a

Amadeus St. Vitus/Codex Diabolus/Exterminate The Brutes Records/2009/CD Review

 Amadeus St. Vitus are a band from Mississippi that plays a mixture of black metal, sludge metal and crust punk and this is a review of their 2009 album "Codex Diabolus" which was released by Exterminate The Brute Records.

Drums are mostly slow to mid paced beats with some fast playing as well as some occasional blast beats that sound very heavy and crushing while the bass playing sounds very powerful and is easy to hear despite having a raw production and it has a very powerful rhythm with some lead bass parts.

Guitars mixed elements of black metal, sludgy doom metal and crust punk together with a mixture of slow to fast riffs that are very heavy with some guitar leads that sound very distorted.

Vocals are a mixture of black metal screams and some screams that remind me of the legendary Acid Bath and some thrash style vocals, while the lyrics touch on humorous topics, as for the production it has a very raw feel but you can still hear all of the instruments.

In my opinion Amadeus St. Vitus are a very good band that sounds very underground and original, and if you are a fan of punk orientated sludgy metal with a black metal edge. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Emptiness" "Severriously" "Sick and Destroyed" and "The Shorter Sex". RECOMMENDED BUY

https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=175235