Mithotyn/Knight Of The Distant Forest/Death Records/Invasion/1999 CD Review

 Mithotyn where a melodic pagan/viking/black/death metal band from Sweden and this is a review of their 1997 album "King Of The Distant Forest" which was released by Death Records in collaboration with Invasion Records.

Drums have a mixture of slow and mid paced playing with some fast drumming and blast beats, while the keyboards have a very atmospheric and medieval  feel with a pan flute as well as some other folk instruments being utilized on occasions, while the bass playing has a very powerful and dark feel to it and you can actually hear that instrument on this album.

Rhythm guitars are very melodic with some fast black metal riffing and some slow parts that have a doom metal feel, while the lead guitars are very pagan/epic sounding with a lot of melody that is heavily influenced by classic metal.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams with some death metal growls being utilized at times and there are also a lot of clean singing viking choir vocals being used at times, while the lyrics cover mostly Asataru style themes with some anti christian lyrics, as for the production on this recording which was recorded at Los Angered Recording during November of 1997 sounds very professional and you can hear all of the instruments that are present on this album.

In my opinion Mithotyn where a very talented and underrated viking metal band and this is a classic album, if you are a fan of melodic viking/black/death metal you should check this band out. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Hail Me" "On Misty Pathways" "Under The Banner" and "The Vengeance". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Mithotyn/364

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

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

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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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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