Bethledeign Interview

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

Bethledeign was started by guitarists Phil King and Dan Lazaroff in 2001, joined shortly thereafter by Ron Sirott on drums. They filled out a proper lineup and released the EP An Iliad of Woes in 2003, it featured material in the vein of melodic Swedish death metal with elements of black metal. After a couple lineup changes (Dave Schmidt coming in on vocals and Chris Fleming on bass), a three song demo was recorded in 2004, but never properly released. Those songs were much darker and more mature sounding, treading more solidly into death metal territory. Phil moved out of state shortly after it was recorded, and I (Tony Petrocelly) auditioned and took his place. As we started writing material, I brought a much more straightforward, less melodic approach. We wound up with five new songs which we started recording, but the band split up before the sessions were complete.



2.Your first full length is coming out in December, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Structure-wise, aside from some small adjustments I made to them, they are the same songs as they were back in the day; the big difference is just that they're properly recorded. The lineup is different, and so the new players bring their own style to the songs which really bring them to life. I played guitar on the album, but took over bass and vocal duties as well. Gus Barr from the Arizona death metal band Lago helped out with lead guitar, and Giulio Galati from Hideous Divinity drummed on the album; their contributions are absolutely incredible.



3.The band has been split up since 2005 with the band members focusing on other projects, what was the decision behind reforming the band?

The intent of creating my main band Construct of Lethe was to have a way to record and release the songs I'd written for previous bands. Bethledeign sadly shared the same fate as a couple other bands--I'd write an album, and the band would split up before we could record. Construct of Lethe became its own entity and started heading in a very different direction though, so I felt releasing old material under that name would just serve to confuse people. I've always wanted to release the Bethledeign songs, my love for them never waned. I had some downtime in between recording bands in my studio, so I got a hold of Phil to ask for his blessing to re-record the songs he had written, in addition to just the songs I had a part in writing...just something to do for fun to kill time. He not only encouraged that, he told me to release it as Bethledeign, which I hadn't even considered, that was really the start of it getting serious.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Dave Schmidt was the lyricist for this group of songs, his lyrics tend to be very anti-religious, with a focus on themes of demonology, christian esoterica, suicide, chaos and death. It's actually pretty interesting to delve back into these early lyrics of his, because as he wrote more and more for Xaoc (the band he and I started to continue on with the material we were writing when Bethledeign broke up) and on into Construct of Lethe, his words got much more learned and inscrutable, not to mention impossibly macabre. His lyrics on this album, just like our music, are a snapshot of a time that served as a crucial stepping stone in our development as musicians.



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

I know that Bethledeign is an anagram for "The Bleeding." Whether or not that was intentional, or what the meaning is, I honestly don't know...I joined the band after it was named. It feels like it means something and it sounds cool, so it works for me.



6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Kishor Haulenbeek painted it. I don't remember how I came to see his work, but when I first saw it I was blown away. I reached out to him and we talked about art and artists for quite a while; I told him I didn't want a stereotypical metal album cover, so no trite gore/satan/creepy landscape crap. We agreed to use the title Iconography of Suffering literally; he came up with the specific idea and sketched it up, I thought it was brilliant. If you follow from the figure's right hand up and over to his left, you see a crucifixion nail, medieval torture tools, up through modern day capital punishment...suffering through the ages.



7.Are the band members open to doing live shows again in the future?

It's fun to think about, but at the end of the day, this is a passion project. We all live so far apart from one another and have so much going on in our lives that even though the spirits are willing, it's just not feasible.



8.The new album is coming out on 'Edgewood Arsenal Records,' can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

I created Edgewood Arsenal Records as a way to get my projects out in the open. Our first 4 releases were pressed on CD (Construct of Lethe, Pain Tank, Grethor, Turbo Shokk), but subsequent releases will likely be digital only. It's an incredible amount of work creating an album--from writing it to recording it, mixing, creating the art/layout, promotion, etc...and that's on top of paying for it all out of pocket. It's really a losing game if you do it for any reason other than the love of creation.



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

Bethledeign made a decent-sized dent in the local scene back in the day, but that was before getting national/international exposure was an easy, realistic thing. As for this new material, we're trying to get the word out as we speak, but so far the reaction has gladly been nothing but positive. I know that releasing an album like this flies in the face of what's going on in the metal world at large, but I'm hoping that it resonates with people who are maybe sick of bands trying to be the most brutal, most tech, most guttural, fastest, etc.



10.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?

I've got a thrash band that recorded an EP that's getting close to release, I'll be working on the 2nd (already written) Bethledeign album in 2020, as well as a remix/re-release of Construct of Lethe's debut album Corpsegod. Gus has Lago as well as a death metal band called Detritus, both incredible bands. Giulio stays busy with the god-tier Hideous Divinity.



11.Is there any plans for future releases?

There's an 8 song album we wrote under the name Xaoc after Bethledeign originally broke up, I intend to record that and release it as the 2nd Bethledeign album in 2020.



12.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?

The rhythm playing of James Hetfield and Scott Ian are probably the biggest direct inspiration for my guitar playing technique, but not necessarily writing. People tend to say my riff writing is most similar to Morbid Angel, and while it isn't really intentional, it makes sense because they are one of my all time favorites. As for what I'm listening to now, honestly it's a lot of Rollins Band, Hall and Oates, Jeff Buckley and Elton John. Not much metal because that's what I'm soaking in year-round in the studio.



13.What are some of your non musical interests?

I built a studio in my house, Trepan Studios, which I opened up to outside bands a couple years ago; it's what takes up the vast majority of my free time, so even when I'm not playing it, I'm recording/mixing/mastering it for other bands. I've been drawing as long as I can remember, so illustration always has a spot in my heart, though I don't do it much anymore. Something I did for the first time last year that really surprised me was a 10 mile mountain hike. I wasn't expecting to like it, but I really did. I have never been a real outdoorsy person, but there was something about it that really struck me.



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

Thanks for the interest in Bethledeign, I wish it was a less convoluted story to tell, haha. I'm really happy to finally get these songs out there, and hope others dig what we've done. Thanks again!

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Dizastra/Elder Sun/2019 Full Length Review

  Dizastra  are  a  band  from  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada  that plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Elder  Sun"  which  will  be  released  on  November  22nd.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  most  of  a  screaming  black  metal  style  along  with  a  touch  of  death  metal.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  old  school  style.  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  80's  and  90's  influences  while  also  keeping  very  modern  at  the  same  time  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  melodic  Swedish  black  metal  influences.One  track  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  utilizing  tremolo  picking.

  One  song  also  adds  in a   brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  the  closing  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards  and  prog  elements  as  well  as  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Gnosticism  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dizastra  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vae  Victus"  "Gnosis"  and  "Astaroth".  8  out  of  10.

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Kurgan Interview

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

Well we're KURGAN from Denmark. We do melodic death metal in general, but it varies all the way from black metal style to classic heavy metal style.
We're basically just doing stuff we feel like. There's a lot of different influences throughout the band which makes the end result a good blend.


2.The first full length comes out during the end of September, musically how does it differ from the demo you had released in 2016?

Musically it only differs in natural evolvement which is rooted in time. I mean we as composers and musicians is always on a journey so to speak. We're the same guys doing what we do.
The full length release features the same 4 songs from the demo - rerecorded of course. And then 6 additional songs written afterwards - mostly. I feel that the full length contains the full variety off who we are as musicians


3.Some of your lyrics deal with 'Nordic Mythology', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

I guess it's in the blood, being vikings:) But its just a damn cool mythology really. The archetypes in it is just something everyone can relate to I believe.
Some of us grew up with the myths, stories and legends of the mythology, so its deeply rooted really. However we don't limit ourselves to a certain theme


4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored with your music so far?

There's a zombie track about the powers and horror of that apocalyptic universe, called EVIL DEAD.
Also HELLSTORM revolves around the end of all things, chaos and destruction and we've even got a cold and chilling love story
on the album entitled FUR LISE.


5.I know that the band name is a loan word from East Slavic Languages, how does this name fit in with the musical style you play?

Well it means a barrow/burial mound. The vikings sailed along the rivers all the way deep into Russia so there's the viking link to the name.
And although it doesn't have any reference towards the highlander villain, he was right; there can be only one KURGAN:)


6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

YGGDRASIL BURNS was the very first track written for the band. Or before it was even a full band. And it's a strong title.
So we wanted an illustration of the tree of life YGGDRASIL in flames. Dragan helped us out with that.


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

All of our shows are great:) but the local ones has been the funniest I think. We did a local festival in Asnæs and also a local celebration of metal in general in Holbæk.
We even got a self-made local show coming up in Nykøbing Sj. which our drummer Charlie has made possible - we're really looking forward to that.
Stage performance description would be 'honest' I guess. We just do what we do - having a good time, rocking out and enjoying the moment.
We don't use any theatrical tricks or do anything 'for the sake of it' - we don't pose - posers can leave the hall:)


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

WE're working on that - so far we do the shows that makes sense for us.



9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme and melodic metal?

Great. I mean we didn't anticipate the level of recognition we've gotten on the release.
Its clear from the streaming nowadays that our music is appreciated all over the lands:)


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

Again, we do what we do. Evolution will takes us wherever we need to go. We're metal guys doing melodic stuff - that's the core of it


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?

There's a lot of different styles, being 5 guys. I mean Metallica, Death, Amon Amarth, In Flames, Immortal and Manowar, is something that most of us enjoy I believe.
And therefore inspiration strikes. In regards of what we listen to, I can only speak for myself which currently revolves around Opeth, King and Unleashed


12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Drinking beer;)


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

Thanks for the interest - stay metal!

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Nordic Frost Interview

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



Nordic Frost began as a concept in 2006, I had wanted to start a black metal band for some time and had a plethora of talented musicians to work with. What ended up happening instead was a death metal project called Etched In Stone, which was active for 11 years. In 2015, while on tour with Etched In Stone, I began writing what would become the debut Nordic Frost EP and the rest is history!



2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?



Ov Blasphemy And Other Rites is different from it predecessors in multiple aspects aside from the obvious lyrical themes, but what stands out the most to me personally are the drums were placed in the much more capable hands of Randy Abbott this time around, and the orchestral parts were crafted more to fit the tone of the songs instead of simply filling the space between tracks.



3.Some of your lyrics cover witchcraft and the occult, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these subjects?



I’ve had a vested interest in the occult and in ancient pagan beliefs ever since I was young. Being raised in the Christian church can tend to have that effect on free-thinking folk.



4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with your music?



Each release has been conceptually themed. Ov Blasphemy is primarily about witchcraft or ancient pagan rituals and retaliation against the early church for the capital punishment of heretics. Jeg Er Blitt Død had themes of vampirism woven throughout, and the self-titled EP was more of a sacrilegious offering.



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



Nordic Frost was the name I landed on 13 years ago when I was first trying to get this project off the ground. The icy nature of the name is parallel to the cold-natured lyrics. It’s formidable and vehemently anti-religious.



6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?



The cover artwork depicts a blood sacrifice ritual in a classical portrait style. I wanted to go above and beyond what I had done for previous releases and took extra time piecing this one together.



7.On this album you recorded everything by yourself but have worked with a drummer in the past, are you open to working with other musicians again or do you prefer to work solo?



I really love the control of the solo aspect, though it’s nice to have other musicians input as well. That’s a tough call, but the goal for this project is to begin playing live as soon as the right members are in-place. As for the drums on this record, everything I originally had in place was scrapped and replaced with Randy Abbot’s awesome work.



8.The new album was released on 'Rebel Pyro Musick', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?



Rebel Pyro Musick was started this year by my former band’s manager, Rebel Pyro Management. After well over a decade of working together Rebel Pyro Musick really is the best place for Nordic Frost to call home.



9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of symphonic black metal?



There has been a fair amount of coverage for it being such a small project, it’s being received positively around the globe from what I can tell. I actually got a message from a new fan in Syria a couple day’s ago saying that he couldn’t stop listening to it and it’s those kind of interactions that really reaffirm to me why I do this. There’s no better feeling than having someone you don’t know, half a world away, go out of their way to let you know they appreciate your art!



10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?



Preforming Nordic Frost material on stages all over the globe, hopefully! Starting with the west coast of the US, as that is home-base, then depending on reception branching out to national and then international stages.



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?



Bands that really shaped who I am as a musician are many, but some major players are: Dimmu Borgir, Dark Funeral, Behemoth, Opeth, Tool, Cradle Of Filth, and Deicide.



12.What are some of your non musical interests?



I like to cook, I like to take my family camping and on other trips. I run a graphic design company, and I work as a A/V Tech. A lot of irons in a lot of fires, haha!



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



I just want to say thank you for giving me this platform, and to the readers and listeners: Thank you!

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Canyon Of The Skull/Sins Of The Past/2019 Full Length Review

  Texas's  Canyon  Of  The  Skull  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  with  the  music  going  into  an  instrumental  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Sins  Of  The  Past"  which  will  be  released  on  November  20th.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  both  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  influences  while  the  music  also  captures  an  improv  atmosphere  at  times.  At  times  the  music  gets  very  repetitive  with  the  songs  also  using  the  same  riffing  for  a  few  minutes  before  going  into  a  different  direction  and  as  the  first  track  progresses  melodic  guitar  leads  are  also  added  onto  the  recording.

   When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also   be  heard,  A  small  amount  of  percussion  can  be  heard  briefly  and  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  shamanistic  feeling  as  well  as  the  second  track  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  and  melodic  riffing  onto  the  recording  and  at  times  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  album  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  the  indigenous  Americans  of  the  Southwest.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Canyon  of  The  Skull  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  instrumental  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Sun  Dance".  8  out  of  10.

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Nordic Frost/Ov Blasphemy And Other Rites/Rebel Pyro Musick/2019 Full Length Review

  Nordic  Frost  are  a  solo  project  from  Sacramento,  California  that  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  album  "Ov  Blasphemy  And  Other  Rites"  which  was  released  by  Rebel  Pyro  Musick.

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  and  symphonic  elements  start  of  the  album  and  they  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  elements  of  death  metal  at  times.

  A  lot  of the  music  also  brings  in  influences  from  the  mid 90's  era  of  symphonic  black  metal  but  also  keeps  a  modern  atmosphere  at  the  same  time. As  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of   clean  singing  and  chanting  can  be  heard  as  well  as  a  alter  track  being  an  instrumental,  classical  guitars  are  also  added  onto  the  closing  track  and  their  is  also  a  hideen  bonus  version  of  Led  Zeppelin's  "Immigrant  Song".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  witchcraft  from  the  middle  ages.

  In  my  opinion  Nordic  Frost  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Compelled  By  Witchcraft"  "Despondent  Legions  Ov  The  Dead"  and  "Penance  Ov  Sodom".  8  out  of  10.

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Chasmdweller/Invoking The Wrath Of The Seventh Circle/Static Void Records/2019 Full Length Review

  Chasmdweller  are  a  duo  from  Canada  that  has  had music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  death,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Invoking  The  Wrath  Of  The  Seventh  Circle"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Static  Void  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  also  bring  in  a   mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  elements  of  harsh  noise  onto  the  album.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  growls  also  getting  guttural  sounding  at  times  and  the  music  also  has  its  brutal  moments  and  as  the  album   progresses  a  brief  use  of  ritualistic  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Chasmdweller  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black,  death,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bleeding  Upon  The  Tomes  Of  Hypocrisy"  "Engulfed  By  Burning  Pits"  and  "Bone  Shrine".  8  out  of  10.

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