Saturday, February 15, 2020

Baron SAMEDI Interview

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

Hi, I'm from Novokuznetsk, Kuzbass region. In 1997. Me and my friend are influenced by: Sepultura,Sodom, Korrozia Metalla, Diecide and other extreme bands. They started rattling at my house.

 Since we did not have money for normal musical instruments (in the 90-ies in Russia we lived poorly, even for clothes we did not have enough money). We stole from the school music class: a bass in the shape of A Paul McCartney violin, two snares, and cymbals. They rattled, but since the game we could not, it turned out noisecore act.
 In 2000, I bought a Cassio synthesizer and started playing music alone. The project was then nameless. I made recordings on Sharpe's tape recorder.
 In 2005, I made a self-release of cassettes with my songs, called "Project Golem". Now these recordings can be heard on the albums "Я - Пустота" and bonuses on "Ralph Werner-Project Golem". In 2007, I renamed the project Baron Samedi.

Later I because of this name, my social networks consisted of 50% of fans of rap and hip hop)). Metalheads were repelled by this name))

 2.Your recent full length came out in September, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It is completely spontaneous and dirty recorded. I worked on tracks at different times without imagining how they would sound. The oldest song on it, "Black'n'roll Necronomicon", was recorded in 2001.

 3.You have also work with a variety of many different musical genres on your recordings, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical styles you have brought into your music?

Any dark, aggressive, pompous genre can appear on my recordings. Dark rock, dark folk, industrial, noise, ambient, free jazz, power electronics, death industrial, glitch, gorenoise, death metal, dark metal, black metal, terrorcore. I used all these genres in my music еxcept rap and hip hop.

 4.You have also covered some occult topics with your lyrics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in occultism?

I have always had an irrational, mystical perception of the world. But in theoretical occultism, I am not well versed, if you compare me with some Alister Crowley. From occult books I read two books by Elena Blavatsky, a few Apocrypha, Everything related to the Necronomicon, Russian black witchcraft.

 I sometimes dedicate my music to the essence of Graov, which is worshiped and invoked by homeless vagabonds, inhaling the smell of burned beetles-mediums. The essence of Graov is similar to the evil shown in the movie "the Fifth element".

 I use glossolalia when singing. Sometimes I use decoctions of herbs to fall into a trance, then the essence speaks through me. I record it and use it as vocals., this can be heard in the track Graov and Жнец

I also sell for graves.


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

Sad stories about a witch's house or a forest fire. Social: bad neighbors, corrupt cops, spitting in modern art. Abstract texts about death, mystical journeys.

 6.I know that the musical project was named after from Haitian Voodoo, can you tell us a little bit more how you got interested in this deity?

 In the nineties, there were many books with witchcraft spells, they were sold in every kiosk. .
 It was scary to live (crime,devastation, poverty, drug addiction), people conjured. My grandmothers had spell books. These books contained spells from all religions, and I learned about Baron Samedi from them. For Siberia, this name sounded original.
I don't practice voodoo myself. I plan to rename the project to "Пан Zимородоk".

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

Yes, I record everything alone.I am open to working with other musicians, but my knowledge of musical instruments is poor and I can't read music.So I'm not good for serious musicians. I can work with noise industrial musicians.


 8.Are you also involved with any other musical projects/

In 2007-2008, I was the bassist of the band "Kolobus". Played brutal death metal. Then I went into business (construction) and there was no time to play.

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

Metal fans are throwing shit, they need well-recorded music. Fans of experimental and industrial music reacted positively.

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

I will also try to make dark music. I don't plan to perform. I played concerts with Colobus in 2007 and I didn't like 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?

Inspired to make music: Sepultura, Korrozia Metalla, Sodom. Later Samael, Agonoize, Suicide commando. But you won't find much musical borrowing from them. I didn't grow up to them as a musician.Technically, I can't borrow from them.  Now I listen to everything, but mostly it's power electronics, ambient, raw noise black metal. I order interesting releases on cassettes.

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

The problem of rock fans and generally conditionally "Good music" is that they think that everyone is seriously listening to music. While simple and often not stupid people just need a background and not a loaded product . Due to the fact that their ability to enjoy listening to music and composing quirks, is much lower than music lovers. They don't fucking need it.

Study well, listen to your mom and dad and don't tell them you want to play hell's throat. Don't upset your loved ones.

Lychgate/Also sprach Futura/Debembur Morti Productions/2020 EP Review


  Lychgate  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  ep  "Also  sprach  Futura"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Debembur  Morti  Productions.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  avant  garde  elements  along  with  the  faster  sections  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  progressive  style.  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  funeral  doom  metal  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  blackened  screams  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.

  Clean  playing,  organs  and  mellotron's  can  also  be  heard in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  along  with  the  music  also  taking  some  of  the  mid  90's  avant  garde  black  metal  style  and  mixing  it  with  some  more  modern  influences.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  transhumanism,  simulacra  and  simulation,  post-humanity,  the  uncanny  valley,  Pygmalionism,  and  the  fictional  machine  Golem  XIV  which  exceeds  human  intelligence.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lychgate  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive,  avant  garde  black  metal  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Progeny  Of  The  Singularity"  and  "Vanity  Ablaze".  8  out  of  10.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Witchden/Deus Nihil/Twin Town Tyrant Records/2019 Full Length Review


  Witchden  are  a  band  from  Minnesota  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Deus  Nihil" which  was  released  by  Twin  Tyrant  Records.

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  of  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  a  few  seconds  later.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slow  yet  heavy  sections  of  the  songs.

  Vocals  also  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

   When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  being  long  and  epic  in  length,  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Witchden  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "From  Ash"  "Abhorrent  Rite"  and  "Finding  Death".  8  out  of  10.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Witchden666/videos  

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Baron SAMEDI/Nidarozd salmundshichti/Nailed Nazarene Industries/2019 EP Re-Issue Review


  Baron  SAMEDI  is  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial,  harsh  noise,  power  electronics  and  ritual  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  ep  "Nidarozd  salmundshichti"  which  was  re-issued  by  Nailed  Nazarene  Industries.

  Demonic  voices  and  ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Grim  black  metal  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  bass  guitar  sounds  very  powerful  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.

  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  Elements  of  industrial  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  some  harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  experimental  moments,  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  as  the  ep  progresses  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.

  Baron  SAMEDI  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal,  industrial,  ritual,  harsh  noise  and  power  electronics  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  dark,  poetic  and  occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Baron  SAMEDI  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial,  ritual,  harsh  noise  and  power  electronics  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "POems"  and  "Hilka-hilka,  demon  demon  !!!">  8  out  of  10.

https://nailednazareneindustries.bandcamp.com/album/reissue

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Sarcator/Visions Of Purgatory/Redefining Darkness Records/2020 EP Compilation Review


  Sarcator  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  2020  ep  compilation  "Visions  Of  Purgatory"  which  will  be  released  on  Rebruary  11th  by Redefining  Darkness  Records  and  consists  of  their  2019  ep's  "Screams  From  Below"  and  "Sepulchral  Noise".

  A  very  heavy  thrash  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are mostly  blackened  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody and  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  80's  and  90's  influences  but  keeps  it  modern  at  the  same  time.

  Elements  of  Swedish  style  melodic  death  metal can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  compilation.  Throughout  both  of  the  recordings  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  remaining  true  to  an  old  school  style. 

 Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recordings  having  a  very  powerful sound  to  them  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  blood,  fire  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sarcator  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Purgatory  Unleashed"  and  "Desolate  Visions".  8  out  of  10.

PREORDER Cassette demo / Download Digital at Name Your Own Price      

Sunday, February 2, 2020

The Spirit/Cosmic Terror/AOP Records/2020 CD Review


  The  Spirit  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Cosmic  Terror"  which  will  be  released  on  February  7th  by  AOP  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  The  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  Swedish  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  The  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  melodic  death  metal  elements  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them, prog  rock  influences  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction  and  the  album  closes  with  an  instrumental.

  The  Spirit  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misanthropy,  social  criticism  and  cosmic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Spirit  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  "Serpent  As  Time  Reveals"  and  "The  Wide  Emptiness".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/thespiritband/
https://www.instagram.com/thespirit_band



  

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Fausttophel/No Liars Among The Fallen/Another Side Records/2019 CD Review


  Ukraine's  Fausttophel  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  their  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "No  Liars  Among  the  Fallen"  which  was  released  by  Another  Side  Records.

  Dark  sounding  synths  and  ritualistic  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  music.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  high  death  metal  growls.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  fast  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking.  Synths  also  make  a  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks  as  well  as  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  symphonic  touch,  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  ethnic  style  instruments  and  ritualistic  style  percussion  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Ukrainian  and  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Fausttophel  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "V  Kuznie  Gefesta"  "Kryla"  "Put'  zaGran'"  and  "Lilt".  8  out  of  10.

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