Tragacanth/Anthology Of The East/Loud Rage Music/2015 CD Review

  Tragacanth  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Anthology  Of  the  East"  which  was  released  by  Loud  Rage  Music.

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  sounding  guitar  leads  a  few  seconds  later  and  after  the  intro  the  music  gets  a  lot  more  heavier  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  while  also  retaining  the  symphonic  elements  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  Death  metal  growls  and  melodic  riffing  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clean  playing  along  with  classical  guitars  and  a  touch  of  middle  eastern  music  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Tragacanth  plays  a  style  that  takes  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  in  with  melodic,  symphonic  and  epic  elements  to  create  a  style  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Ancient  Babylon  tales,  times,  spiritual  wars,  long  forgotten  lore  and  mythical  creatures.

  In  my  opinion  Tragacanth  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Birth  of  A  Goddess"  "God  Of  Hell"  and  "Edimmu".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb_q3lOdVZY

Unbowed/Dogma/2016 EP Review

  Unbowed  are  a  band  from  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2016  ep  "Dogma"  which  will  be  released  in  February.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  before going  into  more  of  a  fast  direction  that  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  as  well  as  adding  in  death  metal  growls  and  also  mixing  the  heavy  and  symphonic  parts  together  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style  and  back  up  gang  shouts  as  well  as  acoustic  guitars  can  be  heard  in  the  music  at  times  adding  in  a  progressive  touch  along  with  the  vocals  also  having  a  melodic  tone  to them  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Unbowed  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly rooted  in  symphonic  and  melodic  black  metal  and  they  mix  in  the  growling  style  of  death  metal  to  create  a  style  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  religion  and  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Unbowed  are  a  very great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Bleeding  Throne"  and  "Echoes  Of  Cernunnos".  8  out  of  10.

facebook.com/UnbowedOfficial
unbowed.bigcartel.com
unbowedofficial.bandcamp.com
youtube.com/user/OfficialUnbowed
twitter.com/UnbowedOfficial

Illusions Dead Interview

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



As you know, our debut album will be released in February 8th, and the band's activity is currently centered on that. We're rehearsing songs, planning a new album to be recorded some time in the future, as well as recording one song later in February. Currently we don't have a bassist, so we're looking for one.





2.You have an album coming out in February, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the demo you had released in 2013?



Celestial Decadence balances dark and aggressive elements of death and black metal with more philosphical and introspective aspects. It's definitely a continuation of the same sound as heard on the demo, though the new album is more intense and aggressive on the whole, and the calmer and more melodic parts are more subtle and strongly embedded into the overall atmosphere.



3.the band has been around since 2009 but so far have only released a demo and a full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the gaps in between releases?



When we founded the band in 2009, we were still only learning to play our instruments. Though we did record some material between 2009 and 2013, it wasn't good enough to warrant a proper release. Recording is expensive and time-consuming, and it's not for the shortage of material or rehearsing that we don't release more material. We're determined to release music quite frequently in the future, though - it's one of my major goals with this band to release a whole bunch of (great) albums.



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



The lyrics explore various existential and religious themes. It's about the decay of faith in the modern world, and the lyrics portray different forms of faithful insanity, be it savagely violent, intellectually pathetic, or warlike and dangerous in an ordered way. Celestial Decadence refers to the lavisciousness of religion and the decadent monuments build in its celebration, as well as the degeneration and loss of meaning of faith. Religion, Abrahamic particularly, is becoming increasingly anachronistic in our age, and we are left less and less excuses for our barbarism, and more incentive for rational and humanistic ways of governing our world.



5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Illusions Dead?



It simply means disillusionment. Incidentally, it fits the concept of Celestial Decadence quite conveniently - if you look at it from a religious point of view.



6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?



In my opinion, the best show we've played was at Lepakkomies in August, together with Cauldron of Hate and God Disease. The audience was fantastic, and it was a real joy.



When performing our music, I want to express the passion I have for the music we play and the themes that go with the music. Some bands are really good with entertaining banter between the songs, but we don't do that much.





7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?



No. If an opportunity arises, we are willing.





8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?



No, but we are open to possibilities  if the opportunity presents itself.





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



We received a very positive review from Metal Observer, and some people who have received the promo have even told me personally that they liked the album very much, so I'd say the reception has been great so far!



10.Are any of the band members also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?



I am involved in an international death/doom band called Gloaming. We made an album last year called Keep Close the Watchfires. The others aren't currently in any bands other than Illusions Dead.





11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Constant evolution. Finding and capitalising our strengths, exploring styles and expressing ourselves musically. I always want to make the kind of music that I wish there was more of, and I also deeply enjoy playing the sort of music that inspires me personally. Our style will evolve constantly, but that genuineness and inspiration will never change.



12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?



Actually, we're influenced by a rather massive amount of bands, including Gorgoroth, Dissection, Insomnium, as well as some NYDM like Immolation, just to mention some major influences. It's a coctail of different styles that we combine into an entity of its own. I'd say that it comes very intuitively to us. Lately I've been on a big At the Gates kick, especially the first two albums. I've also binged on the first two Todtgelichter albums, which are really good German black metal. That band had a very interesting ability to invoke passion, drama and intensity with their music. It's extremely emotional, and yet still a deadly barrage of black metal. It's similar to what I'm listening right now, actually, which is the new Der Weg einer Freiheit album - also German black metal. Great stuff!





13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Reading, writing, good food and drink in the company of good friends.



14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?



Thanks for letting us share our music, and thanks for the interview as well!







https://www.facebook.com/illusionsdeadofficial

https://illusionsdead.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRdmov1KjIg

Horrified/Of Despair/Stormspell Records/2016 CD Review

 Horrified  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  very  melodic  mixture  of  black and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their 2016  album  "Of  Despair"  which  will be  released  in  March  by  Stormspell  Records.

  Clean  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  a  few  seconds  later  the  music  starts  to  get  more heavy and  melodic  and  you  can  also  hear  elements  of  thrash  in  the  bands musical  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  death  metal  growls  along  with  blast  beats  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  all  of  th e musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At times  the  music  can  be  atmospheric  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90'sand  clean  playing  also  makes  a  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  tremolo  picking  adds  a  great  amount  of  blackened  death  metal  elements  into  the  songs  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  one  song also  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  singing.

  Horrified  plays  a  musical  style that  goes  back  to  the  melodic  styles  of  90's  black  and  death  metal  to  create  an  album  that  is  very  retro  and  old  school  while  also  being  very  heavy  at  the  same  time,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

 In  my  opinion  Horrified  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Infernal  Lands"  "Dreamer  Of  Ages"  and  "The  Ruins  That  Remain".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/HorrifiedUK

Widower/The Unholy Oath/2016 EP Review

Widower  are  a  band  from  Texas  that  plays  a  melodic  form  of  blackened  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2016  ep  "The  Unholy  Oath".

  A  very  fast  black  metal  direction  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  high  pitched  screams  as  well  as  a  great  amount  of  melodies  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  very  melodic  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  thrash  influences.

  Throughout  the  recording  there  is  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  touch  of  German  thrash  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  growls  and  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  and  90's  while  having  more  of  a modern  take  and  the  whole  ep  remains  heavy  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording.

  Widower  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  black  metal  sound  of  the 90's   and  mixes  it  in  with  German  style  thrash  to  create  a  style of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  violent  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Widower  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of melodic  black  metal  and  thrash  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Unholy  Force" and  "Whore  Crusher".  8  out  of 10.

https://widoweratx.bandcamp.com/album/the-unholy-oath

A Soul Called Perdition Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

Tuomas: Well, the whole thing started during the last few years as my main band Pain Confessor was sort of losing itself amidst the failing industry and our inspirations and motivations started to die off. Some wanted to keep going, some didn't want it that much and finally it unraveled when our drummer wanted to take a timeout. That's what broke the camel's back. We didn't really have the spirit left in us to continue searching for a new drummer and keep going. At least that is how it seemed to me. I had been writing material as usual and had a full length's worth of songs demoed and we had even tried out a few but when the shit hit the fan I was disheartened to see my songs threatened to be left unused.
They were pretty good songs and I really felt there was something there so I pondered what to do. After a while I came to conclusion that I will release the songs after finishing them as best I could and have it be my farewell to my band. It seemed appropriate as I had so much stuff to take up my time in my personal life and I even thought I would just put it out and quit. So I wrestled the whole thing together, finished the songs, did vocals, mixed the album and had it mastered by the innovative LANDR online mastering service. Now it's about to be released and I can breathe again.


2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the album?

Tuomas: It's a mixture of stuff I love, which would be the whole field of metal music. I guess it is supposed to be called Melodic Death Metal but I don't know. I am at a loss with genres anyway and just do what sounds good to me. It is heavy, brutal at times, yet melodic. I write songs to my moods mostly so the music reflects how I felt at the time of writing the material and even though some songs are a few years older I apparently feel the same way about things as I found it very easy to dive into it and finish it all with lyrics and vocals.
Vocals range from lower growling to shrieking and anything between the extremes. You will not find the traditional clean vocals here though. I used one absolutely clean vocal thing in there, which is in the background of the chorus of Emptiness. I did all the music in quite a live fashion so the songs would sound much like they would sound played live. Vocals are one take or two takes, mostly. Guitar and bass parts are also few takes and as live as possible. Drums I had to construct using software as I didn't have a drummer ready and also I wanted to do my own arrangements for drums as well, like how I would play the parts if I was good enough drummer. The end result is music I want to hear.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?

Tuomas: My hatred towards the world we live in. I mean, I love life and I want to enjoy life but the suffering all around us and the damage we do to the world and to each other is just so fucking horrible and disgusting that it eats away at everything achievable in one man's personal life. I write about my feelings when I see pictures of dead children bombed to pieces for some rich privileged asshat's greed or families torn apart by some religious fanatic shitheads, when I hear news about kids and teens raped by some disgusting supposed "refugee" fucks who left their women and children to die of hunger and came to MY country to abuse MY money, MY land, MY hospitality and MY people. I want to help those women and children, and the men who really need help but to allow this shit to happen to innocent people who are not ever responsible for the goddamn wars the "refugees" are "fleeing" from is absurd and criminal. And I do not condone the raping and abuse by anyone else either. The current world situation just makes one capture the moment. I feel utter hate and rage toward both sides of every conflict for there is no justified war going on. Everything seems staged to make us all suffer.
The political landscape is total bullshit. I hate the lying, deception, greed and the disdain towards the people who elected them. That's what I write about. The scorn of the elite towards those who essentially make them what they are. Emptiness is about perseverance in a situation where you have everything staked against you and there is nothing you can do but bite the bullet and soldier on. It is actually inspired by some very close people who have to fight a muscle deteriorating disease and after living with that struggle seeing their power and will to withstand something that would have me cry like a pussy and wish for death made me think about it thoroughly and write about it. The chorus is, funnily enough, inspired by the scene from the movie Dredd where a couple of guys get themselves skinned alive and thrown down a building with a puff of Slo-Mo slowing their experiences to feel like eternity. I imagine the pain in the muscles and waiting for the seizures to subside would feel similar.
Also, when my first child was born I dove into an eternal state of worry and preparedness. Every loving parent knows this. I am on DEFCON 5 all the time. When I read about someone's child molested, kidnapped, killed or raped or whatever horrible shit perverted people do to others, I always wonder where their fathers are? If anything should ever happen to my children I know in my heart I could not bear to live with that knowledge without acting on my instincts which tell me to retaliate and make sure the horror ends there. I would kill, butcher, the assailant. I would rather go to jail or die than let my friends or family suffer unpunished.
Immortal, Entwined lyrics are plain fiction based on some real events that I just wanted to write a story about. And the last song is what it is, a farewell.


4.What are some of the things you are able to do with your solo project that you where not able to do with 'Pain Confessor'?

Tuomas: Honestly, nothing really, except do vocals. We had a great band with six guys writing stuff together and I didn't really feel I didn't get to do something I wanted. I have always been writing different stuff by myself anyway so there is an outlet for material not suitable for Pain Confessor and now A Soul Called Perdition.
I guess the main freedom here is I do everything without consulting anyone and I get my vision down 100% instead of running it by 5 other guys. Not that it was a problem but this here is me and only me. I say what I want, play what I want and sound like I want. And release it how I want, when I want and for what price I want. The business part was the crappy part of my band experience so this time it is all me, no one else is invited to affect the processes and decisions. Perhaps this is my trial that I just have to go through. To see if it can be done this way. I ended up sounding like that one girl in Coming to America there for a second, hahahha! “I want to produce my own songs, write my own songs, sing my own songs…” Oh my…


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'A Soul Called Perdition'?

Tuomas: I have suffered from severe depression for most of my life and it is hell to live with, both for me and for everyone around me. Considering all the lyrical content I have laid out for this album and the fact that this is a one-man-project it seemed appropriate. I am a troubled soul full of hell. A lost one. And I am not the only one, nor am I anything special so "a soul" would describe it better than being "The Soul Called Perdition". Anyone feeling the same might be able to identify with it. We are all lost. And no, I am not religious. Far from it. Soul just describes mind more poetically than the word “mind”, I think.


6.With this musical project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians again or do you prefer to work solo?

Tuomas: Yes, I am open to working with others, even though I prefer to keep this project as it is, if I continue that is. Actually I am planning on a live lineup if the need arises and some place would have me/us come and do a set live.
I also do vocals and write lyrics for Kara Darahu and I am also playing guitar for a black metal / grind band Ruumiskellari so I am not as hermit as you might think. Oh yeah, and we have a Sentenced cover band that does only older material of the Taneli Jarva-era until Amok / Love and Death EP.


7.Currently you are unsigned,are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

Tuomas: Fuck no! I finally got rid of the shackles of previous labels and am feeling awesome so hell no, I won't step into that trap again. Why the fuck would I voluntarily bring in people whose sole purpose is to make money out of my work? If I were to ever again consider a label the offered deal would have to be not of this world. I'll keep my rights, thank you very much!


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

Tuomas: Have received none with this project yet but can't wait to hear what people have to say. Overall I have had great experiences with metal fans and I share their passion. I love Japan and Japanese metal fans! Also, I would love to tour Europe. Never really got to do it so I just rely on what other musicians have said and their comments are always encouraging. US would be cool too, to visit there again and bring some music with me this time.


9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

Tuomas: Straight to the gallows. No, I have no idea whether or not I am able to do music as much as I would love to. Other commitments take up so much time now. But I will keep writing music and probably eventually do another album or something. I would love to play live but that is not entirely up to me. If the right occasion comes and I get the right people to join up, it will be great!


10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Tuomas: Sentenced definitely, the North From Here – The Trooper EP – Amok era. I was just thinking about this topic and I think 80s stuff like Iron Maiden and WASP, their dual guitar leads are awesome and I always preferred the more melodic licks by Adrian Smith and Randy Piper over the faster guitar hero stuff of Dave Murray and Chris Holmes. Metallica was a big thing for me, still is but you just cannot be the same fanatic fan of teens at 30s, I think. Dissection and Satyricon were a doorway for me to some darker territories and through a vast selection of the best black metal the early 90s had to offer I found something to soothe my depressed mind. Yes, I did not kill anyone, it actually helped me get through most of the more rough times. I guess the only thing that has not influenced me is music I haven’t heard. I tend to like a song if it’s good, no matter what genre it comes from.


11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Tuomas: I love movies and games, reading huge books by good writers, studying history and law. I am also an avid conspiracy theory reader, I enjoy looking into the most ridiculous shit as well as the more real theories and stories. For some reason I often listen to all kinds of Ancient Aliens stuff at work. Fascinating stuff. I also have a penchant for sharing tidbits of useless facts and knowledge. My wife describes me as someone who doesn’t know what time it is or when Christmas Eve is but I know what size are the testicles of a blue whale. Couldn’t agree more. I know too much useless shit!


12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Tuomas: Thanks for this interview! I appreciate it! To anyone reading, be cool to each other and listen to good music. Fuck the oppressing governments, let’s take back our lives and live it to the fullest!

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A Thousand Sufferings Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

We started from the ashes of Vex (Pj and I used to be in this band and we released one album via German label "Art of Propaganda") around 2013. We, as a fourpiece, are based in Klein Brabant (located beween Antwerp and Gent) and have one album out entitled 'Burden' via Satanath Records.


2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the album?

We had the idea to create something wich stands in the middle of sludge, black and stoner metal but apperantely people found it more doomish then we ever intended it to be. It is, like you might have understood, rather difficult to describe your own music so I just name some bands or adjectives people are reffering to when they hear our music. Celtic Frost/Triptykon, old Tiamat...dirty, heavy and nasty.

I can live up to that.


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

I'm not the one responsable for the lyrics but I do know we don't mind to step on so called holy crosses and I would like to make it clear you should see this as a metaphor. PJ tries to put a deeper meaning unto his lyrics and he's inspired by his own experiences in life. One might recognise aspects and most likely they aren't very positive...



4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'A Thousand Sufferings'?

Our starting point was not really groundbraking when we were searching for a bandname. It just had to fit the music...Though, our former guitar player (Noctiz/bass player in Lugubrum) came up with this proposal and it just felt right. There is no deeper meaning. Sorry for the dissapointement and a lack of yet another cool or dark story.


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

Our best show was mayby the last one we did, in Gent on the 'Occult Sabbath' with Goat Torment, LVHTHN and Zemail. The most memoriable was with Urfaust, Lugubrum and Alkerdeel in Antwerp. We dare to say we kinda fit with the other bands on this bill. Every band is different and all have something equal. We also did an extra coversong of my previous band 'Verloren' with Verderf (vocalist in Verloren) as a guest.

Our stage performance is quite simpel. We get on stage and we play. Nothing more, nothing less.


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

Individual shows are coming up in 2016 but touring is not our main goal. Though, we are open for any suggestion so if we get a serious offer to play anywhere we are glad to accept it.


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

It's too early to answer that question properly.


8.Are any of the band members also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Our guitarplayer has it's own project called 'dreams and disasters' but I think it's been put on hold from the moment he joined us.


9.Where do you see heading into musically during the future?

Skip the doomish parts and adjust more heavyness and filthyness.


10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Personally? Burzum ;-)

I try to follow what's going on musicwise and it goes from Chelsea Wolfe to Steve Von Till to Blaze of Perdition to whatever...I think it's nice to expierience there is STILL good music out there and that pleases me the most. It helps some of my Facebook friends are doing the research for me.


11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Photography


12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Well, thank you for the interview. I hope people find the time and effort to check out what we're doing. We wrote 50% of our next album so we hope to record this summer...

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