Kalloused/Damn You Believer/Third I Rex/2016 EP Review

  Kalloused  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  blackened  doom,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2016  ep  "Damn  You  Believer"  which  was  released  by  Third  I  Rex.

 Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  can  be  heard  in  the  music  while  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  are  more  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Most  of  the  vocals  are  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  most  of  the  music  also  sounds  very  modern  while  also  bringing  in  a  touch  of  hardcore  and  after  awhile  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  can  be  heard  briefly  and  there  is  only  a  brief  use  of  guitar  leads  while  all  of  the  songs  also  remaining  very  true  to  a  slow  musical  direction  while  clean  guitars  also  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken   word  parts  and  the  last  track  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  also  brings  in  a  few  seconds  of  drones.

  Kalloused  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  mixes  them together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  yet  heavy  at  the  same  time  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  angry  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kalloused  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackened doom,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check out  this  band.  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp

Facebook

YouTube

Teorema Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Teorema is a metal and rock music project, we try to incorporate doom, sludge and noise rock sounds, nowadays we are generating new sounds at live presentations like free improvisation and incidental noise.

2.So far you have released one album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
It´s very raw, harsh and atmospheric, we recorded it  in a few sessions, we liked to bring a very real stuff, who represents what we are, we think we achieve to show all the stuff we had in mind before working on this production.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
There are few lyrics, but the subjects are inspired by existentialism, pessimism,  anarchism, religious criticism and post-apocalyptic sci-fi.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Teorema'?
We take it primarily from a movie of the italian writer and director Pier Paolo Pasolini, it haves a very inspiring plot based in existentialism and some deep and philosophical subjects.

5.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?
We would like to remain as a duo, but we are planning to incorporate some new sounds, maybe loops or some prerecorded ambient noises, we are working on it.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
I think that our best shows are those that we played this last year, since a line up change, Leo "Mariguanoto" is an amazing drummer and also he brings a very weird show, including some "happening" or "artistic performance" near to contemporary art, our show nowadays is very cathartic, we take the freedom to do any stuff we want, like making free imporvisation, noises or dancing all over the stage, its very funny to us and the people who see us live.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We are planning to play at two mexican cities this year, we hope that next year we could make a mexican tour or probably an Europe or U.S. tour, our release at Via Nocturna could bring us new possibilities to bring shows a other cities or countries.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your album by fans of underground music?
It has been awesome. Since we have uploaded digital songs, Teorema appeared at different webzines, podcast, compilations and press magazines all over Europe, US, and Latin America, we had great feedback about our music, we are very pleased about that, with the Via Nocturna release we hope more rock/metal fans can hear about us.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We see us growing musically, trying with new stuff, not only with extreme metal, we could incorporate and fusion with other genres, with new rhythms and chord progressions, we would like to play live at many places as we can, and keep on doing weird things alive, keeping our cathartic ritual.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listenin to nowadays?
Mainly extreme metal, some classic bands like Venom, Hell Hammer, Celtic Frost and Bathory, as well some "Sabbath riffs", we like to listen some sludge or doom metal bands like Corrupted, Earth, Melvins, Eyehategod and Iron Monkey, we listen a lot of industrial rock/metal, crust punk, seventies progressive rock, mainly "zheul music" or RIO like Magma and Univers Zero, some jazz stuff, ambient music, noise rock and folk music from Latin America, Europe and Indian music. There is a universe of music to listen and we are open for new stuff to incorporate as a influence to our sound.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Many old and weird movies like Begotten from Elias Merhige, visual arts and painters like Egon Schiele, Emil Nolde, H.R. Giger, George Grozs, and philosophy authors like Heidegger, Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and Baruch de Spinoza.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We have to thank all people that support us, it feels great to read great feedbacks of our music, we play music mainly as a therapy against this sick world in which we live... Music for us is a great ritual and celebration of life. We are full of joy and grateful, because in spite we had no great expectations, many people all over the world are interested our stuff. It´s great for us!

Facebook

13th Tambourine/Marsh Madness/SoundAge Production/2016 CD Review

  13th  Tambourine  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  pagan,  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Marsh  Madness"  which  was  released  by  SoundAge  Production.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  giving  the  music  more  of  a  medieval  feeling  along  with  some  melodic  pagan  chants  and  singing  a  few  seconds  later  and  they  also  mix  in  the  folk  elements  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  Death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  are  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  riffs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of   the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  synths  can  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  epic  and  symphonic  atmosphere  and  when  spoken  word  parts  are  utilized  briefly  they  give  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling.

  13th  Tambourine  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  melodic  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  in  with  pagan  and  folk  metal  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism  and  Folklore  themes.

  In  my  opinion  13th  Tambourine  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  melodic  black,  death,  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Marsh  Madness"  "Speech  Of  The  Dead"  and  "Through  The  Midst".  8  out  of  10. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoi7JfTBuFA

Morthus Interview

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

We started in the end of 2012, as friends playing death metal, inspired by bands like Morbid Angel, Autopsy. Since that we became brothers with an idea of spreading blasphemy, influenced by black art. Now we are 19-23 y.o. maybe that’s not impressive, but whatever, we have own vision  of what happens with the world and humanity. We came from little towns in central Poland, so you can only imagine the atmosphere of our lives. But back to the main theme, since we brought band to live, we recorded some stuff and play few concerts, sometimes in dirty caves, sometimes in big halls (for example on tour with Infernal War).

2.Recently you have released your first full length, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from your previous ep and demo?
There’s more black metal influence on it. The dark atmosphere of solitude and being forgotten by god weeps from our tools of doom. We’re not playing in the same pulse all the time, because it’s like a story to tell, sometimes there’s fast blast beats fueled by hate and aggression, sometimes very slow, powerful acts of doom. The album is more consequent and coherent. Definitely it’s more mature, but it’s only early phase of what’s inside us, time will show, because even we don’t know where this path is going. Or we know – into death and nothingness, but what’s en route?

3.Your lyrics cover a great amount of occult and left hand path topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

I recommend to research it on your own, because that knowledge is only for chosen ones, those who really are interest, but the fact is that evilness is around us. Only fools wouldn’t agree, and the thing is to be able to live in this society. Sometimes we create it and hurts each others, sometimes we’re on the way with it, watching the great misterium of downfall of our times, sometimes we fall under our own weakness, but when the black flame of Lucifer’s illumination is burning inside we’re able to rejecting lies. The truth is subjective nowadays, so we’re still looking for real liberty, against the god law. It appears in our everyday life's as attitude, but also I celebrate it during special dates, or in special places, practicing some kind of rituals. There’s only death real in this world. 

4.Why did you pick the name 'Morthus' and also are you aware of the band in Germany that also has the same name?

It cames from “Mortuus” – in latin it means dead. Short name, easy to remember, that’s all. When we choose it, we only knew about Czech Morthus playing dark ambient or something, but we’re not interested in this kind of music. After that we discover the band from Germany, they play quite good, but there’s no devil in their music, so we’re also not interested.

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

It sucks when you have to read or talk about shows. And it’s hard to describe in few words. Wildness, aggression, hate and dignity – this ones are good.

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

Yes, but only during the winter. We confirmed 2 gigs with Mayhem and Watain during their tour in Europe, both in Poland, and also one festival with Grave Miasma and Sadistic Intent in Poland too.

7.The new album was released on Witching Hour productions, are you happy with the support that they have given you so far?

It’s hard to say, we’re young so we don’t know how this big mechanism works, they helped us with a lot of things, but some things weren’t done as we would do it, or some topics were without answers for long time but it’s only details.  Finally we are glad, because they do the great physical version of the album and the promotion. It’s one of the biggest labels in Poland so it would be stupid to reject their proposition.

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

We have good response from places we hadn’t expected like Singapore, Chille, Brasil, Nepal, Serbia. There’s a lot of reviews from US or UK and of course from Europe - Spain, Portugal, France, and our neighbours: Germany, Czech Republic (see u at Brutal Assault) but it’s quite obviously.

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

deeper…

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?

All the music we listen to had an influence, there’s no one particular band. Of course mostly it’s Scandinavian scene, but also American. Nowdays we listen to oldschool stuff (Bathory!!), but sometimes we are bewitched by younger bands. I recommend stuff from Poland like Bestial Raids, Cultes des Ghoules, Mgła, Infernal War and others. Also I can name few bands which I mostly listen to for a few months (I don’t say that I’ve just know them, but they are in my top bands now): Teitanblood, Truppensturm, Darkthrone, Degial, Bombus, Wardruna, King Dude, Diocletian and Witchrist and many more

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Sex and drugs.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Bandcamp

Facebook

SoundCloud

YouTube

…

Triplezero Interview

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

Well, this project started in 2015 but we've been collaborating and playing in many different bands for several years.

In fact I've recorded most of my albums in the studio of Denys, who plays electronics in this release. I mean, besides the band, we're three mates who share more than musical activities.

2.Recently you have released an album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

I don't like talking in terms of "styles". I think nowadays we have to transcend that, music is music after all. And sometimes thinking in styles is artistically self-limiting , but to make myself clear Icould say there's some dark ambient and drones here, as well as free improvisation and black metal feeling.

3.Some of your music is inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this author?

I've been a fan of Lovecraft since I was a teen, I really enjoyed Poe, him, or other terror/fantasy/witchery writers like R.E Howard. About Lovecraft, besides his stories, there's an amazing and complex philosophy and spiritual concept behind all that. As usual, best things are between the lines.

4.You have also listed S. Ben Qayin and Asenath Mason as influences 2 contemporary left hand path authors that have been making some headlines lately, can yo tell us a little bit more about your involvement with the Black Arts And Occultism?

Well, I think there's nothing black on Arts, and nothing occult on Occultism. All these are just words that humans need to conceptualize what our limited minds are not able to understand. Everyone has their own path and it's free to walk it or not. Everything's revealed, the only thing we need is having the will to see beyond. I mean by saying that, I don't take part in any team but mine. And I don't work for anyone but myself.

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

It's an abstract concept about the zero as chaos, the double zero as infinite, and triplezero as an antithesis of the infinite.

6.Has the band done any live shows yet or has this been a studio project so far?

The band was born as a studio project with the only purpose of having fun making free noise impros. But the results were much better than we expected, and then we decided to include our friend Eric on vocals as a featuring. The whole thing was growing and now we've got something solid we can defend on stage.

7.The album was released through both 'Antinomia Records' and 'Binary Sorrow', can you tell us a little bit more about both of these labels?

Binary Sorrow is an italian label who trusted on our music from the beginning and we really appreciate that. They'll release the album on CD in a few months. About Antinomia, it's my own label, a division of Sepulchral Silence, the metal one where I'm the A&R, but Antinomia is focused on experimental and avantgarde stuff regardless styles but on intense and creative music.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your album by fans of the more dark or underground forms of music?

Some of them love it, some of them were shocked or annoyed, and I'm glad about that, ‘cause it means our music leaves nobody indifferent. Anyway, not a big deal. I make music for myself, not for others. But if in the meantime it can touch somebody else... much better!

9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

We three are in too many projects to be listed here. I think the point is Triplezero feeds and fits some part of us that no other project can.

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

Expect anything. But I can assure intensity will be the same or even more, regardless the aesthetics or musical direction.

11.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?

I personally prefer music over styles. About bands...too many. I just can say lately I've been listening to Demilich, Cultes Des Ghoules, Infester, Portal, early Bethlehem and late John Coltrane.

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

I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions here, and I just want to encourage people to find and discover new stuff, diving into the Antinomia, Sepulchral Silence, Binary Sorrow catalogues and all of underground metal or non-metal labels, to be open minded and always look beyond. Cheers!

https://www.facebook.com/000triplezero/

Oblivion Circle Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band? Joe: we're an American blackened Metal band from dallas/fort worth Texas.

2.Recently you have released an ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording? Joe: pretty much its an extreme metal recording with some heavy black and death metal influence. Dark melodies with some aggressive parts throughout the release.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?  Joe: The e.p is a concept release, a fictional modern take on the 4 horseman of the apocalypse.  Pretty much how us as a human species destroy the earth. I.e. war, over population and pollution.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Oblivion Circle'? Joe: i believe we as humans blindly follow and repeat ourselves throughout history. Almost like we're programmed to self destruct. So oblivion circle is just a infinite loop of existence.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? Joe: Since we're a new band, we haven't played a live show yet.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future? Joe: we're playing a local fest here in our home state in January. (our debut show)

7.The ep was released on 'Sepulchral Silence Records' are you happy with the support that they have given you so far? Joe: Iam very pleased with the exposure and feedback we have recieved.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal? Joe: we haven't been told we suck or anything yet. Ha, people seem to enjoy it. We've been played on a few podcast radio shows and on air Shows here in TX and one in Arizona.  Seem to get more attention in the U.K, been played on few shows from london and ireland.

9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you seethe band heading into musically during the future?  Joe: probably going to stick to the blackened death formula, maybe get into a more progressive writing approach, hopefully by next year we will put out a full length, We're currently writing new material.

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? Joe: i listen to alot of different bands but iam really influenced by cattle decapitation, Winterfylleth, forgotten tomb and vattnet viskar. Iam currently stuck on "Aborted" (RetroGore) and Regarde les hommes tomber (exile)

11.What are some of your non musical interests?  Joe: video games and craft beer. Ha.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? Joe: just huge big thanks to everyone that supports and listens to Oblivion Circle, Cheers!

Bandcamp

Facebook

Waldensis Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1) We are a 2 pieces band, which play a kind of mixture of Black/Death Metal with some melodic stuff in it. We've had a few changes in our line-up and we're currently looking for a new singer which will also play the rythm guitar, and a bass player. We are 19 and 20 years old, but EP was recorded as we were 17 and 18. We are currently writing a new album, a full LP, which will be pretty daaaaaamm good.

2.Recently you have released an ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
2) It's pretty melodic, we wanted to have a melodic project but with more brutallity (blast beats, fast riffs etc...) as normal melodic death metal bands. Also there was a synth player which give us a kind of symphonic nuances, but she's no longer part of the band, so there won't be any synth in the future for this project.

3.So far all of the music has been instrumental, are you planning on using any vocals in the future?
3) Yes, actually we should have had vocals on the EP but we kicked out the vocalist because of musical divergency, so we removed the vocals, but there will be vocals on our future realeases.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Waldensis'?
4) Waldensis is the ancient name for the region we live, in Switzerland the country is divided in what we call "canton" or "Kanton" in the german parts, and ours is called "Vaud". During the Middle Ages it was called Waldensis, that's why we choose that name.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
5) We actually haven't played that many, but the biggest one was at a small metal festival with the bands "Path of Desolation" and "Blasted". But as soon as we'll have a solid line-up we will surely do more of them!

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
6) Probably concerts plans with other local bands such as our friend from "Unholy Pagoda" and Tripping Tombstone"!

7.The ep was released on 'Sepulchral Silence Records', are you happy with the support that they have given yo so far?
7) Yes it's very good, they are doing everything needed, we couldn't hope more!

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of melodic black and death metal?
8) We haven't had a lot of feedacks just because we're not that famous and because we haven't made a lot of advertising for it, but so far, they've been pretty good and thats very motivating!

9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
9) We are actually writing a new album at the moment, we are looking for some studios possibilities in Switzerland, and would record it next year if possible! It will probably be heavier, and more technicall for the most part !

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?
10) For the inspiration mostly:  Belphegor, Dark Funeral, Rose Funeral, Carnifex; what we enjoy listening to:  Beneath the Massacre, Brain Drill, Djent (vildhjarta, textures etc...), Origin, Thy Art Is Murder, Spawn of Possession, Rings of Saturn, Iron Maiden, Fallujah, Decapitated, Animals as leaders and many more!

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
11) We both study law, we both enjoy video games (Competitive Halo, Competitive Super Smash bros Melee, Pokemon, Zelda etc...) ; and hanging out with friends!

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
12) Thanks for interviewing us, we really enjoyed it, and stay tuned for our new musical releases!

Bandcamp

Facebook

YouTube