Toad/Endless Night/Comfort Pain Records/2012 EP Review

  Toad  are  a  band  from  Arizona  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  sludge  and  death  'n'  roll  and this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  ep  "Endless  Night"  which  was  released  by  Comfort  Pain  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on  this  recording,  while  the  synths  which  are  only  used  briefly  are  very  dark,  psychedelic  and  atmospheric  sounding,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  melodic  black  metal,  sludge  and  death  'n'  roll  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  old  school  black/death  metal  screams  and  growls  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover darkness  and  horror  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and dark  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  with  some  of t he  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Toad  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  melodic  black  metal,  sludge  and  death  'n'  roll  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Taste  Of  The  Grave"  and  "Boundaries  Of  Flesh".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Amon Amarth/Deceiver Of The Gods/Metal Blade Records/2013 CD Review

  Amon  Amarth  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  the  new  recording  staying  in  the  direction  of  melodic  viking/black/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Deceiver  Of  The  Gods"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  melodic  death  and  black  metal  together  along  with  some  thrash,  doom  and  traditional  metal  influences  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  high  pitched  screams  being  used  at  times  as  well  as  a  brief  spoken  word  part  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Asataru  and  Northern  Paganism  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it  with  the  last  song  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Amon  Amarth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Loke  Falls"  "Under  Siege"  "We  Shall  Destroy"  and  "Warriors  Of  The  North".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

Chthonic/Bu - Tik/Spinefarm US/2013 CD Review

  Chthonic  are  a  band  from  Taiwan  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  style  that  I  would  describe  as  being  symphonic  oriental  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Bu  -  Tik"  which  was  released  by  Spinefarm  US.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to fast  drumming  with  some  blast b eats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  keyboards  bring  an  atmospheric,  dark,  symphonic  and  oriental  sound  to  the  recording  with  some  ethnic  sounding  folk  instruments  being  utilized  at  times,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  melodic  black  metal  guitar  riffs  that  are  more  on  the  mainstream  side  of  the  genre  while  also  mixing  in  more  modern  elements,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  extreme  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  a brief  use  of  clean  singing  and  spoken  word  parts,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Taiwanese  Myths  and  the  tragic  events  in  their  country  history,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  professional  sound  to  it.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Chthonic  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Supreme  Pain  For  The  Tyrant"  "Rage  Of  My  Sword"  "Resurrection  Pyre"  and  "Defenders  Of  Butik  Place".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

http://www.chthonic.org
http://www.facebook.com/chthonic  

Eshtadur interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
ok, Eshtadur is band that performs kind of a death melodic and black metal, with progressive and experimental mixtures, we have played in all cities in Colombia, last was in Medellin next to Cradle Of Filth, and we have played in Peru with Vader. Eshtadur had 3 releases, 1 demo, 1 album 2011, and new album upcoming for june 2013.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
Death melodic and black metal, with progressive and experimental mixtures, metal core passages but with a classic voice, that remember the black pure.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
anti religion, and all kind of dictation that private the human being. mystery, dark stories.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Eshtadur, is a literature word, a writer use it in a greece book, talking about rebellion of angels.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your
stage performance?
in Peru, with Vader, i guess because of knowing the guys from vader were there, we really enjoy that concert, next to Cradle of filth in Colombia too, because, people support a lot eshtadur that day.

6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
we are planning somenthing for south america, and we have some local festivals for this end of the season

7. the new album came out on Gates of Horror, how did you get in contact with this label and how would
you describe the support they have given you so far?
A close friend, drummer of Luciferian, find out this label to us, they support us well, but we are going to have great for future, now we are both, label and band, working about it.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of melodic and experimental
black metal?
there is people who think Eshtadur as a big and famous band, cause of the music and video, i have read in my mail messages from brasil of usa, they said Eshtadur has to be out Colombia next to Krisiun, next to Sepultura. and represent south america. thats so nice to know, but we have a long road to walk very carefully.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
i have to say, we could participate as a new genre, and new tendence. we have to stay update with our music. i hope we will get fine with that.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you
listening to nowadays?
the bands from poland, vader, decapitated, behemoth.

11. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?
Eshtadur´s music is a pretty evil creation, we are esceptics, and first to all, we defend world as human beings, we have respect to all in earth, enviroment, animals, cosmos.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
for me, Jorge, i like soccer, box, movies and video games, Sebastian likes gym too, box and video games, Wilmer likes pretty alone with just music.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
invite all people for listenning eshtadur everywhere, hope you like it.

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Anima Sementis Interview

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

1. Currently we´re rehearsing for the Interitum Tour. We have a new guitar player in the band and he needs to learn the show. Also, we´re writing for the next longplayer. The EP is the first step towards our full length album.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new ep and how it differs from previous releases?

2. In regards to our first production, Sermon Of Lies, our new production is much more professional. The first production we did everything ourselves but now we have help from a producer who has us in the right studio.
   The new songs sound much more mature and now have elements of death metal mixed in with our black metal roots.

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

3. We use a variety of themes for our songs. In the song "World Dominion Collapse" we write about the decay of mankind. In "Ruins" we sing about the fall of the Egyptian Empire and about the fact that desert ruins are all that´s left. "Masquerade Of Grace" goes into the religious wars and how people die for fanatical views. It also goes into how people manipulate each other to reach their goals. If you read between the lines in all of our songs you´ll find the underlying message that mankind doesn´t learn from it´s mistakes. Our saying is, "After the pride comes the fall.".

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

4. We like the composition of the name specifically it was written in Latin. Anima Sementis means „souls of the addled seed“.

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

5. We have a very powerful stage performance and we try to give everything for the people in the front row.
   We also like to use costumes and make-up so each of us can "play the role" while performing. Our stage show portrays a dark and apocalyptic atmoshpere. The goal of our show is to take the audience on a journey through the Apocolypse. As for our best shows, practically all of the festivals we´ve played were great and the support gigs we did for Endstille and Equilibrium were also a highlight for us.

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

6. Sure we do. We´re going to do diverse shows in Germany, including local gigs, and also some international shows as well. But two of main goals at the moment are finding an agency to help us with the bookings and to find a label that would be interested in signing us to a recording contract.

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 music?

7. Currently we´re looking for an indie label. We feel that the exposure from an indie label would be better for us. Too much competition at the major label level. Labels like Nuclear Blast and Century Media are ones that we like.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of symphonic black and death metal?

8. The international response has surprised us. We´re getting requests from Asia and North and South America for t-shirts and CDs. Our first request for the new Interitum ep came from England. We´re gaining popularity using social media services such as Facebook and YouTube.

9. Are there any other projects going on these days besides this band?

9. Not at the moment. We´re giving everything for Anima Sementis.

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

10. No idea what the future will bring in regards to the direction of our music. We don´t a have a set way of songwriting so it comes as it comes. Each song sort of writes itself. We the thing that we try to do is be ourselves and write music that is unique to us.

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

11. Bands like Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, Vesania, Nile, Morbid Angel, Carcass and etc. have influenced us but interestingly enough we are also inspired by others such as Johnny Cash or Depeche Mode or even film music writers such as Hans Zimmer (specifically "Two Steps From Hell").

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

12. Yes and no. We´re not really a satanic band but we are fascinated by the dark side and all that goes with it.
    Every religion has it guidelines for mankind but we don´t follow any of them. We make our own as we go.

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

13. Not an easy question because be don´t have much time for other interests at the moment. The Band takes up most of our time. But when we have time we like to do the normal things. Seeing other bands, socializing with our friends. spending time with family and drinking an occasional beer or two.

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

14 We´d like to say "Thanks" to our families, friends and fans for their support during the last years. And we´d
like to welcome and invite all of those who do not know us to check us out! For the devil our souls and for God our flesh.

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Fjoergyn/Monument Ende/TrollZorn Records/2013 CD Review

  Fjoergyn  are  a  band  from  Germany  that    plays  a  very  symphonic  and  avant  garde  form  of  black metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Monument  Ende"  which  was  released  by  TrollZorn  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  some  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  being  utilized  briefly,  while  the  synths  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric,  symphonic  and  avant  garde  to   the  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  symphonic  sounding  and  melodic  black  metal  with  avant  garde  and  experimental  together t o  create  a  sound  of their  own  with  some  soft  and  clean  playing  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  avant  garde  black  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  classical  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  enhance  the  avant  garde  elements  of  the  music.

  Vocals  range  from  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams,  deep  growls  and  clean  singing  male  and  female  vocals  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  German  and  English  and  cover  nature,  mythology  and  anti  christian  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Fjoergyn  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic,  symphonic  and  avant  garde  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album>  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Betonlethargie"  "Thanotos"  "Sin"  and  "Monument  Ende".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Eshtadur/Stay Away From Evil And Get Close To Me/Gate of Horror Prods/2013 CD Review

  Eshtadur  are  a  band  from  Columbia  that  plays  a  very  experimental  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  mixed  with  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Stay  Away  From  Evil  And  Get  Close  To  Me"  which  was  released  by  gate  Of  Horror  Prods.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  synths  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric,  symphonic  and  experimental  sound  to  the  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  melodic  black  metal  with  modern  day  death  metal  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  along  with  some  metalcore  breakdowns  which  are  the  weak  link  of  the  album,  while the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  black/death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  grim  sounding  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  to  deep  death  metal  growls,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  anti  religion  and  occult  themes  with  the  last  song  being  written  in  Spanish,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Eschtadur  are  a very  good  sounding  hybrid  of  experimental  melodic  black  metal  and  modern  day  death  metal  and  while  I  could  do  without  the  metal  core  elements  I  feel  the  rest  of  the  album  is  good  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beyond  The  Shadows"  "Another  Alien  Messiah"  "Abigor"  and  "The  Girl  Who  Hated  A  Priest".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_DOc4Hk-8I