Tuesday, May 28, 2013

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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Monday, May 27, 2013

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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. Not at the moment. We´re giving everything for Anima Sementis.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Blinded By Faith Interview



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

               

We're currently doing gigs in Canada and promoting our last album Chernobyl Survivor.  We're also in the writing process for our next album, untitled for the moment.  Everything is going great so far and we have a lot of songs almost done. 



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



Chernobyl survivor is definitely more agressive and brutal than our previous ones, Under an Occult Sun and Wapeons of Mass Distraction.  However, it's still as melodic.  We tried to expand our musical style and add more metal elements to the songs, as opposed to only melodic black metal.



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



The lyrics treat subjects that are more related to the day-to-day life and things that affected us in the past years or so. We tried to avoid conspicary theories and other grand subjects.  



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



Blinded by Faith is about society's beliefs and how we are often slaves to those, sort of peak.  It's more general than just about religion. 



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



We played a really great show in our hometown Quebec city recently.  The energy was awesome and everybody had a blast.  We see our shows as a party with a lot of energy and alcohol!

  

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



We dont' have any big tour really, but we always play mainly in Canada all year long.  If one day we have the opportunity do a proper tour we'll definitely go for it.



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



We had a good reception of our last album in Asia and in Russia too (you can guess why!).  We are still working to promote our last album and have better exposure around the world. 



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



It's gonna be as metal and brutal as ever, but with a progressive touch mainly due to the arrival of our new guitarist Benoît Filion.



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



Iron Maiden, Children of Bodom, Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir are some of the bands who had a lot of influence on our music especially in our early days.

Our singer Tommy listen to a lot of progressive music form the 70's.  We think the last album from Steven Wilson is incredible and we listen to Devin Townsend, Despised Icon and  God Forbid just to name a few.



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



We like video games (Guild Wars 2, Skyrim), sports (boxe, tennis) and have a good time with friends of course.



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



Thanks for the interview and come like us on our facebook page!  Also our last album is streaming in its entirety on our web site www.blindedbyfaith.com Fuck Yeah!


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Inquisitor Interview


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

Lord: This interview caught us in the middle of the recording process of our new album. This is the primary reason, why we suspended other activities. We'll be sharing updates of the status in the nearest future. Apart from that, we're living in personally interesting times now, changing jobs, starting or finishing Ph.D.'s. We hope, after all settles down a bit, the new release will be a solid foundation to start a new chapter of the band.

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

Lord: In my opinion, we have expanded the stylistic spectrum of our music, yet (I hope...) managed to stay coherent. The coming of new members since The Quantum Theory of Id (QTI) certainly had a considerable impact. You'll notice that in the interaction of the guitars and definitely in the bass line. The “black metal” parts are way more “black” now, and lots of “progressive” bits have been introduced. Personally, I feel the sound and composition being mature in comparison to our earlier attempts.

3. Can you tell us a little bit more about your song lyrics?

Lord: As the question does not specify which ones - the previous or the most current ones - are addressed, I'll put it this way. It was with QTI that I realized the most fruitful way of writing lyrics is doing themed albums. It allows one to have a broad field of ideas to contemplate, and it keeps the whole "script" unified. Of course slight variations are welcome, because a concept album is a rule and I like playing not just by the rules but with the rules as well. So this will be the case with the forthcoming stuff. As for the content, it is dictated by the topics/questions originating from certain chapters of philosophy (epistemology and metaphysics, mostly) that are current at the time of writing lyrics. Therefore, e.g. QTI was focused on the struggle between determinism and indeterminism doctrines in the even broader context of "the rational vs. the irrational".

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

Lord: That is a rather usual question and, correspondingly, the rather usual answer starts with "oh, it was so long a time ago, I don't even remember exactly". But nowadays "Inquisitor" has a pretty well defined message for us: it is a searching figure, it embodies curiosity, amazement and passion for perceiving things. Hence, "Inquisitor" stands for "Inquisitor Rerum Omnium".

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

Lord: That would depend on whom in the band you'd ask. As for me, one of the most outstanding gigs we've played in was Wacken Metal Battle 2012; by this I mean the scale of the event and the completely new level of experience, but not necessarily the atmosphere (don't mean to say it was bad in any way). The latter is usually best in smaller scale shows at some never-heard-of-it-before clubs, and I have several personal favorites, but you wouldn't have heard of those ;) Our main goal on stage is to uncover and sharpen the character of individual songs. The task is to visually increase the depth of the contemplative aspects and to drive to the climax the explosive ones.

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

Lord: Couldn't call it "plans", but we feel that the current stuff is very much worth being spread more widely. So, after the recording part is done, we'll get back to sketching a European tour.

7. Currently you are signed to Forgotten Path Records, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support they have given you so far?

Lord: Forgotten Path Records is a part (or rather a counterpart) of Forgotten Path Magazine, run by Odium (Martynas Vaškevičius). Odium is an old acquaintance of the band, yet it was his personal attitude towards QTI that led him to propose us releasing the album under his banner. And we couldn't be too grateful for his effort in both releasing and promoting QTI. You should also check out his annual zine (yes, a true paper release), which earns points for high quality standards.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to the newer material by fans of avant-garde black metal?

Lord: It is difficult to say, since we haven't promoted our recent material heavily. Another thing is about our position in the sub-genre of avant-garde BM. Although the reception of QTI was overall rather great and pleasing, labeling the style is unequivocal even among ourselves. So we'll let the new album set clearer indications, whether "avant-garde" or "progressive" is more suitable.

9. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?

Lord: Some of us are involved in other Lithuanian bands either as true or session members. The most "hard-working" ones in this respect are GarLoq (drums) and Skol (guitars). While Skol is the guy behind the names like Haeiresis (experimental metal/dark cinematic industrial http://haeiresis.bandcamp.com), Terralienus (cosmic ambient drone http://terralienus.bandcamp.com), he has recently started a brand new drone/dark-ambient/industrial/noise project Velemara (http://velemara.bandcamp.com). GarLoq runs a BM act Dark Ravage (http://darkravage.bandcamp.com) and occasionally performs live shows with other bands. I'm also involved in a fresh-start black-gaze project Devlsy (http://devlsy.bandcamp.com), which will be presenting some records later this year.

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

Lord: It's difficult to foresee, especially after just recently having finished the new material. At this very moment I don't see any drastic changes coming, for we still have themes and structures to explore within the current configuration. Even more so, I'd say there was a certain progression during the last couple of years, so if you take QTI as a starting point and compare it to our new stuff, you'll have a vector where we're heading to. To be more precise, I'd guess that we're going to a more massive sound, playing more on atmosphere.

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

Lord: As we were mentioning it several times elsewhere, it would be difficult to map various influences to our music directly. Off course, things we listen to unavoidably contribute to the formation of our tastes, but that's it. We're pretty much into music on the borderlines of post-rock, -metal, -black; maybe progressive (black-)metal to some extent. (Black-)metal with unusual (although usual is also fine, haha) attitude in general. If one badly needs the names, that could be Enslaved, Emperor, Ihsahn, Arcturus, The Axis of Perdition, Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord, Altar of Plagues, Russian Circles, (...)

12. How would you describe your views on Occultism?

Lord: This one needs to be clarified a bit. The hints of occultism in QTI should not be taken too directly as the band’s inclination. Someone might find this disappointing, but Inquisitor is not about occultism, and the opposite is even more likely. While there is an internal craving for the transcendence, for the Secret in each sapient being, Inquisitor is about the critical mind. It is about seeking the answers – maybe even in vain – but not about someone knowing those answers and keeping them in secrecy. There is a substantial amount of romanticism in the notion of the Occult, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there is a definite line between the romantic worldview and the critical one. While we (Inquisitor) can embrace the first, we follow the second. And while the plot/storyline may rest on the second, the poetry allows the first.

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

Lord: That would make a lengthy list… To some extent everyone is into science fiction, horror (both fiction and movies/games), astronomy, desolate places, travelling, queer art – I’m brainstorming quite loosely.

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

Lord: Firstly, we'd like to thank you, Erik, for this interview. Secondly, as stated in the beginning, we're very much looking forward to finishing recording our latest album, and even more so – presenting it to all of you, so stay tuned for the updates (e.g., https://www.facebook.com/inquisitor.lt). In the meantime: Keep searching!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Atra Vetosus Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going with the band these days?
We have just had our Launceston album launch show which was great, now we’re gearing up for the Hobart album launch and also just about to start learning some of the new material for the next album.
2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
I think it’s a lot more versatile than the demo we released back in 2011 and a lot more going on particularly with the vocals and keyboards. But it sticks to the same Swedish Melodic Black Metal sound.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?
On the album the lyrics are mostly about nature and solitude, it feels like people are always caught up in their lives and never stop and enjoy the world around us and i feel that music can be sometimes be a way of escaping all that.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
The band’s name translates to Ancient Dark Winds, which in latin (Atra Vetosus) sounds awesome.
What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
We have played some great shows and met heaps of awesome people and bands, it’s hard to mention just a couple but our NSW shows were fun. For me there was something really special about our first ever gig, was in March 2012 in Hobart, Hobart and Launceston shows are always great!
6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
Yeah we hope to play all around Australia and eventually if we can afford it as a band to tour other parts of the world as well!
7. Currently you are signed to Immortal Frost Productions, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support they have given you so far?
Slikver founded IFP and was involved with it for a number of years, and eventually stepped down from his role there and its all run from Belgium now.
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of melodic black metal?
The reception has been great so far, Melodic BM fans seem to pick up the influences from Naglfar, Vinterland and all those Melodic Swedish acts which is great.
9. What is going on with the other musical project these days?
haha well there’s a lot there. Slikver and myself (Thorodan) have a few active projects at the moment.
Lost in Desolation a Depressive Black Metal project with our first full length nearly complete.
Oblivaeon which is a Doom/Melodic Black Metal project with Dave Luck from Nosce Teipsum doing guitars and composition.
Slikver has his solo project Astral Winter which also has an album in the making and Hammerstorm which is folk metal.
Josef is getting involved with playing drums for some local musicians and I’m starting to work on some solo Ambient BM stuff.
10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
At the moment the next album is going to continue on with the theme of the last album but will have even more melodic aspects, more keyboards and maybe even some female vocals.
11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Main influences on the music is pretty much everything from the mid 90’s Swedish Melodic Black Metal scene, although we all listen to different styles of music and that will come out a bit in the music.
12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
We all have lots of different things that keep us busy outside of music, I really enjoy doing video, audio and graphic work so i keep myself busy doing all sorts of things there. Josh has recently been hiking up in the Cradle Mountain area and the photos he has shown look amazing. Joe is an artist and is always working on arts stuff. We all have many interests, Lopez works as a chef and Damon knows just about everything about music and movies.

Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thanks for the interview and thanks to all those who took time to read all this,We hope you guys are all enjoying the new release and look forward to much much more from Atra Vetosus in the coming years!
-Answers by Josh ‘Thorodan’ gee


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