Troll Bends Fir Interview

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

The band was created in 1999 by its permanent members Troll and Jetra (at the moment they are the only from the first line-up). Having left St.Petersburg Viking metal band “Nomans land”, I, wishing to play more folk music, came across Jetra, who sang and played Irish whistle. I offered her to make a funny folk band based on metal rock. Later we named the style “Beer folk” that defined our material exactly.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
The rhythmic base of our music was taken from metal but we often play using little guitar distortion or sometimes without it at all. Combining such way with tunes different from typical European folk metal, we get quite fresh, emotional and catchy sound.

3. What is the meaning behind the band's name?
Troll Bends Fir’s Russian name “Troll Gnyot Yel” sounds very close to Scandinavian languages, it’s original and dynamic. It just came to mind somehow and we realized that it would be the band’s name.

4. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
The heroes of our lyrics live in pagan Scandinavia and in Europe of the Middle Ages. Some songs tell funny stories happened to characters in taverns and woods due to drinking too much amber nectar. Other ones are praise for hop and beer philosophy. Actually, it’s not easy to find more beer band than we are!

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
I can’t think of one particular show because we like to perform live and do it often. When we’re on tour we can play both in a small club without even support bands, where you see faces of happy fans just in meter from yours, and at main Russian festivals or cities’ beer festivals, where there’re tens of thousands of people and a huge crowd jumps to our music. What do I prefer? I enjoy all of them… We use several concert costumes of different kinds: Scottish themed costumes, beer monks and ones with leather armors of brewers.

6. Are there any plans for a U.S tour?
Well, it’s hard to say if we have plans. We’d love to come there and according to many feedback's on our Myspace profile there’s an interest to music like ours in the USA. However, we started promoting ourselves outside Russia a short time ago, so we’ll live and see how things work out.

7. The band has a lot of beer drinking songs, what are some of your favorite beers that you drink.
Our favorite sort of beer “with a perfect taste, much, not expensive and better paid by organizers”! Haha

8. How has your music been received so far by folk metal fans worldwide?
As I mentioned before, we get lots of positive feedback's via Myspace from many countries, even such distant from Russia as Brasilia and Japan.

9. Out off all the albums that the band has recorded so far, which one are you the most satisfied with?
We’re the most satisfied with our upcoming album, we’re recording at the moment… We like a lot what we have already nailed!

10. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
As for me, our music hasn’t changed, I enjoy making it as I used to in the beginning, let the others judge it. I think we’ll keep on moving in the same direction.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
Can’t say right away… but there’re some Russian bands influenced by our music!

12. What role does Slavic and Norse paganism play in the music?
An active role. To be honest, though we’re patriots, pagan Scandinavia as an art symbol is more attractive.

13. What are some of your interests outside of music?
My hobby is tourism, drinking, my wife and collecting beer mugs, festival T-shirts (certainly, with our participation), gifts from our fans. I have no idea about other members but, probably, almost the same. At least, our bass player is really fond of drinking :)

14. Any final words or thoughts?
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” (B. Franklin) I totally agree with that! Cheers!

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Abigail Williams/In The Absence Of Light/Candlelight Records/2010 CD Review

  Abigail Williams are band originally from Arizona but now relocated to new York that started out playing melodic black/deathcore but have evolved into a symphonic black metal band over the years and this is a review of their 2010 album "In The Absence Of Light" which is being released by Candlelight Records.

Drums range from being slow, mid paced to fast with some brutal blast beats being thrown in at times, while the keyboards sound very symphonic and atmospheric, as for the bass playing it is mixed down low in the mix and seems to follow the riffs that are coming out of the guitars and on some songs they have a very powerful sound of their own.

Rhythm guitars range  from being mid paced to fast symphonic black metal riffs that has some thrash and death metal influences that also contain a good amount of melody, while the lead guitars are very technical and melodic sounding guitar solos.

Vocals are all high pitched black metal screams, while the lyrics cover horror stories, battles and cosmos, as for the production it sounds very professional and heavy with all of the instruments having a good sound to them.

In my opinion this is a great improvement for Abigail Williams and while I have never listened to a full album from them until now I have seen them live once opening for Enslaved and Dark Funeral and they did not sound this powerful and while some people probably wont check out this album because of their old sound i still feel symphonic black metal fans will enjoy this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Final Destiny Of The Gods" "Infernal Divide" and "An Echo Of Our Legends". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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The Breathing Process Interview

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

We're getting ready to go out for a 2 month run with Antagonist, Wretched, and Diskreet that starts august 26th. We're also demoing some new material as we're constantly writing.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

Symphonic,Atmospheric Death Metal

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

To breathe is to live, to fill yourself with the most vital element of survival.

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

Florida and Texas always have awesome crowds, they are probably our favorite places to play. Our stage performance is bloody,intense, ethereal.

5. Do you have any plans to tour Europe in the future?

We always have plans to tour Europe, little things just prevent us from going. Hopefully we'll be over there early this winter

6. How has the support been from Candlelight Records so far?

It's been pretty cool, the know a lot about the business and utilize their resources well.

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

We've always strive to stay away from the cliche metal topics (some big war, Armageddon, god hating) and try to talk about things on a more poetic and meaningful level. Our current album is about the human psyche in all of it's wonder and despair.

8. How has the reception been to the newer material from symphonic black metal and brutal death metal fans worldwide?

When we wrote the "poppier" songs on this album we were kinda nervous as to how people would take it given that our last album was much heavier. But everyone seems to love Odyssey, which made us very happy that people approached it with an open mind and didn't ridicule us for not being all breakdowns anymore.

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

I think that we constantly try to reinvent ourselves so that people don't really know what to expect. We just kinda write what comes out and it always seems to be different than the last. The newer stuff we're gonna experiment with some more electronics and some more clean singing which is something we've always wanted to do but have been limited in it until now. We all listen to a lot of different music to draw influence from and for me that kind of changes with each release. So i guess we'll see what comes out next time.

10.Does Occultism, Satanism or Paganism play any role in the music?

We all come from very different religious backgrounds, none of which play a direct role in our music, we do however use religious themes metaphorically to describe different things. Odyssey while being about emotion is also about the environment and nature, which some might label "paganism" but you don't have to be a pagan to love,respect and fear the earth.

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

We are all pretty avid gamers. Most of us play lots and lots of video games haha.

12. Any final words or thoughts?
Buy our album, come checkout our upcoming tour (dates are @ www.myspace.com/tbp) Bathe in Blood........TBP

The Breathing Process/Odyssey(Un)Dead/Siege Of Amida/Candlelight Records/2010 CD Review

  The Breathing Process are a band from the U.S with members from Connecticut and Massachusetts that mix symphonic black metal with blackened death metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "Odyssey(Un)Dead which was released as a joint effort between Siege Of Amida and Candlelight Records.

Drums range from being slow, mid paced and technical with a lot of fast playing and brutal blast beats being used, while the keyboards are very atmospheric and symphonic with some industrial elements, as for the bass playing it has a dark tone that follows the riffs that are coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are a mixture of black metal and death metal riffing with a good mix of slow and fast riffs that contain a lot of melody, while the lead guitars are very technical and melodic guitar solos that utilize a lot of skill.

Vocals are a mixture of high pitched black metal screams and deep death metal growls with some clean singing male and female vocals being thrown in at times, while the lyrics cover exile with a darkened touch, as for the production it is very professional sounding with all of the instruments having a good sound.

In my opinion The Breathing Process are a very good band and while some elements of their music might be to commercial sounding for my ears at times, this is still a talented band, fans of symphonic black metal and blackened death metal should enjoy this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Grimoire" "Vultures" and "Decaying(Form)". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Sarah Jezebel Deva/A Sign Of Sublime/Candellight Records/2010 CD Review

  Sarah Jezebel Deva is a well known singer in the Symphonic Metal genres and this is a review of her solo album "A Sign Of Sublime" which was released by Candlelight Records during the year of 2010.

Drums are mostly mid paced beats with little to no fast playing or blast beats, while the keyboards are very symphonic and atmospheric sounding, as for the bass playing it has a dark tone with riffs that follow the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are mostly mid paced riffs that sound very basic but having influences from mainstream black metal and symphonic/gothic metal, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos that have a tragic feel to them.

Vocals are mostly clean singing female vocals that are very operatic with some black metal screams being used on occasion mixed in with some clean singing male opera choirs, while the lyrics cover depression with a very dark edge, as for the production it sounds very professional and you can hear all of the instruments that are present on this album.

In my opinion this is a good album from Sarah Jezebel Deva, at first I thought I probably would not like this album due to the singer's involvement in the corporate metal scene but this is a quality dark sounding album in it's own way and it is well done for what it is. RECOMMENDED TRACKS "A Sign Of Sublime" "The Devil's Opera" and "Daddy's Not Coming Home".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Chaossworn Interview

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

ANTON: Chaossworn is a melodic death/black metal band from Haparanda, northern Sweden. We've been active since the fall of 2004, under the moniker Cryptic Death. The name was changed to Chaossworn in late 2009. We have just released our first MCD called 'Chalice of Black Flames' through Abyss Records.



ANDREAS: Me and Janne played together in various bands/projects back in the 90s, so in a sense Chaossworn dips its rotten roots further back in the dark past!



JANNE: Yup; we’ve been brooding and slithering in the local underground for the last 15 years, but not until now has our message and force become strong enough to be unleashed upon the larger masses. Years and years of honing our skills in the dark are starting to pay off. Now if only we could get David Hasselhoff interested...



2. How would you describe your musical sound?



ANDREAS: Death metal foundation, black metal ambience, heavy metal catchiness. Black/death metal; people should know what it means these days. Heavy emphasis on lead guitar work and harmonies to act counterpoint to non-melodic vocals. Absolutely no happy riffs.



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



JANNE: It should be quite clear. We are sworn to Chaos, as opposed to Law. Chaos represents boundless creativity and infinite possibilities, which the strong-willed may utilize to his or her needs or wants. Law stands for conformity and slavery of the mind; it is for the weak who can not, or will not, stray away from the safe path of herd mentality that slowly but surely grinds and forces everyone into the same mold. And as one of the main principles of the band, if not the only one, is to do what the fuck we want - well, I just think that we've found ourselves the perfect name.



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



ANDREAS: Depends on the song really, since they deal with various subjects, or aspects of those subjects.. It ain't about no urban themes. No matter what the lyrics are about, they're an integral part of the music, and given as much attention in the writing process as the riffs themselves. Phrasings, meter, all that shit, given utmost attention. We're not dishing out tripe.



5. Have you had the opportunity to do any live shows yet, if so what are some of the best shows that the band has played so far?

ANTON: We have been playing live since the start as Cryptic Death. I would say our best show was at Nordic Rage festival in Boden 2008, w/ The Haunted, Carnal Forge, etc..



ANDREAS: The gig we did back in January this year, in Lulea, was pretty intense. Parts of which can be seen on Youtube. Still, Nordic Rage Fest was definitely the biggest in terms of crowd and exposure.



NIKLAS: The black/death metal scene in northern Sweden is not the greatest, but we played a show in Boden on a metal festival called Nordic Rage, which was for me the greatest show!



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




ANDREAS: South America; The water gives you the runs, crowd is batshit insane, nobody speaks English. Pandemonium. I heard Poland is pretty kickass too.



JANNE: I think it’d be cool to tour in Kyrgyzstan, or Mongolia. Man, those guys would be astonished to have us banging and snarling at their local yard/palace/mountaintop/whatever. And probably kill us too. Or die trying.



7. What do you want to accomplish with your music?



ANDREAS: I want the music to become as kult as the shit I listen to myself.



JANNE: To me, creating music is first and foremost a tool for self-expression, without which I could not live. Sowing the seeds of the mind, nourishing them with skill and craftsmanship, watching and hearing them grow and blossom in the dark orchards of the spirit of arts, tasting the bittersweet juices from their ripe flesh...thus inspiring the circle to start anew. It is a beautiful thing, creation, and we hold it in our hands. Hopefully our music can also inspire others, as many have inspired us before, and still do. The cycle is most exquisite, and should be kept spinning.



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



ANDREAS: We got our sound down just right. What we will do in the future is to produce even fiercer riffs, better hooks, better lyrics and wrap it up time and time again. The material evolved from the last two demos to the MCD growing increasingly darker and unfriendly, and that'll likely continue. Without ambition there's no point in doing anything, and I got plenty ambition. We're destined to outdo ourselves time and time again. Don't expect any genre leaps a la Dodheimsgard.



9. How has the feedback been to your music so far by melodic black.death metal fans worldwide?




ANDREAS: We wouldn't release it if it wasn't up to snuff. Reviewers agree!

NIKLAS: Mixed. People in Sweden have been more critical than the rest of the world. Dunno why is that.



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



ANTON: Bloodbath, Desultory and Necrophobic, and of course bands from other genres.





ANDREAS: Been listening to Tiamat “Clouds” a lot lately. I got a few tapes in the car getting regular windings: Bathory "Blood Fire Death", Darkthrone "Under a Funeral Moon", ZZ Top "Eliminator" etc.



NIKLAS: Old school death metal bands like Desultory and Morbid Angel.



JANNE: All music influences me all the time. The atmosphere of Limbonic Art and Emperor; the creativity of Faith No More and Meshuggah; the vibe of Kingston Wall and Änglagård; the harmonizing craft of Bach and Rachmaninoff; the earnestness of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Grand Magus etc etc...I could go on for ages.



11. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in the music?

ANDREAS: Yes.

JANNE: Yes.



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

ANDREAS: I'm a history scholar.

NIKLAS: Drinking beer and go to festivals!

JANNE: NHL, literature and whiskey.

ANTON: Sound engineering and sailing.


13. Any final words or thoughts?

ANDREAS: You can't stop rock n roll.

JANNE: Fuck the Law.

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Troll Bends Fir/1516-Order Of The Holy Hop/2010 CD Review

  Troll Bends Fir are a band from St. Petersburg, Russia that plays a style that is known as folk metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "1516-Order Of The Holy Hop".

Drums are mostly slow to mid paced beats with no fast playing or drumming, while the flute has an Irish flavor to it and it brings the folk element to the music, as for the bass playing it is all rhythm bass that follows the riffs that are coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are mostly slow to mid paced riffs that are in a folk metal vein with a basic sound and there are no lead guitars or solos present on this album but there are some acoustic guitars being used at times.

Vocals are mostly clean singing that has a folk/pagan feel to it with some aggressive vocals and growls being used at times mixed in with some female vocals, while the lyrics are written in a mixture of Russian and English and are mostly about Slavic and Norse Paganism mixed in with a lot of beer drinking anthems, as for the production it sounds very professional and you can hear all of the instruments that are on this album.

In my  opinion Troll Bends Fir are a very good band and if you are a fan of folk metal you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Beer Cellar" "Pornopolka" and "Nothing To Blame For". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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